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.
Snapshot Day brings Pennsylvania water quality into focus
Volunteers collected water samples in October as part of the annual Snapshot Day, a event organized by Penn State researchers and Trout Unlimited to help us better understand baseline water quality in Pennsylvania.
Sloan Scholar says funding will open doors in materials science field
Roger Walker, doctoral candidate in materials science and engineering, was recently named a Sloan Scholar, and said the funding will allow him to expand his research and networking opportunities in the field.
Field conference helps write the book on Pennsylvania geology
The 82nd annual Field Conference of Pennsylvania Geologists was held in October at Penn State. Professional geologists from across the state traveled to learn about the latest geology research happening in the state.
Sea-level rise, not stronger storm surge, will cause future NYC flooding
Rising sea levels caused by a warming climate threaten greater future storm damage to New York City, but the paths of stronger future storms may shift offshore, changing the coastal risk for the city, according to a team of climate scientists.
Two-dimensional materials gets a new theory for control of properties
Desirable properties including increased electrical conductivity, improved mechanical properties, or magnetism for memory storage or information processing may be possible because of a theoretical method to control grain boundaries in two-dimensional materials, according to Penn State materials scientists.
Secretary of energy spotlights Penn State-industry rare-earth-elements project
U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry highlighted the national importance of a new Penn State–industry collaboration during a recent visit to a Jeddo Coal Company mine in Ebervale, Pennsylvania. Along with Rep. Lou Barletta, of Pennsylvania's 11th district, Perry spoke at a press conference about the collaboration, which aims to extract rare resources from coal. The project is funded by the Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
Wang wins outstanding young researcher award at carbon dioxide conference
Xiaoxing Wang, an associate research professor in Penn State’s Earth and Mineral Sciences Energy Institute, received the Outstanding Young Researcher Award at the 15th International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization, held July 17-21 in Shanghai, China.
Organic/inorganic sulfur may be key for safe rechargeable lithium batteries
We have come a long way from leaky sulfur-acid automobile batteries, but modern lithium batteries still have some down sides. Now a team of Penn State engineers have a different type of lithium sulfur battery that could be more efficient, less expensive and safer.
How a Penn State partnership reshaped science education
The Earth and Space Science Partnership (ESSP) is a program funded by the National Science Foundation designed to help Pennsylvania science teachers build upon their understanding and teaching of big ideas in Earth and space science. The $9 million initiative was aimed at reshaping the teaching and learning of Earth and space science in Pennsylvania.
Science communication focus of 2017 Lattman Lecture given by meteorology alumnus
Jim Steenburgh, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah and Penn State alumnus, will give the 2017 Lattman Visiting Scholar of Science and Society Lecture. His talk, titled “Communicating Science in the 21st Century: Personal and Political Challenges and Opportunities,” will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum on the ground floor of Deike Building. The event is free and open to the public.