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Connecting a star’s chemical composition and planet formation

Along with developing a new statistical method for studying exoplanets, researchers from Penn found that the majority of stars in their dataset are similar to the sun, implying that many stars in the Milky Way could host their own Earthlike planets.
a start in the center of a dark sky surrounded by orbiting planets and a ring of dust
An artist’s concept of a young star circled by planets and rings of dust that arise when newly formed, rocky planets collide with one another. A new study presented at the 238th American Astronomical Society conference describes a new method for quantifying the relationship between a star’s chemical composition and planet formation, work that could help researchers identify individual stars that have a higher likelihood of hosting planets. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

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  • From a desert to an oasis: Penn engages in ambitious greening effort in the Sahel
    People gather around a large map placed on the floor.

    In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.

    (Image: Courtesy of Chaowu Li)

    From a desert to an oasis: Penn engages in ambitious greening effort in the Sahel

    Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth.

    Jan 31, 2025