News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

Fossil evidence is reshaping the understanding of modern forest management practices used in Australian rainforests, according to researchers

Dec 02, 2024

Q&A: What fossils reveal about ancient Australian forests and fire

Fossil evidence is reshaping the understanding of modern forest management practices used in Australian rainforests, according to researchers.

Full Article

Mónica Medina, third from right, and Julian Prieto, first on left, participate in a COP16 panel discussion on coral reef conservation after a screening of the movie "Saving Atlantis" at the Museum of Art La Tertulia. Credit: Mónica Medina. All Rights Reserved.

Dec 02, 2024

Q&A: Penn State COP16 delegation contributes to biodiversity efforts

A delegation of Penn State faculty and graduate students attended the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia.

Full Article

Penn State and U.S. National Science Foundation representatives cut a ribbon celebrating the official launch of the U.S. National Science Foundation National Synthesis Center for Emergence in the Molecular and Cellular Sciences (NCEMS) with the Penn State Nittany Lion mascot. The NCEMS launch took place on Monday, Nov. 18, and provided information about open calls for working groups, fellowships and internships, as well as a growth trajectory over the next five years. Credit: Keith Hickey/Huck Institutes. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 27, 2024

Heard on Campus: Launch of new center in molecular and cellular sciences, NCEMS

Reception celebrates new NSF-funded National Synthesis Center for Emergence in the Molecular and Cellular Sciences at Penn State.

Full Article

The agroforestry practice of forest farming may be a solution to conservation challenges surrounding the wild exploitation of ramps, often called wild leeks, but it requires proper site selection to be successful. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 26, 2024

Better habitats for forest farming wild leeks could help future foraging demands

An interdisciplinary Penn State research team characterized ramp habitat for the first time in Pennsylvania, offering guidance for the agroforestry practice known as forest farming.

Full Article

Biochar comprises organic waste material and is made by pyrolysis, a process that involves heating the organic material in a limited oxygen environment. Credit: Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 26, 2024

Researchers to study how to make carbon-storing product safer, more sustainable

Funded by a USDA grant, an international team led by Penn State researchers aims to mitigate toxic organic compounds produced in manufacturing of the biomaterial known as biochar.

Full Article

Xiaojun “Lance” Lian, associate professor of biomedical engineering and of biology at Penn State, will work on generating universal donor stem cells through genome editing of pluripotent stem cells in his lab. Credit: Kate Myers/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 26, 2024

$2.6M grant to advance potential stem cell-based heart disease treatment

Combining stem cells and silicon nanowires in lab-grown tissue has shown promise as a step toward a new treatment for heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, according to a multi-institutional research team.

Full Article

The researchers said they hope their recent findings will give homeowners the confidence to participate in tick management around their homes and yards. Credit: Dillon Fancher/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 25, 2024

Tick tubes help reduce the parasites on mice, but time and frequency matters

A new study led by researchers at Penn State analyzed the effectiveness of a simple, inexpensive strategy for controlling ticks that homeowners can use in their backyards.

Full Article

To recognize Penn State for its impactful cacao and chocolate research, the government of Ecuador gifted a replica of an ancient ceramic vessel containing remnants of cacao dating back 5,300 years. Present at the ceremony were, from left, Monica Sanchez, minister of the foreign service, Ecuador; Soledad Peña, office of deputy chief of mission, Embassy of Ecuador; Cristian Espinosa, ambassador of Ecuador in the United States; Mark Gultinan, professor of plant molecular biology and director of the Penn State Plant Institute; Siela Maximova, research professor of biotechnology and director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Penn State Global; Mariuxi Cárdenas Rodas, cultural and educational attaché; and Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director, Ag Sciences Global. Credit: Daryl Branford. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 22, 2024

Penn State receives replica of historic ceramic vessel from Ecuador government

In recognition of Penn State’s impactful contributions to cacao and chocolate research, the government of Ecuador presented the University and its College of Agricultural Sciences with a replica of an ancient ceramic vessel.

Full Article

Igor Aronson, Huck Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Mathematics, and his co-principal investigator Erwin Frey, professor of physics at Ludwin-Maximilians Universität in Munich, Germany, received a $1,058,000 grant from the John Templeton Foundation to advance this research by considering different populations of agents, how they evolve and the different characteristics of such agents. The research team is focused on understanding how simple interactions between microrobots lead to complex, or intelligent-like behavior such as threat detection, disassembling and reorganizing on signal, and shape retention. Credit: Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Nov 22, 2024

Q&A: How does ‘collective intelligence’ emerge among tiny robots?

Researcher awarded $1.05M to study the emergence of collective intelligence among simple microrobots.

Full Article

Research team leader Heather Preisendanz, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Penn State, deploys a sampling device in Spruce Creek to detect contaminants of emerging concern in the water. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 22, 2024

Alternate stream water-testing method detects emerging contaminants

In a study on central Pennsylvania streams, a new way of analyzing water quality reveals chemicals from pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

Full Article