NASA has selected 14 researchers to receive grants totaling more than $5.2 million over four years to conduct fundamental physics research on Earth and in space. This research will seek knowledge that will expand understanding of space, time and matter.

Sponsored by NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research, the research offers investigators the advantage of a low-gravity and space environment to enhance understanding of physical, biological and chemical processes associated with fundamental physics.

Eight of these grants are to continue work currently being funded by NASA, and six represent new research. Researchers will use NASA's microgravity research facilities such as drop-tubes, drop-towers, aircraft flying parabolic trajectories, and sounding rockets.

NASA received 51 proposals in response to the research announcement in this area. The proposals were peer reviewed by scientific and technical experts from academia and government. A list of awardees (by state), their institutions, and research titles is available on the Internet at:

http://www.nasa.gov/news/physics_grants_bb_030204.html