Q&A: Dean Kumar and the ‘drone’ sightings For more than a month, residents in New Jersey, parts of Pennsylvania, and New York have spotted unidentified flying objects, which local residents refer to as “drones,” hovering over neighborhoods, critical infrastructure and even restricted sites. To learn more about the mysterious flying objects, Penn Today spoke with local expert Dean Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.(Image: Courtesy of iStock/Naypong) Q&A Q&A: Dean Kumar and the ‘drone’ sightings Penn Engineering Dean Vijay Kumar discusses the mysterious flying objects, or “drones,” hovering around parts of the East Coast.
A lipid nanoparticle delivers an mRNA cure for preeclampsia Kelsey Swingle at work in the lab of Michael Mitchell.(Image: Kevin Monko) A lipid nanoparticle delivers an mRNA cure for preeclampsia Doctoral student Kelsey Swingle developed a lipid nanoparticle that delivers an mRNA therapeutic that reduces maternal blood pressure through the end of gestation and improves fetal health and blood circulation in the placenta.
An illuminating celebration to a brighter, greener future The new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology boasts adaptable laboratory spaces to support the dynamic needs of pioneering research.nocred An illuminating celebration to a brighter, greener future Members of the Penn community celebrated an energy research milestone: the unveiling of the new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology.
Mapping molecular arrangements to pave the way for better catalytic systems Eric Stach of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues used neural networks to better identify the characteristics of catalysts that drive the creation of liquid fuels from sunlight. Shown here: The arrangement of a catalyst molecule, as observed under cryogenic conditions. The bright spots represent individual or small groups of molecules immobilized on a surface and the cryogenic temperature helps minimize clustering caused by the electron beam during imaging, allowing scientists to study the molecule’s distribution more accurately.(Image: Sungho Jeon) Mapping molecular arrangements to pave the way for better catalytic systems The Stach Group in Penn Engineering led a collaborative team identifying how chemical catalysts drive the creation of liquid fuels from sunlight, paving the way for more efficient removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Rivers in a changing world Sayre ninth-grade science teacher LaRon Smith (center) is a former landscape gardener from South Philadelphia who switched careers to mentor a younger generation. “I think my passion is for them to be better individuals, better human beings,” Smith says.nocred Rivers in a changing world A new Academically Based Community Service class brings Penn and William L. Sayre High School students together to learn environmental science and engineering.
Refining lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies Image: iStock/Love Employee Refining lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies A new method developed by Penn engineers for designing ionizable lipids is expected to have broad implications for mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics.
Online health care reviews turned negative following COVID pandemic Image: iStock/AndreyPopov Online health care reviews turned negative following COVID pandemic New research shows online reviews of health facilities took a negative turn after COVID and remain that way.
Teaching robots common sense, empathy and other forms of intelligence Image: iStock/gorodenkoff Teaching robots common sense, empathy and other forms of intelligence Antonio Loquercio, an assistant professor in electrical and systems engineering, explores the potential that robots can have in answering fundamental questions on decision-making.
A Q&A with the director of the Penn Center for AIDS Research Penn researchers affiliated with the Penn Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) attended AIDS Walk Philly in October 2024. Pictured with the National AIDS Memorial Quilt are Deratu Ahmed, a first-year epidemiology doctoral student studying pharmacogenetics related to HIV and tuberculosis in Botswana; Dominique Medaglio, a fourth-year epidemiology doctoral student studying ways to encourage smoking cessation for people with HIV in the United States; CFAR co-director Robert Gross, professor of medicine and epidemiology in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Penn Medicine; and CFAR director Ronald Collman, professor of medicine and microbiology.(Image: Courtesy of Ronald G. Collman) Q&A A Q&A with the director of the Penn Center for AIDS Research Ronald G. Collman talks about the current state of AIDS care, work with the City of Philadelphia, and how the Center is supporting collaborations across campus.
Collaborating on agricultural climate solutions, from plants to animals Image: iStock/JM_Image_Factory Collaborating on agricultural climate solutions, from plants to animals The new Penn Plant Adaptability and Resilience Center brought together faculty speakers from five schools for its Climate Solutions for the Living World symposium.