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.
Geography student secures $150K NASA grant for ice sheet meltwater research
Mahsa Bahrami, a doctoral student in Penn State’s Department of Geography, has been awarded a NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) grant to fund her research on meltwater lakes at the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet.
Penn State, Shell announce collaboration focused on energy and sustainability
Penn State and Shell USA Inc. have announced the launch of a collaboration. An initial commitment from Shell of more than $1 million will fund initiatives focused on energy transition, decarbonization, polymer recycling and biodiversity, and the creation of an inclusive and innovative energy workforce.
Grant to help Penn State build semiconductor workforce in Pennsylvania
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $600,000 to Penn State’s Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance (SCIA) to develop a series of educational courses, workshops, and paid academic and industrial internships focused on workforce development in Pennsylvania for the growing semiconductor industry.
Researchers, staff work with Pittsburgh municipalities to predict geohazards
Penn State students, Carnegie Mellon students, Penn State faculty and staff from the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State are collaborating to use existing fiber optic cables to predict dangerous potential geohazards like flooding, landslides and sinkholes in Pittsburgh.
Giant fossil seeds from Borneo record ancient plant migration
Ancient fossil beans about the size of modern limes, and among the largest seeds in the fossil record, may provide new insight into the evolution of today’s diverse Southeast Asian and Australian rainforests, according to Penn State researchers who identified the plants.
Colorado River basin: Machine learning approach may aid water conservation push
The Colorado River basin, which supplies water to 40 million people in the Western United States, is threatened by historic drought, a changing climate and water demands from growing cities. One potential response involves encouraging individuals to conserve water, and a new study may help identify those most likely to change their behaviors to contribute, according to scientists.
In-place manufacturing method improves gas sensor capabilities, production time
When used as wearable medical devices, stretchy, flexible gas sensors can identify health conditions or issues by detecting oxygen or carbon dioxide levels in the breath or sweat.
Humidity may be the key to super-lubricity 'switch'
Sometimes friction is good, such as the friction between a road and a car’s tires to prevent the vehicle from skidding. But sometimes friction is bad — if you did not put oil in that very same car, there would be so much friction in the bearings of the engine that the car could not operate.
Study sheds light on how ‘forever chemicals’ travel in groundwater
A large family of chemicals used for decades to improve our lives — from nonstick cooking pans to waterproof clothing — are now known as "forever chemicals" because they do not easily break down in the environment and pose potential health risks as they build up in our bodies. A new study may improve our understanding of how these chemicals move in the groundwater, according to a team of scientists.
'Growing Impact' podcast focuses on air quality, health in western Pa.
The latest episode of the "Growing Impact" podcast features a project focused on air quality and health concerns in western Pennsylvania