Faculty and Staff

Engineering

College of Engineering

Differences among the DNA of seven ape species — including humans — are greater than originally thought, according to a new study by an international team led by researchers at Penn State, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the University of Washington.

Complete genome sequences of six ape species unveiled | Penn State University

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Differences among the DNA of seven ape species — including humans — are greater than originally thought, according to a new study by an international team led by researchers at Penn State, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the University of Washington. 

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Research

Complete genome sequences of six ape species unveiled

Liberal Arts

College of Liberal Arts

Over spring break, Penn State students in the “Youth Life in Egypt” embedded program immersed themselves in Egyptian culture while strengthening their Arabic skills and applying classroom learning in real-world settings.

Exploring Egypt: Penn State students immerse themselves in culture and history | Penn State University

Over spring break, Penn State students in the “Youth Life in Egypt” embedded program immersed themselves in Egyptian culture while strengthening their Arabic skills and applying classroom learning in real-world settings.

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Exploring Egypt: Penn State students immerse themselves in culture and history

Each spring, Penn State recognizes outstanding faculty and staff with annual awards in teaching and excellence. These awards highlight many of the University's faculty and staff who go above and beyond in their work at Penn State. This year's honorees will be recognized at an invitation-only awards ceremony on April 17.

Penn State announces 2025 University-wide faculty and staff awards | Penn State University

Each spring, Penn State recognizes outstanding faculty and staff with annual awards in teaching and excellence. These awards highlight many of the University's faculty and staff who go above and beyond in their work at Penn State. This year's honorees will be recognized at an invitation-only awards ceremony on April 17.

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Penn State announces 2025 University-wide faculty and staff awards

Penn State Master Gardeners plant seeds for gardening success

Celebrate Earth Day with the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm  

Advocacy is crucial during Capital Day On Campus on April 25

Things to Do at Penn State: April 17-24

Foraging on the wing: How can ecologically similar birds live together?

Supporting our international community at Penn State

Students advocate for increased state funding during Capital Day in Harrisburg  

Election of trustees by alumni begins April 21

Photo contest: Share your best picture of spring at Penn State

We Are Weekend will unite Penn State community June 20-21 to kick off summer

Penn State mourns loss of world-renowned meteorologist Jenni Evans 

Forty-two graduate students recognized with University awards

'Roar Where You Are' on April 22 for the Nittany Lion's birthday

Cyclists, others traveling across campus urged to be predictable, visible

The Medical Minute: Getting ahead of head and neck cancer

Penn State announces 2025 University-wide undergraduate student awards

Fotis Sotiropoulos named Penn State’s executive vice president and provost following a national search

Three graduate students receive awards in 2025 Three Minute Thesis competition

Penn State men's hockey advances to first-ever Frozen Four in overtime thriller

Penn State to launch 2025 Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey

Hershey Medical Center first in Pennsylvania to offer new Parkinson’s treatment

Commonwealth Campus administrator retires after four decades of impact

Things to Do at Penn State: March 27-April 3

Q&A: What is the consumer price index? An economist explains

Capital Day offers all Penn Staters the chance to advocate for fair state funding

Penn State Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses Margo DelliCarpini to depart

PennTAP to help small to mid-size manufacturers reduce energy costs across state

Increased concerns regarding unrecognized fraternities 

Penn State wrestling wins fourth straight national title for the third time

Steve and Nancy Sheetz make new commitment to Penn State Altoona

Things to Do at Penn State: March 20-27

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center launches National Guard trauma training program

The Medical Minute: Don’t snooze on sleep apnea

Three deans co-host research scholarship and land-grant impacts event March 24

Traditional American Indian Powwow scheduled March 29-30 in State College

FDA-approved dialysis drug may help fight against antimicrobial resistance

Gursahaneys pledge $3M to benefit research innovation and Penn State Athletics

Men's gymnastics clinches Big Ten regular season title

The Medical Minute: Why am I always so tired?

Penn State programs competitive in 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject

Werzyn family, West Shore Home make significant field naming gift for Beaver Stadium

Wrestling team wins ninth Big Ten championship

An update on factors informing the Commonwealth Campuses recommendation

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ comes to Eisenhower Auditorium on March 27

The Medical Minute: Measles cases rising in the US, what you can do

Things to Do at Penn State: March 6-20

Fall 2025 commencement at University Park to take place Sunday, Dec. 21

Acrobatic cirque company Circa’s ‘Duck Pond’ comes to Penn State on March 22

University Park campus parking and transit changes during spring break

Penn State engages with NRC to build new nuclear research facility

2025 Penn State alumni trustee election ballot positions announced

Top pictures from the 2025 Penn State Today winter photo contest

Latest News

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Around Campus

More research news

In a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Penn State civil engineering researchers examined infrastructure development across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, statistically modeling how each county’s transportation infrastructure impacted the economic health of the region and beyond.

Measuring the economic impact of bridges and roads in Pennsylvania | Penn State University

In a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Penn State civil engineering researchers examined infrastructure development across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, statistically modeling how each county’s transportation infrastructure impacted the economic health of the region and beyond.

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Measuring the economic impact of bridges and roads in Pennsylvania 

Agricultural Sciences

College of Agricultural Sciences

Insecticides can help protect crops against troublesome pests, but they also pose a risk for beneficial insects such as pollinators. A new study led by researchers at Penn State provided insight into how even sublethal doses of insecticides can negatively affect pollinators by disrupting the mating process.

