Households with teenage children where one or more members smoked or vaped were more likely to relax their vaping ban. Parents who talked about e-cigarettes and vaping with their teens were less likely to drop the ban.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that middle-aged and older women are more susceptible to extreme heat due to physiological changes. The study identified specific temperature/humidity levels safe for women as they age, providing valuable information for setting policies during heat waves.
Researchers developed an ultrathin optical element that attaches to conventional cameras, encoding spectral and polarization data. The metasurface enables the capture of both types of imaging data simultaneously, transmitting it immediately to a computer for real-time decoding by machine learning frameworks.
Researchers aim to develop a voice assistant delivering customized cognitive stimulation therapy to improve the quality of life for persons living with dementia and their care partners. The project has the potential to positively impact a large population, including those in remote areas.
Researchers found that women with opioid use disorder face structural barriers and stigma that may keep them from engaging with traditional harm reduction practices. Increasing accessibility of harm reduction tools and expanding education are key recommendations to reduce overdose risk for women.
A recent study found that 26 highly trained community scientists in Pennsylvania were more effective at documenting bee diversity than thousands of users of the photo-based app iNaturalist. The volunteers collected over twice as much biodiversity data, including new species and county records, through a collections-based program.
Researchers at Penn State and Stanford University discovered that blocking IDO1 enzyme can rescue memory and brain function in models of Alzheimer's disease. This breakthrough suggests that IDO1 inhibitors, already developed for cancer treatment, could be used to treat early stages of neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers found that honey bees consistently had higher levels of viruses than bumble bees, suggesting they may be reinfecting native bee communities each spring. Good honey bee colony management is crucial for healthy pollinator communities.
Researchers discovered large fossil beans in Indonesian Borneo, indicating the ancestors of black bean trees migrated from Asia to Australia during tectonic plate collision. The findings provide first macrofossil evidence of a plant lineage moving from Asia into Australia.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that US firms using cloud computing services are more likely to export goods and services, especially those located outside large cities. The study suggests that accessing cloud services may help level the playing field for non-urban firms and promote their expansion into international markets.
A study in mice found that early life exposure to persistent organic pollutants, such as TCDF, disrupts the gut microbiome and leads to metabolic disorders. The altered microbiome is associated with changes in bacterial species, including Akkermansia muciniphila, which plays a crucial role in overall gut health.
A study found that children who went to bed later and slept fewer hours during childhood and adolescence were more likely to try alcohol or marijuana by age 15. The researchers suggest that improving sleep in the school-age population could lead to improvements in other aspects of health, such as decision making.
A new study found that potassium ion channels in the Shaker family were present in single-cell organisms before the origin of the nervous system. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of how these ion channels evolved alongside the nervous system.
A study published in BMJ Open suggests that Australia's high life expectancy can serve as a model for the US to improve its own life expectancy. The research found that Australians have a lower mortality rate from drug overdose, car accidents, and homicide compared to Americans. By adopting similar policies such as investing in public ...
A new study published in PLOS One found that most people view humor as an effective parenting tool, leading to improved relationships between parents and children. The research team surveyed 312 people aged 18-45 and discovered a correlation between a parent's use of humor and the quality of their relationship with their children.
A team of researchers from Penn State has identified HDAC3 as a key contributor to age-related impairments in memory updating. When blocked, older mice performed similarly to their younger counterparts, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for improving cognitive flexibility in old age.
Researchers found that serving a dip with a salty snack significantly increased overall energy intake, with participants consuming more calories from the combination. The study suggests that adding dip to snacks can substantially increase energy intake without people realizing it.
A new model developed by Penn State researchers more accurately predicts the causal relationship between genetic and environmental factors in disease development. The study found that lifestyle and environmental factors play a larger role than previously believed, offering new opportunities to mitigate disease risk.
A new study by Penn State researcher Florence Becot found that 78% of farm families with children made changes to balance childcare needs with farm business responsibilities, reducing hours worked and shifting work schedules. This impacted the structure of labor on- and off-the-farm, influencing production systems, marketing channels, ...
Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to create detailed maps of mouse brains, identifying areas vulnerable to blood vessel degeneration. These changes can lead to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists at Penn State created a robust quantum highway with a switch to control electron movement, enabling the fabrication of advanced quantum devices. The innovation allows for precise control over electron flow, reducing backscattering and increasing the potential for quantum computing applications.
A team of researchers from Penn State College of Medicine identified KDR, a tyrosine kinase, as a potential drug target for treating diseases caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). By blocking KDR, the viral protein Tax is degraded, leading to cell death and disruption of cancer-causing signaling pathways.
Researchers found that well-draining soils and vegetation can manage runoff on solar farms, while engineered stormwater controls can mitigate unmitigated runoff. The study provides new insights into hydrological phenomena on solar farms, particularly on steep and complex landscapes.
Researchers discovered a hybrid lineage of black cottonwood and balsam poplar trees, showing that natural hybridization informs the evolution of plant species and enables adaptation to environmental change. The study suggests that genetic exchange between species is critical for survival in arid climates.
Researchers discovered a highly eccentric exoplanet named TIC 241249530 with an orbital eccentricity of 0.94, causing extreme temperature variations. The planet's unusual backward-orbiting motion provides insight into the formation history and future trajectories of hot Jupiters.
