Res Novae 2021 Print Magazine

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MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL | JUNE 2021 | VOLUME VI ISSUE IV

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2020 ELECTION

SATURN-JUPITER CONJUNCTION

Dear MVHS, Break the silence. #METOOMVHS

MIDWEST FREEZE NEWS A new course for interdisciplinary research centered around intersectionality at MVHS starts Fall 2021

STOP ASIAN HATE

OPINION A recent movement at MVHS brings forth lasting impacts on students SCIENCE FICTION The dire effects of climate change lead a civilization to seek refuge on a different planet

HYBRID LEARNING

STANDARDIZED TESTING

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS

TECHNOLOGY

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY: THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE

RESEARCH

INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERSECTIONALITY

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BIOLOGY

CLOT CHAOS 07

OPINION PSYCHOLOGY

THE SECRET BEHIND TEAMWORK

PSYCHOLOGY

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IT’S TOO MUCH

13

SCIENCE VS. RELIGION

PSYCHOLOGY

PANDEMIC PETS

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SCIENCE

PSYCHOLOGY

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TRAUMA AND THE TIMELINE

17

SCI-FI PSYCHOLOGY

DUST

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CLIMATE CHANGE

PLANET B

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR This past school year has truly been one of social reckoning.

Between the polarizing political atmosphere, widespread antiracist activism and the outburst of a #MeTooMVHS movement, many students have been hit personally by the larger movements for sociopolitical equality that have shaped this year. And, of course, we have to acknowledge the most significant factor that has ultimately confined our publication to Zoom — COVID-19.

Through it all, I am proud to know that Res Novae writers have used their STEM and journalistic expertise to address a variety of these topics with a nuanced academic lens that brings ideas like psychology, medicine and computer science into our current national discussions about inequality, activism and life through a pandemic. These stories are a reminder that scientific investigation can serve to deepen our understanding of national phenomena, whether social, economic or political — even those that seem tangentially related to discussions of STEM. On page 17, Aishwarya Manoj emphasizes the psychological impact of retraumatization, a concept that is deeply connected to the emergence of the #MeToo movement on the MVHS campus, as many women have taken to social media to share their stories and strength, drawing awareness to the deeply prevalent sexual assault culture at MVHS. There have been lighter moments as well through the pandemic, not only in the lives of MVHS students but Americans nationally.

On page 13, Mika Kato discusses the recent surge in pet adoption that is highly linked to the need for companionship through the pandemic, demonstrating the impact of furry friends on the lives of MVHS students and their mental health.

Finally, as we transition out of COVID-19, we can look back and reminisce on experiences with distance learning and pandemic life, both the good and bad. In particular, the notable awkwardness of breakout rooms, discussed by Angela Zhang on page nine, as well as the augmentation of competition and stress, illustrated

by Aashi Venkat on page 11, highlight the ways in which distance learning has both stripped us of high school experiences while simultaneously granted us a year of unprecedented encounters in this “new normal.”

What becomes increasingly clear through these pieces is that science and technology are heavily tied to what MVHS students and global citizens have felt on both a personal and communal level with all that has happened in the past year. The way forward will be to use these experiences to define a new and equitable normal as we return to a pre-pandemic society. As writers, that means using our platform to promote awareness to advocate for greater equity; and I hope that as you enjoy this issue, you find yourself invested in how you too can advance our world for the greater good.

Riya Ranjan Editor-in-Chief

RES NOVAE STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Riya Ranjan LEAD EDITOR Fiona Luo SECTION EDITORS Ritu Atreyas Malavika Eby STAFF WRITERS Ananya Dua Avani Durve Eric Feng Mika Kato Aishwarya Manoj Shreya Mantripragada Shalini Rao Arnav Rathee Angelina Alex Roopa Piyush Shanbhag Anika Sharma Samhita Srivatsan Divya Venkataraman Angela Zhang VISUALS LEADS Fiona Luo Jannah Sheriff Jennifer Zhao DESIGN LEAD Marvin Wu VISUALS TEAM Piyush Shanbhag Divya Venkataraman Angela Zhang TREASURER Nika Zamani Cover & Page Design by Marvin Wu

ABOUT US Res Novae is Monta Vista’s student run STEM publication. Every month, we publish news, opinion, and science fiction articles on mvresnovae.org. We answer questions ranging from “How have MVHS students contributed to cancer research?” to “Can intelligent robots cook my dinner for me?”

