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February 09, 2023

The Last of Us depicts a parasitic fungus evolving to control humans. Could a fungal pandemic happen in real life?
Researchers have worked out the mechanism of transcription pausing in some bacteria by determining the structures of RNA polymerase in a complex with a DNA template, an RNA product, and a protein factor using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The nucleotide addition cycle of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) is depicted by cartoon models of template DNA (tDNA, green), RNA (red), trigger loop (TL, magenta), bridge helix (BH, blue), incoming NTP (red) and Mg2+ (yellow spheres) together with the conformational changes of RNAP (swiveling, folding Trigger loop) associated with each step of the nucleotide addition cycle. NusG and non-template DNA (ntDNA, light green) interaction (center panel) inhibits the RNAP swiveling, the Trigger loop folding allosterically thus pauses RNA synthesis. Credit: Murakami Laboratory / Penn State. Creative Commons

February 09, 2023

DNA stuck in the gears of the RNA production machine

February 08, 2023

No need for checking: Smart diapers will let you know when babies need changing

February 08, 2023

Scientists Have Created A Smart Diaper That Sends Mobile Alerts To Parents When Their Baby Needs to Changing
Through innovative research and a student-centered approach to interdisciplinary education, the College of Information Sciences and Technology aims to deliver on the college's founding mission of preparing leaders for the Information Age. Credit: Penn State / Penn State. Creative Commons

February 08, 2023

Information Sciences and Technology faculty, staff recognized with annual awards
Six new Penn State researchers have become cofunded faculty members of the Institutes of Energy and the Environment. Credit: Brenna Buck. All Rights Reserved.

February 08, 2023

Six faculty members join the Institutes of Energy and the Environment
Penn State College of Medicine researchers confirmed exercise can lead to meaningful reductions in liver fat for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Credit: Getty Images | filadendron. All Rights Reserved.

February 08, 2023

150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week reduces liver fat, study finds

February 06, 2023

Researchers Developed A "Smart Diaper" That Sends Notifications To Parents’ Phones
A new AI-based tool from Penn State researchers is designed to help improve access to health care for pregnant and neonatal mothers. Credit: Jjumba Martin. All Rights Reserved.

February 06, 2023

New AI tool helps provide better care to pregnant women in Kenya
Raymond Hohl, director of the Penn State Cancer Institute, listens as Abigail Haworth, a graduate student from the University Park campus, describes her research poster, titled, "Real-time Multimodal Imaging for Cancer Diagnostics." Credit: Penn State College of Medicine / Penn State. Creative Commons

February 06, 2023

2022 Penn State Cancer Research Day: An event for trainees, by trainees

February 03, 2023

No more crying babies! Scientists develop a smart NAPPY that sends an alert to your smartphone when it needs changing
The February episode of the "Growing Impact" podcast features a seed grant project that is focused on turning agricultural and municipal wastes into bioproducts, primarily low-carbon biofuels. Credit: Brenna Buck. All Rights Reserved.

February 02, 2023

'Growing Impact' podcast discusses making fuels from waste
A Penn State-led research team integrated four humidity sensors between the absorbent layers of a diaper to create a “smart diaper,” capable of detecting wetness and alerting for a change. Credit: Huanyu “Larry” Cheng/Penn State / Penn State. Creative Commons

February 02, 2023

New sensor enables 'smart diapers,' range of other health monitors

February 01, 2023

Penn State study shows many causes of Honey bee colony loss

February 01, 2023

Bears May Rub Against Trees for Protection From Parasites
On the first Friday of February, many Americans wear red to kick off American Heart Month and bring attention to the prevalence of heart disease — the leading cause of death in the United States. Penn State statistician Xiang Zhu works with international collaborations to study the genetics of heart disease in as diverse a sample as possible to improve our understanding of disease risk and ultimately to improve heart health for everyone. Credit: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. All Rights Reserved.

February 01, 2023

Improving heart health by diversifying genetic data
Penn State alumnus Herman Pontzer, associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, will deliver Penn State's 2023 Darwin Day lecture on Feb. 22. Credit: Courtesty of Herman Pontzer. All Rights Reserved.

February 01, 2023

'Burn' author Herman Pontzer to deliver 2023 Darwin Day Lecture
Rashonda Harris Credit: Rashonda Harris. All Rights Reserved.

February 01, 2023

Rashonda Harris to become the next assistant vice president for Research

January 31, 2023

Meet the Zombie Ant Fungus That Inspired HBO's 'The Last of Us'

January 31, 2023

Deer Could Be a Reservoir of Old Coronavirus Variants, Study Suggests

January 31, 2023

Five Penn State faculty elected to 2022 cohort of AAAS Fellows
Penn State geosciences assistant professor Jesse Reimink, right, credits Chris Bolhuis with sparking his career path. Bolhuis, a teacher at Hudsonville Public High School in Michigan, was one of several selected for the inaugural class of Earth and Mineral Sciences' Educators Hall of Fame. Credit: Photo provided. All Rights Reserved.

January 31, 2023

EMS professors honor ‘Hall of Fame’ educators who inspired them
OriginLabs Director Ryan Mandell, right, will use a portion of new federal funding to create workshops focused on advanced manufacturing techniques utilizing the full array of equipment and technologies available at OriginLabs, which is located in the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub in State College. Credit: Penn State University. All Rights Reserved.

January 31, 2023

Federal funding for Invent Penn State empowers Pennsylvania workforce
Dave Eissenstat, professor of woody plant physiology, chaired Penn State’s Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology from 2007 to 2017 and served as interim head of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management for several years. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

January 31, 2023

Eissenstat retires from College of Ag Sciences after three decades at Penn State