Engineers manipulate color on the nanoscale, making it disappear Engineers manipulate color on the nanoscale, making it disappear A new system of nanoscale semiconductor strips uses structural color interactions to eliminate the strips’ intrinsic color entirely, with implications for holographic displays and optical sensors, or new types of microlasers and detectors.
New funding supports milestone initiative to advance solar energy research New funding supports milestone initiative to advance solar energy research Penn’s Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology is a partner in a $40 million award from the Department of Energy that will accelerate fundamental research on solar technology.
Plato was right. Earth is made, on average, of cubes The ancient philosopher Plato conjectured that the universe was composed of particular geometric shapes; the earth, of cubes. Findings from a multidisciplinary research team found truth in Plato's belief. Plato was right. Earth is made, on average, of cubes The ancient Greek philosopher was on to something, the School of Arts & Sciences’ Douglas Jerolmack and colleagues found.
Navigating ‘information pollution’ with the help of artificial intelligence Navigating ‘information pollution’ with the help of artificial intelligence Using insights from the field of natural language processing, computer scientist Dan Roth and his research group are developing an online platform that helps users find relevant and trustworthy information about the novel coronavirus.
Rooting out systemic bias in neuroscience publishing Rooting out systemic bias in neuroscience publishing An interdisciplinary research team has found statistical evidence of women being undercited in academic literature. They are now studying similar effects along racial lines.
Engineering’s Stephanie Weirich designs tools for a safer world Stephanie Weirich (Image: Penn Engineering) Engineering’s Stephanie Weirich designs tools for a safer world Stephanie Weirich, ENIAC President’s Distinguished Professor in Computer and Information Science, aims to make software systems more reliable, maintainable, and secure.
Engineering’s Firooz Aflatouni’s electronic-photonic innovations Aflatouni’s (left) lab works to make the electronic and photonic components of our modern information delivery infrastructure work together. (Pre-pandemic image: Penn Engineering) Engineering’s Firooz Aflatouni’s electronic-photonic innovations Firooz Aflatouni has built his career on designing clever combinations of electronic and photonic technology with applications from laser-based 3D imaging, to microwave “cameras.”
The 2020 Summer Reading List: Book recommendations from Penn faculty and staff The 2020 Summer Reading List: Book recommendations from Penn faculty and staff Book recommendations from Penn personalities to carry you through your summer.
Novel ways to store data in light waves Novel ways to store data in light waves A pair of studies from Penn Engineering provides new ways to increase information density in optical communications, paving the way for a massive increase in the bandwidth of fiber optic networks.
Additional challenges in bringing research online The Devlin lab are working on creating an extremely cold environment (nearly -460 degrees Fahrenheit) so that the new Simons Observatory can detect cosmic microwave background (CMB), the residual radiation left behind by the Big Bang. Work done at the High Bay is essential for keeping the project from falling further behind after shutdown delays. nocred Additional challenges in bringing research online As research on campus slowly restarts, those whose work requires field surveys, large-scale collaborations, or travel face additional challenges in bringing their research back online.