Category Archives: News

Science/Nature

Climate change’s effects on Alaska

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By: Siri David

Photo by Tomu00e1u0161 Malu00edk on Pexels.com

Alaska is a prime example of climate change and the effects from it. Alaska has been facing these effects for more than 50 years. The environment there is changing everyday and there is only so much time left to be able to save it.

The state has warmed 3 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, in the summer and 6 degrees in the winter. This seems like a small change but it is actually a lot, and makes a big difference. The state has seen a lot of changes like glaciers shrinking, shores eroding, wildfires, and insects breaking out. These are all effects of climate change, and effects that are likely to continue rising.

These things are happening because of the earth getting warmer. Since the late 1700’s the amount of carbon dioxide that humans put into the atmosphere has increased by 40 percent. Along with that, heat trapping greenhouse gasses also increase at a fast rate. Both of these things cause humidity to increase which causes more rain in areas but can also cause droughts in other areas.

More carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere also affects the oceans. Carbon dioxide mixed with water forms a carbonic acid which means that the ocean is more acidic. The ocean temperature has also been getting warmer which is why it feels like countries that are really cold face the most effects of climate change.

Whether it feels like it or not the world is suffering and we need to help it. There are a lot of big and little things we can do to help the environment and specifically Alaska. The smaller things include turning off lights when you leave a room, not letting your water run for longer than needed, and trying to walk/bike places more.

A larger thing you can do to make a difference is donating to organizations that work to clean up trash and the environment. If you don’t have the money for that you can personally work to clean up your community.

Something that I think really really does help is speaking up about it and staying updated on what is happening. Along with that, I think teaching people about what is happening to one of the most beautiful states in our country is so important and something we should all take action to fix.

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Music/Concerts, News

Liam Payne tribute

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By: Priya Anderson & Ruby Anderson

Screenshot of Zayn Malik’s Instagram tribute

From an English town in West Midlands, England, and born on August 29th, 1993, Liam Payne was an English singer-songwriter, and father. Best known as a member of One Direction, Payne’s life is a testament to the power of superstardom, and the beauty of talent.

One Direction, which is one of the best selling boy bands of all time, needs no introduction. The story of how it came to be is a classic amongst Gen Z. Liam Payne was the first member to audition on ‘The X Factor’, a British talent show. He was also the first to advance through the first round, but was cut at the ‘boot camp stage’. Simon Cowell, who would manage and form 1D, brought Liam back. Liam was cut again, but Cowell saw something in him, and encouraged him to come back in ‘2 years’.

2010 was the year it all changed. After returning to their show, Liam was paired with 4 strangers: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. They gained popularity extremely fast. Placing 3rd place on the show, they were signed to Simon Cowell’a ’Syco Entertainment’. From there, history was made. From songs like, “What Makes You Beautiful”, “Live While Were Young’, “Best Song Ever”, and countless other hits, 1D was sent into the stratosphere, and never really came down.

At a very young age, Payne was touring all over the world. Anywhere from North America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe, Payne was living the superstar’s dream. But this type of fame at a young age would take a toll on anyone. Payne struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues for many years up to his untimely death. After 1D separated in 2015, Payne always maintained his hope for a reunion. The group’s success was so monumental, so intense, all the members continued to have a special relationship with one another, even after falling out.

Payne released his first hit single in 2017, “Strip That Down”, which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Payne then released a subsequent album, ‘Bedroom Floor’, and a planned second studio album was in the works for 2023-2024. Payne delved into themes like sexuality, and explored the R&B style he would be known for. Payne was also an extraordinary writer, co-writing almost 30 songs for 1D, and many other artists. Also skilled in coming up with melodies, Payne’s rich voice was perfect for capturing the right tune.

With his singing talent, Payne utilized his fame for good, and was a philanthropist for many organizations. He supported BBC’s children in need fundraising efforts, Comic Relief, UNICEF, and was an ambassador of sustainable development. During COVID, Payne helped fund over 60,000 meals in the Trussell Trust. Prior to his death, Payne donated thousands of pounds to various GoFundMe pages.

Many things could be said about Liam Payne and fame in general, but what is known is the need for people to take mental health and substance abuse seriously. On October 16th, 2024, Liam Payne died after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires. He was 31. This has raised concern about the music industry, media, and adolescent fame. Shortly after his death, fans and friends paid tribute to him. Fans gathered outside of the hotel the day he died, lighting candles and mourning the loss of the pop star. Fan memorials took place all over the world, such as in Mexico, UK cities, and NYC.

