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Dark Energy Survey uncovers clues to universe’s complexity
an image of a spiral galaxy

An image of NGC 1365 collected by the Dark Energy Survey. Also known as the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy, NGC 1365 is an example of a spiral galaxy and is located about 56 million light-years away. (Image: DECam, DES Collaboration)

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Dark Energy Survey uncovers clues to universe’s complexity

The decade-long effort reveals findings consistent with standard cosmological models, but open to more complex interpretations.
The Endangered Species Act at 50
herring swimming

(On homepage) River herring, also known as alewives, swim in a stream in Franklin, Maine. The fish were once headed for the endangered species list but have been making a comeback in some U.S. states.

(Image: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Endangered Species Act at 50

Ahead of the anniversary, experts from four schools across the University share their thoughts on the landmark legislation.

Kristen de Groot

The alchemy behind the diamond: Unearthing baseball’s beloved mud
Shravan Pradeep places a baseball on microscopy slide.

Postdoctoral researcher Shravan Pradeep of Penn Engineering is conducting experiments to understand the flow and grip properties of the Major League Baseball’s “magic mud” in order to reverse engineer the mud and offer a mechanistic understanding of its inner workings.

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The alchemy behind the diamond: Unearthing baseball’s beloved mud

Researchers at Penn are working on cracking the code behind Major League Baseball’s “Magic Mud.”
Climate scientist Michael Mann makes a home at Penn
Michael Mann on Penn's campus

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  • Q&A

    • Climate scientist Michael Mann makes a home at Penn

    Known for his “hockey stick” graph that hammered home the dramatic rise of the warming climate, the climate scientist is now making his mark on Penn’s campus, both through his science and his work on communicating the urgent need for action on the climate crisis.

    Katherine Unger Baillie

    A modern history of ancient trees, through the lens of climate change
    jared farmer sitting on a bench on college green

    Jared Farmer, history professor and chair of graduate studies. (Image: Eric Sucar, University of Pennsylvania).

  • Q&A

    • A modern history of ancient trees, through the lens of climate change

    Historian Jared Farmer discusses his new book, “Elderflora,” looking at why humans have no trouble looking at the ancient past but can’t seem to envision the deep future, and what trees can teach us.

    Kristen de Groot

    Bolstering environmental education in Cobbs Creek
    A group of students working on a project at Cobbs Creek.

    Bolstering environmental education in Cobbs Creek

    Through a Projects for Progress award and other University support, students in West Philadelphia are gaining greater access to STEM learning resources at the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center.

    Katherine Unger Baillie

    Mentorship strategies to boost diversity in paleontology
    Scientists Erynn Johnson and Aja Carter use a 3D printer to make shell shapes

    Erynn Johnson and Aja Carter both earned their doctoral degrees in paleontology from Penn, employing pioneering techniques, such as 3D printing to replicate the forms of ancient creatures. In a new publication, they share advice for attracting and retaining students and trainees from underrepresented groups to paleontology. 

  • Q&A

    • Mentorship strategies to boost diversity in paleontology

    Drawing on research as well as their experiences as women of color in paleontology, Aja Carter and Erynn Johnson, who earned doctoral degrees from Penn, coauthored a paper offering advice for making the field more inclusive.

    Katherine Unger Baillie

    A ‘vibrant nexus’ for research and discovery in the physical sciences
    the exterior of the david rittenhouse laboratory

    As part of a $750M investment in science, engineering, and medicine, Penn has committed to constructing a new Physical Sciences Building and updating the David Rittenhouse Laboratory.

    A ‘vibrant nexus’ for research and discovery in the physical sciences

    With the construction of a new Physical Sciences Building and updates to the David Rittenhouse Laboratory, Penn will create a modernized physical sciences quadrant that integrates state-of-the-art research in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and engineering.

    Erica K. Brockmeier

    A microscopic worm may shed light on how we perceive gravity
    Micrsoscopic view of Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living transparent nematode, about 1 mm in length

    Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living transparent roundworm, about 1 mm in length.

    A microscopic worm may shed light on how we perceive gravity

    C. elegans shares more than half of its genes with humans, allowing genetic studies to give insight into which genes are responsible for similar traits in humans, such as pinpointing molecular pathways responsible for gravitaxis, the ability to move in response to gravity.

    From Penn Engineering Today