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The physics of multitasking
colorful dots arranged to look like the neurons inside a brain

The physics of multitasking

Penn physicists characterize the limits of multitasking in biological networks, paving the way for future applications in fields from biology to medicine.

Erica K. Brockmeier , Erica K. Brockmeier

Physics on display
a metal tube with a line of flames coming out of the top and a blurred person posing in the background

A Rubens’ tube, which uses pressurized propane to bring sound waves to life with fire, was one of several demonstrations from the lights and waves winter physics show.

Physics on display

Hundreds of regional junior high and high school students visited Penn’s campus in early January to beat the winter blues—and reds—by watching physics demonstrations about lights and waves.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Dark Energy Survey completes six-year mission
Dark energy telescope with star trails

Dark Energy Survey completes six-year mission

A global research effort to map a portion of the sky in unprecedented detail is coming to an end, but the task of learning more about the expansion of the universe has only just begun.

Erica K. Brockmeier

The nanotopography of an atomic world
landscape of mountains made with small colored dots

The nanotopography of an atomic world

Physicists offer insights into the structure of atomically thin materials using nanoscale images of 2D membranes.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Electric bond
Presentation ceremony with background image of Kane and Mele

During the gala ceremony held on Nov. 4 at NASA’s Hangar 1 in Mountain View, Calif., Charles Kane and Eugene Mele were presented the 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics award by writer and science educator Lucy Hawking (the daughter of Stephen Hawking) and Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Electric bond

Behind the discovery of a new class of electronic materials is a 20-year collaboration between two Penn physicists, winners of the 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

Angelo Fichera

Celebrating science
a stack of books in front of a chalkboard with math equations

Celebrating science

Eight Penn faculty share their favorite general interest books about science.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Up, up, and away
BLAST telescope with Mark Devlin and students

As the project manager of the $100 million Simons Observatory project, Devlin (center) is working to keep the numerous and disparate components of the project from falling behind due to pandemic-related shutdowns while recognizing that some delays and disruptions will be inevitable. His advice is to not “sweat the small stuff.” (Pre-pandemic image)

Up, up, and away

Mark Devlin and his team behind BLAST are about to embark on another scientific adventure in Antarctica, this time measuring how stars form in our galaxy.

Lauren Hertzler

Charles Kane and Eugene Mele to share Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
Mele and Kane 2018

Physicists Eugene Mele and Charles Kane of the School of Arts and Sciences are being recognized for their innovative work on topological insulators. 

nocred

Charles Kane and Eugene Mele to share Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

For introducing a new class of materials with unique and useful properties, known as topological insulators, physicists Charles Kane and Eugene Mele will receive the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. The award honors “fundamental discoveries…that are transforming our world.”

Katherine Unger Baillie

Learn from the experts with the Penn Science and Lightbulb Cafes
Katie Barott

Katie Barott, an assistant professor of biology in the School of Arts and Sciences, will present "Promoting Coral Survival in the Face of Climate Change," the first of the four lectures. (Photo courtesy of Barott)

Learn from the experts with the Penn Science and Lightbulb Cafes

The lecture series, hosted by the School of Arts and Sciences, offers a casual setting in which researchers can present their work and engage with the attendees during a Q&A period, giving a glimpse into the research at Penn.

Jacob Williamson-Rea