ILLUSTRATION | DIVYA VENKATARAMAN

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY: THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE Discussing recent advancements of technology in medicine and the ethics behind them

A

BY DIVYA VENKATARAMAN

robot that serves as a surgical assistant in a hospital. A nanodevice in the form of a pill that can explore your entire digestive system in a matter of minutes. 3D-printed biotissues to replace ones lost in a fire.

Fascinated yet? All of these are examples of the numerous technological advancements in healthcare and medicine.

The future of medicine is shaping right in front of our very own eyes, yet there is a lot more to medical technology than what meets the eye.

Yes, it is a huge asset to society, but what about the ethical and equity concerns surrounding technology in healthcare?

Well, recent advancements may be able to tackle these controversies and ensure a promising future.

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TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Punam Gupta, a Medical Doctor specializing in Internal Medicine, shares her overarching opinion on technology in medicine. “[Medical technology] is very informative and beneficial for everyone,” Gupta said. “But we should use it with the right motivation and understanding, [instead of] misusing or taking advantage of it.”

ADVANCEMENTS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES Many new technologies have been developed for use in a medical setting over the past few years, especially with an increased demand for medical technology during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven crucial to the development of medical technology, with the

potential to completely redesign healthcare. From supercomputers to robots, AI can not only help medical staff but help patients as well. We see examples of this everywhere — a company in Russia developed ExoChair, an exoskeleton assisting surgeons by helping them stand for long periods of time and fight fatigue. Google’s DeepMind created an AI to help detect breast cancer, outperforming human radiologists by 11.5%.

Ted Shinta, the Industrial Technology teacher at MVHS, emphasizes the impact of AI in medicine.

“There’s a lot of automation that’s going on in medicine and the big revolution to me is AI,” Shinta said.

“It’s really going to change how medicine is done in the future… it’s

getting more and more powerful.”

Similarly, Nanotechnology has sparked recent interest with multitudes of microbots underway.

A nanotechnology device called the PillCam is a noninvasive way to explore one’s colon, possibly being able to take biopsy samples in the future. Nanotechnology has the potential to take on responsibilities such as drug delivery to even minisurgery!

Another huge endeavor in medical technology is the adaptation of Virtual Reality (VR). A major use of VR in the medical setting, produced by companies like Osso VR and ImmersiveTouch, is to train surgeons to practice operations. In fact, a Harvard Business Review study showed a 230% boost in the overall performance of VR-trained surgeons compared to traditionally-trained surgeons.

Technology is even used in vaccinemaking. In fact, the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that 98 million people in America have received so far, runs on genetic technology. It uses synthetic messenger RNA to help assist in protein production and more.

Last, but definitely not least, there are several wearable devices and gadgets used in healthcare.

From FitBits that can track sleep and exercise to a Muse Headband that can assist in meditation, new gadgets in medicine have proven to be very efficient in patient-tracking.

Even day-to-day computers are being used for telemedicine and telecommunications.

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH Unfortunately, although technology has many benefits in the world of medicine and healthcare, there are ethical concerns surrounding the topic. The two main concerns revolve around accessibility and privacy.

Let’s face it, technology can be expensive. Many people all around the world don’t have the means to gain access to medical technologies, and this lack of accessibility prohibits them from being able to get the care they may need.

Additionally, when using technology, all medical information is often stored and never deleted.

This information in the wrong hands

could negatively impact thousands to organizations that increase accessibility or by donating to of lives. “[Imagine that] someone hospitals that may need the money. “[If hospitals get] more patients, applies for a job but then has their [application] rejected because of they need more equipment and thus [need to] expand medical data their expenses,” that was Gupta said. a c c e s s e d “Biomedicine, bioengineering, “So, donating [by the company],” biotechnology, medical technology definitely helps S h i n t a in general... [they’re all] really and is [a very beneficial] said. “It’s a even p r e j u d i c e … multidisciplinary. [They’re] the gesture, if we cannot you [can] wave of the future.” just depend be excluded [solely b e c a u s e MVHS INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY on donations].” of certain TEACHER TED SHINTA U l t i m a t e l y, conditions technology in medicine and that you may have.”

