Research

The Penn State Emeritus Academy has partnered with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) to host the 2026-27 “Explorations: The Penn State Emeritus Academy Lecture Series," a venue for retired Penn State faculty members to share their research, creative projects and unique perspectives with the wider Penn State community and the public.

The Stuckeman School in the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture is hosting its annual Research Open House from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 in the Jury Space of the Stuckeman Family Building to highlight the diverse research that is ongoing by faculty and students within the school.

In this Q&A, Penn State Smeal College of Business researchers explained how an alternative inflation index developed at Penn State may help U.S. policymakers and businesses understand where inflation is headed months in advance of government reports.

Consistent heel-to-toe steps are more unique to humans than previously thought and allowed early humans to walk farther more efficiently, but at the cost of higher impact forces on bones and joints, according to a new study led by a Penn State anthropologist.

Data centers have become unpopular with many voters, and the federal government is seeking places to build the hyperscale data centers needed to power large artificial intelligence models.

The Center for Plant Excellence to award more than $130,000 in grant funding for proposals in research and advancement of Pennsylvania's plant industries. Applications are now open.

Jun Ye, professor of physics and JILA Fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder, will present the 2026 Russell E. Marker Lectures in Physics on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 on the Penn State University Park campus. These free public lectures are sponsored by the Penn State Eberly College of Science.

In this Q&A, Penn State researchers spoke about why they compiled a book about the latest gun violence research and how statisticians and data scientists can contribute their expertise in working with incomplete or biased data and advancing new analytical methods in this field.

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences celebrated 30 years since its 1996 founding as the Life Sciences Consortium with a reception at the Bryce Jordan Center’s 1855 Club.

Members of government and industry gathered at Penn State’s Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine (START) Lab on Aug. 28 for a ribbon-cutting event and open house that showcased and celebrated the advanced capabilities of the newly renovated and expanded START+ facilities.

Penn State’s National Security Institute marked its official launch with an Aug. 28 event that brought University and institute leadership together with representatives from government and industry.

Prepare PA will host a webinar on Sept. 16, to introduce a new statewide network focused on helping Pennsylvania communities prepare for and respond to a changing climate.

The Penn State Climate Consortium will host a series of fall events examining some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities associated with a changing climate.

Penn State University Press will host “Inside Academic Publishing: Demystifying the Path from Research to Publication,” a free, virtual symposium open to the University-wide community from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, Sept. 18. Registration is required.

Rahul Parhi, of University of California San Diego, will present "What Kinds of Functions Do Neural Networks Learn? Low-Norm vs. Flat Solutions" as part of the Computational and Applied Mathematics Colloquium series hosted by the Penn State Department of Mathematics. The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 15, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in 114 McAllister Building.

This summer was a time for travel, research, internships and expanding classroom lessons for many students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

Ava Ciabattoni, a fourth-year student majoring in pharmacology and toxicology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, has been selected for the Rachel Carson Council’s 2026-27 National Environmental Leadership Fellowship.

Ten graduate students from universities across the country recently came to Penn State to participate in the Mixed Methods Summer Intensive for Practice-Based Researchers program led by Ray Block Jr., Brown-McCourtney Career Development Professor in the McCourtney Institute for Democracy and professor of political science and of African American studies.

Scott Milner, William H. Joyce Chair Professor of Chemical Engineering, has been writing and publishing across careers in both industry and academia for decades. In his new book, “Writing and Presenting for Scientists and Engineers,” publishing later this year through MIT Press, Milner provided insights into methods for writing about scientific research in a more compelling way.

A new study led by Penn State scientists revealed that proteins containing a certain type of structure are more likely to misfold, yet nearly half still manage to evade the cellular maintenance crew that would typically remove the malfunctioning protein. The misfolded proteins that persist could accumulate in cells, disrupting the balance of protein production and recycling and potentially contri…