App Store Logo

Still Life

Snow blankets University Park

Snow blankets University Park

February 6, 2010

Many are registered during York's bone marrow drive

Many are registered during York's bone marrow drive

February 3, 2010

Haitian earthquake victims receive help from Hershey medical staff

Haitian earthquake victims receive help from Hershey medical staff

February 3, 2010

Comedian Dunham entertains audience

Comedian Dunham entertains audience

January 29, 2010

Pink Zone game benefits breast cancer research

Pink Zone game benefits breast cancer research

January 24, 2010

Gala raises money for Four Diamonds

Gala raises money for Four Diamonds

January 22, 2010

MLK events culminate in evening celebration

MLK events culminate in evening celebration

January 20, 2010

Penn State, local students collaborate to celebrate MLK

Penn State, local students collaborate to celebrate MLK

January 17, 2010

Heard on Campus: Tony Leach, Essence, at the Forum

Heard on Campus: Tony Leach, Essence, at the Forum

January 15, 2010

The 94th annual PA Farm Show is under way

The 94th annual PA Farm Show is under way

January 10, 2010

Lady Lions hold Special Olympics clinic

Lady Lions hold Special Olympics clinic

January 9, 2010

A look back at Bowl Week

A look back at Bowl Week

January 4, 2010

Featured Video

Penn State 2010

Penn State 2010

2009 State of the University Address

2009 State of the University Address

Managing the Roost: Penn State's Crow Relocation Project

Managing the Roost: Penn State's Crow Relocation Project

Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone

Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone

Penn State introduces Tony Leach as laureate for 2009-2010

Penn State introduces Tony Leach as laureate for 2009-2010

Beaver Stadium Behind the Scenes and On the Air

Beaver Stadium Behind the Scenes and On the Air

Natural Fusion, Penn State's Solar Decathlon Team 2009

Natural Fusion, Penn State's Solar Decathlon Team 2009

'Expert Opinion' show examines sports gambling

'Expert Opinion' show examines sports gambling

'Expert Opinion' looks at men's college basketball issues

'Expert Opinion' looks at men's college basketball issues

'Expert Opinion' tackles college football rankings

'Expert Opinion' tackles college football rankings

ResearchResearch Feed

Health stories by experts more credible than blogs

Friday, February 05, 2010

Health information written by a doctor is rated as more credible when it appears on a Web site than in a blog or a homepage, according to a study of college students. The findings highlight the relative importance of different online sources to people who seek health information on the Internet. "Most people look for health information online by keying disease symptoms into various search engines," said S. Shyam Sundar, distinguished professor of communications, Penn State. "But the results of that search could range from experts at the Mayo Clinic to somebody's personal blog." (more)

Penn State teams with Volvo as academic partner

Friday, February 05, 2010

The Volvo Group has chosen Penn State as its first academic preferred partnership in North America to explore and resolve some of the serious issues in commercial transportation markets around the world. "We are very excited that our Academic Partner Program now covers Sweden, France and the U.S.A.," said Jan-Eric Sundgren, head, public affairs and environmental issues, Volvo Group. "This program shows our commitment to form a long-term strategic partnership that will strengthen the competitiveness of both the Volvo Group and our academic partners. Penn State already had ongoing activities in several areas such as student co-operative assignments, advanced engineering studies, biofuel research and vehicle system testing." (more)

Research may change understanding of insect-borne virus transmission

Research may change understanding of insect-borne virus transmission
Monday, February 01, 2010

A common plant virus lures aphids to infected plants by making the plants more attractive, but when the insects taste the plant, they quickly leave for tastier, healthier ones. In the process, the insects rapidly transmit the disease, according to Penn State entomologists. This type of host alteration has implications beyond agriculture. If pathogens can alter hosts to make transmission more efficient, they may be doing it in insect-transmitted human diseases, such as malaria or dengue fever. (more)

Penn State researchers' code targets 'stealthy' computer worms

Monday, February 01, 2010

Self-propagating worms are malicious computer programs, which, after being released, can spread throughout networks without human control, stealing or erasing hard drive data, interfering with pre-installed programs and slowing, even crashing, home and work computers. Now a new code, or algorithm, created by Penn State researchers targets the "stealthiest" of these worms, containing them before an outbreak can occur. (more)

Wireless optical transmission key to better indoor communications

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Light is better than radio waves when it comes to some wireless communications, according to Penn State engineers. Optical communications systems could provide faster, more secure communications with wider bandwidth and would be suitable for restricted areas like hospitals, aircraft and factories. (more)

End-of-life care strategies examined in Pennsylvania prisons

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Improved delivery of end-of-life care in prison is the focus of a $1.27-million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research that has Penn State researchers working with employees from six Pennsylvania prisons and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. The project will develop an intervention toolkit for use by staff at any prison in the country. End-of-life care -- an attempt to optimize the quality of life for dying patients -- includes hospice and palliative care, and aims to alleviate symptoms and suffering during advanced chronic illness. (more)

Mammoth Achievement: Researchers at the forefront of molecular biology

Mammoth Achievement: Researchers at the forefront of molecular biology
Friday, January 22, 2010

Stephan Schuster and Webb Miller opened new frontiers in molecular biology when they successfully sequenced the woolly mammoth genome last year. "This is really the first time that we have been able to study an extinct animal in the same detail as the ones living in our own time," explains Schuster, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology. The approach they developed may help explain past extinction events--and prevent future ones. (more)

Mixed water portfolio helps thirsty cities

Monday, January 18, 2010

Computer simulations for drought-prone areas reveal that when urban water planners combine three approaches of buying water -- permanent rights, options and leases -- the city avoids surplus water and high costs, and reduces shortages, according to civil engineers. "Just like with stock portfolios, if you buy diverse stocks, you diversify your risk," said Patrick Reed, associate professor of civil engineering, Penn State. "Right now, cities don't necessarily diversify their risk through the ways in which they buy water." (more)

Stimulus grant to support research on climate and infectious disease

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The potential effects of climate change on the spread of infectious diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, are the focus of a nearly $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation intended to further the studies of a Penn State-led group of researchers. The grant is part of federal stimulus funding authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (more)

Family intervention program may be strengthened

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Modifications to a program originally aimed at strengthening families have shown that parents improved their ability to control anger, exhibited less negativity and acted more positively toward their children, according to preliminary testing by Penn State researchers. (more)