OOEY GOOEY SLIME!

A fun Fall or Halloween activity is to make and play with some colorful slime!  Here is a recipe we often use at community events:

1. 1/2 cup school glue
2. Add glitter, food coloring, etc.
3. Add 1/2 cup liquid starch
4. Mix and knead!

In addition to being playful, slime provides lessons about polymers - chains of identical molecules linked together in long, strong strands! At first, the chains in the glue slide past each other easily, but once liquid starch is added, cross-linking occurs.  These chemical bonds change the position of the glue molecules so that the strands become tangled and create the slimly substance!  

You can also watch the Science-U @ Home activity we feature on our Virtual Science Festival by clicking the link below.  The recipe differs slightly in that Borax creates the cross-linking of the glue polymers instead of starch, but the fun and gooey mess is still the same!

JOIN US AT EVENTAPALOOZA!

The Science Outreach Office will be having a table at the WPSU outdoor event, Eventapalooza!  Click on the link below to learn more about this family event scheduled for Sunday, October 24th at Innovation Park, State College. We look forward to sharing a fun science activity with families that afternoon!

CAMPUS TREE WALK WITH DR. KIM STEINER

Wednesday, October 13, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Did you know that, even before the The Arboretum at Penn State was constructed, the University Park campus was recognized as an arboretum due to the number and variety of trees cultivated there? The Arboretum invites you to join Kim Steiner, professor emeritus of forest biology and former Arboretum director, for a walking tour of the some of the botanically, ecologically, and historically interesting trees on campus. Learn about the stories and life histories behind some of the University's most interesting and long-lived residents. You'll never look at campus the same way again! 

THE "TARANTULAS" OF PENNSYLVANIA

Wednesday, October 27, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania is home to hundreds of species of spiders. Most of these arachnids are familiar to us: some make webs in our gardens or in the corners of our houses, while others run across the ground or jump from plant to plant. However, did you know that we also have relatives of tarantulas in the Commonwealth? This talk focuses on the cryptic and fascinating Mygalomorphae of the region, two of which you can find in The Arboretum at Penn State. 

Instructor: Andrew R. Deans is the director of the Frost Entomological Museum at Penn State, located across from Berkey Creamery. His research focuses on parasitoid and gall-inducing wasps, but he has a long-time interest in spider biology. 

AAUW USED BOOK SALE IS BACK!

The State College branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will be holding its Used Book Sale at the Penn State Ag Arena on October 9 - 12th (Saturday - Tuesday) from 9:00 am - 8:00 pm! If you'll be in University Park next weekend, come find some books and support a great organization!

CAREERS IN CYBERSECURITY

Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week will be October 18-23, 2021. Find information about setting up and promoting cybersecurity events and activities within classrooms, schools, and communities. 

HOMAGE TO HUBBLE

The Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County is holding a special exhibit of photographs taken by the Hubble Telescope!  The exhibit is curated by a Penn State student and will be available until October 31st!