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Top 10 Facts about Brussels

1 - The Original Fake: The famous Manneken Pis statue in the centre is a replica, with the original 1619 statue kept in the Brussels City Museum to protect it.

2 - Chocolate Capital: The Brussels Airport is considered the largest chocolate-selling point in the world. Averaging about 1.5kg chocolate per minute!

3 - Beer Heritage: There are over 800 brands of beer for sale in the city.

4 - A "Spicy" Statue Tradition: Manneken Pis has over 1,000 different costumes that are frequently changed, often to honour visiting dignitaries or commemorate special events.

5 - Largest Court in the World: The Palais de Justice is massive, at 26,000 square metres.

6- Comic Book Heaven: Brussels is a capital of comic strips, featuring over 50 large murals of comic characters throughout the city, plus a dedicated Comic Art Centre.

7 - Underground River: A major river, the Senne, actually flows underneath the city centre. It was completely covered over in the late 1800s to improve public health, and you can still visit the Sewer Museum to see parts of it.

8 - A Truly Green Capital: Brussels is one of the greenest capitals in Europe, with over 50% of its territory covered by parks, gardens, and the massive Sonian Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

9 - Art Deco Giant: The Basilica of Koekelberg is the largest Art Deco building in the world and the fifth largest church on Earth.

10 - Rebel Puppets: The Théâtre Royal de Toone used puppets to perform political satire during the Spanish occupation because live theatre was banned.

ERNIE’S INCREDIBLE ILLUCINATIONS - AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR

This month (May 21 and 22nd) Years 7-8 took to the stage to perform Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations in the Brel Theatre. st

To better understand the workings behind the play and the role of the director, the BSB insider team interviewed the play’s director, Luke Phillips from Year 12.

Interviewer: What play are you directing andwhydidyouchooseit?

Luke: It’s a play called Ernie's incredible Illucinations, it is a period, comedy play which is set in the world of the mundane family of the Frasers in the 1970s. However, when Ernie’s imagination flourishes, the family are plummeted into unnatural, crazy and surreal situations. It is exciting, authentic, unexpectedandveryentertaining.

Interviewer: What does a director actuallydoduringrehearsals?

Luke: Morethanyoumightthink!Itisthe director's job make sure that everyone workingalongsideyou,includingcast,

stage managers, technical directors know what you are trying to achieve in your piece. It is the director's job to nurture the actor’s skill and help them realise their character’s intentions and where they should move in the stage space at any given time. The director is responsible for deciding the vision forset,props,projectionsandmusic.

Interviewer: What has been the most challengingpartofdirectingsofar?

Luke: Making sure that all cast members know exactly what they are doing onstage during large, complex ensemble scenes. There is a lot of prior planning that goes into this and it isatrial-and-errorprocess.

Interviewer: If you could direct any play in the future,whatwoulditbeandwhy?

Luke; Not too sure, something with an impactful messagewhichstickswiththeaudiencewouldbe quitecool.

Interviewer: How do you motivate or guide your castwhenrehearsalsgetdifficult?

Luke: Praising their performance is always a good motivation. Finding the positives before the negatives is vital when morale is low, especially foryoungerperformers.

Interviewer: What is the main message or theme youwanttheaudiencetotakeawayinthePlay

Luke: I think the play’s message is reflective of the importance of imagination and creativity in everydaylife.Ithinkwecanalllearnfromthisina schoolcommunity.

Interviewer: Why should students come and watchtheplay?

Luke: It’s just a whole lot of fun! It’s snappy, light-hearted and fast paced. There’s a great energy within the cast and it would be a shame tomiss.

PRIDE MONTH

It is almost June, which means Pride Monthisapproaching.

June has been an important month in the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movementformanyyearsnow.

But why June? How did it start? And why is it still relevant? Equality has still not been achieved, and in current times we seem to be going backwardsinthefightforequality.

At that time, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder,andwascategorisedassuchuntil1973.Being gaywasalsoacriminaloffence.Inthe1950sand1960s most towns in the US had laws that prohibited same sexrelationships.

