Sloan Foundation grant to fund research on governance of the U.S. electric grid
Seth Blumsack, professor of energy and environmental economics and international affairs, was awarded a $1,193,307 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to sustain and expand an interdisciplinary research network focused on the regional organizations that manage the electric power transmission grid in the United States and how the governance of these regional transmission organizations (RTOs) impacts outcomes for market efficiency, sustainability, equity, reliability and resilience.
Changes in Earth’s orbit may have triggered ancient warming event
Changes in Earth’s orbit that favored hotter conditions may have helped trigger a rapid global warming event 56 million years ago that is considered an analogue for modern climate change, according to an international team of scientists.
Model shows how intelligent-like behavior can emerge from non-living agents
From a distance, they looked like clouds of dust. Yet, the swarm of microrobots in author Michael Crichton’s bestseller “Prey” was self-organized. It acted with rudimentary intelligence, learning, evolving and communicating with itself to grow more powerful.
2D material may enable ultra-sharp cellphone photos in low light
A new type of active pixel sensor that uses a novel two-dimensional material may both enable ultra-sharp cellphone photos and create a new class of extremely energy-efficient Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, according to a team of Penn State researchers.
Materials Research Institute accepting proposals for two seed grant projects
The Materials Research Institute (MRI) offers a series of seed grants to Penn State researchers that encourage high-risk, high-impact collaborative projects across multiple disciplines with great potential for societal benefit. Currently, calls for proposals are open for two seed grant programs.
EMS Program helps develop scholarship, experiential learning and global literacy
At a large school like Penn State, it can sometimes be hard to find your niche — however, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Academy for Global Experience, or EMSAGE, encouraged senior Mufaddal Gheewala to discover his place on campus.
Penn State faculty join NASA mission to study samples from asteroid Bennu
Three Penn State faculty — Kate Freeman, Evan Pugh University Professor of Geosciences, Christopher House, professor of geosciences, and Allison Baczynski, associate research professor of geosciences — have been selected to join the NASA Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission to analyze samples from the asteroid Bennu.
Libraries obtains industry standards to benefit Pennsylvania businesses
Penn State University Libraries received an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to purchase international and industry standards in support of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) in core Pennsylvania industries.
Linked by love of kolams, duo creates puzzle game that explores patterns
Venkatraman Gopalan, professor of materials science and engineering and physics at Penn State, remembers fondly the tidy, patterned shapes called "kolams" that adorned the entrances of homes in Southern India.
Taylor Rosen selected as Earth and Mineral Sciences' fall 2022 student marshal
Taylor Rosen has been selected as the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' student marshal for the University’s fall 2022 commencement ceremony.