Only 9% of plastics actually get recycled. These engineers aim to change that.
By Timothy Kelly The rapidly growing chemical recycling industry is picking up steam, but it faces important obstacles — obstacles that the Toraman Research Group at Penn State hopes to overcome. This research group focuses on plastic pyrolysis, or the process of breaking down plastics with heat, in an oxygen-free atmosphere. The group’s aim? Optimize […]
Penn State research unlocking treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s to extend patient lives
By Timothy Kelly Two life science research teams were recently awarded Lab Bench to Commercialization (LB2C) grants from the Penn State Eberly College of Science to commercialize their research. The teams have discovered novel interventions to address diseases from cancer to Parkinson’s and diabetic retinopathy. The grant program will help these researchers bring the benefits […]
Getting creative with football weekend accommodations
By David Rockower According to the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau’s recent report on the impact of sports and tourism, when you consider ticketed attendees, media, tailgaters, and opposing teams, around 890,500 people enjoy Happy Valley during a typical football season. This regular influx of visitors has spurred creativity among lodging and accommodations businesses who have […]
Penn State’s Farrell Center helps students on the path to business success
By Eric Erickson Farrell Center participants discuss entrepreneurship with director Dr. Shawn Clark. Photo: Provided. When students enter business school, they often find the experience entails mostly classroom-based theory and little hands-on experience. Penn State University’s Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship has made it a mission to change this dynamic. The Farrell Center […]
Local entrepreneur & Penn College grad on what’s driving the school’s success
By Jodie Dello Stritto Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology. Photo: Provided. Williamsport-based Penn College, a special mission affiliate of Penn State, recently celebrated five top 10 rankings in the Regional Colleges North category in the latest U.S. News & World Report: #6 in Regional Colleges North #2 in Best Colleges for Veterans #2 in Best […]
A perfect combo: STAR-X and Penn State
By Timothy Kelly 1.5-million light year-wide jets of very high-energy plasma, subatomic particles and magnetic fields shooting from the supermassive black hole in galaxy Hercules A, shown in optical, x-ray (purple) and radio (blue). Photo: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO, Optical: NASA/STScI, Radio: NSF/NRAO/VLA). On Aug. 18, NASA announced that a proposed space mission called STAR-X had been […]
PSU researchers tackling national organ transplant shortage
By Jeff Cavanaugh Dr. Amir Sheikhi and his team are working to address nationwide organ transplant shortage at Shekhi Lab at Penn State University. Photo: Penn State. Penn State researchers have developed a potentially groundbreaking solution to the nationwide organ transplant shortage, using a new class of bioinks that produces engineered live tissue using 3D printing […]
The Nittany AI Alliance launches its Leadership Academy
By Caryn Anderson Patrick Elisii leading a conversation and leading the way for students interested in joining the AI Challenge. Photo: Provided. Since March 2021, when HappyValley Industry last caught up with Nittany AI, there’s been an exciting new opportunity for students who want to take part in the Nittany AI challenge (which “offers Penn […]
What happens when your first startup fails? In Happy Valley, it’s just the beginning
By Caryn Anderson Photo: Xora co-founder Royce D’Souza hard at work. In 2021, HappyValley Industry covered budding startup Xora. Specializing in 3D design communication, Xora had help from Ben Franklin’s Fall 2020 TechCelerator program and Penn State’s 2020 Summer Founders Program. The future was bright — until it wasn’t. The highs and lows of entrepreneurship […]
