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New study from landmark trial suggests avocados may play a role in sleep, a key factor in cardiovascular health

Anton Bankevich and Yana Safonova, two assistant professors of computer science at Penn State, helped develop a specialized algorithm to analyze and verify complex genome sequences. Credit: Caleb Craig/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Understanding us: Researchers apply algorithm to decode complex genome sequences

Study first author Yanxin Lin, left, and senior author Misha Kwasniewski examine the structure of the chemical catechin, an important polyphenol and building block of tannins. The new tannin-measurement method breaks large, complex structures into catechin ions and other fragments to characterize the original structure. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

‘Fingerprinting’ plant compounds helps explain food, drink tastes

The arc of health frameworks grew over time from one that siloed human, agricultural and environmental ecosystems from each other to a One Health structure that focused on pathogen spillovers shaping the risk of disease across ecosystems. An expanded vision of One Health microbiome sciences from Penn State incorporates the ecology of all microbes. It emphasizes that the flow of both disease-causing and health-promoting microbes links humans, environment and agriculture together to shape the sustainability of ecosystem wellness and resilience. This One Health framework intentionally unifies the microbiome sciences to advance core disciplinary theories and principles with cross-system validation and comparative studies, according to the researchers. Credit: Provided by the researchers. All Rights Reserved.

Q&A: Unifying the microbiome sciences for global health and sustainability

Edible and Biodegradable Packaging from Milk Protein and Plant Cellulose

Two Penn State doctoral students

Two Penn State doctoral students selected for industry internship in Germany

With a research portfolio encompassing biosensors, synthetic blood, advanced imaging and more, Dipanjan Pan aims to continuously innovate across disciplines. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Huck Chair in Nanomedicine plans to take research from bench to bedside

Nikki Crowley, left, principal investigator and director of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute at University Park, Huck Early Career Chair in Neurobiology and Neural Engineering and assistant professor of biology and of biomedical engineering, and collaborator, Nanyin Zhang, right, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Brain Imaging and professor of biomedical engineering, along with other team members, will use a new five-year, $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the long-term effects of excess alcohol drinking during adolescence. Credit: Keith Hickey/Huck Institutes. All Rights Reserved.

$2.9M grant funds study on long-term effects adolescent binge drinking

Study co-first author Alayna Mead, postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, stands among Torrey pine trees in southern California. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Isolated Torrey pine populations yield insights into genetic diversity

Penn State Shield logo

Huck opens search for Associate Director for Graduate Education

Old Main viewed through the Armillary Sphere, on the University Park campus. Credit: Curtis Chan / Penn State. Creative Commons  May 30, 2025

Andrew Read leads conversation on executive actions and their impact on research

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently welcomed a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to the University Park campus. One of the tours included the PlantVillage Lab, where researchers are using artificial intelligence to help smallholder farmers across Africa, Asia and the Americas adapt to climate change. It is led by David Hughes, Huck Chair in Global Food Security and professor of entomology and biology at Penn State. From left are Celeste Macilwaine, Ed Bogart, David Hughes, Derek Morr, Rimnoma Serge Ouedraogo, Bipana Paudel Timilsen and Huanhuan Wang. Credit: Contributed photo. All Rights Reserved.

Penn State’s Youth Food Lab attends UN Science, Technology, Innovation forum

Cicadas, a land lobster to humans and delicacy for animals and fish, to emerge in Pa.

Credit: Dan Lesher. All Rights Reserved.

Biology professor, Huck associate operations director to retire

The activation of Protein Kinase A (PKA) is a critical part in how the body responds to stress and starvation. Using a variety of imaging and biochemical techniques, a team of researchers from Penn State has revealed how the metabolic cycle that activates PKA resets itself between stressful events. Credit: Varun Venkatakrishnan/Anand Lab / Penn State. Creative Commons

Resetting the fight-or-flight response

Researchers Uncover Mechanisms Linking the Brain and Lungs in Asthma

Scientists create a smart sticker that reads your true feelings, even if you deliberately hide them

Energy deficiency is a common problem for athletes and other women who are physically active. A new online questionnaire, developed by researchers in the Penn State Department of Kinesiology, can identify women who may be at risk for energy deficiency. Credit: franckreporter/Getty Images. All Rights Reserved.

New online tool predicts risk of energy deficiency in young, exercising women

Invent Penn State’s NSF I-Corps Short Course is now accepting applications for its June virtual cohort, with an application deadline of Friday, May 30. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Making research market-ready: Apply for NSF I-Corps Short Course

The "Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems Symposium" is scheduled for June 12-13 at Penn State University Park. Shown are last year’s attendees. Credit: Contributed photo. All Rights Reserved.

Penn State agricultural technology event aimed at ‘closing the innovation gap’

Penn State Extension beekeeping resources are featured on a dedicated table at Mann Lake’s Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, location as part of a recent business collaboration with the leading beekeeping equipment supplier. Credit: Provided by Robyn Underwood. All Rights Reserved.

Penn State Extension expands beekeeping education offerings

A photo of a bridge on campus at Penn State University

Huck Bridge Funding Recipients Announced

A team of researchers at Penn State found that increasing spiciness slightly using dried chili pepper slowed down eating and reduced the amount of food and energy consumed at a meal, all without negatively affecting the palatability of the dish. The study was led by Paige Cunningham, pictured, a postdoctoral researcher who earned her doctorate in nutritional sciences from Penn State in 2023. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Looking to cut calories? Try adding chilies, study suggests

Common drug humans take is found to boost fertility in both women and chickens