Back to Articles News Back to Sections A New Benefit for Poop By Cody Sung Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Clevland Health Clinic Scientists have found a new benefit for poop. According to the New York Post, a company named Fitbiomics is making poop pills under the name Nella . According to their website, the pills focus on improving your gut’s microbiome, the bacteria that lives in your digestive tract. The pills contain bacteria from the guts of professional athletes that can improve performance. The bacteria is extracted from their poop. According to the New York Post, one person who tried it, a man named Steve Gallagher, was able to work out 40% longer and with more intensity. On Nella’s website, there are comments from other professional athletes praising the pills for improving their performance. Here is how the pill was created, and how science may not back it up at all. The CEO of Fitbiomics, Dr. Jonathan Scheiman, said he started off as a basketball player who had a dream of being in the NBA. He did not make it, and so turned to studying biomedicine and got a PHD in the subject area. He wanted to know how superstar athletes stood out, and Scheiman went down the path of gut microbes. In 2015 he started going around Boston, where he resided, and began collecting poop samples from 15 elite runners training for the Boston Marathon, as well as ordinary people. Scheiman found out that in the runners, there was more of the bacterium Veillonella atypica than in the ordinary people. To see if the bacteria made any difference, Scheiman put two groups of lab mice on treadmills. One group was given the bacteria while the other was not. The Veillonella-assisted group ran 13% longer than the group not given the bacteria. Scheiman though he had found it. So, does science say if it actually works? It’s not entirely clear. Despite the performance increase shown by Scheiman, according to the New York Times and NPR, there are other factors to consider involving this topic. Veillonella may work differently in people who are not physically active, including the possibility of dying instantly. The research also did not analyze whether the baseline levels of the bacteria made racers finish the marathon quicker or whether it was the effect of a higher concentration of lactate, which Veillonella eats. Finally, the 13% longer endurance benefit may not even end up scaling to humans. However, scientists are still not sure whether the factors mentioned before actually play a key role in whether these poop pills work or not. So, we will not know if these poop pills actually work until more evidence is found. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections FAFSA Overview Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching College is a wonderful opportunity to continue one’s educational journey and learn more about oneself and what opportunities lie ahead. Attending college, however, can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars without scholarships or financial aid. This leads many students to apply for state and federal financial aid through the FAFSA form. FAFSA or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form is a form that students need to complete each year to receive financial aid for college. The form helps determine eligibility for financial aid and gives students access to financial assistance through grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans. The FAFSA form helps students by allowing them to apply for financial aid to assist them with college payments. It asks for information regarding the student’s and their family’s financial status, personal information, and other details to determine eligibility. This information is sent to the colleges of a student’s choice and each college decides the amount of aid given, if any. Some information needed to complete the form includes a social security number, federal income tax return, and W-2 forms. It is recommended to create a FSA ID (Federal Student Aid Identification) as it is needed to renew the FAFSA each year. The form itself takes about an hour to fill out and can be submitted online, mailed, or submitted through your college of choice. After the form is submitted, students receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) that reviews the information provided and an EFC (Expected Family Contribution), an index number that determines eligibility for federal aid. Completing the FAFSA offers many benefits and has become a crucial step in the college process for many. Although tedious and complicated at times, this form allows more students to receive the assistance they need and gives many people access to the resources they need to further their education. It serves as a gateway to new opportunities, and it should be utilized as such. If you are having difficulties with the form or do not understand parts of it, talk to a teacher or guidance counselor or visit the official website at studentaid.gov . With the FAFSA, students are paving the way for a more affordable education, one step at a time. