Why Pennsylvania’s low-income residents are feeling the squeeze as gas prices rise
| by Hannah Wiseman
When gas prices rise, not everyone feels the pain equally. For low-income and rural Pennsylvanians, a trip to the gas station can mean choosing between a full tank and groceries.
Wildfires strike Florida, Georgia and America’s ‘wood basket’
| nytimes.com
Large fires, fueled by a record breaking drought, have been destroying homes and timber plantations in Southeastern states. This article quotes IEE Associate Director Erica Smithwick.
New reactor design produces renewable methane from carbon dioxide
An international team, led by Penn State’s Institute of Energy and the Environment Director Bruce Logan, has developed a new reactor design that efficiently converts carbon dioxide and renewable electricity into methane — the primary component of natural gas — while scaling the system up by roughly an order of magnitude without sacrificing performance.
New study shows microplastics are reaching wildlife in the most remote Amazon areas
| aol.com
Scientists just confirmed something unsettling about one of Earth’s most protected wild places: even there, microplastics are reaching the youngest, most vulnerable animals in the food web. This article links to the IEE news column Microplastics: Sources, health risks, and how to protect yourself.
Soil scientist awarded $1.6M NSF grant to study ‘living skin’ of arid ecosystems
| psu.edu
A Penn State soil scientist has received a $1.6 million, five-year grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to fund her team’s study of how increasing temperature fluctuations impact the biocrust microbiome — the complex, thin-layer microbe community that stabilizes soil, fixes nitrogen and drives nutrient cycling in drylands.
Collaboration drives community-based bioeconomy innovation in Brazilian Amazon
| psu.edu
An international project led by a Penn State team is helping to identify how community-based bioeconomies in the Brazilian Amazon can support forest conservation while increasing income opportunities for the traditional and Indigenous communities that protect and manage these landscapes.
Q&A: Tips to protect against ticks
| psu.edu
In recognition of Lyme Disease Awareness month, Erika Machtinger, associate professor of entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, offered practical tips on protecting against ticks in this Q&A.
College of Architecture's Arts Business Ideas Competition winners announced
| psu.edu
The College of Arts and Architecture’s Arts Business Ideas Competition recently announced the 2026 winners.
Penn State Chem-E-Car earns regional award, qualifies for global competition
| psu.edu
Penn State’s Chem-E-Car team, part of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter, placed first out of 21 schools in the Chem-E-Car Performance Competition at the 2026 AIChE Mid-Atlantic Conference. This recognition qualifies the team for the 2026 Annual Student Conference, an international competition that will take place in November. Last year, Penn State’s Chem-E-Car team took fourth place in the global competition.
Scorched shrubs sprout anew, researchers find in controlled fire study
| psu.edu
Invasive woody plants present a major ecological challenge in eastern U.S. forests by outcompeting native species and spreading quickly, forming dense thickets that crowd out native plants and disrupt ecosystems. Land managers have tried, with some success, to use prescribed fire to kill them, but is it effective? Researchers at Penn State reported mixed results when it comes to two of the most aggressive colonizers across North American landscapes, burning bush and border privet.
Sustainable Labs Program concludes fourth year, expands impact across campuses
| psu.edu
The Penn State Sustainable Labs Program continues to expand its reach across campuses while advancing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of research spaces. The 2025–26 cohort included 20 labs spanning multiple colleges, with seven labs recertifying after participating in the program’s inaugural 2022–23 cohort. The program supports research teams in adopting sustainable practices without compromising scientific discovery, with participation remaining free to all labs.
Penn State, Climavison partner to support the next generation of meteorologists
| psu.edu
A new partnership between Penn State and weather technology company Climavision aims to open research and training opportunities for students and faculty, and potentially help advance weather detection and warning across the commonwealth.