Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections James Webb: A Cosmic Time Machine By Elyas Layachi Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by NASA Introduction On December 25th, 2021, at 7:20 AM, the James Webb space telescope was launched aboard the Ariane 5 rocket from Arianespace’s ELA-3 launch complex in French Guiana. The telescope began its million-mile journey to the second Lagrange point (L2), a point in space where gravity from the Sun and Earth balance the orbital motion of a satellite. There are five known Lagrange points, and each makes a perfect viewing location for space telescopes. After launch, over the following 30 days, Webb will begin and continue to unfold and prepare itself for use, as it was previously folded up in the Ariane 5 rocket for launch. You can check the current progress of Webb’s unfolding and voyage here: Where Is Webb? NASA/Webb The development and construction of Webb officially began in 1996, and the telescope was named after James E. Webb, NASA’s second administrator who served between 1961 and 1968. The telescope was originally expected to launch in 2018, but complications led to its delay to May 2020. However, further complications due to the Covid-19 pandemic and technical issues led to another delay for launch. The launch was rescheduled to September, then November, then finally December 25th, 2021. The telescope is one of world’s most powerful space telescopes and will revolutionize current scientific knowledge regarding the universe. Overview Purpose The James Webb space telescope has many purposes, including: To search for light from the first stars and galaxies that formed in the Universe after the Big Bang. To study the formation and evolution of galaxies. To understand the formation of stars and planetary systems. To understand planetary systems and the origins of life. Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which studies the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the James Webb space telescope is designed to study the infrared, or heat portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared radiation has less energy than visible light and therefore requires both sensitive and precise instruments to measure. Design The James Webb space telescope’s design consists of many intricate parts, including: Optical Telescope Element (OTE). Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM). Sunshield. Spacecraft Bus. The ability for each part to work correctly and coordinated with the others is crucial to the mission. Below, we will examine each part and the role it plays for Webb. Optical Telescope Element (OTE) This portion of Webb includes the telescope’s 18 hexagonal-shaped mirrors, which help reflect light into the telescope. They are made from beryllium, a strong yet light element. The mirrors are so large they must be folded up during launch to fit into the rocket. The OTE also consists of a secondary mirror and a backplane, which is a large structure that holds and supports the hexagonal mirrors of the telescope. It also carries the entire module of scientific instruments, A.K.A. the Integrated Science Instrument Module (see below). Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) Also referred to as the “main payload” of the James Webb Space Telescope, this module houses the four main instruments that will detect light from distant stars and galaxies, and planets orbiting other stars. The first instrument is a Near-Infrared Camera, provided by the University of Arizona. It can detect light in the near and mid-infrared wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and can see light from the earliest stars and galaxies in the process of formation, the population of stars in nearby galaxies, and young stars in the Milky Way and Kuiper Belt objects. Furthermore, it is equipped with coronagraphs, which, according to NASA, are instruments that allow astronomers to take pictures of very faint objects around a central bright object, such as stellar systems or planets orbiting stars. The second instrument is a Near-Infrared Spectrograph, provided by the European Space Agency, NASA, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission. This device is used to disperse light from an object into a spectrum. Scientists can use the spectrum of an object to learn more about its physical properties, including its mass, temperature, and chemical composition. The third instrument is a Mid-Infrared Instrument, also known as a MIRI, provided by the European Consortium with the European Space Agency and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It has both a camera and spectrograph that sees light in the mid-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes wavelengths longer than our eyes can see. It will be able to see the redshifted light of distant galaxies, newly forming stars, faintly visible comets, and objects in the Kuiper Belt. The final instrument is a Fine Guidance Sensor / Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph, provided by the Canadian Space Agency. This combination of smaller instruments allows Webb to point at specific regions in space precisely so it can obtain high-quality images. It has a wavelength of 0.8 to 5.0 microns. Sunshield Webb’s sunshield has the purpose of protecting the telescope from external sources of light and heat so it can detect the faint light and heat of distant stars and planets. It is conveniently positioned between the Sun, Earth, Moon, and the telescope. It will allow the telescope to cool down to a temperature below 50 Kelvin Degrees by also passively radiating the spacecraft’s heat into space. It also contains five layers of sun-shielding, with space in between each one, to radiate out the heat between the layers and use the vacuum of space as an insulator. The sunshield is made with Kapton, which is a lightweight material with special thermal properties. Spacecraft Bus Webb’s spacecraft bus provides the necessary support functions for the operation of Webb and houses six major subsystems: the electrical power subsystem, attitude control subsystem, communication subsystem, command and data handling subsystem, propulsion subsystem, and the thermal control subsystem. Other Parts Other parts of Webb that enable it to function include: The momentum flap, which balances the solar pressure on the sunshield. The Earth-pointing antenna, which sends scientific data back to Earth and receives commands from NASA’s Deep Space Network. The solar array, which is always facing the sun and converts sunlight to electricity to power the telescope. The star trackers, which are small telescopes that use star patterns to target the observatory. Why Analyze Infrared Light? As you can tell from both Webb’s description and its elements, the