Addressing declining fertility In a recent paper, PIK Professor Michael Platt and the Perelman School of Medicine’s Peter Sterling posit that the underlying mechanism of the looming concern of human fertility declines is the epidemic of despair.(Image: iStock / TanyaJoy) Q&A Addressing declining fertility In a Q&A with Penn Today, Michael Platt talks about the socioeconomic and emotional factors leading to plummeting fertility rates.
Understanding the Northeast earthquake Last week people in the Northeast experienced a rare earthquake that registered a magnitude of 4.8. To learn more about the mechanics of earthquakes and this occurrence, Penn Today spoke with David Goldsby of the School of Arts & Sciences and Robert Carpick of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.(Image: iStock/allanswart) Q&A Understanding the Northeast earthquake Last week, people in the Northeast experienced a rare earthquake that registered a magnitude of 4.8. Penn Today spoke with David Goldsby of the School of Arts & Sciences and Robert Carpick of the School of Engineering and Applied Science about the event.
‘Bankrolling Empire: Family Fortunes and Political Transformation in Mughal India’ Late 18th century portrait of banker Vakhatchand Jhaveri and his armed entourage, painted on the inner marble wall of the Jain temple Ajithnath Derasar in Ahmedabad, India. (Image: Courtesy of Sudev Sheth) Q&A ‘Bankrolling Empire: Family Fortunes and Political Transformation in Mughal India’ A new book by Sudev Sheth, senior lecturer in history and international studies, looks at how the leaders of one of the most dominant early modern polities lost their grip over empire.
Weitzman’s Vanessa Grossman on the cultural value of architecture Image: Eric Sucar Q&A Weitzman’s Vanessa Grossman on the cultural value of architecture In a Q&A, the architect, historian, and curator discusses her research and published books, which explore the relationship between architecture, politics, and social movements.
Mechanics of knitting Randall Kamien of the School of Arts & Sciences and long-time collaborator Geneviève Dion, a professor of design at Drexel University, are investigating the mechanics of knitting, an area of research that represents a significant shift in understanding and using fabrics. (Image: Courtesy of Geneviève Dion) Q&A Mechanics of knitting Randall Kamien of the School of Arts & Sciences and Geneviève Dion of Drexel University share how combining traditional origami techniques with modern textile science can lead to practical applications in various industries.
Ecuador’s state of emergency Soldiers patrol a residential area of northern Quito, Ecuador, on Jan. 11, 2024. President Daniel Noboa decreed Monday a national state of emergency due to a wave in crime, a measure that lets authorities suspend people's rights and mobilize the military. The government also imposed a curfew. (Image: AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Q&A Ecuador’s state of emergency In a Q&A, political scientist Jane Esberg discusses democracy and organized crime in Latin America.
Microrobots: An emerging biomedical trend Image: Courtesy of iStock / K_E_N Q&A Microrobots: An emerging biomedical trend In a Q&A with Penn Today, Hyun (Michel) Koo of the School of Dental Medicine and Edward Steager of the School of Engineering and Applied Science discuss the emerging trend of microrobots in healthcare.
‘The Tame and the Wild’ A new book by historian Marcy Norton—“The Tame and the Wild, People and Animals After 1492”—looks at the colonization of the Americas through the lens of European and Native American beliefs about animal life. (Image: Courtesy of Harvard University Press) Q&A ‘The Tame and the Wild’ Historian Marcy Norton’s new book looks at the history of human-animal relationships in Europe and Native America and how they became entangled after 1492.
‘Black Modernisms in the Transatlantic World’ The 16-foot-tall bronze form of “Brick House” by artist Simone Leigh, who contributed to “Black Modernisms.” (Image: Eric Sucar) Q&A ‘Black Modernisms in the Transatlantic World’ A new book, co-edited by art historian Huey Copeland, examines the conception of modernism and Black artistry and agency and how the transatlantic slave trade enabled the modern world.
The advent of e-commerce During the holiday season, about three times as many parcels are shipped per day. For delivery workers, it’s a grueling marathon that goes on through mid-January. (Image: Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash) Q&A The advent of e-commerce In a Q&A, sociologist Steve Viscelli of the School of Arts & Sciences talks transport, last-mile delivery, and the “incredible amounts of physical effort” required to get the holiday packages to America’s front doors.