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Excitement of Twitch Channel Point Predictions By Garrick Neuner Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by Twitch.tv Twitch.tv’s hottest new feature brings more fun and more intensity to the Twitch viewing experience. For those not in the know, Twitch.tv is a popular live streaming platform designed for gaming content. Over the years, Twitch’s scope has expanded from its gaming origins, hosting “Just Chatting” streams and countless other in-real-life genres. On the service, you’ll encounter a wide variety of streams and personalities (from the standard loud, angry gamer-types to compassionate educators and inventive content-creators) so many users successfully find their favorite pocket of closely related games and streamers. One of Twitch’s most prominent features is its live chat, where viewers can interact with each other and their streamer. Through a wide range of emotes and chat features, users are encouraged to engage and actively participate in the streaming experience. One of these features, called channel points, rewards viewers with an in-app currency for watching streams. These points could then be redeemed to unlock certain emotes and trigger other events, depending on the streamer’s setup. Accruing such points, though, was not quite interesting at launch. All one could do was click on a bright blue pop-up to prove “active watching” and gain bonus points. This boring, formulaic accumulation all changed in late 2020 with the introduction of channel point betting - an exhilarating way to rapidly gain (or lose!) your hard-earned points. If you want to partake, click on the “prediction started!” popup soon after it appears. On this tab you’ll see the options to bet on, the total points invested on each option, the payout rate, the number of bettors on each side, and the highest bet placed for each side (which can go up to 250,000 points). To bet, simply click the 10-point button once for each 10 points you want to wager, or you can type in your own amount in the text boxes below those buttons. The payouts are based on a pot system, with each winning bettor getting their initial bet back as well as a portion of the wagers from the losing side. For example, in a 33% to 67% split, the first option will have a payout of 3:1 while the second will have a 1.5:1 payout. Thus, lopsided bets can provide the quickest boost in points, but usually there’s a reason the whole chat would be against the underdog. Channel point bets are started and called by either a streamer or their team of moderators. At any point during a stream, if a crucial moment is coming, either of those parties can fire a prediction opportunity. In speedrunning, a genre where a streamer completes a game as fast as possible, bets usually regard whether the streamer will succeed at certain game sections, dividing the viewerbase into “believers” and “doubters”. These two factions often proceed to banter with one another, providing a fun and exciting social opportunity in chat. In fighting games and other competitive titles, bets on winning competitors are often run throughout an entire tournament, creating an easily accessible, no risk, and child friendly bracket prediction system. Other bets can be less clear-cut and more silly, for example betting on if the monster in a new horror game will be “funny.” Bets like these can be subjective, so be careful risking your points on opinionated predictions. Twitch predictions are a simple and exciting way to get yourself immersed in the Twitch experience, so if you’ve never heard of the platform or are wondering if you’ll like the energy of a stream, find a couple of streams, throw yourself in, and get betting. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections North's Annual Club Fair Wardah Khizer Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 On September 16 th , 2025, Valley Stream North High School held its annual Club Fair, an event that gives students, especially the seventh graders, the opportunity to discover a variety of clubs and extracurricular activities the school has to offer. A wide variety of clubs attended, with poster boards and flyers in hand to gather participation for the new school year. Members from each club were present to answer questions and share their club’s goals. There were around 200 students in attendance, with many signing up to try new activities and get involved in school life. There was an energetic atmosphere with students moving from table to table, curious about extracurriculars and excited to make the school community a welcoming space. North High School prides itself on its diverse activities, as the school offers something for every student. For those interested in making decisions for the school as student leaders, there are options like grade and student councils. Creative students can express themselves through Art Club, Spartan Update, Polaris , and North Star. Those seeking community will find a welcoming space in Culture Society, Black Student Union, The Alliance, and the recently founded, Muslim Student Association. Students who are enthusiastic about service and giving back have options such as Students Taking on Problems (S.T.O.P.) Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D) Club, Key Club, Ecology Club, National Honor Society, and a multitude of subject honor societies dedicated to making a positive impact on the community. Many clubs called the Club Fair a success. For example, the North Star student news and literary magazine welcomed new writers to contribute articles and share their student voices. Students can share their opinions through editorials, write about school news, give movie and book reviews, and much more. The Muslim Student Association recruited members to participate in events and activities such as Charity Week, where they raise money to build shelters and provide Islamic relief to impoverished countries, henna workshops, and the annual Eid al-Fitr celebration at the end of Ramadan. The S.A.D.D. Club has new participants for Anti-Bullying Week, Traffic Safety Week, P.S. I Love You Day, and muffin sales for the school faculty. The S.T.O.P. Club gathered volunteers to participate in school volunteer activities, such as the plant sale, bake sales, Ronald McDonald House, and Bethany House. This event continues to have a lasting impact on students. “The Club Fair is successful every year and should continue as an annual event,” said 12th grader Mariam Balde. “My first year at this school, I was not aware of the clubs and activities I could participate in, but at the Club Fair, I learned about the S.T.O.P. Club and its goals as a service organization. This is now my fifth year as a member, and I have participated in many activities such as cooking breakfast at Ronald McDonald House, serving breakfast at Bethany House, Adopt-a-Family, and making cards for veterans and the elderly!” The annual Club Fair not only introduces students to the wide variety of extracurricular opportunities at North High School but also fosters school spirit.It ’s never too late to join a club! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Fiction, Polaris Back to Sections Precious Gems By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by Elaine Ching Amidst the branches Pearl-like blooms with golden cores, Nature's precious gems BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Interview with Jaela Cardoza-Alvarez Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Jaela Cardoza-Alvarez Jaela Cardoza-Alvarez is a charming, outgoing individual and an incredible tennis player who played on our school's team. Throughout the season, we had numerous wonderful and amusing experiences. Unfortunately, this was her last tennis season with our school's team, and I wish her all the best in the future. Through this interview, I got the amazing opportunity to learn more about her passion for tennis. Her responses to the following questions are as follows: What is your position on the school’s tennis team? “First singles.” What is your position preference (singles or doubles)? “Singles.” What is your preferred type of court? “Hard tennis court." What are your favorite tennis shots? “Cross court forehands and volleys." What do you do when you are not playing tennis or practicing? “Hang out with friends, listen to music, or workout." Who is your favorite tennis player? “Serena Williams.” What is your favorite meal after a game? “Pasta.” What is your pre-game routine? “Just get hype and remember to play your hardest and your best." How did you come to be a tennis player? “I actually started off dancing, and when I got old enough, I expressed to my family that I didn’t like dancing and didn’t want to do it anymore, so they tried to find other stuff for me to do, and I didn’t like anything else, but then I found tennis." Who is your role model or someone you looked up to? “My mom is my role model." How has your experience playing high school tennis been? “My experience playing high school tennis has been so much fun. It’s taught me some stuff here and there. I’ve learned to play against many different types of playing styles, I enjoyed playing with my team, and I had a great coach." Who were your past coaches? How have they helped her become a better tennis player? “My first ever coach for tennis was named Milton. I had him as a coach for 2 years, and then he left to move on with his life. I was then introduced to Coach Akins, who has now been my coach for a total of 3–4 years. He’s definitely encouraged me to play better, play smarter, and is always pushing me to play stronger and reach new levels. My family is the reason I am who I am today, especially my mom. I receive endless amounts of love and encouragement from all of them, and they are truly amazing." What do you look for in a coach? “I look for a coach that wants me to succeed and will push me to the next level." How do you maintain focus in a game or deal with stress? “I take deep breaths, and I always look at my opponent and tell myself, “I want this more than they do.” My opponent will never understand how much more I want this than they do." Do you see yourself playing tennis even more competitively in the future? “I do see myself playing more competitively in the future because I really do love playing tennis." What makes someone good at tennis? “I think that with enough practice, anyone can play, but to be good, you have to have what it takes to win. You need to have enough discipline and confidence to tell yourself that you are good and that you have the ability to win." BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Space Junk and the Moon By Elyas Layachi Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by MIT Introduction Every year, thousands of spacecraft are launched into Earth orbit, whether they be satellites, telescopes, or rocket tests. These spacecraft have been accumulating since the launch of Sputnik 1 (the first artificial satellite), and many are now either broken or retired. Known as space junk, these dead spacecraft have nowhere to go and remain in Earth orbit until they near the Earth’s atmosphere, posing the threat of collisions with other, active spacecraft. Such collisions produce even more space junk that becomes lethal to both active satellites and astronauts. In some rare scenarios, space junk can exit Earth’s orbit and impact our distant neighbor: the moon. SpaceX and