News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

Mark Latash and Sayan Deep De Credit: Provided by Sayan Deep De. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 25, 2025

Q&A: How do humans control their bodies?

Research into the neurological and physical mechanisms that humans use to perform everyday tasks can reveal much — including who may be at a higher risk for Parkinson’s disease.

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Penn State doctoral students selected to participate in the Biotechnological and Integrative Opportunities in Microbiome Science doctoral training fellowship, from top left: Erika Biernbaum, Talon Jost, Paula Blanco Ortiz, Jie Feng, Natalie Ford, Jessica Gaydos, Ashley Ohstrom, Shane Connolly, Mackenna Yount, Yara Cavalcante Viera and Kathleen Culhane. Credit: Provided by fellows. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 23, 2025

One Health Microbiome Center awards 11 inaugural doctoral training fellows

Fellows represent the first cohort of the National Institutes of Health-supported doctoral training program in microbiome sciences and biotechnology.

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Mycelium of phytophthora palmivora, which can give rise to cacao black pod disease, grows from an agar plug, infecting a cacao leaf 48 hours after inoculation. Credit: Mark Guiltinan/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 23, 2025

Gene editing, traditional crossbreeding produce disease-resistant cacao plants

Novel approach could revolutionize sustainable chocolate production while addressing global food security, researchers report.

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Andrew Patterson has been named director of Penn State’s Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis. Credit: Michael Houtz. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 23, 2025

Patterson to lead Penn State center on environment and health

Andrew Patterson has been named director of the Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis.

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The human egg cell, illustrated here, contains specialized genetic instructions called mitochondrial DNA. Credit: Jezperklauzen/Getty Images. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 23, 2025

In brief: Certain age-related DNA mutations are less common in human eggs

A new Penn State-led study suggests that human eggs may have a built-in defense against age-related DNA mutations, a finding that could help researchers better understand reproductive aging and health.

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Extension Educator Michael Powell instructs on proper, safe chainsaw usage. Penn State Extension offers videos on using the powerful, dangerous tools safely. Credit: Michael Houtz/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 19, 2025

Q&A: What are the best ways to protect against chainsaw injuries?

Expert in College of Agricultural Sciences offers suggestions on how to prevent injuries while using a chainsaw.

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Study first author, Marjorie Jauregui, a pilot plant research technologist at Penn State, found that radish microgreens, no matter at what temperature they were dried, retained a significant portion of nutrients. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Sep 19, 2025

Hot air drying largely preserves nutritional composition of radish microgreens

Inexpensive, low-tech process preserves plant compounds that provide health benefits; offers potential insight into producing microgreens food powder supplements.

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Sep 19, 2025

NSF STAIR launches inaugural undergrad internship in research administration

Five students from a national pool of more than 600 will spend 10 weeks learning from Penn State subject matter experts in research administration.

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If beekeepers use organic management practices over time, they even can produce 50% more honey than when following conventional management practices, according to the researchers. Credit: Simon Kadula/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

Sep 18, 2025

Organic beekeeping can be even more profitable than conventional methods

Organic beekeeping can support healthy and productive honey bee colonies, and a new study led by researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences found that adopting organic honey bee colony management is not only profitable, but in some cases, it can be even more profitable than conventional management.

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Credit: Keith Hickey / Penn State. Creative Commons

Sep 15, 2025

September open house to showcase Huck Institutes instrumentation facilities

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences will host an open house event on Wednesday, Sept. 24, to advertise the high-tech instrumentation and expert consulting services available in its 11 core facilities.

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