Read the latest news about research conducted by investigators in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Our faculty and students are continually advancing technology, creating solutions and expanding knowledge with new and innovative research.
New acid mine drainage treatment turns waste into valuable critical minerals
08/05/2020
08/05/2020
A new way to treat acid mine drainage (AMD) could help transform the environmental pollution problem into an important domestic source of the critical rare earth elements needed to produce technology ranging from smart phones to fighter jets, according to Penn State scientists.
Room temperature superconductivity creeping toward possibility
07/28/2020
07/28/2020
The possibility of achieving room temperature superconductivity took a tiny step forward with a recent discovery by a team of Penn State physicists and materials scientists.
Seismic waves help scientists 'see' chemical changes beneath a watershed
07/27/2020
07/27/2020
Chemical reactions deep below ground affect water quality, but methods for "seeing" them are time-consuming, expensive and limited in scope. A Penn State-led research team found that seismic waves can help to identify these reactions under an entire watershed and protect groundwater resources.
Greenland bedrock drilling project to understand past, future ice sheet melting
07/16/2020
07/16/2020
The Greenland Ice Sheet holds enough water to raise sea levels nearly 24 feet, yet it remains difficult to predict the rate of melt and possible tipping points in the stability of the ice sheet.
Photos may improve understanding of volcanic processes
07/16/2020
07/16/2020
The shape of volcanoes and their craters provide critical information on their formation and eruptive history. Techniques applied to photographs -- photogrammetry -- show promise and utility in correlating shape change to volcanic background and eruption activity.
Knowledge of severe storm patterns may improve tornado warnings
06/29/2020
06/29/2020
A radar signature may help distinguish which severe storms are likely to produce dangerous tornadoes, potentially leading to more accurate warnings, according to scientists.
Understanding of relaxor ferroelectric properties could lead to many advances
06/29/2020
06/29/2020
A new fundamental understanding of polymeric relaxor ferroelectric behavior could lead to advances in flexible electronics, actuators and transducers, energy storage, piezoelectric sensors and electrocaloric cooling, according to a team of researchers at Penn State and North Carolina State.
Here but still 'there': Using virtual-reality field trips to enrich education
06/25/2020
06/25/2020
Classes may have been held remotely during the previous spring semester, but Penn State faculty members found creative ways to bring field trips to their students, even when they couldn't necessarily bring students out into the field.
Device turns wasted heat into clean electricity, scientists say
06/23/2020
06/23/2020
New matchbook-sized devices could convert wasted heat in our homes, offices and vehicles into an environmentally friendly source of electricity, according to a team of scientists.
Marching for change: 2017 Women's March met with mostly positive support online
06/23/2020
06/23/2020
Large protest events can be divisive, spurring an outpouring of both support and opposition.