Space Junk One of these rare scenarios is about to occur with a SpaceX rocket. One of SpaceX’s rockets that launched several years ago is on a collision course with the moon and is scheduled to impact it very soon. This rocket, the Falcon 9 booster stage from a SpaceX mission launch in 2015, was supposed to return to Earth, but it did not have enough reserved fuel to do so. As a result, it remained in its orbit, which was chaotically placed between the gravitational forces of the Earth, moon, and Sun. With so many sources of gravity acting on the booster stage, its orbit became chaotic, and the moon’s gravity began pulling it towards the surface. This anticipated collision with the lunar surface could be the first documented rocket collision with the moon. It is expected to hit the far side of the moon on March 4th, 2022, at about 5,771 miles per hour, exploding on impact. Conclusion Despite how interesting and rare this event is, space junk is still a great problem and poses a threat to both spacecraft and astronauts working in Earth orbit. With space junk increasing with every collision and space launch, action must be taken. If we continue to ignore the space junk problem, Earth orbit might become so crowded that leaving it to travel to the Moon and beyond will seem dangerous and impossible. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Christmas Traditions from Around the World By Sahar Ali Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by A&E Networks Celebrated every year on December 25th, Christmas is a religious holiday observed all around the world by Christians and non-Christians. Christmas is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Throughout the world, countries have different and interesting ways of celebrating this holiday full of joy. Let’s go around the world and learn about the different Christmas traditions that people around the world have! EUROPE Iceland – Icelandic families celebrate 13 days of Christmas, similar to the 12 days of Christmas in the United States. During these days, young children are visited by 13 Yule Lads each night leading up to Christmas day. Children will place their shoes by a window and proceed to bed. If the child has been good, they will be given candy in the morning. However, if a child has been bad, they will receive shoes full of rotten potatoes. Sounds worse than being greeted with coal in your stocking! Finland – On Christmas morning, Finnish families eat a porridge made with rice and milk topped with either cinnamon or butter. Inside the porridge, a hidden almond is placed. The first person to uncover the almond “wins”. Some families, however, end up adding extra almonds into the porridge to prevent children from getting upset. And at the end of the day, Finnish families will warm up in a sauna. LATIN AMERICA Mexico – Members of the church from all around Mexico present a Shepard’s Play, or Pastorellas , which retells the Christmas story. The country’s Christmas season starts in early December with a march that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey, known as Posadas . Mexicans also use beautiful, vibrant red poinsettias in holiday arrangements for decorations throughout the country. El Salvador – On December 24th and 25th, Salvadorians toast Christmas with fireworks. Young children are given volcancitos (translated to little volcanoes) and estrellitas (translated to little stars), which are small firecrackers. On the other hand, older children and young adults prefer larger firecrackers and Roman candles. ASIA Philippines – In the city of San Fernando, the Giant Lantern Festival, known as Ligligan Parul , is held every year. This festival includes dazzling parols (lanterns) that represent the Star of Bethlehem. In each parol , there are thousands of spinning lights that brighten the night sky. San Fernando has become the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” because of Ligligan Parul . Japan – Since 1% of Japan’s population is Christian, Christmas is not a national holiday in the country. However, the Japanese have found a rather interesting way to take part in this global celebration. On Christmas, Japanese families go to KFC instead of having a dinner around the table with their families. This tradition started in 1974. The fast-food chain has remained popular, and now many families order months in advance. On the other hand, some people choose to wait and stand on lines that are two hours long in order to get their meal. NORTH AMERICA United States – American families decorate their homes with colorful lights or large snowmen and/or Santa Clause figures. On Christmas Eve, parents along with their children place cookies and milk as a snack for Santa Clause when he comes to deliver presents during the night. Many people also watch Christmas movies throughout the month of December, decorate gingerbread houses, and exchange gifts. Canada – Just like American families, Canadians also decorate their houses with vibrant lights. Additionally, stockings are hung by the fireplace. In northern Canada, Sinck Tuck is a celebration observed by the native Inuits. This celebration includes dancing, feasting, and the exchange of presents. