3/14
Biology
Winter blooms at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens
Winter blooms at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens
The earliest winter blooms are white and yellow, ranging from pale to sun-drenched in color in an effort to woo early pollinators: flies and beetles.
Fruit fly development offers insights into condensed matter physics
Fruit fly development offers insights into condensed matter physics
Penn Physicist Andrea Liu and collaborators modeled the behavior of tissue during a stage of fly development and found, surprisingly, it doesn’t fluidize as it shrinks but stays solid. Their approach could offer insights physical systems with complex functionality.
Two fourth-year students chosen as 2025 Marshall Scholars
Two fourth-year students chosen as 2025 Marshall Scholars
Fourth-years Tej Patel and Sridatta Teerdhala, both in the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management, a dual degree in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School, have been chosen as 2025 Marshall Scholars.
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.
From one gene switch, many possible outcomes
From one gene switch, many possible outcomes
A team of researchers led by Aman Husbands of the School of Arts & Sciences has uncovered surprising ways transcription factors—the genetic switches for genes—regulate plant development, revealing how subtle changes in a lipid-binding region can dramatically alter gene regulation.
Developing kidneys from scratch
Developing kidneys from scratch
Bioengineering professor Alex Hughes tackles the burden of chronic kidney disease by creating kidney tissue from scratch, which could reduce the need for both dialysis and transplantation.
Scratching beneath the surface of itchy skin
Scratching beneath the surface of itchy skin
Researchers from Penn Vet provide insights into how a species of worms found a way around the mammalian urge to scratch an itch.
A method of ‘look twice, forgive once’ can sustain social cooperation
A method of ‘look twice, forgive once’ can sustain social cooperation
Using mathematical modeling, researchers from Penn and Princeton found a way to maintain cooperation without relying on complex norms or institutions.
How is the world working to save biodiversity?
How is the world working to save biodiversity?
A Sept. 18 panel hosted by the Environmental Innovations Initiative and the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies discussed local and global initiatives.
Doing the work to end health disparities
Ala Stanford is a surgeon, a national leader in health equity, and professor of practice at Penn. Her new book chronicles her path from North Philly, how she served thousands during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her work to end health disparities.
In the News
Times of India
Your brain has a switch that can turn off anxiety, say scientists
Postdoc Pei Chin of the School of Arts and Sciences investigated how serotonin in the cerebellum affects anxiety-related behavior.
FULL STORY →
WESA Radio (Pittsburgh)
Migratory birds mainly responsible for bird flu outbreak, experts tell Pa. lawmakers
Louise Moncla of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that avian flu viruses are being spread far geographically because of wild migratory birds.
FULL STORY →
The Hill
The U.S. is losing its next generation of health scientists
In a co-written opinion essay, James Alwine of the Perelman School of Medicine says that slashing of research funding for NIH and the National Science Foundation will eliminate the next generation of health scientists.
FULL STORY →
The New York Times
Why do women live longer than men?
Montserrat Anguera of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that epigenetic factors like climate or chronic stress may also play a role in life span, widening or shrinking the disparities between men and women.
FULL STORY →
Science Alert
New strain of bird flu in Nevada reveals a concerning mutation
Louise Moncla of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that cows may be more broadly susceptible to bird flu viruses than initially thought.
FULL STORY →
SciTechDaily
Scientists found a brain switch that could turn anxiety on and off
A study by postdoc Pei Wern Chin of the School of Arts & Sciences found that anxiety behaviors in mice could be controlled by either stimulating or inhibiting the neurons that release serotonin in the cerebellum.
FULL STORY →