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In the U.S., COVID-19 wasn’t sole cause of excess deaths in 2020
A hospital room with all lights off but the fluorescent light above bed, which has a green blanket. Behind the bed is a hospital tray that swivels and a blue chair. On the yellow wall behind are about 8 outlets.

In the U.S., COVID-19 wasn’t sole cause of excess deaths in 2020

Comparing death rates in the United States with those of the five biggest European countries, Penn and Max Planck demographers found that significant excess mortality cost more lives annually than the epidemic itself.

Michele W. Berger

COVID communications and first generation students
Marcus Wright

Marcus Wright, undergraduate program manager and academic coordinator in the Department of Sociology. (Image: Courtesy of OMNIA)

COVID communications and first generation students

Marcus Wright, undergraduate program manager and academic coordinator in the Department of Sociology and doctoral student at the Graduate School of Education, analyzes academic messaging to expose blind spots.

From Omnia

What monkeys can teach humans about resilience after disaster

What monkeys can teach humans about resilience after disaster

PIK Professor Michael Platt and Camille Testard, a Ph.D. student in the Perelman School of Medicine, spoke about their research on how rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico adapted in the wake of Hurricane Maria. “We see this massive surge in the time they spend in proximity to other partners, and their social tolerance increasing toward many different partners,” said Testard. “We saw active building of relationships with individuals that they didn’t really interact with before.”

Toward a better understanding of ‘fake news’
a person with their back to the camera looking at a drawing of a television with two people debating

PIK professor Duncan Watts has published a new framework for studying media bias and misinformation, detailing an ambitious and comprehensive research agenda for understanding the origins, nature, and prevalence of misinformation and its impact on democracy

Toward a better understanding of ‘fake news’

PIK Professor Duncan Watts publishes a framework for developing a comprehensive research agenda to study the origins, nature, and consequences of misinformation on democracy.

Mothers bear the cost of the pandemic shift to remote work
Teleworking mother holds up hand to son schooling remotely who asks a question

The pandemic has led to extra domestic labor—both housework and parenting—that disproportionately falls to mothers, according to a new study. 

Mothers bear the cost of the pandemic shift to remote work

The pandemic exposed and reinforced gender-biased household divisions of labor, according to a new study by Penn sociologists.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Alice Paul’s mysterious manuscript
Alice Paul in her graduation gown and a handwritten page from her dissertation.

Alice Paul received her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1912. Professor Heather Sharkey and three students have spent the past year transcribing a manuscript of Paul’s doctoral dissertation that is held in the Penn Libraries collection. (Left image: Courtesy of the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institute, and the Alice Paul Centennial Foundation, circa 1912) (Right image: Courtesy of the Penn Libraries)

Alice Paul’s mysterious manuscript

Heather J. Sharkey and three students transcribed a hand-written manuscript of the doctoral dissertation by Alice Paul, who earned her Ph.D. from Penn in 1912. As part of a virtual symposium, they joined John Pollack of the Libraries to discuss their efforts.

Louisa Shepard

COVID-19 and women in the workforce
teacher leaning on desk speaking to student

Homepage image: During Women’s History Month, researchers across the University examine what we know today about how COVID-19 has affected women in the workforce, from education to STEMM fields.

COVID-19 and women in the workforce

Experts across Penn explain how the pandemic has exacerbated gender inequality and challenged female career advancement in the STEMM fields, education, and business.

Michele W. Berger , Kristina Linnea García , Dee Patel , Louisa Shepard

Young and middle-age adults in the U.S. dying at higher rates
An image with four maps of the U.S. shaded in different colors, with the text "Males" and "Females" up top. Below the first two maps reads "Absolute changes in mortality rate (ages 25-44) 1990-92 to 2015-17" and underneath that, "Deaths per 100,000 population." Below the bottom two maps reads, "Absolute changes in mortality rate (ages 45-64) 1990-92 to 2015-17" and underneath that, "Deaths per 100,000 population."

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reveals some new trends about working-age adults in the U.S., including what Penn’s Irma Elo considered the most disturbing: Increased mortality among 25- to 44-year-olds from cardiometabolic disease.

  • Q&A

    • Young and middle-age adults in the U.S. dying at higher rates

    According to a new National Academies report, cardiometabolic conditions now join drug overdoses, alcohol, and suicide as significant mortality causes. In a Q&A, demographer Irma Elo explains.

    Michele W. Berger

    Eviction linked to depression risk in young adults
    A close-up of an old chipping door. Blurred in the background is a sign that reads "EVICTION NOTICE" in all capital letters.

    Eviction linked to depression risk in young adults

    Research from sociologist Courtney Boen and anthropologist Morgan Hoke shows that this issue, compounded by the toll of the pandemic, disproportionately affects low-income households and communities of color.

    Michele W. Berger