Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · 11d

In August, White Sands National Park in New Mexico provided a setting for engineers to test robots designed to map hazards and climb dunes on the Moon or Mars. The TRUSSES team is now set to demonstrate their system at NASA's Ames Research Center in California.

https://bit.ly/4nxphQN

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · 12d

To combat extreme heat in Philadelphia this summer, Penn Engineers Nafisa Bangura, Angelica Dadda and Dylan York evaluated CoolSeal, a reflective pavement coating to mitigate urban heat.
https://bit.ly/4nrnht4

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · 19d

A new review from the lab of @ravi-radhak.bsky.social connects how a tumor's physical properties and the tiny messengers it releases, called extracellular vesicles (EVs), could shape the future of cancer treatment and therapies.

blog.seas.upenn.edu/penn-enginee...

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Reposted by Penn Engineering

Penn Arts & Sciences @sas.upenn.edu · Sep 12

Penn's new home for energy science, the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST), has earned a LEED Platinum certificate--the highest standard in sustainable building design. Learn more about VLEST: https://bit.ly/3JywOwM @pennengineering.bsky.social @vagelosenergy.bsky.social

Penn buildings achieve LEED certifications, showcasing commitment to sustainability | Penn Today

Three recent building projects at the University of Pennsylvania have earned LEED Platinum, Gold, and Silver certifications, underscoring Penn’s ongoing commitment to sustainable design and constructi...

penntoday.upenn.edu

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · 25d

The C4R25 Conference recently brought together a global community of researchers, students and practitioners for a hands-on experience in scientific rigor. The three-day event on campus focused on the intersection of research and AI, featuring panel discussions and workshops.

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · 26d

Perseverance rover found rock samples with biosignatures, hinting at ancient life on Mars.
Douglas Jerolmack (@meam-penn.bsky.social) told @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy that minerals and hexagonal mud-cracks suggest long-term water presence and ancient microbial life.

www.cbsnews.com/video/the-si...

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Sep 10

Congratulations to Sherry Gao, Penn Compact Associate Professor in CBE and in BE, on receiving the Food, Pharmaceutical, and Bioengineering Division Early Career Award in Chemical Engineering from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Sep 8

Lung fibrosis, a silent disease, is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. Penn Engineering researchers exposed lung tissue to blue light, which reveals a mechanical problem with biological consequences.

https://bit.ly/45U6Zmj

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Sep 2

Vanessa Chan, Penn Engineering's Vice Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, discusses her journey through academia and industry with Technical.ly Philly in their "How I Got Here" series. Read the full article today.

https://technical.ly/workforce/penn-engineering-vanessa-chan-how-i-got-here/

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Aug 29

A @pennmatsci.bsky.social team has brought quantum networking out of the laboratory and onto commercial fiber-optic cables. Utilizing Verizon's campus network, the novel chip uses the same Internet Protocol as today's web.

https://bit.ly/4g4w15S

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Aug 26

A warm welcome to the latest group of Clark Scholars. During pre-orientation, the new cohort connected with peers and leaders and explored campus through a scavenger hunt.

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Aug 21

Welcome back, Penn Engineers. The campus is buzzing with energy, and Dean Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean, extends a warm welcome to new and returning students, faculty and staff.

https://bit.ly/4fJkbxE

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Aug 18

A new solar-driven water harvesting device, inspired by raspberries and sunflowers, collects moisture from the air. Developed by Shu Yang, the new material is 4.4 times faster than conventional systems, offering a promising solution for water scarcity.
https://bit.ly/4lIrTtu
@pennmatsci.bsky.social

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Aug 12

Dean Vijay Kumar recently spoke with Ben Kaplan of Deep Venture Partners about the future of robotics. The two explore how AI is reshaping the future of robots, what swarm intelligence can teach us and the real-world impact of robots in medicine and disaster relief.

youtu.be/M3afIF_wExk

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Aug 11

☕️ It really comes down to which you like more: efficiency or taste.

Drop your hot take in the comments.

🖌️: Art created by Jennifer Kim, Multimedia Designer.

Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Aug 4

Farnia Fresnel (ENG’98) built a career on understanding how people and systems connect. Her journey, from overcoming her fear of public speaking to coaching global audiences, was shaped by her start in systems engineering at Penn.

blog.seas.upenn.edu/alumni-qa-fa...

Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 30

New research from kleinmanenergy.bsky.social reveals that pairing geothermal with direct air capture (DAC) can boost carbon dioxide abatement by up to 757%. Geothermal energy provides the consistent heat crucial for DAC systems, offering a reliable, 24/7 renewable power source.

bit.ly/4mbzQYA

Renewable Energy is Not Just for the Grid: Supercharging Carbon Removal with Geothermal Energy Increases Carbon Abatement

Energy policy research from the University of Pennsylvania

https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/commentary/blog/renewable-energy-is-not-just-for-the-grid-supercharging-carbon-removal-with-geothermal-energy-increases-carbon-abatement/"

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 28

This year's Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) recently wrapped up, offering motivated, high school students hands-on experience in cutting-edge fields like AI, Biotechnology, Computer Science, and Robotics.

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 24

Penn engineers & dentists are collaborating to map how teeth hold key info for understanding rare craniofacial disorders.

blog.seas.upenn.edu/what-ever-gr...

The research team from left to right: Elizabeth Bhoj, Kyle Vining, Kei Katusra, Nir Badt and Yuchen (Tracy) Jiang.

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 23

In Singapore, Theertha Vannemreddy (CBE'27) balances catalyst research with cultural discovery. She notes, "true discovery doesn’t always happen in a lab." Her Penn Abroad journey highlights this firsthand.

global.upenn.edu/pennabroad/c...

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 22

Fewer side-effects, more effectiveness. Michael J. Mitchell's lab redesigned mRNA lipid nanoparticles using olive oil-inspired chemistry. Adding phenol groups reduces inflammation, making mRNA therapies safer & more effective. "It's a win-win," says Mitchell.
blog.seas.upenn.edu/less-pain-mo...

Emily Han, a doctoral student in BE and co-author of the paper, and Dongyoon Kim, a postdoctoral fellow in the Mitchell Lab and co-first author of the paper.

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 21

Meet Shoji Hall, Associate Professor in Materials Science & Engineering. His research focuses on electrocatalysis, or using electricity to drive chemical reactions to improve the efficiency of fuel cell catalysis, a critical step towards viable hydrogen energy.

blog.seas.upenn.edu/shoji-hall-w...

Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 18

Penn Engineering Professors Benjamin Lee, Lei Gu and Troy Olsson showcased technologies in energy, AI, and computing at the PA Energy & Innovation Summit. #EnergyInnovation

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 17

Researchers, Cangyu Qu & Lu Fang, from Robert Carpick's lab, developed a model predicting how mechanical stress drives chemical reactions. This advances greener manufacturing & better lubricants.
@meam-penn.bsky.social

blog.seas.upenn.edu/cracking-the...

Close-up image of an atomic force microscope, where mechanochemical reactions take place in controlled gas environments under the stress applied between a nanometer-sized tip (invisible to the naked eye) and a flat surface.

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Penn Engineering @pennengineering.bsky.social · Jul 17

Three Penn Engineering students/alumni received 2025-26 Fulbright grants. Nova Meng (BE'24) researches bee foraging & Theresa Haupt (BE'25) focuses on osteoarthritis kinematics in Australia. Paul Lin (GEng'21) studies AI & evacuation routes in Seoul.
penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-af...

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