University of Pennsylvania
@upenn
Official account for the University of Pennsylvania. Advancing discovery and opportunity toward a better future for all. Managed by the Office of University Communications.
For the first time in more than 20 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new sunscreen active ingredient: bemotrizinol, which manufacturers can soon include in their products. Penn Today spoke with Penn Medicine dermatologists to learn more. Read More: https://bit.ly/4xjy3X5
Two urban planners have been bringing their expertise from a Philadelphia-based city planning and design company into the classroom for a decade. Students have worked with communities, gaining real-world experience by planning solutions for flooding, runoff, and extreme heat. https://bit.ly/4cgwWPA
Funded by a $21.5 million, five-year National Science Foundation award, Penn and a group of university partners will explore how AI can improve healthcare outcomes. @haicinstitute.bsky.social @ericeaton.bsky.social @udelaware.bsky.social Read More: https://bit.ly/3U2B13C
Through art installations, oral histories, and resident partnerships, Penn researchers helped build a model in the Schuylkill River & Urban Waters Research Corps that listens to communities and responds to their needs. Read More: https://bit.ly/4hB1KhA
As LeBron James signs with the Philadelphia 76ers, revisit a story from the Penn Today archives that highlights one of the NBA superstar’s earliest experiences in the city: playing at the Palestra. His first visit came in high school in front of a sold-out crowd. https://bit.ly/3mxnlap
Penn Engineering materials scientist Shu Yang explains the hidden physics of a day at the beach, like why some sands scorch your feet, what makes the perfect sandcastle, and how the same humble grains end up in windows and smartphones. Read More: https://bit.ly/4bdO48i
From community-led water testing and hydrogen fuel production to stormwater runoff and the intersection of water and AI, Penn researchers are tackling the challenges of extreme summer storms. Visit the Penn Today website for more stories on climate and water management: https://bit.ly/4pyeSG8
In recognition of the summer season and beach vacations, Penn Today spoke with history of art professor Ann Kuttner about ancient Roman portrayals of the sea and Ph.D. student Benjy Jude about 19th-century French seascapes. Read More: https://bit.ly/4b5oulP
"Leges Sine Moribus Vanae" means "Laws without morals are useless (in vain)." This seal, located above an entrance to Franklin Field, serves as a lasting reminder of the values that were foundational to our institution’s founding and continues to inspire our community today.
From urban heat resilience and Gambian irrigation systems to skin cancer treatments and solar-powered data centers, Penn researchers are marking sun-related advancements. Visit the Penn Today website for more stories on solar innovation and sun-related challenges: https://bit.ly/4hk24kB
Emily Wilson, Penn Arts & Sciences professor of classical studies, is renowned for her English translations of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poems, first "The Odyssey" and now the "The Iliad." Watch her perform a passage from "The Iliad." View the Full Excerpt Reading: https://bit.ly/3OjqCLd
With the new movie based on Homer’s epic out this weekend, three faculty members reflect on “The Odyssey” and its centuries of significance. Read More: https://bit.ly/4wM2CnY
Penn Engineering microplastics researchers and members of the Philadelphia Water Department explain how microplastics move through ecosystems and into the human body while sharing practical steps you can take to limit exposure. Read More: https://bit.ly/4fdvG0B
Before "The Odyssey" arrives in theaters, Zendaya picked up the source material. 📚🎬 She is holding the translation by Penn Arts & Sciences professor of classical studies Emily Wilson, whose work has introduced Homer's epic to a new generation of readers.
Wharton Executive MBA student and retired U.S. Army Major Nicholas Dockery has been awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration for valor, for his actions in Afghanistan in 2012. https://bit.ly/4vdzjcD
Annenberg scholar Katerina Girginova explains why the FIFA World Cup is such a powerful case study in communications, from the digitization of fandom to sport as a contested space. https://bit.ly/4wuKH5c
“An Ode to the Fourth of July, 1788,” available in the Penn Archives, was written by Declaration of Independence signer and 1757 Penn graduate Francis Hopkinson. The piece was first distributed during Philadelphia’s Grand Federal Procession. Read More: https://bit.ly/4atHkTv
In June 1776, amid rising tensions and calls for independence in Philadelphia, seven graduates of the College—later to be known as the University of Pennsylvania—received their degrees in a private ceremony. Read More: https://bit.ly/4wD1KCX
A sister of Philadelphia’s famous Liberty Bell, Penn’s Academy Bell has been secreted from the city during the Revolutionary War, signaled the start of class and the outbreak of fires, and stored in basements around Penn’s campus before going on display. Read More: https://bit.ly/44H5fva
Learn the five steps to making paper as it was done in the Revolutionary era, part of a Common Press semiquincentennial project, alongside a class from the Weitzman School of Design. https://bit.ly/4dgcA8R
Using the same methods as in 1776—from papermaking to typesetting—Penn’s Common Press letterpress studio has been working to replicate and print the Declaration of Independence as part of the yearlong “Typography of Independence” project. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4xZoLk5
In 1776, America stood at a crossroads. This diverse set of stories illuminates Revolutionary Philadelphia and the emerging nation, including the stories of the daily lives of ordinary people as told by students, an exploration of early institutions, and more. Read More: https://bit.ly/4gLYtLZ
As we approach July 4th and the nation's 250th anniversary, Penn Today explores the people, ideas, and everyday life that shaped America's founding. Covering topics from the origins of the post office to "Common Sense", colonial economies, and life during the Revolution. https://bit.ly/4uZiHW3
“Migrating Lives,” a yearlong mural project, has united Penn artists and alumni in collaboration with diverse communities across Philadelphia. Read More: https://bit.ly/4g6Om47
Researchers at Penn Engineering developed an ‘asthma-on-a-chip’ system that mimics the mechanical stresses experienced by human airways during an asthma attack. Read More: https://bit.ly/3SH7snF
New Penn research explores how the “silent” X chromosome may hold clues to why autoimmune diseases are more common in women. The findings could help explain sex differences in autoimmune risk and point toward new treatment strategies. https://bit.ly/4af5WiO
A sense of belonging and camaraderie unites these photos from the 2025-26 academic year, highlighting the passion and spirit of the University community. More of our favorite photos at Penn Today: https://bit.ly/4voxkDf
In a Q&A, Penn Arts & Sciences Dean Mark Trodden discusses the vision of the School’s strategic framework, and a new undergraduate curriculum. Read More: https://bit.ly/3QFLMaR
Unique doors are scattered all across campus. From Bennett Hall to Irvine Auditorium, these doors reflect the diverse architectural styles of Penn. Which one stands out to you? 🚪