observatory is designed to study infrared light. But why infrared light, and not any other part of the electromagnetic spectrum? And how will analyzing light tell scientists about the past? Light, like everything else in our universe, has a speed limit, and it is arguably the speed limit of the universe since nothing can travel faster than light. Its speed is 3.00 * 10^8 meters per second. Since even light takes time to reach Earth, light that is farther away will take longer to reach our eyes than light closer. Scientists measure this distance in light-years, or the distance light can travel in a year, which is about 6 trillion miles. So, light from a star four light-years away, for example, would take four years to reach our eyes, and if we were looking at that star currently, we would see it four years in the past. This explains how Webb can see into the past by analyzing light from distant stars, but why infrared light? Because light from the Big Bang and the beginning of the universe is so old (13.8 billion years old to be exact), and because the universe is ever-expanding, the light has lost energy and its wavelength shifted from the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum to the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is what Webb is looking for. So, by searching for infrared radiation from distant stars, Webb can theoretically see up to 13.8 billion years into the past and study the origins of the universe. How cool! Webb and the Future of Astronomy With the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists will be able to better understand the origins of the universe and of distant stars and galaxies by studying the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. With such information, astronomy is bound to change forever. Be sure to stay connected with NASA when Webb’s first images roll out in February 2022! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Story of Wordle By Cody Sung Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original screenshot by Cody Sung Have you heard of an online game called Wordle? Wordle is a word game, released less than half a year ago, and yet has captivated millions of players. How did it do it? How did it get to this point, and what are the factors in the story of how a simple game became an international hit? Josh Wardle has had a bit of history with making things for the Internet to enjoy. For example, he created The Button in 2015 and Place in 2017. With this experience, he decided to create Wordle just for his girlfriend Palak Shah, who loves word games. Without her, the game wouldn’t be the same. She helped create the word list by sorting through over 12,000 words and determining if she knew them or not. The two played it for months. Seeing success with his girlfriend, Wardle introduced it to his family’s WhatsApp group. The game quickly became an obsession with them. Wardle, after seeing the success with both his girlfriend and his family, released it to the public in October 2021. The climb was swift. On November 1, 90 people played it. Not at all bad for a game originally made for two. However, two months later, over 2 million people played it, over a 22,000% rise. The game grew so big that Wardle was overwhelmed by its success, saying that he feels “a sense of responsibility for the players” and that it is his responsibility to keep the game operational. There are a few reasons why Wordle ended up becoming extremely popular. Firstly, Wordle, unlike many other online games, doesn't want your money. It has no paywall that blocks the game, nor does it have any ads, making it simple and uncluttered. Secondly, there is only one word per day. According to Wardle, this makes players hungry for more, and so a lot of them come back tomorrow. Lastly, and the factor that contributed most to the sudden rise of Wordle, would be the result-sharing feature added in December. Wardle, inspired by players sharing their results using green, yellow, and black emojis, created an automated system to share results without spoiling the answer for anyone else. After the feature was added, the game exploded in popularity. On January 31, 2022, the New York Times bought Wordle for a price in the “low-seven figures”. In its announcement they indicated that the game would remain free. However, concerns arose, as they have a paywall for its games already, and since Wordle was now owned by the New York Times, they may put Wordle behind that paywall. This caused people to download the webpage of Wordle to prevent the paywall from affecting them. While the New York Times has not implemented a paywall (as of the time of writing), it has made some changes to the game. One of the changes made by them was moving the game to a new URL. The old URL did not include nytimes.com, instead using powerlanguage.co.uk, which was a domain that was not designed to go viral. A side effect of that move was that although the New York Times said that data would transfer over, streaks were reset. However, it was more or less resolved a day afterwards. There were other changes made by the New York Times too. The title of the game has been changed from a Helvetica font to the signature font of the New York Times to match their other games. Another change was that there is now a menu to the left of the help symbol, leading to more New York Times products. These changes do not affect gameplay, as they are mostly cosmetics. However, there are changes that affect the gameplay itself. One change affected what words were allowed to be entered into the game, as the New York Times stopped players from using certain words. If someone tries to use them, the message “Not in the word list” shows. The other change affects the list of words used to determine the answers to Wordle, as the New York Times has removed answers that it has called “insensitive”. While that may not seem like an issue at first, this causes the New York Times version of the game to be out of sync with the original, affecting score-sharing with the few people that still can and do play on the original list. Wordle’s success has sparked a rise of games similar to it. Some have a unique twist on the concept. Take Absurdle as an example. Absurdle tries to prevent you from winning, even changing the answer in some cases. Others have tried to copy the game on Apple’s App Store. However, Apple did remove the copycats. Like everything else, Wordle has a story. It rose from obscurity to becoming a hit on the Internet to becoming a product offered by the New York Times. Thanks to its unique features and clean design, it will become more and more popular, unless the New York Times puts it behind a paywall. For now, though, Wordle will be enjoyed by millions for free. