News
Jan 28, 2026
Ask a scientist: What happens to animals during a volcanic eruption?
Penn State researchers Julian Avery, associate research professor of wildlife ecology and conservation, and Christelle Wauthier, associate professor of geosciences, answer questions about volcanoes submitted by elementary school students.
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Jan 23, 2026
Nominate the next Microbiome Medal Laureate
The Microbiome Medal honors scholars or a group of scholars who demonstrate excellence, acumen and ingenuity in research, mentorship and service to the global field of microbiome science. Members of the global microbiome research community at any stage of their career are encouraged to nominate a scientist or group of scientists who exemplify this mission of the Microbiome Medal.
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Jan 22, 2026
Domestication has changed the chemicals squash flowers use to attract bees
In a new study published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology, a team led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that domesticated flowers have different scent chemical profiles than wild plants in several species of squash. Additionally, the specialized pollinators of these plants—squash bees—detect different compounds, called floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wild plants that they co-evolved with than in domesticated plants.
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Jan 22, 2026
College of Ag Sciences awards bridge funding for global research collaborations
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has awarded bridge funding to four faculty members to support research collaborations addressing soil fertility, public health, climate resilience and agricultural trade include two from the Center for Root and Rhizosphere Biology.
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Jan 21, 2026
Penn State students take top honors in video challenge on the value of research
A team of students working in Andrew Patterson's lab used their experience in research and storytelling to advocate for federally funded research and take top prizes in the Science Coalition’s 2025 Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Student Video Challenge
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Jan 16, 2026
New genomics, metabolomics instruments added to Huck facilities
Recently acquired scientific instruments have enhanced the research capabilities of two Huck facilities.
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Jan 16, 2026
Disease ecologist awarded grant to study ’infectome’ effects on fungal disease
Molly Bletz, assistant professor of disease ecology at Penn State, has been awarded a 2025 New Investigator Grant by the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation, which is administered by The Pittsburgh Foundation and awards grants to support scientists at Pennsylvania colleges and universities conducting innovative and interdisciplinary research
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Jan 16, 2026
Penn State Neuroscience Institute announces spring 2026 speakers
Hosted in conjunction with the Neuroscience Intercollege Graduate Degree Program, the spring 2026 seminar series brings together an international slate of leading experts in neuroscience, biodevices and brain research.
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Jan 16, 2026
Investigating the microbiome’s role in intestinal disorder in pregnancy
Jessica Grembi, an assistant professor of pharmacology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, has received a $500,000 grant from the Gates Foundation to investigate the role of the microbiome in environmental enteropathy — a condition characterized by inflammation of the small intestine that affects nutrient absorption.
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Jan 14, 2026
Penn State Extension AI tool, Tilva, expands access to research-based guidance
Penn State Extension unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered tool called Tilva at the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Tilva is aimed at giving farmers around-the-clock access to trusted answers.
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