News and Issues
A Philadelphia Family's Titanic History and the Fate of the RMS Titanic Pets
J. Joseph Edgette’s research has primarily focused on Philadelphians who were on the cruise, such as the Widener family for whom Widener University is named. He said he was touched and intrigued by the dogs that were on the cruise; there were twelve dogs on the Titanic and only three survived more »
Life Expectancy and the Long Hot Summer
New research from Harvard School of Public Health suggests that seemingly small changes in summer temperature swings — as little as 1°C more than usual—may shorten life expectancy for elderly people with chronic medical conditions, and could result in thousands of additional deaths each year more »
The Redbud Tree is All Heart(s)
Ferida Wolff wries, "The Redbud is an early blossoming tree and stands out against the slower developing trees. The fruit hangs in pods like peas and is edible. The flowers can be used in salads. Native peoples used the bark to make a medicinal tea to treat fevers and congestion like whooping cough. And all summer long its heart-shaped leaves will remind me to keep looking for the spirit in all life forms." more »
Field Work During a Mass Extinction: The curious Hawaiian happy face spider and others
Imagine that a “time machine” allowed you to go back in time — back exactly 64,999,995 years ago, just five years before the crash of the meteor that marked the end of the Age of the Dinosaurs. You have just enough time to do your field work, analyze your data, and write your Ph.D. dissertation. more »






