Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Gilana Etame - Memory Project By Gilana Etame March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections What Happened to DART? By Cody Sung Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by NASA While NASA was busy with many attempts to launch their Moon rocket in their Artemis 1 mission [1], they were also getting ready to crash a $314 million spacecraft into an asteroid [2]. The mission is named the Double Redirection Asteroid Test, or as it is commonly known, DART. NASA is conducting this mission to test whether spacecraft have the capability to change the orbit of an asteroid that could crash into Earth. According to NASA; however, the asteroid that DART crashed into, Dimorphos , doesn’t pose a threat to Earth [3]. Despite this, the mission would still provide useful information for scientists. By hurling DART at Dimorphos , NASA estimated that it would shorten its orbit time by around 1%, or 10 minutes [4]. Luckily, we likely won’t need to test this out soon, since according to NASA, there are no known asteroid threats to Earth for the next century [5]. Work beyond the initial conceptual phases for DART began in June 2017, and the final design and assembly phase began in August 2018. The spacecraft weighed 1,340 pounds, and its cargo includes devices needed for the mission such as sensors for navigation, a camera, an onboard computer for crash trajectory calculations, solar arrays, an antenna, and an ion thruster [6]. During the journey to Dimorphos , it had to carry an Italian spacecraft, LICIACube, which would be used to study the effects of DART’s impact. Despite all that the DART team had to accomplish, the spacecraft was completed in time for its launch on November 24, 2021, from Vandenburg Space Force Base in California in a SpaceX Falcon 9 [7]. It would be a long journey ahead. Even going at about 4 miles a second, it would take the craft 9 months to reach Dimorphos. In preparation for its impact, there were many equipment tests to make sure the craft functioned properly. Everything worked properly, and two months before the impact, DART detected the Didymos system from 20 million miles away [6]. LICIACube was released one and a half months later, 15 days before the impact. Finally, on September 26, 2022, DART crashed into Dimorphos . The mission was a success. To astronomers worldwide, it was well worth the total $330 million cost of the mission [8]. LICIACube started to send images back to Earth a few minutes after the impact, showing the debris from DART’s impact [9]. In the following weeks, images from more sources started to stream in. It became quite clear that the impact shortened the orbital period of Dimorphos by around 32 minutes [10]. Thanks to this mission, we now know that if there is ever an asteroid that could hit Earth, we have a way to prevent its impact, although NASA scientists caution that we would have to do so years in advance for such a maneuver to be a success [4]. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections The Sasquatch: Fact or Fake? By Matteo Somma Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by Patterson-Gilmlin For centuries there have been countless sightings of the Sasquatch, more commonly referred to as Bigfoot, due to its large foot size. Over 10,000 “witnesses” claimed to have seen a tall, hairy figure walking on two legs. The species Sasquatch in question has been spotted everywhere from all the way north in Alaska to the swamps of Florida. Whether it be a person dressed up for attention or a failed science experiment, one thing’s for sure: there’s something out there. The common name Sasquatch comes from the primitive ages of the Native People. Sasquatch is believed to be a simplified version of the Salish word Sasq’sts meaning “wild man” or “hairy man”. The Salish people, known as the Sta’ailes, claimed to have a close spiritual bond with the Sasquatch. The Sasquatch can be described as tall and hairy. But if you look deeper into the Sasquatch, Yeti, Bigfoot, and other similar creatures that all fall under the Sasquatch profile, you can see a common theme among all of them; muscular and slim. Unlike bears, the Sasquatch is very muscular and thin. Also unlike bears, the Sasquatch towers at an outstanding 9 feet tall and is rarely seen on all four legs, rather standing on its hind legs like humans. The Sasquatch is also reported to have ape-like footprints similar to humans but substantially larger. In the United States, only one state out of fifty has yet to report a Sasquatch sighting and that would be Hawaii. The Sasquatch has been reported in countries all over the world such as Russia, Switzerland, Canada, and Indonesia. While not all descriptions match North America's description, they all fall under the same category or tall, muscular, hairy, and walking upright. One of many theories on the Sasquatch is that it is a group of Neanderthals that never died off or developed into modern-day human beings. A prime piece of evidence for this is Zana. Zana was a female Sasquatch/Neanderthal that was captured in the Russian wilderness in the 19th century. After the Russian government captured Zana, they kept her in a cage for the rest of her life and experimented on her. Recently a British scientist who goes by Bryan Skyes (a professor at Oxford University) has taken DNA and silica samples of the descendants of Zana, and his findings were remarkable. He found that Zana was a Sub-Sahara African that was probably once a slave during the ruling of the Ottomans. He also found tracings of Neanderthal in their DNA, more than the average human would have, at least. Billions of dollars have been put into proving the Sasquatch’s existing but almost all have come to a dead end. So that question lies on you, is the Sasquatch a fact or a fake? BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Anonymous - Who Am I? - 3 By Anonymous November 19, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections My First Memory of Stitches By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Pediatric Urgent Care of New York Life is full of troubles. Just waiting to unfold As fragile as bubbles But for a five-year-old, I was still bold The day was full of delight. However, the horror was yet to come As I approached the swings, the boy took flight Smashing my head till I fell, wishing I had never come The nails on the floor poking my ear Hoping they would fill their hunger RRRRIP as the world disappeared The last thing I heard was my mom screaming in anger. When I woke up, the nurse’s smile was as bright as the sun But I knew this was no fun My mother was a rabbit, scared and small I wished instead of the park we had gone to the mall I wished instead of the park we had gone to the mall BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Pep Rally of '24 and Senior Year Cross Country Season Manal Layachi Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Mother of Manal Layachi Senior year has arrived A bittersweet and joyful time Back to a routine Living the dream Homecoming flies by Having the time of my life Pep rally gets me pumped I cannot wait to run and jump As my coach calls out the names of my teammates, He forgets to call mine, But I know he is playing and I have to wait As the only senior on the team, I feel special like a queen When my coach calls my name I run across the turf and accept all of the fame As I run under the tunnel made by my teammates, I feel amazing and great My confidence increases and I celebrate I have been doing cross country for four years Although there will be tears when I graduate, there will also be cheers As I run every day and receive my senior banner, I remember all of my athletic accomplishments without regrets as I am a master I know I did my best and got faster. