News

Rabbit virus has evolved to become more deadly, new research finds

A common misconception is that viruses become milder over time as they become endemic within a population. Yet new research, led by Penn State and the University of Sydney, reveals that a virus — called myxoma —that affects rabbits has become more deadly over time

Birdsong reveals rare hybrid coupling 10 million years in the making

A team of researchers led by Penn State was able to use a combination of genomic sequencing and song analysis to identify a rare hybrid bird whose ancestors haven’t shared the same breeding location or lineage for 10 million years.

Prenatal acetaminophen use linked to sleep, attention problems in preschoolers

Acetaminophen use during pregnancy is associated with sleep and behavior problems consistent with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study by Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Bull steps down at Microbiome Center, looks forward to future innovation

After more than five years at the helm of Penn State’s Microbiome Center, founding director Carolee Bull has stepped down. Though she will continue serving as department head of plant pathology and environmental microbiology and as a professor of plant pathology and systematic bacteriology at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Bull has handed off leadership of the Microbiome Center to recent Penn State hire Seth Bordentstein.

Disease outcomes differ by new host species in virus spillover experiments

Why has the SARS-CoV-2 virus ravaged the global human population, but many other animal viruses haven't? Using nematode worms as a model, researchers at Penn State conducted a set of experiments to investigate the factors influencing the disease outcomes of virus spillover events.

'Zombie Ant Experience’ invades Penn State Berks

Penn State Berks will host a public reception for the Zombie Ant Experience on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The event will feature Huck Sci-Art Group Director Daryl Branford and senior research artist Talley Fisher, who will introduce the Penn State Berks community to their interdisciplinary project.

Makova awarded Masatoshi Nei Innovation Prize in Biology

Kateryna Makova, Verne M. Willaman Chair in the Life Sciences and professor of biology at Penn State, has been awarded the Masatoshi Nei Innovation Prize in Biology. The award was established through a generous gift from Masatoshi Nei, emeritus professor of biology at Penn State and Laura Carnell Professor of Biology at Temple University, and his wife Nobuko Nei.

Game-changing stem cell engineer Lance Lian featured on Symbiotic podcast

Xiaojun “Lance” Lian, associate professor of biomedical engineering, is set to be the Symbiotic podcast’s final guest for 2022 when he appears at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 28 on the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences’ livestream page.

Mixed cover crops capture carbon in soil, could help mitigate climate change

When it comes to adding carbon to the soil, all cover crops don’t perform equally, according to a team of researchers whose new study revealed the disparity for the first time.

Heard on Campus: Sarah Bordenstein, The Wolbachia Project

Sarah Bordenstein, associate research professor in the Eberly College of Science, and director of Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project, spoke at the Millennium Café on Sept. 13.