News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

The agroforestry practice of forest farming may be a solution to conservation challenges surrounding the wild exploitation of ramps, often called wild leeks, but it requires proper site selection to be successful. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 26, 2024

Better habitats for forest farming wild leeks could help future foraging demands

An interdisciplinary Penn State research team characterized ramp habitat for the first time in Pennsylvania, offering guidance for the agroforestry practice known as forest farming.

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Biochar comprises organic waste material and is made by pyrolysis, a process that involves heating the organic material in a limited oxygen environment. Credit: Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 26, 2024

Researchers to study how to make carbon-storing product safer, more sustainable

Funded by a USDA grant, an international team led by Penn State researchers aims to mitigate toxic organic compounds produced in manufacturing of the biomaterial known as biochar.

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Xiaojun “Lance” Lian, associate professor of biomedical engineering and of biology at Penn State, will work on generating universal donor stem cells through genome editing of pluripotent stem cells in his lab. Credit: Kate Myers/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 26, 2024

$2.6M grant to advance potential stem cell-based heart disease treatment

Combining stem cells and silicon nanowires in lab-grown tissue has shown promise as a step toward a new treatment for heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, according to a multi-institutional research team.

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The researchers said they hope their recent findings will give homeowners the confidence to participate in tick management around their homes and yards. Credit: Dillon Fancher/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 25, 2024

Tick tubes help reduce the parasites on mice, but time and frequency matters

A new study led by researchers at Penn State analyzed the effectiveness of a simple, inexpensive strategy for controlling ticks that homeowners can use in their backyards.

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Research team leader Heather Preisendanz, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Penn State, deploys a sampling device in Spruce Creek to detect contaminants of emerging concern in the water. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 22, 2024

Alternate stream water-testing method detects emerging contaminants

In a study on central Pennsylvania streams, a new way of analyzing water quality reveals chemicals from pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

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Igor Aronson, Huck Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Mathematics, and his co-principal investigator Erwin Frey, professor of physics at Ludwin-Maximilians Universität in Munich, Germany, received a $1,058,000 grant from the John Templeton Foundation to advance this research by considering different populations of agents, how they evolve and the different characteristics of such agents. The research team is focused on understanding how simple interactions between microrobots lead to complex, or intelligent-like behavior such as threat detection, disassembling and reorganizing on signal, and shape retention. Credit: Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 22, 2024

Q&A: How does ‘collective intelligence’ emerge among tiny robots?

Researcher awarded $1.05M to study the emergence of collective intelligence among simple microrobots.

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To recognize Penn State for its impactful cacao and chocolate research, the government of Ecuador gifted a replica of an ancient ceramic vessel containing remnants of cacao dating back 5,300 years. Present at the ceremony were, from left, Monica Sanchez, minister of the foreign service, Ecuador; Soledad Peña, office of deputy chief of mission, Embassy of Ecuador; Cristian Espinosa, ambassador of Ecuador in the United States; Mark Gultinan, professor of plant molecular biology and director of the Penn State Plant Institute; Siela Maximova, research professor of biotechnology and director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Penn State Global; Mariuxi Cárdenas Rodas, cultural and educational attaché; and Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director, Ag Sciences Global. Credit: Daryl Branford. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 22, 2024

Penn State receives replica of historic ceramic vessel from Ecuador government

In recognition of Penn State’s impactful contributions to cacao and chocolate research, the government of Ecuador presented the University and its College of Agricultural Sciences with a replica of an ancient ceramic vessel.

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Anyone interested in managing weight while eating satisfying and nutritious foods can learn about a science-based way to accomplish those goals by attending a six-part Penn State Extension webinar series, “The Volumetrics Weigh of Life: Weight Management Plan." Credit: The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet by Barbara Rolls. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 20, 2024

With the new year, establish new healthy habits with Volumetrics series

Anyone interested in managing weight while eating satisfying and nutritious foods can learn about a science-based way to accomplish those goals by attending a six-part Penn State Extension series, “The Volumetrics Weigh of Life: Weight Management Plan.”

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New research shows that binge drinking in early adult mice can lead to long-lasting and potentially permanent dysregulation in the brain. The researchers used patch-clamp electrophysiology, shown here, to understand how signaling in the brain was impacted by alcohol after a long period of abstinence. Credit: Kelby Hochreither / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 19, 2024

Early adult binge drinking has lasting impact on aging brain in mice

Binge drinking in early adults can lead to long-lasting and potentially permanent dysregulation in the brain, according to a new study in mice, led by researchers at Penn State.

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A study led by researchers at Penn State analyzed data from 430 rivers across the U.S. and found that phosphorus loss from agricultural lands has increased over the past four decades, despite efforts to reduce it. This loss of phosphorus can potentially lead to decreased crop yields, which can possibly drive up the cost of food, the researchers explained. Credit: Tyler Groh / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 18, 2024

American soil losing more crop nutrients due to heavier rainstorms, study shows

Loss of phosphorus from agricultural lands is increasing due to heavier storms, potentially threatening crop growth, according to team led by researchers at Penn State.

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