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Earth and Environmental Science

Businesses aim to pull greenhouse gases from the air. It’s a gamble

Businesses aim to pull greenhouse gases from the air. It’s a gamble

Jennifer Wilcox of the School of Engineering and Applied Science spoke about companies pledging to eliminate their carbon emissions within decades. “Carbon removal shouldn’t be seen as a get-out-of-jail-free card,” she said. “It has a role to play, particularly for sectors that are very difficult to decarbonize, but it shouldn’t be an excuse for everyone to keep emitting greenhouse gases indefinitely.”

Climate change doesn’t spare the smallest
Topographic map of Area de Conservacion Guanacaste in Costa Rica showing different biomes

The ACG is home to a variety of different types of environments and ecosystems, and a rich diversity of species. (Image: Courtesy of Daniel Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs)

Climate change doesn’t spare the smallest

Changing conditions have taken a toll on insects in the tropics, according to research by School of Arts & Sciences biologists Daniel Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs. But education and science offer a path forward, they say.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Rare sparrows make guest appearance at Penn
Two all-white birds on gray pavement, with blurred leaves in the foreground.

The birds likely have a rare genetic condition called albinism, which stems from a mutation that prevents proper melanin production. (Image: Doug Wiebe)

Rare sparrows make guest appearance at Penn

Earlier this year, Penn Medicine epidemiologist Doug Wiebe glimpsed two small all-white birds outside Van Pelt Library that turned out to be albino house sparrows. Their coloration is likely the result of a genetic condition in which a bird’s feathers lack pigment.

Michele W. Berger

Treeswift’s autonomous robots take flight to save forests
A flying robot flying in a forest in daylight.

One of Treeswift’s flying robots on a test run in a New Jersey forest. (Image: Penn Engineering Today)

Treeswift’s autonomous robots take flight to save forests

From Penn Engineering’s GRASP Lab, Treeswift uses swarms of autonomous, flying robots equipped with LiDAR sensors to monitor, inventory, and map timberland.

From Penn Engineering Today

Merging big data and marine biology
Student Ashna Sethi

Merging big data and marine biology

Junior Ashna Sethi found an opportunity to delve into one of her passions this summer with paleobiologist Lauren Sallan’s lab in the School of Arts & Sciences.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Shining a light on the dangers of lead
paint chipping off of wood

Shining a light on the dangers of lead

Lead poisoning robs children of opportunity, and the impact is worse in underserved communities. Faculty and students at Penn are bringing scientific and policy attention to the problem, while empowering young people to minimize their risk and be leaders for change.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Plato was right. Earth is made, on average, of cubes
Statue of Plato against blue sky

The ancient philosopher Plato conjectured that the universe was composed of particular geometric shapes; the earth, of cubes. Findings from a multidisciplinary research team found truth in Plato's belief. 

Plato was right. Earth is made, on average, of cubes

The ancient Greek philosopher was on to something, the School of Arts & Sciences’ Douglas Jerolmack and colleagues found.

Katherine Unger Baillie