Science Physics club to host "sumo robot" battle HEATHER WAGNER physics writer Transformers just got a lit tle more real. The Behrend Physics club is planning a "sumo robot contest" in December, open to any interested students. The sumo robot contest in volves the creation of an au tonomous robot which will battle other robots to the death. By death, they mean run the other robot off the table. Mercilessly, of course. But don't get too carried away here. The rules are strict, and flamethrowers are ex pressly prohibited. It is a contest of ingenuity and programming skill. There is merely an entry fee and a few guidelines. Think you've got the ball bearings to throw your robot into the ring? Check the info between the feet of the leader of the Decepti cons, channel some Mac- Gyver, and prepare for the robot fight of your life. For any more infor mation regarding the contest, contact Heather Wagner at h1w5041«/ psu.edu. Why be a math major Mathematics Reporter Nichole M. Buczynski looks into the reality behind why students major in mathematics at Penn State Behrend like Myths still fly in regards to one of the oldest studies at a university: mathematics. Many assume that there are no jobs for math majors. Many people see it as an extremely difficult major. Some people feel that math provides little opportunity for research. With all of these assumptions, it can sometimes be hard to sift through the myths to find the true facts about being a math major. Ask any of Penn State Behrend's mathematics majors, though, and they will set you straight on their studies. Jose Sosa, a sophomore math major, provided a couple of details on what he feels makes a math major. Sosa is from Queens, New York and applied to Penn State Behrend with SUMO ROBOT CONTEST THE WHEN AND WHERE: Date: Saturday Dec. 7 Time: TBD Location: TBD THE OBJECT: Run everyone else's robot off the table. THE DETAILS: Any student can enter for a entry fee. Flamethrowers prohibited, but robotic carnage encouraged. THE CONTACT INFO: Heather Wagner, at h1w5041«/ psu.edu the intent of transferring the Univer- sity Park: Sosa has changed his mind, Daniel Galinsky Jr., a junior also due to the fact that Behrend offers a majoring in mathematics, agrees that lot of opportuni-a math major will ties for research, "There is a kind of provide many op the faculty is nice, prestige about it. I feel portunities for and class sizes the future. are small. that lam accomplishing "With a Sosa explained math degree, I that his favorite something significant in believe that I will thing about math thegrand scheme be in a great posi is that it is con- tion to get many crete and that it of things." different jobs," builds upon itself. Galinsky said. "Being a math Daniel Galinsky Jr. "It is not as major means that focused as an en hum), \Lith, , ni.itu , oldp,/ I can solve prob- gineering degree, lems," he said. "I believe that when which gives me many more opportu employers look to hire someone, they nities. Also, it is not so broad as to want problem solvers, people who not give me what I need. can get the job done." BEHREND BEACON November 13, 2009 www.thebehrendbeacon.com Top Science News: ENVIRONMENT The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has released the new Red List of Threatened Species. The union met in Gland. Switzerland to compose a list of plant and animal species that are following the way of the famous dodo. According to the new list, there are 17, 291 species that face an ever near ing demise. 21 percent of known mammals, 30 percent of known am phibians, 12 percent of known birds, 28 percent of reptiles, 37 percent of freshwater fish, 35 percent of in vertebrates, 70 percent of plants are on the verge of extinction. LIFE A study at the Weizmann In stitute of Science in Rehovot, Is rael has shown why some smells take us back to our childhood. In the study, volunteers were shown an object and introduced to an odor. After half an hour, they were given another smell while still looking at the same object. A week later, the volunteers were shown the same object and asked what smell they remember. Using MRI images they saw that the volunteers associ ated the object with the first smell pre sented. Their team concluded that the brain gives precedence to smells when first introduced to an object. ENVIRONMENT In 1990, a NASA spacecraft flew by Earth with an acceleration that no one could explain. Then in 2005 a Euro pean spacecraft exhibited the same behavior. Scientists still have no an swers as to why this acceleration oc curs, postulating that there are new exotic physics to be learned. On No vember 13, the European spacecraft will fly past Earth again. Scientists will be observing the craft to spot the anomaly again, and discover its ori gins. Science Editor Brian Carlson Co-Editors Andrea Adams, Chase Weaver Computer Writer Biology Writers Max Deliso Andrea Adams Chemistry Writer Chase Weaver Marie Ebner Physics Writer Math Writer Heather niftier Nichol(' Buczynski "I am very proud of being a math major... There is a kind of prestige about it. I feel that I am accomplish ing something significant in the grand scheme of things." Galinsky's plans for the future in clude possibly doing research - maybe for the government - and then going on for a master's degree in mathematics. Research opportunities for mathe matics majors are actually quite nu merous. There is always a professor looking for someone to help with re search. In addition, the job outlook for mathematicians is actually quite large. Like Sosa plans to, many end up working for the government - the largest employer of mathematics is the National Security Agency.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers