6.15
Science & Technology
The use and misuse of race in health care
The use and misuse of race in health care
In a Q&A, PIK Professor Sarah Tishkoff, the Perelman School of Medicine’s Giorgio Sirugo, and Case Western Reserve University’s Scott Williams shed light on the “quagmire” of race, ethnicity, genetic ancestry, and environmental factors and their contribution to health disparities.
For early amphibians, a new lifestyle meant a new spine
For early amphibians, a new lifestyle meant a new spine
Moving from water to land and back again corresponded with distinct changes in animals’ spinal morphology, according to a new study led by paleontologist Aja Carter.
Dark Energy Survey interim analysis sheds light on the evolution of the universe
Dark Energy Survey interim analysis sheds light on the evolution of the universe
Analysis of the survey’s first three years of data, which were used to make the most precise 3D map of the universe to date, is a key step towards understanding dark matter and dark energy.
Engineers pave way for chip components that could serve as both RAM and ROM
Engineers pave way for chip components that could serve as both RAM and ROM
The hurdle for making individual chip component devices has always been in manufacturing high-temperature ferroelectric materials. Now a team of researchers at the School of Engineering and Applied Science has shown a potential way around this problem.
A blueprint for designing and synthesizing new, multifunctional materials
A blueprint for designing and synthesizing new, multifunctional materials
By combining theory, computational simulations, chemical synthesis, and assembly, researchers demonstrate how an “inverse design” strategy can create unique materials using difficult-to-mix nanocrystals.
2021 cohort of Postdoctoral Fellows for Academic Diversity named
2021 cohort of Postdoctoral Fellows for Academic Diversity named
The competitive program, managed by Office of the Vice Provost for Research, is designed to support early career researchers and scholars while enriching the Penn community.
How HIV infection shrinks the brain’s white matter
How HIV infection shrinks the brain’s white matter
Researchers from Penn and CHOP detail the mechanism by which HIV infection blocks the maturation process of brain cells that produce myelin, a fatty substance that insulates neurons.
Vaccines, variants, and the evolving lexicon of COVID-19
Penn Today shares the third update to the pandemic glossary, providing insights into the jargon becoming an everyday part of conversations and news headlines about the ongoing public health crisis.
Climate change-resistant corals could provide lifeline to battered reefs
Climate change-resistant corals could provide lifeline to battered reefs
Corals that withstood a severe bleaching event and were transplanted to a different reef maintained their resilient qualities, according to a new study led by Katie Barott of the School of Arts & Sciences.
Black in Marine Science is building a community
Black in Marine Science is building a community
Postdoc Camille Gaynus of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues formed a nonprofit dedicated to lifting up Black voices in marine science and inspiring a new generation to follow their curiosity about the ocean.
In the News
MIT Technology Review
These creepy fake humans herald a new age in AI
Aaron Roth of the School of Engineering and Applied Science spoke about synthetic data and privacy concerns. “Just because the data is ‘synthetic’ and does not directly correspond to real user data does not mean that it does not encode sensitive information about real people,” he said.
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6ABC.com
Cyberattack temporarily shuts down JBS meat processing plants, including one in Montgomery County
Gary Althouse of the School of Veterinary Medicine commented on a ransomware attack that targeted one of the largest suppliers of beef, pork, and chicken in the U.S. “With food production, computerized systems are used in most aspects of it. We need to identify where these vulnerabilities are," he said.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
These Penn scientists discovered how the brain engages in imagination
Joseph Kable of the School of Arts & Sciences and alumni Arthur Lee and Trishala Parthasarathi used MRI brain scans to study the neuroscience of imagination.
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Scientific American
A better way to cool ourselves
Dorit Aviv of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design and international collaborators wrote an opinion piece about their work developing a healthier and more sustainable alternative to air conditioning.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Pivoting to middle school teacher from bank teller to stay ahead of disruption
Dean Pam Grossman of the Graduate School of Education said technology has yet to significantly disrupt education or replace the need for teachers. “Teaching and learning are fundamentally relational processes, and without the relationship, it’s hard to engage learners, particularly those that aren’t motivated,” she said.
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6ABC.com
UPenn working on rapid COVID test that delivers results within minutes
César de la Fuente of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test he and his team are developing. "This particular one is made out of cardboard, so it's recyclable and low cost," he said.
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The New York Times
Should Alexa read our moods?
Joseph Turow of the Annenberg School for Communication discussed his concerns about voice-profiling technologies and privacy. While there are some potentially useful applications, he said, “we have to outlaw voice profiling for the purpose of marketing. There is no utility for the public. We’re creating another set of data that people have no clue how it’s being used.”
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Marketplace (NPR)
Smart devices are listening to more than our words
Joseph Turow of the Annenberg School for Communication was interviewed about smart devices and the use of voice recognition in marketing. “For consumers, I want us to be wary, to realize that this is a kind of seductive surveillance,” he said.
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The Washington Post
Nevada vaccine website implants more trackers than any state
Matthew McCoy of the Perelman School of Medicine said people accessing Nevada’s COVID-19 vaccine information website may not understand how cookies work. “Most of them have no conception that when they log on to the page, they’re also giving information about themselves to this whole range of third parties,” he said.
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The New York Times
Grumpy dogs outperform the friendlies on some learning tests
Cynthia Otto of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about dog personality traits. At Penn’s Working Dog Center, she said, “we allow dogs to choose their careers and it’s based on their personalities and on their interactions and on their relationships.”
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