As a physicist born, raised and fully trained in the United States, I am concerned that the Trump administration has been severely defunding scientific research and universities that train the next generation of scientists and engineers. This effort comes at a time when America is $36 trillion in debt and needs to reindustrialize to produce more than it consumes.

We have myriad problems that only science can address — the adverse impact of climate change, food production, the quest for alternative energy sources, the decontamination of our poisoned ecosphere from PFAS chemicals, rampant cancers, safeguarding humanity from AI and natural resource management, for instance. China produces more STEM graduates per year than all U.S. graduates combined annually.

America is a superpower because of investments in science made in the 20th century — particularly after World War II. Some achievements from this funding include the transistor, integrated circuit and microprocessor, the bedrock of modern electronics that produced solar cells, cellphones, satellites, televisions and computers. The laser was invented here and is ubiquitous as a source of concentrated coherent energy. The blueprint of life (DNA) was discovered here and paved the way for gene machines/sequencers that were also developed here. Modern medicines (e.g., synthetic insulin) were made or discovered to help humans suffering from myriad ailments (e.g., diabetes), saving untold millions of lives.

Because of decades of government-funded research, our economy grew tremendously. Our health care has improved with myriad technologies such as MRI and PET scans and proton and radiation therapy, among many others. These miracles of modern medicine have unquestionably helped to steadily increase life expectancy in America.

Beyond this, our military has benefited greatly from STEM, as technological superiority has been the traditional means to win wars. America would never be able to project its power around the world without nuclear submarines, satellites, jet fighters, rockets/missiles, advanced tanks, etc. — all the result of decades of scientific research. Despite their obvious dangers, nuclear weapons have produced the longest period of relative peace in human history and their derivative (nuclear energy) produces a significant amount of our electricity.

Scientific research conducted in the public interest has made life more productive, healthy, comfortable and safe for all of us. Few Americans alive today have not benefited from the investments in science made decades ago to improve America’s standard of living.

Yet today, our leaders do not appear to understand just how vital support is for scientific research and the institutions that perform scientific research, which are largely universities. Universities also train future scientists and engineers. But because of funding cuts, the future of American science and properly trained American STEM professionals is threatened.

Persecuting and defunding universities and banishing foreign students (most of whom study STEM) will hinder our advancement. Where will America’s future scientists and engineers come from? Without scientists and engineers, America will have no future. Who will maintain and further develop nuclear energy? Who will continue the exploration of space and launching of satellites? Who will develop, design and build factories to reindustrialize America?

American technology is like a high-performance sports car. If you can’t train future engineers and technicians to understand, repair, improve and maintain it, the vehicle will soon become undrivable. You will be forced to reinvent the wheel. Knowledge is like a flame that is sustained by education.

Beyond this, China may soon overtake America economically. How will America compete with China when it is unable to innovate novel technologies because of defunding universities (which are repositories of knowledge and technical know-how)? How will we train sufficient engineers to translate scientific discoveries into economic and industrial reality?

Supporting science and higher education should be an apolitical issue. Defunding these pillars of America’s success will cause great harm by dousing the fire of innovation that has sustained, enriched and given hope to Americans for decades.

There is no better investment to make for America than to support science and higher education. This is what truly made America great.

Michael Pravica is a professor of physics at UNLV. He writes from Henderson.

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Updated at 5:10 p.m.: All outages are planned outages now, according to NV Energy’s outage center.

There are 2 outages in Northern Nevada affecting 246 customers.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: There are three power outages in Northern Nevada affecting 247 customers, according to NV Energy’s outage center. All but one were planned outages.

The 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, check showed 131 customers in Carson City were without power; 115 customers in Churchill County; and one customer in Washoe County.

The corresponding zip codes for the outages were 89701, 89406, and 89509.

Copyright 2025 KOLO. All rights reserved.

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Game 2 of Banana Ball Friday night brought another sellout crowd to Reno’s Greater Nevada Field.

But for a couple dozen people it meant more than taking in an entertaining baseball exhibition.

Jon Reid, who pitches for the Texas Tailgaters, has the 775 in his blood.

“To me it means the world and having (family) come out,” Jon said.

The relief pitcher is in town for the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour. Kevin Reid, Jon’s dad, has deep roots in the area with family who lives in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Douglas County.

“It’s super fun just to see (Jon) still out there enjoying the game and the game that he loves,” said Kevin Reid.

Jon has been coming to Northern Nevada for years on an annual basis to visit. He’s now based out of Savannah, Georgia.

Jon has spots he has to hit when he’s in Reno.

“For sure In-N-Out, Lake Tahoe, and then Heavenly. In the snow? You can’t beat it,” Jon said.

Trips to the ski resort will have to wait. In the meantime dozens of family members made the trip to Greater Nevada Field to see Jon play Friday night.

His mom, Stacey, and brother, Zachary, got to see a different side of Jon.

“To see him dancing has been an enjoyment,” Stacey said. “Yesterday was fun to see him out there shaking a little bit because we never see it at home.”

Zachary likes seeing his brother continuing to live his dream.

“He’s a professional baseball player who gets paid to dance and do TikToks on the side. It’s nuts. I grew up going to all his games and all of our summer vacations were worked around baseball,” Zachary said.

In the 8th inning of Friday’s game Jon worked around some traffic on the base paths which kept the Tailgaters in the game. He finished his outing with a point to his family in Section 111.

“For me to put a smile on a kid’s face I think that’s all my mom ever wanted so that’s what I’m trying to do,” Jon said.

Copyright 2025 KOLO. All rights reserved.