Borrowing from biology to power next-gen data storage
| psu.edu
Researchers integrated synthetic DNA — nature’s most efficient storage mechanism, capable of storing about 215 million gigabytes of data per gram — into a semiconducting material in a technological leap toward advanced, large-capacity and low-power memory storage devices.
Climate and human health risks of Saharan dust focus of Geography Coffee Hour
| psu.edu
Gregory Jenkins, professor of meteorology and atmospheric sciences at Penn State, will deliver a lecture titled “West Africa poised for late 21st century climate injustice: Modeling increasing anthropogenic GHGs and changes in Saharan mineral dust” on Friday, Feb. 27.
March 4 talk: Understanding how households respond to utility price changes
| psu.edu
James Sears, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University, will give the talk, “How Much More Price-Fluid are Utility Customers in the Long-Run? An Application to Urban Water Demand,” at noon on Wednesday, March 4, in 157 Hosler Building.
American Meteorological Society awards distinguished professor national award
| psu.edu
William Brune, distinguished professor of meteorology and atmospheric science at Penn State, was awarded the 2026 Warren Washington Research and Leadership Medal.
Two Penn State professors elected to National Academy of Engineering
| psu.edu
Two Penn State faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Members of the class of 2026 include Barbara J. Arnold, chair and professor of practice of mining engineering in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, and Qiming Zhang, Harvey F. Brush Chair and professor of electrical engineering.
Penn State launches sustainability, society and environmental geography major
| psu.edu
Penn State Geography is launching a new sustainability, society and environmental geography undergraduate major focused on the human dimensions of sustainability with a core aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Stretchy plastics conduct electricity via tiny, whisker-like fibers
| psu.edu
Using advanced imaging technology to examine a stretchy material commonly used in soft robotics and touchscreens known as PEDOT:PSS, a team led by Enrique Gomez found that adding different salt additives and water enabled the material to grow hair-like fibers capable of effectively conducting electricity. These findings could help facilitate longer-lasting pacemakers or glucose monitors in the future, the team said.
DOE coal plant orders refresh state, federal power struggle
| news.bloomberglaw.com
The Trump administration’s moves to reignite the coal industry have states arguing the federal government is messing with energy generation plans that have been in the works for years.
Plant-based material offers sustainable method of recovering rare earth element
| psu.edu
A team led by researchers at Penn State used a plant-based material to separate and recover dysprosium, a heavy rare earth element used in industrial manufacturing, from other rare earth elements. According to the researchers, the approach is environmentally friendly, as well as more sustainable and efficient than other commercial approaches.
New plastic material could solve energy storage challenge, researchers report
| psu.edu
A team led by Penn State researchers reported a novel material made of cheap, commercially available plastics that can handle four times the energy of a typical capacitor at temperatures up to 482 F. They published their work in Nature.
Why gas turbines are in short supply — just as the grid needs them most
| by Stephen Lynch, Jacqueline O'Connor
Rising electricity demand, renewable variability, and AI growth are increasing reliance on gas turbines — even as manufacturing bottlenecks limit new supply.
Feb. 25 seminar: 'Effectiveness of mobile app to improve household food access'
| psu.edu
Ran Li, assistant professor of agricultural economics, will discuss the effectiveness of the mobile app Too Good To Go as a potential complement to public food assistance by reallocating surplus food into low-cost consumption opportunities. Her talk is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, Feb. 25, in 157 Hosler Building on the Penn State University Park campus.