Recreating the adrenal gland in a petri dish The structure and function of adrenal gland ‘organoids’ grown in a petri dish at the School of Veterinary Medicine closely replicated that of the human adrenal gland, according to a new study. (Image: Courtesy of the Sasaki laboratory) Recreating the adrenal gland in a petri dish A School of Veterinary Medicine–led team coaxed stem cells to take on the characteristics and functions of a human adrenal gland, progress that could lead to new therapies for adrenal insufficiencies and a deeper understanding of the genetics of such disorders.
Physics of disaster: How mudslides move The Thomas Fire charred the hillsides above Montecito in late 2017, setting up conditions for mudslides in early 2018. (Image: Douglas Jerolmack) Physics of disaster: How mudslides move Researchers led by Douglas Jerolmack and Paulo Arratia used samples from the deadly 2018 Montecito mudslides to understand the complex forces at work in these disasters.
Defining neural ‘representation’ Neuroscientists use the word “represent” to encompass multifaceted relationships between brain activity, behavior, and the environment. Defining neural ‘representation’ Neuroscientists frequently say that neural activity ‘represents’ certain phenomena, PIK Professor Konrad Kording and postdoc Ben Baker led a study that took a philosophical approach to tease out what the term means.
Environment influences coral’s resilience to acidification Postdoctoral researcher Kristen Brown (above) collected coral samples from a reef slope to see how they fared in acidic conditions. (Image: Courtesy of Kristen Brown) Environment influences coral’s resilience to acidification Ocean acidification is an effect of climate change that threatens the health of coral. A new study examines how coral samples from the Great Barrier Reef fare in acidic conditions.
Targeting impulsivity early in adolescence could prevent later behavioral disorders Targeting impulsivity early in adolescence could prevent later behavioral disorders Tendencies toward impulsivity in early adolescence are linked with a variety of poor outcomes in later adolescence. By mid-adolescence, it may be too late to target impulsivity to prevent those developments.
A novel method for monitoring the ‘engine’ of pregnancy A novel method for monitoring the ‘engine’ of pregnancy By combining optical measurements with ultrasound, researchers were able to study oxygen levels in the placenta, paving the way for a better understanding of this complex, crucial organ.
Marrying models with experiments to build more efficient solar cells Marrying models with experiments to build more efficient solar cells Penn chemist Andrew M. Rappe, in collaboration with former postdoc Arvin Kakekhani and researchers at Princeton University, has gained insight into how the molecular make up of solar cells can affect their properties and make them more efficient.
Can nature-inspired designs affect cognition and mood? Can nature-inspired designs affect cognition and mood? A team from the Center for Neuroaesthetics created a biophilic room to test the idea. Preliminary findings from a small pilot show promise, but also spur many questions about how to best use such a space.
How Penn’s School of Medicine supports students starting families How Penn’s School of Medicine supports students starting families Juggling parenthood and studying is a lot easier with the formal support structures that the Perelman School of Medicine offers.
Art museums plant seeds of human flourishing A view of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from the Schuylkill River. A recent review shows the many ways that art museums benefit human flourishing. Art museums plant seeds of human flourishing Researchers from the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project in the Positive Psychology Center at Penn have found that art museums are associated with wide-ranging benefits to human health.