News
May 07, 2024
Why is breaking down plant material for biofuels so slow?
Breaking down cellulose for biofuel is slow and inefficient but could avoid concerns around using a food source while taking advantage of abundant plant materials that might otherwise go to waste. New research led by Penn State investigators has revealed how several molecular roadblocks slow this process.
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May 06, 2024
Five faculty members honored with Evan Pugh University Professorships
Five Penn State professors—including Huck-affiliated faculty members Reka Albert, Vijaykrishnan Narayanan, and Clive Randall—have been named Evan Pugh University Professors, an elite and prestigious distinction conferred by the University on only 79 faculty members since the establishment of the designation in 1960.
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May 03, 2024
‘Better than graphene’ material development may improve implantable technology
Borophene, the atomically thin version of boron first synthesized in 2015, is more conductive, thinner, lighter, stronger and more flexible than graphene, the 2D version of carbon. Now, researchers at Penn State have made the material potentially more useful by imparting chirality — or handedness — on it, which could make for advanced sensors and implantable medical devices.
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May 02, 2024
'Growing Impact' podcast explores a thawing Arctic and its impacts
The latest episode of Growing Impact discusses how thawing Arctic permafrost is affecting rivers and communities in the region. With temperatures rising globally due to climate change, landscapes in the Arctic are evolving.
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Apr 29, 2024
Firefly populations at risk due to climate change, urban development
Catching fireflies is an iconic summer experience for many people living in North America, but the flickering beetles are on the decline. New research has identified factors that may be contributing to declining populations.
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Apr 25, 2024
$20M NSF grant to support center to study how complex biological processes arise
A $20 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) will support the establishment and operation of the National Synthesis Center for Emergence in the Molecular and Cellular Sciences (NCEMS) at Penn State.
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Apr 23, 2024
Penn State biologist receives new investigator award for aging–biology research
Janine Kwapis, Paul Berg Early Career Professor in the Biological Sciences at Penn State, has been selected to receive a Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Award in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research from the American Federation for Aging Research.
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Apr 23, 2024
Engineering professor named AIMBE fellow
Patrick Drew was inducted into the 2024 class of fellows for the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Drew also has affiliations with the departments of biomedical engineering, neurosurgery, and biology.
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Apr 23, 2024
Penn State molecular biologist Ross Hardison named an AAAS Fellow
Ross Hardison, Academy Professor and professor emeritus of biochemistry and molecular biology, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
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Apr 22, 2024
Kissing bugs, vector for Chagas disease, successfully gene edited for first time
Kissing bugs, or triatomine bugs, are the primary vector for Chagas disease. New research from an international team, including a Penn State researcher, demonstrates — for the first time — the use of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in kissing bugs and opens the door to research on applied strategies for Chagas disease control.
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