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Recent ISS Crew Dragon Mission By Elyas Layachi Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by NASA Introduction The Commercial Crew Program is a program created by NASA helping to facilitate the development of U.S. commercial crew space transportation capabilities. The program’s main goal, like the Flight Opportunities program, is to achieve safe, reliable, and cost-effective access to and from low Earth orbit and the International Space Station. Through this program, NASA now tasks private companies, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, to transport both astronauts and cargo to the ISS, allowing NASA to focus their resources on developing the technologies necessary for larger missions such as a lunar return. The Commercial Crew Program works specifically with Boeing and SpaceX, who developed the Crew Dragon and Starliner. The first official flight under this program took place on November 16th, 2020, with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. This mission, also known as the Crew-1 mission, had a goal of both transporting astronauts to the ISS and proving that private companies are viable and safe sources of space transportation. This was the first mission in history in which a third-party manufacturer created a crewed vehicle used in a space mission. The Crew-1 mission transported four astronauts (Shannon Walker, Victor J. Glover, Michael S. Hopkins, and Soichi Noguchi) along with their scientific material and other resources to the ISS. They returned safely to Earth after a 6-month mission aboard the ISS and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at 2:56 A.M. on May 2nd, 2021. Crew-2 Mission Overview The Crew-2 mission is the second of six missions under the Commercial Crew Program, launching just over a week before the Crew-1 mission had returned. The astronauts were launched using SpaceX’s second crew capsule, the Crew Dragon Endeavor, and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. According to NASA, this mission has several firsts, including being the: First commercial crew mission to fly two international partners. First commercial crew handover between astronauts on the space station as Crew-1 and Crew-2 astronauts will spend about five days together on station before Crew-1 returns to Earth. First reuse of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket on a crew mission. First time two commercial crew spacecraft will be docked to the I.S.S. at the same time. Not only does this mission have the purpose of proving the viability of the Crew Dragon and SpaceX’s technology, but it has scientific purposes as well. The astronauts will continue the scientific research of the Crew-1 astronauts, which included important investigations and technological demonstrations that prepare for future Artemis missions to the Moon. Additionally, the crew will perform over 200 experiments, including medical research and studies of Earth’s own climate. Some experiments will even help scientists on Earth combat disease, while also helping space agencies around the world better understand how space affects the human body so they can better prepare astronauts for future, long-duration space travel to the moon. Meet the Astronauts The Crew-2 mission’s crew is described as an “international crew” since its astronauts have diverse backgrounds. The astronauts are from the United States, Japan, and France. Each have different educational and experience backgrounds, making the crew even more diverse. Below is a description of each of the astronauts and their backgrounds: Shane Kimbrough Shane Kimbrough, also known as Robert Shane Kimbrough, is a retired United States army officer and NASA astronaut. He was part of the first group of candidates selected for NASA astronaut training following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Born: June 4, 1967 (age 53 years), Killeen, Texas. Space missions: SpaceX Crew-2, Expedition 65, Expedition 50, Expedition 49, Soyuz MS-02, STS-126, STS-400. Spouse : Robbie Lynn Nickels Total EVAs : 6 Rank: Colonel, retired, USA. Siblings: Michael Scott Kimbrough K. Megan McArthur Kathrine Megan McArthur is an American oceanographer, engineer, and a NASA astronaut. She has served as a Capsule Communicator for both the space shuttle and space station. Born: August 30, 1971 (age 49 years), Honolulu, Hawaii. Space missions : SpaceX Crew-2, Expedition 65, STS-125, STS-400. Spouse : Bob Behnken Education : University of California, Los Angeles. Children : Theodore Behnken Parents: Don McArthur, Kit McArthur Akihiko Hoshide Akihiko Hoshide is a Japanese engineer, JAXA astronaut, and current Commander of the International Space Station. On August 30, 2012, Hoshide became the third Japanese astronaut to walk in space. Born: December 28, 1968 (age 52 years), Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan. Space Missions: SpaceX Crew-2, Expedition 65, Expedition 32, STS-124, Expedition 33, Soyuz TMA-05M. Total EVAs: 3 Education: United World College of South East Asia Thomas Pesquet Thomas Gautier Pesquet is a French aerospace engineer, pilot, and European Space Agency astronaut Pesquet was selected by the ESA as a candidate in May 2009, and he successfully completed his basic training in November 2010. Born: February 27, 1978 (age 43 years), Rouen, France. Space Missions: SpaceX Crew-2, Expedition 65, Expedition 50, Soyuz MS-03, Expedition 51. Spouse: Anne Mottet Selection: 2009 ESA Group Total EVAs: 2. Education: Institut Superieur De L’aeronautique Et De L’espace. What does this mission mean for the future? This mission is only the second of six crewed missions facilitated by the Commercial Crew Program using SpaceX’s transportation modules. If all these missions, including Crew-2, are successful, they will prove that companies can viably use their technology to transport humans to space. Furthermore, the success of these missions increases the application of commercial technology to be used to transport normal people into space, for tours and sight-seeing. Additionally, the experiments the crew will perform on board will help scientists further understand and learn about the effects of long-term exposure to microgravity and intense radiation on the body. Such findings will prepare NASA and SpaceX to send astronauts back to the moon, and later to Mars. Featured Quiz Want to see how much you learned about the Crew-2 mission from this article? Take the quiz by clicking the link below! Good luck! Crew-2 Quiz Microsoft Form BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections 2021 MLB Preview By John McCarthy Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 No Image available at this time Spring training for major league clubs ends in a little over a week. Opening Day is April 1, when the