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.
Clues on how soils may respond to climate change found
Rock core samples from a period of warming millions of years ago indicate soils contributed to a rapid rise in atmospheric greenhouse gas and suggest modern climate models may overestimate Earth’s ability to mitigate future warming, according to an international team of scientists.
Penn State partners with University of Freiburg on center for living materials
A new strategic partnership between Penn State and the University of Freiburg in Germany will propel the development of a new class of engineered living materials with potential applications in sustainable infrastructure, robotics technologies, and next-generation medical care.
Reducing farm greenhouse gas emissions may plant the seed for a cooler planet
By adopting a few beneficial management practices, farms — and particularly dairy farms — can play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet, according to a team of researchers.
Meteorology graduate student wins NSF fellowship to study tornado formation
Shawn Murdzek, a graduate student studying meteorology and atmospheric science, received a 2019 Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. He is one of seven EMS students and 24 Penn State students to receive the honor.
2D perovskite materials found to have unique, conductive edge states
A new class of 2D perovskite materials with edges that are conductive like metals and cores that are insulating was found by researchers who said these unique properties have applications in solar cells and nanoelectronics.
Researchers detail privacy-related legal, ethical challenges with satellite data
Satellite technology has been a boon for humanity, leading to faster, clearer communications, quicker emergency responses, accurate location information, and global financial transactions.
Key early steps for origin of life occur under a variety of conditions
Potential precursors to life on Earth form from a variety of complex mixtures, according to a team of scientists who say this could point to the development of building blocks crucial to forming genetic molecules for the origins of life on Earth.
Penn State-led Nittany Radiance team refines infrared-signal detection
Every object in the universe above negative 459 degrees Fahrenheit emits a unique heat signature in the form of infrared light, or longwave radiation. Scientists use remote sensing to capture these measurements and identify objects, and now a Penn State-led research team is further developing these techniques to better identify infrared signals.
South African forests show pathways to a sustainable future
Native forests make up 1percent of the landscape in South Africa but could play a key role in reducing atmospheric carbon and identifying sustainable development practices that can be used globally to counter climate change, according to a Penn State researcher.
Engineering professor awarded $1.1M grant to increase efficiency of organic LEDs
Chris Giebink, associate professor of electrical engineering at Penn State, has been awarded a two-year, $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for his research in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The research is focused on increasing the efficiency of OLEDs used for room lighting.