Penn State Energy and Environment News

Some Pa. municipalities are turning to fees to cover rising stormwater costs, but pushback and a lawsuit threaten that revenue

| northcentralpa.com

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. This article, originally published by Spotlight PA, quotes Andy Yencha and Jennifer Fetter, educators with Penn State Extension.

The unassuming material that could soak up carbon emissions

| msn.com

As temperatures rise, meltwater is flushing out millions of tons of this stuff: ultrafine powder ground down by the island’s melting glaciers. Geologists have a culinary-sounding name for the microscopic particles: “rock flour.”  This article, originally published by the Washington Post, quotes Susan Brantley, Distinguished Professor of Geosciences.

Disparities in sleep health and insomnia may begin at a young age

| psu.edu

Children and teens from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by persistent insomnia symptoms that begin in childhood and continue through young adulthood, according to a study led by Penn State researchers. This study is one of the first to look at how childhood insomnia symptoms evolve over the long-term and investigate how the trajectory of insomnia differs between racial and ethnic groups.

Hidden Gems: The Arboretum at Penn State Behrend

| psu.edu

Many of Penn State's campuses offer dedicated space for gardens. At Penn State Behrend, the entire campus serves as an arboretum, where visitors can take time to enjoy a wide and varied collection of international tree and plant life collected over decades.

'Growing Impact' podcast looks at climate youth leadership

| psu.edu

The latest episode of the "Growing Impact" podcast explores how the younger generation is getting involved in climate research and how the Global Youth Storytelling and Research Lab aims to become a pivotal transnational research hub.

Penn State Harrisburg to host Research and Discovery Day on April 10

| psu.edu

Penn State Harrisburg’s Office of Research and Outreach will host Research and Discovery Day on Wednesday, April 10. This event intends to showcase current areas of research and scholarly activities at the college. 

Stuckeman architecture doctoral candidate recognized for refugee camp research

| psu.edu

A native of Jordan, Dima Abu-Aridah focused her architecture doctoral thesis in the Stuckeman School on examining how Syrian refugees in Jordan live in the Zaatari camp — a settlement for more than 80,000 Syrian refugees. She was named the recipient of the 2024 Alumni Association Dissertation Award for her efforts. 

Scientists face uncertainty while examining health consequences of microplastics: 'We need to act before we have all the answers'

| yahoo.com

While the full health effects of microplastics are still a mystery, early signs point to potential risks.

Duke ecologist Emily Bernhardt to talk coastal impacts of climate at 'Coffee Hour'

| psu.edu

Emily Bernhardt, ecosystem ecologist and biogeochemist at Duke University, will present "Resist, adapt or retreat? The consequences of rapid climate change for coastal landscapes and communities," at the Department of Geography's Coffee Hour lecture series. 

‘Gamechangers’ series highlights two women making a difference with Penn State

| psu.edu

Two Penn State leaders, Tracy Langkilde and Karen Thole, were selected for the GameDay Couture “Gamechangers” series. The series highlights women who are breaking down barriers and making history in their fields.

Stuckeman School lab to hold pop-up exhibition on embodied cognition

| psu.edu

Researchers in the Stuckeman School’s Immersive Environments Lab within the Stuckeman Center for Design Computing are holding a hybrid public pop-up exhibition on embodied cognition April 9-10. Titled “XRe-Cognition,” the exhibit will feature work by artists and designers, faculty and students in the College of Arts and Architecture who are using extended reality technology to design and experience creating things, space and place.

‘Surprising’ hidden activity of semiconductor material spotted by researchers

| psu.edu

New research suggests that materials commonly overlooked in computer chip design actually play an important role in information processing, a discovery which could lead to faster and more efficient electronics. Using advanced imaging techniques, an international team led by Penn State researchers found that the material that a semiconductor chip device is built on, called the substrate, responds to changes in electricity much like the semiconductor on top of it.