A team at Penn State has developed a novel approach to treating bladder cancer using bacterial mixtures, known as microbial product cocktail immunotherapy. This method uses AI to personalize the treatment for each patient and has shown promising results in mice with bladder cancer, more than doubling long-term cancer survival rates.
Researchers at Penn State develop high-speed platform to produce synthetic brochosomes, complex nanostructures that make insects invisible to predators. The breakthrough enables next-gen camouflage, sensors and other advancements for humans.
Researchers at Penn State have identified a deliberate imbalance in the shape of viral shells that helps them infect their hosts. The 'loaded die' design creates a spring-loaded genome that positions genetic material precisely, allowing viruses to rapidly hijack host machinery and replicate.
A new study found that calcium accumulation in breast arteries and its progression on mammograms can predict future cardiovascular disease. Women with more severe calcification and those whose calcification worsened over time had a higher risk of heart-related events, such as heart attack, stroke, and death.
The grant aims to increase individual screenings and change how health systems embed evidence-based screening practices into everyday operations. PA-CARES will work with trusted organizations in 28 counties with the lowest screening rates to implement effective screening options and facilitate timely linkage to care.
A new study found that wood warblers have borrowed color-related genes from neighboring species, leading to the evolution of diverse plumage colors. This gene exchange, known as introgression, occurred across multiple genera and is believed to have played a role in the group's rapid diversification.
The report identifies top-priority scientific objectives and proposes four mission campaigns to maximize the scientific return of the first three human landings on Mars. It provides a science-driven roadmap balancing scientific goals with existing NASA mission plans and technological capacity.
Researchers at Penn State are developing a small, durable ventricular assist device (VAD) specifically designed for young children with heart failure. The PSU Child VAD aims to provide long-term support while waiting for a heart transplant, improving quality of life and outcomes.
Researchers developed a new device that can differentiate between active HIV infection and false positives caused by vaccines, with accuracy rates of 95% and 98%. This technology has the potential to accelerate vaccine development and improve diagnosis, addressing the limitations of existing diagnostics.
A new method developed by Penn State researchers improves the analysis of genetic data, identifying more genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS. The technique, BASIC, integrates both bulk tissue samples and single-cell data to uncover shared genetic effects across different cell types.
A scalable approach to designing and fabricating wireless electronic systems that can adapt to 3D surfaces has been developed by Penn State researchers. This method uses liquid metal patterns printed onto heat-shrinkable polymer substrates, enabling the creation of customizable smart devices.
Researchers developed a drone-based AI system to monitor turkey behavior, detecting 87% of behaviors and 98% accuracy. The system could reduce labor demands, allow continuous monitoring, and lower training burdens.
The partnership has resulted in the successful commercialization of LionGlass, a new family of glass developed at Penn State, offering enhanced mechanical durability and reduced carbon footprint. The collaboration aims to bring this sustainable material to luxury packaging, with major cosmetics brands expressing strong interest.
Researchers at Penn State developed a smartphone app called NaviSense that uses AI and recommendations from the visually impaired community to guide users to objects in their environment. The tool can identify items users are looking for in real-time based on spoken prompts, providing improved navigation for visually impaired people.
Researchers are working to develop strategies to mitigate sandbagging in AI models, a tactic where systems downplay their capabilities to evade evaluation. The project aims to improve AI safety by developing strong guardrails to prevent uncontrolled release.
Researchers found that everyday routines in early infancy can shape later obesity risk. A new study from Penn State suggests that a handful of routines around feeding, sleep and play during the first two months of an infant's life can be linked to higher weight just a few months later. The EHL tool helps pediatricians identify specific...
Researchers found that eating a Mediterranean diet with moderate portions of lean beef did not increase blood levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), an emerging indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. This suggests that dietary quality is more important than the amount of beef eaten in relation to heart health.
SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 18, 2025
A team of researchers has successfully developed niobium disulfide metallic nanotubes with predictable properties, a long-sought goal in advanced materials science. The breakthrough was made possible by adding table salt to the growth process, which helped create stable shells and revealed two-layer tubes.
Verallia and Penn State collaborate to test LionGlass, a new family of glass with reduced carbon footprint and enhanced durability. The partnership aims to lower energy consumption and eliminate carbon-based raw materials.
Researchers at Penn State developed four AI-powered GIS agents to demonstrate autonomous data retrieval, spatial analysis, map generation, and cartographic tasks. The agents showed promise in reducing manual grunt work and expanding geospatial solutions to pressing challenges.
Researchers found that apalutamide and finasteride effectively suppressed AML progression in mice and patient-derived cells by inhibiting the androgen hormone pathway. The study provides a novel targetable pathway for leukemia patients, offering a promising new direction for treatment.
A recent study by Asher Rosinger found that children who drink their tap water and live in food-secure households consume fewer calories from sugary drinks. This suggests a link between water insecurity and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, highlighting the importance of universal access to safe drinking water for children's health.
Researchers at Penn State developed seven new high-entropy oxides by removing oxygen during synthesis, stabilizing iron and manganese in ceramics that wouldn't otherwise stabilize. The team used machine learning to identify six additional combinations of metals forming the new materials.
A team of scientists at Penn State has created a more efficient and less dense piezoelectric ceramic material that can harvest energy from waste vibrations. The improved material, made of potassium sodium niobate, is thermally stable, fatigue resistant and performs competitively with existing lead-based materials.
