News

Jul 25, 2013

Unique pathogen requires a novel approach to studying virulence

Huck Institutes researcher Moriah Szpara takes an interdisciplinary tack in her work -- using tools from neurobiology, virology, bioinformatics, and comparative genomics to find keys to a cure for human herpesvirus.

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Jul 21, 2013

Even zombies need an agent

While unraveling a dramatic case of mind control, biologist David Hughes brought the real science behind zombies to the big-screen Hollywood blockbuster "World War Z."

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Jul 08, 2013

Video data-sharing library for developmental science established

In the largest project of its kind, Databrary an open-source, web-based video-data-sharing library sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health is being created by an interdisciplinary team of scientists that includes Huck Institutes affiliate Rick Gilmore.

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Jun 16, 2013

Rescuing honey bee hives

Honey bee colonies are collapsing in record numbers, and Penn State entomologists -- including Huck Institutes affiliate Christina Grozinger -- are leading the pack of researchers scrambling to figure out why.

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Jun 05, 2013

Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and autism now can be studied with mature brain cells reprogrammed from skin cells

A research team led by Huck Institutes affiliate Gong Chen has developed a new method for obtaining mature neurons from reprogrammed skin cells, allowing difficult-to-study diseases such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and autism to be probed more safely and effectively.

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Jun 02, 2013

David Hughes consulted in production of post-apocalyptic video game "The Last of Us"

Sony and video game developer Naughty Dog have consulted Huck Institutes affiliate David Hughes in making their new PlayStation game "The Last of Us," set in a post-apocalyptic world brought on by a Cordyceps-type fungus pandemic.

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May 21, 2013

Mosquito behavior may be immune response, not parasite manipulation

What appears to be parasite manipulation may simply be part of malaria-carrying mosquitoes' immune response, according to a group of Penn State entomologists including Huck Institutes affiliates Lauren Cator, Simon Blanford, Courtney Murdock, Tom Baker, Andrew Read, and Matt Thomas.

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May 21, 2013

Getting to the bottom of the zombie ant phenomenon

While unraveling a dramatic case of mind control, Huck Institutes affiliate David Hughes is taking calls from Hollywood and gaining new insights into the role behavior plays in spreading disease.

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May 09, 2013

Penn State professor finding new ways to repair nerve injuries

Nerve injury is a major health problem, with 12,000 new injuries occurring in the U.S. each year. Recovery can be difficult or impossible, which is why Huck Institutes affiliate Mohammad Reza Abidian is focusing his research on special materials called "conducting polymers," which could one day offer a solution to these injuries.

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May 06, 2013

Four tiny tweaks for a healthier caffeine routine

Huck Institutes affiliate Frank Ritter and his Caffeine Zone app feature in the current issue of Oprah's "O" Magazine.

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