Faculty Friday: Charles Anderson
Meet Charles Anderson, an IEE co-fund and Eberly College of Science faculty member. The most important thing he wants you to know about his research is that plants are super-active at the sub-cellular level.
Scientists resurrect 'forgotten' genus of algae living in marine animals
| news.psu.edu
An international team of researchers has resurrected the genus Philozoon by using modern technologies to thoroughly characterize two of the species of algae that biologist Patrick Geddes had investigated in the mid-to-late 19th century, along with six new related ones.
Human evolution led to an extreme thirst for water
| scientificamerican.com
We are more dependent on water than many other mammals and have developed a host of clever strategies for obtaining it.
Loss of biodiversity in streams threatens vital biological process
| news.psu.edu
The fast-moving decline and extinction of many species of detritivores — organisms that break down and remove dead plant and animal matter — may have dire consequences, an international team of scientists suggests in a new study.
Growing Impact: A guide to decarbonization
| Featuring Wei Peng
In order for the world to meet the challenge of climate change, decarbonization and negative emissions must be part of the discussion. Wei Peng looks to provide policy and tech leadership with information on what decarbonization technology might be effective in the future and how to strategically employ it.
New model predicts spotted lanternfly egg hatching
| news.psu.edu
Research conducted by scientists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has led to the creation of an online tool that can help predict seasonal egg hatch for spotted lanternflies. The spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect from Asia, was discovered in North America in Berks County in 2014.
Underground fiber optic sensors record sounds of COVID lockdown, reopening
| news.psu.edu
Sound signals captured by underground fiber-optic sensors under the University Park campus recorded the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on the community, according to scientists.
How Underground Fiber Optics Spy on Humans Moving Above
| wired.com
Vibrations from cars and pedestrians create unique signals in cables. Now scientists have used the trick to show how Covid-19 brought life to a halt.
Paleonursery offers rare, detailed glimpse at life 518 million years ago
| news.psu.edu
A newly discovered fossil deposit near Kunming, China, may hold the keys to understanding how organisms that lived in the oceans 500 million years ago laid the foundations for life on land and at sea today.
Column: COVID isn't spread by mosquitoes. But the next pandemic might be
| latimes.com
As an aggressive mosquito spreads in California, scientists say we got very lucky that the insects couldn't transmit COVID-19 to people.
West Campus Steam Plant to begin final testing of new turbine
| news.psu.edu
The new 41-foot long turbine, with the ability to recover and reuse its own generated heat, will help reduce the University’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 16,000 tons per year, save the University approximately 10% on energy costs, and provide roughly 20% of University Park’s annual electrical demand and 30% of steam requirements.
Researchers worldwide find great value in ReaxFF reactive force field
| news.psu.edu
More than 1,600 researchers in six of the world’s seven continents have requested parameters for a ReaxFF reactive force field developed by a Penn State researcher and used as a valuable research tool in fields as varied as biomaterials, polymers, batteries and 3D printing.
Storing carbon dioxide underground could offset the record amounts of CO2 that humans emit each year. If this technology is successful, it could be an answer to climate change impacts, such as rising temperatures and acidification of the ocean. However, the process is complex and costly. A team of researchers is exploring one way liquid CO2 could be injected into rock formations, which may efficiently convert the molecule into a solid. Listen to the podcast.
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