games start to count. Many teams have made substantial roster moves that bring excitement to their teams. Opening Day is a day for high hopes and celebrating that baseball is back! So, how did teams shake up their rosters and what can we expect this year? Let's look through each team and how they stack up this year along with my predictions for the 2021 regular season. AL EAST Baltimore Orioles: Last Year (25 - 35) , This Year Predicted (59 - 103) The Orioles find themselves in a massive rebuild, where they built a strong core of young talent, but will not succeed at the major league level for a couple of years. Adley Rutschman is the Orioles’ next top prospect they hope to develop into their franchise catcher. Their last catcher prospect, Chance Sisco, has not worked out yet, having been at the MLB level for 4 years and had little production during that time. Hopefully for the Orioles, Rutschman has a better fate. If the talent wasn’t bad already, their starting third baseman Renato Nunez signed with the Tigers. This leaves Trey Mancini as their best hitter with depth level players at all other positions. It is fair to say that the pitching on this team is sub-par... very sub-par. John Means was the bright spot for the pitching staff posting below-average numbers. Boston Red Sox: Last Year (24 - 36) , This Year Predicted (75 - 87) Last year was a change of pace for the Red Sox. A very successful team in the 2010s found themselves in last place in their division. However, in the shortened season injuries plagued the Sox with pitchers Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez both losing major playing time. The Red Sox also traded away their star player Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. Otherwise, the healthy Red Sox remain a solid team if J.D. Martinez can bounce back from his bad 2020 and Chris Sale can return to the dominant pitcher he was back in 2018. In a tough division, I find them falling to fourth place in the AL East as an average MLB team. New York Yankees: Last Year (33 - 27) , This Year Predicted (97 - 65) The Yankees seem to have a great team every year but haven't won a World Series since 2009. Sluggers Aaron Judge’s and Giancarlo Stanton’s big issue is staying healthy. The Yankees lost pitchers Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton, but then gained Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon. The Yankees bullpen remains dominant with anchor Aroldis Chapman, and their lineup can be scary. The Yankees re-signed superstar hitter D.J. LeMahieu, sporting the highest batting average in 2020, for 6 years. They win the AL East this year because they have an above average well-rounded squad. Tampa Bay Rays: Last Year (40 - 20) , This Year Predicted (94 - 68) Last year the Rays made the World Series led by breakout players Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena, and veteran pitching by Blake Snell and Charlie Morton. This year Morton and Snell are gone, a big blow to the Rays’ pitching staff. Arozarena had one of the best postseasons last October, but can he sustain his success, only a second year player? The Rays also have a great bullpen with stars Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo. Ji-Man Choi, one of the most flexible 1st baseman returns with a much bigger role with the Rays needing more offense to combat the loss of two star pitchers. The Rays will overcome their losses through great management and remain a great team, finishing a close second to the Yankees. Toronto Blue Jays: Last Year (32 - 28) , This Year Predicted (89 - 73) The Blue Jays have added so much talent in the offseason. They added CF George Springer, SS turned 2B Marcus Semien, CP Kirby Yates, and SP Steven Matz. All these players are valuable additions, especially Springer. The Blue Jays also had a solid core of young MLB talent of their own like Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Blue Jays were a mediocre team the past few years, but the new additions bring attention north of the border. With all the talent the Blue Jays acquired, they need all their players to come together and perform at a high level. They improve, but not enough to make the playoffs. AL CENTRAL Chicago White Sox: Last Year (35 - 25) , This Year Predicted (92 - 70) The White Sox have an overall great roster. They have a great starting pitching trio with Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Dallas Keuchel. The dominant pitching continues in the bullpen with Aaron Bummer, Evan Marshall, and newly acquired Liam Hendricks. Hendricks is considered by many to be the best closer in the MLB and adds to an already stellar bullpen. That’s just the pitching side of things. The White Sox have the reigning AL MVP, Jose Abreu, the top AL catcher, Yasmani Grandal, and star young outfielder Eloy Jimenez. SS Tim Anderson has a big personality, but he can back it up with great contact hitting, winning the batting title in 2019. With growing talent, they bud into AL Central winners in 2021. Cleveland Indians: Last Year (35 - 25) , This Year Predicted (78 - 84) The Indians were an above-average team last year making the expanded playoffs. However, this year they lose 1B Carlos Santana and SS Francisco Lindor. They did gain promising rookie SS Andres Gimenez in the Lindor trade with the Mets. Shane Bieber comes back as one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2020. The Indians also have one of the best third basemen from last year, Jose Ramirez, runner up in MVP voting. Other than Ramirez, their lineup is lackluster this year and their bullpen is less than desirable. Past Bieber the Indians’ starters are decent with Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac rounding out their top three. The Indians are not the powerhouse they were in 2016, but they can still hold their own in the AL Central with a record slightly below .500. Detroit Tigers: Last Year (23 - 35) , This Year Predicted (60 - 102) The Tigers are a very young team with some great prospects for the future. However, they have few players that can produce at a high enough level in the majors. An interesting rookie to watch is Casey Mize, who is the Tigers’ top pitching prospect. The Tigers got a decent 3B in Renato Nunez through free agency. The Tigers bullpen does not have anyone that is reliable against any lineup. 