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Penn State


Native bee populations can bounce back after honey bees move out

Research found that native bee populations decreased in abundance and diversity when managed honey bees were introduced, but rebounded when apiaries were removed. Native bee phylogenetic diversity increased in areas with managed honey bees due to lower competition for resources.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Insect Science·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 11, 2025

New smart sensor takes the pain out of wound monitoring

Researchers developed a new flexible sensor that accurately measures both temperature changes and physical strain simultaneously, enabling clear pinpointing of signals. The sensor, made from laser-induced graphene, can detect small temperature changes and is self-powered, making it ideal for continuous monitoring in clinical settings.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 11, 2025

Biosensing platform simultaneously detects vitamin C and SARS-CoV-2

Penn State researchers developed a portable and wireless device to simultaneously detect SARS-CoV-2 and vitamin C, enabling individuals and healthcare providers to make more effective treatment decisions. The device uses commercial transistors with printed laser-induced graphene, achieving high sensitivity and portability.

SourcePenn State·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 11, 2025

Understanding aging requires more than counting birthdays

A new study from Penn State finds that oral tissue samples significantly affect epigenetic clock accuracy, leading to older age estimates. Researchers tested five tissue types and seven epigenetic clocks, concluding that blood-based samples are more accurate in measuring biological age.

SourcePenn State·JournalAging Cell·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 5, 2025

Vitamin D matters during first trimester, researchers find

A new study led by Penn State researchers found that low vitamin D levels during the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with higher rates of preterm birth and decreased fetal length. Pregnant women with low vitamin D concentrations were four times more likely to experience a preterm birth compared to those with sufficient levels.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2025

$17.9M NIH grant to research neurodevelopment disorders

The research aims to understand how high-risk genes disrupt neurodevelopment and lead to neuropsychiatric conditions, potentially informing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. A national team of researchers will examine the effects of these genes on brain development, connectivity, and behavior in a mouse model.

Mane attraction: Molecular ‘switch’ may control long scalp hair

A team of researchers from Penn State and the University of California, Irvine, have proposed a novel theory on the molecular basis underlying human scalp hair growth. They suggest that long scalp hair initially evolved to protect early human ancestors in equatorial Africa from intense heat and solar radiation.

SourcePenn State·JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology·DateJan 23, 2025

Five ways ‘fake’ mobile games fail to meet advertised expectations

A study by Penn State researchers found that fake mobile games often use free-to-play models, lack promised content, and make in-app purchases appear optional. The researchers suggest that developers can update their games to align with advertised features, making 'fakeness' a fluid state.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2025

Proximity effect: Method allows advanced materials to gain new property

Researchers at Penn State have discovered a method to create ferroelectric materials without chemical modifications, offering promising future impacts on electronic devices. The technique, called proximity ferroelectricity, enables the creation of ferroelectric materials by stacking them with another ferroelectric material.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2025

Predicting the progression of autoimmune disease with AI

A new AI model developed by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine can predict the progression of autoimmune disease among those with preclinical symptoms up to 1,000% more accurately. The GPS model integrates data from large genetic studies and electronic health records to identify individuals at high risk of disease progression.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 7, 2025

Parents’ childhood predicts future financial support for children’s education

A new study from Penn State found that parents who experienced difficult childhoods provided an average of $2,200 less for their children's college education. This suggests that intergenerational monetary exchanges could influence the next generation's success, with even parents' current socioeconomic status mattering.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 17, 2024

Straining a material’s atomic arrangement may make for cleaner, smarter devices

A team of researchers at Penn State has developed a novel technique called strain tuning to precisely manipulate the atomic arrangement of materials. This process enables the creation of thin films with improved ferroelectric performance, paving the way for environmentally friendly advancements in consumer electronics and medical devices.

SourcePenn State·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 11, 2024

Brain mechanisms underpinning loss of consciousness identified

A team of researchers at Penn State has pinpointed the exact moment of loss of consciousness due to anesthesia by mapping what happens in different brain regions during that moment. The study found that rapid activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus triggers loss of consciousness.

SourcePenn State·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 11, 2024

Particle that only has mass when moving in one direction observed for first time

Researchers at Penn State and Columbia University have observed a type of quasiparticle called a semi-Dirac fermion that has mass when moving in one direction but not in the other. The discovery, made using a technique called magneto-optical spectroscopy, could lead to advances in emerging technologies such as batteries and sensors.

SourcePenn State·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 10, 2024

Q&A: What fossils reveal about ancient Australian forests and fire

Fossil evidence from Australia and South America challenges prevailing narrative that eucalypt forests are under siege from expanding rainforests. The study suggests that fire became a feature of these vegetation interactions in Australia around five million years ago, making large-scale fire interventions unnecessary.

SourcePenn State·JournalNew Phytologist·TypeObservational study·DateDec 5, 2024

New bioprinting technique creates functional tissue 10x faster

A team of researchers at Penn State developed a novel bioprinting technique that uses spheroids to create complex tissue, producing tissue 10-times faster and with high cell density. The technique enables the rapid fabrication of functional tissues and organs, opening new opportunities for regenerative medicine.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2024