News
Jun 25, 2020
Podcast unpacks global, open-source PPE manufacturing and sterilization effort
A new episode of the Huck Institutes' Symbiotic Podcast explores a project that may have helped save lives. In the face of massive PPE shortages, Penn State's MASC Project self-organized to fill gaps in global supply chains and extend the usefulness of N95 masks.
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Jun 24, 2020
Consumers can distinguish between bitter tastes in beer -- doesn’t alter liking
Although most beer consumers can distinguish between different bitter tastes in beer, this does not appear to influence which beer they like. It seems they just like beer, regardless of the source of the bitterness.
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Jun 24, 2020
Genes affecting brains and brawn?
Genes located in "copy number variants" (CNVs) — parts of chromosomes that are missing in some individuals and duplicated in others — that are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders affect more than just brain development, according to new research..
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Jun 23, 2020
Sunnier but riskier
Conservation efforts that open up the canopy of overgrown habitat for threatened timber rattlesnakes — whose venom is used in anticoagulants and other medical treatments — are beneficial to snakes but could come at a cost, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State and the University of Scranton.
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Jun 22, 2020
Victoria Braithwaite to be memorialized with new ecology research award
Penn State's ecology community will memorialize beloved faculty member Victoria Braithwaite with new research excellence award named in her honor
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Jun 16, 2020
Penn State Extension webinars focus on bee biology, ecology and management
An eight-part webinar series developed by Penn State Extension aims to teach people all about bees, discussing topics as diverse as colony survival, queen bee rearing and transforming one’s garden into a pollinator-friendly habitat.
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Jun 15, 2020
Tuberculosis spread from animals to humans greater than previously thought
The number of human tuberculosis (TB) cases that are due to transmission from animals, as opposed to human-to-human transmission, may be much higher than previously estimated, according to an international team of researchers. The results could have implications for epidemiological studies and public health interventions.
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Jun 10, 2020
Researchers aim to help cities prioritize interventions for public transit
Researchers at Penn State aim to help minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread by identifying specific subway stations in which intervention resources — such as setting up testing sites, allocating additional personnel to disinfect frequently touched surfaces in subway stations, and distributing masks and hand sanitizer — could be of greatest benefit.
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Jun 10, 2020
Bedrock type under forests greatly affects tree growth, species, carbon storage
A forest's ability to store carbon depends significantly on the bedrock beneath, according to Penn State researchers who studied forest productivity, composition and associated physical characteristics of rocks in the Appalachian ridge and Valley Region of Pennsylvania.
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Jun 09, 2020
Human presence weakens social relationships of wild giraffes
Living in close proximity to human settlements disturbs giraffe social networks, with animals having weaker bonds and fewer interactions with other giraffes, according to a new study by a team including a Penn State biologist.
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