1B Miguel Cabrera will enter the Hall of Fame one day, but when will he retire? He still bats for a high average, but doesn’t produce as much as he did when he won back-to-back MVPs in 2012 and 2013. The Tigers are in a massive rebuild and will most likely be at the bottom of their division. Kansas City Royals: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (73 - 89) The Royals are a typical below average team. There are exciting players, worth the price of admission, but giant holes in their lineup and rotation that leave the team performing average. The Royals acquired LF Andrew Benintendi from the Red Sox in an attempt to bolster their lineup. Their main pieces are contact hitter Whit Merrifield, speedster Adalberto Mondesi, and power hitter Jorge Soler. Their real need is pitching. They don’t have a quality starting pitcher or a deep bullpen that can be relied on day in and day out. Baseball still relies on quality pitching to win games and I don’t see the Royals with adequate pitching. The Royals find themselves in 4th place in 2021. Minnesota Twins: Last Year (36 - 24) , This Year Predicted (91 - 71) The Minnesota Twins hit a record number of home runs in 2019, and the core of their team remains the same. The only major lineup change for the Twins is losing OF Eddie Rosario and gaining SS Andrelton Simmons. This is an upgrade at the shortstop position and an interesting chance for Alex Kiriloff in Left Field. He is a young prospect finally getting an everyday role to show what he can do. The already strong bullpen receives another successful arm in Alex Colome. Jorge Polanco, the Twins former SS moves to 2B, while Luis Arraez consequently takes on the utility player role, moving around defensively to give management an easier time with giving rest days. The Twins are still a solid team, but in 2021 the White Sox have a slight edge over the Twins this year. AL WEST Los Angeles Angels: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (81 - 81) The Angels have the best player in baseball, Mike Trout. That is a fact. Other interesting players include top third baseman Anthony Rendon and 2-way player Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is special in that he can pitch and hit at an MLB level. If he can return to the mound, the Angels get a well needed starting pitcher option. Dylan Bundy’s success has a huge impact on the success of the Angels’ pitching success. The lineup for the Angels is very top-heavy with a couple of great hitters then replacement level players rounding out the lineup. The bullpen has no players that are amazing, but should hold up against average lineups. Can the Angels finally bring Mike Trout back to the playoffs? Unfortunately, the Angels need one more decent player for their lineup and pitching staff for me to put them through to the playoffs. Oakland Athletics: Last Year (36 - 24) , This Year Predicted (95 - 67) The Athletics seem to have an average team on paper and find a way to perform really well in the regular season. Although they lost Marcus Semien to the Blue Jays, they replaced him with veteran Elvis Andrus, who may not perform as much on the field but being a leader for almost 20 years can provide a locker room presence for the club. The A’s have a two-time Platinum Glove winner in Matt Chapman at one corner infield position and Gold Glover Matt Olson at the other. The Athletics have a great defense that is also backed up by a good offense. Outfielders Mark Canha and Ramon Laureano are underrated and provide good value with the bat. While starting pitching is a struggle for the A’s their bullpen has also diminished. However, their pitching should hold up pretty well against their division, so I have them atop the AL West. Seattle Mariners: Last Year (27 - 33) , This Year Predicted (67 - 95) The Seattle Mariners are another team with some young talent, but many of whom are not ready to produce to lift this team to the playoffs. We saw CF Kyle Lewis breakout last year and show he can produce at the big league level. The Mariners also have pitching promise with lefties Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn spending some time in the majors. The Mariners are hoping this year they can break out and post low ERAs to give an average Mariners’ lineup a chance to win some games. The Mariners’ young talent looks solid for the future, but this year might be another segment in their rebuild. Texas Rangers: Last Year (22 - 38) , This Year Predicted (72 -90) The Rangers were not good last year placing last in the division and their roster has made minimal improvements. They do add outfielders David Dahl and Khris Davis, but they lose SS Elvis Andrus and pitchers Corey Kluber and Lance Lynn. Dahl and Davis add valuable contact and power respectively, but nothing electric to turn the Rangers lineup into a dangerous one. One dangerous hitter is Joey Gallo who can always provide some power, but had a disappointing 2020. Gallo should bounce back, but his team is not ready to compete at a high level this year. Houston Astros: Last Year (29 - 31) , This Year Predicted (90 - 72) The Astros have been star-studded the past fews and last year they seemed to regress after a scandal came out regarding their 2017 World Series victory. The Astros still have a good roster, even though they lost CF George Springer. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley, and Carlos Correa remain star hitters and Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke return as top pitchers in the MLB. Their bullpen was above average, but since they didn’t re-sign Roberto Osuna their bullpen lost a step. Astros should remain a top team in 2021, but might lose close games allowing the Athletics to take the top spot in the AL West. NL EAST Atlanta Braves: Last Year (35 - 25) , This Year Predicted (95 - 67) The Braves have solid players at each position, a complete team that will compete this year. Freddie Freeman, reigning NL MVP, is always great at first base providing for the Braves offense. On the other side of the ball, Braves get Mike Soroka back from injury and add veteran Charlie Morton from free agency. Max Fried comes off his best year and slots in as the Braves’ ace. Their back side of the rotation is not atrocious either; they have a deep pitching staff. This includes the bullpen with Will Smith, Luke Jackson, and Chris Martin. The re-signing of Marcell Ozuna keeps the Atlanta offense potent. Ronald Acuna Jr. remains the best outfielder on the team, but can he make a push to become the best in the NL, like many believe he can be? The Braves are a solid team and may win 1st place in this division, but how will they fare in the postseason? Miami Marlins: Last Year (31 - 29) , This Year Predicted (70 - 92) The Marlins lost a playoff series for the first time last year, but it was a surprise they got in the playoffs anyway. They have a young, but inexperienced pitching staff led by Sandy Alcantara, and their bullpen does not have any notable relievers. Their lineup can have some success at times with Corey Dickerson, Brian Anderson, and Starling Marte. These players have unique skills that can show up when the time is right, but how often and how major can they contribute to wins? The Marlins