Physical Sciences

Bacterial protein could help find materials for your next smartphone
A structural model of the compact metal-bound form of the lanmodulin protein, which is 100-million times better at binding to lanthanides—the rare-earth metals used in smartphones and other technologies—than to other metals like calcium. Credit: Penn State
Chemistry Department Holiday Reception!
Unprecedented screen of 500,000 compounds reveals new candidates for malaria prevention drug
An international research team has identified more than 600 new antimalarial drug candidates from a screen of over 500,000 chemical compounds. Credit: Llinás lab, Penn State
Penn State set to lead on new exoplanet science priorities
The Hobby-Eberly Telescope — one of the world’s largest optical telescopes and a premier planet-finding facility, conceived by Penn State astronomers. Credit: Penn State
Hot temperatures can trigger an RNA response in plants
A new study used rice seedlings to demonstrate that the stress of hotter temperatures may trigger a response in a plant’s RNA to manage the change in its environment. Photo Credit: Peter Nguyen
2018-2019 Continuing Graduate Awards
Three Penn State researchers awarded research grants by the Kaufman Foundation
Jun Zhu, Chaoxing Liu, and Joseph Cotruvo, Jr.
Abhay Ashtekar honored with Einstein Prize
Abhay Ashtekar
Pathogens may evade immune response with metal-free enzyme required for DNA replication
A metal-free ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme required for DNA replication, from bacterial pathogens uses a post-translationally modified amino acid (pictured) to initiate an essential DNA biosynthesis reaction. Credit: Gavin Palowitch, Penn State
Space is the coolest thing in the universe
Long Exposure Photo of Galaxy
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