 By Kevin Wang
On the surface, the workings of the brain appear to be a mystery. Its system of neurons constantly takes in information from our surroundings to somehow produce our thoughts, emotions, and cognition. This process seems unfathomable—even magical. As we look closer, though, a clearer picture begins to form.
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 By Yilyn Chen
With winter in full swing, the circumstances of the pandemic have left us with no choice but to embrace the cold, frigid weather. Finding indoor places to exercise have become more difficult, as numerous gyms have closed or are running at limited capacity. But we still have one obvious option: braving the cold! The outdoors has become our best and safest option to socially distance from others, while still allowing us to fit in a workout and maybe even follow a slight semblance of a normal routine.  By Michelle Lu
In January of 2021, GameStop’s market value increased from $2 billion to over $24 billion in a matter of days. Its shares rose over 1,700 percent in January compared to December 2020, though in February it plunged by over 80 percent. GameStop’s trading mania was sparked by members of a popular Reddit investing community who said they hoped to strike back against the Wall Street elites who had long dismissed them as “dumb money.” In the fallout of Gamestop’s rise and fall, many major hedge funds and retail investors have taken a great loss. Meanwhile, though, a third player that represents about 50 percent of trading in US equity markets, has consistently made profits throughout this entire duration—High Frequency Trading (HFT) firms.  Illustrated by Zoe Heidenry By Tanisha Jhaveri
We've probably all noticed an involuntary increase in our use of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media is a cause for concern, not only for the many harms of excessive screen time, but also for the content on these platforms, which, especially around sensitive issues like mental illness, should warrant caution. While social media gives us a useful way to express ourselves, mental illness is often romanticized on platforms such as Tumblr and Instagram through phrases or images that portray it as something aesthetic and beautiful.  By Ellen Alt
Book is to reading, as fork is to: a. drawing, b. writing, c. stirring, d. eating. If you got “d,” congrats! You just got one IQ question right, and you exercised your brain in the process. Although increasing our intelligence might be an entertaining thought, intelligence is not that simply defined. IQ is understood as one’s intelligence quotient, or “a number representing a person’s reasoning ability,” or alternatively, “the ability to collect and apply knowledge and skills.” Western society values higher intelligence as it contributes to increased success in the workplace, but that is merely based on our warped metrics of intelligence and success, as there are other types of intelligence. Rather, when considering a comprehensive understanding of intelligence, we should consider varying levels of the intelligence quotient IQ, different types of intelligence (emotional, artistic, etc.), and different ways of learning.  Illustrated by Rebecca Siegel By Kevin Wang
What is consciousness? Philosophers have tackled this question for hundreds of years, yet have always fallen short of reaching an objective conclusion. With simple technology and a limited understanding of the human brain, they had trouble grasping the workings of our minds. Many thought that our selves and our consciousness were ethereal—stemming from a magical dimension, rather than rooted in a physiological source.  Illustrated by Tiffany Qian By Jimmy Liu
When asked where the color green occurs in nature, one would probably immediately turn to the earth. The color green, however, is not limited to what springs from the ground. If you were to look towards the horizon at the setting sun under the right atmospheric conditions, you might just catch a glimpse of what is known as the green ray, an optical phenomenon first popularized by Jules Verne’s 1882 novel of the same name: at the moment of sunset, a distinct green flash shoots out from the sun’s upper disk, lasting no more than seconds. There are people who dedicate years, decades, and even their entire lives, in search of this fabled phenomenon, but what exactly makes the green ray so rare? What happens when the lucky stars align to allow for a successful observation?  Illustrated by Aeja Rosette By Shivani Tripathi
A fudgey brownie that melts in your mouth. Crispy, sweet macarons for a snack. Your red-velvet birthday cake just waiting to have its candles blown. Whether it be to celebrate another year of life or to satisfy 3 AM cravings, dessert is one of the most joyful aspects of the human experience. Though dessert remains a global constant, there is a revolution brewing in the recipes of our favorite sweets. People are increasingly opting to replace an essential ingredient in desserts: eggs. Reasons for doing so include (but are not limited to) environmental sustainability, allergies, and cholesterol problems. Many worry that excluding eggs will result in their desserts being flat and lackluster. Although egg substitutes do not entirely emulate the polyfunctionality of an egg, there are a variety of egg replacements that can contribute to making delicious sweets.  Illustrated by Megan Zou By Jimmy Liu
If you’re reading this, congratulations! You have a chance to win a large sum of money, but only if you make the correct choice. If you want to participate in this game, this is what you have to do: fill in this form, where you have one of two options, to defect or to cooperate. If you cooperate, you will get $4 for each person who cooperated, but no money from the defectors. If you defect, you will get a meager $1 for each of your fellow defectors but $6 for each cooperator. Take your time. I’ll be here when you come back.  Illustrated by Tiffany Qian By Angela Mu
When one considers the future of technology in healthcare, virtual reality (VR) is undoubtedly an exciting prospect that holds the potential to revolutionize the industry. Truly, the applications of VR extend far beyond entertainment and immersive and interactive game experiences. |