In a course led by 2024-25 McHarg Fellow Leah Kahler, students explored the movement of plants across cultures and climates, as well as the relationships between recreational and productive landscapes.
In eusocial superorganisms like leafcutter ant colonies, labor is divvied up according to body shape and size, but PIK Professor Shelley Berger and her team discovered that molecular signals can override that blueprint. Their findings reveal how simple neuropeptides can reprogram ant behavior, reshuffling roles in nature’s most disciplined workforce.
(Image: Courtesy of Tierney Scarpa)
What can ants and naked-mole rats teach about societal roles?
PIK Professor Shelley Berger and colleagues explored the genetic basis of labor distribution in communal-dwelling species and discovered that pathways dating back hundreds of millions of years are conserved across animal kingdoms. Their findings offer fundamental insights into complex social behaviors.
Misconceptions abound regarding high blood pressure, poll finds
According to a survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, more than a third of Americans erroneously think that high blood pressure always has noticeable symptoms like dizziness or shortness of breath.
Archeologists uncover royal tomb tied to the real King Midas
Penn Museum researchers in collaboration with the Turkish government have found a preserved royal tomb chamber with ties to King Midas, featuring remarks from C. Brian Rose of the School of Arts & Sciences.
Benjamin C. Lee, a professor of electrical and systems engineering, explains what a neural processing unit (NPU) is and why it matters in the age of artificial intelligence.
