By Grace Helmke

Our universe stretches billions of lightyears, and continues to constantly expand. It consists of trillions of galaxies, and houses upwards of 700 quintillion planets. There has long been speculation that somewhere out in this massive expanse of darkness and light, there may be civilizations; some possibly intelligent enough to surpass us in our technological endeavors. But is this just another conspiracy theory, or is there scientific truth behind this notion? 

The Milky Way alone is littered with hundreds of billions of stars, each accompanied by multitudes of planets residing in their smaller solar systems. Among these planets within our galactic neighborhood, tens of billions would be located in the “habitable zone” of their star. The planet would have to be close enough from the star for liquid water to exist, but far enough away that the water wouldn’t evaporate. This means that a planet’s climate would all but mimic that of earth’s. Leading to the scientific speculation that life could exist here. While we aren’t sure how many of these planets support life, we now know that it’s possible. 

Scientists have discovered the existence of more than 4,000 exoplanets (or planets outside the solar system) that have the potential to harbor life. This topic of exoplanets is an exceptionally fast growing field that will most likely remain an important scientific discipline, for decades to come, due to the fact that these planets are not just celestial objects, but the potential homes of extraterrestrial life.

Recently, scientists at the SETI institute (The Search for Extraterrestrial Life) have been going to great lengths aiming to discover life on other planets. They attempt to try and find traces of life in space by searching for technosignatures, which according to Phys.org, are detectable signs of past or present technology used on other planets. This would mean that an extraterrestrial civilization would be intelligent and advanced enough to be creating a society based around the development of technology.

When taking into account the sheer size of our universe, and the fact that it has been around for so many years, it is probable that the complicated biochemistry that created life, then intelligent beings on earth, occurred more than once in the history of the universe. Suggesting that humanity is an anomaly defies scientific reasoning and the mediocrity principle, which states that it is probable that our solar system is more likely a common event than an atypical phenomenon.  

In the near future, with space missions being outlined, technology becoming increasingly advanced, and great steps being made in science, it is likely that we will find concrete evidence of other life in the universe, whether it be small or large. 

For more information please visit: 

• Space.com: https://www.space.com/25303-how-many-galaxies-are-in-the-universe.html#:~:text=While%20estimates%20among%20different%20experts,Science%20Institute%20in%20Baltimore%2C%20Maryland.
• Phys.com: https://phys.org/news/2020-06-intelligent-life-planets-technosignatures-clues.html
• Nasa exoplanet exploration: https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/faq/6/how-many-exoplanets-are-there/#:~:text=To%20date%2C%20more%20than%204%2C000,not%20the%20exoplanet%20is%20real

By Nora Doyle and Olivia Miller

Ever feel yourself slipping into a funk right around when the weather starts to get cooler, and your motivation is pretty much in the gutter? Maybe you start to have trouble staying awake, or trouble concentrating. This may be more than just a recurring funk.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, otherwise known as SAD, (kind of funny, right?) is common in young adults and even more so in women. In fact, it is 4 times more likely for women to have SAD.

According to Mayo Clinic, most cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder appear during late fall or early winter and go away when the sunny warm weather of spring and summer begin. But in some cases, symptoms can appear in the spring and summer, and go away in the fall and winter.

Although SAD can cause a drastic change to someone’s daily life, it is actually very common, affecting over 10 million Americans according to Psychology Today.

There are quite a few symptoms that can be recognized as Seasonal Affective Disorder. These include feeling depressed daily and for most of the day, losing interest in previously enjoyed activities, having low energy, trouble sleeping or trouble staying awake, changes in appetite or weight, feeling sluggish or easily agitated, difficulty concentrating, feeling worthless and or hopeless, and frequent thoughts of death or suicide. So yes, it can be very serious .

There are some differences in the symptoms of SAD in the fall/winter time than the ones in the spring/summer time. For example during the fall/winter time some of the symptoms are oversleeping and gaining weight, while in the spring/summer time some of the symptoms can be not getting enough sleep and you may even lose some weight rather than gain it.

A few things can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder according to the Mayo Clinic. The three big ones are your circadian rhythm, serotonin levels, and melatonin levels.

Your circadian rhythm is like your inner clock. Your inner clock has to do with the cycle of the moon and sun. The decrease in sunlight in fall and winter may disrupt your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.

Serotonin is the chemical in the brain that affects mood. Reduced sunlight can also cause a drop in serotonin, triggering depression.

