Core Facilities News

Keep up with the latest news for Huck Core Facilities

Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

February 24, 2026

Huck associate director elected fellow in American Academy of Microbiology

The researchers engineered synthetic DNA and integrated it with a semiconducting material to increase the storage capacity of advanced materials. Here, the internal two-dimensional structures of the synthetic DNA is visible via optical microscopy. Credit: Provided by the researchers. All Rights Reserved.

February 24, 2026

Borrowing from biology to power next-gen data storage

Using an advanced imaging technology, known as cryogenic electron microscopy, a team at Penn State developed a deeper understanding of a material that had previously confused researchers. Credit: Ty Tkacik / Penn State. Creative Commons

February 20, 2026

Stretchy plastics conduct electricity via tiny, whisker-like fibers

A triptych of microscope images that shows the binding of a host defense peptide, named MAD1-RI, to the membrane of tuberculosis pathogens, leading to destruction of the bacterial cell wall and death. Credit: Scott Medina / Penn State. Creative Commons

February 11, 2026

Flipping and reversing mini-proteins could improve disease treatment

Composite of promotional images of the PacBio Revio and Thermo Orbitrap Astral

January 16, 2026

New genomics, metabolomics instruments added to Huck facilities

Researchers at Penn State found that two proteins thought to operate in harmony to regulate the genetic information-carrying messenger molecules called mRNA actually work in opposition: one protein destabilizes mRNA while the other steadies it. Credit: wildpixel/Getty Images. All Rights Reserved.

December 16, 2025

Opposing forces in cells could hold clues to treating disease

three people wearing lab coats in the Metabolomics Core Facility

October 28, 2025

Modern methods in biological research course to be offered in spring 2026

Entomologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences examined the potential for birds to feed on spotted lanternflies. Credit: Anne Johnson / Penn State. Creative Commons

October 27, 2025

Spotted lanternfly may use ‘toxic shield’ to fend off bird predators

The winners of a quiz competition held at the 2025 Core Facilities Open House

October 06, 2025

Core facilities open house welcomes new researchers

The Huck Institute of the Life Sciences at Penn State University Park. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

September 15, 2025

Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences names 2025-26 seed grant recipients

Credit: Keith Hickey / Penn State. Creative Commons

September 15, 2025

September open house to showcase Huck Institutes instrumentation facilities

When the sidechain bases guanine (G) and uracil (U) are paired in the 3D structure of a molecule of ribonucleic acid (RNA) the unusual pairing creates an unusual molecular conformation called a “wobble," pictured on the left. New research shows that non-covalent modifications to the bases can further alter the conformation creating a “shifted wobble," shown on the right. This conformational diversity could help explain RNAs function versatility, according to the researchers. Credit: Md Sharear Saon/Bevilacqua Lab / Penn State. Creative Commons

September 09, 2025

Unusual molecular conformation could help explain RNA’s versatility

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