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Carnegie Mellon University


Study of behavior-related digital dieting apps finds different effects of persuasion-related features

A study of behavior-related digital dieting apps found that photo-informed expert feedback increased app use and improved meal recording, while photo-based peer observation reduced engagement and did not affect food choices. The findings provide practical guidance for designing effective digital health apps.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalInternational Journal of Information Management·DateAug 18, 2026

Study on impact of changes to information reporting on gig workers’ behavior uncovers unreported income

A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University and the Internal Revenue Service found that gig workers who no longer received 1099 reporting for their work reported 17 cents less in self-employment net earnings on their tax returns. The researchers estimated that 770,000 gig workers went unreported, resulting in $560 million in unreporte...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of Public Economics·DateAug 18, 2026

New framework for adoption of distributed energy resources quantifies uncertainty, ensures validity across grid structures

Researchers propose a data-driven forecasting approach to predict DER adoption patterns and quantify uncertainty for more informed decision making. The framework provides plausible adoption scenarios, enabling utilities, regulators, and planners to make strategic investments and plan for long-term infrastructure needs.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalAnnals of Applied Sciences·DateAug 3, 2026

Children and monkeys share a common understanding of geometry

A new study from Carnegie Mellon University reveals that baboons and macaques exhibit the same geometric intuitions as young children, suggesting a fundamental similarity in the primate mind. The research found continuity across all groups, including two species of non-human primates, human children, and adult humans.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2026

In study, real-time feedback on metrics of collaborative processes failed to boost performance, collective intelligence

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that real-time feedback on collaboration metrics does not improve team performance and can even make it worse. By narrowing the feedback to a single metric, teams focused too much on that signal and neglected coordination strategy, leading to decreased overall performance.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalCollective Intelligence·DateApr 30, 2026

Study: Arrival of boll weevils in U.S. South in early 20th century brought long-term benefits for Black sons born after the agricultural shock

A new study found that the arrival of boll weevils in the US South in the early 20th century led to improved economic outcomes for Black sons born after the agricultural shock. The researchers examined changes in earnings, occupations, and residences for Black males before and after the boll weevil's appearance.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalThe Economic Journal·DateNov 6, 2025

Is AI becoming selfish?

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that large language models with reason possess selfish tendencies and do not cooperate well. The stronger an LLM's reasoning skills, the less it cooperates. This self-seeking behavior may negatively impact human cooperation in business, education, and government.

In the face of extreme weather events’ devastating effects on power grids, study identifies vulnerabilities that drive prolonged outages, suggests ways to reduce disruptions

Researchers analyzed power outage data and weather records to identify planning vulnerabilities and criticality as drivers of prolonged local outages. Targeted interventions, such as isolating critical nodes and improving operational flexibility, can reduce customer outages by up to 49.5%.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalINFORMS Journal on Data Science·DateOct 15, 2025

This stapler knows when you need it

CMU researchers use AI and robotic mobility to give everyday objects foresight, predicting interventions and moving across horizontal surfaces to help humans. The system uses computer vision and LLMs to reason about a person's goals, translating what the camera sees into a text-based description of the scene.

New models address problems related to timing, scheduling of surgeries, capacity planning, and patients’ stays in recovery units

Researchers developed an integrated approach to solve the elective surgery assignment, sequencing, and scheduling problem (ESASSP), reducing delays and costs. The study suggests that hospitals can benefit from computationally efficient solutions to minimize operational costs and maximize resource utilization.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalEuropean Journal of Operational Research·DateSep 23, 2025

How NIL boosts college football’s competitive balance

A groundbreaking study challenges conventional wisdom on NIL policies in college football, demonstrating they enhance competitive balance and broaden opportunities for athletes. The research shows that NIL has led to a wider distribution of talent across college programs, directly benefiting athletes seeking to maximize their brands an...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalManagement Science·DateSep 15, 2025

For video-on-demand platforms, release strategy matters: streaming episodes gradually boosts consumers’ searches, subscription rates

A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that gradually releasing TV shows increases consumer engagement and subscription rates. Participants in the gradual-release group were 48% more likely to continue using the platform than those in the all-at-once release group, leading to increased subscription retention.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalMarketing Science·DateSep 8, 2025

An alphabet for hand actions in the human brain

Researchers found that a brain region called the supramarginal gyrus (SMG) combines coordinated movement patterns to form complex hand actions. This system, known as kinematic synergies, allows the brain to build a full repertoire of actions from a limited set of basic building blocks.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 18, 2025

Findings of study on how illegally manufactured fentanyl enters U.S. contradict common assumptions, undermining efforts to control supply

A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University found that illegally manufactured fentanyl primarily enters the US via counties along the Canadian border. The analysis revealed these counties accounted for over 40% of large fentanyl seizures in 2023-2024, despite comprising only 3.1% of the national population. This finding undermines eff...