'Growing Impact' podcast explores a thawing Arctic and its impacts
| psu.edu
The latest episode of the Growing Impact podcast discusses how thawing Arctic permafrost, a result of rising global temperatures due to climate change, is affecting rivers, landscapes and communities, according to a Penn State research team.
Growing Impact: Investigating thawing permafrost
| Featuring Roberto Fernández, Anastasia Piliouras, Talley Fisher
Once a frozen haven, climate-driven rising temperatures are rapidly thawing the Arctic permafrost, posing a major threat to communities and infrastructure. Researchers are investigating how these changes will transform rivers, with potential consequences for erosion, sediment transport, and the entire Arctic landscape. Additionally, their project incorporates art to communicate these critical findings in an engaging way.
Bird-safe Penn State: how to help reduce window collisions on campus
| statecollege.com
Years of effort from student, faculty, staff and community volunteers at Penn State has found that University Park has a particularly bad offender for deadly bird window collisions. This op-ed was co-written by Joseph Gyekis, associate teaching professor of biobehavioral health and David Toews, assistant professor of biology.
Integrated Pest Management Program staffer to help schools implement IPM plans
| psu.edu
The Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program has announced the appointment of Donald DeMackiewicz Jr. as the new PA IPM schools program assistant. DeMackiewicz will offer consulting services to any Pennsylvania schools seeking expertise and advice while developing and implementing their state-mandated IPM plans.
Ingalls to use NSF award to explore Earth’s ‘boring billion’ evolution
| psu.edu
Miquela Ingalls, assistant professor and Wilson Faculty Fellow in the Department of Geosciences, will use a a five-year $975,000 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grant to help understand a long lull in the evolution of early life on Earth. This span of time during the Proterozoic Eon is known as the “boring billion” because the explosion of photosynthetic life was abruptly followed by a long pause in biological innovation.
Fentanyl and COVID-19 pandemic reshaped racial profile of overdose deaths in US
| psu.edu
A new study from researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development examined racial and regional differences in overdose fatalities from 2012 to 2021, capturing the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In most of the nation, the researchers found that younger Black individuals died of overdose at lower rates than their white counterparts, but older Black individuals — especially men in Midwestern cities — were up to five times more likely to die of drug overdose than their white counterparts.
Award-winning photographer, conservationist to headline climate symposium
| psu.edu
Paul Nicklen, the award-winning nature photographer and conservationist, will be the keynote speaker for Penn State’s Climate Solutions Symposium. His presentation is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
Firefly populations face multiple threats across North America
| earth.com
A groundbreaking study has brought new insights into the factors impacting firefly populations across North America. This article features Penn State research.
Spongy moths are everywhere in central Pennsylvania
| wnep.com
They are considered one of the most damaging bugs in Pennsylvania, and spongy moths are currently hatching in parts of our area. This article quotes Anna Hodgson, Penn State Extension agronomy educator.
The first Arctic researchers
| by Hester Blum
For millennia, Inuit communities have served as stewards of the Arctic, intimately attuned to its rhythms. Their observations and adaptations offer invaluable scientific insights. When researchers join forces with these communities, a more comprehensive understanding of climate change emerges.
Designing and assessing market designs to improve electrical grid reliability
| psu.edu
A project co-led by two Penn State professors has been selected to receive up to $815,959 from the Grid Deployment Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The team will evaluate prospective market design changes to efficiently integrate batteries and other unconventional resources into wholesale electricity markets, with the aim of improving electrical grid reliability.
Engineering professor elected fellow of two professional societies
| psu.edu
Tak Sing Wong, professor of mechanical engineering and of biomedical engineering, was elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Once a frozen haven, climate-driven rising temperatures are rapidly thawing the Arctic permafrost, posing a major threat to communities and infrastructure. Researchers are investigating how these changes will transform rivers, with potential consequences for erosion, sediment transport, and the entire Arctic landscape. Additionally, their project incorporates art to communicate these critical findings in an engaging way. Listen to the podcast.
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