News

New 'Life From All Angles' video highlights Lance Lian’s stem cell research

The latest episode of "Life From All Angles," a YouTube series from the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, features Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Xiaojun "Lance" Lian and his efforts to produce new cardiomyocytes to advance the effectiveness of stem cell differentiation.

Corn-colonizing fungus may help the crop repel disease, grow larger

A fungus that can colonize, or grow within, corn plants doesn’t just leave the plant unharmed — it also can help the plant stave off harmful bugs and other fungi, according to a new study by Penn State researchers.

New grant looks to biomaterials to help reduce construction waste

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nearly 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris from man-made polymers and petroleum-based materials was generated in 2018 in the United States.

Study examines feeding damage caused by spotted lanternflies on young maples

Short-term, heavy feeding by adult spotted lanternflies on young maple trees inhibits photosynthesis, potentially impairing the tree’s growth by up to 50 percent, according to a new study by Penn State scientists.

Model shows how intelligent-like behavior can emerge from non-living agents

From a distance, they looked like clouds of dust. Yet, the swarm of microrobots in author Michael Crichton’s bestseller “Prey” was self-organized.

Novel 3D imaging model may show path to more water-efficient plants

Changes in Earth’s orbit that favored hotter conditions may have helped trigger a rapid global warming event 56 million years ago that is considered an analogue for modern climate change, according to an international team of scientists.

Materials Research Institute accepting proposals for two seed grant projects

The Materials Research Institute (MRI) offers a series of seed grants to Penn State researchers that encourage high-risk, high-impact collaborative projects across multiple disciplines with great potential for societal benefit. Currently, calls for proposals are open for two seed grant programs.

Combination of two materials creates high-performance, stretchy nanogenerator

The popularity of wearable electronics has induced demand for their parts, including power sources such as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs).

National Academy of Inventors names three Penn Staters as 2022 fellows

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) named three Penn State College of Engineering faculty members as fellows, the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors.

Many genes linked to alcohol and tobacco use are shared among diverse ancestries

Penn State researchers co-led a large genetic study that identified more than 2,300 genes predicting alcohol and tobacco use after analyzing data from more than 3.4 million people.