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New insights into the mechanisms of tumor growth
3d render of cells secreting exosomes.

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New insights into the mechanisms of tumor growth

A team of researchers led by the School of Arts & Science’s Wei Guo characterize the molecular pathways that play a major role in tumorigenesis, findings that could lead to better diagnostic tools for cancer and new targeted therapies.
Turning carbon emissions into rocks
mine tailings mega pit Open-pit mines like the one seen here generate millions of tons of waste each year. Researchers in the Clean Energy Conversions Lab are working on technologies that could turn this waste into carbon-storing rocks, potentially keeping a substantial amount of CO2 out of the atmosphere. (Image: Peter Psarras)

Turning carbon emissions into rocks

In Penn’s Clean Energy Conversions Lab, researcher Peter Psarras and colleagues are repurposing waste from industrial mines, storing carbon pulled from the atmosphere into newly formed rock.

Michele W. Berger

Prioritizing environmental justice while capturing carbon from the air
A spade digging into sandy material.

Peter Psarras and his students study the fundamentals of storing captured carbon in rock waste, conducting experiments at the Pennovation Center. (Image: Penn Engineering Today)

Prioritizing environmental justice while capturing carbon from the air

The Clean Energy Conversions Lab’s mission is to minimize the environmental and climate impacts of the world’s dependence on fossil fuels through carbon management.

From Penn Engineering Today

Decoding a material’s ‘memory’
particles shown as gray dots with arrows and colored lines indicating their direction of movement

A suspension of particles of different sizes during shearing experiments conducted in the lab of Paulo Arratia, with arrows indicating particle “flow” and trajectories. In a new study published in Nature Physics, researchers detail the relationship between a disordered material’s individual particle arrangement and how it reacts to external stressors. The study also found that these materials have “memory” that can be used to predict how and when they will flow. (Image: Arratia lab)

Decoding a material’s ‘memory’

A new study details the relationship between particle structure and flow in disordered materials, insights that can be used to understand systems ranging from mudslides to biofilms.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Refining data into knowledge, turning knowledge into action
paris perdikaris graphic

Homepage image: No one type of medical imaging can capture every relevant piece of information about a patient at once. Digital twins, or multiscale, physics-based simulations of biological systems, would allow clinicians to accurately infer more vital statistics from fewer data points.

Refining data into knowledge, turning knowledge into action

Penn Engineering researchers are using data science to answer fundamental questions that challenge the globe—from genetics to materials design.

From Penn Engineering Today

‘I Look Like an Engineer’
clockwise) Nyasha Zimunhu, Fahmida Lubna, Celestina Saven, Sanjana Hemdev, Sabrina Green and Sydney Kariuki

Penn Engineering students (clockwise) Nyasha Zimunhu, Fahmida Lubna, Celestina Saven, Sanjana Hemdev, Sabrina Green and Sydney Kariuki all participated in the “I Look Like an Engineer” campaign, locally organized by AWE. (Image: Penn Engineering Today)

‘I Look Like an Engineer’

For the third year in a row, Penn Engineering’s Advancing Women in Engineering program, dedicated to recruiting, retaining and promoting all female-identified students in the School, participated in the “I Look Like an Engineer” social media movement.

From Penn Engineering Today

Using stress to shape microlevel structures
a trapezoid with gray dots on the left and colored dots on the right representing atoms in a disordered material

Using stress to shape microlevel structures

A new study describes how external forces drive the rearrangement of individual particles in disordered solids, enabling new ways to imbue materials with unique mechanical properties.

Erica K. Brockmeier

What to do when cutting emissions alone is no longer enough
power plant emitting carbon dioxide into atmosphere on a sunny day, surrounded by trees and roadways..

What to do when cutting emissions alone is no longer enough

Four factors to consider in the race to solve the climate crisis, including how to scale up a tool called negative emissions and why the oceans can only help so much.

Michele W. Berger

Magnetic microrobots use capillary forces to coax particles into position
flowers-haped microrobot approaches plastic beads, uses capillary forces to stick them to one of its petals, then releases them at the desired location by spinning in place.

Shown in 4x speed, a flower-shaped microrobot approaches plastic beads, uses capillary forces to stick them to one of its petals, then releases them at the desired location by spinning in place. (Image: Penn Engineering)

Magnetic microrobots use capillary forces to coax particles into position

A new study shows how microscopic robots, remotely driven by magnetic fields, can use capillary forces to manipulate objects floating at the interface between two liquids.

Penn Today Staff