Stonewall Inn was a gay bar in New York. It was frequently raided by the police who would threaten, harass,andarrestcustomers.

At this time however, frustration about long term violent marginalisation of queer people reached a breakingpoint.InJune1969,onlookersandcustomers resisted and retaliated when police returned on June 28th.Overthenextsixdaysthousandsofpeoplewould continue to show up for demonstrations in support of theStonewallInnandtheircustomers.

One year later, on the first anniversary of Stonewall, a group of activists proposed a march in New York. At the same time Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Franciscoalsomarched.

Thehistoryofgayprideisalongandhard-foughtone. Knowingandrememberingthishistoryisimportantfor understandinghowfarthemovementhascome,how farislefttogo,andhowtocelebratethepioneerswho fought for justice at a time when their very existence wascriminalised.

ThefirstPrideCelebrationisgenerallyassociatedwith the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, as the first recognised parade was held in celebration of the one year anniversaryofthatevent.

This was the beginning of gay pride and started conversationsthateventuallyledtothelegalisationof samesexmarrageamongstotherlawfulrightsofgay menandwomen.

The Most Anticipated Movie Releases in 2026

Dune Part III

The upcoming final chapter in Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi trilogy, slated for release on December 18, 2026

Digger

Digger is an upcoming comedy film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Starring Tom Cruise. Releasing October 1st

Scary Movie 6

The Odyssey

TheOdysseyisanepicfantasy actionfilmwrittenanddirected byChristopherNolan. ReleasingJuly17,2026to IMAX

Disclosure Day is an upcoming American science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg. Releasing June 12, 2026

Backrooms

Backrooms is an upcoming supernatural science fiction horror film directed by Kane Parsons. Releasing May 29, 2026

My most anticipated film: Out of all these films I am most looking forward to seeing The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan because I think Christopher Nolan is unable to make a bad film and I know this film won’t let me down.

Strange Musical Instruments

Theremin

The theremin, invented by Leon Theremin, generates radio frequencies from two antennae. Using the right and left hand, the pitch and volume can be changed. Horror movies often make use of the theremin due to its eerie sound generated.

Nyckelharpa

The Nyckelharpa is a combination of a bowed and keyed instrument. Its primary origin is Sweden although historical roots can be seen across medieval Europe. Keys are pressed which then causes tangents to be pressed onto the string resulting in a change in pitch. This allows the desired note to be played.

Glass Harmonica

The glass harmonica is an instrument played by rubbing glass or bowls. Tones can be swelled or softened by applying stronger or weaker pressures by the finger.

Ogene

WHAT IS AN ALG0RITHM?

An algorithm is a step-by-step set of instructions used by computers to solve problems or make decisions. Every digital platform from search engines to streaming services relies on algorithms to process data and deliver results.

Purpose: Toarrangedatainaspecificorder.

Examples:

Bubble Sort – simple but slow; comparesadjacentitems

Merge Sort – divides and merges; efficientforlargedata

Quick Sort – uses pivot points; fast inmostcases

Purpose: To suggest content based onuserbehaviour.

Collaborative Filtering – “users like you alsoliked…”

Content-Based Filtering – recommends similaritems.

They are used by platforms like YouTube, TikTok,Netflix,andSpotify

Used in databases, search functions, andrankingsystems.

ALGORITHMS IN

SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media platforms use algorithms to decide what content appears on your feed. Instead of showing posts only in time order, the algorithm ranks content based on what it thinks you are most likely to watch,like,share,orcommenton.

FACTORSCONSIDERED

Likes, comments, shares, and saves. Watch time and how long you stay on a post.

Accounts you interact with often.

Search history and previous activity. Trending topics and popular content.

EXAMPLES

Instagram shows posts and reels similar to ones you engage with.

TikTok recommends videos based on watch time and repeated interests.

YouTube suggests videos linked to your viewing history.

WHATBENEFITSDOALGORITHMSHAVE?

