Super-resolution microscopes showcase the inner lives of cells Penn In the News Knowable Magazine Super-resolution microscopes showcase the inner lives of cells Melike Lakadamyali of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues discovered that organelles called lysosomes, whose textbook role is to break down waste material in cells, can have different combinations of proteins on their surfaces. Videos from the Amazon reveal an unexpected animal friendship Penn In the News The New York Times Videos from the Amazon reveal an unexpected animal friendship Erol Akcay of the School of Arts & Sciences comments on cooperation among different species in the animal world. Professor Philip Rea wins Jesse H. Neal Award for Scientific Journalism Professor Philip Rea wins Jesse H. Neal Award for Scientific Journalism Rea, professor of biology in Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences and Belldegrun Distinguished Director of the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences & Management has won the Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Technical/Scientific Content for his article “Gliflozins for Diabetes: From Bark to Bench to Bedside,” published in American Scientist. What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles? In eusocial superorganisms like leafcutter ant colonies, labor is divvied up according to body shape and size, but PIK Professor Shelley Berger and her team discovered that molecular signals can override that blueprint. Their findings reveal how simple neuropeptides can reprogram ant behavior, reshuffling roles in nature’s most disciplined workforce.(Image: Courtesy of Tierney Scarpa) What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles? PIK Professor Shelley Berger and colleagues explored the genetic basis of labor distribution in communal-dwelling species and discovered that pathways dating back hundreds of millions of years are conserved across animal kingdoms. Their findings offer fundamental insights into complex social behaviors. 5 min. read Unlocking the mechanics of protein misfolding Mathieu Ouellet Unlocking the mechanics of protein misfolding An interdisciplinary team led by School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Lee C. Bassett and Dani Bassett, also of the School of Arts & Sciences, have studied the mechanical properties of prions, the mysterious shape-shifting proteins that are infamous for mad cow disease yet essential for yeast survival 5 min. read Earth Week to feature hands-on activities and events Image: Carlos Cintron Earth Week to feature hands-on activities and events Taking place April 21-27, Earth Week events include origami with bioplastics, birding, networking, a culinary session, and more. 3 min. read Shelley Berger honored by AACR for cancer research Shelley Berger honored by AACR for cancer research Berger, the Daniel S. Och University Professor with appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine department of Cell & Developmental Biology and a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in the School of Arts & Sciences, is recognized for her outstanding contributions to cancer research by the American Association for Cancer Research with the 2025 AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Lectureship. Penn alum Hoang C. Le awarded a 2025 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Penn alum Hoang C. Le awarded a 2025 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Le, a Class of 2023 graduate, has been awarded a Fellowship to the merit-based program that provides graduate school funding for immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States. Le’s research explores the evolution of viral-host interactions to uncover novel molecular tools and therapeutic targets. Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs The researchers theorized that frogs must have developed antibiotics to survive in their challenging environment.Image: Michael Edward via Getty Images Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs The lab of César de la Fuente has created synthetic peptides, a class of antibiotics, derived from the secretions of a frog commonly found in South Asia. 2 min. read Meniscus injuries may soon be treated by customizable hydrogel Meniscus injuries may soon be treated by customizable hydrogel Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine found a new 3D-printed customizable hydrogel performed well in preclinical trials with several different types of meniscal tears, offering a potential mend for common joint injuries. 1 min. read Load More
Videos from the Amazon reveal an unexpected animal friendship Penn In the News The New York Times Videos from the Amazon reveal an unexpected animal friendship Erol Akcay of the School of Arts & Sciences comments on cooperation among different species in the animal world. Professor Philip Rea wins Jesse H. Neal Award for Scientific Journalism Professor Philip Rea wins Jesse H. Neal Award for Scientific Journalism Rea, professor of biology in Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences and Belldegrun Distinguished Director of the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences & Management has won the Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Technical/Scientific Content for his article “Gliflozins for Diabetes: From Bark to Bench to Bedside,” published in American Scientist. What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles? In eusocial superorganisms like leafcutter ant colonies, labor is divvied up according to body shape and size, but PIK Professor Shelley Berger and her team discovered that molecular signals can override that blueprint. Their findings reveal how simple neuropeptides can reprogram ant behavior, reshuffling roles in nature’s most disciplined workforce.(Image: Courtesy of Tierney Scarpa) What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles? PIK Professor Shelley Berger and colleagues explored the genetic basis of labor distribution in communal-dwelling species and discovered that pathways dating back hundreds of millions of years are conserved across animal kingdoms. Their findings offer fundamental insights into complex social behaviors. 