All members of 1D wrote eulogies about their friend, and posted them on social media alongside pictures with Liam. One of the most poignant quotes was from Zayn Malik, a band member who was close with Liam. Zayn stated, “I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time…”. Several other celebrities also paid tribute, including Simon Cowell. Liam’s death was a tragic accident, and a circumstance of immense fame. Not much is known about his death, and what’s best now is to appreciate his life and legacy. When 1D finally reunites, Liam’s place will always be cherished in the hearts of many.

Events, Getting To Know/History

Mid Autumn Moon Festival

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By: Cleo Newton

The Mid Autumn Moon Festival is a Chinese festival that celebrates the unity and harmony among loved ones. There’s a well known legend/folktale that goes with this holiday: 嫦娥奔月 (Chang’e Ben yue). The story (according to my memory of hearing it every year) goes like this:

There once were ten suns in the sky, the suns would go around burning up the earth and causing droughts. People were dying because they couldn’t drink any water or grow any crops to eat. To solve this problem, Houyi, being a very experienced archer, was given a special set of bow and arrows to shoot down the suns. He shot down the suns one by one until there was only one left remaining. The last sun was left in the sky to keep the earth from going cold.

As a reward for shooting down the suns, a goddess came down and gave him an elixir (in some other versions it’s a few pills). Drinking (or eating) half this (these) elixir (pills), would make you live forever, eating all of them would allow you to ascend to heaven and become a deity. Houyi gave the medicine to his wife, Chang’e and told her about the effects of drinking (eating). Overjoyed, Chang’e and Houyi agreed that they would both drink (eat) half (I’m not sure why they didn’t just do that right away).

Chang’e was left to guard the medicine while Houyi left to hunt for food (I thought all the animals were still burned up and dead from just the other day 🤔). PengMeng (who in some versions of the story is a student of Houyi, and in others he’s just some guy), had heard Chang’e and Houyi talking about the pills, and decided that he wanted to steal the elixir (pills) for himself. He broke into their house while Houyi was out and threatened Chang’e with a knife, saying that he would kill her if she didn’t give him the elixir (pills). In some other versions of the story, there is no PengMeng and Chang’e was a greedy person who took the medicine for herself. To keep the medicine safe, Chang’e drank (swallowed) the elixir (pills) and flew up to the moon.

Houyi saw his wife flying off and chased after her to no avail. Once Chang’e arrived on the moon, she threw up the medicine and it turned into a rabbit. The rabbit supposedly can be seen on the face of the moon trying to make a new kind of medicine so Chang’e can come back to earth.

Houyi would frequently leave out fruit and mooncakes for his wife (in case she came back) and that’s why every year during the Mid Autumn Moon Festival, people sit outside to look at the full moon, and eat Mooncakes and fruit (Chang’e’s favorite foods).

After reading this I hope you’ve learned a bit about the Mid Autumn Moon Festival.

Getting To Know/History, Science/Nature

What is the X-59?

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By: Yohan Lee

Imagine flying at the speed of sound and cruising over public places whilst not hearing the sound barrier over you. Well, today I’m going to talk about the X-59 and the history of it.

The X-59 was built by NASA and Lockheed Martin. They both came together to try to build a supersonic aircraft that is quiet when flying over you. The X-59 development began in 2016 and the first machined part was made in 2018, then was revealed to the public on January 12, 2024. The X-59 was built in Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California.

What is supersonic? Supersonic is a loud sound of an object going over 700 miles per hour. Think of a whip and whipping it. That crackle is exceeding over 700 miles per hour. That crackle is a mini sonic boom. But the X-59 just can’t fly at 700 miles per hour or Mach 1. The X-59 can fly at Mach 1.42 or 940 miles per hour. When the X-59 flies over you at Mach 1 you would only hear a tiny thud. That little thud is about 75 db or just below a jet flying over you at 1000 feet which is about 106 db.

The reason why NASA and Lockheed Martin are trying to quiet the sonic boom is because it’s illegal to fly supersonic over the public for 3 main reasons. They don’t want to startle people thinking we’re going to war, it might kill someone or an animal (out of shock or knocking them over), and it can cause property damage as in breaking windows.

So, how can the X-59 achieve going over Mach 1 while barely hearing the sonic boom? Well, it starts with the nose of the aircraft. The X-59 has a sharp nose that cuts through the air making the aerodynamics much better and thus making the X-59 fly faster. The same goes for the delta wings. The reason why the X-59 has delta wings is because it reduces the effects of the shock waves and makes the sonic boom a quieter sonic boom thump.

