Research Briefs
Sandeep Prabhu and Robert Paulson think a compound produced from fish oil that appears to target leukemia stem cells could lead to a cure for the disease.
Researchers find that obese mice that consume a compound found in green tea while eating a high-fat diet gained weight at a significantly slower rate than mice that didn't receive the green tea supplement.
A study examining the prevalence of the Fusarium fungus in bathroom sink drains suggests that plumbing systems may be a common source of human infections.
Gypsy moth caterpillars infected with baculovirus forfeit safety and stay in the treetops during the day because a virus gene manipulates their hormones to eat continuously and forego molting, according to entomologists.
Genomics applies to structure, function, and mapping of entire DNA sequences of organisms, which carry all their genetic information. Few genomic resources are available for the hardwood species in eastern forests. John Carlson has received a $3.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Plant Genome Research program.
Penn State researchers need help from growers, nursery operators, and homeowners to enhance their understanding of stink bugs.
People love apples—the tart-tasting ones for cooking or sweeter ones for snacking. The brown marmorated stink bug likes them, too.
Surinder Chopra, associate professor of maize genetics, has been awarded $1 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to research diseases in sorghum.
John Hayes, assistant professor of food science, is studying why people experience bitter foods differently.
Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels will require a major transformation of the agricultural, transportation, and energy sectors in the United States over the next few decades, according to a paper published in the August 13, 2010, issue of the journal Science.
Testifying before the Domestic Policy Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in July, David Mortensen explained how the use of crops that are genetically engineered to resist glyphosate has caused certain weed plants to also evolve resistance.
A gift of $100,000 will aid undergraduates in the College of Agricultural Sciences in their efforts to understand Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a nationwide phenomenon in which adult honey bees disappear from their hives, often spelling death for the colony.
A new project will seek to identify the importance of wild pollinators to agriculture, assess bee species to determine if any pathogen or other invasive species has infected them, enhance habitat, and promote pollinator awareness through education.
An international team including Professor of Plant Molecular Biology Mark Guiltinan and Associate Professor of Horticulture Siela Maximova sequenced the genome of the ancient Criollo variety of cacao, which generally is considered to produce the world’s finest chocolate.
After decades of research investigating whether fish are capable of experiencing pain, whether humans cause them to suffer, and whether it even matters, Victoria Braithwaite examines this question in her new book, "Do Fish Feel Pain?"
More than 1,400 seed banks, large and small, store seed around the world as a safeguard against disease or a catastrophic loss of genetic diversity. Should an entire crop be wiped out, planters could use seed reserves to start again.
To help Pennsylvania growers, researchers are looking at portable high tunnels, or “hoop houses,” which can help Pennsylvania farmers extend their growing season, expand crop variety, and increase yields—all while reducing pesticide use and retaining vital soil nutrients.
A research team including Catherine Cutter, associate professor of food science; John Floros, professor and head of food science; and Valentina Trinetta, a visiting scholar from the University of Milan, Italy, explore the use of pullulan films to control food pathogens.
Penn State horticulturists use discarded materials and a combination of plant and bacterial communities to treat wastewater. Plant roots enmeshed in layers of discarded materials can purify dirty water, making it suitable for other uses.
USDA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and industry and institutional support provide more than $5.8 million in grants to faculty hired as part of the Reproductive Biology Initiative.