How to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from science

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. — The pumpkin in Tony Scott’s backyard weighs almost as much as a small car. He’s been tending to it for months, feeding it fertilizer and covering it with a blanket at night to keep it at a stable temperature. A roll of measuring tape wrapped around the pumpkin gives him a […]
How to tell the difference between stress and burnout

This is the weekly Work Life newsletter. If you are interested in more careers-related content, sign up to receive it in your inbox. If you’ve ever chalked up your exhaustion to just “a rough week,” you might want to look closer. Burnout isn’t always the dramatic crash we imagine. It often starts subtly, like a […]
How to succeed in Germany

International students benefit Germany, even in economic terms. Some 45 per cent are still living in Germany 10 years after obtaining their degree certificate. A recent study conducted by the reveals that each cohort of international students contributes far more in the long-term to public sector revenues than the state has invested in it. In […]
How to protect yourself from the bad air caused by wildfires

WASHINGTON — When wildfires burn, the smoke can travel long distances and degrade air quality far away, which presents risks for those breathing it. Fires burning in one state can make air worse several states away, and wildfires in Canada can send smoke into U.S. cities. In Utah, the Monroe Canyon Fire in Sevier County […]
How One College is Encouraging Students to Fail Better

Reducing failure rates in higher education is typically a mark of student success. But Hamilton College is flipping the narrative this academic year with a new campaign that teaches students to fail and bounce back. The “failing better” campaign, led by the university’s student success division, ALEX, provides resources and support for staff to push […]
The cost of loneliness can be death. Here’s how to find good friends

AUSTIN, Texas — After working from home all day, your takeout order arrives and you start binge-watching your favorite show alone. Sounds ideal, right? Except doing this routinely could shorten your life. And that’s not because of the nutritional content of your dinner. It’s because having strong, positive relationships is one of the best ways […]
Why Students Tune Out and How to Change That

A recent report from a Harvard College Faculty of Arts and Sciences committee calls attention to two major campus concerns: First, that students frequently self-censor on controversial topics, and second, that many prioritize extracurricular commitments over academics, treating coursework as secondary. Drawing on surveys and listening sessions with students, faculty and alumni, the report found […]
How to Find On-Campus Jobs at Gonzaga | Undergraduate Admission

June 23, 2025 | Megan Baird ’24, Admission Counselor Working on campus allows students to gain valuable experience, professional development, and help fund their education. On-campus jobs allow for flexibility, accountability, networking, less debt, and career exploration. We have over 1200 student employees on our campus working an average of 8-10 hours a week. Our […]
How to land a job in a ‘low firing, low hiring’ market: economist

Job seekers at a job fair hosted by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to support federal workers looking for new career opportunities, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on April 25, 2025. Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images These days, job hunting may feel like something of a paradox: Even though the overall […]
How to Ensure You’ll Never Be a Chair Again (opinion/humor)

“First rule of leadership: Everything is your fault.” –from A Bug’s Life Congratulations! You have been elected or appointed or duped into serving as department chair, the role that everyone says is the hardest job on campus. Maybe that’s what attracted you to the position—you enjoy working days, nights and weekends on thorny issues that […]