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Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs
An illustration of a frog.

The researchers theorized that frogs must have developed antibiotics to survive in their challenging environment.

(Image: Jianing “Jenny” Bai)

Scientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs

The lab of César de la Fuente has created synthetic peptides, a class of antibiotics, derived from the secretions of a frog commonly found in South Asia.

Ian Scheffler

2 min. read

Absent students lead to low teacher morale

Absent students lead to low teacher morale

Findings from the Graduate School for Education underscore the fact that the effects of absenteeism are cumulative, with each missed day contributing to classroom ‘chaos.’

Penn Today Staff

AI Month at Penn
Buildings on Penn's campus and a banner that reads 'Penn Engineering.'

Penn Engineering will host the second annual AI Month from April 1 to May 1.


 

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AI Month at Penn

The School of Engineering and Applied Science is hosting 2025 AI Month at Penn, a monthlong series of events throughout April dedicated to the theme “AI and Human Well-Being.”

4 min. read

Baseball’s ‘magic mud’
A jar of Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud sits on a table beside a muddy, dirty baseball.

Lena Blackburne’s legendary baseball rubbing mud has been a game-day staple for nearly a century, helping Major League pitchers achieve a better grip. Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have scientifically confirmed its friction-enhancing properties, revealing its significance not just in baseball, but also in the broader field of materials science.

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Baseball’s ‘magic mud’

Douglas Jerolmack and Paulo Arratia led research that could someday crack the code of the mud smeared on baseballs for nearly a century that pitchers profess provides a perfect grip.

3 min. read

Christina Roberto on food labeling and system-level changes for public health
Christina Roberto.

Christina Roberto is a Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics affiliate and the Mitchell J. Blutt and Margo Krody Blutt Presidential Associate Professor of Health Policy in the Perelman School of Medicine.

(Image: Courtesy of CHIBE)

Christina Roberto on food labeling and system-level changes for public health

The Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics affiliate studies labeling systems to improve the choices people make with food, and argues that if health care professionals are serious about preventing nutrition-related chronic diseases, then system-level changes are necessary.

From the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics

2 min. read

Five from Penn elected 2024 AAAS Fellows
Headshots of five Penn professors elected 2024 AAAS Fellows.

(Clockwise from bottom left) M. Susan Lindee, Marlyse Baptista, Jinbo Chen, George Cotsarelis, and Christopher B. Murray were elected 2024 AAAS Fellows. 

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Five from Penn elected 2024 AAAS Fellows

Professors from the School of Arts & Sciences, Perelman School of Medicine, and School of Engineering and Applied Science are among 471 scientists, engineers, and innovators being recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

4 min. read

Modeling careers in STEM
Allyson Mackey, Melissa Kelly, Ping Wang, and Vanessa Chan speaking to audience.

This year’s Women in STEM Symposium featured (left to right) Allyson Mackey of the School of Arts & Sciences, Melissa Kelly of Penn Center for Innovation, Ping Wang of the Perelman School of Medicine, and Vanessa Chan of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. 

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Modeling careers in STEM

At Penn’s annual Women in STEM Symposium, Vanessa Chan, Allyson Mackey, Ping Wang, and Melissa Kelly shared lessons from their experiences.

3 min. read

Evaluating large language models for cyberbullying behavior
A portrait of Helen Jin at Amy Gutmann Hall.

Helen Jin, a doctoral student at Penn Engineering, is project lead for the Brachio Lab’s AI cyberbullying capability case study.

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Evaluating large language models for cyberbullying behavior

In the Brachio Lab, doctoral students at Penn Engineering probe AI models for signs of cyberbullying capabilities. This emerging problem with the rise of AI may pose challenges in areas like business, education, and public health.

5 min. read

A simple way to boost math progress
Angela Duckworth lecturing a class with a white board.

“Our results showed that simple, low-cost nudges can help teachers support student progress in math,” says Penn psychology professor Angela Duckworth.

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A simple way to boost math progress

Researchers from Penn’s Behavior Change for Good Initiative and their collaborators conducted a megastudy to investigate whether low-cost nudges–informed by behavioral science–could help teachers accelerate student progress in math.

3 min. read

Election transparency and voter privacy

Election transparency and voter privacy

A new study in Sciences Advances, co-authored by Penn Carey Law’s Michael Morse, introduces the concept of vote revelation, or the potential for a vote on an anonymous ballot to be linked to the voter’s name in the public voter file.

From Penn Carey Law

2 min. read