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.
Climate, public health crises, and fertility nocred Q&A Climate, public health crises, and fertility Letícia Marteleto, a social demographer new to Penn, does research at the intersection of fertility, Zika, COVID-19, climate conditions, urbanicity, and inequality.
Carbon capture and common misconceptions: A Q&A with Joe Romm Joe Romm, a senior research fellow in the School of Arts & Sciences’ Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media, has recently published two papers on carbon dioxide removal and bioenergy carbon capture and will be keynoting American University’s Third Annual Conference on Carbon Dioxide Removal Law & Policy: Carbon Removal Deployment: Law and Policy from Planning to Project. (Image: iStock/Teamjackson) Q&A Carbon capture and common misconceptions: A Q&A with Joe Romm In a conversation with Penn Today, Joe Romm casts a sobering light on “solutions” to curb climate change.
The philosophy of pregnancy nocred Q&A The philosophy of pregnancy Fifth-year Ph.D. candidate Maja Sidzińska is working to fill a gap in philosophy of science scholarship about what individuality means.
Coca-Cola in Africa Sara Byala, a senior lecturer in creative writing and associate director of the Penn Global Documentary Institute, is the author of a new book, "Bottled: How Coca-Cola Became African." nocred Q&A Coca-Cola in Africa A new book by Sara Byala of the School of Arts & Sciences examines the century-long history of Coca-Cola and its local social, commercial, and environmental impact in Africa.