However, people and hospitals healthcare is advancing quicker alike have started to target these than ever. Not only are scientists and ethical concerns surrounding engineers creating new applications medical technology, and hope to of technology to help medical staff and patients, but many are continue doing so.

“Hospitals are defined to help also working on conquering all of patients and their needs first,” Gupta the ethical and equity concerns said. “Patient care is the [number surrounding the topic.

“Biomedicine, bioengineering, one] priority. Their care, treatment, management and privacy are all biotechnology, medical technology in general… [they’re all] really incredibly important.”

Shinta said.

Many non-profit organizations multidisciplinary,” such as MedShare are helping to “[They’re] the wave of the future.” donate medical technology to those in need. Laws such as the HIPAA Laws have been put in place in an effort to avoid privacy concerns surrounding medical technology.

MVHS Senior Ellie Kim shares her ILLUSTRATION | DIVYA VENKATARAMAN opinion on medical technology and the concerns surrounding it.

“Medical practitioners and doctors today always look out for your health at the utmost front and there’s always statistical evidence [behind what they do],” Kim said. “So I’m yet to reject a specific [medical technology] that has been proven with data and [that’s] beneficial to the people.”

LOOKING FORWARD There are many things we can do to assist in the technological developments of medicine.

Biomedical engineering, biotechnology and bioengineering are three fields of study that show much promise in the future, with many more advancements to come.

However, one need not pursue a career to help. We can help tackle the ethical concerns surrounding medical technology by contributing RES NOVAE

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INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERSECTIONALITY

THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN EQUITY AND EQUITY IN SCIENCE Why centering intersectionality and interdisciplinary study is integral to science, and how teachers at MVHS are contributing via the new Equity Deconstructed course

BY RIYA RANJAN

I

n the midst of racial reckonings and movements for sexual assault awareness, the MVHS community is making vast strides towards promoting equity. Beginning with the creation of the Student Equity Task Force, teachers, students and administrators have made an active effort to further inclusivity. Consistent with these efforts, last month, a new course offering was announced: “Equity Deconstructed,” a spin on the traditional “STEM” research course that now focuses on interdisciplinary research projects that emphasize equity and intersectionality.

This course was initiated by a group of teachers at MVHS, including choir teacher Amy Young and AP US History teacher Bonnie Belshe, and aims to introduce a more comprehensive research education to MVHS’s STEM focused environment. It’s no secret that humanities and arts have traditionally taken a backseat to STEM on campus; but the ivory tower that STEM is placed in may be detrimental to students’ overall education, as Belshe argues that a holistic approach to the scientific method is necessary to successful research.

“This course is fundamentally about understanding that no discipline should be so entirely in its own silo that there are blinders on for everything else,” Belshe said. “There has been a tendency for Monta Vista students to place STEM on a pedestal on its own and not look at a broader perspective of history, humanities and arts. But there’s a connection that STEM needs to have and should have with all of those disciplines.”

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RESEARCH

With typical co curricular activities at MVHS, whether it be participating in a coding club or taking an AP science class, students are usually confined to one topic. “Equity Deconstructed” directly challenges this status quo by giving students the chance to explore a multitude of subjects in tandem with STEM. Beyond that, with the course’s specific focus on intersectionality with interdisciplinary study, students can use their skills to explore complex topics like race, class, gender and sexuality that deeply impact society.

Choir teacher Amy Young insists that it is essential that these social themes are included in high school education, and asserts that the recent communal focus on equity has been a catalyst for generating widespread support for intersectional literacy.

“A reason for establishing this class is all of the community outcries we’ve been experiencing this year to make sure that we’re looking at what we learn through a lens that advances equity,” Young said. “I think [current events] have helped people realize that intersectionality and interdisciplinary viewpoints are really vital to high school education, especially in applying it to the real world.”

“Equity Deconstructed” provides a structured way for students to use interdisciplinary studies to encourage inclusivity at MVHS, which indicates that research and STEM might be the perfect tools to help advance equity.

