4/22
Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences
People who don’t read the news foresee which articles will go viral
People who don’t read the news foresee which articles will go viral
In an upcoming article in the journal Cerebral Cortex, researchers tracked activity in the brain's prefrontal cortex, and found that avid readers of the news had little change in brain activity from story to story, making them less accurate predictors of viral content.
A squirmy, slimy, crunchy new potential staple of the American diet
A squirmy, slimy, crunchy new potential staple of the American diet
Psychologist Paul Rozin discusses how it’s possible to get past the ick factor of eating bugs (the key is exposure), and how the insects actually taste. It’s all part of his research focusing on the emotion of disgust as it relates to food.
Educational program successful at reducing forced sex in South African adolescents
Educational program successful at reducing forced sex in South African adolescents
A new study led by John B. Jemmott III, an Annenberg School professor, found that an educational program he designed for adolescents in South Africa reduces sexual assault among those students.
Kroiz exhibit illuminates the abstract in modern Japanese architecture
Kroiz exhibit illuminates the abstract in modern Japanese architecture
“Critical Abstractions: Modern Architecture in Japan, 1868-2018,” on display through Sept. 24, challenges prevailing ideas on the reasons behind the international appeal of modern architecture made in Japan.
University of Pennsylvania announces 2018-2019 Perry World House Fellows
Felipe Calderón, H.R. McMaster, Susan Rice, and Charles Dent are among nine leaders named, bringing their perspective and expertise in national and global government to Penn's global policy research institute.
Sara Bachman named dean of Penn School of Social Policy & Practice
Bachman, an acclaimed scholar, epidemiologist and expert in social welfare policy, will lead the school beginning January 1st.
Political science prof reflects on legacy of John McCain
Political science prof reflects on legacy of John McCain
As the country remembers the life of U.S. Sen. John McCain, Fels Institute Director and Professor of Political Science Matthew Levendusky recalls “maverick-y” McCain moments.
Testing the reproducibility of social science research
Testing the reproducibility of social science research
A team co-led by Gideon Nave of the Wharton School replicated 21 high-profile social science studies and found discrepancies with the original research. Researchers betting in prediction markets, however, were quite accurate at predicting which findings would replicate and which would not.
Study finds most teens avoid rash, impulsive behavior
Study finds most teens avoid rash, impulsive behavior
A new study found that the majority of teenagers avoid the kind of impulsive behavior commonly associated with “typical teenagers,” citing that imbalance models in brain development is evident in only a subset of teens.
Preserving Philadelphia’s Society Hill
Preserving Philadelphia’s Society Hill
The histories of more than 1,500 properties in a storied Philadelphia neighborhood are now accessible on the new website, “Preserving Society Hill.” Working with digital-humanities specialists in the Price Lab and the Libraries, PennDesign’s Francesca Ammon created an interactive map to document this innovative case study in urban renewal.
In the News
Philadelphia Inquirer
Comcast’s Sports Complex plan for South Philly would make our city less livable
In an Op-Ed, Vukan R. Vuchic of the School of Engineering and Applied Science says that Philadelphia should make transit more accessible rather than striving to accommodate more cars.
FULL STORY →
The New York Times
We don’t see what climate change is doing to us
In an Op-Ed, R. Jisung Park of the School of Social Policy & Practice says that public discourse around climate change overlooks the buildup of slow, subtle costs and their impact on human systems.
FULL STORY →
Associated Press
Far fewer young Americans now want to study in China. Both countries are trying to fix that
Amy Gadsden of Penn Global says that American interest in studying in China is declining due to foreign businesses closing their offices there and Beijing’s draconian governing style.
FULL STORY →
Associated Press
In death, three decades after his trial verdict, O.J. Simpson still reflects America’s racial divides
Camille Charles of the School of Arts & Sciences says that Black Americans have grown less likely to believe in a famous defendant’s innocence as a show of race solidarity.
FULL STORY →
The Wall Street Journal
‘Slouch’ review: The panic over posture
In her new book, “Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America,” Beth Linker of the School of Arts & Sciences traces society’s posture obsession to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
FULL STORY →