Hats on for Easter Island statues
How do you put a 13-ton hat on a giant statue? That's what a team of researchers is trying to figure out with their study of Easter Island statues and the red hats that sit atop some of them.
Research
Research
Obesity linked with higher chance of developing rapid, irregular heart rate
4/18/18
People with obesity are more likely to develop a rapid and irregular heart rate, called atrial fibrillation, which can lead to stroke, heart failure and other complications, according to Penn State researchers. They found that people with obesity had a 40 percent higher chance of developing atrial fibrillation than people without obesity.
Deep Italian cave provides clues for how to detect life on Mars
4/17/18
What can a massive cave in Italy tell us about life on Mars and other planets? According to new research by Penn State scientists, a whole lot. In work published in Astrobiology, researchers identified biosignatures — or signs of the presence of life — about 1,300 feet below ground in the Frasassi Caves in central Italy.
Penn State Extension, ag officials look to slow spread of spotted lanternfly
4/16/18
Grape growers, orchardists, nursery operators, homeowners and others in southeastern Pennsylvania are bracing for the spring emergence of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect from Asia that appeared for the first time in the United States in Berks County nearly four years ago. Penn State Extension educators and College of Agricultural Sciences researchers are working with state and federal agriculture officials to stop the pest's spread.
Redesigning the risky business of product development
4/13/18
Jessica Menold, assistant professor of engineering design and mechanical engineering, will use a three-year, $150,000 award from Johnson & Johnson to decrease the number of failed prototypes and wasted resources by developing a more defined prototyping framework.
Doctoral student in plant pathology receives NSF research grant
4/13/18
Emma Rosenthal, a doctoral student in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, will be able to advance her research interests in plant pathology after receiving a grant from the National Science Foundation. The funding will support Rosenthal's research on bacterial leaf spot, a disease that infects lettuce plants.
Page Center funds research that targets ‘fake news,’ other communications issues
4/12/18
With misrepresentation and half-truths plaguing public discourse these days, the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication identified a need to better understand the nature, dynamics and consequences of the “fake news” phenomenon as a contemporary form of misinformation. The Center will fund 11 research projects that study “fake news” from a number of perspectives, as well as seven other studies that tackle a variety of vital communications topics.
One-fifth of carbon entering coastal waters of eastern North America is buried
4/11/18
Coastal waters play an important role in the carbon cycle by transferring carbon to the open ocean or burying it in wetland soils and ocean sediments, a new study shows.
Penn State, Imerys announce research collaboration to develop new technologies
4/11/18
Imerys and Penn State have announced the signing of a five-year Master Sponsored Research Agreement, expanding the company’s current relationship with the University's Materials Research Institute and Penn State Behrend’s engineering program to include the development of new technologies, materials and other intellectual property.
McLaughlin leads research on identifying minimally invasive biomarkers for MS
4/10/18
A study led by Patricia McLaughlin, professor of neural and behavior sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, may show a new way to monitor the progression and treatment of multiple sclerosis.
New sodium-ion electrolyte may find use in solid-state batteries
4/10/18
A newly discovered structure of a sodium-based material allows the materials to be used as an electrolyte in solid-state batteries, according to researchers from Penn State and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The team is fine-tuning the material using an iterative design approach that they hope will shave years off the time from research to everyday use.
New Penn State-USDA patented technology removes phosphorus from manure
4/9/18
An innovation that could have a huge impact on water quality problems in the United States, a system capable of removing almost all phosphorus from stored livestock manure, was developed by a team of researchers from Penn State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.
Sanitizing hospital sewage
4/9/18
Researchers at Penn State have developed a water filtration system that removes contaminants and reduces toxicity in hospital wastewater.
Faculty member uses data to help inform tourism decisions, improve local economy
4/9/18
A Penn State faculty member has used big data to help inform local officials in Charleston, South Carolina, regarding tourism decisions and potentially improve the local economy.
Through NSF CAREER Award, Jacqueline O’Connor to make power generation cleaner
4/9/18
Jacqueline O’Connor's work will not only result in new scientific understanding, but also insight for more robust design of ultra-low emissions gas turbine combustors.
Toxins produced by e-cigarettes vary by flavor
4/9/18
Different flavors of e-cigarettes produce different levels of free radicals, toxins often associated with cancer and other diseases, according to Penn State researchers. Many of the chemicals used to flavor e-cigarettes increased the production of free radicals, while a few actually lowered it.