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Penn Electric Racing’s comeback
Penn Electric Racing’s REV11 car racing on a track.

Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering

Penn Electric Racing’s comeback

The team behind the fully electric REV11 race car overcame technical challenges to successfully compete in this year’s Formula SAE Electric competition, placing 15th overall and earning first place in the Business Presentation event.

Melissa Pappas

2 min. read

How sea stars build materials that can see
Li holds the skeletons of two differently sized sea stars, both showing the calcium carbonate skeleton.

Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering

How sea stars build materials that can see

Researchers have discovered that the skeleton of the sea star Protoreaster nodosus contains specialized mineral structures capable of guiding and concentrating light, suggesting natural mechanical support and optical sensing in a singular system.

Melissa Pappas

2 min. read

When design meets engineering, students solve the right problems
Sarah Rottenberg lecturing.

For Sarah Rottenberg is the executive director of the Integrated Product Design Program at Penn Engineering and adjunct assistant professor at the Weitzman School of Design.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering)

When design meets engineering, students solve the right problems

In Sarah Rottenberg’s studio course, engineering and design students are taught to rethink the earliest stage of design: understanding the problem itself.

Melissa Pappas

2 min. read

Getting into the nitty gritty of sand  
Created materials in the lab.

Penn Engineering materials scientist Shu Yang and Weitzman School of Design architect Masoud Akbarzadeh teamed up to develop a 3D concrete printing system that captures carbon dioxide and boosts the structural performance of the building materials. The solution is based on diatomaceous earth and offers enhanced carbon capture and structural fortitude while using relatively fewer materials.

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Getting into the nitty gritty of sand  

Materials scientist Shu Yang explains the hidden physics of a day at the beach, like why some sands scorch your feet, what makes the perfect sandcastle, and how the same humble grains end up in windows and smartphones.

3 min. read

Summer storms
Summer storms

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Summer storms

A roundup of stories from Penn Today on water quality, AI and sustainability, clean fuel production, and managing stormwater runoff.

Penn Today Staff

2 min. read

Buildings that cool like African elephants
A tabletop display of off-white tiles in the foreground. Dorit Aviv and Shu Yang are standing behind it.

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Buildings that cool like African elephants

Inspired by the cracked, water-trapping skin of elephants, Penn researchers have developed a low-cost cement tile that cools buildings by capturing and slowly evaporating water—turning a structural flaw into a climate solution.

3 min. read

NATO explores the future of robotics at Penn’s GRASP Lab

NATO explores the future of robotics at Penn’s GRASP Lab

A NATO Allied Command Transformation delegation visited the Penn’s GRASP Lab in June to learn how researchers are advancing robotics and autonomous systems with applications spanning disaster response, infrastructure, and national security.