Drops of liquid crystal molecules branch out into strange structures Drops of liquid crystal molecules branch out into strange structures Shaped by surface tension and elasticity, spherical drops of chain-like liquid crystal molecules transform upon cooling into complex shapes with long-reaching tendrils.
Inspiring young women in STEM Inspiring young women in STEM Over two days, nearly two dozen female STEM role models at Penn welcomed more than 100 high school students and teachers to campus as part of the Girls Advancing in STEM (GAINS) Initiative Conference on campus.
Researchers create better light-trapping devices Researchers create better light-trapping devices A new study shows how the performance of optical resonators can be improved using topological physics, which can lead to more efficient lasers, sensors, and telecommunication devices.
Bringing ideas to life through experimental physics Bringing ideas to life through experimental physics Researchers in the lab of Liang Wu are generating data to gain a better understanding of the properties of quantum materials. Their fundamental research can lead to applications ranging from better optoelectronic devices to quantum computers.
By the Numbers: Dark matter By the Numbers By the Numbers: Dark matter Key facts and figures about the unseen matter that remains one of cosmology’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
Summer aerospace research at the Jet Propulsion Lab Summer aerospace research at the Jet Propulsion Lab Senior Alex Ulin from Los Angeles spent the past two summers working at a NASA-contracted field center, and is now aiming for a career leading teams of aerospace scientists and engineers.
Physicists look to navigational ‘rhumb lines’ to study polymer’s unique spindle structure Scanning electron microscope images showing polymers in a spherical configuration (far left); when a new solvent is added, the spheres twist and change into elongated twisted spindles (far right). At the top of the spindles (center panel) are one micron spirals. (Image: Daeseok Kim) Physicists look to navigational ‘rhumb lines’ to study polymer’s unique spindle structure Researchers show how polymer spheres contract to form unique spiral structures known as loxodromes, or rhumb lines, creating patterns that are ten times smaller than the width of a human hair.
From the classroom to the lab and back again From the classroom to the lab and back again Senior Adithya Sriram is busy earning two degrees, researching new applications for graphene, and preparing physics courses for students in West Philadelphia.
A ‘quantum leap’ for quantum information science Experts from external institutions and members of the Penn community joined together for two days of lively discussions about the future of room temperature quantum logic using atomically-thin materials for NSF’s Enabling Quantum Leap symposium, which was held at the Singh center (Image: Felice Macera). A ‘quantum leap’ for quantum information science By bringing together experts across campus and across disciplines, Penn is poised to lead ongoing efforts towards developing quantum applications using atomically-thin materials.
Can neutrinos help explain what’s the matter with antimatter? Can neutrinos help explain what’s the matter with antimatter? Results of a new study will help physicists establish a cutting-edge neutrino research facility to study some of the most abundant yet least understood particles in the universe.