Help users find content they enjoy. Make platforms more personalised. Support creators by showing content to interested audiences.

WHATCONCERNSMAY THEYRAISE?

Can create “filter bubbles” May spread misinformation quickly

Can make apps more addictive by keeping users scrolling

The Unknown Exoplanet

Havewefoundanylifeoutthere?Anearth-likeexoplanetmayexplain itallandsolveoneoftheUniverse’sgreatestmysteries.

Introduction

For many years, scientists have questionedifwewerealoneandworked tirelesslytofindtheanswer.However,by the term ‘life’ they don’t mean any organisms similar to us, they talk about small microorganisms or bacteria that could be found on other planets, or any water or other chemicals that could supportanylife.

According to NASA’s website on exoplanets, no evidence supports the idea of life in the Universe however one exoplanethassparkeddebateacrossthe scientific world as it holds a strong resemblancetoourownplanet.

The Discovery

Image of the JWST* *from website astronomycast.com

*Discovered in 2015, 124 light years from Earth and 8x the mass of the Earth, exoplanet K2-18b ‘is a super Earth exoplanet that orbits an M-type star.’ (An M-type star is the coolest, smallest star most commonlyfoundintheUniverse).

JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) discovered water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere of the exoplanet indicating a ‘water oceanplanet’.

There is evidence of a chemical named dimethyl sulphide or DMS which could serve ‘as a biosignature on exoplanets’. Biosignature means current or past evidence of life on an exoplanet throughchemicalandphysicalproperties.

References Wikepedia and the official NASA website on K218b.

The major debate against this discovery

However,theclaimthatlifeonthisexoplanetmay exist can be debunked as it can be explained by abiotic (not obtained by organisms) chemical processes and there are doubts that the observation could involve other compounds otherthanDMS.

. What do you think on this research? Do you thinkitcouldbeaplanetthatcanholdlife?

K2-18bseenfromatelescope-skyandtelescope.org

Hope

and research still continues to thrive

The AMOC and Why It Matters

By Lila Atkinson

What is it?

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a massive system of ocean currents, often described as a “conveyor belt.” It transports warm surface water from the tropics northward to the North Atlantic and returns cold, dense water southward in thedeepocean.

This system plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate, especially by keeping Europe warmer than other regions at similar latitudes.

Current Situation

The AMOC system is extremely complex and naturally variable, whichmakesprecisepredictionsnearlyimpossible.

However, scientists now expect a major weakening. Research suggests that climate models predicting the largest slowdown are the most accurate. The system is already at its weakest point in about 1,600 years, and warning signs of a tipping point were identifiedin2021.

Why is it happening?

The AMOC is slowing because air temperatures are rising rapidly in theArcticduetoglobalwarming.Asaresult,theoceancoolsmore slowly in that region. Warmer water is less dense, so it sinks more slowly into the depths. This slowing process allows more rainfall to accumulate in the salty surface waters, making them even less dense. This further slows the sinking process and creates a feedbackloopthatweakensthesystem.

Impact on Us

A significant weakening or a collapse of the Amoc could have severeglobalconsequences.Itcouldshifttropicalrainfallpatterns, affecting food production for millions of people. Western Europe couldexperienceextremecoldwintersandsummerdroughts.

Additionally, sea levels around the Atlantic could rise by 50–100 cm, worsening the effects of climate change in coastal regions acrossEurope,Africa,andtheAmericas.

Words from Scientists

Dr. Valentin Portmann from the Inria Centre de recherche Bordeaux SudOuest stated that the AMOC is likely to decline more than previously expected,bringingitclosertoatippingpoint.

Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research described the findings as “very concerning.” He explained that the more pessimistic models showing a strong weakening by 2100 are the most realistic.Healsowarnedthatthetippingpointforacompleteshutdowncould bereachedasearlyasthemiddleofthiscentury.

Rahmstorf, who has studied the Amoc for 35 years, emphasised that a collapse must be avoided “at all costs,” noting that the probability of shutdown may now exceed 50%. He added that the most dramatic climate changes in the past 100,000 years occurred when the AMOC shifted into a differentstate.

