NASA's Swift Satellite Marks 10 Years of Game-changing Astrophysics: Mission Control Is at Penn State
In the most common type of gamma-ray burst, illustrated here, a dying massive star forms a black hole (left), which drives a particle jet into space. Light across the spectrum arises from hot gas near the black hole, collisions within the jet, and through the jet's interaction with its surroundings. Image Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Major New Study Reveals New Similarities and Differences Between Mice and Humans
Credit: Ryan Lister, University of West Australia
Battling drug-resistant pathogens: Biologist Andrew Read argues for new treatment strategies in race against rapidly evolving 'bugs.'
Postdoctoral researcher Eleanore Sternberg uses a bottle of warm water to attract female mosquitoes to a mesh barrier in Penn State's insectary so they can be separated from males. The insectary, completed in 2011 at a cost of $3 million, is one of the best in the country. Its environmental chambers allow scientists to do complex experiments involving temperature variations, insecticides, and behavioral assessments on a variety of insect species. Image: Patrick Mansell
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics Installs New Telescope in Rooftop Observatory
Christopher Palma, senior lecturer in astronomy and astrophysics, poses next to the new telescope, which was recently installed in the Davey Laboratory rooftop observatory.
First detailed picture of a cancer-related cell enzyme in action on a chromosome unit
This image is the first detailed picture of the crystal structure of a gene-regulation enzyme while it is working on a nucleosome -- a fundamental component of the chromosomes that provide structure and organization for an organism's genes. Credit: Song Tan lab, Penn State University
In Disease Outbreak Management, Flexibility Can Save Lives and Money
Cows, a species susceptible to the contagious foot-and-mouth disease. Credit: Alec Brown
Greater Rates of Mitochondrial Mutations Discovered in Children Born to Older Mothers
The inner membrane of each mitochondrion contains distinctive folds known as cristae. In a normal mitochondrion (left) these folds fill the interior, but these folds are lost in damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria (right). Dozens of rare diseases have been shown to result from this type of mitochondrial dysfunction. Several others -- including Alzheimer disease, autism, cancer, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson disease, and type 2 diabetes -- are suspected to involve the mitochondria. Credit: Gary Carlson
Predicting the Future of Antarctic Ice
Earth's Antarctic Ice Sheet. Image credit: NASA/GRACE team/DLR/Ben Holt Sr.
Smallest Possible Diamonds Form Ultra-thin Nanothreads
Diamond nanothreads promise extraordinary properties, including strength and stiffness greater than that of today's strongest nanotubes and polymers. Credit: John Badding Lab, Penn State University
Mystery of rare 5-hour space explosion explained with help from US/Russia and US/UK/Italy satellites
The X-ray image from the Swift X-ray Telescope of the gamma-ray burst GRB 130925. The white object in the center is the gamma-ray burst. The large diffuse region to the right is a cluster of galaxies. The other objects are X-ray-emitting celestial objects, most likely supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies. The full image is approximately the size of the full moon. Credit: Phil Evans/ University of Leicester
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