Still Life
Old Main clock faces installed
New carillon, restored clocks being installed
Joe Paterno's funeral procession
Joe Paterno through the years
Thousands mourn Paterno's passing
We ... are Penn State (December 19, 2011)
Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone
Researchers use balloons to unlock mysteries posed by dying stars
Everyday virus proves potent against cancer cells.
The recipe for this kind of sandwich consists of three generations, with elderly grandparents as one slice of bread, dependent children as the other, and, in the middle, Baby Boomer parents who are spread thin trying to be caretakers for all their loved ones. Increasingly, this caregiving is taking place under one roof, says Matthew Kaplan, intergenerational specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. (more)
"A relatively small percentage of introduced species are truly problematic and a threat to native biodiversity," says Tomas A. Carlo, Penn State assistant professor of biology. "Most introduced species become 'naturalized' and fully integrated into their new communities." (more)
In today's tech-savvy world, it's no longer enough for museums to display collections, says Penn State's Dana Kletchka. Museums must reach out to visitors wherever they are, allowing them to access information via their computer or other digital devices. (more)
Statistical skills are in increasingly high demand and being applied to an incredibly diverse set of exciting problems, said Penn State professor of statistics Naomi Altman. In short, noted Altman, "there are few areas of our lives in which statistics is not being used." (more)
Despite the possible costs, "There's no doubt that coming out is a crucial event for LGBT youth," noted Anthony D'Augelli, professor of human development. "Our research suggests that coming out is a major mental health booster. It takes a lot of psychological energy to hide your fundamental self from other people."
For some young people, deciding whether to come out or remain closeted depends on family support, added Allison Subasic, director of Penn State's LGBTA (the "A" is for Allies) Student Resource Center. It's getting easier overall, she agreed, "but it is still difficult for many youth for a variety of reasons, including where they live, and whether their family is involved with a religion that is not affirming of LGBT individuals." (more)
It has been one of Homo sapiens' most ancient activities: sitting around a fire and gazing with wonder at the stars spread across the dark night sky. These days, if you've had this awe-inspiring experience, you're one of the lucky ones, says Christopher Palma, senior lecturer in Penn State's astronomy & astrophysics department. "Did you know that from many locations in the United States you can't see the whole Little Dipper anymore?" he asks. (more)
When the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped more rain on the already saturated Northeast U.S., the result was the Susquehanna River's worst flooding in nearly 40 years. Given that floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, could we be doing more to predict them and safeguard flood-prone communities? (more)
Due to sharp declines in revenue and steep operating costs, the future of the U.S. Postal Service is uncertain, says economics professor Mark Roberts. "The USPS has faced major changes in the competition for parcel service over the last couple of decades as UPS and FedEx have grown," said Mark Roberts, Penn State professor of economics. "It is now facing large declines in the demand for first-class service as substitute delivery methods -- particularly electronic bill paying and Internet streaming of movies -- have developed." One major challenge, notes Roberts, is the hybrid nature of the USPS as a "quasi-governmental agency." Created in Philadelphia by the Continental Congress in 1775 -- with Benjamin Franklin at the helm as the first Postmaster General of the United Colonies -- the service is neither an entirely government-owned corporation (as Amtrak is) nor an entirely independent business. The USPS is defined as a semi-independent federal agency, mandated to be "revenue-neutral," meaning just breaking even, without making a profit. Breaking even it is not. (more)
While the percentage of college students who identify themselves as Jews has reportedly been in decline for the past two decades (due to intermarriage and assimilation, say some researchers), many campuses are experiencing a marked resurgence of activity in Jewish student organizations, says Aaron Kaufman, executive director of Penn State Hillel. "An increasing number of Jewish young adults are identifying ethnically or culturally as Jewish, as opposed to religiously Jewish, and this has led to significant changes in how Hillel approaches Jewish student life and engages Jewish students," he said. (more)
Michelangelo. Da Vinci. Shakespeare. The invention of the printing press. Are you thinking "Renaissance" yet? Most people know that the approximately 200-year era following the Middle Ages was one of intense flourishing of visual arts and literature. Yet fewer people understand the explosion of musical activity and innovation during the Renaissance, said Marica Tacconi, professor of musicology at Penn State. (more)