A new study led by Penn State researchers found that American diets improved in quality and diversity after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Diets became up to 8.5% healthier and 2.6% more diverse as people shifted from eating out to cooking at home.
Biodegradable electronics can safely degrade into materials absorbed by the body after use. Researchers have developed a way to control their dissolve rate using dissolvable elements, such as inorganic fillers and polymers, allowing them to last longer without compromising medical purpose.
A team of Penn State researchers reconfigured the design of solid-state lithium batteries to enable easy recycling. They inserted polymer layers at the interfaces between the electrode and electrolyte, which helped separate components during the recycling process.
Researchers designed an experimental platform to test the effect of user control on perception of falling down the rabbit hole. Participants watched videos with varying levels of extreme content under different autoplay modes, showing that altering aspects of online media technology can influence people's perceptions.
A team of Penn State researchers has created a modular genetic circuit that turns cancer cells into a 'Trojan horse,' causing them to self-destruct and kill nearby drug-resistant cancer cells. The circuit outsmarts resistance and eliminates it before the cancer cells can evolve.
A study found that targeting heparan sulfate-modified proteins improves cell repair, rescues neuron loss and reverses cellular changes associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Disrupting these proteins promotes autophagy-dependent cell repair and reverses early cellular problems in models of Alzheimer's.
The researchers created a 3D-printed material that can be soft and stretchable, eliminating drawbacks of previous fabrication methods. The new method uses liquid metal-based conductors with a conductive polymer mixture, resulting in high conductivity without the need for secondary activation.
Scientists have discovered tiny, bright objects in the early universe that are packed with hundreds of millions of years old stars, defying conventional thinking about galaxy evolution. The objects also harbor surprisingly large supermassive black holes, estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times more massive than our Milky Way's black hole.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that high-speed broadband availability is linked to an increase in agritourism operations. U.S. counties with faster-than-national-average speeds had 5% more agritourism businesses five years later, according to the study.
A recent study has found that frogs retain a surprising number of light-sensing proteins, contradicting the hypothesis that they lost these genes through evolution. The researchers discovered that most modern frog species have all 18 ancestral nonvisual opsins and four of five ancestral visual opsins.
A yearlong randomized controlled trial found that daily prune consumption slowed bone loss connected to osteoporosis. Participants who ate at least four to six prunes every day maintained bone density and bone strength.
A recent study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity found that empathetic children are more likely to experience poorer health when exposed to interparental conflict. The research, led by Hannah Schreier, suggests that chronic inflammation may be a key factor in this association.
A team of Penn State scientists suggest that analyzing marsquakes may help identify water miles under the Martian surface. The researchers developed a model to simulate how the seismoelectric method would perform and found it could successfully analyze aquifer properties, including thickness and salinity.
A new family tree of Solanum plants clarifies the evolution of diverse fruits, showing that size and color are linked and not driven by fruit-eating animals. The study provides insight into breeding agriculturally important plants with desirable traits.
New simulations show that neutrinos created during neutron star collisions can be trapped at the interface of merging stars and interact with matter for 2-3 milliseconds. This brief out-of-equilibrium phase is crucial in understanding the physics of these extreme events.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that loneliness can lead to negative health symptoms even for people who don't typically feel lonely. The study used data from over 1,500 participants aged 35-65 and found that reducing feelings of loneliness on a daily basis could result in fewer health issues.
A team of researchers used a hybrid approach to track the growth of supermassive black holes, finding that accretion dominated growth in most cases. Mergers made notable contributions, especially for massive black holes over the past 5 billion years.
A study analyzing nearly 4,000 haiku found that butterflies, fireflies, and crickets were the most mentioned insects, while aquatic arthropods were barely mentioned. The researchers hope to educate people about these often-overlooked groups' importance in ecosystems.
A team of researchers has created a novel approach to control thermal emission by designing an interface that joins two surfaces with different geometric properties. This allows for localized thermal emissions from designated areas, enabling applications in infrared optics, sensing, and satellite technology.
A new study led by Penn State researchers found that daily consumption of beetroot juice may improve blood vessel function and reduce future heart disease risk in postmenopausal women. Beetroot juice contains high levels of nitrate, which helps blood vessels expand and improves circulation.
A study published in Nature Water found that US children's simultaneous water and food insecurity increased nearly twice as much between 2005 and 2020. The research also revealed significant racial disparities, with Black children being 3.5 times more likely to experience both problems than white children.
A recent Penn State study has discovered that mushroom stump waste can be a nutritious and cost-effective addition to broiler chicken feed. The researchers found that supplementation with up to 3% mushroom stump waste had no negative impact on growth or digestion, but higher levels interfered with amino acid absorption.
Beekeepers who used a combination of Varroa mite treatments had higher winter colony survival rates than those using single treatments. Integrated pest management strategies also improved colony survival in harsh weather conditions.
A team of researchers from Penn State and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln developed an optical element that can control the direction of polarized electromagnetic light waves. This allows them to identify the chirality of molecules by determining how polarized light interacts with them, which is crucial for biomedicine applications.
A Penn State-led study found that female giraffes have proportionally longer necks than males, suggesting high nutritional needs drove the evolution of this trait. Giraffes adapt to reach leaves in trees by using their long necks, allowing females to access food with increasing demands as they mature.