Tiny droplets can form soft networks for brain-inspired computing
| psu.edu
A team of researchers and engineers at Penn State is taking inspiration from the natural computer of the human brain to build soft networks of water-based droplets, connected by membranes like those found in the walls of living cells.
Startup from Penn State research to scale-up domestic critical mineral recovery
| psu.edu
Old electronics and solar panels could become a new, domestic source for critical and strategic materials through Intel-E-Waste, a startup whose technology builds on foundational research from Penn State.
Novel material’s magnetism could improve electronics’ speed, efficiency
| psu.edu
A material thinner than a human hair may foster faster computing devices that demand less energy and store more data, according to a multi-institutional team led by researchers in the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
The oil market that sets today’s gas prices was invented in western Pennsylvania
| theconversation.com
A historian traces how Oil City brokers, then John D. Rockefeller, then futures exchanges decided what the world pays for crude – and why no one entity does today.
Mixing plant material with manure may be key to profitable biogas production
| psu.edu
Adding plant biomass to manure may improve the profitability of the farming process that mitigates greenhouse gas emissions while producing renewable energy, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers.
IEE accepting nominations for 2026 Research Awards
The Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE) is accepting nominations for its annual research award program. The awards recognize Penn State researchers whose accomplishments advance interdisciplinary research and address critical energy and environmental challenges. Nominations may highlight accomplishments in research, mentorship, public impact or other areas that contribute to IEE’s mission.
Nora Reikosky joins Rock Ethics Institute as assistant director
| psu.edu
Nora Reikosky has joined Penn State’s Rock Ethics Institute as assistant director, bringing a research agenda focused on the influence of private power on public institutions and a professional background spanning academia, education and the private sector.
Hydropower parts maker in Northeast Philly lands federal research partnership
| whyy.org
Kingsbury plans to test new materials for hydroelectric power equipment that can support the needs of modern-day grids.
‘Growing Impact’ explores role coal could play in difficult-to-recycle plastics
A new approach to plastic recycling being explored at Penn State could make the process more efficient by using tiny particles of coal, according to researchers. On the latest episode of “Growing Impact,” researchers discussed how the technique uses laser light to generate heat at the molecular scale, potentially allowing plastics to be broken down into their basic building blocks and reused.
Huck Institutes core facility assistantships available for spring semester
| psu.edu
The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, in partnership with the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, is seeking applicants for graduate assistantships within Huck core facilities during the spring 2027 semester.
College of IST announces winners of first 'AI in Research Symposium'
| psu.edu
The College of IST recently announced the winners of its inaugural AI in Research Symposium. The event presented an opportunity for students and faculty to explore how AI is reshaping research and discuss how standards and practices might differ across academic communities.
Scholar-practitioner collaborations shape latest Page Center insights report
| psu.edu
The Page Center published an Insights Report highlighting projects — including five that originated from the center's 2024 call for research proposals — that brought scholars and practitioners together to examine key communication topics, including artificial intelligence, disinformation, employee listening and unseen histories in public relations. By combining practitioners’ real-world expertise with researchers' insights, the projects translate evidence-based findings into actionable strategies to address emerging communication challenges.