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Physics

Summer aerospace research at the Jet Propulsion Lab
alex ulin standing in front of the jet propulsion laboratory sign, under the nasa logo and next to text that reads california institute of technology

Summer aerospace research at the Jet Propulsion Lab

Senior Alex Ulin from Los Angeles spent the past two summers working at a NASA-contracted field center, and is now aiming for a career leading teams of aerospace scientists and engineers.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Physicists look to navigational ‘rhumb lines’ to study polymer’s unique spindle structure
microscope images of polymer spheres that twist into elongated and twisted objects

Scanning electron microscope images showing polymers in a spherical configuration (far left); when a new solvent is added, the spheres twist and change into elongated twisted spindles (far right). At the top of the spindles (center panel) are one micron spirals. (Image: Daeseok Kim)

Physicists look to navigational ‘rhumb lines’ to study polymer’s unique spindle structure

Researchers show how polymer spheres contract to form unique spiral structures known as loxodromes, or rhumb lines, creating patterns that are ten times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Erica K. Brockmeier

From the classroom to the lab and back again
a person sitting at a microscope looking at a computer screen surrounded by pipet boxes, chemicals, and cabinetry

From the classroom to the lab and back again

Senior Adithya Sriram is busy earning two degrees, researching new applications for graphene, and preparing physics courses for students in West Philadelphia.

Erica K. Brockmeier

A ‘quantum leap’ for quantum information science
a group of 40 people posing on a staircase

Experts from external institutions and members of the Penn community joined together for two days of lively discussions about the future of room temperature quantum logic using atomically-thin materials for NSF’s Enabling Quantum Leap symposium, which was held at the Singh center (Image: Felice Macera).

A ‘quantum leap’ for quantum information science

By bringing together experts across campus and across disciplines, Penn is poised to lead ongoing efforts towards developing quantum applications using atomically-thin materials.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Can neutrinos help explain what’s the matter with antimatter?
a particle accelerator, a long copper tube that follows down a basement corridor below lines of tubes and wires, a group of scientists in lab coats talk with each other on the side of the room

Can neutrinos help explain what’s the matter with antimatter?

Results of a new study will help physicists establish a cutting-edge neutrino research facility to study some of the most abundant yet least understood particles in the universe.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Researchers discover new topological phases in a class of optical materials
a pink light shining onto a flat sheet with holes on the top, a blue laser light shines from one end of the flat sheet to the other

Researchers discover new topological phases in a class of optical materials

These unique topological phases, which imbue materials with new properties, provide a pathway for future optical-electronic applications such as telecommunications devices and quantum computers.

Erica K. Brockmeier

In search of signals from the early universe
a person in a hard had working inside a large telescope detector

In search of signals from the early universe

Penn astronomers are part of an international collaboration to construct the Simons Observatory, a new telescope that will search the skies in a quest to learn more about the formation of the universe.

Erica K. Brockmeier

‘Smart aviary’ poised to break new ground in behavioral research
outside the smart aviary

‘Smart aviary’ poised to break new ground in behavioral research

A collaboration that has brought together biologists, engineers, and physicists to study the reproductive behavior of birds using machine learning in a custom-built aviary at Pennovation Works.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Remembering the past while looking forward
lunar landing boot print

Buzz Aldrin’s boot print from the Apollo 11 mission, one of the first steps taken on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the Moon on July 20, 1969. (Photo: NASA)

Remembering the past while looking forward

As the nation celebrates the Apollo 11 mission, a look at Penn’s connection to the historic event and how the Moon impacts science, politics, and culture.

Erica K. Brockmeier