Exploring the unseen: On dark matter and dark energy Exploring the unseen: On dark matter and dark energy Physics professors Mark Trodden and Masao Sako explain how dark matter and dark energy shape their work.
Charles Kane and Eugene Mele receive the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award Charles Kane and Eugene Mele receive the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award The Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria have recognized the Penn physicists for their discovery of topological insulators.
A physical model for forming patterns in pollen Four sets of pollen grains (from top left to bottom right: Alisma lanceolatum, Galium wirtgenii, Gaillardia aristata, Gomphrena globosa), showing the scanning electron microscopy image alongside the simulation of the physical model for the same geometry (Image credit: PalDat.org (SEM image) and Asja Radja (simulation)). A physical model for forming patterns in pollen Physicists have developed a model that describes how patterns form on pollen spores, the first physically rigorous framework that details the thermodynamic processes that lead to complex biological architectures.
The physics of multitasking The physics of multitasking Penn physicists characterize the limits of multitasking in biological networks, paving the way for future applications in fields from biology to medicine.
Physics on display A Rubens’ tube, which uses pressurized propane to bring sound waves to life with fire, was one of several demonstrations from the lights and waves winter physics show. Physics on display Hundreds of regional junior high and high school students visited Penn’s campus in early January to beat the winter blues—and reds—by watching physics demonstrations about lights and waves.
Dark Energy Survey completes six-year mission Dark Energy Survey completes six-year mission A global research effort to map a portion of the sky in unprecedented detail is coming to an end, but the task of learning more about the expansion of the universe has only just begun.
The nanotopography of an atomic world The nanotopography of an atomic world Physicists offer insights into the structure of atomically thin materials using nanoscale images of 2D membranes.
Electric bond During the gala ceremony held on Nov. 4 at NASA’s Hangar 1 in Mountain View, Calif., Charles Kane and Eugene Mele were presented the 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics award by writer and science educator Lucy Hawking (the daughter of Stephen Hawking) and Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Electric bond Behind the discovery of a new class of electronic materials is a 20-year collaboration between two Penn physicists, winners of the 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
Celebrating science Celebrating science Eight Penn faculty share their favorite general interest books about science.
Cutting and folding toward innovations in medicine, design, and more Cutting and folding toward innovations in medicine, design, and more Artist-in-residence Mike Tanis and physicist Randall Kamien use kirigami, literally “cut paper,” to better grasp scientific concepts and to solve real-world challenges.