Genetic teamwork may be the secret to climate-resilient plants, researchers find
| psu.edu
A plant’s success may depend on how well the three sets of genetic instructions it carries in its cells cooperate, according to a new study led by plant scientists at Penn State. They found that when those genes are better matched in hybrid plants, the plant is more resilient to changing environments.
The next frontier in space is closer than you think – welcome to the world of very low Earth orbit satellites
| theconversation.com
The closer to Earth a satellite flies, the clearer a picture it can take of the surface. But low-flying satellites also have to deal with atmospheric drag.
Convening showcases Penn State’s leadership in critical minerals
| psu.edu
Led by Penn State's EMS Energy Institute, a December gathering at University Park drew about 100 scholars, industry representatives and government experts in critical minerals. They emphasized cooperation as the federal government introduces nearly $1 billion to support critical minerals and materials development.
Opposing forces in cells could hold clues to treating disease
| psu.edu
A newly revealed molecular tug-of-war may have implications for better understanding how a multitude of diseases and disorders — including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and immune disorders — originate, as well as how to potentially treat them, according to researchers at Penn State.
The mystery of the missing ocean plastic
| by Raymond Najjar
Millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, yet we can find only a fraction of it. New research uncovers where this missing pollution may actually be hiding.
Graduate students conduct food safety research abroad with NSF grants
| psu.edu
Two graduate students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences traveled abroad and gained experience in food safety research over the summer thanks to funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Bird researchers use virtual reality to bring fieldwork experience to classroom
| psu.edu
A flutter of blue and yellow darts through a field in late May. The blue-winged warbler is just within reach — with one swift motion it can be gently grasped, banded and studied to understand the health and evolution of one of North America’s most colorful birds. A practice once reserved for scientists, this moment is now possible anywhere in the world thanks to a virtual reality experience developed by scientists at Penn State.
The stories that defined 2025 for the One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State
| psu.edu
From research to training programs and an international award, these are the stories that defined the past year for the One Health Microbiome Center.
Evaluating the evaluators: How do plant virus genome analysis tools stack up?
| psu.edu
Learning more about the genome structure of defective virus copies has the potential to reveal clues about the virus’s biology, but researchers found that five tools available to identify these defective genomes from data obtained through next generation sequencing datasets may be inconsistent.
Institute for Computational and Data Sciences funds eight mid-scale seed grants
| psu.edu
The Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences' Mid-Scale Seed Grant Program has awarded eight teams of Penn State researchers for projects that will contribute to one or more of the institute's research hubs or affiliated centers.
Feedback loops accelerate warming, other atmospheric changes in Arctic
| psu.edu
Using two instrumented planes and ground-based measurements from a two-month long field campaign to compare chemical processes in two regions in the Arctic — and the largest oil field in North America — to surrounding areas, researchers at Penn State have painted a comprehensive picture of the chemical processes taking place in the Arctic and found that there are multiple, separate interactions impacting the atmosphere.
Professor’s 'Anthropology of Alcohol' course a perennial favorite with students
| psu.edu
Kirk French, assistant professor of anthropology and film production/media studies, is wrapping up another fall teaching "ANTH 140: Anthropology of Alcohol," which for nearly a decade has been one of Penn State’s most popular general-education courses.