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Outdoor air pollution is estimated to contribute to more than 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year, according to the National Weather Service. Accurate air quality forecasts — designed to protect public health, alerting communities to dangerous levels of pollutants linked to asthma attacks, heart disease and premature death — are critical for helping people limit exposure and for guiding regulatory action.

Two Penn State faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Members of the class of 2026 include Barbara J. Arnold, chair and professor of practice of mining engineering in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, and Qiming Zhang, Harvey F. Brush Chair and Professor of Electrical Engineering.

Solar power continues to grow — accounting for most new capacity added to U.S. electric grids in 2024 — but the mid-1950s technology most often used to capture the sun’s energy comes with environmental costs.

Manufacturing silicon solar panels is an energy-intensive process that requires toxic chemicals and creates recycling challenges. But lower-impact organic solar cells, made with less harmful materials, can break down too easily for large-scale deployment. According to Penn State researchers, adding a chemical derived from hydrogen and carbon may help organic solar cells become a more viable alternative. The team published their findings in the journal ACS Materials Au. The paper also earned recognition as part of the “2025 Rising Stars in Materials Science” issue from ACS Materials Au, to be published this month.

As temperatures rise and water supplies drop, public policy could bolster municipal water provisions under pressure. But one policy prescription — pushing conservation — will likely be insufficient as a standalone fix to sustain some reservoirs, according to research led by scientists at Penn State.

Professor Sarma V. Pisupati, director of the Center for Critical Minerals at Penn State, capped 2025 with a top honor at an alma mater. The Osmania University College of Technology Alumni Association granted Pisupati its highest distinction — the Distinguished Alumnus Award — and hosted him as a distinguished guest and speaker at an alumni gathering Dec. 21 at the campus in Hyderabad, India.

The Center for CO2 Storage Modeling, Analytics, and Risk Reduction Technologies (CO2-SMART) — a  partnership with the University of Southern California (USC) focused on the development of practical strategies for underground carbon dioxide storage — has grown to involve faculty researchers across Penn State, with plans taking shape for a workshop in 2026.

With federal agencies rolling out nearly $1 billion for critical minerals and materials (CMM) development, a convening last week at Penn State University Park brought together about 100 scholars, industry representatives and government experts with a central goal: cooperation.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) recognized two faculty members in the John and Willie Leone Family of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) for their exceptional service and contributions to the professional society.  They received their awards at the society’s annual technical conference and exhibition held in Houston, Texas, Oct. 20-22. Luis F. Ayala H., William A. Fustos Family Professor in Energy and Mineral Engineering and department head, received the Distinguished Service Award. Hamid Emami-Meybodi, associate professor of petroleum and natural gas, received aSPE Distinguished Member.

Renewable energy sources like wind and solar generation now account for over 20% of electricity in the U.S. — and keep growing after large-scale production more than doubled since 2000. Still, high-profile power failures illustrate persistent challenges from the lack of available capacity to provide enough energy at times of need, said Chiara Lo Prete, an associate professor of energy economics in the John and Willie Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State.

Keeping the United States powered up is taking a lot more juice. Driven by renewable energy development, data centers, transportation and industry, domestic electricity demand by 2030 is expected to surge 25% over 2023 levels, according to the consulting group ICF International. Power usage already hit an all-time high in 2024.

The cornerstone enabling that growth comprises critical minerals, including more than a dozen rare earth elements. To broaden awareness and understanding of these resources, the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute at Penn State (EESI) is focusing its fall 2025 EarthTalks series on needs, opportunities and research in critical minerals. Ten public seminars through early December will highlight ongoing work and viewpoints both at the University and across the sector, including at the federal level.