News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

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

May 21, 2025

Looking to cut calories? Try adding chilies, study suggests

Throwing a little heat on your meal might be an effective strategy for cutting back on calories, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State.

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New York City is heating up, and East Elmhurst is feeling it. With an Outdoor Heat Exposure Index (OHEI) of 3.8, this Queens neighborhood faces medium-high heat risk due to elevated surface temperatures, low tree canopy and limited cool roofs. East Elmhurst ranks above both the NYC and Queens averages in heat exposure. Credit: Travis Flohr. All Rights Reserved.

May 19, 2025

Urban heat portal aims to tackle rising temperatures, protect at-risk residents

As heat and associated risks intensify in cities around the world, a new tool developed by researchers in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School at Penn State and the Department of Urban Policy at Hunter College aims to shed light on how rising temperatures affect New York City’s neighborhoods — and what can be done to protect the most vulnerable communities.

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Penn State College of Engineering professors Swaroop Ghosh, left, and Vishal Monga, right, pose for separate headshots. Credit: College of Engineering/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

May 19, 2025

Two engineering professors named international AI association fellows

Swaroop Ghosh, Penn State professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and Vishal Monga, Penn State professor of electrical engineering, have been selected as 2025 fellows of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA).

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May 19, 2025

Andrew Read to host conversation focused on executive action affecting research

The Penn State community is invited to attend a conversation hosted by Penn State Senior Vice President for Research Andrew Read at 1:45 p.m. on May 28 at the University Park campus and live online.

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May 16, 2025

Huck seed grant program introduces new research themes for the life sciences

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences has launched its 2025-2026 new seed grant program. Huck seed grants foster innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative life sciences research.

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The research team for "Assessing Climate Futures through Environmental Data Analytics," led by Professor Erica Smithwick (middle). Credit: Erica Smithwick. All Rights Reserved.

May 14, 2025

Second round of Penn State-Auckland seed grant recipients complete projects

The 18-month term for the 2023-24 seed grant-funded projects recently concluded, with the teams submitting their final reports.

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Troy Ott, dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, will share his story of growing up in a kinship family and reflect on how those experiences shaped his life. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

May 13, 2025

Learn about kinship care through Dean Troy Ott’s personal journey

An upcoming session will offer insight into kinship care through the lived experience of someone raised in a kinship family: Troy Ott, dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

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May 13, 2025

Penn State submits declaration in response to proposed NSF funding cuts

Penn State has submitted a declaration in support of a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts to seek to halt the NSF's proposed 15% indirect cost rate.

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A printed prototype using the current version of the custom extrusion system for in-place 3D concrete printing. This iteration demonstrates the successful integration of continuous reinforcement with concrete deposition, marking a key step in the ongoing development toward structural-scale applications. Credit: Ali Baghi. All Rights Reserved.

May 08, 2025

Manufacturing PA Innovation Program funds two Stuckeman-led research projects

Two projects led by Stuckeman School architecture researchers have garnered grants through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Manufacturing PA Innovation Program

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This fossil leaf of a Kapur Paya tree (Dryobalanops rappa) from Brunei is the first fossil record of an endangered tropical tree species. Credit: Wang/Wilf. All Rights Reserved.

May 08, 2025

First fossil evidence of endangered tropical tree discovered

The finding offers new insights into Asia’s rainforest history, researchers say.

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