Melissa Charenko’s new book shares the history of how 20th-century scientists used climate proxies’—such as tree rings and fossil pollen—to understand past climates, which has implications for future climate action.
GLP-1 medications may only temporarily suppress brain activity involved in ‘food noise’
A brain-computer interface reveals the medication has a short-term or incomplete effect on related brain activity in a patient with obesity, calling for further study.
Kelly Jordan-Sciutto on advancing graduate education through Penn Forward
Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, vice provost for graduate education and chair of the Penn Forward Graduate and Professional Training working group, says, ‘I don’t want students to walk uphill both ways in the snow just because I had to.’
Air travel quandary: Gad Allon and Megan Ryerson on challenges and solutions
The recent government shutdown exposed long-standing issues facing commercial air travel. Leading into Thanksgiving holiday travel, Gad Allon of the Wharton School and Megan Ryerson of the Weitzman School of Design discuss the system’s infrastructure challenges and the need for workforce development.
Penn fourth-year Florence Onyiuke named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar
Onyiuke has been awarded a 2026 Rhodes Scholarship, which funds tuition and a living stipend for graduate study at the University of Oxford in England. She is among 32 American Rhodes Scholars and an expected 100 worldwide.
Brain activity reveals what makes persuasive messages stick
A new study by the Communication Neuroscience Lab at the Annenberg School for Communication and colleagues reveals that activity in brain regions associated with reward and social processing can predict the effectiveness of messages.
Rabies resurgence in Peru highlights global threats of health inequity
A Penn Medicine analysis shows that surveillance of dog rabies in Arequipa, Peru, is lacking in areas with lower socioeconomic status and could spell problems for infectious disease worldwide.
A serendipitous find leads to lifesaving discoveries
A Penn-led team has revealed a how hydralazine, one of the world’s oldest blood pressure drugs and a mainstay treatment for preeclampsia, works at the molecular level. In doing so, they made a surprising discovery—it can also halt the growth of aggressive brain tumors.
New members of American Academy of Sciences and Letters
Alan Charles Kors and Philip E. Tetlock have been invested as members of the American Academy of Sciences and Letters, a nonprofit that promotes scholarship and honors achievement in the arts and sciences.
Created in collaboration with Indigenous Consulting Curators, the Native North America Gallery spans 13,000 years of Native history across four U.S. regions, highlighting centuries of resilience, artistry, and tradition. Expert tour guides will share scholarly insights and rich interpretation beyond the object labels. Weekends only. Space is limited.
Ruth Jean-Marie, founder and CEO of the August Project and Consulting Group, will speak on the current and potential roles of storytelling, virtual reality/tech, and empathy to create substantive, lasting social impact. Participants will couple the value of storytelling with contemporary approaches to connection spanning virtual reality and technology. Register to attend.
Penn’s guiding principles are the University’s enduring values and distinctive strengths: anchored, inventive, interwoven, and engaged. The practices support and strengthen Penn’s core educational mission.
At Penn Today, we focus on some of the ways the University is putting this framework into action. From student, faculty, and staff profiles to research updates and event coverage, Penn Today highlights the latest examples of the University’s principled approach to excellence.
A conversation with Penn Forward’s Global Opportunity and New Markets co-chairs
In a Q&A with Ezekiel Emanuel and Megan Ryerson, co-chairs of the Global Opportunity and New Markets working group for Penn Forward, the duo discuss the charge of their group, where they are in the process, and leaning into global engagement.
Through Penn First Plus, students unlock potential and purpose
Providing first-generation and limited-income students with a comprehensive array of support, Penn First Plus equips undergraduates for success during and after their time at Penn.
The eighth annual Penn Local Business Exchange brought together entrepreneurs, city officials, and University buyers to swap insights and build relationships.
Students test one way to combat extreme heat in Philadelphia
Third-year students Nafisa Bangura and Angelica Dadda expanded upon a multidisciplinary research endeavor to evaluate a reflective pavement coating as a tool to mitigate extreme heat. Their work may inform policy efforts to improve urban heat resilience.
Branding leaders discuss why companies need courage and consistency
Katy Milkman of the Wharton School says that consumers value consistency in brands, especially when paired with powerful and empathetic stories that resonate with people.
