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.
Straining a material’s atomic arrangement may make for cleaner, smarter devices
What’s the best way to precisely manipulate a material’s properties to the desired state? It may be straining the material’s atomic arrangement, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State.
Pollinators most vulnerable to rising global temperatures are flies, study shows
Despite their reputation as buzzing nuisances, flies serve a critical role as some of the Earth’s most prolific pollinators — and new research led by Penn State scientists suggests they are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures.
$3M grant targets integrated semiconductor for smarter, greener electronics
The microelectronics industry is nearing a tipping point. The silicon chips at the heart of everyday electronic devices are running into performance limits, raising the need for new materials and technologies to continue making faster, more efficient devices.
Materials Research Institute names 2024 Roy Award winners
Six Penn State materials researchers have received the 2024 Rustum and Della Roy Innovation in Materials Research Award, recognizing a wide range of research with societal impact.
Q&A: What fossils reveal about ancient Australian forests and fire
Australia's forest ecosystems, renowned for their extraordinary diversity of rare plants and animals, also play a vital role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon.
Session proposals for 2025 Climate Solutions Symposium now being accepted
The Penn State Climate Consortium has announced a call for breakout sessions for the 2025 Climate Solutions Symposium, taking place May 19-20, 2025, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
New approach improves models of atmosphere on early Earth, exo-planets
A new approach for modeling solar radiation may improve our understanding of the atmosphere on early Earth and help in the search for habitable conditions on planets beyond our solar system.
Microplastics impact cloud formation, likely affecting weather and climate
New research led by Penn State scientists reveals that microplastics in the atmosphere could be affecting weather and climate.
Scientists examine how wastewater practices in Florida Keys impact water quality
A new study by researchers tracked how nutrients from wastewater migrate from disposal sites in the Florida Keys and may help inform wastewater management in the region.
$1.3M NSF grant to fund research into restoration of degraded ecosystems
Ida Djenontin, assistant professor of geography at Penn State, was recently awarded a $1.3 million grant from the NSF to investigate the socioecological outcomes of restoration in degraded woodlands ecosystems.