10.21
Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences
What makes food photos on Instagram popular?
A study out of the Annenberg School for Communication examines our likes and dislikes in relation to social media, and finds they are more habitual than aesthetic, and uncovers what elements make food photos go viral.
To improve online information about violence and abuse, one group turned to Wikipedia
Three undergrads and a recent alum, working with the Ortner Center’s Susan B. Sorenson, added the latest scientific research to more than 50 entries.
Exhibit catalog to peer inside fantastical mind of Penn artist
“Out, Out, Phosphene Candle” is one of The Sach’s Program for Arts Innovation 23 projects that received funding this spring. A collaboration between Paul Swenback, the building manager for the Institute of Contemporary Art, and Joy Feasley, the fantastical exhibit blends art, nature, and the occult at a gallery in Wisconsin, and in a forthcoming book on the exhibit.
Understanding the social dynamics that cause cooperation to thrive, or fail
Many examples of cooperation exist in nature, but it’s far from a universal characteristic of human or animal groups. Using a mathematical model, Erol Akçay showed that less randomly connected social networks make cooperation more likely, but those dynamics may ultimately lead to cooperation’s collapse.
Stains Alive
For Libraries fellow Erin Connelly, stains are some of the most exciting discoveries in her study of medieval manuscripts. She is part of a national team analyzing stains in medieval texts using modern multispectral imaging. An exhibition at Van Pelt-Dietrich Library displays the researchers’ discoveries.
Hack4Impact: a global coding force for good
Students in Hack4Impact, a national student-led group that originated at Penn, spend volunteer hours developing web-based applications for social impact nonprofits around the country.
Perspectives on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh
On July 9th, Brett Kavanaugh was announced as President Trump’s second Supreme Court nominee. Penn faculty provide their analyses of the nomination.
Academic ‘boot camp’
A group of 13 active-duty service members and veterans took part in the Warrior-Scholar Project, which introduces enlisted personnel toward an undergraduate program at a top-tier institution with a weeklong academic program.
Serving those who serve
In preparation for a career as a physician with the Military Health System, Ryan Leone is spending his summer in Falls Church, Va., interning with the Defense Health Agency.
Brain stimulation decreases intent to commit assault
Research from Penn Medicine and the Criminology department shows that using minimally invasive electrical currents on the prefrontal cortex can reduce the desire to carry out such violence and increase the perception that it’s morally wrong.
In the News
Philadelphia Inquirer
Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test: How reliable is it? A Penn prof explains
Theodore Schurr of the School of Arts and Sciences said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s genetic analysis, which used indigenous DNA samples from Peru, Mexico, and Colombia as reference points, was legitimate due to historical migration patterns.
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“Morning Joe,” MSNBC
Did link between Russian bank, Trump campaign exist?
The Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Kathleen Hall Jamieson joined a panel of experts on “Morning Joe” for a discussion about allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. She identified “trolls, hackers, and disinformation to [James] Comey” as major factors in Trump’s win.
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The Atlantic
Lindsey Graham doesn’t want a primary
In an article by Dick Polman, writer in residence in the School of Arts and Sciences, Brian Rosenwald of the Fox Leadership Program was cited for his political expertise. Lindsey Graham “knows that infuriating the left and the media really poses no risk, given the nature of his state,” said Rosenwald.
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The Washington Post
1 in 6 older black people have been homeless at some point in their life, study finds
Research from Dennis Culhane of the School of Social Policy & Practice suggests that baby boomers experienced higher rates of homelessness than other generations, though it was unclear how the rates among post-boomer generations were affected by the mortgage crisis of the mid-2000s.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
This prominent Penn prof didn’t believe Russia got Trump elected. Here’s what changed her mind
The Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Kathleen Hall Jamieson was featured for her new book, “Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President.” Though she had initially been “actively skeptical,” Jamieson said, she eventually concluded that the data clearly supported claims of Russian meddling.
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