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Homemade Gravy and Cranberry Sauce: Is it Worth the Time? By Christina Ossa Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original photography by Christina Ossa Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, reflecting on your gratitude, and enjoying fantastic food. However, the star of Thanksgiving is usually turkey, a delicious, juicy, and flavorful tradition of this time of the year. The sauce that pairs with turkey would usually be a tasty, savory gravy or a more bittersweet cranberry sauce to add to the quality of each slice of turkey. But, with many dishes already having time put into them, there’s usually no time left to make either of these delicious sauces from scratch. As a result, many households opt for store-bought versions of cranberry and gravy sauce. And for many of you, I’m sure this goes for your family as well. While I agree, yes, it is convenient and consumes less time, but it tastes bland and underwhelming. So, is making these sauces from scratch really worth your time? Here, I’ll try my best to convince you that once you switch from store-bought gravy and cranberry sauce, you’ll likely never turn back. Last year, out of pure curiosity from a recipe I saw on YouTube, I was inspired and tried making my own cranberry and gravy from scratch. Did it take more of my time during the holidays? Yes, it did. Was it worth that time? In my opinion, it was. When I made the cranberry sauce, all I needed were these ingredients: sugar, water, an orange, and cranberries; also, it only took 15 minutes. I added my ingredients to a medium saucepan and let it simmer on low for about 15 minutes (you could simmer it for longer if you feel like the cranberries are not reduced enough). On my first taste test, the cranberries were reduced to a beautiful jam-like color and tasted bittersweet and flavorful. The texture tasted like a more bittersweet version of raspberry jam. It did not have that artificial aftertaste that I’ve found store-bought cranberry sauce leaves. Next, I refrigerated my sauce in a glass container overnight and served it the next day. Once you refrigerate the sauce, it turns into a beautiful jello-type texture that melts onto the turkey once you place it onto your plate. This recipe is very low-maintenance, and it produces a mouth-watering result all in 15 minutes - and can be prepared the day before. If you’re not satisfied with the more artificial flavor of store-bought cranberry sauce and have just a mere 15 minutes to spare: I’d recommend you try this recipe. If you don’t bake or cook anything for Thanksgiving, this recipe would be an excellent addition to bring to someone who’s hosting. It also takes less time than almost any Thanksgiving recipe I’ve tried. The gravy sauce was also way better than any store-bought or even restaurant-style gravy I’ve tried before. It was rich, packed with flavor, and kept the integrity of the turkey. It only added to the taste of the turkey, and when paired with the bittersweet flavor of the cranberry sauce, created an impressive depth of flavor. This recipe does take a bit more work but is so worth the time it takes, in my opinion. This recipe also includes parts of the turkey many people aren’t sure how to use or cook, including the bones and other parts of a turkey not commonly included in a Thanksgiving meal. For this recipe, I used the neck/spine of the turkey to create my own turkey stock, along with a roughly chopped onion, roughly chopped celery, and some chopped carrots. Next, I used a medium-sized saucepan. I added my ingredients and the water I put on the stove on medium-high heat until it came to a boil. After this, I let it simmer on low for about three hours, then strained it through a sift to separate the liquid and ingredients I added for flavor-sake. Now, three hours may be a long time compared to the time it took for the cranberry sauce, but compared to the amount of time the turkey would bake in the oven, it isn’t much time at all. Also, don’t be scared of how this was only the first step for the gravy because I promise making the stock is the hardest part. Once you have your stock, take either the same or a different saucepan and add/melt your butter in it. After the butter has completely melted, put in the flour and stir generously. This part of the gravy process is probably the most crucial. You’re creating what’s called a roux in the culinary world: the base to making almost any thick, more creamy-based sauce. After you have a roux, which should look almost like light-colored caramel, add your turkey stock and whisk until it thickens to the point where it should lightly drizzle off a spoon. If you’d like to be fancier, you could also season it with salt and pepper and add herbs like thyme for extra flavor. While the process of creating gravy is a lot more time-consuming than cranberry sauce, it most definitely is worth it. In the end, it may be cheaper than buying store-bought gravy, and it tastes so much better than store-bought. The sauce is creamy, flavor-packed with that delicious broth created straight from the turkey. It’s almost like the turkey’s partner in crime since they were both made from the same source. Paired with the cranberry sauce, it’s a bittersweet-savory wonderland of flavor. So, in the end, was it worth the time to create these two sauces for scratch? In my opinion, it was. It usually is either way since store-bought sauces. And store-bought items, in general, are packed with artificial flavors and preservatives that muddy the overall flavors each item is attempting to achieve. Also, when making this recipe last year for Thanksgiving, it was more rewarding than anything. The feeling of showing your gratitude through adding to the family Thanksgiving meal was gratifying to me when my family tried