However, as Young articulates, an intersectional lens in any research is a prerequisite to making it truly equitable. In fact, recent studies at

institutions globally highlight how the results of research that centers hegemonic rather than intersectional ideas can be socially detrimental, as the modern age of digitization often furthers systemic inequities.

THE SOCIAL HARM OF MODERN STEM As science has evolved, it has been a silent perpetrator of intersectional oppression; from the fact that STEM industries are highly male dominated to the way that research often exacerbates racist, sexist, and classist injustice, science without equity is science that is socially harmful.

This phenomenon presents itself in a variety of ways, even with something as simple as the BMI scale, which is based on a white body standard for health and thus diminishes the national quality of healthcare for people of color. More recently, with the ever-increasing use of artificial intelligence and similar tech that requires “big data,” biases are consistently augmented as these high tech tools center whiteness and perpetuate racist stereotypes.

Rebekah Agwunobi, an undergraduate student at Columbia University and researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab, discusses the impact that inequitable data has had on how technology adversely impacts minority groups, which she largely attributes to the fact that technology simply isn’t created for the benefit of marginalized peoples.

“I always refer to this project called ‘Missing Data Sets,’ which talks about how there is very limited information

EMPATHIZE

IDEATE

understand the experiences, emotions, motivations, and needs of others

NOTICE

build awareness of your values, identity, biases, assumptions, and impact to enable an authentic user centered design, not a “you” centered design

generate as many solutions to a problem as possible

DEFINE

narrow focus to develop a point of view for the needs of the user

REFLECT

PROTOTYPE develop a tangible artifact or

ongoing and transparent, allows time to focus on actions, emotions, insights, and impact

experience

TEST

The Stanford d.school’s Equity-Centered Design Framework will be used to facilitate students’ research in the new research course “Equity Deconstructed” at MVHS.

the datasets they are trained on have been impacted by decades of systemic racism that criminalizes Black Americans.

Agwunobi’s research project, known as “The Judicial Risk Assessment”, “flips the script” of this inequitable AI by using machine learning to assess judges and determine how likely they are to illegally incarcerate a defendant based on prejudice. Her research aims to directly combat and expose unethical authorities that contribute to the sustenance of unjust systems of power.

“I think that it’s important to focus the lens on judges, who are never subject to any sort of questioning on their decisions,” Agwunobi said.

“We want to hold judges to the same level of accountability that they’re expecting the people they’re sentencing to have.”

Agwunobi’s project serves as proof that, by centering minorities and their intersectional experiences, STEM can be leveraged as a tool to promote justice. However, implementing this type of equitable STEM on a higher level requires holding companies and people in power accountable for the impact of their actions, a sentiment Belshe echoes as well.

“Because we’re in this age of mass digitization, we need to have arts, humanities and history in the study of STEM,” Belshe said. “When people believe that STEM is a neutral force, Columbia undergraduate student Rebekah Agwunobi’s research it ignores the fact that people at the MIT Media Lab focuses on the American judicial system are behind it. We need to and its inequitable practices against marginalized groups. consider, who’s writing the

ILLUSTRATION | IAN ARUNGA, CC

about marginalized communities available that doesn’t exploit them,” Agwunobi said. “When we talk about big data that involves marginalized people, we’re talking about big companies surveilling minorities at protests and selling that information — that’s what big data about marginalized people looks like. It doesn’t look like collecting data to empower communities or using data that can be leveraged to their benefit.”

Risk assessments are a prime example of data-based bias and its implications for marginalized groups.

These assessments are machine learning tools used in judicial sentencing that evaluate how “at risk” an offender may be to become a repeat offender. Though it would seem that these risk assessments could reduce the impact of human bias in the American judicial system, in actuality, a study conducted by Pro Publica discovered that risk assessments are heavily biased against Black people, largely because

get specific feedback about how to improve

algorithm? And what decisions are they making for that?”

EQUITABLE STEM AT MVHS Through “Equity Deconstructed,” MVHS students can now use an interdisciplinary and intersectional lens to engage in research that truly promotes equity, like Agwunobi’s project. And beginning discussions around what makes research truly equitable at a high school level can potentially translate into making higher level research more equitable as well.

