Earth and Mineral Sciences

College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

For billions of years, Earth’s continents have remained remarkably stable, forming the foundation for mountains, ecosystems and civilizations. But the secret to their stability has mystified scientists for more than a century. Now, a new study by researchers at Penn State and Columbia University provides the clearest evidence yet for how the landforms became and remained so stable — and the key ingredient is heat.&nbsp;

Earth’s continents stabilized due to furnace-like heat, study reveals | Penn State University

title

For billions of years, Earth’s continents have remained remarkably stable, forming the foundation for mountains, ecosystems and civilizations. But the secret to their stability has mystified scientists for more than a century. Now, a new study by researchers at Penn State and Columbia University provides the clearest evidence yet for how the landforms became and remained so stable — and the key ingredient is heat. 

description

abstract

robots

https://psu-gatsby-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/16_9_1000w/public/2025/10/smye-rock-hand.jpg?h=19ad3fdd&itok=bPVuMiPu

Research

Earth’s continents stabilized due to furnace-like heat, study reveals

Arts and Architecture

College of Arts and Architecture

An acoustic wall that was designed and built using mycelium — the root of fungi — by a team of interdisciplinary researchers led by Benay Gürsoy, associate professor of architecture and director of the Form and Matter Lab in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School, now adorns a wall in Penn State Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos’ office in Old Main.

Architecture lab’s work using mycelium featured in new installation in Old Main | Penn State University

An acoustic wall that was designed and built using mycelium — the root of fungi — by a team of interdisciplinary researchers led by Benay Gürsoy, associate professor of architecture and director of the Form and Matter Lab in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School, now adorns a wall in Penn State Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos’ office in Old Main.

https://psu-gatsby-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/16_9_1000w/public/2025/10/provwall_psnews.jpg?h=4c804382&itok=4pTbUgkf

Architecture lab’s work using mycelium featured in new installation in Old Main

Engineering

College of Engineering

Building on a legacy of excellence in glass science and engineering, the new Center for Glass Research was recently launched at Penn State. It brings together the expertise of researchers from Penn State, Alfred University, and the Missouri University of Science and Technology in a strategic collaborative initiative.

Center for Glass Research launched to revitalize innovation in glass science | Penn State University

Building on a legacy of excellence in glass science and engineering, the new Center for Glass Research was recently launched at Penn State. It brings together the expertise of researchers from Penn State, Alfred University, and the Missouri University of Science and Technology in a strategic collaborative initiative.

https://psu-gatsby-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/16_9_1000w/public/2025/10/adobestock_1547207633-news-hero.jpg?h=67eabc4d&itok=AjpltZ26

Center for Glass Research launched to revitalize innovation in glass science

THON 5K to impact campus traffic, parking and transit on Sunday, Oct. 26

Global Entrepreneurship Week Penn State to take place Nov. 17-23

Simple stabilizing solution leads to seven new ceramic materials

Penn State to host town hall on research enterprise, federal funding landscape  

Decoding dangers of Arctic sea ice with seismic, radar method

Old-school material could power quantum computing, cut data center energy use 

Centre Film Festival returns as destination event for filmmakers and film fans

Penn State’s CAPS receives PA CARES designation for Higher Education  

Things to Do at Penn State: Oct. 16-23

Are there living microbes on Mars? Check the ice, researchers say

The Medical Minute: Beware of these Halloween hazards for kids

Palmer Museum announces call for juried exhibition to celebrate America’s 250th 

Penn State Board of Trustees approves new deal for WPSU 

Penn State announces change in football leadership

Engel to begin 3-year appointment as vice president for Commonwealth Campuses

The Medical Minute: Is it a sports injury or growing pains? 

Lloyd named interim dean of the Penn State College of Education

Pumpkin Fest brings community together to celebrate the magic of fall 

Background genetic variants influence clinical features in complex disorders

Penn State selected to lead Pennsylvania's climate network

Wild mushroom harvesters in mid-Atlantic region collect fungi, build community

Things to Do at Penn State: Oct. 9-16

2025 Homecoming Parade traffic, transit and parking impacts at University Park

Penn State reminds students of resources to support their mental health

College of Education Dean Kimberly Lawless stepping down, returning to faculty

Online discussion to share staff satisfaction survey results, next steps

Photo contest: Share your best picture of Penn State in the fall

Things to Do at Penn State: Oct. 2-9

Penn State Health names new chief operating officer, chief financial officer

Feeling in control helps beat daily stress, researchers find

Penn State to co-lead national brain health and dementia prevention initiative 

Durell Johnson takes the helm of Penn State's three northeast region campuses

Lion Caucus students to lead on-campus event in support of federal student aid

Penn State Centre Stage’s ‘Rhinoceros’ blurs line between audience and 'herd'

Things to Do at Penn State: Sept. 25-Oct. 2

Penn State rises to No. 26 among public universities in 2026 US News ‘Best Colleges’