are relying on another lucky season if they want to make the playoffs, especially since this season is over twice as long. The Marlins can only go so far with what they have and remain in the bottom third in the MLB in 2021. New York Mets: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (88 - 74) The Mets have a great team on paper this year, but can they finally put it together? They acquired SS Francisco Lindor, C James McCann, SP Carlos Carrasco who will play significant roles in the majors. The Mets have also had the best pitcher in baseball Jacob DeGrom play at his best the past few seasons. The question with their pitching staff is can Noah Syndergaard stay healthy and return to his All-Star form? Pete Alonso needs to bounce back from a poor 2020 and return to smashing home runs like he did in 2019. McNeil will get on base at a high level and score runs, but players in the middle of the lineup need to drive him and others in sufficiently. Unfortunately, the Mets have always seemed to get their fair share of injuries and bad management; hopefully this year will break that trend and the Mets have a good, winning record. Philadelphia Phillies: Last Year (28 - 32) , This Year Predicted (74 - 88) The Phillies have gone on a free agency spending spree the last few years, many players not working out the way the team wanted. The Phillies have a decent lineup headed by RF Bryce Harper, SS Didi Gregorius, and 1B Rhys Hoskins. Young 3B Alec Bohm hopes to make an impact in 2021 after making a small one in 2020. Their pitching staff has a top heavy rotation with Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. The last three starters have been atrocious in the majors. The Phillies bullpen just got better acquiring star reliever Jose Alvarado on top of having a decent bullpen prior to this move. Although the Phillies have a good roster, they always have trouble turning their talent into wins, and I see them as a fourth place team. Washington Nationals: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (76 - 86) The Nationals have a few stars that really impact the success of the team. Trea Turner is a five tool player at shortstop and Juan Soto is already dominating opposing pitching at 22 years old. Soto’s patience early in his career sets him apart from past players. Also, the Nats acquired 1B Josh Bell and LF Kyle Schwarber to bolster the offense. The Nationals also have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, and Jon Lester all in their rotation. Plus, Brad Hand is the Nationals’ new closer in a bullpen that might finally have a structure this year. However, in a tough division they will have trouble linking wins together. NL CENTRAL Chicago Cubs: Last Year (34 - 26) , This Year Predicted (83 - 79) The Cubs aren’t as strong as they were in 2016 when they won the World Series. Their pitching staff isn’t as potent now as it was back then. The Cubs will rely on Kyle Hendricks and Zach Davies to give the team quality starts, and they need them to do so because their bullpen is not stellar. Their lineup has pieces to provide sufficient offense for some games. Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Baez can build an exciting offense if they have a good season. None of them are coming off a fantastic season, but the Cubs need them for their offense. The Cubs’ average pitching and average hitting this year has them finish in the middle of the league. Cincinnati Reds: Last Year (31 - 29) , This Year Predicted (78 - 84) The Reds made upgrades for their 2020 roster which made them an average team finishing just above .500. Coming into 2020 however, they lost their star pitcher Trevor Bauer who won the NL Cy Young Award last year. They still have a solid 1-2 punch in their starting rotation with Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray. Their bullpen lost a top arm in Raisel Iglesias, so they regress in that department. Their lineup always produces decently. Eugenio Suarez, Nicholas Castellanos, and Mike Moustakas will most likely lead the scoring. Joey Votto is regressing with age, but still provides at a sufficient level. The Reds need everything to come together to have a chance at the playoffs and I don’t see that happening. Milwaukee Brewers: Last Year (29 -31) , This Year Predicted (90 - 72) The Brewers have solid players all around that can perform well enough to propel this team to the postseason. Although Christian Yelich had an awful season in 2020, he should bounce back with a good 2021 and revert to his elite level of play. He is the lifeblood of this offense; without him there is no Brewers offense. The pitching staff is what is going to decide their success. Brandon Woodruff has proved he is a top starter in the league, a valuable asset to the Brewers. The bullpen is above average with two of the top relievers in the MLB, Devin Williams and Josh Hader. If their pitching can hold their end of the bargain, the Brewers can sneak their way in to the postseason. Pittsburgh Pirates: Last Year (19 - 41) , This Year Predicted (68 - 94) Unfortunately, the Pirates might be the worst franchise in recent history. Losing games, trades, and players, the Pirates are in a rebuild that seems to never end. They lost Josh Bell and Jameson Taillon, and Chris Archer to free agency this year. Their pitching at all levels has no one of note and rival the Orioles and Rockies ]for the worst pitching staff. On the offensive side Ke’Bryan Hayes is one prospect that could help the Pirates in the future. Right now he should provide an alright amount for the Pirates. Bryan Reynolds has shown he can get on base at a high level and is the Pirates’ best hitter at the moment. These stars alone are nowhere near what the Pirates need to succeed in the MLB. They find themselves in 5th place in the NL Central. St. Louis Cardinals: Last Year (30 - 28) , This Year Predicted (99 - 63) The Cardinals added one of the game’s best superstars Nolan Arenado over the offseason. For how good he is, he still has to prove he can sustain his performance outside of Coors Field, an extremely hitter friendly ballpark. On the opposite side of the infield, you find Paul Goldschmidt, an all around talented first baseman whose strengths are patience, power, and fielding. The Cardinals pitching staff is led by Jack Flaherty, a young pitcher budding into a superstar role. The bullpen has reliable options like Giovanny Gallegos and Andrew Miller to sustain a lead late in a game. Rookie Dylan Carlson is predicted to star in right field for the Cardinals and fans will watch him to see how he will grow as a major league player. The Cardinals are a solid team and they win the central in 2021. NL WEST Arizona Diamondbacks: Last Year (25 - 35) , This Year Predicted (77 - 85) The D’Backs have an average roster in a