School of Arts & Sciences

a start in the center of a dark sky surrounded by orbiting planets and a ring of dust

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 person standing on a stairwell, being photographed from above.

A link between childhood stress and early molars

Penn researchers discovered that children from lower-income backgrounds and those who go through greater adverse childhood experiences get their first permanent molars sooner.

Book cover of Taking Stock of Shock: Social Consequences of the 1989 Revolutions.

The winners and losers in post-Socialist Europe

Kristen Ghodsee and Mitchell Orenstein, professors of Russian and East European Studies, discuss their new book, “Taking Stock of Shock.”

an image of distant galaxies taken by the dark energy camera

Dark Energy Survey interim analysis sheds light on the evolution of the universe

Analysis of the survey’s first three years of data, which were used to make the most precise 3D map of the universe to date, is a key step towards understanding dark matter and dark energy.

Two green N1 highway signs stacked on top of each other show arrows pointing the way to Belfast in the top sign and the way to Dublin in the bottom sign, with Belfast to the left and Dublin to the right

Q&A

Report looks at referendums on Irish unification

A dozen experts, including Penn’s Brendan O’Leary, lay a framework for how any future unification vote can be fair and feasible.

At right, Regina Salmons sits in a boat holding an oar while wearing sunglasses and a blue uniform.

Alumna Regina Salmons selected to USRowing Olympic team

The 2018 graduate will compete in the women’s eight at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in late July.

Avatars of seniors sit around a seminar table in virtual reality in an International Relations course taught by Farah Jan.

Teaching in virtual reality transforms learning experience

Farah Jan of the International Relations Program taught a course in virtual reality during the spring semester, which students say broke up the monotony of Zoom meetings and aided in their learning.

a photograph of Penn's college hall framed by green leaves during the summer

2021 cohort of Postdoctoral Fellows for Academic Diversity named

The competitive program, managed by Office of the Vice Provost for Research, is designed to support early career researchers and scholars while enriching the Penn community.

a side by side of a simulated nanocrystal next to a microscopic image of one

A blueprint for designing and synthesizing new, multifunctional materials

By combining theory, computational simulations, chemical synthesis, and assembly, researchers demonstrate how an “inverse design” strategy can create unique materials using difficult-to-mix nanocrystals.

three women wearing mask smiles at each other in front of an old stone building

Inaugural SNF Paideia fellows reflect on an inspiring first year

The fellowship program for undergraduates connects their general education and major requirements to public engagement and community building through dialogue across differences.

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