Penn State faces off against Big Ten rivals in Abbott’s ‘We Give Blood’ drive

Penn State shares reminder that hazing is illegal and has serious consequences

Tenured, promoted faculty honored through books at Sept. 15 recognition program

Penn State will honor POW/MIA heroes Sept. 19 with vigil and 21-gun salute

$3.6M NIH grant to study brain patterns in children with ADHD, behavior problems

YouTube Video (ha0GNF-76sA)

provost-qa-yt-thumbnail.jpg

WATCH: Get to know Penn State Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos 

University Health Services announces 2025 student flu vaccine clinic dates

Penn State mourns the loss of former trustee, community icon Mimi Barash Coppersmith

Harrisburg alumnus pledges $4.39 million estate gift for business scholarship

Ross Student Farm to host 10th Annual Harvest Fest 

Interactive apps, AI chatbots promote playfulness, reduce privacy concerns

Penn State Board of Trustees concludes September meetings

Ancient DNA reveals mastodons migrated, evolved in response to shifting climate

Tidal marshes trap microplastics, raising risks for ecosystems and people

Penn State seeking undergraduate tuition freeze with 2026-27 appropriation request

Latest News

10182025_pumpkinfest_pumpkin display

10102025_Penn State Homecoming _ Women's Soccer

09272025_FB_WhiteOut_fans 

jennifer-buchan-09.16.25-2.jpg

2025-insect-fair-ninagropp.jpg

dsc_9403-copy.jpg

PSUstock - Foggy morning fall 2025

Penn State-FIU football game blocked punt

08302025_PennStateFootball_vsNevada_06

fallstaffgallery-25_convocationshirts_01.jpg

Around Campus

More research news

If living microbes were present on Mars, they’d most likely be found in Martian ice, not soil, according to a new study by researchers at NASA and Penn State. By recreating Mars-like conditions in the lab, the researchers demonstrated that fragments of the molecules that make up proteins in E. coli bacteria, if present in Mars’ permafrost and ice caps, could remain intact for over 50 million years, despite harsh and continuous exposure to cosmic radiation.

Are there living microbes on Mars? Check the ice, researchers say | Penn State University

If living microbes were present on Mars, they’d most likely be found in Martian ice, not soil, according to a new study by researchers at NASA and Penn State. By recreating Mars-like conditions in the lab, the researchers demonstrated that fragments of the molecules that make up proteins in E. coli bacteria, if present in Mars’ permafrost and ice caps, could remain intact for over 50 million years, despite harsh and continuous exposure to cosmic radiation.

https://psu-gatsby-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/16_9_1000w/public/2025/10/mars-ice-4-3-header.jpg?h=58b2879a&itok=s2tr1IuE

Health and Human Development

College of Health and Human Development

The speed at which children take bites is associated with their risk of obesity. Researchers at Penn State are developing a new artificial intelligence model to measure children’s bite rates. They described their progress in a newly published pilot study.

Counting bites with AI might one day help prevent childhood obesity | Penn State University

The speed at which children take bites is associated with their risk of obesity. Researchers at Penn State are developing a new artificial intelligence model to measure children’s bite rates. They described their progress in a newly published pilot study.

https://psu-gatsby-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/16_9_1000w/public/2025/10/food-study-child-researcher-adjusted.jpg?h=316b83d3&itok=CZJ9rjHd

Counting bites with AI might one day help prevent childhood obesity

A team of researchers at Penn State led by Tamy Guimarães, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, recently received a three-year, $710,741 U.S. National Science Foundation grant to investigate why and how momentum and heat are transported differently through turbulent flows of air and water. Guimarães discussed the goals of the project and the potential impact of the knowledge the team hopes to gain from this work.

Q&A: Do momentum and heat always go with the flow? | Penn State University

A team of researchers at Penn State led by Tamy Guimarães, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, recently received a three-year, $710,741 U.S. National Science Foundation grant to investigate why and how momentum and heat are transported differently through turbulent flows of air and water. Guimarães discussed the goals of the project and the potential impact of the knowledge the team hopes to gain from this work.

https://psu-gatsby-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/16_9_1000w/public/2025/10/250435-psn-tamy-guimaraes.jpg?h=9afad5a2&itok=yX7v6HnV

Q&A: Do momentum and heat always go with the flow? 

Featured Research

Organic beekeeping can support healthy and productive honey bee colonies, and a new study led by researchers at Penn State found that adopting organic honey bee colony management is not only profitable, but in some cases, it can be even more profitable than conventional management.&nbsp;The research couldn't come at a more opportune time, as a separate study&nbsp;found that 2025 marked the largest-ever&nbsp;honey bee colony losses&nbsp;in the United States, citing viruses spread by parasitic mites as the culprit.&nbsp;

Researchers discover solution to major issue in beekeeping

Electric vehicles (EVs) can have&nbsp;lower fuel costs and reduce emissions&nbsp;relative to cars that use gasoline, but they are only a practical option if drivers have convenient ways to charge them. For people who live in multi-unit dwellings or in urban areas, access to charging infrastructure may be particularly limited, which in turn limits EV adoption. To address this issue, a team of researchers at Penn State created a scalable framework to develop, analyze and evaluate using streetlights as a low-cost, equitable EV charging option.&nbsp;

Streetlights could power the future of EV charging, researchers find

Electric space heating systems and appliances like water heaters can help American homeowners reduce their energy use, and possibly their utility bills, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State.

