EMS faculty member joins effort to train early-career scientists in Africa
| psu.edu
Nelson Dzade, Virginia S. and Philip L. Walker, Jr. Faculty Fellow in Materials Science and Engineering and the Fuel Sciences at Penn State, recently participated in the African School on Electronic Structure Methods and Applications, held in June at the University of Ghana.
Doctoral student’s research finds valuable rare earth elements in toxic waste
| psu.edu
Adam Smerigan, a doctoral candidate in Penn State’s Robert V. Waltemeyer Department of Chemical Engineering, works with Professor Rui Shi in the Sustainable Design, Systems and Decision-Making Lab to focus on finding treasure in the trash — recovering rare earth minerals, such as neodymium, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium, from toxic waste. Elements like these and more are used in everyday electronic devices like smartphones.
Penn State to offer Leave No Trace Level 2 certification
| psu.edu
Starting in fall 2025, the Penn State Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management will offer undergraduates an opportunity to earn Leave No Trace Level 2 certification. Students will learn about Leave No Trace principles and the scientific research surrounding sustainability initiatives that affect everyday lives and be positioned to earn Level 2 certification. The course is open to all undergraduate students at the University Park campus.
Unified theory may reveal more superconducting materials
| psu.edu
Scientists at Penn State have found a new way to identify types of materials known as superconductors that allow power to travel without any resistance, meaning no energy is lost.
The growing threat of extreme weather to the U.S. power grid
| by Seth Blumsack, Peter Buck, Mike Helbing, Paul Markowski, Hannah Wiseman
Learn how a severe Pennsylvania storm exposed weaknesses in the U.S. power grid—and the practical strategies any community can use to prepare.
Pennsylvania Upgrades Flood Monitoring System with iFLOWS 2.0
| witf.org
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) has partnered with Penn State University and the National Weather Service to modernize the Integrated Flood Observation and Warning System, or iFLOWS, first launched in the 1970s and 80s.
Northern fowl mite treatment tested at Penn State receives FDA approval
| psu.edu
A new way to treat poultry for fowl mites was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July, thanks in part to a team of researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
More efficient approach to shale wells could boost oil output, store emissions
| psu.edu
A new oil extraction workflow may improve shale oil recovery up to an additional 15% while providing storage for carbon dioxide emissions.
Mary Wirth, long-time leader in College of Ag Sciences, receives Armbsy award
| psu.edu
Mary Wirth, director of college relations and communications in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was inducted into the Armbsy Honor Society in recognition of her distinguished career dedicated to championing agriculture and advancing the mission of the college and Penn State Extension.
In disaster-prone Nepal, farmers sticking with agriculture amid climate risks
| psu.edu
Many Nepalese households may become more likely to fall into poverty, illustrating a need for practical help with climate-related adaptation, according to a study led by a Penn State researcher.
Study offers new insight into mixed virus interactions in plants
| psu.edu
New research led by researchers at Penn State examined what happens when two common viruses — tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus and impatiens necrotic spot orthotospovirus — infect the same plant.
Where America’s CO2 emissions come from – what you need to know, in charts
| by Kenneth Davis
Earth’s atmosphere contains carbon dioxide, which is good for life on Earth – in moderation. Plants use CO2 as the source of the carbon they build into leaves and wood via photosynthesis. In combination with water vapor, CO2 insulates the Earth, keeping it from turning into a frozen world. Life as we know it on Earth would not exist without CO2 in the atmosphere.Since the industrial revolution began, however, humans have been adding more and more carbon dioxide to the Earth’s atmosphere, and it has become a problem.