Penn State Energy and Environment News

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.

Flam: A century of bad choices will haunt Earth for 100,000 years

| pressdemocrat.com

Some say this era should be dubbed the Anthropocene because of the effect humanity is having on the planet. This article quotes Richard Alley, Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences.

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.

TikTok's raw milk influencers are going to give us all bird flu

| motherjones.com

Influencers love unpasteurized milk—and so does the H5N1 virus. This article quotes Jessica Myrick, professor of health communications.

Clive Randall named Evan Pugh University Professor

| psu.edu

Clive Randall, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Materials Research Institute at Penn State, has been named an Evan Pugh University Professor. The Evan Pugh University Professorship is the highest distinction bestowed upon faculty by Penn State.

Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

| psu.edu

How well bees tolerate temperature extremes could determine their ability to persist in a changing climate. But heat tolerance varies between and within populations, so a research team led by Penn State entomologists examined bee physical traits — such as sex differences in body mass — to understand how these traits interact with environmental conditions, pathogens and other factors.

Surviving ash trees may hold key to saving multiple species of the trees

| psu.edu

The invasive insect emerald ash borer is killing ash trees at an unprecedented rate in the United States, and now five North American species of ash are considered critically endangered, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. But a small percentage are surviving, and research by Forest Service scientists suggests that those trees may hold the key for saving the species. In an effort to unlock the answer, researchers in the Louis W.

ICDS associate director aims to enhance collaboration in new role

| psu.edu

Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, whose mission is to foster a collaborative, interdisciplinary scholarly community, is working to continue that vision through the work of their leadership, including new Associate Director Christelle Wauthier, who is also an associate professor of geosciences. Wauthier started the associate director position on April 1.   

Firefly population expected to dip, PSU professor says

| wtaj.com

Penn State Professor Christina Grozinger says to expect a dip in firefly populations this year but adds that the average person can help. This article and broadcast TV segment features Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology.

'Growing Impact' podcast explores a thawing Arctic and its impacts

| psu.edu

The latest episode of the Growing Impact podcast discusses how thawing Arctic permafrost, a result of rising global temperatures due to climate change, is affecting rivers, landscapes and communities, according to a Penn State research team.