Mechanics of knitting Randall Kamien of the School of Arts & Sciences and long-time collaborator Geneviève Dion, a professor of design at Drexel University, are investigating the mechanics of knitting, an area of research that represents a significant shift in understanding and using fabrics. (Image: Courtesy of Geneviève Dion) Q&A Mechanics of knitting Randall Kamien of the School of Arts & Sciences and Geneviève Dion of Drexel University share how combining traditional origami techniques with modern textile science can lead to practical applications in various industries.
Penn alum named 2024 Churchill Scholar A May graduate of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Xander Uyttendaele is among 16 students or recent graduates selected nationwide as 2024 Churchill Scholars.(Image: Courtesy of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships) Penn alum named 2024 Churchill Scholar Xander Uyttendaele, a 2023 graduate, is among 16 selected nationwide to receive the scholarship.
A twist on atomic sheets to create new materials A collaborative team of researchers led by Bo Zhen of the School of Arts & Sciences have created new materials by artificially twisting and stacking two-dimensional atomic “sheets.” New materials control light-matter interaction differently from constituent 2D atomic sheets, paving the way for next-generation laser, imaging, and quantum technologies. (Image: istock / Sensvector) A twist on atomic sheets to create new materials A collaborative team of physicists in the School of Arts & Sciences have found that putting a twist on tungsten disulfide stacks illuminates new approaches to manipulate light.
Scientists observe composite superstructure growth from nanocrystals in real time A collaborative team of researchers led by PIK Professor Christopher B. Murray has observed for the first time composite superstructure growth from nanocrystals in real time. The discovery could enable engineers to more reliably manufacture next-generation materials by combining different nanocrystals. Shown here is an artist's impression of spherical binary nanocrystal superlattices featuring semiconductor (emissive) and magnetic/plasmonic (non-emissive) nanocrystals. (Image: Courtesy of Emanuele Marino) Scientists observe composite superstructure growth from nanocrystals in real time The findings could enable engineers to more reliably manufacture next-generation materials by combining different nanocrystals.
Scientists propose ‘missing’ law for the evolution of everything in the universe Penn In the News Live Science Scientists propose ‘missing’ law for the evolution of everything in the universe Stuart Kauffman of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on a study that proposed a missing scientific law identifying “universal concepts of selection” that drive evolution. Decoding acoustic objects Mentored by Vijay Balasubramanian of the School of Arts & Sciences, third-year Lily Wei spent the summer deciphering how the brain recognizes auditory objects. (Image: Eric Sucar) Decoding acoustic objects Third-year student Lily Wei spent the summer conducting research in the lab of Vijay Balasubramanian using algorithms to propose how the brain may recognize acoustic objects. Biophysics summer school in Crete This summer, Eleni Katifori and Arnold Mathijssen of the School of Arts & Sciences organized a weeklong summer program in Crete where students from Penn and other institutions could network about topics and ideas in active biophysics research. (image: Courtesy of Eleni Katifori) News Biophysics summer school in Crete Eleni Katifori and Arnold Mathijssen spent a week in Crete, introducing students from Penn and other institutes to various topics and ideas in active biophysics research. Russia aims to restore prestige in race to moon’s south pole Penn In the News The Wall Street Journal Russia aims to restore prestige in race to moon’s south pole Benjamin L. Schmitt of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Weitzman School of Design says that sentiment in the scientific and astronaut communities has begun to shift toward a future in which NASA and Roscosmos are no longer close partners. Could the age of the universe be twice as old as current estimates suggest? NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. Known as Webb’s First Deep Field, this image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 is rich with detail. Thousands of galaxies—including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared—have appeared in Webb’s view for the first time. The image shows the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago. The combined mass of this galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying much more distant galaxies behind it. Webb’s Near-Infra Red Cam has brought those distant galaxies into sharp focus—they have tiny, faint structures that have never been seen before, including star clusters and diffuse features. (Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI) Could the age of the universe be twice as old as current estimates suggest? Penn Professors Vijay Balasubramanian and Mark Devlin offer a broader understanding of a recent paper’s claim that the universe could be 26.7 billion years old. Euclid Space Telescope launches exciting new possibilities The European Space Agency’s latest astrophysics mission, Euclid, lifted off on a Space X Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA, at 17:12 CEST on 1 July 2023. Euclid has now started its month-long journey to Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2, located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, in the opposite direction from the Sun. (Image: iStock / Robert Michaud) Euclid Space Telescope launches exciting new possibilities Professors of physics and astronomy Bhuvnesh Jain, Mark Trodden, and Gary Bernstein discuss the coming research findings from the European Space Agency’s Euclid Space Telescope. Load More
Decoding acoustic objects Mentored by Vijay Balasubramanian of the School of Arts & Sciences, third-year Lily Wei spent the summer deciphering how the brain recognizes auditory objects. (Image: Eric Sucar) Decoding acoustic objects Third-year student Lily Wei spent the summer conducting research in the lab of Vijay Balasubramanian using algorithms to propose how the brain may recognize acoustic objects.
