News

The new method may eventually help give insight into why bee populations are declining overall, according to the researchers. Credit: Adonyi Gábor/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

Analyzing genetic ‘signatures’ may give insight into what stresses wild bees

A new method of examining gene expression patterns called landscape transcriptomics may help pinpoint what causes bumble bees stress and could eventually give insight into why bee populations are declining overall.

Pennsylvania’s native bumble bee queens are particularly vulnerable to outside pressures, such as harsh winters, according to the researchers. Credit: Sandy Millar/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

The complex effects of pesticide exposure on bumble bee health

The effects of pesticide exposure on pollinator health may be more complicated than originally thought, according to a team of researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences who recently published an article on the topic in Biology Letters.

The flavonoids that provide insecticide-like protection to some corn lines against corn earworm larvae also provide pigments to the plants that show up in the silks, husks and kernels. Pictured here are the lines used in the research.  Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Select corn lines contain compounds that sicken, kill major crop pest

The compounds, called flavonoids, have an insecticidal effect on corn earworm larvae.

Luke Reynolds, a doctoral degree student in entomology at Penn State, pauses while conducting research in a growing room at a mushroom farm. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State researchers developing strategies to diminish mushroom phorid flies

The commonwealth, industry and University researchers are partnering to develop integrated pest management solutions.

Penn State's Office of Faculty Affairs has named 10 distinguished professors for 2025. The distinguished professor or distinguished librarian title recognizes outstanding academic contribution to the University. Credit: Curtis Chan / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State names 10 new distinguished professors for 2025

The distinguished professor or distinguished librarian title recognizes outstanding academic contribution to the University.

Alex Storm, left, coordinator of the forest technology associate degree program at Penn State Mont Alto, and Laura Leites, research professor of quantitative forest ecology and assistant dean for access and equity in the College of Agricultural Sciences, are working together to provide undergraduate research opportunities. Credit: Michael Houtz / Penn State. Creative Commons

Growing people and forests: The power of undergraduate research

Mont Alto program coordinator partners with former mentor to support undergraduate research opportunities.

Team Dynamics course to be available for Huck graduate students in Fall 2025

A unique team-building and leadership course, taught by faculty from the Smeal College of Business MBA program, is available for a limited number of Huck graduate students next fall.

2024 My Green Lab Consultants Zaman Ataie and Ananya Gollakota check the expiration date on a chemical bottle. Credit: Lydia Vandenbergh. All Rights Reserved.

Sustainable Labs Program increases participant engagement, welcomes new labs

Two upcoming virtual sessions will cover how labs can learn more and join next year’s cohort.

A native bee sits on a purple flower on the left, while a honey bee sits on a yellow flower on the right.  Credit: Provided by Margarita López-Uribe. All Rights Reserved.

Native bee populations can bounce back after honey bees move out

Managed honey bees have the potential to affect native bee populations when they are introduced to a new area, but a study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that, under certain conditions, the native bees can bounce back if the apiaries are moved away.

The flexible sensor, ideal for use in the human body, uses laser-induced graphene to simultaneously but separately measure temperature and strain, potentially enabling better wound healing monitoring by providing clearer insights into inflammation and recovery. Credit: Jennifer M. McCann. All Rights Reserved.

New smart sensor takes the pain out of wound monitoring

Laser-made, ultra-thin material enables precise, self-powered tracking of healing wounds.