“If you have a good knowledge of research ethics or equity, you’re much more likely to create things that people actually need,” Agwunobi said. “I’m glad to see that high schools integrate those conversations into research, not only because it’s interesting but also because it gives students that responsibility as they go forward.”

It’s about time that MVHS deconstructed the ivory tower around STEM; and with an interdisciplinary and intersectional lens, student researchers will have a more holistic and critical perspective that is key to changing society.

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ILLUSTRATION | FIONA LUO

CLOT CHAOS

A scientific understanding of the blood clots formed by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the hysteria surrounding COVID-19 vaccines

BY SHREYA MANTRIPAGADA

E

ver since the first COVID-19 case in the United States on January 21, 2020, researchers and biotechnology companies have been on a mission to quickly produce vaccines that can tackle the deadly virus and reduce the rising death toll. According to BioSpace, a life science newspace, the development of a vaccine usually takes at least 10 to 15 years. However, the World Health Organization denoted that the mass funding for the COVID-19 vaccine allowed researchers to move into phase 3 – clinical trials – in six months instead

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BIOLOGY

of the typical two years.

The three main and highly distributed vaccines within the United States are from Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer. Although the United States originally administered vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers risking their lives to tackle the virus, as of today, Americans over the age of 16 are now eligible to get vaccinated.

With the rise of vaccinations across the country, numerous doctors have reported blood clots occurring in individuals who have taken the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Earlier

this month, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that within two weeks of distributing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, six women developed blood clots, leading to one patient’s death.

BLOOD CLOTS ORIGINATING FROM VACCINES According to the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit American academic medical center, blood clots are formed when parts of your blood thicken, forming a semisolid mass within the body. Blood thickening is formed by the mass production

of platelets — tiny fragments of cells that are essential in stopping certain systems within the body from bleeding out. Therefore, an excess amount of bleeding within the body results in the mass production of platelets, increasing the possibility of blood clots occurring throughout the body.

As the hysteria around the Johnson & Johnson vaccine spread throughout the United States, numerous individuals started to link COVID-19 vaccines with the production of blood clots. Yet doctors and physicians have negated this phenomena and have stressed the importance in differentiating between blood clots caused by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and those triggered by other instigators, such as smoking and obesity.

In an interview with Scientific American, Dr. Wilbur Chen, an infectious disease physician at the University of Maryland College Park, said blood clots originating from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine don’t pose a major threat to the human body. Additionally, Dr. Chen made it clear that the blood clots occurring from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were different from other blood clots.

“Blood clots are formed by platelets, which bind together to form a clot, and typically a lot of them are needed to do that. The clots seen with the Johnson & Johnson vaccines formed even in patients who had low platelet counts in their bloodstream.

This combination is unusual,” Dr. Chen stated in his interview.

“Furthermore, we’re seeing this phenomenon of clots forming in serious places such as the brain, the lungs, the legs or the abdomen, despite the fact that platelet counts are really low.”

Although scientists and researchers are unsure of the true cause of these blood clots, Dr. Chen explains that their risk factor is less than one in a million – smaller than a 0.0001% chance of getting blood clots from taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Chen also reinforced the importance of getting the vaccine in order to halt the spread of the virus and reinforce stability within society.

Sharing a similar perspective to Dr. Chen, the Science National Honor Society (SNHS) at MVHS also

stressed the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine in order to establish a sense of normalcy around the world.

“It’s important to get the vaccine because we all want to get back some safety into our lives,” SNHS President Shreya Maanavi said. “It’s important to get it [the vaccine] so that we can limit the spread [of the virus] and develop some sort of herd immunity to reduce the number of lives lost to COVID-19.”

COVID VACCINES AND THE MVHS COMMUNITY With the rise of the hysteria around the COVID-19 vaccines and especially of Johnson & Johnson, numerous students at MVHS, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, express their opinions towards the public’s hysteria towards the blood clots formed by the vaccine.

Although MVHS Junior Hannah Baker hasn’t been vaccinated yet, she explains how there is an unnecessary hysteria around blood clots and their impact in society. Baker articulates that she does plan to get the vaccine and that the rise of blood clot cases with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not stopping her from getting vaccinated.