5 min. read Unlocking the mechanics of protein misfolding Mathieu Ouellet Unlocking the mechanics of protein misfolding An interdisciplinary team led by School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Lee C. Bassett and Dani Bassett, also of the School of Arts & Sciences, have studied the mechanical properties of prions, the mysterious shape-shifting proteins that are infamous for mad cow disease yet essential for yeast survival 5 min. read Earth Week to feature hands-on activities and events Image: Carlos Cintron Earth Week to feature hands-on activities and events Taking place April 21-27, Earth Week events include origami with bioplastics, birding, networking, a culinary session, and more. 3 min. read Shelley Berger honored by AACR for cancer research Shelley Berger honored by AACR for cancer research Berger, the Daniel S. Och University Professor with appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine department of Cell & Developmental Biology and a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in the School of Arts & Sciences, is recognized for her outstanding contributions to cancer research by the American Association for Cancer Research with the 2025 AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Lectureship. Penn alum Hoang C. Le awarded a 2025 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Penn alum Hoang C. Le awarded a 2025 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Le, a Class of 2023 graduate, has been awarded a Fellowship to the merit-based program that provides graduate school funding for immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States. Le’s research explores the evolution of viral-host interactions to uncover novel molecular tools and therapeutic targets. Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs The researchers theorized that frogs must have developed antibiotics to survive in their challenging environment.Image: Michael Edward via Getty Images Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs The lab of César de la Fuente has created synthetic peptides, a class of antibiotics, derived from the secretions of a frog commonly found in South Asia. 2 min. read Meniscus injuries may soon be treated by customizable hydrogel Meniscus injuries may soon be treated by customizable hydrogel Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine found a new 3D-printed customizable hydrogel performed well in preclinical trials with several different types of meniscal tears, offering a potential mend for common joint injuries. 1 min. read
Professor Philip Rea wins Jesse H. Neal Award for Scientific Journalism Professor Philip Rea wins Jesse H. Neal Award for Scientific Journalism Rea, professor of biology in Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences and Belldegrun Distinguished Director of the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences & Management has won the Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Technical/Scientific Content for his article “Gliflozins for Diabetes: From Bark to Bench to Bedside,” published in American Scientist.
What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles? In eusocial superorganisms like leafcutter ant colonies, labor is divvied up according to body shape and size, but PIK Professor Shelley Berger and her team discovered that molecular signals can override that blueprint. Their findings reveal how simple neuropeptides can reprogram ant behavior, reshuffling roles in nature’s most disciplined workforce.(Image: Courtesy of Tierney Scarpa) What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles? PIK Professor Shelley Berger and colleagues explored the genetic basis of labor distribution in communal-dwelling species and discovered that pathways dating back hundreds of millions of years are conserved across animal kingdoms. Their findings offer fundamental insights into complex social behaviors. 5 min. read
Unlocking the mechanics of protein misfolding Mathieu Ouellet Unlocking the mechanics of protein misfolding An interdisciplinary team led by School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Lee C. Bassett and Dani Bassett, also of the School of Arts & Sciences, have studied the mechanical properties of prions, the mysterious shape-shifting proteins that are infamous for mad cow disease yet essential for yeast survival 5 min. read
Earth Week to feature hands-on activities and events Image: Carlos Cintron Earth Week to feature hands-on activities and events Taking place April 21-27, Earth Week events include origami with bioplastics, birding, networking, a culinary session, and more. 3 min. read
Shelley Berger honored by AACR for cancer research Shelley Berger honored by AACR for cancer research Berger, the Daniel S. Och University Professor with appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine department of Cell & Developmental Biology and a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in the School of Arts & Sciences, is recognized for her outstanding contributions to cancer research by the American Association for Cancer Research with the 2025 AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Lectureship.
Penn alum Hoang C. Le awarded a 2025 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Penn alum Hoang C. Le awarded a 2025 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans Le, a Class of 2023 graduate, has been awarded a Fellowship to the merit-based program that provides graduate school funding for immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States. Le’s research explores the evolution of viral-host interactions to uncover novel molecular tools and therapeutic targets.
Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs The researchers theorized that frogs must have developed antibiotics to survive in their challenging environment.Image: Michael Edward via Getty Images Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs The lab of César de la Fuente has created synthetic peptides, a class of antibiotics, derived from the secretions of a frog commonly found in South Asia. 2 min. read
Meniscus injuries may soon be treated by customizable hydrogel Meniscus injuries may soon be treated by customizable hydrogel Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine found a new 3D-printed customizable hydrogel performed well in preclinical trials with several different types of meniscal tears, offering a potential mend for common joint injuries. 1 min. read