Even sublethal insecticide dose may disrupt pollinator mating process | Penn State University

Insecticides can help protect crops against troublesome pests, but they also pose a risk for beneficial insects such as pollinators. A new study led by researchers at Penn State provided insight into how even sublethal doses of insecticides can negatively affect pollinators by disrupting the mating process.

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Even sublethal insecticide dose may disrupt pollinator mating process

Earth and Mineral Sciences

College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Readily available but underused Doppler radar data can help predict the height of the planetary boundary layer — the lowest part of the atmosphere and where weather forms — and, in turn, improve severe weather forecasts, according to scientists at Penn State.

Underused radar data may improve severe weather forecasts, scientists say | Penn State University

Readily available but underused Doppler radar data can help predict the height of the planetary boundary layer — the lowest part of the atmosphere and where weather forms — and, in turn, improve severe weather forecasts, according to scientists at Penn State.  

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Underused radar data may improve severe weather forecasts, scientists say 

Featured Research

Scientists, including researchers at Penn State, have discovered the perfect vacation spot: it's sun-soaked, has sandy beaches, sports gentle waves lapping rhythmically on the shore. But hold off on grabbing the sun lotion, because there's a catch—it's on ancient Mars.

Ancient mars once boasted 'vacation-style' beaches, study finds

Vaccine refrigeration — which can be expensive and logistically challenging, but still needed — could become unnecessary, thanks to research from a Penn State team.

Vaccine refrigeration could become optional, thanks to Penn State team

Dairy isn’t the only food that’s good for bone health. Prunes may also protect bone structure and strength in postmenopausal women, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers

Penn State researchers find prunes may protect your bones

A research team has discovered that by using a new method of "atomic spray painting," they can tweak the atomic structure of lead-free potassium niobate in order to enhance its ferroelectric properties.The study, created by a team led by Penn State researchers, explains how molecular beam epitaxy can be employed to deposit atomic layers onto a substrate to create thin films.

Penn State scientists make breakthrough discovery after 'atomic spray painting' experiment

New insights into bee movements and life cycles have been uncovered after Penn State researchers tracked the insects using tiny QR codes glued onto their backs.

Tiny QR codes help Penn State scientists track bee movements

Geese appear to understand when and where hunting takes place but are willing to risk the danger to stay close to resources and their primary habitats, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State.

Nerves of steel: Canada geese don’t flee far from hunters, study finds

Researchers at the Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence (PSETI) Center have been awarded a three-year, $480,000 grant under the NASA Exoplanets Research Program to search for radio and laser signals from alien civilizations.

Penn State center awarded NASA grant to search for alien civilizations

Richard Alley, the Evan Pugh University Professor of Geosciences at Penn State, was one of 23 individuals and two organizations that received this year’s National Medal of Science award for his work studying historical climate change patterns.

Penn State professor receives National Medal of Science for climate research

State College community members and Penn State students are creating a paw-sitive impact on the lives of people with disabilities through service dog training. Roar for More, the State College chapter of Susquehanna Service Dogs, is celebrating 10 years of helping students and community members train puppies to be service dogs.

Service dog training group Roar For More celebrates 10 years of paw-sitivity

For the first time, researchers at Penn State and Columbia University have observed a type of quasiparticle that behaves in an unusual way. In one direction, it acts like it has no mass, zipping around as if it were made of pure energy. But turning another way, it carries mass, slowing down and resisting motion. This mysterious entity, called a semi-Dirac fermion, had appeared in theory about 16 years ago but had never been seen inside a real material.

Study: "Quasiparticle" that only has mass moving in one direction seen for the first time

Spanish explorers may have brought the first peach pits to North America, but Indigenous communities helped the ubiquitous summer fruit really take root, according to a study led by a researcher at Penn State.

Research explains how peaches spread across North America and the world

In an analysis of more than 35 million public posts containing links that were shared extensively on the social media platform between 2017 and 2020, Penn State researchers found that around 75% of the shares were made without the posters clicking the link first. Of these, political content from both ends of the spectrum was shared without clicking more often than politically neutral content.

Study: Reading beyond headline is rare for most on social media

For years, the medical community has stressed that being active makes you happier and healthier. But new research out of Penn State University suggests that even daily tasks, like walking regularly and doing chores, could help keep you—and your brain—young.

Walking could make your brain years younger, PSU study finds

New research led by Penn State shows that children who stick to a regular bedtime, falling asleep and waking up at the same time each day, have better control over their behavior and emotions, particularly during stressful situations or while collaborating with others.

Irregular bedtimes disrupt the well-being and behavior of children, researchers say

Microplastics have been found in some of the world’s most remote environments, from the snow-capped peaks of Mount Everest to the ocean depths of the Mariana Trench, infiltrating ecosystems and even human bodies. Now, new research led by scientists at Penn State University reveals that these tiny plastic particles may also be affecting the atmosphere and climate.

Study: Microplastics trigger cloud formation and alter weather patterns

Penn State researchers have isolated a protein in a bacterium that naturally separates rare earth elements, which might help mining go green. Rare earth elements are key components used in everything from modern tech to gasoline production.