The change in season can also disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin. Melatonin plays a role in sleep patterns and mood. There are some factors that may increase the risk of SAD. Factors include family history, having major depression or bipolar disorder, and living far from the equator.

By Grace Helmke

In an era of revolution and emerging awareness on all spectrums, environmental change, and the impact of humanity on planet earth, is a topic well discussed. But even with numerous papers published, research documented, and proof being given to confirm our planet’s great need for the development of environment friendly living, most of the world has yet to act upon this issue.

However, some countries have taken great strides in this mission; sustainability becoming their way of life. Iceland has been unofficially dubbed “poster child” of Nationwide sustainability, finding greener ways of life, and producing more renewable energy than anywhere else in the world. 

Iceland can thank their incredible geological features for allowing them access to plentiful hydro and geothermal resources. These natural assets account for over 85% of Iceland’s energy supply, and 100% of their electricity production.

When compared to the United States, this feat seems far more impressive. Our nation’s renewable energy production only makes up 11% of our supply, and 17% of electricity generated. This is such a significant achievement for Iceland because of the incredible good it can do for our planet. Generating energy from fossil fuels furthers air pollution and global warming. This contributes to eustatic change, intensified natural disasters, and temperature rise. 

Not only is Iceland a leader in renewable energy, but they have taken steps in educating their nation’s children on climate change, and the effects we have on our environment. Sustainability is one of the national requirements in the Icelandic education system. Students are taught what global warming is, and that it will continue to happen if nothing is done to change it.

This is in comparison to The United States’ system, where the teaching of climate change is optional, and largely not discussed for an extended period of time. 

Plastics are also a major concern when it comes to the environment. But starting in the summer of 2021, all single use plastics are being banned in Iceland. This includes: straws, cutlery, bags, and dishes. The only exception will be single use plastics required for medical reasons. All products sold in restaurants and fast food chains will now be reusable or biodegradable, including cutlery and packaging. 

Iceland has taken major steps in healing our environment for future generations. They lead all nations in renewable energy production, and have implemented changes to provide a better environmental education, and a tighter restriction on eco-friendly products. There’s no doubt there are more changes on the way, as other countries join Iceland in pursuit of a greener way of life. 

For more information, and more statistics on Iceland please visit:

https://visiticeland.com/article/renewable-energy

https://www.government.is/topics/business-and-industry/energy/

By: Olivia Kendle

There are many threats to our planet at this current time. One of the most serious threats is loss of biodiversity. It is important to know the main risks that decreasing biodiversity poses for the health of our planet.

First of all, the term biodiversity is short for “biological diversity”. Biological diversity refers to the way that all plants and animals and everything on earth are interrelated and dependent on one another. Since everything is dependent on everything else, if anything changes to one part of the environment, it shows up in other parts of the environment. Scientists are especially concerned about the effects that humans have on biological diversity. They study these effects so that they can tell us what we need to do to keep our environment healthy.

Among the serious threats is climate change. The effects from climate change include weather and climate effects which some animals can not adapt to in time or are struggling to survive. For example; pollution and trash in ocean waters as well as warming in ocean temperatures are affecting many species to survive. Ice is one of the main reflectors of sun rays. But with the ice melting, many rays of sun are coming into our atmosphere, “bleaching” our coral reefs. Many marine species die without the protection of the coral reef.

Another threat to biodiversity is human population growth. The slow growth of population causes expansions of cities. More farms and factories are built and forests are being cut down to make room. Many species can not adapt to these large changes and are forced out or killed in the process.

Fortunately, there are many things that can be done and are being done to solve these issues. According to the American Museum of Natural History, “Over 100,000 protected areas—including national parks, wildlife refuges, game reserves, and marine protected areas, managed both by governments and local communities—provide habitat for wildlife, and help keep deforestation in check.”

We need to be informed about the threats of biodiversity because it affects the wellbeing of all of us and more importantly, our planet.

For more information, please visit:

• https://www.amnh.org/research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/about-the-cbc/what-is-b
  iodiversity

The Asian Giant Hornet, also known as ‘murder hornets’, arrived in the U.S in late 2019 when the beekeeper, Custer Wash, found an entire hive of bees destroyed in Washington state.

These giant hornets can grow up to two inches long. Their diets consist of large insects, colonies of insects, tree sap, and honey from honeybee colonies. 

