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From ‘the United States are’ to ‘the United States is’
A photograph of a wheeled cannon pointing out at the horizon

The U.S. fought a bloody civil war over whether sovereign authority should reside at the state or federal level. Battles like the one at Gettysburg, pictured here, were only a small part of the ideological fight. (Photo by John Kostyk on Unsplash)

  • Q&A

    • From ‘the United States are’ to ‘the United States is’

    Political scientist Melissa M. Lee on how the linguistic shift from plural to singular demonstrates the evolution of sovereign authority in the U.S.

    Kristina García

    Higher education’s role in democracy
    democracy class in washington

    (Homepage image) In last spring’s How Washington Really Works seminar, guest speaker Liz Fowler (center) gives students her insider view on helping write the Affordable Care Act as George Mason Professor Steven Pearlstein, (left), and Penn Vice Provost for Global Initiatives Ezekiel Emanuel (right) listen.

    Higher education’s role in democracy

    Experts from across the University share their thoughts on how their research, departments, and centers help foster democracy.

    Kristen de Groot

    Physics of disaster: How mudslides move
    A few people walk along a mountainside as some vegetation regrows after a wildfire

    The Thomas Fire charred the hillsides above Montecito in late 2017, setting up conditions for mudslides in early 2018. (Image: Douglas Jerolmack)

    Physics of disaster: How mudslides move

    Researchers led by Douglas Jerolmack and Paulo Arratia used samples from the deadly 2018 Montecito mudslides to understand the complex forces at work in these disasters.

    Katherine Unger Baillie

    The history of abortion access in the U.S.
    A person walks past the door at Planned Parenthood.

    The history of abortion access in the U.S.

    Following the Dobbs v. Jackson decision issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in June, overruling Roe v. Wade’s established right to an abortion, Penn professors describe the history that led to this moment.
    Who, What, Why: Lucía Stavig
    Lucia Stavig poses in front of the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies (CLALS)

    Lucía Stavig, a Peruvian postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies, works on healing through connection in the Andes.

     

  • Who, What, Why

    • Who, What, Why: Lucía Stavig

    Lucía Stavig, a Peruvian postdoctoral fellow in anthropology, works on healing through connection in the Andes.

    Kristina García

    Does the Middle East still matter?
    Middle East Center Director John Ghazvinian speaks into a microphone, sitting next to Tor Wennesland

    John Ghazvinian (left), executive director of the Middle East Center, discussed a wide range of issues with Tor Wennesland, including the uptick in violence in the West Bank.

    Does the Middle East still matter?

    Tor Wennesland, United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, had a wide-ranging conversation on the topic with the Middle East Center’s John Ghazvinian.

    Kristen de Groot

    Q&A on the UK’s new prime minister
    New UK prime minister Rishi Sunak sits at a table with his cabinet at Downing Street in London.

    Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, center, holds his first Cabinet meeting in Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool Photo via AP)

  • Q&A

    • Q&A on the UK’s new prime minister

    Political scientist Brendan O’Leary discusses Liz Truss’ fall, Rishi Sunak’s rise, and what it all means going forward.

    Kristen de Groot

    The language of loneliness and depression, revealed in social media
    Person sitting in the dark, leaning on a desk, staring at a cell phone. A coffee cup and pile of papers sit nearby.

    The language of loneliness and depression, revealed in social media

    By analyzing Facebook posts, Penn researchers found that words associated with depression are often tied to emotions, whereas those associated with loneliness are linked to cognition.

    Marilyn Perkins

    Two Penn faculty elected American Physical Society fellows
    Paulo Arratia and Evelyn Thomson, physicists at Penn

    Paulo Arratia and Evelyn Thomson have been recognized as American Physical Society Fellows for 2022. 

    Two Penn faculty elected American Physical Society fellows

    Paulo Arratia of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Evelyn Thomson of the School of Arts & Sciences received the honor of being elected by their peers in recognition of their contributions to the field.

    Katherine Unger Baillie