Structural elements of archaea Archaea, a unique domain of life, were discovered in the 1970s in extreme environments such as hot springs and salty lakes, with notable early studies conducted in locations like Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Initially considered unusual bacteria, their distinct genetics and biochemistry led to their recognition as a separate domain, emphasizing microbial diversity and evolutionary complexity. (Image: iStock / rmbarricarte) Structural elements of archaea Researchers shed light on archea, a single cell microorganism, to discover how proteins determine what shape a cell will take and how that form may function.
In Japan, teaching a multitude of creative anthropology practices Ritsumeikan University students work on a collective mapping exercise led by Penn anthropology Ph.D. student Pablo Aguilera Del Castillo, using markers, sticky notes, and stickers to annotate a map with the emotions, memories, and habits they associate with different parts of Kyoto. (Image: Pablo Aguilera Del Castillo) In Japan, teaching a multitude of creative anthropology practices Penn anthropologists in the Center for Experimental Ethnography led workshops at Ritsumeikan University on performance, film, mapping, sound, and collaging.
The soils beneath the solar fields To take soil samples at the solar site, Hannah Winn wields a bulb planter and mixes samples from across locations, looking at variables such that reflect the biological, chemical, and physical properties of the soil. (Image: Courtesy of AES) The soils beneath the solar fields How do solar farms impact soil health? It’s a question that master’s student Hannah Winn is exploring at the central Pennsylvania site where solar energy production is helping Penn progress toward carbon neutrality.
Finding new ways to evaluate voters’ beliefs Nicholas Dias is a doctoral student at the Annenberg School for Communication. (Image: Courtesy of Annenberg School for Communication) Finding new ways to evaluate voters’ beliefs In his dissertation research, joint communication and political science doctoral student Nicholas Dias searches for new ways to gauge voter competency.
Romance and race Image: Adobe Stock/grandfailure Romance and race Sociology Ph.D. candidate Olivia Hu is studying how people choose romantic partners across race lines, and how those relationships affect their understandings of social difference.
Few options available to Western leaders weighing response to Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny’s death Penn In the News Toronto Star Few options available to Western leaders weighing response to Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny’s death Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon of the School of Arts & Sciences says that Western countries have little practical leverage to push Russia off its authoritarian path after Alexei Navalny’s death, given the economic and diplomatic sanctions already levied against Vladimir Putin. Penn named a ‘top producer’ of 2023-24 Fulbright Scholars nocred Penn named a ‘top producer’ of 2023-24 Fulbright Scholars The U.S. Department of State has named Penn a Fulbright U.S. Student Program “top producing institution” for the 2023-24 academic year, as one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of recipients selected. Lessons from the 17th century ‘New Netherland’ Molly Leech is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the School of Arts &N Sciences Department of History. (Image: Brooke Sietinsons) Lessons from the 17th century ‘New Netherland’ Through study of the fur and wampum trade between the Lenape and Dutch in the 1600s, fourth-year history Ph.D. candidate Molly Leech is aiming to recenter Indigenous contributions to global trade. ‘Natural’ deaths likely COVID-19 related Many deaths during the pandemic which were not listed as /COVID-related may have, in fact, been as a result of COVID. In a collaborative study, researchers in the School of Arts & Sciences found that increases in non-COVID excess deaths occurred at the same time or in the month prior to increases in reported COVID-19 deaths in most U.S. counties, indicating that many COVID deaths went uncounted as such. (Image: iStock/BriVisu) ‘Natural’ deaths likely COVID-19 related New study led by Penn and Boston University provides the most compelling data yet to suggest excess mortality rates from chronic illnesses and other natural causes were driven by COVID-19 infections. Celebrating Lunar New Year A lion dancer gives instruction to one of the Penn Lions. Inside the frilly, pink and gold lion costume are two Penn students practicing a “stack,” where one dancer jumps on the other to give the appearance of a lion rearing on its hind paws. nocred Celebrating Lunar New Year With red envelopes, lion dances, and student performances, the Pan Asian Graduate Student Association rang in the Year of the Wood Dragon.
Penn named a ‘top producer’ of 2023-24 Fulbright Scholars nocred Penn named a ‘top producer’ of 2023-24 Fulbright Scholars The U.S. Department of State has named Penn a Fulbright U.S. Student Program “top producing institution” for the 2023-24 academic year, as one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of recipients selected.
Lessons from the 17th century ‘New Netherland’ Molly Leech is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the School of Arts &N Sciences Department of History. (Image: Brooke Sietinsons) Lessons from the 17th century ‘New Netherland’ Through study of the fur and wampum trade between the Lenape and Dutch in the 1600s, fourth-year history Ph.D. candidate Molly Leech is aiming to recenter Indigenous contributions to global trade.
‘Natural’ deaths likely COVID-19 related Many deaths during the pandemic which were not listed as /COVID-related may have, in fact, been as a result of COVID. In a collaborative study, researchers in the School of Arts & Sciences found that increases in non-COVID excess deaths occurred at the same time or in the month prior to increases in reported COVID-19 deaths in most U.S. counties, indicating that many COVID deaths went uncounted as such. (Image: iStock/BriVisu) ‘Natural’ deaths likely COVID-19 related New study led by Penn and Boston University provides the most compelling data yet to suggest excess mortality rates from chronic illnesses and other natural causes were driven by COVID-19 infections.
Celebrating Lunar New Year A lion dancer gives instruction to one of the Penn Lions. Inside the frilly, pink and gold lion costume are two Penn students practicing a “stack,” where one dancer jumps on the other to give the appearance of a lion rearing on its hind paws. nocred Celebrating Lunar New Year With red envelopes, lion dances, and student performances, the Pan Asian Graduate Student Association rang in the Year of the Wood Dragon.