How does a deadly chicken virus escape vaccines designed to slow it?
| psu.edu
A new genome-wide study of the virus that causes Marek’s disease in chickens has identified 10 regions in the virus genome that are associated with an increase in virulence. The study could inform the development of next-generation vaccines that are more effective at preventing future breakthroughs.
50,000 answers later, Penn State Extension tool Tilva’s impact is growing and evolving
| psu.edu
Whether identifying a plant or animal disease, interpreting a soil test, or finding educational resources, users have turned to Tilva more than 50,000 times since the Penn State Extension artificial-intelligence tool launched in January. New features introduced in recent months are designed to help users continue those conversations in English or Spanish and connect with additional sources of trusted, research-based guidance.
Bridging the gap: Project ECHO releases seven-year report on rural health impact
| psu.edu
Project ECHO, or Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes, at Penn State College of Medicine recently released its Seven-Year Impact Report, for 2018-25. The publication highlights how an innovative idea to connect frontline community providers with university specialists has grown into a massive, statewide network of shared learning and better patient care.
NSF funding supports Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium's next chapter
| psu.edu
The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded Penn State’s Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium $4.6 million over four years to support its transition toward long-term sustainability while the national user facility continues providing researchers across the country with access to specialized materials, equipment and expertise. These users conduct cutting-edge research to develop faster, more energy-efficient electronics, photonics, quantum technologies and computing systems.
Penn State’s Ag Progress Days returns with activities, demos and exhibits
| psu.edu
Penn State’s Ag Progress Days returns with a full schedule of demonstrations, activities and learning experiences highlighting Pennsylvania agriculture. The expo will take place Aug. 11-13 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs in Ferguson Township, Centre County.
Fishing closures are becoming routine as record heat warms rivers in the US West
| apnews.com
Trout need cool water to survive. But record heat this summer has driven water temperatures to levels that can kill fish.
Engineering grad student wins ASHRAE grant-in-aid for resilient-building work
| psu.edu
Rosina Adhikari, doctoral student in architectural engineering, has been awarded the ASHRAE Graduate Student Grant-In-Aid for the 2026-27 academic year from ASHRAE, formerly known as the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. This $10,000 award is intended to support student research and foster increased participation in ASHRAE programming.
Chemical engineering professor honored for work on plant-based tissue scaffolds
| psu.edu
Amir Sheikhi, the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Early Career Chair in Biomaterials and Regenerative Engineering and associate professor of chemical engineering at Penn State, recently received the 2025 Early Career Investigator Award from the journal BioResources for his research team’s work on all-cellulose cryogels with tunable architectures.
'Primarily an itchy nuisance' in Pennsylvania, fleas still pose health risks
| post-gazette.com
Tiny, wingless fleas are often dismissed as little more than an itchy nuisance — an unfortunate but routine part of pet ownership. But underestimating the health risks of fleas is a mistake, veterinarians, entomologists and physicians say.
How to become a watershed steward
| witf.org
Erin Frederick had the idea to launch a statewide program for watershed stewards more than a dozen years ago. But even she admits, she never could have envisioned today’s thriving network of more than 1,000 volunteers across 55 Pennsylvania counties.
Honey from continental US may be as pesticide-free as imported organic honey
| psu.edu
Honey from the continental U.S. can’t currently be certified organic due to specific land requirements, but farms in the Northeast may still produce honey that is as low in pesticide residue as imported organic honeys, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State, Cornell University and Auburn University.
Should you drink Philly’s tap water?
| by Christine J. Kirchhoff
If you live in Philly and want to know information about your tap water quality, start with the latest consumer confidence report, which is required to be produced annually by every community water system in the country. Most people never read them, but the reports provide essential information about drinking water quality.