When Bone Behaves Like a Sponge

Ottman Tertuliano has developed a nanoengineered, 3D-printed scaffold that recreates the coupled fluid flow and deformation bone cells experience in the body.

Shujie Yang Harnesses Sound to Build Microrobotic Medicine

Powering AI from Space, at Scale

Penn Engineers have proposed a scalable, solar-powered orbital data center design that passively maintains orientation using tethers and sunlight, offering a feasible path to meet growing AI computing demands while reducing the environmental impact of terrestrial data centers.

A ‘Rosetta Stone’ for Molecular Systems

Penn Engineers have created a mathematical “Rosetta Stone” that links atomic motion to large-scale behavior like protein folding and ice melting. The new STIV framework could replace costly simulations, helping researchers design smarter materials, medicines, and technologies.

Centuries After Discovery, Red Blood Cells Still Hold Surprises

Penn Engineers have discovered that red blood cells actively drive blood clot contraction through osmotic forces, overturning the long-standing belief that only platelets perform this role and offering new insights into clotting disorders and stroke prevention.

Cracking the Code of Force-Driven Chemistry

Unlocking the power of force, Penn engineers have developed a groundbreaking model that helps predict mechanochemical reactions, paving the way for greener manufacturing and more efficient materials.

Revolutionizing Earth System Forecasting

Aurora, a new machine learning model developed by Paris Perdikaris and collaborators at Microsoft Research, dramatically improves Earth system forecasting by making predictions faster and more accurate at a fraction of the computational cost.

Using Disorder to Toughen Materials

Inspired by structures found in bones and seashells, Penn engineers discovered that discover in a material’s internal structure can increase resistance to cracking.

Teaching Robots to Build Without Blueprints

Researchers have developed a method for virtual swarms of robots to autonomously build complex structures through simple, reactive behaviors, offering a potential new paradigm for robust, adaptable manufacturing without a central blueprint.

Hidden Mechanics of the Human Heart

Wensi Wu uses computational modeling to create “digital twins” of the human heart, enhancing understanding of heart function and enabling personalized treatments by simulating surgeries, interventions, and patient-specific data.