What causes tornadoes and how to decipher watches and warnings
| apnews.com
When severe weather hits the United States, there are ways people across the country can prepare for the potential impact of hail, rain, damaging winds and more. This article quotes Paul Markowski, professor of meteorology.
March megastorm may bring blizzards, tornadoes, flooding and even fires across much of US
| apnews.com
More than 100 million people in the U.S. are in the path of an expected massive March storm starting Friday. This article quotes Benjamin Reppert, lecturer in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science.
Reusing old oil and gas wells may offer green energy storage solution
| psu.edu
Moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind and solar will require better ways to store energy for use when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing. A new study by researchers at Penn State found that taking advantage of natural geothermal heat in depleted oil and gas wells can improve the efficiency of one proposed energy storage solution: compressed-air energy storage.
AI-powered cooling startup aims to boost data center efficiency
| psu.edu
NexDCCool Technologies, a Penn State research-based startup launched by Wangda Zuo’s lab, is developing a platform powered by artificial intelligence that aims to optimize the cooling systems in data centers, which would help maximize IT capacity by reducing cooling demand.
Threatened by warming waters, brook trout may be able to adapt to hotter weather
| psu.edu
Brook trout may have a genetic trick up their scales when it comes to adapting, with limitations, to heatwaves that threaten their existence. A novel study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that brook trout — an iconic coldwater fish species native to streams and lakes in the eastern United States and Canada — are capable of mounting a protective genetic response to thermal stress that can be passed on from one generation to the next.
Geography Coffee Hour lecture to feature Sophie Webber on climate finance
| psu.edu
The Penn State Department of Geography will host Sophie Webber, senior lecturer and Australian Research Council DECRA Research Fellow in Geography at the University of Sydney, as part of its spring 2025 Coffee Hour lecture series.
Opportunity: Call for Abstracts for Biennial Residential Building Design & Construction Conference
Submit a 200-300 word abstract by April 25, 2025, for the 8th Biennial Residential Building Design & Construction Conference.
Master Watershed Steward Dean Neely takes a hands-on approach to conservation
| psu.edu
For Dean Neely, preserving Pennsylvania waters, forests and lands for future generations is a priority. He has completed more than 1,000 volunteer hours as a Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward, removing invasive plants, planting riparian buffers, maintaining trails and monitoring streams.
Penn State scientists use AI to study bee population decline
| pennsylvaniaagconnection.com
Penn State researchers introduced landscape transcriptomics, using machine learning to analyze gene expression in bumble bees, identifying stressors impacting their populations. This article quotes Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology.
Growing Impact: Measuring nitrous oxide emissions (Preview)
| youtu.be
Full episode release date: April 1, 2025.Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas with nearly 300 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, making even small emissions highly impactful. Agriculture, particularly soil management, is the largest source of nitrous oxide. To better understand and manage these emissions, researchers have developed a system for continuous monitoring on farms and other land management purposes.
Plant biologist awarded the Masatoshi Nei Innovation Prize in Biology
| psu.edu
Sarah Assmann, Waller Professor of Plant Biology at Penn State, has been awarded the Masatoshi Nei Innovation Prize in Biology.
Analyzing genetic ‘signatures’ may give insight into what stresses wild bees
| psu.edu
A new method of examining gene expression patterns called landscape transcriptomics may help pinpoint what causes bumble bees stress and could eventually give insight into why bee populations are declining overall, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State.