A new ice sheet model suggests that Antarctic ice sheet melting could lead to a 50-foot rise in sea level by 2500, potentially doubling previous estimates. The researchers attribute this to ocean warming and the fracturing of floating ice shelves, which would cause them to collapse into the sea.
A new approach to climate risk management can help policymakers navigate trade-offs between economic growth, temperature stabilization, and carbon abatement. The method considers the multidimensional trade-offs of four goals, allowing for potential compromise on certain objectives.
A Penn State-led research group has been selected by NASA to build a new instrument to detect planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. The NEID instrument will use the tiny gravitational tug of planets on their stars to discover and measure the orbits of rocky planets with liquid water.
A recent study identifies multiple sexual behaviors associated with prevalent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Men who engaged in anal stimulation or enema use were nearly five times as likely to test positive for HIV as those who did not.
Researchers propose expectancy-based binding theory, which suggests that subjects remember features without necessarily attaching them to the target object. This contradicts traditional theories of object-based and feature-based encoding., Attention alone is not enough for accurate memory recall, according to the study.
A new study suggests that the GOES-R geostationary satellite can provide more accurate hurricane predictions by analyzing brightness temperature data. The satellite's high-resolution data allows for a more detailed understanding of hurricane intensity, including wind speed and sea level pressure.
Researchers at Penn State developed an acoustofluidic rotational manipulation method that can rotate small organisms and cells using gentle acoustic waves. This technique enables 3D imaging of biological specimens without the need for expensive confocal microscopes.
A Penn State psychologist argues that big data can enhance our understanding of human development by aggregating empirical work from multiple investigators. This approach could also enable personalized medicine and wearable data-collection with more accurate results.
Astronomers have discovered the fastest ultraviolet winds ever seen near a supermassive black hole, with wind speeds of over 200 million miles per hour. This breakthrough study sheds light on quasar outflows and their role in galaxy formation.
A new study suggests that caregivers can lower children's meal calories by choosing lower-calorie products and strategic portion sizes. By serving larger portions of lower-calorie foods with smaller portions of higher-calorie foods, children's overall caloric intake can be substantially reduced.
Researchers developed compound inhibitors that target ribosomes in the translation phase of a virulent bacteria's genetic process. These compounds halt the bacterial rescue operation, making it difficult for the bacteria to grow and proliferate. The study's findings offer new hope against biowarfare agents and resistant pathogens.
Researchers found that interactive companies are perceived as more informative, leading to stronger brand attitudes and increased purchase intentions. The study suggests that engaging with customers through communication is key to boosting a company's influence.
A study by Penn State researchers found that older adults who recalled more robots in films had lower anxiety toward robots. The researchers suggest that incorporating features reminiscent of Hollywood portrayals, such as human-like interfaces and sympathetic designs, may ease apprehension toward robots.
Researchers found Eastern US forests are changing, with drought-sensitive tree species dominating and fire-resistant ones declining. This shift, known as mesophication, makes forests more vulnerable to future climate change and droughts.
Researchers found that participants who assembled their own robots experienced a higher sense of accomplishment and ownership. However, those who faced difficulties during assembly lowered their ratings. The study suggests that manufacturers should balance positive and negative aspects of self-assembly when designing robots.
A new study published in the American Journal of Pathology suggests that green tea's antioxidant properties may be compromised when consumed with iron-rich foods or supplements. The researchers found that the main compound in green tea, EGCG, loses its ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes when bound to iron.
A computer program developed by researchers can categorize leaves into large evolutionary categories, leading to improved fossil identification and a better understanding of flowering plant evolution. The method achieves a 72% accuracy rate over 19 leaf families compared to random chance.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $17.8 million to Penn State to establish a national user facility for two-dimensional crystal research. The Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium will focus on growing bulk and ultrathin crystalline chalcogenide materials, staffed by experts in crystal growth and theory/simulation.
A new method allows for efficient sequencing of the male-specific Y chromosome in gorillas, showing significant similarity to both human and chimpanzee Y chromosomes. This breakthrough enables researchers to study male infertility disorders and conservation genetics efforts related to endangered species like gorillas.
Penn State researchers found that growing feed grains on-farm reduces fossil energy inputs compared to importing from the Midwest. The smallest farm with only forage crops imported all feed grain had a large energy input, but larger farms using canola fuel crops showed significant savings.
A new project aims to promote gender-sensitive and ecologically sensitive agriculture in Cambodia, targeting smallholder farmers who produce nearly half of the world's food. The program seeks to improve nutritional status, income, and access to resources, while protecting agro-ecological resources.
Researchers found that most MOOC instructors face challenges throughout the course development and instruction process, including preparation, implementation, and feedback phases. Instructors reported heavy workloads, overwhelming expectations, and difficulty in providing one-on-one guidance in a large online class.
Demirel is using proteins to coat biomedical swabs, enabling gene analysis from tiny amounts of blood or biological samples. The project has market potential in forensics, genetics and medicine industries.
A team of researchers at Penn State University and the University of Pittsburgh has developed a new way to use enzyme reactions to trigger self-powered mechanical movement. The enzyme pumps can precisely control flow rate without an external power source and turn on in response to specific chemicals in solution.
A study by Penn State and Columbia University found that individuals who experience more negative emotions and perceive stressful events as more stressful have lower heart rate variability, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This suggests that reaction to stress is more important than its frequency in determining health risks.
