News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

Oct 28, 2025

Modern methods in biological research course to be offered in spring 2026

Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences core facilities are offering a new course for spring 2026, Modern Methods in Biological Research, for upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students studying in the life sciences.

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Erica Smithwick is a distinguished professor of geography in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Credit: Provided. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 27, 2025

Erica Smithwick to participate in panel on communicating climate research

Erica Smithwick, the director of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State, will join three other climate scholars at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, for a virtual panel event on communication.

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Entomologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences examined the potential for birds to feed on spotted lanternflies. Credit: Anne Johnson / Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct 27, 2025

Spotted lanternfly may use ‘toxic shield’ to fend off bird predators

Spotted lanternflies may season themselves to the distaste of potential bird predators, according to a new study led by entomologists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

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Feral hogs, like this one pictured in a Louisiana swamp, were an animal mentioned in a new study that analyzed over half a million tweets to understand how the public talks about invasive species. Other frequently mentioned animals included cats, dogs, squirrels, goats, rats and horses. Credit: Pedro Mendes/Creative Commons. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 27, 2025

Small group of users drive invasive species awareness on social media

A new study co-authored by a scientist at Penn State analyzed over half a million tweets to understand how the public talks about invasive species — and which accounts are driving the conversation.

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Thomas Wood is investigating a previously overlooked bacterial defense system that can stop viruses in their tracks. Credit: Poornima Tomy/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 24, 2025

Old dog, new tricks: Prehistoric viruses can be used to defend bacterial cells

Bacteria infected with ‘fossilized’ viruses offer promising defense against antibiotic-resistant viruses, according to researchers.

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Oct 22, 2025

Oct. 24 kicks off 'Plants for the People and the Planet' innovation series

This free seminar series, open to the community at-large, will showcase cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives on how plants can shape a healthier, more sustainable future.

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In a new Q&A with the Penn Stater magazine, Andrew Read, Penn State senior vice president for research, underscores the link between publicly funded basic research and long-term innovation, economic growth and societal benefit — and the very real risks if the pipeline falters. “The Envy of the World” appears in the Penn Stater's November/December 2025 issue and is available online now at pennstatermag.com/read. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct 21, 2025

Cuts threaten 'The Envy of the World': Penn Stater magazine interview

Penn State’s long-standing partnerships with federal agencies have helped establish its global research leadership, but that progress could be threatened if crucial funding is reduced, warns Andrew Read, the university’s senior vice president for research.

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A team of researchers from Penn State and the University of Illinois Chicago has been awarded a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to employ biomedical research, clinical data, advanced artificial intelligence and mathematical modeling methods to ultimately support personalized medicine for people with Alzheimer’s disease. The team at Penn State includes Wenrui Hao, professor of mathematics and director of the Center for Mathematical Biology; Rui Zhang, assistant professor of computer science and engineering; and Wenpeng Yin, assistant professor of computer science and engineering. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct 20, 2025

Can digital replicas of patients help personalize Alzheimer’s treatment?

New NSF grant supports project to build 'digital twin' replicas of patients using clinical data to study disease progression and treatment options.

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From left: Joy Bergelson, Arturo Casadevall, and Martin Wiedmann will present as keynote speakers at the 2026 One Health Microbiome Symposium. Credit: Joy Bergelson, Arturo Casadevall, Martin Wiedmann. All Rights Reserved.

Oct 15, 2025

One Health Microbiome Center announces 2026 symposium, keynote speaker lineup

The One Health Microbiome Center (OHMC) in the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences will host the One Health Microbiome Symposium on May 13 and 14, 2026.

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Clive Randall, Evan Pugh University Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, has been elected as a fellow of the European Academy of Sciences. Credit: Seana Wood / Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct 15, 2025

Clive Randall elected as fellow of the European Academy of Sciences

Clive Randall, Evan Pugh University Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, has been elected as a fellow of the European Academy of Sciences.

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