Stories by
Patrick Monahan
We’re asking the wrong questions about AI
The tech behind Alexa and Tesla might be smart, but is it wise? Pitt philosophers Colin Allen and Brett Karlan say exploring that question could break us out of the artificial intelligence hype cycle.
Pitt mathematicians explain how some fireflies flash in sync
Their model could shed light on more lightning bug behavior as well as other instances of synchronization in nature.
Pitt physicists break down how cells communicate
For cells, the new research shows, there’s such a thing as too much communication. The results have implications for studying cancer and other diseases.
How Pitt biologists are making fieldwork more equitable
In a new publication, Pitt researchers share how they crafted a guide that prioritizes safety for field researchers from marginalized groups.
Pitt geologists mapped how metal pollutants have traveled across the city
A new study shows where industry and weather dropped metals like lead and cadmium in Pittsburgh soils.
Why do galaxies stop making stars? A huge collision in space provides new clues.
Merging galaxies might hurl away the gas that fuels new stars, according to a discovery by Pitt astronomers and their colleagues.
How not to use brain scans in neuroscience
A Nature paper led by a Pitt PhD student revealed a crucial flaw in studies that attempt to predict complex personality traits from one-off brain scans.
Pitt is the only university in the U.S. with this giant 3D printer for metal
With the technology finally maturing and industry taking notice, Pitt engineers now have access to a machine that pushes the limits of additive manufacturing.
Pitt researchers pulled 700,000 years of glacial history from an Andean lakebed
It’s the longest-ever glacier record for the tropics, and it could help scientists better understand modern-day climate change.
Pittsburgh’s Neighborhood 91 will be home to futuristic manufacturing
A recent event at the Neighborhood 91 campus brought together the regional defense manufacturing community and showed the promise of 3D printing for industry.