good division. Their pitching consists of rising star Zac Gallen and veteran Madison Bumgarner for the rotation. Their bullpen does not have any reliable options other than newcomer Joakim Soria who is a decent relief pitcher. Their pitching needs to have a great 2021 to support their offense. The lineup has a few good hitters in superstar Ketel Marte, LF David Peralta, and 3B Eduardo Escobar. SS Nick Ahmed has been getting more recognition for his defense adding to his value to the club. The D’Backs do not have a good team if the players live up to their potential, but with the powerful teams in this division they don’t stand a chance. Colorado Rockies: Last Year (26 - 34) , This Year Predicted (73 - 91) The Colorado Rockies probably have the worst pitching staff in baseball. Besides German Marquez, a good #1 starter, every other pitcher has had a substandard career in the MLB. Jon Gray, Kyle Freeland, and Antonio Senzatela are not reliable for quality starts on a regular basis. For how bad their rotation is, their bullpen did receive upgrades with Robert Stephenson and Mychal Givens. The bullpen is still average at best. The big story with the Rockies is trading away 3B Nolan Arenado who has been their franchise star for six years. This hands the reins over to Trevor Story, a young well-rounded and powerful shortstop. A below average team losing their star player only makes the Rockies worse in 2021. Los Angeles Dodgers: Last Year (43 - 17) , This Year Predicted (103 - 59) The defending champions still remain the best team in baseball going into 2021. Not only do they return their squad from the World Series victory they add Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer. Their pitching was already dominant without him, how good can they be with him? The performance of the rotation will also be a fun competition to watch amongst the Dodgers’ big three, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Bauer. The other side of the ball is just as good. They return Justin Turner reaching a two-year deal. Mookie Betts signed a huge extension to stay with the Dodgers for 12 years, a player Los Angeles would be glad to have for the rest of his career. Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and Max Muncy are also stars in the middle of the Dodgers’ order. The Dodgers win the division and will be the only team to reach 100 wins. San Diego Padres: Last Year (37 - 23) , This Year Predicted (95 - 67) The Padres might be the most exciting team coming into 2021. After making significant improvements for 2020, this offseason they outdid themselves. The Padres signed pitchers Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, to make their rotation deadly when paired with Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. In addition to having a top starting pitching staff, their bullpen has solid options such as Emilio Pagan, Mark Melancon, and Drew Pomeranz. The talk of 2020 baseball was the excellence of Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr.. 2B Jake Cronenworth also had a breakout season, providing offense for the Padres. This team’s pitching staff will be fun to watch, and the great hitting potential of this team is scary. However, they don't overcome the Dodgers for the top spot in the West. San Francisco Giants: Last Year (29 - 31) , This Year Predicted (80 - 82) The Giants have fallen back in the rankings after their three World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014. The new star for the Giants is RF Mike Yastrzemski. Sporting a .966 OPS in a short 2020 shows his immense production for this team. 2B Donovan Solano also had a breakout season with a high batting average. The pitching is average with Johnny Cueto and Kevin Gausman heading the rotation. The bullpen has added a reliable option, Taylor Rogers to shut down opponents. The Giants are an average team in a division that is tough and they slot in 3rd. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections How to Maintain a Healthy Relationship With Someone By Ala Paruch Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by Golden Tech Hi Ala, As a senior, it's hard to escape from the social media bubble. Whether it be social anxiety distractions or insecurities that stem from being on Instagram all the time and seeing what people are posting and doing on nights out, how can I maintain a healthier relationship with social media? Dear Reader, Thank you so much for asking this excellent question. I feel this question hits home for many students, and it poses many issues for adolescents and high schoolers. Social media takes up many people's time; just look at your screen time. Using it for so long gives social media a chance to influence us greatly. We get an insight into people's lives, projects, and even food. The beautiful photo compositions, stunning drawings, and stories lure the users in with seemingly no end. As users, we must remember that Instagram and other platforms only show what the author wants to show. The outwardly perfect lives of people on social media are filled with struggles, pain, and sadness outside of the frame of the posts. I notice the more time I spend on social media, the more I doubt myself, my abilities, and my choices. The constant comparisons those platforms force upon us can create anxiety, depression, and even cause people to consider suicide. Thus, it is essential not to let yourself fall into the spiral of despair. Firstly, internalize that the content shown on social media is not the whole truth. This will help you stop comparing yourself to others. Also, remember that making different life choices or being at a different stage in life is okay! Everyone advances at a different rate. You can also try limiting your screen time on social media. You can either specify the time spent or the number of posts you look at each day. This will require a lot of self-control and will take a lot of time to adjust to, so be patient with yourself. When you are on social media, remember that you decide when you start and stop watching social media and choose who you follow. If you know that a specific user makes you anxious or doubtful, you can simply unfollow them. This is, of course, not to say you can't delete social media, but it's understandable to want to keep it. Social media has a lot of positives, so try to concentrate on what makes you happy. Make it a platform to improve your day, not diminish your self-worth. I hope this helps! