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.
News
Saltier sea water may predict heavy summer rains in the U.S. corn belt
Farmers in the Midwest should care about the saltiness of ocean water thousands of miles from their fields, according to a team of scientists.
Corning honored as Penn State’s Corporate Partner of the Year
Penn State has named Corning Inc., one of the world's leading innovators in materials science, as its 2022 Corporate Partner of the Year.
Lack of naloxone led to increased overdose deaths in rural Pa., study finds
Pennsylvania has one of the highest rates of opioid overdose in the nation, and, according to Penn State researchers, one’s chances of surviving that overdose can depend on where the person lives.
Scientists improve process for turning hard-to-recycle plastic waste into fuel
A new study may improve the ability of pyrolysis to process hard-to-recycle mixed plastics — like multilayer food packaging — and generate fuel as a byproduct, the scientists said.
Research links shale gas, legacy energy development to groundwater contamination
Fracking for natural gas in parts of Pennsylvania with a legacy of energy extraction may increase the risk of groundwater contamination, according to a team led by Penn State scientists.
Penn State shares $25M DOE grant to study climate change impacts and adaptation
Penn State was named a collaborating institution in a $66 million U.S. Department of Energy Urban Integrated Field (Urban IFL) Program designed to study the impacts of climate change on American cities.
Grant funds research that could help certification of organic honey bee products
A $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will enable a team of researchers — led by Penn State entomologists — to assess foraging patterns of honey bees on organic farms, with an eye toward creating opportunities for beekeepers to produce certified-organic apiary products.
Novel implantable sensor sniffs out possible signals of osteoarthritis
If smoke indicates a fire, nitric oxide signals inflammation.
Penn State leads project to improve air quality models for state decision makers
Improving states’ ability to address air quality issues is the focus of a new $1 million, Penn State-led project funded by NASA.
New model to help reframe the transition to low-carbon electric power
Governments and societies around the world face increasing urgency in responding to climate change by accelerating the transition to a low-carbon energy system but differing views remain on the combination of energy technologies that will best achieve this goal.