Researchers found a significant link between cultivated cropland, herbicide use, and increased melanoma incidence in Pennsylvania. The study suggests that environmental exposure beyond occupational settings may contribute to skin cancer risk.
Researchers at Penn State found that stress-sensitive type-one nNOS neurons regulate blood flow and neural activity in mice brains. Eliminating these neurons resulted in reduced blood flow and electrical activity, highlighting their critical role in brain function.
A new study by Penn State researchers uses an AI model to analyze over 400 small-group conversations and finds that discussions improve critical thinking in 4th-5th graders. The approach, based on Quality Talk, enables the analysis of large amounts of qualitative data quickly and efficiently.
Researchers found that abandoned oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania can leak methane and metals into groundwater, contaminating nearby aquifers. The study's findings suggest that the interaction between methane and rock near wellbores releases metals into groundwater.
A new study found that the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision led to a significant increase in tubal ligations, a surgical procedure that permanently prevents pregnancy, with 51% more procedures performed across four medical centers between 2021 and 2023.
Researchers at Penn State have proposed an all-climate battery design that optimizes performance for extreme temperatures. The novel approach incorporates an internal heating element to support stable operation in cold environments while maintaining high stability and safety in hot environments.
A new study found that as temperature and CO2 levels dropped, trees increased their photorespiration, a process akin to labored breathing for plants. This led to an increase in CO2 release into the atmosphere, potentially keeping the climate habitable for plants.
Researchers found that non-expert users' intuitive prompts triggered biased responses as effectively as expert 'jailbreak' techniques. The study used a competition to identify biases in generative AI models and suggests strategies for mitigating issues.
Researchers have successfully produced high-performance fibers from fermentation waste, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional materials. The new fiber requires significantly less water and land than cotton, making it an attractive solution for reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2025
A novel technique using BONCAT revealed that microbial activity matters more than abundance in determining which microbes colonize plant roots. Active microbes were 10 times higher inside the plant than nearby soil, suggesting proximity to plant roots may help them become active.
Researchers identified 13 genes linked to obesity across six continental ancestries, including five previously unknown. These genes, expressed in brain and adipose tissue, are associated with increased risk of severe obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and other health problems.
A study exploring options for electricity markets during the clean-energy transition highlights key challenges and proposed solutions. The researchers assessed 11 market design proposals to guide energy generation and sources, with findings focusing on forecasting demand, investing in renewable resources, and ensuring system reliability.
A high-resolution growth chart of the mouse brain has been created to study key brain cell types and their changes during development. The atlas reveals a dynamic sequence of brain growth and maturation in response to genetics and external stimuli, with implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.
Researchers have discovered a previously overlooked defense mechanism in bacteria containing extremely old, dormant viruses that can successfully help bacteria defend against viruses. The system uses recombinase to adjust cell DNA and create new proteins that counteract the virus's ability to infect the host cell.
A new AI-powered model forecasts flooding impacts and manages water resources globally, revealing shifts in the balance of water between rivers, groundwater, and landscapes. The model provides reliable data for local-scale water management, flood forecasting, and ecosystem protection.
Researchers are exploring how honey bees' coordination and communication can inform the design of more resilient electric grids. By mimicking the way bees share resources, they aim to create a virtual peer-to-peer network that can withstand disruptions and improve energy delivery.
Researchers found that birds prefer lanternflies that haven't fed on the tree of heaven, suggesting a toxic defense mechanism. This discovery could inform effective management strategies for the spotted lanternfly pest.
A study analyzing over half a million tweets found that just 1% of users were responsible for 60% of retweeted content, with influential voices like scientists, celebrities, and politicians shaping public conversation. Mammals, especially urban pests like cats, pigs, and squirrels, dominated online discussion.
A study found that child welfare system involvement in Pennsylvania increased the likelihood of developmental delay diagnoses for infants and toddlers, particularly those in foster care. Early intervention services were also more accessible to these children.
A massive exoplanet dubbed 'super-Earth' has been discovered orbiting a nearby dwarf star, offering new hope in the hunt for other worlds that could harbor life. The exoplanet, GJ 251 c, is approximately four times as massive as Earth and likely to be rocky.
A recent study found that most users cannot identify AI bias in training data, unless it affects their own group. Researchers created 12 versions of a prototype AI system to detect facial expressions and tested how users might detect bias in different scenarios.
Researchers have discovered a new twist on a classic material that can advance quantum computing and make modern data centers more energy efficient. By reshaping barium titanate into ultrathin strained thin films, the team improved the conversion of signal-carrying electrons into signal-carrying photons by over ten times.
A team of researchers from NASA Goddard and Penn State found that fragments of molecules from E. coli bacteria can survive for over 50 million years in pure water ice, but degrade faster in mixed soil samples. This suggests that future Mars missions should target locations with pure ice or ice-dominated permafrost to search for life.
Researchers at Penn State developed a tool to analyze seismic activities linked to Arctic sea ice movements, providing insights into ice characteristics and interactions. The new approach can help coastal communities assess threats from drifting sea ice, such as erosion and wave creation.
A new AI model developed by researchers at Penn State has shown promise in accurately counting a child's bite rate, a potential indicator of obesity risk. The system is currently about 70% as successful as human bite counters, but holds potential for identifying children who need to slow their eating rate and adjust their diet.
Researchers at Penn State developed a computational framework to analyze nonlinear optical microscopy images, revealing the atomic structure of materials. The technique uses focused laser beams to produce new optical signals, which can be interpreted to determine material properties at the microscopic scale.