News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

Beech Creek, a 170-square-mile watershed in Clinton and Centre counties, has shifted from a thriving trout fishery to waters polluted by acidic mine drainage. Credit: Chris Komlenic. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 27, 2025

Research sheds light on Beech Creek’s struggle with abandoned mine drainage

Students in the TREES dual-title graduate degree program partnered with residents to gather data and build support for watershed restoration.

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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

Aug 26, 2025

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.

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The team's research, conducted on mouse-ear cress — scientific name Arabidopsis thaliana, pictured — and fava beans, or Vicia faba, revealed that sugars, along with maleic acid, a chemical involved in energy production, act as crucial messengers that control how and when plants “breathe” and “eat." Credit: Sarah Assmann / Penn State. Creative Commons

Aug 25, 2025

Messenger signals that cue plants to ‘eat’ and ‘breathe’ revealed for first time

A new study by an international team of scientists led by Penn State researchers reveals for the first time the molecular messengers that control how and when plants “breathe” and “eat,” which could have implications for agriculture.

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A crowd gathers to watch a field machinery demonstration Aug. 13 during Ag Progress Days 2025. Credit: Michael Houtz/Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 22, 2025

Penn State’s 2025 Ag Progress Days a success in showcasing innovation, impact

Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, held Aug. 12-14 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, was a successful showcase of agricultural innovation, research and technology, according to leaders in the College of Agricultural Sciences, which sponsored the event.

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A partnership of CNH, the Penn State Corporate Engagement Center and Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will advance research and student learning through the use of a New Holland fully methane-powered tractor. The college received the tractor during its Ag Progress Days expo. From left are Paul Heinemann, professor of agricultural and biological engineering and director, Technology in Agriculture and Living Systems Initiative; Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding; Troy Ott, dean of the college; Sean Dorosz, CNH medium tractor marketing manager; Russell Howard, CNH Pennsylvania territory sales manager; Beth Gugino, assistant dean for graduate education and associate director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station; John Peterson, director of corporate engagement, Penn State; Philip Eby, CNH hay and forage product manager; Andrew Tarman, CNH haytool hydraulics and driveline test manager; and Samanta Cassinera, CNH combine resource and operations manager. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons

Aug 22, 2025

Natural gas-powered tractor to boost ag science research at Penn State

Faculty and students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will soon have expanded opportunities for hands-on learning and research with the addition of New Holland’s fully methane-powered tractor.

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A team led by a researcher at Penn State has developed a sensor that can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on-site in a few minutes using just a breath sample.

Aug 22, 2025

New sensor is a breath of fresh air for diagnosing diabetes

A team led by a researcher at Penn State has developed a sensor that can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on-site in a few minutes using just a breath sample.

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A mallard, shown here fitted with a GPS unit, can be tracked by researchers. In recent decades, mallards have experienced a range-wide decline of 12% in the U.S. The Integrated Movement Model being developed by researchers could help inform conservation and management of mallards by combining GPS tracking and citizen science reports. Credit: Clayton Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

Aug 22, 2025

GPS-outfitted birds and citizen sightings to inform a better migration model

Funded by an NSF grant, researchers aim to develop a powerful new tool that melds data from GPS device-carrying birds with sightings by citizen science groups.

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Research Professor Cheryl Keller Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Aug 21, 2025

New director appointed at Huck Institutes Genomics Core

Research Professor Cheryl Keller has been named the new director of the Genomics Core Facility in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.

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David Kennedy, associate professor of biology at Penn State, and Clara Shaw, now assistant professor of biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth Credit: Keith Hickey / Penn State / Penn State. Creative Commons

Aug 21, 2025

What traits matter when predicting disease emergence in new populations?

Traits of early virus spread help determine if a virus will ultimately persist in a new population, according to new research.

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Study lead author Sophia Kenney, postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Animal Science, samples a maternity pen for Salmonella Dublin. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Aug 21, 2025

Bacteria strains infecting cattle and humans in US are highly similar

Researchers report dangerous, often antibiotic-resistant pathogen called Salmonella Dublin is circulating among animals, humans and food-associated environments.

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