Chemical Engineering

Nafisa Bangura (left) and Angelica Dadda (right) doing hands-on experimental work in the Composto Lab.

Students test one way to combat extreme heat in Philadelphia

Third-year students Nafisa Bangura and Angelica Dadda expanded upon a multidisciplinary research endeavor to evaluate a reflective pavement coating as a tool to mitigate extreme heat. Their work may inform policy efforts to improve urban heat resilience.

4 min. read

Working towards new materials for next-generation electronic devices

A Penn team has developed insight into the chemical and geometric mechanisms underlying the synthesis of new 2D materials, paving the way for next-gen devices, biomedical applications, and cleaner, quicker energy conversion and storage.

5 min. read

Toxic fungus to cancer cure? New compound exhibits antileukemia ‘potential’

In a Q&A, Xue (Sherry) Gao of the School of Engineering and Applied Science discusses her team’s discovery of fungal RiPPs and their potential impact on cancer care.

Researchers turn a toxic fungus into cancer-fighting drug

A study by Xue (Sherry) Gao of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues found potent cancer-killing effects in the deadly Aspergillus flavus fungus, which was linked to rumors of a “pharaoh’s curse.”

Deadly ‘pharaoh’s curse fungus’ could be used to fight cancer

A deadly fungus linked to deaths in archaeologists excavating tombs has been turned into a cancer-fighting compound by a School of Engineering and Applied Science team. Sherry Gao and doctoral fellow Qiuyue Nie are quoted.

Scientists transform deadly ancient fungus into potential cancer cure

A study by Xue (Sherry) Gao of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues found potent cancer-killing effects in the deadly Aspergillus flavus fungus.

Climate and environment updates: Accidental breakthrough creates water from thin air

Daeyeon Lee led a team in the School of Engineering and Applied Science that discovered a method of harvesting water from the air.

A water droplet reflecting the color spectrum.

New class of materials passively harvest water from air

Researchers at Penn Engineering have discovered a new class of nanostructured materials that can pull water from the air, which could enable new ways to collect water in arid regions and devices that cool electronics or buildings using the power of evaporation.

2 min. read

New physics-defying nanomaterial gathers water from air directly

Daeyeon Lee of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues have discovered a new class of nanostructured materials that can pull water from the air, collect it in pores, and release it onto surfaces without any external energy.

Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs

The lab of César de la Fuente has created synthetic peptides, a class of antibiotics, derived from the secretions of a frog commonly found in South Asia.