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Science & Technology
A new connection between topology and quantum entanglement
The theoretical work led by physicist Charles Kane reveals an unexpected link between two major principles in physics that may inform future experimentation and an understanding of how to harness quantum information.
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.
Deploying microrobotics for dental treatments and diagnostics
Penn Dental Medicine and its Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry show that microrobots can access the difficult to reach surfaces of the root canal with controlled precision.
Combating urban heat
Through the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program, rising junior Sarah Sterinbach has spent the summer learning about the policies Philadelphia has used to protect its citizens from extreme heat and how those efforts might improve in the future.
A fish harvest that’s more sustainable—and tastier, too
December graduate Saif Khawaja’s President’s Sustainability Prize is helping him build Shinkei Systems, a company that has developed a robotics-based system for minimizing waste in the fishing industry.
Cancer cells selectively load ‘drones’ to keep T cells from infiltrating tumors
Biologist Wei Guo and colleagues elucidate the process of sorting and loading cargo for these biological drones with implications for a more targeted and effective use of checkpoint inhibitor drugs in cancer treatment.
Progress toward a stem cell–based therapy for blindness
A multi-institutional effort led by researchers at the School of Veterinary Medicine is taking steps to develop an effective technique to regenerate photoreceptors cells and restore sight in people with vision disorders.
TV news top driver of political echo chambers in U.S.
Duncan Watts and colleagues found that 17% of Americans consume television news from partisan left- or right-leaning sources compared to just 4% online. For TV news viewers, this audience segregation tends to last month over month.
Intervening to stop bone loss
A study led by Shuying (Sheri) Yang of the School of Dental Medicine identified a new role for a protein that keeps osteoclasts—the cells that break down bone—in check, and may guide the development of new therapies to counter bone loss.
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.
In the News
Designing assignments in the ChatGPT era
Ethan Mollick of the Wharton School is incorporating AI into his classes in response to increased student use of ChatGPT.
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University of Pennsylvania pledges to bolster relations with India at "Penn India Engagement Forum"
PIK Professor Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Dean Erika H. James of the Wharton School, and Dean Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science are quoted on the forum to support India's exceptional growth and specific health care needs.
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‘Everybody is cheating’: Why this teacher has adopted an open ChatGPT policy
Ethan Mollick of the Wharton School has formally adopted an A.I. policy into his syllabus in order to teach his students to adapt to new tools while also using them responsibly.
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Franklin Institute is honoring pioneers in fields from climate change to cancer research, including two with Philly roots
The Franklin Institute is honoring Nader Engheta of the School of Engineering and Applied Science for inventing new composite “metamaterials” that could be used to make ultrafast computers of the future.
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Tackling threat of mudslides in soaked California
Douglas Jerolmack of the School of Arts & Sciences says that debris basins can be costly, becoming overwhelmed by new landslides or mudslides that have been worsened by climate change.
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Oceans break record for highest temperatures four years in a row
A co-authored study by Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences finds that the world’s oceans have hit their warmest temperatures on record for the fourth year in a row.
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Don’t ban ChatGPT in schools. Teach with it
Ethan Mollick of the Wharton School says that teachers need to figure out how to adjust to tools like large language models, which aren’t going to get less capable in the next few years.
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Ocean heat content hits record high, a sign of global warming
Michael Mann of the School of Arts & Sciences says that ocean-heat content continues to consistently set records every year, separate from surface warming factors like El Niño.
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The implications of ChatGPT and AI models on fintech and banking
Ethan Mollick of the Wharton School says that ChatGPT is a tipping point for AI, proof that the technology can be useful to a broader population.
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Audio astronomy unlocks a universe of sound
College of Arts and Sciences fourth-year Sarah Kane discusses her use of data analysis and machine learning to circumvent her blindness in studying astronomy.
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