my food last Thanksgiving. So you should try making one of these sauces for Thanksgiving if you’d like to add something to your family dinner. They’re both very straightforward and delicious recipes. No matter your skill level in cooking, your family would likely appreciate this small yet delightful addition to the Thanksgiving meal. Recipes: Gravy : Turkey Stock: -Replace for pre-made turkey stock OR -Turkey Spine -Turkey Neck -1 Onion, roughly chopped -1 Carrot, roughly chopped -1 Rib of Celery, roughly chopped -6 Cups of Water (enough to cover ingredients) Actual Gravy: -3 ½ tbsp Unsalted butter -3 ½ tbsp All-Purpose Flour -2 ½ cups Turkey Stock (either from premade or original) -Salt (to taste) -Pepper (to taste) -Fresh Chopped herbs (to taste) Directions: -Ask for the spine/neck of the turkey from whoever is cooking the turkey, or if you are yourself, remove the spine/neck (also, you could use both or either one, both would lead to more flavor) -Place the spine/neck into a medium saucepan along with your vegetables, then add your water -Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and check on it until it comes to a boil (roughly 10-15 minutes) -After it comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 3 hours -Strain with a sifter or strainer, separating the liquid from the other ingredients (you could either dispose of the rest or find another purpose for the vegetables, the spine/neck is usually inedible, but there may be methods to use it that I’m unaware of) -Set aside broth to make gravy -Take a different or the same saucepan (make sure it’s empty, of course) and melt the butter over medium-low heat -Once the butter has melted, add the flour and whisk thoroughly until it forms a roux /a combined state (it should be a bit thick and gravy-grey colored once it reaches the right consistency) -To the roux, add your turkey stock and stir it occasionally until it reaches a thick consistency (should drizzle lightly off a spoon) -Optional: add your seasonings, whisking lightly for about 2 minutes just to ensure it has combined -Serve and Enjoy! Cranberry Sauce: Ingredients: -12 oz cranberries -1 Cup Granulated Sugar -Zest and Juice of 1 Orange/Lemon (orange would give a sweeter flavor) -½ Cup Water Directions: -Grab a medium saucepan and add your cranberries, sugar, and water -Zest 1 orange over the pan -Once zested, slice it in half and juice it into the rest of your ingredients -Allow your sauce to simmer over low or medium-low (depending on the size of your stoves, I’d recommend using one that will reach the entire length of the bottom of the pan) for 12-15 minutes -Once reduced and the juices are seemingly seeping and forming a jelly-like texture, remove the saucepan from the heat and transfer the sauce to a glass container (or plastic but first wait for it to cool if you use plastic) -Store in your refrigerator overnight (I’d recommend making this recipe the night before thanksgiving or a couple hours before you’re going to eat) -Serve and Enjoy! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Evolution of Super Mario Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by MarioStar Super Mario Bros. is one of the most popular game franchises in the world. Since 1985, Nintendo has released games that influenced the world and captivated its players. Those games remain timeless as more and more additions are added to the collection of movies and soundtracks. With the New Super Mario Bros. movie in theatres, Mario has gained an extra boost in popularity that has reopened itself and its wonders to many an audience. The franchise is centered around an Italian plumber, Mario, who with his brother, Luigi, works to save Princess Peach who is frequently kidnapped by Bowser. Mario is often helped by Toad, a mushroom-like partner/ assistant in his journey. This has been the focus of many of the games in the Super Mario franchise, but Nintendo has also added more characters and spin-off games into their collection such as Luigi’s Mansion or any of the many Mario Kart games. Although Super Mario has been refurbished many times, it is still popular with multiple generations. Games since the late 1900s have captivated many and are fun to play when bored or during any free time. The First Super Mario game was released in 1985. Directed and produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario Bros. was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System on September 13, 1986, and in arcades in January of the next year. Super Mario Bros 2 and 3 were released in 1988 followed by Super Mario Land and World the next two years. Both games got their own sequels in 1992 and 1995. No more major Mario games were published until the New Super Mario Bros game came to the Nintendo DS in early 2006. This was followed by Super Mario Galaxy in 2007. Super Mario Galaxy 2 came out in 2010 with Super Mario 3D Land coming out the next year. Super Mario Maker came out in 2015 followed by Super Mario Run and Odyssey the next two years. Super Mario Maker 2 came out in 2019 and Super Mario 3D World and Bowser’s Fury came out in 2021, being the latest games in the franchise. Super Mario Bros. is one of the most recognizable games of all time. With reworks and spin-offs, keeping the games fresh and popular, Nintendo has been able to keep its best series afloat. Different additions to the franchise are in the works and if Nintendo continues to grow the series at its current rate, it is guaranteed to thrive for many years to come. BACK TO TOP