News

$2.8M grant to fund bioprinting for reconstruction of face, mouth, skull tissues

Seamlessly correcting defects in the face, mouth and skull is highly challenging because it requires precise stacking of a variety of tissues including bone, muscle, fat and skin. Now, Penn State researchers are investigating methods to 3D bioprint and grow the appropriate tissues for craniomaxillofacial reconstruction.

Penn State receives five-year $3.7 million grant to study virus evolution

The evolution of viruses will be the focus of a five-year $3.7 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation’s new program on convergence research, to an interdisciplinary team led by Penn State. The grant is in two phases, depending on successful completion of phase one milestones.

Scientists solve structure enabling cyanobacteria to thrive in low light

Scientists have determined the structure of the protein complex that gives cyanobacteria their unique ability to convert weak, filtered sunlight into useable energy. Their findings could one day be used to engineer crops that thrive under low-light conditions.

Herringbone pattern in plant cell walls critical to cell growth

Plant cells tend to grow longer instead of wider due to the alignment of the many layers of cellulose that make up their cell walls, according to a new study that may have implications for biofuels research.

Academia-enterprise partnership aims to help people with diabetes

Innovative wound dressing would help reduce life-threatening infections, amputations for diabetic patients.

Ecology Institute invites University community to attend planning meetings

Penn State’s Ecology Institute has announced three planning meetings, which look to collectively identify objectives and prioritize activities that the institute can pursue moving forward. Additionally, information from preliminary survey data will be shared.

Palmer Museum of Art premieres new exhibition of African art

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State announces its first major exhibition for the 2020 season, "African Brilliance: A Diplomat’s Sixty Years of Collecting." Opening on Feb. 8, the exhibition will showcase more than 80 works from East, Central, and West Africa collected over six decades by retired U.S. Ambassador Allen C. Davis.

Zhang receives National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Xin Zhang, Paul Berg Early Career Professor of Chemistry and of Biochemistry and of Molecular Biology, has been honored with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation in recognition of his work to “quantify cellular proteome stress and recovery using chemical methods.”

Persistent environmental contaminant changes the gut microbiome of mice

An industrial chemical — phased out since 2002, but previously used in stain and water-repellent products and firefighting foam — alters the gut microbiome of mice and could have implications for human health, according to an international team of researchers.

Researchers found that insecticide toxicity has increased over the last 20 years. IMAGE: NICK SLOFF, PENN STATE

Insecticides becoming more toxic to honey bees

Researchers discover that neonicotinoid seed treatments are driving a dramatic increase in insecticide toxicity in U.S. agricultural landscapes, despite evidence that these treatments have little to no benefit in many crops.