All News

Drawing inspiration from nature, Penn State scientists have developed a new device that produces images by mimicking the red, green and blue photoreceptors and the neural network found in human eyes.

In the effort to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, one strategy involves harvesting the waste heat that is already being produced by our energy systems. Thermoelectric generators can convert waste heat to clean electricity, and a new design breakthrough may make these devices more efficient than previously possible, according to scientists at Penn State and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 

The winners of the 15th annual Materials Visualization Competition (MVC), a scientific visual and artistic competition sponsored by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) and the Materials Research Institute (MRI) at Penn State, have been announced. MVC celebrates the quality of research in materials at Penn State and promotes awareness of materials science through visualization.

Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) recognized exceptional students and faculty for their academic excellence, service and leadership during its annual Wilson Awards Celebration, held on Sunday, April 23. The Wilson Awards are named in honor of Matthew and Anne Wilson, major benefactors of the college.

Alumna Titilayo “Titi” Shodiya, deputy quality manager at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will present the 2023 Richard E. Tressler Lecture at 3:05 p.m. Thursday, April 27, in 111 Wartik Laboratory on the Penn State University Park campus. Shodiya’s lecture is titled “Materials and Beyond.”

The 2023 Nelson W. Taylor Lecture in Materials will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, in the HUB-Robeson Center’s Freeman Auditorium on Penn State’s University Park campus. The theme of this year’s lecture series is "Frontiers in Glass Science and Technology."

The first rapid test for mpox, more commonly known as monkeypox, has been developed by a team of researchers led by Penn State. The selective molecular sensor can detect the virus within minutes, without the use of any high-end instrumental techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Current tests require health care providers to swab lesions and send the samples to labs to be tested, which can take several days.

Two students have been selected to represent Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences as marshals for the college’s spring 2023 commencement. Martha Christino has been named the student marshal, the top graduate overall, and Bevan Harbinson has been named the college’s engineering honor marshal, the top graduate in an engineering discipline. They will be recognized during the college’s spring 2023 commencement ceremony, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, in the Pegula Ice Arena on Penn State's University Park campus.

Penn State’s Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences has initiated a new grant program to seed collaborative, interdisciplinary projects that would bring together researchers from Penn State and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

The 2023 David Ford McFarland Award for Achievement in Metallurgy lecture will be held at 3:05 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in 111 Wartik Laboratory on the Penn State University Park campus. David Simpson, senior polymer advocacy adviser at ExxonMobil Chemical, will deliver the lecture “Reflections on a career in the polymer industry” and receive the 2023 McFarland Award.