11/15
School of Engineering & Applied Science
A charter bus to Chinatown
A charter bus to Chinatown
Launched in 2021 by a student-led initiative, the biweekly bus service connects students with local businesses in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
How to design a sail that won’t tear or melt on an interstellar voyage
How to design a sail that won’t tear or melt on an interstellar voyage
The Breakthrough Starshot Initiative’s laser-based approach requires rethinking a sail’s shape and composition so it won’t melt or tear during acceleration and pushed by wind, not light.
Uncovering unexpected properties in a complex quantum material
Uncovering unexpected properties in a complex quantum material
Using a novel technique developed at Penn, researchers gained new insights into the properties of a proposed excitonic insulator known as Ta2NiSe5, with implications for future quantum devices.
Two Penn faculty named 2022 Sloan Research Fellows
Two Penn faculty named 2022 Sloan Research Fellows
Yuxin Chen and Deep Jariwala have been recognized for their creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments as members of the next generation of scientific leaders.
Newly discovered ‘encrypted peptides’ with antibiotic properties
Newly discovered ‘encrypted peptides’ with antibiotic properties
A new study reports three distinct proteins in human plasma that have naturally occurring antibiotic properties.
A new makerspace for materials passion projects
A new makerspace for materials passion projects
MatSci Makerspace is a space for students to work with the synthesis, processing, structure, properties and application of materials, with open hours for materials-centric passion projects.
Incentivizing an underused, more environmentally friendly method for carbon capture
A study by three 2021 graduates describes how a method for sequestering carbon from natural gas can be made more cost-effective with increased tax credits.
Ten from Penn elected 2021 AAAS Fellows
Ten from Penn elected 2021 AAAS Fellows
Ten scholars representing five schools across the University of Pennsylvania have been named to the 2021 class of American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows, recognized for their “scientifically and socially distinguished achievements.”
Want to reduce political polarization? Start by looking beyond politics
Want to reduce political polarization? Start by looking beyond politics
New research from PIK University Professor Duncan Watts sheds light on how even hardliners can be swayed when coming in contact with opposing viewpoints.
Protein controlled by both light and temperature can inform cell signal pathways
Protein controlled by both light and temperature can inform cell signal pathways
Penn Engineering researchers have described a new type of optogenetic protein that can be controlled not only by light, but also by temperature, allowing for a higher degree of control in the manipulation of cellular pathways.
In the News
Scientific American
Grumpy voters want better stories. Not statistics
In a Q&A, PIK Professor Duncan Watts says that U.S. voters ignored Democratic policy in favor of Republican storytelling.
FULL STORY →
Interesting Engineering
Superhuman vision lets robots see through walls, smoke with new LiDAR-like eyes
Mingmin Zhao of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues are using radio signals to allow robots to “see” beyond traditional sensor limits.
FULL STORY →
Technical.ly Philly
A sneak peek inside Penn Engineering’s new $137.5M mass timber building
Amy Gutmann Hall aims to be Philadelphia’s next big hub for AI and innovation while setting a new standard for architectural sustainability.
FULL STORY →
6ABC.com
New building at University of Pennsylvania aims to become hub for AI research
Amy Gutmann Hall, set to open in early 2025, is dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence and data science.
FULL STORY →
Philadelphia Business Journal
First look: Inside Penn’s new Amy Gutmann Hall, the region's largest mass timber building
Amy Gutmann Hall will be a catalyst for groundbreaking artificial intelligence research and collaboration across disciplines, with remarks from Dean Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
FULL STORY →