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.
Freshwater mussels found in Pennsylvania streams contain radium from fracking wastewater, indicating the water's pollution level. The mussels' shells and tissues absorb radioactive particles, which can accumulate in the food chain and potentially harm endangered species.
A novel approach to training AI systems uses information about spatial position to identify objects and navigate surroundings, inspired by children's visual development. The method improves contrastive learning models' effectiveness by incorporating simulated spatial context information, outperforming base models in various tasks.
Researchers developed an adhesive sensing device that seamlessly attaches to human skin to detect and monitor various health signals, such as glucose levels and heart rate. The device can be reprogrammed and recycled, making it a potential tool for managing diseases like diabetes.
Researchers have generated complete 'end-to-end' reference genomes for the sex chromosomes of five great ape species, highlighting enormous variation on the Y chromosome. The findings inform understanding of diseases related to genes on these chromosomes in both apes and humans.
A new analysis reveals that national-level data on rubella vaccination may overlook nuances at the local level, affecting vaccination efforts. Introducing a vaccine program can reduce CRS cases by thousands in the first five years.
A new AI algorithm developed by Penn State researchers may lead to better predictions and novel therapies for autoimmune diseases. The algorithm analyzes genetic code to identify additional genes of risk and outperforms existing methodologies, identifying 26% more novel gene and trait associations.
Scientists found that a specific strain of the H5N1 virus, which caused a 2022 mink outbreak, can transmit through the air to ferrets with limited effectiveness. The study suggests these viruses may be evolving to infect mammals and potentially pose increased risk to humans.
The Penn State research project, funded with a $1.33 million DOE grant, focuses on replacing coal-based materials with biomass in steel manufacturing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the researchers plan to introduce a microcredential program to provide industry-specific training for underrepresented groups.
Researchers have developed cold sintering to recycle materials repeatedly without a decrease in quality. This process combines powder-based materials into dense forms at low temperatures and allows for recycling multiple times.
The project aims to extract and concentrate rare earth elements from domestic coal-based acid mine drainage, producing high-purity materials for magnet and super alloy applications. The goal is to establish a 100% domestic supply chain, reducing U.S. reliance on foreign suppliers.
A new model combines wildfire smoke forecasts and ground-based sensor data to help public health officials plan targeted interventions. The researchers found that urban and rural communities already burdened by pollution face higher air pollution levels during unexpected smoke events.
A new study proposes that ancient cratons played a key role in stabilizing Earth's continents 3 billion years ago. The researchers suggest that the exposure of fresh rock to wind and rain triggered geological processes that ultimately stabilized the crust. This mechanism may represent a new understanding of how habitable planets evolve.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a new, improved material called borophene, which is more conductive, thinner, lighter, stronger, and more flexible than graphene. The team has also imparted chirality on the material, enabling it to interact with cells and other biological units in unique ways.
The study found that variation in heat tolerance is influenced by size, sex, and infection status of the bees. Body size and environmental temperature have context- and sex-dependent effects on heat tolerance. Parasite infection also plays a role, particularly among female bees.
The study reveals that cellobiose fragments can bind to the tunnel's back door and block subsequent cellulose molecules, as well as bind to Cel7A near the front door, preventing enzyme binding. New methods could be developed to fine-tune this process, improving biofuel production efficiency.
A recent study published in Food Quality and Preference revealed that one in eight adults enjoy intensely sour sensations. Researchers found three distinct patterns of response to sourness: a strong negative group, an intermediate group with muted drops in liking, and a strong positive group where liking increased with more sourness.
Scientists developed a new tool to predict methane emission flux behavior from abandoned shale gas wells. By analyzing shale samples, they created a unified gas transport model to estimate methane emissions after a well is decommissioned.
The National Synthesis Center for Emergence in the Molecular and Cellular Sciences will enable research using publicly available data to gain insights into how complex biological systems emerge from simpler molecules. The center aims to understand emergent properties at the mesoscale, influencing higher subcellular and cellular outcomes.
Researchers at Penn State have made light effectively experience a magnetic field within a photonic crystal structure. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient lasers and other photonic technologies by increasing the interaction between light and matter.
Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically modify kissing bugs, opening a door to controlling Chagas disease. The new method, ReMOT Control, allows efficient and targeted editing of genes in eggs.
The Penn State Listening Lab is analyzing national park sounds to understand human impact on wildlife, ecosystems, and visitor experiences. This research aims to inform conservation policies and protect natural quiet.
Researchers found that people on caloric restriction lost telomeres more rapidly at first and then more slowly after their weight stabilized. The two-year timeline was not sufficient to show benefits, but those may still be revealed in longer-term data collection.
A new online curriculum and simulation training program, developed by Penn State researchers, significantly reduced complications in central line placement. The program, launched in 2022, has been shown to decrease error rates for mechanical issues, infections, and blood clots.
The partnership aims to advance carbon research and evaluate the impact of Morgan's carbon material products on SiC wafer fabrication. The initiative will create a new five-year, multimillion-dollar program to explore next-generation SiC crystal research and workforce development.
A probiotic feed additive has been found to significantly boost growth and improve gut health in broiler chickens. The study suggests that the supplement can help reduce antimicrobial resistance, a major public health threat.
The alliance aims to advance silicon carbide research, development, and workforce training in the US. It will focus on developing efficient and sustainable energy infrastructure, including electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.