Research

Top News
Top news RSS feed
Lint Macro

Tiny fibers create unseen plastic pollution

2/16/19

While the polyester leisure suit was a 1970s mistake, polyester and other synthetic fibers like nylon are still around and are a major contributor to the microplastics load in the environment, according to a Penn State materials scientist, who suggests switching to biosynthetic fibers to solve this problem.

Reuben Kraft, Penn State assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering

Kraft awarded NSF CAREER Award focused on brain mechanics

2/15/19

Bolstered by a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Reuben Kraft, Penn State assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering, seeks to contribute to the understanding of brain trauma by developing advanced computer models that link neuroimaging results, biomechanical assessments and computational modeling of the brain.

dicey-looking refrigerator selection

More scrutiny needed for less-deadly foodborne bacteria

2/13/19

Employing advanced genetic-tracing techniques and sharing the data produced in real time could limit the spread of bacteria — Bacillus cereus — which cause foodborne illness, according to researchers who implemented whole-genome sequencing of a pathogen-outbreak investigation.

Spotted Lantern Fly

Penn State Berks center supports spotted lanternfly research

2/13/19

It all began when Penn State Berks Professor Michael Fidanza was approached in 2018 by researchers from the College of Agriculture Sciences who needed a site to conduct a preliminary investigation on the biology and life cycle of the spotted lanternfly.

Michael Mann and Warren Washington

Michael Mann awarded the 2019 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement

2/12/19

Michael Mann, distinguished professor of atmospheric science, Penn State, has been awarded the 2019 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. Founded in 1973, the Tyler Prize — often referred to as the "Nobel Prize for the Environment" — remains the premiere international award for environmental science.

Paul Shrivastava

Insuring the future through sustainable practices today

2/11/19

With its hiring of Paul Shrivastava in spring 2017, Penn State became the first Big 10 institution to have a chief sustainability officer. Here, Shrivastava discusses the university's commitment to sustainability and some of the programs and initiatives aimed at reducing waste and using our resources wisely.

bumblebee with load

Bee dispersal ability may influence conservation measures

2/7/19

The abilities of various bee species to disperse influences the pattern of their population's genetic structure, which, in turn, can constrain how they respond to environmental change, as reported by an international team of researchers.

astrocyte-converted neuron

Simple drug combination creates new neurons from neighboring cells

2/7/19

A simple drug cocktail that converts cells that are next to damaged neurons into functional new neurons could potentially be used to treat stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and brain injuries, according to a team of Penn State researchers who tested drug combinations on cell cultures in the lab.

Pages