The oil market that sets today’s gas prices was invented in western Pennsylvania
| theconversation.com
A historian traces how Oil City brokers, then John D. Rockefeller, then futures exchanges decided what the world pays for crude – and why no one entity does today.
$1.9M NIH award to fund study of how mechanical signals control cell fate
| psu.edu
Esther Gomez, Waltemeyer Mid-Career Biotechnology Professor of Chemical Engineering at Penn State, has been awarded a five-year, $1.9 million grant to study the mechanical properties of tissues and their impact on cell fate.
Penn State Sustainability, Pa. GreenGov Council offer 8th annual webinar series
| psu.edu
Penn State Sustainability and the Pennsylvania GreenGov Council will once again present a monthly webinar series to educate government officials, students, faculty and community leaders about sustainability issues and progress across the commonwealth. The 2026-27 series kicks off at noon on Friday, Oct. 16, with a presentation highlighting sustainability initiatives in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Penn State, PDA break ground on Animal Diagnostic Laboratory expansion
| psu.edu
Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture broke ground Oct. 5 on a nearly 46,000-square-foot, two-story addition to the University’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory at University Park, a project that will expand the laboratory’s capacity to provide critical diagnostic services, respond to emerging animal health threats, and support Pennsylvania’s livestock and poultry industries.
IEE accepting nominations for 2026 Research Awards
The Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE) is accepting nominations for its annual research award program. The awards recognize Penn State researchers whose accomplishments advance interdisciplinary research and address critical energy and environmental challenges. Nominations may highlight accomplishments in research, mentorship, public impact or other areas that contribute to IEE’s mission.
The techniques AI uses to create images can help predict floods, researchers say
| psu.edu
A team of scientists, including researchers at Penn State, is using diffusion — the same artificial intelligence technique used to generate images of weightlifting cats or cartoon versions of family photos — to build better hourly-rate prediction models to monitor flash flood risk.
‘Growing Impact’ explores role coal could play in difficult-to-recycle plastics
A new approach to plastic recycling being explored at Penn State could make the process more efficient by using tiny particles of coal, according to researchers. On the latest episode of “Growing Impact,” researchers discussed how the technique uses laser light to generate heat at the molecular scale, potentially allowing plastics to be broken down into their basic building blocks and reused.
Forum promotes collaboration to address impacts of wildfire in the Eastern US
| psu.edu
Historically, wildfire research has focused on the western United States. However, changing climate conditions, increasing drought severity and dense development patterns are rapidly altering wildfire risk across the Eastern United States. Penn State hosted the Eastern Wildfire Forum in September to address the growing challenge of wildfire in the commonwealth and across the Eastern United States.
Penn State CTSI launches four fellowship opportunities for 2027-28
| psu.edu
Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute is inviting applications for four fellowship opportunities designed to help faculty, researchers and staff develop the skills, mentorship and protected time needed to advance clinical and translational science. Applications are due Nov. 15.
Penn State students win award for connecting health and environment through play
| psu.edu
A series of games developed by a team of interdisciplinary Penn State students to help children in Iquitos, Peru, learn about the connections between human, animal and environmental health was recognized with a national American Society of Landscape Architects award.
Coffee Hour to focus on invasive mosquitoes and changing landscapes
| psu.edu
Kara Fikrig, assistant professor of entomology at Penn State, will deliver the talk “Understanding the Distribution of Invasive Mosquitoes Across the Landscape — And the Human Role in Shaping It” at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in 112 Walker Building at University Park and via Zoom. Fikrig will discuss how human activity and environmental change are shaping the spread of invasive mosquitoes in the Peruvian Amazon and efforts to reduce related health risks.
Climate grief expert, author and Stanford researcher visits Oct. 12-13
| psu.edu
Britt Wray, a Stanford Medicine researcher who studies how climate change affects mental health, will visit Penn State University Park Oct.12-13 for a series of events culminating in a Sustainability Showcase keynote talk at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in 121 Sparks Building and online.