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.
A novel air quality model, REGiS, can predict surface ozone levels up to 48 hours in advance by combining statistical models with weather patterns. This method provides a 48-hour heads-up for air quality forecasters and decision-makers to mitigate unhealthy ozone level formation.
Researchers at Penn State have received a $6.1 million NIH grant to develop tools for using genomic data to advance medical treatments and pharmaceuticals. The project will focus on blood cell development as a model system for gene regulation in mammals, aiming to improve precision medicine.
Researchers used an STM to study changes in single-molecule shape and found that the tip's position impacts energy requirements and entropy. The team observed changes in energy barriers and attempt rates at low temperatures, linking entropy to fundamental physical parameters.
A new mathematical analysis provides guidance for treating infections and tumors with drug resistance, suggesting that containment may extend effective life and improve patient outcomes in some cases. The study identifies two main factors influencing the choice between containment and aggressive treatment.
Researchers found that responses to climate variations can be detected in deep groundwater aquifers within a year, suggesting an intermediate connection between precipitation and groundwater levels. Pumping of aquifers may drive this rapid response, controlled by crop water demand and agricultural industry activities.
Broader updrafts in severe storms may lead to a higher chance of damaging hail. Research suggests that changes in environmental vertical wind shear can influence the growth of significant hail.
Research from Penn State College of Medicine found that Medicaid waivers improving access to home and community-based services for children with autism also support parental employment. Waiver programs with increased cost limits and enrollment limits helped lower-income households, while those with higher limits benefited higher-income...
A two-year study found that Penn State's power plants on campus pose no radon-related health risks, despite high concentrations of radon in the natural gas used. Researchers measured radon levels downwind and upwind from the plants, finding them to be far below a health threat.
Researchers propose eliminating most wires in data centers by using infrared free-space optics to transmit information. This technology enables fast data transfer rates with minimal interference and can accommodate thousands of servers on a single rack.
Researchers have discovered new details of the HPV capsid structure using cryo-electron microscopy, shedding light on key characteristics of its outer shell and proteins. This knowledge may lead to preventing the virus from binding to human cells, a crucial step in infection.
The study provides new insights into the distinctive geometry of pulsars and their emission signatures. The researchers found that the orientation of pulsars' spin and magnetic axes significantly affects what emissions are seen on Earth.
Researchers found that mosquitoes responsible for transmitting malaria often rest in cattle sheds and feed on both humans and cattle. The team suggests that extending mosquito-control efforts to include cattle sheds could help reduce transmission dramatically.
A widely used crop chemical, Sylgard 309, increases the susceptibility of honey bee larvae to a deadly virus, Black Queen Cell Virus. This finding suggests that exposure to organosilicone adjuvants negatively influences immunity in honey bee larvae, resulting in enhanced pathogenicity and mortality.
The 2016 Center for Collegiate Mental Health Annual Report reveals that college students' mental health needs have increased due to national prevention and awareness efforts. Counseling centers are adapting by providing more rapid-access services, but routine treatment capacities may be impacted.
Conservation groups in Central and West Africa are marginalizing local communities, who rely on the forest for food, shelter, and resources. The landscape-based approach prioritizes logging and development over community needs, leaving indigenous populations behind.
A study of robot use in a retirement home found that seniors preferred companion robots with serious dementias and assistant robots with playful demeanors. The findings suggest that robot design could play a crucial role in promoting healthy interactions between seniors and robots.
Researchers have successfully generated epicardium cells using human stem cells and Wnt signaling pathway activation. The new method could potentially repair damaged heart tissue in patients who suffer from heart attacks, according to the study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Researchers develop a Retro94-based compound that effectively stops CMV from making copies of itself, providing a potential effective and safe therapy against human CMV. The treatment could protect immunocompromised patients with active CMV infection or prevent reactivation in the body.
A new mathematical model describes ecological invasions as a random walk, categorizing randomness into spatial, demographic, and temporal factors. The model replicates key properties observed in computer simulations, resolving an ongoing argument between ecologists and mathematicians.
Delicate fossil remains of tomatillos found in Patagonia, Argentina, show that the nightshade family existed 52 million years ago, far earlier than previously thought. The discovery provides a rare link between ancient and modern plants, challenging traditional views on plant evolution.
A team of astronomers led by Penn State's Niel Brandt has captured the deepest X-ray image ever obtained, revealing a treasure trove of supermassive black holes. The image, taken with Chandra observing time of about 11 weeks, shows that these massive objects grow in bursts rather than slowly accumulating matter.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a novel biodegradable nanoparticle-based system that utilizes immune cells to target and deliver cancer-fighting drugs directly to tumors. This innovative approach combines the body's natural immune response with targeted delivery, showing promise for effective treatment of various cancers.
A newly discovered virus infecting the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats could help scientists track its spread. The variation in the viral genome provides clues about how the disease is moving, enabling researchers to better understand its epidemiology.
A new concept harnesses low-frequency mechanical energy to generate electricity, improving performance at lower frequencies than existing devices. The device, called an ionic diode, operates at one-tenth Hertz and has a higher peak power density compared to piezoelectric generators.
A team of scientists led by Mark Herr found that cottonmouths with high baseline levels of corticosterone were more likely to strike during encounters. The study suggests that protecting snake habitats may reduce the incidence of snakebites and that a snake's striking behavior is related to its baseline level of stress.
Researchers developed algorithms to analyze social media data from 188,000 subscribers and created unique marketing personas. These computer-drawn personas can be updated quickly and are scalable for use with various types of consumer transactions.