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Behind the Meme – Drake is the Type of Guy to__ By Augustine Magapan Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Reddit “Drake is the type of guy to say, ‘You silly goose,’ when someone makes a joke,” says one of my friends. “Drake is the type of guy to get a lightbulb over his head when he has an idea,” says another friend.” “Drake is the type of guy to say, ‘mimimimi,’ when he sleeps,” a teacher says. Walking through the school halls, talking to my friends, and looking through my phone, I hear these phrases a lot of the time; a number of these jokes trend on social media apps such as Tiktok and Reddit. But how did this meme come to life in the first place? We dove into the meme and found what’s behind it. The first part of this “Drake is the Type of Guy” meme originated from his new album. On September 3rd, 2021, Drake, a famous rapper, released a new album called, “Certified Lover Boy,” containing 21 songs. To promote and refer to the song, Drake shaves his hair into a heart which he captured and then posted on Instagram. Once the audience saw the picture, they started gossiping increasingly about the look and couldn’t believe what they saw. Many people described him as a soft person who is overly sensitive and emotional. A simple tweet on Twitter let out a joke of Drake on what type of person he is. The joke goes viral leading to more jokes about the rapper. In short, the implications of this meme are impeccable; it highlights the evolution of meme humor. Over the years, meme culture has become less obvious, and increasingly subtle. For example, the earliest memes consisted of simple pictures, with rather obvious tones. Memes now are more illogical, which sometimes makes them more laughable. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Purpose Back to Sections Isabella Somma - Red Green Study By Isabella Somma November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Veteran's Day Leah Ally Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching As Veterans Day approaches on November 11th, it is crucial to understand its importance, how to celebrate it, and its origins. Veterans Day is a time of honor and celebration for the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Recognizing their sacrifice, courage, and commitment to the United States truly reinforces how important Veterans Day is. This important day of commemoration stems from a rich history from the early 1900s and has since continually reminded citizens of the people who have fought for our freedoms. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Day was heavily influenced by World War I, also known as the Great War. It began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914. This catapulted a war as Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers) fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan, and the United States (the Allied Powers). This resulted in incomprehensible technological warfare that would cause World War I to be one of the most devastating conflicts in history. It ended with millions of casualties between both sides’ civilians and soldiers. The conflict officially stopped on November 11, 1918. However, the Allied Powers would go on to create the Treaty of Versailles around a year later to fully mark the beginning of peace. By signing the treaty, the Central Powers would go on to lose territories, reduce military forces, and pay reparations to the Allied powers. However, the original date of ceased fire, November 11th, would become the official date for Armistice Day. Armistice means to “stand still arms” in Latin. However, the holiday itself had the same meaning it does today where the heroic acts of soldiers were celebrated and recognized by the public. According to the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum it was stated, “In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the Veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word 'Armistice' and inserting in its place the word 'Veterans.' With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.” In other words, instead of only celebrating soldiers from World War I, Armistice Day was reformed and expanded to celebrate all people who were involved in the armed forces. President Dwight D. Eisenhower is credited with this change, and it has ever since remained the same. When people think of Veterans Day they may not immediately think of celebrations; however, there are various ways in which it is honored around communities. Some common ways include parades, ceremonies, and personal tributes. Parades give a light-heartedness to Veterans Day as it allows for those who have served to march and be recognized as a hero. Additionally, it encourages young kids to better understand and participate in the holiday. On the other hand, ceremonies and personal tributes are more intimate ways of honoring Veterans Day as they bring attention to those who lost their lives while in service. These can include visiting memorials or hearing various speeches from loved ones or veterans. Both celebrations are a part of Veterans Day and prove to be important in awareness and honor. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, other countries also celebrate very similarly to honor their nation’s former armed forces and take the time to visit church services on what is known as “Remembrance Day.” All in all, Veterans Day is a solemn yet celebratory day honored by American citizens. As we recognize the upcoming November 11th, let us remember both the veterans who are still living and those who have passed to truly show our gratitude. Sources: Veterans Day Facts and Information - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs The History of Veterans Day | ASOMF Treaty of Versailles World War I: Summary, Causes & Facts | HISTORY History of Veterans Day - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Heckscher Back to Sections My Dream Closeted Entry 1 April 14, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 6