1/23
Science & Technology
Fruit fly development offers insights into condensed matter physics
Fruit fly development offers insights into condensed matter physics
Penn Physicist Andrea Liu and collaborators modeled the behavior of tissue during a stage of fly development and found, surprisingly, it doesn’t fluidize as it shrinks but stays solid. Their approach could offer insights physical systems with complex functionality.
Q&A: Dean Kumar and the ‘drone’ sightings
Q&A: Dean Kumar and the ‘drone’ sightings
Penn Engineering Dean Vijay Kumar discusses the mysterious flying objects, or “drones,” hovering around parts of the East Coast.
A lipid nanoparticle delivers an mRNA cure for preeclampsia
A lipid nanoparticle delivers an mRNA cure for preeclampsia
Doctoral student Kelsey Swingle developed a lipid nanoparticle that delivers an mRNA therapeutic that reduces maternal blood pressure through the end of gestation and improves fetal health and blood circulation in the placenta.
An illuminating celebration to a brighter, greener future
An illuminating celebration to a brighter, greener future
Members of the Penn community celebrated an energy research milestone: the unveiling of the new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology.
Mapping molecular arrangements to pave the way for better catalytic systems
Mapping molecular arrangements to pave the way for better catalytic systems
The Stach Group in Penn Engineering led a collaborative team identifying how chemical catalysts drive the creation of liquid fuels from sunlight, paving the way for more efficient removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
A greener, cleaner way to extract cobalt
A greener, cleaner way to extract cobalt
Penn researchers led a collaborative effort pioneering safer, more sustainable technique to extract elements critical to battery-powered technologies. Findings pave the way for getting value from materials that would otherwise be considered waste.
Refining lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies
Refining lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies
A new method developed by Penn engineers for designing ionizable lipids is expected to have broad implications for mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics.
Teaching robots common sense, empathy and other forms of intelligence
Teaching robots common sense, empathy and other forms of intelligence
Antonio Loquercio, an assistant professor in electrical and systems engineering, explores the potential that robots can have in answering fundamental questions on decision-making.
Research on key host pathways has implications for Ebola and beyond
Research on key host pathways has implications for Ebola and beyond
A collaborative team of researchers led by Penn Vet’s Ronald N. Harty and Jingjing Liang show how the Hippo signaling pathway intersects with the virus at multiple stages of the viral life cycle.
From one gene switch, many possible outcomes
From one gene switch, many possible outcomes
A team of researchers led by Aman Husbands of the School of Arts & Sciences has uncovered surprising ways transcription factors—the genetic switches for genes—regulate plant development, revealing how subtle changes in a lipid-binding region can dramatically alter gene regulation.
In the News
Newsweek
Cancer breakthrough as ‘speckles’ may reveal best treatment
A paper co-authored by PIK Professor Shelley Berger finds that patterns of “speckles” in the heart of tumor cells could help predict how patients with a common form of kidney cancer will respond to treatment options.
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ARS Technica
When does your brain think something is worth the wait?
Research by Joe Kable of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues finds that subjects with damage to certain regions of the prefrontal cortex are less likely to wait things out.
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CNN
What officials are doing—and suggesting—to learn more about the possible drone sightings
Dean Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science says that the main difficulties in detecting and tracking drones stem from their small size, agility, and potential for autonomous operation.
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CNN
Why you shouldn’t try to shoot down a suspected drone
Dean Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science says that shooting at potential drones could lead to missed shots, stray bullets, or accidents that result in hazardous outcomes far beyond the intended action.
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Project Syndicate
Guernica is always with us
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that the U.S. election results will likely make stabilizing global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius impossible.
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HealthDay
In mouse studies, new hope against a dangerous complication of pregnancy
Doctoral student Kelsey Swingle in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues are using mRNA molecules to treat pre-eclampsia, a common pregnancy complication.
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Newsweek
What New Jersey’s mystery drones could actually be, according to experts
Dean Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied believes that mystery drones in New Jersey are part a U.S. government operation rather than being sent by a foreign state actor.
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New Scientist
Pre-eclampsia could be treated with mRNA technology
Michael Mitchell and Ph.D. student Kelsey Swingle of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and colleagues are using mRNA molecules to treat pre-eclampsia, a common pregnancy complication.
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Business Insider
The universities already offering AI degrees, from Penn to Carnegie Mellon
In February, Penn became the first Ivy League school to announce an undergraduate degree in AI, featuring remarks from Robert Ghrist of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
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Axios
Real vs. fake Christmas trees: The great debate, explained
Lorena Grundy of the School of Engineering and Applied Science says that the debate between real and fake Christmas trees isn’t as black and white as it’s being portrayed.
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