News
A new model for how the brain perceives unique odors
Using statistical physics and insights from biology, this research can help inform new hypotheses and experiments towards understanding the olfactory system, a complex and crucial pathway of the brain.
How a former Penn soccer player helped prep a NASA telescope for its long-awaited launch
Former Physics & Astronomy undergrad, Mike McElwain, is helping to lead a big project at NASA.
Physics Professor Andrea Liu moderating panel discussion on Chinese American contributions to the fabric of America
A special upcoming presentation and panel discussion for all members of the Penn community will be held virtually on October 19 at 4pm, featuring three members of the Penn faculty and the Committee of 100, a non-profit, non-partisan, leadership organization comprised of Chinese American leaders in business, government, academia, and the arts. For over 30 years, Committee of 100 has served as a leading organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chine
Penn cosmology team ready to field the largest ever cosmic microwave background camera
A new study details the inner workings of the Large Aperture Telescope Receiver, the cryogenic camera that will be installed at the Simons Observatory at 17,000 feet in northern Chile.
Prof. Vijay Balasubramanian featured in episode of Netflix series Explained
Vijay Balasubramanian, Cathy and Marc Lasry Professor, was featured in a recent episode of the Netflix series Explained. The episode, "Time", explores how humans experience time and how scientists understand it in relation to the universe. When discussing time as it relates to space, Prof. Balasubramanian explains that "matter and energy can bend space. And, even more dramatically, can bend time." At the individual level, Prof.
Rebecca Kamen draws new connections between science and art
Rebecca Kamen, Penn Artist-in-Residence and Department of Physics and Astronomy Visiting Scholar, hosted an exhibition of her work at American University titled "Reveal: The Art of Reimagining Scientific Discovery." In it she challenges visitors "to see the relationship between science, art, and their own creativity." Kamen, who works closely with Vijay Balasubramanian, Cathy and Marc Lasry Professor,
Research shows potential of 2D graphene in the future of quantum computing
Professor Charlie Johnson, Rebecca W. Bushnell Professor of Physics and Astronomy, along with collaborators from the University of Pennsylvania, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University, and Columbia University published new research showing the potential of various configurations of two dimensional bilayer graphene in the future of computing.
Prof. Marija Drndic reflects on 20 years of solid-state nanopores
Prof. Marija Drndic, Fay R. and Eugene L. Langberg Professor of Physics, wrote for Nature looking back at two decades of research into solid-state nanopores since the first use to detect individual DNA molecules.
NEID spectrometer fully operational with help from Prof. Cullen Blake
The state-of-the-art NEID spectrometer at the WIYN Observatory is fully operational thanks to a team of scientists including Prof. Cullen Blake, Associate Professor. NEID is a powerful new tool that will help "detect and discover new exoplanets." The precision of NEID is of particular note. Speaking with Penn Today, Prof. Blake explained that "for a long time, the state-of-the-art was about 1 meter per second, so about 10 times worse than the signal from Earth orbiting the Sun.