The X-59 engines are the f414-GE-100 which are the same engines that are used for the F/A-18E/F/G. But the gears are the same gears that the F-16 uses.

The X-59 comes about 100 feet in length and 30 feet in width. The nose takes up half of the size and since the X-59 nose is long you can’t see much throughout the window. So, that’s why the X-59 is equipped with a camera at the end of the nose to see in front of the nose and to see the other side. The X-59 is equipped with 3 screens, one of them is the camera and the other two are for your basic flight instruments which tell what your plane is doing. Since the X-59 just came out, a lot of stuff is still classified.

So, how can it change aviation? Well, NASA and Lockheed Martin are planning to make a quiet supersonic plane and redesign it to be a commercial plane so we civilians can fly over Mach 1 at 700 miles per hour. For a regular flight from a 737, it takes 5 hours to get to California to Florida flying at a speed of 587 miles per hour. But when you’re flying the X-59 it would only take 3 hours flying at 700 miles per hour.

Why are NASA and Lockheed Martin working together to make the X-59? NASA has its team called QUESST which brings Lockheed Martin and NASA together, and under QUESST is The Quiet Crew. The Quiet Crew is a group assigned specifically to design and fly the X-59. Lockheed Martin collects data and helps build the X-59 since NASA doesn’t own many F-16s and F-18s, and again, the X-59 uses the F-18’s engines and F-16’s gears.

Before NASA had an idea to make the X-59 and convert it to a commercial airplane, the Concorde was the first ever super sonic commercial airliner. The United Kingdom and France made the Concorde in 1969. There were only two airliners who flew the Concorde and it was British Airways and Air France. The Concorde unfortunately retired on November 26, 2003, due to high maintenance and fewer people flying the Concorde since each ticket cost $10,000. Plus, the Concorde was super loud which caused many people to not like the Concorde. The Concorde could fly 2 times faster than the speed of sound or 1,354 miles per hour due to the Concorde having 4 Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 engines. Something interesting is that the X-59 and the Concorde had some similarities. They both had a long and sharp nose, delta wings and had stabilizers.

NASA said that the X-59 is going to come out in mid-2030 and hopefully in the future we will have a supersonic commercial airplane. And this is why the X-59 is going to change aviation.

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National, News

About Hurricane Milton

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By: Siri David

Florida coast Photo credits: me

Hurricane Milton is affecting the environment and people all over the world. Hurricane Milton hit Florida’s central west coast on October 9th. It was marked as a category 3 hurricane. It had winds up to 120 mph. Earlier Wednesday morning the national weather service found at least around 4 tornados on the south west coast of Florida. This all led to a massive category 5 storm on October 7th with winds hitting speeds of 180 mph. Milton rained so much in areas of Floridas that it is qualified as a 1 in 1,000 year rainfall event.

Hurricane Milton has affected so many people. Over 3.2 million people have lost power in Florida. There have been at least 14 deaths confirmed since the storm has passed through Florida. Many people have lost their homes and all their belongings. Which leads to lots of people being homeless now. A lot of small companies were also destroyed which led to job losses, because not everyone can recover all of that damage. There were 1,200 people rescued by the National Guard. A total of around 6,500 troops were asked to come into work.

The hurricane also left a large effect on the environment. It killed many animals and destroyed a lot of their ecosystems. This causes them to not be able to repopulate as well because their environment has been ruined. Another thing that affects the environment is with all of the things being destroyed, all of that trash is being spread all over, so that isn’t good for the environment either.

This hurricane is something that will change our country forever, so here are some ways you can help. If you are someone who doesn’t live near states that were affected you can donate to foundations and help raise money. There are a lot of organizations that are taking donations, just make sure you do your research to make sure you don’t get scammed. If you do live near states that were affected you can sign up with the Red Cross to become a volunteer or could work to make meals and help get homes for people through other organizations.

To recover from a disaster like this everyone needs to participate to help the people and the environment. It takes all of us.

Science/Nature

Top 5 poisonous plants (not in order)

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By: Cleo Newton

Poisonous plants can look like any other plant if you don’t know which is which. According to Britannica.com, the following are considered to be the world’s most poisonous plants.

Water Hemlock

This plant looks a lot like the Water Parsnip (Sium suave), they’re both made up of clusters of small, white flowers. The Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) is the deadliest plant in North America and is closely related to the Poison Hemlock. What makes this plant so deadly is the cicutoxin it’s infused with, especially so in the roots. If you eat this plant, the poison will rapidly generate symptoms that are potentially fatal. Symptoms such as abdominal cramps, nausea, convulsions and death are common. Those who survive eating a Water Hemlock usually have lasting tremors or amnesia.

Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)

The Deadly Nightshade has shiny black berries and dull green leaves. The sweet berries this plant produces are very poisonous and it’s usually children and unknowing adults that eat these berries. The leaves, roots and berries of this plant contain atropine and scopolamine. Consuming this plant will cause the involuntary muscles in the body to be paralyzed, including the heart. Touching this plant can cause skin irritation.

White Snakeroot

Like the Water Hemlock, this plant has a cluster of small white flowers. These flowers contain a toxic alcohol called trematol. Directly ingesting this plant causes death. You can even die if this poison indirectly makes its way into your body. Eating the meat and/or drinking the milk from poisoned livestock can pass the toxin onto the consumer. Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, weakness, abnormal acidity of the blood and death.

Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

The Castor Bean is widely grown as an ornamental plant; it’s an attractive plant to Africa. Castor oil comes from processed Castor seeds, which naturally contain the poison ricin. Ricin is so deadly that it only takes one or two seeds to kill a child. It takes up to eight to kill an adult. What ricin does is that it impedes the synthesis of proteins in cells, and can cause severe vomiting, seizures, diarrhea, and death. Most of these deaths are caused by the accidental consumption by kids and pets.

Photo by Plantpool images on Pexels.com

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Like the Castor Bean, this plant is also grown as an ornamental plant. All parts of this plant are poisonous. Oleander contain cardiac glycosides called oleandrin and neriine. Eating this plant can cause diarrhea, erratic pulse, vomiting, coma, seizures, and death, while coming into contact with the sap or leaves of Oleander can irritate the skin. Like the White Snakeroot, this plant is so toxic that people have fallen ill from indirectly ingesting the poison. People have become sick from eating the honey made from bees that visited this flower. Luckily, Oleander isn’t as commonly consumed as it’s very bitter.

After reading this article, I hope you’ve learned a bit more about poisonous plants.

Editorials/Student Voice, News

How climate change has affected recent hurricanes

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By: Nathaniel de Sam Lazaro

Credit: Wikimedia commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Hurricane&title=
Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

Last month, the nation watched as Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. According to the Associated Press, the death toll is now 250 people and it is still unclear how many are missing. The hurricane caused billions of dollars in property damage, and 4 million people lost power. However, less than two weeks later, another hurricane pummeled toward the gulf coast of Florida, which had already been hit by Helene.

Hurricane Milton made landfall as a category 3 hurricane in Siesta Key, Florida, located near Tampa. According to Accuweather, at least 23 people died from this hurricane. While Milton was not as bad as expected, these hurricanes are still very deadly and dangerous. Large amounts of Florida were under evacuation zones, and the Tampa Bay Area has now been hit by two major hurricanes over the course of two weeks.

While these hurricanes are natural disasters that have been happening for centuries, it is undeniable that human actions have been making hurricanes more frequent and worse.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, sea levels have risen by 4 inches since 1970, pushing water further inland and creating storm surges across the world, including in the volatile North Atlantic Ocean, which has seen major hurricanes (category 3 or higher) three times more frequently than it did 100 years ago. This rate has doubled since 1980. Additionally, hurricanes now have 10-15% more rainfall on average than they did 50 years ago.

Additionally, hurricanes have begun to move more slowly, making more water suck into them, making their storm surges more powerful. This is likely caused by the fact that the winds steering hurricanes move slower in warmer climates, and with a rapidly warming earth, this change is expected.

The truth is, climate change is already happening. It is more important than ever that we take steps to mitigate its effects. At the same time, humans must be able to adapt to some of the consequences of human caused climate change. In Florida, construction practices must change to be more resilient to worsening hurricanes. Governments should also enact policies that encourage the use of clean energy rather than fossil fuels. Only large, systemic changes can truly mitigate our climate crisis.  That is the only way we can stop climate change from getting worse than it already is. Our planet depends on it.

Editorials/Student Voice, Science/Nature

Risks of rising temperatures

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By: Siri David

Photo taken by me

In Saint Paul there is a very huge risk with heat rising. The number of the hottest days keeps increasing yearly. This is a huge issue. In the past there was an average of no more than seven days a year that reached higher than 91.2^F. By 2050 it is estimated that there will be up to an average of 36 days a year that reach over that temperature of 91.2.

With temperatures rising this fast there are a lot of health concerns for people. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are things that can happen to the human body when in the heat for too long. These are a few signs of heat exhaustion: getting light headed, weakness, heavy sweating, and muscle cramps are all really common signs. Heat stroke signs are: dry mouth, hot skin, vomiting, confusion, and seizures.

