Tiny bright objects discovered at dawn of universe baffle scientists
Thursday, June 27, 2024
A recent discovery by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) confirmed that luminous, very red objects previously detected in the early universe upend conventional thinking about the origins and evolution of galaxies and their supermassive black holes. An international team, led by Penn State researchers, using the NIRSpec instrument aboard JWST as part of the RUBIES survey identified three mysterious objects in the early universe, about 600-800 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was only 5% of its current age.
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Biodegradable electronics may advance with ability to control dissolve rate
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Engineering science and mechanics researchers at Penn State developed the ability to control the dissolve rate of biodegradable electronics by experimenting with dissolvable elements, like inorganic fillers and polymers, that encapsulate the device. The work has implications for advancing drug delivery systems, pacemakers and other medical devices.
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Q&A: In ChatGPT we trust?
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Combining artificial intelligence (AI) and online search engines may make AI more trustworthy and search results easier to use, according to Penn State researchers.
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Self-assembling, highly conductive sensors could improve wearable devices
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
To advance soft robotics, skin-integrated electronics and biomedical devices, researchers at Penn State have developed a 3D-printed material that is soft and stretchable — traits critical for matching the properties of tissues and organs — and that self-assembles. Their approach employs a process that eliminates many of the drawbacks of previous fabrication methods, such as less conductivity or device failure.
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Penn State students’ project designed to uplift Nepal and protect wildlife
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
The Himalayan ShePower project, created by graduate students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is designed to help smallholder farmers in Nepal earn extra income by producing paper from rhino waste.
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Researchers compile Cacao Gene Atlas to help plant breeders boost chocolate tree
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Cacao, the chocolate tree, is one of the world’s most important economic crops, generating hundreds of billions of dollars annually. However, cocoa is affected by a range of pests and diseases, with some estimates putting losses as high as 30% to 40% of global production. Now, a team led by researchers at Penn State has created a genetic information resource to help plant breeders develop resistant strains of cacao that can be grown sustainably in its native Amazon and elsewhere, such as the tropical latitudes of Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
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Identifying depression, anxiety symptoms prior to puberty in adolescent females
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Regardless of age, symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescent females showed little to no variation prior to their first menstruation, indicating an early screening window prior to puberty, according to a study led by Penn State researchers. They also found that symptoms decrease in severity as more time passes since the first menstruation, again regardless of age.
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Women may face unique obstacles while seeking treatment for opioid use
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Women experiencing opioid-use disorders may face unique challenges accessing treatment, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers. The study provides new insight into how pregnancy and parenting can make getting medications for these disorders particularly difficult.
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Got prunes? Prunes may preserve bone density and strength in older women
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Eating prunes daily may protect bone structure and strength in postmenopausal women, slowing the progression of age-related bone loss and reducing the risk of fracture, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers. This is the first randomized controlled trial to look at three-dimensional bone outcomes.
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Celebrating excellence in postdoctoral scholarship and mentorship at Penn State
Friday, June 21, 2024
The Penn State Postdoc Society, in collaboration with Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, has announced the 2024 recipients of the Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar and Outstanding Postdoctoral Mentor awards. Kathryn Hinkelman received the Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award, and Catherine Berdanier received the Outstanding Postdoctoral Mentor Award.
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