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Reto Gieré on energy systems, waste, and sustainability
Reto Gieré holding a map.

“Many people still think of waste as something disposable, rather than as a resource that still contains value,” says Reto Gieré, earth and environmental science professor in the School of Arts & Sciences.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Climate)

Reto Gieré on energy systems, waste, and sustainability

The earth and environmental science professor invites his students to view sustainability as integral to industry and to reconsider waste as a potential resource for reuse.

From Penn Climate

2 min. read

On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Arnav Lal collects water at Playa Baquerizo on San Cristóbal Island as a sea lion watches.

Arnav Lal collects water at Playa Baquerizo on San Cristóbal Island as a sea lion watches.

(Image: Lisa Mattei)

On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile

Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.

4 min. read

How sea stars build materials that can see
Li holds the skeletons of two differently sized sea stars, both showing the calcium carbonate skeleton.

Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering

How sea stars build materials that can see

Researchers have discovered that the skeleton of the sea star Protoreaster nodosus contains specialized mineral structures capable of guiding and concentrating light, suggesting natural mechanical support and optical sensing in a singular system.

Melissa Pappas

2 min. read

Getting into the nitty gritty of sand  
Created materials in the lab.

Penn Engineering materials scientist Shu Yang and Weitzman School of Design architect Masoud Akbarzadeh teamed up to develop a 3D concrete printing system that captures carbon dioxide and boosts the structural performance of the building materials. The solution is based on diatomaceous earth and offers enhanced carbon capture and structural fortitude while using relatively fewer materials.

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Getting into the nitty gritty of sand  

Materials scientist Shu Yang explains the hidden physics of a day at the beach, like why some sands scorch your feet, what makes the perfect sandcastle, and how the same humble grains end up in windows and smartphones.

3 min. read

Summer storms
Summer storms

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Summer storms

A roundup of stories from Penn Today on water quality, AI and sustainability, clean fuel production, and managing stormwater runoff.

Penn Today Staff

2 min. read

Soaking up the sun
Soaking up the sun

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Soaking up the sun

A roundup of stories from Penn Today on solar innovation and protection.

Penn Today Staff

2 min. read

Meet foxes, coyotes, deer and other wildlife neighbors
A red fox in the snow.

A red fox in Philadelphia caught by a trail camera last winter in Penn Vet’s Accessing Urban Nature Initiative.

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Meet foxes, coyotes, deer and other wildlife neighbors

Penn Vet’s Accessing Urban Nature Initiative is documenting Philadelphia’s wildlife through trail cameras, and shares its findings after a year of monitoring.

From Penn Vet

2 min. read

The impact of microplastics—and how to limit exposure
Derek Ho in the lab pointing to a beaker of water in front of two lab techs.

To better visualize microplastics, researchers in the McBride Lab at Penn Engineering use fluorescent dyes like Nile Red, which attach to plastics and make them glow under specific light. Environmental researcher Derek Ho developed a system used in their lab called the Fluorescent Imaging Microplastic Analysis Platform, or FIMAP. It uses machine learning to detect and identify plastic particles larger than about 20 microns in complex water samples.

(Image: Sylvia Zhang)

The impact of microplastics—and how to limit exposure

Microplastics researchers Samantha McBride and Derek Ho of Penn Engineering and Vijay Bhatia of the Philadelphia Water Department discuss how microplastics get into ecosystems and human bodies, offering practical ways to minimize exposure.

3 min. read

Unearthing new cancer treatments from fungi
Chunxiao Sun holding a fungal sample on a petri dish.

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Unearthing new cancer treatments from fungi

Penn Engineers led by Xue “Sherry” Gao have developed a gene-editing tool built specifically for fungi, unlocking a hidden library of molecules—including some with early anti-cancer promise—from one of biology’s most overlooked kingdoms.

3 min. read

Dean Mark Trodden on what’s next for Penn Arts & Sciences
Mark Trodden with folded arms in front of College Hall.

Mark Trodden, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.

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Dean Mark Trodden on what’s next for Penn Arts & Sciences

Dean Trodden reflects on his first year on the job, how the School of Arts & Sciences is supporting students’ futures through curriculum innovation, the new Physical Sciences Complex, and other initiatives.

6 min. read