Gene editing, traditional crossbreeding produce disease-resistant cacao plants
| psu.edu
In a development that could help protect one of the world's most beloved agricultural commodities, a research team at Penn State has successfully created disease-resistant cacao plants using gene-editing technology. According to the researchers, the innovation promises to help resolve a significant problem for the global chocolate industry, worth over $135 billion annually, which faces threat from the phytophthora species, a fungal-like pathogen that gives rise to the destructive black pod disease that can cause yield losses of up to 30% worldwide.
Pennsylvania leaving regional electricity grid is still on the table, Shapiro says
| alleghenyfront.org
The governor said PJM Interconnection has “months, not years” to make reforms that will keep costs down for consumers. This article quotes Seth Blumsack, professor of energy & mineral engineering.
College of Engineering welcomes 12 new faculty members
| psu.edu
Between February and August 2025, the Penn State College of Engineering welcomed 12 new faculty members across various departments, including tenure-line, professional track and administrative roles. This expansion supports the college’s strategic commitment to academic and research excellence.
Rock Ethics Institute, Goddard Chair accepting faculty fellowship applications
| psu.edu
The Rock Ethics Institute and the Maurice K. Goddard Chair in Forestry and Environmental Resource Conservation are now accepting applications for the 2026–27 Faculty Fellows program. The program offers a one-course release from teaching during a single academic year to support Penn State faculty with ethics-related research projects.
Innovations in design research to be presented at Stuckeman Open House
| psu.edu
The Stuckeman School is hosting its annual Research Open House on Oct. 2 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Stuckeman Family Building to showcase the innovative design solutions developed by the school's students and faculty.
U.S. rivers are experiencing unprecedented and unexpectedly intense warming
| nbcnews.com
A new analysis of nearly 1,500 river locations over more than 40 years found that the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves is increasing in streams across the country. This article quotes Li Li, professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Global research ties: Penn State, Auckland advance strategic collaboration
| psu.edu
Penn State Global hosted nine delegation members from the University of Auckland for a three-day workshop June 16-18. The process to match potential collaborators from both institutions began in November 2024 during a two-day virtual workshop co-hosted by Penn State Global and the international office at the University of Auckland.
Heatwaves in US rivers increasing up to four times faster than air heatwaves
As the frequency and intensity of heatwaves increase across the U.S., a similar but more striking phenomenon is occurring in American rivers. Analysis of data from nearly 1,500 sites in the contiguous United States between 1980 and 2022 revealed that heatwaves in rivers are accelerating faster than and lasting nearly twice as long air heatwaves, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State.
Hot air drying largely preserves nutritional composition of radish microgreens
| psu.edu
Cruciferous vegetables like radish, broccoli and kale offer significant health benefits, especially when they are consumed as microgreens, or as young seedlings harvested early. But microgreens are highly perishable and lose nutritional value quickly. In an effort to boost the impact and accessibility of microgreens, a team of researchers at Penn State found that hot air drying — a cheap and relatively easy preservation technique — largely allows the plants to retain key nutrients and compounds that benefit health.
NSF STAIR launches inaugural undergrad internship in research administration
| psu.edu
The U.S. National Science Foundation Skilled Training in Administration and Institutional Research program, known as NSF STAIR and housed in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State, has launched an undergraduate internship in research administration, offering students rare, hands-on insight into the inner workings of a major research institution. Five interns selected from a pool of more than 600 applicants will spend 10 weeks with Penn State experts, learning how proposals are developed, attending meetings with faculty and administrators, and much more.
Q&A: What are the best ways to protect against chainsaw injuries?
| psu.edu
Fall is the time of year when thousands of Pennsylvania residents head to forests and woodlots with chainsaws to cut firewood to heat and enhance their homes over the coming winter months. Judd Michael, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, who recently published a study on chainsaw injuries, recommended precautions for those who use the powerful, dangerous tools in this Q&A.
New head for Penn State’s Department of Animal Science named
| psu.edu
Rebecca Krisher, global senior director of reproductive biology and gene editing for Genus plc Research and Development in DeForest, Wisconsin, has been named head of the Department of Animal Science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, effective Oct. 6.