Physics | Penn Today

an abstract depiction of an optical chip with arrows representing unidirectional light travel

Fixing leaky optical pipes with topological glue

Combining theoretical insights with experimental results, physicists demonstrate a new design for optoelectronic devices that could help make optical fiber communications more energy efficient.

Penn labs get creative to stay productive, connected

In the face of a pandemic that has shuttered most physical laboratories across campus, researchers have shifted gears, maintaining work and social ties through grant- and manuscript-writing, virtual journal clubs, online coffee breaks, and more.

electron micrograph of bacteriophages attached to a bacterial cell

The optimal immune repertoire for bacteria

Researchers develop a physical model that describes the optimal amount of ‘memory’ of prior infections that bacteria should have in order to efficiently mount a successful immune response.

a telescope dome bathed in red light with the milky way galaxy behind it

New minor planets beyond Neptune

This updated catalog of trans-Neptunian objects and the methods used to find them could aid in future searches for undiscovered planets in the far reaches of the solar system.

a person standing in front of a chalkboard covered in equations

Where math meets physics

Collaborations between physicists and mathematicians at Penn showcase the importance of research that crosses the traditional boundaries that separate fields of science.

Gif of water moving across a microscope plate, leaving behind several particles

Looking to mud to study how particles become sticky

A collaboration of geophysicists and fluid mechanics experts led to a fundamental new insight into how tiny ‘bridges’ help particles of all kinds form aggregates.

Student leaning on railing on staircase.

Penn senior Srinivas Mandyam awarded Churchill Scholarship

Mandyam will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in physics, mathematics, and biophysics, along with a master’s in physics; the scholarship awards him a year of graduate research study in physics at the University of Cambridge.

a pattern of raised triangles made out of paper with blue lines indicating flaps that reach out to neighboring structures

Kirigami designs hold thousands of times their own weight

A team of researchers found that using the origami-inspired art of paper cutting and folding, it is possible to create super strong models from lightweight soft materials without the need for adhesives or fasteners.

New astronomical instrument on the hunt for exoplanets

A state-of-the-art instrument called NEID, from the Tohono O’odham word meaning “to see,” collected its “first light” and is poised to look for new planets outside the solar system.

a close up image of a leaf with the main vessels and branches visible

How biology creates networks that are cheap, robust, and efficient

Physicists describe how vascular networks, collections of vessels that move fluid, nutrients, and waste, balance robustness with “cost” to create a diverse array of structures and designs.

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