Researchers found that omega-3 supplementation reduced breast density in postmenopausal women with a body mass index above 29, bordering on obesity. The study suggests that DHA alone may be preferentially protective in these individuals, offering an example of personalized approach to breast cancer prevention.
Researchers found that motion-controlled video game players outperformed those with push-button controllers and no training in real-world putting, suggesting a potential for these games to enhance fine motor coordination. Further research is needed to explore the effects of motion-controlled games on larger-motor coordination skills.
Researchers found intriguing contradictions between IceCube neutrino data and Fermi gamma-ray data, suggesting 'hidden accelerator' origins of high-energy cosmic neutrinos. Proton-photon interactions may block high-energy gamma rays from escaping, enabling the use of neutrinos as new probes of dense astrophysical environments.
Researchers found that climate change increases soil-transmitted parasites in pastures, leading to increased infection risk. The study also showed that host immune response affects the severity of infection, with older individuals carrying more severe infections when immune response is ineffective.
A Penn State historian explores how mutual mistrust fueled the UFO movement, which shares similarities with current denialism and conspiracy theory debates. The study finds that ufologists' distrust of scientists is a key factor in understanding the phenomenon.
Researchers found that boys who experience a greater decline in slow-wave sleep during adolescence are at higher risk for developing insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and impaired attention. In contrast, girls showed no significant associations between SWS loss and health outcomes.
Recent studies reveal that bilingualism alters brain networks for skilled cognition and fluent language performance, facilitating new learning.
The article highlights the African housing shortage, particularly for low-income families, and explores the challenges posed by inadequate housing. Experts suggest that a combination of local materials and innovative building methods, such as interlocking bricks, could provide affordable solutions.
Experts are looking into alternative materials that can be used in building houses, focusing on local sources such as bamboo and straw bales, while also considering economic and environmental factors. Khanjan Mehta emphasizes the importance of scalability and finding suitable alternatives for cement, which is often scarce and expensive.
Researchers investigated how carbon dioxide interacts with host rocks like limestone and sandstone. They found that limestone becomes more permeable when dissolved in saltwater-carbon dioxide mixture, while sandstone's cement degrades.
A survey of medical specialists found significant variability in the definition of reasonable medical certainty, with experts citing different probabilities and settings for interpretation.
A research team found that a geologic event known as diking can cause strong earthquakes, with the potential to pose hazards to nearby communities. The team investigated ties between two natural disasters in the Democratic Republic of Congo and discovered that a dike intrusion could have induced a magnitude 6.2 earthquake.
Researchers found that watching meaningful entertainment can boost altruism, especially towards people from different age and racial groups. The study suggests that this is due to the production of warm, uplifting feelings known as 'elevation', which lead to increased willingness to help others.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to extract rare-earth elements from coal byproducts. This breakthrough could provide an economic boon for companies and reduce the US's dependence on importing these metals, which are essential for producing high-tech equipment.
A team of international scientists has identified a mechanism for chromatin-remodeller enzymes to regulate gene expression in embryonic stem cells. By mapping the location of these enzymes across the genome, researchers found that they bind to specific nucleosomes before gene sequences, controlling access to critical DNA regions.
Researchers found that patients taking strong anticholinergic medications performed poorly on attention tests and had lower physical function compared to those not taking the medication. The study suggests that alternative treatment options may be more effective in rehabilitating patients with dementia.
A new study suggests that the standard practice of treating infections with high doses of anti-microbe medications may not be the best way to prevent drug resistance in all cases. The researchers found that using the highest dose that is safe may be more effective than using the lowest dose that is effective in preventing drug resistance.
James F. Kasting receives the award for his work on planetary atmospheres and habitability, providing insights into the origin of life on early Earth and the search for life on other planets
A team of Penn State researchers is monitoring Nicaragua's Momotombo volcano with a $40,000 NSF grant. They're using GPS, seismometers and other equipment to track ground deformation, seismic activity and lava composition to predict potential eruptions and hazards.
Researchers created a device that moves single cells in three dimensions using surface acoustic waves, enabling precise manipulation and structure building. The technology has potential applications in regenerative medicine, neuroscience, tissue engineering, biomanufacturing, and cancer metastasis.
New research suggests that record heat over the past century and a half is incredibly unlikely to have occurred naturally, with odds ranging from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 170,000. Human-caused climate change is considered highly likely to cause warming events.
A recent study found that deep convective storms transport ozone-rich air parcels to the surface of the Amazon rainforest, rapidly increasing surface ozone levels. This process can initiate and accelerate cloud formation via interactions with plant-emitted hydrocarbons.
Researchers used social media data from Twitter and Flickr to identify hotspots in need of aid during the 2013 Colorado floods. The team's innovative approach combined remote sensing imagery with machine-learning algorithms to quickly analyze images and pinpoint areas affected by flooding.
A self-heating lithium-ion battery can significantly improve electric vehicle performance in cold temperatures, reducing power loss and range anxiety. Developed by Penn State researchers, the all-climate battery uses nickel foil to heat up rapidly, increasing its capacity and efficiency.
Researchers found that patients with two copies of a different allele showed more pain variability and more pain at the end of the day after physical activity. This study suggests tailored behavioral programs could be used sensitive to a person's genotype to increase physical activity and manage arthritis.