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Earth and Environmental Science

What is the link between winter storms and climate change?
The Japan Times

What is the link between winter storms and climate change?

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that convection caused by warmer lake temperatures has created a long-term increase in lake effect snowfalls.

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

What secrets might 2-million-year-old DNA hold?
Icy landscape in Greenland

Genetic material extracted from permafrost in northern Greenland revealed the presence of a rich, warm, and vibrant ancient ecosystem in what is today a cold and rather barren landscape, offering promise for future scientific discovery based on ancient environmental DNA.

What secrets might 2-million-year-old DNA hold?

Scientists from Denmark recently extracted and sequenced the oldest-ever DNA, from permafrost in Greenland, revealing a robust ecosystem of 135 species. Penn Today spoke with four faculty members about the potential power of ancient DNA.

Katherine Unger Baillie

People and places at Penn: Research
laia mogas

People and places at Penn: Research

From Charles Addams Fine Arts Hall to the Schuylkill River, four researchers share their science and their spaces.

Kristina García

At COP27, Penn showcased its diverse climate expertise on the world stage
The American continent is seen on a revolving globe

Image: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

At COP27, Penn showcased its diverse climate expertise on the world stage

More than 30 representatives from the University traveled to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for two weeks of negotiations at this year’s United Nations climate change conference.

Marilyn Perkins, Michele W. Berger, Michele W. Berger

Soup slinging doesn't aid climate activism
Politico.com

Soup slinging doesn't aid climate activism

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that non-violent direct actions are an important way to impact public opinion but notes that activists need to consider contemporary snapshot/soundbite culture.

Facing climate change: action and optimism
WHYY (Philadelphia)

Facing climate change: action and optimism

Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences appears on “Radio Times” to share his climate optimism while reiterating the need for urgent action.