Biophysics summer school in Crete This summer, Eleni Katifori and Arnold Mathijssen of the School of Arts & Sciences organized a weeklong summer program in Crete where students from Penn and other institutions could network about topics and ideas in active biophysics research. (image: Courtesy of Eleni Katifori) News Biophysics summer school in Crete Eleni Katifori and Arnold Mathijssen spent a week in Crete, introducing students from Penn and other institutes to various topics and ideas in active biophysics research.
Russia aims to restore prestige in race to moon’s south pole Penn In the News The Wall Street Journal Russia aims to restore prestige in race to moon’s south pole Benjamin L. Schmitt of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Weitzman School of Design says that sentiment in the scientific and astronaut communities has begun to shift toward a future in which NASA and Roscosmos are no longer close partners. Could the age of the universe be twice as old as current estimates suggest? NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. Known as Webb’s First Deep Field, this image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 is rich with detail. Thousands of galaxies—including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared—have appeared in Webb’s view for the first time. The image shows the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago. The combined mass of this galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying much more distant galaxies behind it. Webb’s Near-Infra Red Cam has brought those distant galaxies into sharp focus—they have tiny, faint structures that have never been seen before, including star clusters and diffuse features. (Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI) Could the age of the universe be twice as old as current estimates suggest? Penn Professors Vijay Balasubramanian and Mark Devlin offer a broader understanding of a recent paper’s claim that the universe could be 26.7 billion years old. Euclid Space Telescope launches exciting new possibilities The European Space Agency’s latest astrophysics mission, Euclid, lifted off on a Space X Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA, at 17:12 CEST on 1 July 2023. Euclid has now started its month-long journey to Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2, located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, in the opposite direction from the Sun. (Image: iStock / Robert Michaud) Euclid Space Telescope launches exciting new possibilities Professors of physics and astronomy Bhuvnesh Jain, Mark Trodden, and Gary Bernstein discuss the coming research findings from the European Space Agency’s Euclid Space Telescope.
Could the age of the universe be twice as old as current estimates suggest? NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant universe to date. Known as Webb’s First Deep Field, this image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 is rich with detail. Thousands of galaxies—including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared—have appeared in Webb’s view for the first time. The image shows the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago. The combined mass of this galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying much more distant galaxies behind it. Webb’s Near-Infra Red Cam has brought those distant galaxies into sharp focus—they have tiny, faint structures that have never been seen before, including star clusters and diffuse features. (Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI) Could the age of the universe be twice as old as current estimates suggest? Penn Professors Vijay Balasubramanian and Mark Devlin offer a broader understanding of a recent paper’s claim that the universe could be 26.7 billion years old.
Euclid Space Telescope launches exciting new possibilities The European Space Agency’s latest astrophysics mission, Euclid, lifted off on a Space X Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA, at 17:12 CEST on 1 July 2023. Euclid has now started its month-long journey to Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2, located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, in the opposite direction from the Sun. (Image: iStock / Robert Michaud) Euclid Space Telescope launches exciting new possibilities Professors of physics and astronomy Bhuvnesh Jain, Mark Trodden, and Gary Bernstein discuss the coming research findings from the European Space Agency’s Euclid Space Telescope.