News

Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct. 24 kicks off 'Plants for the People and the Planet' innovation series

This free seminar series, open to the community at-large, will showcase cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives on how plants can shape a healthier, more sustainable future.

Charlene Shupp Espenshade, executive director of the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation, prepares to sample microgreens cultivated at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences during the college’s recent Legislative Research Tour. She is joined by graduate students Auja Bywater and Rishi Ravichandran. Credit: Sean Duke / Penn State. Creative Commons

College of Ag Sciences research tour explores connection between food, health

Government and industry stakeholders got a literal taste of the future of agriculture by sampling hydroponically grown greens at one of several presentations during the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ annual Legislative Research Tour, held Sept. 25 at the University Park campus.

Mycelium of phytophthora palmivora, which can give rise to cacao black pod disease, grows from an agar plug, infecting a cacao leaf 48 hours after inoculation. Credit: Mark Guiltinan/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Gene editing, traditional crossbreeding produce disease-resistant cacao plants

Novel approach could revolutionize sustainable chocolate production while addressing global food security, researchers report.

Extension Educator Michael Powell instructs on proper, safe chainsaw usage. Penn State Extension offers videos on using the powerful, dangerous tools safely. Credit: Michael Houtz/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Q&A: What are the best ways to protect against chainsaw injuries?

Expert in College of Agricultural Sciences offers suggestions on how to prevent injuries while using a chainsaw.

Study first author, Marjorie Jauregui, a pilot plant research technologist at Penn State, found that radish microgreens, no matter at what temperature they were dried, retained a significant portion of nutrients. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Hot air drying largely preserves nutritional composition of radish microgreens

Inexpensive, low-tech process preserves plant compounds that provide health benefits; offers potential insight into producing microgreens food powder supplements.

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

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

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State has selected eight research teams that span 12 departments across six colleges to receive 2025-26 seed grant funding.

A team at Penn State has developed a novel wearable sensor capable of continuously monitoring low rates of perspiration for the presence of a lactate — a molecule the body uses to break down sugars for energy. Credit: Provided by Farnaz Lorestani. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t sweat it: New device detects sweat biomarker at minimal perspiration rate

Non-invasive, wearable sensor can identify and track lactate in low-perspiration conditions, researchers say.

Zinc enrichment and light intensity affect the nutritional composition of radish microgreens, shown here. The researchers found that high light intensity decreased the production of plant-defense compounds while it increased the production of antioxidants. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Fine-tuning zinc supplementation, light exposure to boost microgreens’ nutrition

Microgreens, which are young, edible plants that only take one to three weeks to harvest, are more than garnish at trendy restaurants — they could be the answer to global hunger, according to plant scientists at Penn State.

Sibel Irmak, left, research professor of agricultural and biological engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was honored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

National society honors ag and biological professor for inclusion efforts

Sibel Irmak was recognized at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers' annual conference.

College of Ag Sciences names first cohort of Land Grant Research Impact Fellows

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has launched the Land Grant Research Impact Fellows program. This new initiative recognizes and supports faculty whose research addresses pressing challenges in Pennsylvania and beyond.