Penn State Energy and Environment News

E. Coli has been found in ground beef and walnuts. Here’s what to know.

| nytimes.com

The bacteria sickens an estimated 265,000 Americans each year. This article quotes Edward Dudley, professor of food science.

Wonder material "more remarkable" than graphene has medical potential

| newsweek.com

Borophene is already thinner and more conductive than graphene, and scientists have altered it to make it even more special. This article features Penn State research.

Engineering researcher awarded IEE 'Person of the Year' for 2023

| psu.edu

Li Li, the Barry and Shirley Isett Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State, is the 2023 recipient of the Institute of Energy and the Environment’s Person of the Year Award.

Firefly populations at risk due to climate change, urban development

| gettysburgtimes.com

Catching fireflies is an iconic summer experience for many people living in North America, but the flickering beetles are on the decline. This article features Penn State research.

Penn State Extension praised by state for native plant gardens in Philadelphia

| psu.edu

The Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward program in Philadelphia County, in partnership with the Friends of Wharton Square Park, recently received a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, presented annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Video series shares sustainability lessons from trip to New Zealand, Australia

| psu.edu

If a picture is worth a thousand words, Annie Taylor hopes videos will bring an invaluable experience — an opportunity to learn about sustainability — to everyone, without traveling far from home. Last year, Taylor, senior assistant dean for distance learning in the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, and Kaitlin Farnan, a business instructor at Penn State Altoona, led 20 Penn State students on a trip to New Zealand and Australia to learn about sustainable business practices.

Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

| gettysburgtimes.com

How well bees tolerate temperature extremes could determine their ability to persist in a changing climate, according to a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences release. This article features Penn State research.

S. Shyam Sundar named Evan Pugh University Professor

| psu.edu

S. Shyam Sundar, the James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Effects, director of the Penn State Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence and founding director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory, has been named an Evan Pugh University Professor, the highest honor that Penn State bestows on a faculty member.

NSF grant to fund research on genetics and physiology of corn kernel development

| psu.edu

A research team in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has received a grant of nearly $1 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation to fund a novel project investigating the molecular and physiological processes that support corn kernel development.

Spotted lanternflies pose a major threat to vineyards. Centre County wineries are on alert

| yahoo.com

The invasive insect can have a damaging effect on Happy Valley’s vineyards if a large population takes hold this season. This article quotes Brian Walsh, educator with Penn State Extension, and Michela Centinari, associate professor of viticulture.

'The Cape Cod jungle': What you should know about invasive plants

| yahoo.com

Those darn invasive plants can really take a toll on Cape Cod gardens -- here are some tips on how to battle back. This article quotes Penn State Extension expertise.

Fracking waste wells owned by an Ohio senator are leaking. The state paid $1.3 million to clean it up

| msn.com

Injection wells owned by an Ohio state senator leaked fracking waste deep underground in Noble County before blasting through the surface miles away at an oil well, warranting a $1.3 million cleanup effort. This article quotes Dave Yoxtheimer, assistant research professor of earth and mineral sciences.