Penn State Energy and Environment News

'Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool' to digitize crop nutrient management

| psu.edu

A nationwide team of agricultural scientists, including researchers at Penn State, has launched a decision aid that provides an unbiased, science-based interpretation of soil test phosphorus and potassium values for crop fertilization, with an eye toward potentially saving farmers millions of dollars annually while reducing excess nutrient losses to the environment.

Probiotic feed additive boosts growth, health in poultry in place of antibiotics

| psu.edu

Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat for public health, and the use of antimicrobials in livestock feed has been a major contributing factor in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance to many drugs, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Led by Erika Ganda, assistant professor of food animal microbiomes, a Penn State research team conducted a study of natural feed additives that are promising alternatives to substitute for antimicrobial growth promoters.

Internet aid cut: how the loss of FCC's ACP may worsen the mental health crisis

| cnet.com

April is the last month that 23 million low-income households will receive the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program benefit. This article quotes Christopher Ali, Pioneers Chair of Telecommunications.

Penn State Sustainability, OPP expanding gameday & campus waste initiatives

| onwardstate.com

Penn State Sustainability and the Office of Physical Plant put continuous effort into building sustainable environments across all Penn State campuses, especially on gamedays.

No, ice core study does not show CO2 is 'not the cause of warming'

| usatoday.com

A greenhouse gas increase isn't the only thing that can initiate climate change, but it is what's causing modern warming. This article quotes Richard Alley, Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences.

Yellow-eyed grasses may have more insect visitors than previously thought

| psu.edu

A team led by Penn State researchers published the first documentation of arthropods that visited yellow-eyed grasses in Guyana, a South American country where species of the plant are most diverse.

Ross Student Farm welcomes all for Earth Day celebratory event Apr. 20

| psu.edu

Celebrate the excitement of Earth Week and the role agriculture plays in becoming better stewards of the Earth from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm.

Rock permeability, microquakes link may be a boon for geothermal energy

| psu.edu

Using machine learning, researchers at Penn State have tied low magnitude microearthquakes to the permeability of subsurface rocks beneath the Earth, a discovery that could have implications for improving geothermal energy transfer. The work suggests seismic monitoring could broadly be used to improve geothermal energy transfer efficiencies across a wide range of sites, according to the researchers.

New Kensington undergraduate research highlighted at annual exposition

| psu.edu

Undergraduate research was on display at the annual Research and Student Engagement Expo on April 9 at Penn State New Kensington.

Penn State Harrisburg to host 2024 Symposium on Signal Integrity

| psu.edu

The Center for Signal Integrity at Penn State Harrisburg will host the 17th annual Combined Central Pennsylvania Symposium on Signal Integrity and Mid Atlantic Semiconductor Hub Forum on April 19 in the Capital Union Building on campus.

Climate Consortium webinar to discuss fostering collaboration across University

| psu.edu

The Penn State Climate Consortium is hosting an informational webinar from 3-4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, to introduce its initiatives and opportunities for the University community.

Glacier lake outburst floods: Loss of life and infrastructure 

| by Tejal Shirsat, Abriti Moktan, Christopher Scott

A massive glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) devastated Sikkim, India in October 2023. The disaster, triggered by a landslide and heavy rainfall, caused widespread death and destruction. Scientists had warned of the GLOF risk, but development projects in the fragile Himalayan region may have exacerbated the damage. The event highlights the need for improved disaster planning that considers scientific knowledge, local community concerns, and the impact of climate change.