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.
3D-printed ceramics may increase gas turbine fuel efficiency, researchers report
06/20/2023
06/20/2023
Airplane engines can reach temperatures of more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The hotter they get, the more fuel efficient they become, but that efficiency is limited by how hot the metallic components inside the turbine can get without deforming.
Mission critical: To get critical minerals and rare earth metals from coal waste
06/12/2023
06/12/2023
Critical minerals, including rare earth metals, are vital components of our consumer goods, national defense, and emerging green-energy technologies, but the U.S is heavily dependent on imports for an adequate supply.
New wireless, rechargeable battery research aims to reduce surgical risks
06/05/2023
06/05/2023
Researchers at Penn State are designing a new wireless rechargeable battery for biomedical electronics, such as cardiac pacemakers, that will allow them to be charged and managed without the need for invasive surgery.
Newborn baby inspires sensor design that simulates human touch
06/01/2023
06/01/2023
As we move into a world where human-machine interactions are becoming more prominent, pressure sensors that are able to analyze and simulate human touch are likely to grow in demand.
Engineer receives NSF CAREER award to improve lithium-ion battery performance
05/31/2023
05/31/2023
Lithium-ion batteries power most electronics, from smartphones to electric vehicles, and are even used to store energy to power entire homes.
Machine learning technology boosts analog weather forecasting
05/23/2023
05/23/2023
Machine learning technology that can recognize human faces may also help to improve weather forecasts, according to a team of scientists.
Hydrogen battery: Storing hydrogen in coal may help power clean energy economy
05/22/2023
05/22/2023
The quest to develop hydrogen as a clean energy source that could curb our dependence on fossil fuels may lead to an unexpected place — coal.
Particle size is key factor in coal mining-related respiratory disease
05/17/2023
05/17/2023
One of the major occupational health hazards for coal workers in the U.S. is coal mine dust-related respiratory diseases. New findings by Penn State researchers shed light on the causes of respiratory diseases related to coal mine dust.
More research is needed to spread the benefits of electric vehicles equitably
05/12/2023
05/12/2023
Electric vehicles, or EVs, promise to reduce carbon emissions and serve as a tool to help mitigate climate change, but a team of Penn State researchers report there has been little research to determine how equitable the benefits of EVs are and, in fact, whether the technology may unfairly harm some areas and populations.
Energy, environmental seed grants awarded to interdisciplinary research teams
05/02/2023
05/02/2023
Nineteen interdisciplinary research teams received funding through the Institutes of Energy and the Environment’s (IEE) Seed Grant Program for 2023. This includes more than 75 researchers who are affiliated with 10 colleges and research units across seven Penn State campuses.