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Women leave their handprints on the cave wall

Archaeologist Dean Snow found that two-thirds of ancient handprints were female, contradicting the long-held assumption that men created these artworks. The analysis used finger ratios and size measurements to differentiate between males and females.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Antiquity·DateOct 15, 2013

Farmers need help to plow through new food safety regulations

New food safety regulations require farmers to implement complex measures, but many struggle with compliance. A study found that knowledge of standards improved after training, yet confidence in implementing them decreased over time. Customized and modular training programs may be more effective for small-scale farmers.

SourcePenn State·JournalFood Control·DateOct 1, 2013

Microbes help beetles defeat plant defenses

Researchers discovered that symbiotic bacteria inside beetles suppress plant defenses against chewing insects, allowing beetles to thrive. The findings suggest a new way plants can be vulnerable to insect attacks.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 9, 2013

Multiple genes manage how people taste sweeteners

Researchers found that genetic variations in two bitter taste receptor genes can explain differences in the perception of artificial sweeteners like Ace K. Additionally, studies on stevia extracts revealed that RebD is perceived as less bitter than RebA, suggesting potential opportunities for developing new sweeteners.

SourcePenn State·JournalChemical Senses·DateAug 20, 2013

Slow earthquakes may foretell larger events

Researchers at Penn State have found a precursor signal to slow earthquakes, which can potentially foretell larger events. By studying the mechanisms behind slow earthquakes, they identified a transition in fault zone properties that supports slower velocities.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience·DateAug 15, 2013

Women still less likely to commit corporate fraud

Researchers found women rarely part of corporate conspiracies and tend to play minor roles in fraud schemes. Women's involvement may be motivated by ethical concerns and social relationships, leading to lower financial gains from corporate crime.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateAug 13, 2013

Protein changes are discovered that control whether a gene functions

A Penn State-led research team found that histone protein changes can control whether a gene functions, with the potential to maintain genetic expression and prevent disease. The study's findings have significant implications for the study of diseases like cancer and understanding cellular behavior.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2013

Arctic sea-ice loss has widespread effects on wildlife

Sea-ice loss has widespread effects on Arctic wildlife, including disruptions to food chains, population mixing, and disease dynamics. The loss of albedo and increased warming accelerate melting, affecting critical habitats for species such as caribou, arctic foxes, and walrus.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience·DateAug 1, 2013

Temperature alters population dynamics of common plant pests

Researchers studied temperature-driven changes in tea tortrix population dynamics, finding that desynchronization leads to more synchronous outbreaks. A mathematical model predicts population cycles under constant and seasonally driven temperature regimes, shedding light on how temperature influences insect populations.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience·DateAug 1, 2013

Aquatic playground can turn water tanks into fish schools

Researchers found that juvenile Atlantic salmon raised in enriched tanks with pebbles, rocks, and artificial plants outperformed those in standard tanks. The study suggests that creating more natural environments can boost fish intelligence and adaptability, leading to higher survivability when released into the wild.

Choosing a wave could accelerate airplane maintenance

Aerospace engineers can now detect adhesive failures in hard-to-reach places more quickly and precisely using the right ultrasonic frequency. The selection process could save time and effort for engineers performing maintenance on complex composite materials.

SourcePenn State·JournalInternational Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives·DateJul 23, 2013

When bar fights get mean, bystanders intervene

Research finds bystanders intervene in about a third of bar fights, with most intervening in male-male conflicts. Nonviolent interventions were used in 65% of male-male fight breakups, while incidents between males and females received the lowest intervention rates.

SourcePenn State·JournalAggressive Behavior·DateJul 23, 2013

Robot mom would beat robot butler in popularity contest

A recent study published in Computers in Human Behavior found that people express more positive feelings towards a robot that takes care of them than one that needs care. Researchers observed 60 interactions between college students and a social robot, Nao, to determine how human perception of robots changed based on their role.

SourcePenn State·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateJul 8, 2013

Computer programs improve fingerprint grading

A team of Penn State researchers developed a process using three inexpensive computer programs to grade fingerprints for ridge detail evaluation. The system ensures standardized evaluation finer than human capabilities, improving the reliability of fingerprint matches.

SourcePenn State·JournalForensic Science International·DateJul 3, 2013

Policy issues plague hydropower as wind power backup

Researchers found that hydropower could accommodate unexpected variations in wind energy, but only if operating guidelines were relaxed over a two-week period. Changing these guidelines is complex and may require congressional action, according to Penn State researchers.

SourcePenn State·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJun 25, 2013

Sound waves precisely position nanowires

Using sound waves, researchers can create repeatable patterns of metallic nanomaterials onto substrates that are incompatible with conventional lithography methods. The technique allows for the patterning of nanowires with tunable spacing and density, enabling potential applications in various fields.

SourcePenn State·JournalACS Nano·DateJun 19, 2013