The Asian Giant Hornets can be hostile if aggravated. If irritated, its venom is injected by its 6.25 mm long stinger and it attacks the human body’s nervous system and breaks the tissue of its victims.

These hornets originated from Japan, China, and many more Asian countries. Their nests are mostly made in forests and low mountains. They avoid higher elevations and flatlands along with tropical environments. 

The way honey bees eliminate these much larger creatures is by attracting them into the honeybee hive. Once the giant hornet is inside the hive, it will strike one of the honeybees, this is a clue to the rest of the honeybees to charge at it. While the Asian Giant Hornets are bigger than honeybees, the honeybees outnumber the hornet by a large quantity. They will then start to vibrate and make heats of 114 F°. By doing this, they basically cook the hornet alive and kill it. 

As I mentioned before, these giant hornets can be harmful when provoked. The stings can be so bad they can cause kidney failure. In the year 2013, the Asian Giant Hornets killed 41 people and injured more than 1,600 people in China. The venom from these hornets can even cause anaphylactic shock or cardiac arrest.

As of right now, the Asian Giant Hornet is the most dangerous hornet that causes 30-50 human deaths annually in Japan. 

By: Linda Tellez-Ruiz

In the morning, at 4:46AM, on April 29, an asteroid that goes by the name of ‘1998 OR2’ safely passed by earth. The asteroid was discovered in 1988. The asteroid was an estimated 1.2 miles wide and was moving at 19,461mph.

The asteroid was 16 times farther than the distance between the earth and the moon. So we were pretty safe and sure that it wasn’t going to hit us. Even though it wasn’t going to hit us, it was still labeled as potentially hazardous. Scientists label that dangerous because the asteroid came within 5,000,000 miles of the earth’s orbit.

We’re safe now but in 2079, the same asteroid will pass by us again 3.5 times closer than it did this year, and that is why scientists are monitoring its orbit to know where it is exactly. Scientists have been tracking it for the past two decades, and they know its orbital trajectory very precisely. With this information they know that there is no possibility that the asteroid will hit us in the next 200 years.

The worst thing that could happen is the asteroid changing its orbit, which is also changing its path, causing it to maybe pass by earth a lot closer. Close approaches like these are very very rare especially with the size of this asteroid.

Another thing that we know for sure is that astronomers have already discovered almost all asteroids about the size of 1998 or larger: 98% of them to be exact. And those are just the ones that will have a close encounter with earth, although it is very unlikely that they would have any impact.

If an asteroid was going to come in contact with the earth, astronomers have researched many techniques to keep that from happening, although that task would be very complicated depending on the size of the asteroid. One of the strategies to knock an asteroid off its course is to attach rockets to one that would steer it away from hitting us.

Another method is to shoot it. This method would not get it off its course.

Another way that is a lot more complicated, is capturing it inside an inflatable bag that would re-directed somewhere else.

Animal poaching is when an animal is killed illegally. It can also be defined as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals. These animals are killed for something that holds value. In some cases, it can be an animal’s fur or ivory. Some people believe that the rhino horn is important for medicinal purposes but in reality it has no significant use. 

Animal poaching happens mostly in the country of Zimbabwe. A country in Africa. Kenya comes in second place when it comes to poaching. The pattern that appears here is that most animal poaching happens in Africa because that’s where most of the rare animals are.

There can be many reasons as to why people decide to poach animals. One of the reasons people poach animals is because of their religion. Their religion can sometimes have obligations and/or traditions that involve poaching animals. Another reason can be for necessity or beliefs. Some poach animals and use them for their hides, skins, and the remaining parts are used for things such as clothing, food, or medicine. While some people have beliefs that it’s okay to poach animals.         

The most poached animals are elephants, walruses, rhinos, bears, and white-tailed deer. Elephants and walruses are poached for the ivory in their tusks. Their ivory tusks are often carved into jewelry and ornaments. Rhinos are poached for their horns. Its common use is to have it as a display to symbolize how successful and wealthy a person is if they have it. The American black bear is poached for its body parts that are used for exotic foods, they can also be used as aphrodisiacs. White-tailed deer is poached for its antlers and its meat. 

According to Onegreenplanet.org, there are many ways you can help stop the poaching of animals. One way to help is by signing petitions. There are many petitions that serve different purposes such as enacting wildlife protection or to end wildlife crime. Another way is by donating to foundations and volunteering.