These are really important things that you need to make sure you’re aware of as temperature rises. If these signs are happening try to get into a cooler setting as soon as possible. If that is not possible try putting water on your neck and wrists, because that will help your body cool down faster.

There are a lot of ways, as humans though, we can work to decrease heat rising so fast. Conserving energy is really important. That means doing little things like turning off all the lights when you leave, not letting your water run for longer than needed, and driving less can also help a lot. Doing these things helps conserve energy.

Another thing that can help out a lot is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This means trying to use renewable energy sources like solar and hydro powers instead of using fossil fuels. Using electrical vehicles can also help out a lot.

Taking little or larger steps like these can really help the environment, and stop the climate from getting so warm so fast. This is a task that takes all of us one community at a time.

Editorials/Student Voice, News

Plastic bag bans

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By: Karl Salkowski

Although plastic bags are terrible for the environment, over 500 billion plastic bags are used yearly; 100 billion are used in the USA alone. The average “working life” of a plastic bag is only 15 minutes, and sadly, according to Stillwatermn.gov, only 1-3% of plastic bags are recycled, and less than 10% are reused. This means that the average family using plastic bags in Stillwater, Minnesota will use over 400 a year. Most of these bags are made of polyethylene and can take centuries to degrade. Because of statistics like these many countries are taking action to construct a cleaner future.

California became the first US state to ban single-use plastic bags in 2014. However, this backfired unexpectedly. Instead of consumers switching away from plastic bags, they instead moved toward thick-walled plastic bags. These thick-walled bags not only cost more, but are worse for the environment. According to Nytimes.com, Californians tossed nearly 50% more plastic bags by weight in 2021 than they did in 2014. In response to this loophole, in September of 2024, California  banned all plastic grocery bags regardless of thickness, and required consumers to begin paying 10¢ per paper bag if they lack reusable bags as of 2026.

Some countries have already banned all forms of single-use plastic. One of which is Rwanda. According to Undp.org, in 2008 Rwanda became one of the first countries to ban all single-use plastic bags and bottles. Rwanda even goes as far as to search tourist’s luggage for these single-use plastics upon entering the country. The first country to ban single-use plastic bags was actually Bangladesh in 2002.

More and more countries around the world are beginning to ban single-use plastics. So far, over 3.5 trillion plastic bags have been produced, 160,000 are used a second, and worldwide less than 1% are recycled. These plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to break down, so it is crucial that countries begin to ban and restrict these plastics as soon as possible.

Science/Nature

Glaciers

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By: Samson Belihu

Image created with AskAI

Glaciers – they are massive, slow moving bodies of ice that form over centuries from accumulated snow.
They are vital indicators of climate change, as they respond sensitively to temperature variation. Unfortunately, global warming has led to significant glacial decline, impacting ecosystems, sea level, and global water patterns.

Causes of Glacier Melting

Rising global temperatures are causing glacial melting. Average global temperatures have increased due to greenhouse gas emission from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and industrial progress. This warming accelerates the melting of glaciers, particularly in the polar and mountain regions.

Warmer ocean waters also contribute to the melting of glaciers. This is mostly happening in Greenland and Antarctica, which could potentially lead to flooding.

Consequences of Glacier Melting

Melting glaciers contribute to sea level rise, which threatens coastal communities and ecosystems. The increased glacial melting also impacts water supplies. Many regions rely on glacial meltwater for drinking water. As glaciers shrink, communities soon will face water shortages impacting agriculture.

Restoration Efforts

There are several organizations and companies that are focused on restoring glaciers, and the oceans temperature such as: Arctic Ice Project, Greennova Foundation, Mountain Wilderness, etc.

These groups are trying to slow glacial retreat through active intervention. For instance, some projects involve the application of reflective materials on glaciers to increase their albedo and reduce melting. Albedo is a measure of how much sunlight is reflected off of a surface, and it is important for glaciers because it helps regulate the earth’s temperature.

Some companies also research and monitor the changes of glaciers over time. There are also organizations that are working to raise awareness about the importance of glaciers and the big impact they have on climate change.

The melting of glaciers is a massive issue that is caused by climate change, with high consequences for our ecosystems, communities, and global sea levels. Many companies and organizations have stepped up to help with the restoration and conserve these glaciers, which hold many histories that many scientists have not gotten their hands on. There is hope to negate some of the impact of climate change on glaciers, and preserve them for the future generations.

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