Guarding the genome: Researchers uncover full 3D structure of p53 protein

By Mariah R. Lucas

UNIVERISTY PARK, Pa. — The tumor suppressor protein p53, known as "the guardian of the genome," protects the body’s DNA from daily stress or long-term damage by triggering the cells to make repairs or to self-destruct. But mutations in the p53 gene that codes for the protein can prevent it from performing its job, making errors accumulate in the genetic code and leading to diseases like cancer.

Willard: Mary Willard

Mary Willard

Willard dubbed "Lady Sherlock"

Mary Willard was born in 1898 on the Penn State campus. The daughter of Prof. Joseph Willard (Willard building), she graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1920 and became an assistant in the Chemistry department. She obtained her doctorate from Cornell in 1927 and returned to Penn State as an assistant professor.

Flat, pancake-sized metalens images lunar surface in an engineering first

conventional telescope lens

By Maria R. Lucas

Penn State-led research team creates the first ultrathin, compact metalens telescope capable of imaging far-away objects

Astronomers and amateurs alike know the bigger the telescope, the more powerful the imaging capability. To keep the power but streamline one of the bulkier components, a Penn State-led research team created the first ultrathin, compact metalens telescope capable of imaging far-away objects, including the moon. 

Luke Lyle

Luke Lyle

Assistant Research Professor in the Applied Research Lab – Electronic Materials and Devices Department

(e) lal5798@psu.edu
(o) 814-863-7691
Room 183, 230 Innovation Blvd.

Bed Poudel

Bed Poudel

Research Professor

(e) bup346@psu.edu
422 Steidle Building

Alliance works to keep America prepared for nuclear incidents

By Jamie Oberdick

It was an unusual scene on an overcast day in July 2022 at the University Park West Campus intramural fields. Near quiet tennis courts, a group of around 100 first-year college students, high school students, graduate students from several universities, faculty and administrators, and military visitors gathered around several display tables, including one dishing out Berkey Creamery ice cream. Nearby, a somewhat ominous, mysterious large black drone hovered with a distinct high-pitched buzz. 

Two-dimensional oxides open door for high-speed electronics

Student works on 2D material in lab

By Matthew Carroll

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Advances in computing power over the decades have come thanks in part to our ability to make smaller and smaller transistors, a building block of electronic devices, but we are nearing the limit of the silicon materials typically used. A new technique for creating 2D oxide materials may pave the way for future high-speed electronics, according to an international team of scientists.

Mechanical engineering meets electromagnetics to enable future technology

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Reconfigurable antennas — those that can tune properties like frequency or radiation beams in real time, from afar — are integral to future communication network systems, like 6G. But many current reconfigurable antenna designs can fall short: they malfunction in high or low temperatures, have power limitations or require regular servicing.