Want lower utility bills? Study reveals how to cut back energy consumption

An ancient society near the southern shores of Lake Titicaca in modern-day Bolivia was once one of the continent’s most powerful civilizations. Known as Tiwanaku, the ancient society is widely considered by archaeologists to be one of the earliest examples of civilization in the Andes and a precursor of the Inca empire, but it mysteriously disappeared about a thousand years ago. Now, a team led by scientists at Penn State and in Bolivia have discovered a Tiwanaku temple, shedding new light on what the society looked like in its prime.

Hidden temple discovered that could rewrite the history of an ancient empire

The violent collision and merger of two black holes emits gravitational waves — ripples in spacetime — that can cause the resulting newborn black hole to recoil and rapidly move, sometimes escaping its own galaxy. Now, an international team that includes a Penn State researcher has measured the direction of this recoil for the first time, as well as its speed.&nbsp;

 Scientists detect strange signal in gravitational waves

Tiny red objects spotted by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope are offering an international team of scientists, including researchers at Penn State, new insights into the origins of galaxies in the universe — and may represent an entirely new class of celestial object: a black hole swallowing massive amounts of matter and spitting out light.

Study: Strange red dots in the early universe may be new kind of space object

Broken bones often heal naturally with time, a cast, or a brace. But when fractures are complex or severe, doctors rely on implants or surgical devices. Now, researchers at Penn State say they have created a biodegradable scaffold that could speed recovery while reducing complications.

Study: Broken bones regrow quickly with help of biodegradable implant

Floods are some of the most devastating natural disasters communities in the United States face, causing billions of dollars of damage annually, according to the&nbsp;National Weather Service. A group, including several researchers at Penn State, recently developed a computational model to streamline flood prediction in the continental United States.

Researchers develop intelligent tech that predicts future disasters

A research team led by&nbsp;Penn State has developed a sensor that can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on-site in a few minutes using just a breath sample.&nbsp;Previous diagnostic methods often used glucose found in blood or sweat, but this sensor detects acetone levels in the breath.

Breath test that can help diagnose diabetes developed at Penn State

Plants appear still, yet inside they are alive with communication. They must continuously balance how to capture energy without losing too much water. For decades, scientists suspected there were internal messengers guiding this process, but the exact molecules remained unidentified.&nbsp;A new study led by&nbsp;Penn State&nbsp;researchers finally reveals the nature of these signals. This work not only solves a long-standing mystery but also suggests new directions for&nbsp;agriculture&nbsp;and plant resilience research.

Scientists discover hidden messengers tell plants when to eat and breathe

If an extraterrestrial intelligence were looking for signs of human communications, when and where should they look? In a new study, researchers at Penn State and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California analyzed when and where human deep space transmissions would be most detectable by an observer outside our solar system and suggest that the patterns they see could be used to guide our own search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

Study: Planetary alignments may hold the key to detecting alien life

A research team led by Penn State faculty member Igor Aronson explored how micro-sized robots can use sound waves to coordinate into large swarms that exhibit intelligent-like behavior.&nbsp;

Tiny robots can self-organize and communicate using sound, study finds

Phones, laptops, and electric cars all run on a single silvery metal that is tough to get out of the ground. Conventional techniques roast lithium-rich rocks at blast-furnace temperatures, soak them in acid, and burn through hours of energy, cash, and time. Now, researchers at Penn State say there is a simpler, faster route that works with little more than water and a pantry-grade chemical.

Scientists extract 99% of lithium from rocks using a simple water solution

Though scientists have long understood how lightning strikes, the precise atmospheric events that trigger it within thunderclouds remained a perplexing mystery. The mystery may be solved, thanks to a team of researchers led by&nbsp;Victor Pasko, professor of electrical engineering in the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Study: Lightning on Earth is sparked by a powerful chain reaction from outer space

Diagnosing endometriosis could soon be much easier thanks to a new at home-test that can detect a biomarker for the disease in period blood. The pregnancy-like test created by researchers at the Pennsylvania State University offers up a diagnosis with high sensitivity in just 10 minutes.

Simple home test for endometriosis developed at Penn State

A new approach to a 100-year-old math problem is reshaping how engineers understand wind turbines.&nbsp;Penn State&nbsp;engineering student Divya Tyagi developed a cleaner and more complete solution to a classic aerodynamic challenge. Her work, based on calculus of variations, fills key gaps in a model that’s long shaped wind energy theory.