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.
Video: Transparent metal films for smartphone, tablet and TV displays
04/24/2018
04/24/2018
A new material that is both highly transparent and electrically conductive could make large screen displays, smart windows and even touch screens and solar cells more affordable and efficient, according to a Penn State team of researchers led by Roman Engel-Herbert, associate professor of materials science and engineering.
Invent Penn State names James Adair 'Inventor of the Year'
04/24/2018
04/24/2018
James Adair, professor of materials science and engineering, biomedical engineering and pharmacology, was awarded the Invent Penn State "Inventor of the Year" award, Friday, April 20, at the Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference awards ceremony.
Geography students use virtual reality to recreate Mayan ruins
04/24/2018
04/24/2018
Ancient Mayan civilization in Central America, which collapsed around 1,000 years ago, is being brought to life in a new Penn State project. Two doctoral students in geography, Jiawei Huang and Arif Masrur, have recreated the Mayan ruins of Cahal Pech, in Belize, using virtual reality.
Undergraduate Exhibition wraps up record year
04/23/2018
04/23/2018
Hundreds of students and judges bustled about in the HUB-Robeson Center Wednesday evening for the 2018 Undergraduate Research Exhibition on the University Park campus of Penn State. From musical presentations in the Flex Theater to posters in Alumni and Heritage halls, the University's best were promoting the fruits of their academic and artistic pursuits.
Students see green: Mock spill illustrates potential impact of wastewater leak
04/23/2018
04/23/2018
A group of State High students participated in a mock spill event last week simulating what might happen if a contaminate spill reached the stream. The students are part of TeenShale Network, a group of high school students working with Penn State scientists to monitor water quality in local streams around Marcellus Shale development.
72 undergraduate students awarded Erickson Discovery Grants
04/22/2018
04/22/2018
The list of 2018 Erickson Discovery Grants has been released, and 72 students from Penn State campuses will have their work bolstered by a $3,500 grant from the Office of Undergraduate Education.
Stay ahead of frost with new prediction tools developed by Penn State students
04/18/2018
04/18/2018
Four enterprising Penn State students are determined to further merge meteorologists with industry by delivering critical weather information to decision makers using advanced visualization techniques.
Deep Italian cave provides clues for how to detect life on Mars
04/17/2018
04/17/2018
What can a massive cave in Italy tell us about life on Mars and other planets? According to new research by Penn State scientists, a whole lot. In work published in Astrobiology, Penn State researchers identified biosignatures -- or signs of the presence of life -- about 1,300 feet below ground in the Frasassi Caves in central Italy.
Fighting fire with societal norms
04/17/2018
04/17/2018
There are a few statistics about women firefighters that stand out to Penn State researcher Lorraine Dowler. Women account for about 7 percent of firefighters nationwide. Men and women firefighters have the same average age, but women are paid $10,000 less, on average, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
One-fifth of carbon entering coastal waters of eastern North America is buried
04/11/2018
04/11/2018
Coastal waters play an important role in the carbon cycle by transferring carbon to the open ocean or burying it in wetland soils and ocean sediments, a new study shows.