Powering AI from Space, at Scale News / January 28, 2026 Penn Engineers have developed a new design for solar-powered orbital data centers that could realistically scale to meet the growing energy demands of AI. By using a tether-based architecture that passively orients itself toward the sun, the system avoids many of the limitations of other space-based data center concepts. Read More
Why Are Icy Surfaces Slippery? News / January 26, 2026 Winter Storm Fern brought icy and snowy conditions to the Northeast and other parts of the country over the weekend. Penn Today asks physicist Robert Carpick about the unique properties of ice, the science of curling and how close we are to ‘nonslip’ ice. Read More
The Path Forward: Penn Engineering 2030 News / January 13, 2026 The cover story of the 2025-2026 issue of Penn Engineering magazine explores Penn Engineering 2030, the School’s new strategic plan, which charts a bold, collaborative path forward in this new era for higher education. Read More
20 Breakthroughs of 2025 News / January 12, 2026 From ancient tombs and tiny robots to personalized gene editing and AI weather models, Penn’s 2025 research portfolio showed how curiosity paired with collaboration moves knowledge into impact and stretches across disciplines and continents. Read More
2025 CAREER Award Recipient: Nadia Figueroa News / December 18, 2025 Nadia Figueroa has received an NSF CAREER Award for research that helps robots safely and fluidly work with humans. Her work develops adaptive, constraint-aware robots that can sense, learn, and physically collaborate in real-world tasks. Read More
Two Penn Engineers Receive Kaufman Foundation Grants News / November 18, 2025 Douglas Jerolmack and Nat Trask will receive New Initiative grants from Charles E. Kaufman Foundation, part of The Pittsburgh Foundation, which supports cutting-edge research in chemistry, biology and physics at institutions across Pennsylvania. Read More
Ralph Teetor: The Blind Penn Engineer Who Changed the Way We Drive News / November 7, 2025 Penn Engineering graduate Ralph Teetor, who lost his sight by the age of six, used his heightened senses and passion for engineering to change how the world drives. Read More
University of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Sign a Cooperative AI Advising Agreement News / October 31, 2025 Penn and Governor Josh Shapiro’s Office of Administration are partnering to shape the future of artificial intelligence in Pennsylvania. Through a new agreement, experts from Penn Engineering and across the University will advise the Commonwealth on AI strategy, risk and governance to support responsible innovation. Read More
From Soft to Solid: How a Coral Stiffens Its Skeleton on Demand News / October 29, 2025 Touch the branches of Leptogorgia chilensis, a soft coral found along the Pacific coast from California to Chile, and its flexible arms stiffen, like Marvel’s Mr. Fantastic warding off a foe. Now, Penn Engineers have discovered the mechanism underlying this astonishing ability, one that could advance fields as varied as... Read More
Clark Foundation Invests $11 Million in the Next Generation of Penn Engineers News / October 21, 2025 The Clark Foundation deepens the program’s mission, opening new pathways for students to grow as engineers and community leaders. Read More
