News

Engineering Biofilms: Understanding how bacteria function in communities could lead to a host of new applications

From oil-spill clean-up to producing alternative fuels, microbial communities have the potential to do great good. Professor Tom Wood is determined to figure out how.

Penn State open online course "infects" learners, causing a "virtual pandemic"

In a free new online course, "Epidemics: the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases," offered by the Eberly College of Science at Penn State, students and members of the public will learn about how infectious diseases spread by playing a real-time epidemic game " a "virtual apocalypse," which instructors will run in parallel with the more traditional lessons.

Penn State Hershey researcher receives $765,000 for diabetes research

Work done by Penn State College of Medicines Dr. Alaa S. Awad to identify potential new therapies for diabetic kidney disease recently earned $765,000 through Novo Nordisk's Diabetes Innovation Award Program.

19th Plant Biology Symposium at Penn State will be hosted by Plant Biology graduate program

The international conference, entitled "Cellulose synthesis, structure, matrix interactions and technology," will be held May 16-18, 2013, at University Park, and is being sponsored by the Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation.

Probing Question: Is being overweight always bad for your health?

According to Gordon Jensen, head of Penn State's Department of Nutritional Sciences, the answer may be "no" " at least for those of us who are lucky enough to live to the age of 75 and beyond.

Craig E. Cameron appointed the Eberly Family Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Craig E. Cameron, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State, has been appointed the Holder of the Eberly Family Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Engineering control theory helps create dynamic brain models

Models of the human brain, patterned on engineering control theory, may some day help researchers control such neurological diseases as epilepsy, Parkinson's, and migraines, according to Steven Schiff, who is using mathematical models of neuron networks from which more complex brain models emerge.

Decoys could blunt spread of ash-killing beetles

After 25 years, Tom Baker and other researchers may have found a way to keep the emerald ash borer in check.

Huck Institutes graduate student launches Yellowstone Wolf: Project Citizen Science

Ecology student Emily Almberg is working to harness public interest in Yellowstone's wolves with a citizen science website aimed at improving research and public outreach.

Microbes team up to boost plants' stress tolerance

While most farmers consider viruses and fungi potential threats to their crops, these microbes can help wild plants adapt to extreme conditions, according to Marilyn Roossinck.