Research | Penn Today

From burden to blessing: the benefit of reframing empathy

A 2020 study by researchers from Penn and Georgetown University found that changing how a situation was framed impacted empathic and prosocial responses to another person in distress.

A person’s hand holding a pen filling out a paper survey.

How to protect the integrity of survey research

Surveys provide a scientific way of acquiring information that inform policy and help society understand itself. In a new article, 20 experts from diverse fields offer a dozen recommendations to improve the accuracy and trustworthiness of surveys.

Drugs could replicate the long-term benefits of bariatric surgery

Heath Schmidt references results from an animal study that showed one benefit of weight loss was that GEP44 reduced the cravings for opioids.

The Fed is doing too much, all at once

A study co-authored by Itamar Drechsler of the Wharton School finds that banks may collectively face paper losses of as much as $1.7 trillion in long-term bond holdings.

Obesity diagnosis may cause weight loss without surgery

A study co-authored by Heath Schmidt of the School of Nursing finds that the peptide compound GEP44 reduces opioid cravings in rats.

COVID death rate higher for young people

A Penn analysis discovered that people aged 25-54 had a higher COVID death rate than people 55 and older.

A child uses a cell phone in a dark room

Q&A

To protect children online, researchers call for cross-disciplinary collaboration

A team of neuroscientists and legal experts, including Gideon Nave of the Wharton School, published a perspective in Science drawing attention to the need to develop science-backed policies that take into account children’s vulnerabilities in the digital world.

Could gut bacteria impact your motivation to exercise?

A study co-authored by Christoph Thaiss of the Perelman School of Medicine finds that the gut microbiome may affect motivation to exercise.

Screening outcomes better for women undergoing digital breast tomosynthesis

A study by Emily F. Conant of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues finds that screening mammography outcomes are better for women undergoing 3D digital breast tomosynthesis than 2D digital mammography.

Florida targeting of environmental and social investing could come with costs

A study by the Wharton School finds that Texan cities saw an increase of $303 million to $532 million in interest payments after banning municipalities from doing business with ESG policy banks in 2021.

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