Imaginative Writing Imaginative Writing Inspired by Maya Angelou, Inspired by Maya Angelou,

Written by Meda Jasiukeviciute Written by Meda Jasiukeviciute

I expected it to be an ordinary Wednesday afternoon. The sun softly glistened in between the dancing leaves, waiting for everyone to wake out of their beds. It hung lazily in the sky, like a golden watch ticking for something, waiting for fate to unravel itself into everyone’s timeline. Get up, go to school, eat, go home, repeat: that was the rhythm of my life, the clock ticking at perfectly symmetrical intervals. But that Wednesday, the clock skipped a beat, and so did my heart.

I was having lunch with my friends, the buzz of chatter and laughter moving around us like a warm breeze. Then, like a cold wind cutting through a cosy room, my friend’s words struck me.

“Don’t lie to me,” she said, “everybody knows.”

My soul dropped, a hiccup in the song of my life. How could she accuse me of such a thing? I would never betray her. I had sworn it in whispers, in promises that tasted like a cold lemonade on a sweet summer afternoon. And yet there it was, a lie, or the shadow of one, hanging over us like a thunderstorm. The room disappeared before me, the loud echoes ran out the door along with my trust. A feeling I had not yet discovered, suddenly struck me like a lightning bolt.

The thrill in her eyes, that odd, escaping excitement, and I realised it did not match the harsh strings in her voice. Her voice, usually so soft and familiar, was now sharp, slicing through the warm sunlight. I had been friends with her for a year, and with the other for seven. Enough time to know the rhythms of their moods, and the secret beats of their hearts. The girl I once knew as kind and sensible had vanished in the span of six words. And my dear friend, who I was sure always knew right from wrong, had suddenly fallen silent.

She looked at me with innocence painted all over her face like a mask too delicate to hold the weight of the truth. But her sly, calculating eyes had those faint lines that people carry when they plot and scheme, when they intend to wound. And in that moment, I was no longer a child at lunch laughing with friends. I was the adult who could feel betrayal curling its fingers around my spine, cold and familiar. I was the child trembling in confusion, asking silently, what have I done? How did I step into a separate chapter that had no flow into my story I did not know was being written?

We sat there in silence. The cafeteria noises became a distant river flowing around us but never touching our small island. I wanted to speak, to defend myself, to detangle the words that were wrapped around my throat. But nothing came. I felt only the sting of disbelief, the strange sharp taste of loss before a fight had even begun. But although I had done nothing, apologies ready even if I was innocent, I had been found guilty before a trial was even set up.

And that, I realised later, was the moment everything changed. I felt a stabbing feeling in my stomach, heart, and soul. I did not yet know that the path of the next few years, the people I would trust, the way I would guard my heart, all of it shifted in that single heartbeat.

One afternoon, one lunch, one accusation.

WORD SEARCH

MY LIFE AND TEENAGE YEARS LIVING IN THE EMIRATE

An easy life, no taxes, incredibly low crime rates, countless attraction sites and a warm weather, what more could you ask for?

Living 7 years in this Emirate that only appeared 54 years ago opened for me lots of opportunities and broadened my horizons. Abu Dhabi is a dream as there was no day where no one could do nothing.Therewasalwayssomethingto do or somewhere to go to. It was a very developing and progressive Emirate, the facilities were outstanding, the area was modern, infrastructure was well maintained and no worry at all of any crime.

LEAVING THE EMIRATE AND REALISING EVERYTHING OVER THE YEARS

As I left Abu Dhabi, things I tookforgrantedchanged. Once I moved to Europe, I became more streetwise. The bubbleofserviceandeasyliving, where everything was done for you, was gone. I became more aware of what independence truly means and of having to do thingsyourself.Ilearnedtostep out of my comfort zone and shape myself for the future. No more pampering for me, but a journey filed with lessons that teachyoulifeskills.