Researchers found that Americans were less likely to respond to an email survey from a person believed to be Black than from a person believed to be white. The study, which analyzed responses from over 250,000 people, suggests that racial bias can influence everyday communication behaviors.
A new study reveals that cannabis plants can absorb heavy metals from the soil, making them potentially toxic for consumers. The research proposes strategies for growers to avoid heavy metal uptake in their crops, including choosing farmland with low heavy metal content and selecting varieties not bred for phytoremediation.
A new study by Penn State College of Medicine and Virginia Commonwealth University researchers found that e-cigarettes with cigarette-like nicotine delivery may help some people stop smoking cigarettes. Participants who received a device with 36mg/mL nicotine showed significantly higher quit rates and increased days without smoking com...
A recent Penn State survey found that most respondents strongly support bird conservation, but are largely unaware of the current state of bird populations in Pennsylvania. The study revealed significant misconceptions about bird populations and their decline over the past 50 years.
A Penn State study found that live-streaming ads for alcohol, energy drinks, and junk food significantly increased during the pandemic, targeting young viewers. The researchers discovered that energy drinks made up nearly 80% of marketing, while ads for restaurants and soda were also prevalent.
A team of scientists has discovered a thick layer of paleoregolith on the lunar surface, which could provide insight into the Moon's early asteroid impact and volcanic history. The findings suggest the paleoregolith formed much faster than previously estimated, with implications for understanding meteoric activity in the solar system.
A team of researchers has discovered a new mechanism by which antibodies can disable viruses. By distorting the virus particles, rather than just blocking their surfaces, antibodies prevent them from infecting host cells. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for diseases caused by Zika and dengue viruses.
Biomedical engineers found that individual neurons fire in seconds-long, coordinated cascades during rest, triggering activity across the brain. This organized pattern of activity may be linked to arousal and memory systems, with implications for understanding cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
Research found that US adults are divided on biometric technology use, with some comfortable using various forms like fingerprints and others uneasy about DNA and facial recognition. Context plays a significant role in shaping perspectives on biometric technologies.
A new nanotechnology developed by Penn State researchers selectively recovers neodymium and other rare earth elements from electronic waste using plant cellulose. The process is environmentally friendly and can separate neodymium in seconds, making it a sustainable solution for recycling.
A new technique developed by Penn State researchers allows for accurate general-population estimates of virus exposure, resolving key complications in traditional methods. The study found that 26% of the Vietnamese population is exposed to subtype H3N2 influenza every year, and 16% is exposed to subtype H1N1.
By introducing defects, researchers created chemically active hBN that can hold precious metal atoms, enabling cost-effective catalysts and potential applications in energy storage and sensors. This breakthrough challenges the long-held assumption that inert materials cannot be activated.
Researchers developed a framework to evaluate urbanization's impact on food and land use biodiversity. Urban areas can provide a range of approaches to increasing food diversity, including peri-urban agriculture and small farms. Strengthening food biodiversity among the urban poor can improve nutrition and security.
A new framework assesses flood risk by integrating climate model outputs and hydrologic models to predict uncertainty. The study found that climate uncertainty dominates overall uncertainty, and areas prone to flooding in the future will be mostly the same as current ones.
Researchers discovered that chemotherapy drugs can affect protein synthesis in muscle cells, even at low doses. This finding has significant implications for cancer treatment and exercise rehabilitation programs, suggesting that even non-oxidative stress effects of chemotherapy should be considered.
Researchers at Penn State have found that the conventional wisdom about the relationship between domain size and piezoelectricity in ferroelectric materials is not always correct. In contrast to existing data suggesting smaller domains lead to higher piezoelectricity, this new study shows larger domain sizes can actually result in bett...
Researchers at Penn State created a nanocomputing agent that controls protein function involved in cell movement and cancer metastasis. The logic gate, embedded in the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein, demonstrates ability to control conditional operations, introducing possibilities for precision therapeutics.
A team of Penn State researchers used high-pressure jet technology to enhance the viscosity and stability of fat-free chocolate milk, eliminating the need for carrageenan. The study found that structural changes in casein micelles and new casein-cocoa interactions induced by the processing method increased cocoa stability.
A team of researchers found that microbes are responsible for the formation and production of methane in coal deposits. They analyzed methoxyl groups in coal samples from around the world and used stable isotopes to show that organic material becomes coal through microbial action, contradicting traditional geochemical understanding.
Researchers trained a GAN to generate novel refractory high-entropy alloys with specific properties, surpassing human intuition and guesswork in material design. The model produces alloy compositions in milliseconds, offering a promising tool for determining suitable materials.
A multi-institution team led by Penn State has been awarded $39 million to develop innovative approaches to monitor, predict and combat crop pests and diseases in climate-changed worlds. The project aims to support smallholder farmers by providing effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
A study found that consuming high amounts of herbs and spices daily can lead to significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The researchers discovered that adding just 1.3 teaspoons of herbs and spices a day to an average American diet resulted in lower blood pressure after four weeks.
Research shows that infection with a fungus decreases the thermal tolerance of aphids and their beetle predator, the common ladybeetle, by more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Infected insects are less likely to cross into zones that are too warm or too cold, altering predator-prey interactions as the climate changes.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that universal school-based depression screening increased identification and treatment of adolescent depression. The three-year study involving over 12,000 students from 14 Pennsylvania public high schools showed that students who received screening were twice as likely to initiate treatment...
A recent study published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine found that people who wake up, smoke, and return to sleep are more likely driven by stress than nicotine addiction. To help these smokers quit, researchers recommend addressing their psychological distress and developing treatments that go beyond nicotine dependence.
