An inside look at the history of television nocred An inside look at the history of television Materials in the Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives include thousands of TV scripts, the first issue of TV Guide, and interviews about the early days of HBO—which help to chronicle TV’s 100-year story. 3 min. read
Seven things to know about ‘Common Sense’ nocred Seven things to know about ‘Common Sense’ Penn experts share insights into Thomas Paine’s influential written work, 250 years after its publication. 4 min. read
Omar Hafez wins 2026 CSA Individuals National Championship Omar Hafez wins 2026 CSA Individuals National Championship Fourth-year men’s squash captain Omar Hafez has won the 2026 CSA Individual Championships men’s national title, becoming only the sixth player in program history to do so.
New model could help police departments reduce excessive force incidents New model could help police departments reduce excessive force incidents Criminology professor Greg Ridgeway has developed a model that estimates an officer’s likelihood of using a higher level of force than peers in similar situations—an improvement on existing early-intervention systems that don’t account for differences in time and location. 3 min. read
A design fall studio brings interdisciplinary thinking to Philly’s historic and commercial core Philadelphia’s Market Street east of City Hall in 1889.(Image: John Gibb, Courtesy of the Free Library of Philadelphia, Print and Picture Collection) A design fall studio brings interdisciplinary thinking to Philly’s historic and commercial core Studio Plus design students at Weitzman focused on working through the future of Philadelphia’s Market East neighborhood, and explored issues of historic preservation, urban planning, and housing. 2 min. read
Physics of foam strangely resembles AI training Image: Dowprasook Deenu via Getty Images Physics of foam strangely resembles AI training Research by Penn Engineers reveals that as foams flow ceaselessly inside while holding their external shape, and this internal motion resembles the process of deep learning, the method typically used to train modern AI systems. 2 min. read
Awards and accolades for Penn faculty nocred Awards and accolades for Penn faculty A roundup of the latest appointments and awards for various faculty members in Penn Engineering, Penn Nursing, and Penn Dental Medicine. 2 min. read
Preserving the past Assistant professor of historic preservation Brian Whetstone.nocred Preserving the past Brian Whetstone, assistant professor of historic preservation at the Weitzman School, explores the intersections between housing and labor equity at museums, historic sites, and preservation organizations. 2 min. read
Why are icy surfaces slippery? Despite the commonality of water and ice, says Penn physicist Robert Carpick, their physical properties are remarkably unique.(Image: mustafahacalaki via Getty Images) Why are icy surfaces slippery? Winter Storm Fern brought icy and snowy conditions to the Northeast and other parts of the country over the weekend. Penn Today asks physicist Robert Carpick about the unique properties of ice, the science of curling, and how close we are to ‘nonslip’ ice. 5 min. read
Planning ahead in an age of longevity Image: Daniel Balakov via Getty Images Planning ahead in an age of longevity Tamara J. Cadet of the School of Social Policy & Practice discusses strategies for preparing—financially and physically— for an extended lifespan. 3 min. read