Nepal flood shows why warning systems must watch the mountains, not just the rivers
| by Tejal Shirsat, Christopher Scott, Padmendra Shrestha
The catastrophic flood began with a rock-and-ice collapse high above the river system, showing why monitoring rivers and large glacial lakes alone may not provide enough warning.
Tiny droplets can form soft networks for brain-inspired computing
| psu.edu
A team of researchers and engineers at Penn State is taking inspiration from the natural computer of the human brain to build soft networks of water-based droplets, connected by membranes like those found in the walls of living cells.
Recycled plastic asphalt may boost pavement performance, limit particle release
Asphalt containing recycled plastic held together better than conventional asphalt and showed a lower level of plastic-like particles after combined traffic and moisture-related laboratory testing, according to a study led by Penn State researchers. The findings suggest that improved pavement durability may help limit particle release, the team said, but field studies are needed to determine whether the same pattern occurs on real roads.
Startup from Penn State research to scale-up domestic critical mineral recovery
Old electronics and solar panels could become a new, domestic source for critical and strategic materials through Intel-E-Waste, a startup whose technology builds on foundational research from Penn State.
Oct. 19 EarthTalks seminar to discuss community support to prevent flood impacts
| psu.edu
Laura Fowler, professor of teaching with Penn State Dickinson Law, will give a talk at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus. The talk will also be available via Zoom.
Oct. 16 talk to present new framework for modeling and predicting landslides
| psu.edu
Mirna Kassem, incoming assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, will give a talk at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, in 117 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building at University Park. The talk will also be available via Zoom.
Novel material’s magnetism could improve electronics’ speed, efficiency
| psu.edu
A material thinner than a human hair may foster faster computing devices that demand less energy and store more data, according to a multi-institutional team led by researchers in the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Modified lentil protein mimics fat in non-fat yogurt, researchers report
| psu.edu
Modified lentil protein can act like fat in non-fat foods, especially yogurt, delivering creaminess and richness, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State.
The oil market that sets today’s gas prices was invented in western Pennsylvania
| by Brian Black
The fall of 2026 is a moment of energy centrality, when geopolitics unfolding far away shows up in Americans’ everyday lives.
$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.
Mixing plant material with manure may be key to profitable biogas production
| psu.edu
Adding plant biomass to manure may improve the profitability of the farming process that mitigates greenhouse gas emissions while producing renewable energy, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers.
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.