Researchers at Penn State have developed a fast, non-destructive optical method for analyzing defects in 2D materials. This new technique uses fluorescent microscopy to identify defects and correlates the results with visual confirmation under transmission electron microscopy.
Scientists at Penn State report breakthroughs in stenciling 2D materials with atomic precision, enabling new chip functionality and overcoming substrate effects. The simple technique involves exposing photoresist to UV light and washing away exposed areas, allowing precise placement of high-quality materials.
Researchers have observed a complex process in plant cell wall growth using nanoscale imaging. The findings suggest that microfibrils' movements under stretching regimes reveal a different pattern of motion than previously thought.
The Biomedical Big Data to Knowledge Training Program aims to accelerate advances in biomedical research by training the next generation of scientists in data analysis and visualization. The program, funded by Penn State and the National Institutes of Health, will support up to nine graduate students per year.
Researchers found that soy-protein concentrate can exert antioxidant and cytoprotective effects in cultured human bowel cells and moderate inflammation in mice with induced IBD. The study suggests a potential dietary strategy for mitigating the severity of inflammatory bowel diseases.
Researchers at Penn State have received a $9 million NIH grant to investigate malaria transmission in Southeast Asia and work toward the disease's elimination. They will examine how environmental changes affect disease transmission, genetic resistance to insecticides, and counterfeit drugs.
Scientists found 832 disease-causing genes with systematically low coverage across multiple sequencing platforms, highlighting limitations of whole-exome sequencing. Whole-genome sequencing may be more accurate but remains expensive.
Researchers discovered that higher maternal relationship happiness and general social support reduce infant colic rates. The study of over 3,000 women found stronger associations between relationship happiness and lower colic risks, even in postpartum depression cases.
After a head injury, the brain can form new connections between damaged areas, known as hyperconnections. While this adaptation may provide short-term benefits, it can also lead to chronic inefficiencies and strain the brain's resources. Chronic inefficiencies may cascade into serious brain disorders, including Alzheimer's Disease.
Researchers found that increased familiarity with a foreign accent leads to better sentence processing and trains the acoustic system to process accented speech. Listeners who correctly identified the accent responded similarly to grammar and vocabulary errors in both native and foreign-accented sentences.
A mindfulness training program for first-year college students resulted in significant increases in life satisfaction and a decrease in depression and anxiety. The program, called Just BREATHE, was associated with improved stress management skills and increased recommendations to friends.
Researchers found that shale-gas development leads to significant forest fragmentation, particularly on private land. To mitigate this, they recommend placing new well pads near pre-existing pipelines and consolidating infrastructure.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a method to create personalized mental and physical therapy regimens using gaming features. Gamified applications with scoring systems, avatars, and in-game rewards led to significantly fewer mistakes and higher performance than non-gamified applications.
A novel optical technique enables rapid sorting of amino acid sequences in living bacteria, revealing structural properties crucial for materials development. This technology uses femto-pico second lasers to inspect proteins without heating them up, enabling non-lethal screening and separation.
A new national center at Penn State will focus on preventing and treating child maltreatment, a critical issue affecting 2 million US children annually. The Center for Healthy Children will translate research into solutions to enhance the child welfare system.
A recent study found that cover crops can mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing soil carbon sequestration. The research suggests that cover cropping can be an effective adaptive management tool to maintain yields and minimize nitrogen losses as the climate warms.
Researchers have developed a new method to improve semiconductor fiber optics, which could revolutionize global data transmission. The approach, led by Xiaoyu Ji, reduces imperfections in the fiber core, allowing for more efficient light transmission.
The study found that users adopt different personas unique to each social network, with demographics also influencing their portrayal. Researchers used a dataset of over 100,000 social media users and identified patterns such as women being less likely to wear corrective eyewear in profile pictures.
Researchers developed a method to isolate EVs from blood samples, enabling rapid analysis and potential personalized anticancer treatments. The technique uses nanoprobes to capture EVs within 15 minutes, offering an alternative to invasive methods.
Researchers created digital food web capturing human interactions with environment, revealing how humans disrupted existing ecosystems when introducing corn and altering food sources. The study sheds light on future human choices and climate change impacts.
Researchers investigated 2,000 rural high school students' college attendance patterns, finding over half attended two-year colleges and those who only attended were less likely to have educational aspirations. Parental education, track, and teacher expectations predicted college choices.
A new study measures potentially damaging free radicals in cigarette smoke for the first time, finding variations in their levels across different cigarettes. The researchers' standardized protocol could help assess people's exposure to free radicals and inform potential health risks.
Researchers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory detected a brief, intense X-ray flare from a small galaxy 10.7 billion light years away. The source is thought to be either a gamma-ray burst not directed towards Earth or the destruction of a white dwarf star, but its exact nature remains unknown.
A study from Penn State College of Medicine found that a patient's confidence in scheduling and conducting their part in colorectal screening methods is crucial in determining their intention to get screened. Self-efficacy emerged as the most important factor, reflecting knowledge, experience, or understanding of the testing options.
Astronomers have discovered three young stars that were ejected from an unstable multi-star system, providing new clues to the breakup of such systems. The stars are moving at speeds of up to nearly 30 times faster than most other stars in the same region.