Penn State researchers have received a $2.9 million grant to tackle challenges related to lithium-sulfur batteries, which could provide double the energy density and cycle life of current technology. The project aims to address issues such as polysulfide dissolution and dendrite formation to improve battery stability.
Astrocytes play a crucial role in self-repairing the brain and may hold the key to creating energy-efficient artificial intelligence. By emulating astrocyte functions in hardware devices, researchers aim to reduce power consumption and increase fault resilience.
A mathematical model suggests that high test administration, short testing delays, and intense non-pharmaceutical interventions decrease SARS-CoV-2 infection burdens. Increasing testing capacity can reduce reliance on costly interventions like distancing and shutdowns.
Participants preferred policies that used incentives to encourage eco-friendly choices, particularly when they targeted businesses. In contrast, policies that focused on energy alternatives and used incentives were also supported. The researchers found that policy support was influenced by the type of change targeted, who was targeted,...
A new Penn State study explores how climate change affects rain in the U.S. Corn Belt, finding that air humidity plays a crucial role. The research suggests that high near-surface humidity is most important for convective precipitation or rain, contrary to previous expectations that soil moisture would be the key factor.
Researchers at Penn State used traffic cameras and mobile device data to monitor COVID-19 cases in Centre County, PA. Movement data preceded increases in cases, suggesting that behavioral interventions like stay-at-home orders can be effective in controlling transmission.
A new study found that US gun violence increased by 30% during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 28 states experiencing significantly higher numbers of shootings. The researchers attribute this increase to added stress, worry, and fear, as well as increased access to firearms.
Research finds that online dating app tailoring affects users' perceptions of recommended partners. Users who provide information about their partner preferences tend to identify more date-worthy partners, while those without experience benefit from customizing their preferences.
A recent study from Penn State and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has discovered a natural protein called lanmodulin that can recover and purify radioactive metals like actinium. The protein-based approach simplifies the purification process, reduces costs, and enables the production of higher-purity actinium.
Researchers used satellite data to identify areas in coastal southwest Madagascar where indigenous foragers altered their surroundings, showing a 17% human impact. The study found subtle but widespread changes in soil capacity to absorb water and vegetation distribution.
A voucher program at Penn State Health St. Joseph Downtown Campus, paired with nutrition education, helped improve the health of patients with Type 2 diabetes by increasing A1c levels reduction and producing a high redemption rate for vouchers redeemed for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Adding more fruit and veggie side dishes resulted in a 24% increase in veggies and 33% more fruit, while substituting produce for other foods led to a 41% boost in veggies and 38% more fruit. The study suggests ways parents and caregivers can encourage healthy eating by experimenting with different fruits and vegetables.
Distinguished professor Michael Mann is being recognized with the Leo Szilard Lectureship Award for his contributions to public understanding of climate science controversies and mitigating climate change. He will give lectures at APS meetings and educational institutions over the next year.
A team of Penn State researchers has created a noninvasive, low-cost sensor that can detect glucose in sweat, enabling less intrusive glucose monitoring for people with diabetes. The device uses a nickel-gold alloy and is flexible enough to be worn on the body.
Researchers found that tuning the interface and twist angle of layered 2D materials enhances key properties, leading to stronger interlayer coupling and improved electronic and optical device performance. This discovery has great importance for various applications in optoelectronics, electronics, batteries, lighting, and appliances.
According to a study by Penn State researchers, more than half of the 236 million people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide since December 2019 will experience post-COVID symptoms, also known as 'long COVID', up to six months after recovery. The research team found that adults and children can experience various adverse he...
The new system, using over-current driven LED lights, improves image brightness and color consistency, reducing motion blur and variability caused by sunlight. The prototype showed an average decrease of 85% in standard deviation for hue-saturation-value channels compared to auto-exposure settings.
Researchers have proposed a wearable, flexible scanner to enable patients to move naturally during brain scans. The technology uses photoacoustic imaging to visualize the cerebral cortex without the need for sedation or confined spaces.
A new method developed by Penn State and LLNL demonstrates a promising way to extract and separate rare earth elements from low-grade sources. The protein-based approach separates metals with greater than 99% purity, offering a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods.
Researchers are sequencing genomes of 700 Bacilli bacteria to enhance CDC's capacity for detecting novel infectious disease agents. The goal is to create a large database of Bacilli to support rapid laboratory methods for detecting emerging biothreats.
A team of researchers at Penn State developed a new approach to personalize fitness tracker messages to improve motivation and physical activity. They used control systems engineering tools to tailor motivational messages based on individual user behavior, weather, and goals. The study aimed to establish the effectiveness of precision ...
A new study found that active listening by managers can improve employees' sense of personal control over their careers and reduce anxiety about potential job loss. By increasing active listening, managers can create a safe space for workers to verbalize and process their experiences, enabling them to feel more in control and valued.
A study by Penn State researchers reveals that care for the 15 most prevalent types of cancer in the US costs approximately $156.2 billion in 2018, with medication expenses accounting for the largest share. Breast cancer incurred the most services and procedures, followed by colorectal cancer.
Researchers have developed a new technique that allows visualization of every cell containing melanin pigment in 3D, in whole zebrafish. This breakthrough enables direct comparison of melanin content across normal and mutant fish, laying the foundation for further research on melanin-containing cancers.
Research finds that at-risk teen girls who have experienced sexual abuse are more likely to be cyberbullied and experience heightened offline sexual activities. Targeted intervention strategies using algorithm-based approaches could help these teens navigate the Internet safely.