7.14
Science & Technology
The Arctic could have almost no summer sea ice by 2040, decades sooner than expected
The Arctic could have almost no summer sea ice by 2040, decades sooner than expected
Statistical analysis by economists from Penn and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco could supplement current climate models and help global climate prediction.
Penn labs get creative to stay productive, connected
Penn labs get creative to stay productive, connected
In the face of a pandemic that has shuttered most physical laboratories across campus, researchers have shifted gears, maintaining work and social ties through grant- and manuscript-writing, virtual journal clubs, online coffee breaks, and more.
The optimal immune repertoire for bacteria
The optimal immune repertoire for bacteria
Researchers develop a physical model that describes the optimal amount of ‘memory’ of prior infections that bacteria should have in order to efficiently mount a successful immune response.
Sports, STEM, and science communication
Sports, STEM, and science communication
As a former college basketball player, postdoctoral research fellow John Drazan coordinates sport-science outreach activities that put his unique set of credentials to use.
New scavenger technology allows robots to ‘eat’ metal for energy
New scavenger technology allows robots to ‘eat’ metal for energy
Penn Engineering researchers’ new metal-air scavenger vehicle gets energy from breaking chemical bonds in the aluminum surface it travels over, rather than from batteries.
Tailoring treatment for triple-negative breast cancer
Tailoring treatment for triple-negative breast cancer
Research led by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Rumela Chakrabarti identified a molecular pathway responsible for the disease’s progression and spread.
DIY origami face masks for COVID-19
DIY origami face masks for COVID-19
The professor of materials science and engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering is leading an effort to design an effective face mask that can be made at home.
A quick pivot turns an infectious disease class into timely education
A quick pivot turns an infectious disease class into timely education
Students in David Roos’ upper-level biology course had been studying pandemics. Now they get to learn in real time how public health scientists attempt to understand COVID-19.
How to defend your virtual meeting from uninvited, malicious guests
How to defend your virtual meeting from uninvited, malicious guests
As ‘Zoombombing’ becomes widespread, Penn’s Office of Information Security provides tips on staying secure.
A new way to study HIV’s impact on the brain
A new way to study HIV’s impact on the brain
Using a newly developed laboratory model of three types of brain cells, Penn and CHOP scientists reveal how HIV infection—as well as the drugs that treat it—can take a toll on the central nervous system.
In the News
The New York Times
Who’s a bot? Who’s not?
Sarah Jackson of the Annenberg School for Communication said it’s important to focus on where bots exist within social networks as well as with whom they actually interact. “Even if there are a lot of bots in a network, it is misleading to suggest they are leading the conversation or influencing real people who are tweeting in those same networks,” she said.
FULL STORY →
The Wall Street Journal
Why people are more honest when writing on their smartphones
Shiri Melumad of the Wharton School was interviewed about her research into how people communicate with smartphones, as opposed to personal computers. “Consumers tend to convey feelings or thoughts that are more private or intimate on their smartphones, which is captured by the use of ‘I’ or ‘we’ and mentioning family and friends,” she said.
FULL STORY →
USA Today
Canceled plans and staying home: How can students make the most of a coronavirus summer?
Vanessa Z. Chan of the School of Engineering and Applied Science wrote an op-ed about how students can still have a productive summer by taking online classes, picking up new hobbies, and creatively solving social problems.
FULL STORY →
NPR
Are there zombie viruses—like the 1918 flu—thawing in the permafrost?
Michael Zimmerman of the School of Arts & Sciences said the possibility of reviving long frozen pathogens is “extremely unlikely.”
FULL STORY →
The Hill
Researchers investigating whether dogs can detect coronavirus
Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine was interviewed about Penn’s Working Dog Center, which is exploring the possibility of using dogs to sniff out odors associated with COVID-19.
FULL STORY →
The Washington Post
Dogs are being trained to sniff out coronavirus cases
Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine is quoted on training dogs to detect disease.
FULL STORY →
National Geographic
Horses and dogs share a surprisingly common language of play
Sue McDonnell of the School of Veterinary Medicine commented on new research that finds shared play language between dogs and horses. “It’s a wonderful study, and takes the questions surrounding play behavior to a new level,” she said.
FULL STORY →
KYW Newsradio (Philadelphia)
The Origami Mask Project's engineers are designing DIY face masks for COVID-19
Shu Yang of the School of Engineering and Applied Science spoke about the The Origami Mask Project, which is developing simple, easy DIY face masks.
FULL STORY →
Vox.com
This AI breakthrough in antibiotics might one day save your life
César de la Fuente of the School of Engineering and Applied Science commented on new MIT research that might speed up antibiotic discovery. “I think it’s a breakthrough in a field of much unmet need,” he said. “After all, no new classes of antibiotics have been discovered for decades. This one is definitely structurally different from conventional antibiotics.”
FULL STORY →
“All Things Considered,” National Public Radio
At 25 years, understanding the longevity of Craigslist
Jessa Lingel of the Annenberg School for Communication spoke about the founders of Craigslist. “They’re both just old-school engineer type guys who just really believe in keeping the design as simple and functional as possible,” she said. “[I]t’s never had a competitor that was really able to swallow up its user base. It’s had loyal customers all along, loyal users all along, so it’s just never been forced to adapt.”
FULL STORY →