A study by Penn State economists found that a combination of college graduates and high-quality-of-life amenities significantly contributes to economic growth. Rural counties, which often struggle with growth, may particularly benefit from this approach.
A team of psychologists developed new tests to capture automatic moral and empathetic judgments. The studies found that certain situations trigger instant moral assessments, even when participants are instructed to counteract those feelings. These measures could help criminologists and psychologists understand pathological behavior.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that eating peanuts with a meal can help prevent arterial stiffening and keep blood vessels healthy. The researchers observed a 32% reduction in triglyceride levels after peanut consumption compared to a control group.
A recent Penn State study suggests that aphasia may be a broader cognitive disorder affecting not just language, but also hearing, vision, motor processing, attention, and executive functions. The findings imply that treating aphasia requires a more holistic approach, considering these interconnected brain networks.
Penn State researchers found that black and Latino students tend to move into charter schools with higher racial isolation, while white students move to more diverse schools. This study highlights the need for educational equity and raises questions about school-choice policy's effects on fostering racially diverse schools.
New Penn State research reveals that childhood sexual abuse can accelerate physical growth and maturation in adolescents, increasing the risk of behavioral and mental health problems. The study found that young girls with a sexual abuse history were more likely to transition into higher puberty stages earlier than non-abused peers.
Researchers found a connection between climate change and extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and floods, due to the impact of warming Arctic temperatures on the jet stream. The study used historical atmospheric observations and confirmed that this temperature pattern corresponds with persistent extreme weather events.
Researchers created a mouse model to study how cerebral malaria leads to epilepsy in children and develop treatments. The model, developed by Penn State, is the first of its kind and has potential applications for preventing seizures and sudden unexplained death from epilepsy.
A fungal biopesticide called Aprehend has been shown to be effective against bedbug populations with insecticide resistance. The study found that Aprehend achieved mortality rates of 95.5-99% in 14 days, compared to 16-40% for resistant strains exposed to pyrethroid insecticides.
A study by Penn State researcher Amit Sharma found that people who frequently dine out tend to under-estimate their spending and then raise their budgets, leading to over-spending habits. The results show that mental budgeting may cause consumers to discount the future and place higher value on current consumption.
The study found that nose width is strongly correlated with temperature and humidity levels in different climates, suggesting a role for natural selection in shaping nose shape. The researchers also identified differences between men and women in nose features across populations.
Researchers develop CelePlum-777, a nanoparticle-based drug combo that kills melanoma cells with minimal side effects. The treatment reduces cancer cell growth and resists resistance development, offering new hope for melanoma patients.
Concentrated poverty in US metropolitan areas is on the rise, with 40% or more of neighborhoods below federal poverty level. The trend is linked to growing residential separation and overall increases in poverty since the early 2000s.
Researchers found that energy crops can be grown on CRP land without increasing nitrous oxide emissions in a small portion of the landscape. The study suggests that once established, large emissions from the footslope can be suppressed.
Julie Fenton, a Penn State chemistry graduate student, has been selected to participate in the 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. She will interact with over 30 Nobel Laureates from around the world, sharing knowledge and ideas during the 6-day meeting.
Researchers at Penn State are investigating the collection of viruses, known as the virome, in white-footed mice and black-legged ticks to better predict infectious disease outbreaks in humans. The team aims to identify new infectious viruses in these animals before they spill over into humans.
An international team of researchers identified a core set of genes involved in honey bee responses to viruses and parasites. The findings provide new possibilities for breeding more resilient honey bee stocks and understanding pathogen interactions with other insects.
A study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that adolescents with autism are four times more likely to visit the emergency department than their non-autistic peers. The research suggests that youth with autism may need better access to primary care and specialist services.
A recent study of 74 Android mobile apps found that 89% focus on parental control, while only 11% support teen self-regulation. This approach may hinder teens' ability to develop essential online safety skills and cope with future encounters.
A study found that teens rarely discuss online risky experiences with parents due to differing perceptions and reactions. Parents often overreact or underreact, leading teens to avoid discussing issues, which can impact their ability to navigate future online encounters.
Researchers found that interactive health apps with back-and-forth conversations can promote healthier lifestyles. However, a conversational tone may lead users to feel less susceptible to health risks like obesity and diabetes.
New research suggests agriculture's food demand will likely increase by 25-70%, challenging the widely accepted doubling of global crop and animal production. To meet growing food demands while protecting the environment, researchers propose quantitative targets for both food production and environmental impacts.
A team of archaeologists and biological anthropologists have discovered that a matrilineal dynasty likely ruled Pueblo Bonito in New Mexico for over 300 years. The study, published in Nature Communications, used radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analysis to show that the leadership was inherited through the maternal line.
Researchers analyzed data from China's largest meteorological database and found a 50% decrease in hail storms, thunderstorms, and high wind events on average. The strength of the East Asian Summer Monsoon also decreased strongly correlated with severe weather.
Research reveals that herbivores can evade plant defenses by using symbiotic bacteria, while plants have two lines of defense against predators. Understanding these interactions may help control pests and improve plant productivity through probiotics.