School of Engineering & Applied Science

Film still of Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man character standing at a work table full of tools trying on a robotic-looking arm.

Iron Man: The engineer who became a superhero

A Q&A with Marc Miskin and James Pikul about the real-world tech and practical limitations that underly Tony Stark’s superpowered suit.

‘Smart aviary’ poised to break new ground in behavioral research

A collaboration that has brought together biologists, engineers, and physicists to study the reproductive behavior of birds using machine learning in a custom-built aviary at Pennovation Works.

Cluster of multicolored balls drawn with various emoji faces.

Cross-cultural similarities and differences in emoji usage

While the idea of emojis unifying people across language barriers is enticing, people of different cultures might not use emojis in the same way.

Genetic engineering and gene manipulation concept. DNA helix molecules and chromosomes, DNA strand, molecule or atom, neurons.

Bioengineers shed light on folding genomes

Jennifer Phillips-Cremins, an assistant professor in Penn Engineering’s Department of Bioengineering, and colleagues use light as a trigger to fold sequences of genes into specific shapes and patterns to see how the different configurations alter gene expression.

Remembering the past while looking forward

As the nation celebrates the Apollo 11 mission, a look at Penn’s connection to the historic event and how the Moon impacts science, politics, and culture.

blue and yellow swirls of light around a large dark spiral

Unique electrical properties in quantum materials can be controlled using light

New research on Weyl semimetals, a class of quantum materials, unlocks unique quantum properties that can be used to create light-controlled electronic devices in the future.

‘Robotic blood’ powers and propels synthetic lionfish

Combining different functional components that are normally compartmentalized can lead to both powerful and lightweight future robots. A new paper by James Pikul highlights the success of a robotic lionfish that combines energy storage and movement through the use of a hydraulic liquid referred to as “robotic blood.”

two people working on a set of robotic legs

Bipedal robot navigates the future

Thanks to Cassie, a cutting-edge two-legged robot, engineer Michael Posa has an ideal platform for tackling the challenges of locomotion.

comic panels where spider man talks about making his own silk

Q&A

The science behind Spider-Man’s superpowers

A Q&A with biomaterials engineer Shu Yang about the real-life technologies and research that could allow people to climb up walls and synthesize their own superstrong spider silk.

Engineering’s Vanessa Chan gives students a real-world glimpse of life after college

Vanessa Chan, a professor at Penn Engineering, is changing up the curriculum, giving students a real-world glimpse into life after college.

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