Sloan Digital Sky Survey’s robots turn their eyes to the sky
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two focal plane systems on stands ready to be delivered to telescopes

A new robotic system will enable the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to more efficiently map the galaxies and black holes in our galaxy.

New approach can help identify young children most at risk for obesity
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A nurse takes a cheek swab from a child to collect DNA.

New risk scores developed by Penn State biologists could help clinicians identify young children most at risk of developing obesity.

How a cyanobacterium makes far-red light mean ‘go’
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illustration of sunlight getting to cyanobacteria

New structures show location of changes in the photosynthetic apparatus of some cyanobacteria that allow them to grow using far-red light

Coronal rain on a cold star?
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Solar flare with coronal rain on the Sun

Observations of a stellar flare with Penn State's Habitable-zone Planet Finder could be the first evidence of coronal rain on a cool M-dwarf

A Mars-sized planet orbiting extremely close to its host star
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Artists depiction showing comparison of KOI-4777 to Earth-Sun

Mars-sized object orbiting extremely closely to an M-dwarf star validated as a planet using the Penn State Habitable-zone Planet Finder

Distortion: Researchers discover new strategy for antibodies to disable viruses
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Illustration of how an antibody neutralizes both Zika and dengue viruses
New technique better assesses exposure of a population to a virus
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many test tubes. Credit: Getty Images

Researchers from Penn State developed a tool to assess virus exposure, using influenza as a model.

Can defects turn inert materials into useful, active ones?
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illustration of lattice structure being probed with photoluminescence
Study challenges standard ideas about piezoelectricity in ferroelectric crystals
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schematics of crystal domain structures. Credit: Chen Lab
New tool weighs costs and benefits of managing evolution of pathogens and pests
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Computer-generated image of bacteria that produces whooping cough. Credit CDC/Unsplash
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