As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to develop, the CDC now recommends that anyone traveling outside their home should wear a cloth face covering to cut down on the spread of the virus, leaving professional-grade face masks for healthcare workers. Many people are now turning to DIY tutorials to learn how to make their own masks, but confusion remains on the best designs and materials.
Given Yang’s expertise in how two-dimensional sheets can be assembled into three-dimensional structures, origami was a natural approach to this problem. Yang says that the issue with many DIY face mask designs is that they do not properly conform to the face. Without a strong seal around the mouth and nose, even the best materials are undermined; the virus can enter or leave through the gaps in the sides, or hitch a ride on fingers as they adjust a loose-fitting mask.
Nanoparticle blueprints reveal path to smarter medicines
New research involving Penn Engineering shows detailed variation in lipid nanoparticle size, shape, and internal structure, and finds that such factors correlate with how well they deliver therapeutic cargo to a particular destination.
A generous gift from alumni Glenn and Amanda Fuhrman brings the work of internationally acclaimed artist Jaume Plensa to the University of Pennsylvania. The latest addition to the Penn Art Collection expands Philadelphia's public art.
A massive chunk of ice, a new laser, and new information on sea-level rise
For nearly a decade, Leigh Stearns and collaborators aimed a laser scanner system at Greenland’s Helheim Glacier. Their long-running survey reveals that Helheim’s massive calving events don’t behave the way scientists once thought, reframing how ice loss contributes to sea-level rise.
