Probing Question: Why do we have Daylight Saving Time?
The modern idea of Daylight Saving Time, or DST, was first proposed in
the 1890s by a New Zealand entomologist, explained Jon Nese, a senior lecturer in meteorology at Penn State. (more)
Still Life
Commencement across Penn State: Spring 2012
Spring commencement 2012 under way
Penn State, Moroccan students problem-solve together
Finals Week Spring Semester 2012
Children explore career options at University Park
Painting the Lines at Beaver Stadium
Did They Get It Right? - RedTails
Iconic Penn State elm taken down over spring break 2012
We ... are Penn State (December 19, 2011)
Disease stricken matching elm tree slated for removal
Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone
Probing Question
Probing Question: How well do we predict floods?
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)
Probing Question: Can the United States Postal Service survive?
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)
Probing Question: Is Jewish life thriving on American campuses?
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)
Probing Question: What defines Renaissance music?
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)
Probing Question: Why did the USDA change its nutritional guidelines?
The main criticism of the old food pyramid was that it was too complicated, and some perceived it as outdated, said Terry Hartman, associate professor of nutrition at Penn State. Enter "MyPlate". A panel headed by Michelle Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin introduced the new MyPlate nutrition symbol in early June 2011 in Washington. Said Hartman, "MyPlate is meant to be a simple reminder to guide people to healthier choices. The USDA has set up a new website ChooseMyPlate.gov, with tools and resources to help consumers decide what to eat." (more)
Probing Question: Has technology made life easier for working moms?
There shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all approach to women's work-life balance, said Eileen Trauth, professor of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State. Her research is based on interviews with over 200 women in several different countries who are working in the knowledge economy. "We should have the flexibility to enable family units to enact a variety of ways to achieve a good balance," Trauth said. "This might mean more and better policies for parental leave for both parents, retraining options for those who left the paid labor force for several years and want to return, part-time work that keeps people on a career track, and work-at-home options. Certainly, technology enables some of these options." (more)
Probing Question: Is Latin valuable for today's students?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011Although Latin -- an Indo-European language at its height during the Roman Empire -- is nobody's native tongue these days, it certainly remains a topic of conversation. The usual point of debate? Whether learning Latin is valuable for modern-day students. "On a practical level, it is far easier for those with a firm foundation in Latin to learn a modern Romance language, said Paul Harvey, associate professor of classics. (more)
Probing Question: What are neuro-enhancing drugs?
A study by the Columbia University National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that the number of teens abusing prescription medications tripled from 1992 to 2003, while in the general population such abuse had doubled. (more)
Probing Question: Do we romanticize the Amish?
"Since the 1970s, an idealized stereotype has emerged, where Amish
people are seen as products of a happier time when individuals lived
in harmony with one another, the earth, and God," says Julia Spicher
Kasdorf, a Penn State English professor and poet. Kasdorf said the current appetite for all things Amish is consistent with the myth of a Golden Age. "We like to believe that life was simpler, better, safer before we fell into the evils of modernity, and that the Amish haven't fallen yet." (more)