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections History of Badminton Sahar Ali Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Navrosedip Kundlas Have you ever wondered about the history of your favorite sport(s)? Growing up, I always played badminton; I recall waiting for the weather to get warmer to go outside, pull out my racket and hit shuttlecocks with my father or sister. After playing the sport for so long, and daily during the spring season for North’s Girls Varsity Badminton team, I sat at my desk pondering about how the sport came to be: Where did badminton originate? Who created the sport? What types of people played it? Let’s get into the basics of the sport. Badminton is typically played either on a court or lawn with a racket along with the shuttlecock, often called a “birdie”. Historically, the first rackets made for the sport were composed of a piece of wood and strings made of animal guts. To make a player comfortable while holding a badminton racket, a piece of cloth was wrapped around the handle. The racket was modified and made lighter with the use of aluminum or steel until the 1950s when carbon fiber completely changed the production of rackets. The shuttlecock is better known as a “bird” or a “birdie.” When the game first came to be, the shuttlecock was composed of unrefined bird feathers, weighing only around 5 grams. Now, many shuttlecocks are made out of synthetic materials, but many players continue to use goose feather shuttlecocks. The sport can be traced back 2000 years; however, the most modern version of badminton is traced back to 1873, England. The Duke of Beaufort is said to have brought the sport to England from India. Britain had many colonies including India, which resulted in the mixture of cultures and ideas. The sport is said to have roots in ancient Greece, China, and India and is similar to battledore and shuttlecock , an old children’s game. During Britain’s rule in India, English army officers began to play Poona while stationed throughout the colony in the 1860s; this is where badminton was derived from. As the sport diffused from South Asia to Europe, badminton gained severe popularity in England. In 1899, the first men’s badminton championship was held, which was further followed by a women’s tournament in 1900. Later during the 20th century, in 1934, the Badminton World Federation (BWF), was formed; it was formerly known as the International Badminton Federation and is the world administration for the sport. Badminton tournaments ranging from regionals to nationals take place in many countries, but the most famous includes the All-England Championships. More international badminton tournaments include the Thomas Cup, the first international badminton tournament for men, which took place 14 years later in 1948 after the creation of the BWF. Following in 1956, the Uber Cup took place, which was the first international badminton tournament for women. Badminton has gained popularity in Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and in European countries such as Denmark. The rules of the sport have evolved. Until 2001, players could score only up to 15 points, however, the scoring system has changed, requiring players to score up to 21 points in a rally in which a lead of two points is needed to win a game. The rules for serving have changed since 2006 as well; players were allowed to serve overhead in 1983, but in 2006, the serve was required to be below the server’s waist. Like all things, badminton too has evolved, all the way from rackets and shuttlecocks to the rules and regulations of the game. SOURCES: Badminton | History, Rules, Equipment, Facts, & Champions | Britannica Badminton, A historical glimpse into the sport’s changing face over the decades ( olympics.com ) BACK TO TOP

ABOUT US Welcome to North Star, Valley Stream North High School's Student News Magazine, and POLARIS, North's Literary Magazine! Whether you want to read about your specific interests or browse the work of talented students, we have something for everyone. Any suggestions are welcome and should be emailed to northstarmag20@gmail.com . Happy reading! AWARDS 3RD PLACE BEST LAYOUT ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2021 1ST PLACE BEST VISUAL ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2022 2ND PLACE BEST OPINION PIECE ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2022 3RD PLACE BEST NEWS ARTICLE ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2022 HONORABLE MENTION BEST LAYOUT ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2024 3RD PLACE BEST VISUAL ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2024 HONORABLE MENTION BEST FEATURE ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2025 MEET THE EDITORS Read More Leah Ally She/Her/Hers EDITOR-IN-CHIEF allyl3497@vschsd.org Hi! I‘m Leah Ally, the managing editor of North Star. I enjoy writing about sports and current events. Outside of North Star, I’m apart of various clubs and sports such as, basketball and softball. Feel free to contact me with any questions through my VSN email and I look forward to working with you all! NORTH STAR SENIORS CREDITS FACULTY ADVISOR Mrs. Christy Mansfield EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Leah Ally MANAGING EDITOR Mikayla Aziz NEWS SECTION EDITOR Wardah Khizer FEATURE SECTION EDITOR Rachel Ezeadichie SPORTS EDITOR, HISTORY COLUMNIST N/A ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA SECTION EDITOR Mikayla Aziz POLARIS EDITOR Shea Flannelly ARTWORK SECTION EDITOR N/A LAYOUT EDITOR Max Ching SPREADSHEET MANAGER/ASSISTANT LAYOUT EDITOR N/A ASSISTANT LAYOUT EDITOR Kamil Grabowski SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Kamil Grabowski TREASURER Leah Ally STUDENT ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR Mrs. Amy Italiano PRINCIPAL Dr. Robin Small ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Mrs. Jennifer Buonaspina ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Mr. Fabian Jara ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Mr. Charles Loiseau LOUD AMERICAN Garrick Neuner

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Careful Souls By Willene Exinvil April 22, 2021 Acrylic Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections Summer Sky Line By Kimberly Shrestha November 24, 2020 Mixed Media Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Introductory - Ekin Pinar Ekin Pinar Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 Image Provided by Ekin Pinar Welcome all readers of North Star! My name is Ekin Pinar, and I will be taking over the advice column from here on. This section of the paper is dedicated to you, the reader. Here you can ask about anything that plagues your thoughts and mind. This can be anything from a bad test grade, or you are just stressed about school, all you have to do, dear reader is submit your response to this form North Star Advice column submissions  – Fill out form Don’t worry, all responses are completely anonymous so don’t feel shy and fill out the document. No question is too big or too small for me to tackle!! BACK TO TOP