5/18
Penn Professor Refutes Groupthink, Proving That Wisdom of Crowds Can Prevail
Anyone following forecasting polls leading up to the 2016 election likely believed Hillary Clinton would become the 45th president of the United States. Although this opinion was the consensus among most political-opinion leaders and media, something clearly went wrong with these prediction tools.
Penn SACNAS chapter fosters sense of community for underrepresented students in science
A new group on campus is helping students from underrepresented minorities feel at home pursuing science at Penn.
Penn study finds showing empathy can sometimes do harm
Last month, as the clip of Jimmy Kimmel describing the frightening ordeal of his newborn son, who was born with a congenital heart disease, went viral, many parents likely shared a similar sentiment: “What if that were my child?”
Penn Vet working dogs graduate to local police departments
Last week, a small group of Penn graduates, surrounded by loved ones, was feted for their rigorous training and bright future in a ceremony punctuated by enthusiastic barks.
Two Types of Empathy Elicit Different Health Effects, Penn Psychologist Shows
When a close friend shares bad news, our instinct is to help. But putting ourselves in a friend’s shoes, imagining how we would feel if we were the one suffering, may have detrimental effects on our own health, according to a new study led by the University of Pennsylvania’s Anneke E. K. Buffone.
Penn Vet researchers stand guard against avian influenza
Earlier this year, five states in the southern United States reported outbreaks of avian influenza, a respiratory disease that infects both wild and domestic farmed birds.
Social Ties Boost Longevity in Female Macaques, Penn-led Study Finds
In a huge study of female rhesus macaques, a team of researchers led by the University of Pennsylvania’s Michael Platt found those with many close female relatives have a higher life expectancy.
Penn Doctoral Student Probes the Secrets of Ancient Carbon in Tropical Soils
Soil holds the largest terrestrial pool of carbon on the planet, with tropical soils containing the most carbon of any type. Activities that cause soil to release its hold on this carbon can thus increase levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and augment the effects of climate change.
Penn Psychologist Finds Friendship Group Influences Dating Violence Risk for Early-maturing Girls
Girls who go through puberty and develop physically earlier than their peers are at risk of low self-esteem as well as emotional and behavioral problems. Research has also indicated that they are at a heightened risk of experiencing physical or sexual violence.
Puerto Rico ‘Data Jam’ lets students put their spin on scientific data
Data is the currency of scientific discovery, but when packaged in complex spreadsheets or figures with obscure unit measurements, many can find it intimidating to interpret.