3/27
Penn in the News
A round-up of Penn mentions in local, national, and international media.
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Penn In the News
This day of silence brings a fresh start for Bali’s new year
Mathias Basner of the Perelman School of Medicine says that human bodies interpret noise as a stressor, which can initiate increased levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in the blood.
Penn In the News
What does your hair actually need?
George Cotsarelis of the Perelman School of Medicine says that hair is one of the first things that shuts down if a person is nutritionally deficient or has lost a lot of weight from illness.
Penn In the News
Could eating like our ancestors make us healthier?
PIK Professor Sarah Tishkoff says that humans have continued to evolve since the Paleolithic period.
Penn In the News
T. rex had lips, upending its enduring pop culture image
Ali Nabavizadeh of the School of Veterinary Medicine comments on the validity of research demonstrating that non-avian theropods like T. rex had extra-oral tissues.
Penn In the News
What does cancer smell like? These animals can sniff it out
A study co-authored by Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine finds that dogs can be trained to detect chronic wasting disease in deer feces.
Penn In the News
COVID-19 is more widespread in animals than we thought
Frederic Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that many mammalian ACE-2 receptors are proving susceptible to COVID, even if they aren’t a perfect match.
Penn In the News
What to know about Ozempic, TikTok’s favorite weight loss drug
Ariana Chao of the School of Nursing discusses the science, side effects, and efficacy of semaglutide, a weight loss medication touted by influencers.
Penn In the News
Horses and dogs share a surprisingly common language of play
Sue McDonnell of the School of Veterinary Medicine commented on new research that finds shared play language between dogs and horses. “It’s a wonderful study, and takes the questions surrounding play behavior to a new level,” she said.
Penn In the News
Digging for the life stories of long-forgotten slaves
Penn researchers, including visiting student Adeyemi Oduwole, are analyzing mitochondrial DNA from bodies discovered in Charleston, S.C. All of the people found were of African ancestry, making the site the oldest known graveyard of enslaved Africans in the city. “Both of my parents grew up in Nigeria,” said Oduwole. “Those could be my ancestors down there.”
Penn In the News
This tiny fish can recognize itself in a mirror. Is it self-aware?
PIK Professor Michael Platt commented on an animal sentience study. While he found the research “fascinating and well-executed,” he pointed out that the study doesn’t necessarily confirm that animals have a human-like sense of self.