Eyes for an agricultural robot: AI system identifies weeds in apple orchards
| psu.edu
To help apple growers achieve such precise management, researchers at Penn State are developing an automated, robotic weed-management system.
‘Growing Impact’: Strengthening public response to air-quality warnings
As wildfire seasons lengthen, the impact of smoke on public health continues to rise. While wildfires are most common in the western United States, a report from Climate Central found that every county in the contiguous U.S. now experiences at least 16 days of wildfire smoke annually. A recent study suggests that the current annual U.S.
Cancer-fighting bacterial product ‘cocktails’ may offer personalized treatment
| psu.edu
Bacteria may be the next frontier in cancer treatment, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State that devised a new approach of creating bacteria-derived mixtures — or cocktails — to help fight bladder cancer. The researchers explained how the approach, detailed in a paper published in Nature Communications, could be personalized to a patient's specific health needs, while delivering more efficient treatment at a cost comparable to, or lower than, existing cancer treatment options.
EarthTalks: Pa. sees ‘promising opportunities’ for critical minerals production
| psu.edu
Gale Blackmer, the Pennsylvania state geologist, will speak Dec. 8 at University Park as part of the EarthTalks seminar series. Her presentation will focus on critical minerals research at the state Geological Survey.
Sanitation technologies in developing countries the focus of Dec. 10 seminar
| psu.edu
Laura Schechter, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will lead a seminar on the availability of clean sanitation technologies in developing countries at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 10, in 157 Hosler Building on Penn State's University Park campus. Her free talk is part of a fall seminar series hosted by the Initiative for Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy.
Individuals, programs recognized for contributions to rural health in Pa.
| psu.edu
The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health presented awards to recognize rural health programs and individuals who have made substantial contributions to rural health in Pennsylvania.
Growing Impact: Decoding wildfire smoke forecasts
| Featuring Manzhu Yu, Hong Wu, Sarah Rajtmajer
As long-distance smoke reaches the Northeast, residents face confusing and often conflicting air-quality information. This episode explores how people interpret alerts, why forecasts disagree, and what clearer communication could mean for community preparedness.
New technique maps genetic variants driving neurodegenerative disease risk
| psu.edu
Researchers from Penn State College of Medicine developed a new method that better maps genetic variants that can lead to brain diseases. The approach identified 75% more relevant genes and uncovered new therapeutic targets for conditions like Alzheimer’s and ALS.
Sustainable Communities Collaborative to showcase measurable community impact
| psu.edu
Students from across Penn State will present their fall semester Sustainable Communities Collaborative projects during the Campus and Community Sustainability Expo, co-hosted by State College Borough and Penn State Sustainability on Dec. 11. The poster-style event brings together students, faculty, community partners and local residents to highlight project outcomes and foster new connections.
Altoona students invited to study sustainability in Australia and New Zealand
| psu.edu
Penn State Altoona students are invited to participate in Maymester 2026, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand and focus on sustainability.
AI discovery, community impact seed funding open to Commonwealth Campus faculty
| psu.edu
Faculty at Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses are invited to apply for two newly launched funding opportunities designed to strengthen research, expand community partnerships and advance the University’s land-grant mission. Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses, the programs include the Artificial Intelligence Discovery Initiative and the Community Impact and Engagement Seed Funding Program.
EarthTalks: Research about coal byproducts a window into critical minerals
| psu.edu
Christina Lopano, a scientist at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, will speak on Dec. 1 as part of the EarthTalks seminar series. Her free presentation is titled "Characterizing the Critical: REE and CMM Speciation in Fossil Energy Waste Materials."