“I feel in theory it’s like ‘oh like blood clots’ that’s a sary thing, but if you think about it 6 out of 6.8 million people got it [blood clots], so it’s very unlikely that it [getting body clots] is going to happen to me or anybody else,” Baker said. “I trust the vaccine, medicine, and the science behind it [the vaccine]. Also, because I go to work and I’m going to sports, I think it would be a good idea for me to get it.”

With the fear around blood clots surging around every corner of the United States, numerous Americans have decided to not get the COVID-19 vaccine and have advocated against vaccination. According to a study done by Nature, the anti-vaccination agenda in the United States has skyrocketed after the surge of blood clots with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, hindering the chances for the country to return to normalcy.

Alongside the blood clots cases, MVHS Junior Ishaani Dayal also believes that there is an ideological barrier that hinders people from

getting the vaccine, causing many to misconstrue getting the vaccine as something that is harmful or dangerous for themselves and for society.

“One part is like the conservative idea of not trusting something you don’t know and I think that comes from not being educated and not understanding how vaccines actually work,” Dayal said. “Second, there’s a lot of indoctrination that comes with it. I think people in political power kind of push the idea that vaccines are dangerous because vaccinations are associated with a certain party or a certain ideology.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING VACCINATED Regardless of the blood clots instigated by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, it is essential to get vaccinated in order to ensure that our world can return to normalcy.

Scientists and researchers such as Dr. Chen have scientifically proven that it is not only unlikely that an individual will get blood clots — 0.0001% — but also improbable that they will suffer severe health problems from them.

All over the world but especially within the United States, the antivaccination agenda has gained foot, causing numerous individuals to misconstrue COVID-19 vaccines as harmful and dangerous. This has not only slowed down America’s recovery process, but also made it harder for the nation to tackle the SARS-CoV-2 virus and establish herd immunity.

ILLUSTRATION | MARVIN WU

MONTA VISTA PERSPECTIVE

Have you experienced symptoms after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

43 PERCENT

experienced fatigue

36 PERCENT had a headache

21 PERCENT had bodyaches

According to a survey of 30 MVHS students

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ILLUSTRATION | ANGELA ZHANG

THE SECRET BEHIND TEAMWORK A guide to building a strong team based on psychology

I

BY ANGELA ZHANG

t’s 1 a.m. and the group project that’s due the next morning has become a one-man show. All of the desperate texts sent in the group chat were left on read. During breakout room meetings, not a single group member ever turned on their mic or camera.

Sound familiar? We’ve all been in that place before.

For some, teamwork is a dreaded effort that results in broken friendships and sleepless nights.

Others love collaboration and thrive within sports teams and group projects. If some are able to work in groups more efficiently than others, what is the secret behind the mysterious skill of teamwork?

Although it is hard to determine the exact factors that affect a team’s success, psychology may provide

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PSYCHOLOGY

who has researched collaboration among youth ex t e n s i v e l y. asked PASS THE BALL “Groupthink is a phenomenon When about the Within sports can make really key to strong teams, the level that of teamwork, smart people make really teamwork within a sports team, rather than each decisions, because she emphasized individual player’s bad skill, is often the ….everybody [gets] caught in the importance of avoiding deciding factor groupthink, a between winning the moment.” phenomenon and losing. For in which a that reason, it UC SANTA CRUZ group blindly is important for PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR makes decisions sports players MARGARITA AZMITIA by evading to prioritize nurturing a team dynamic and individual responsibility.

“Sometimes, because there’s synchronizing with other players nobody challenging a decision, [a] during practices.

Dr. Margarita Azmitia is a group can make a horrible decision…. psychology professor at UCSC Nobody said, ‘Wait a minute. That’s valuable insight in maximizing a team’s potential.

not right,’” Dr. Azmitia says. “And school. Particularly, the notion of so, groupthink is a phenomenon group work within breakout rooms that can make really smart people is both more awkward and more make really bad decisions, because daunting than teamwork within a ….everybody [gets] caught in the traditional school setting. Despite the moment.” relative newness of online teamwork, When planning about the next there are still many social psychology move during a sports game, it is theories applicable on Zoom. easy to make bad decisions. To According to Alex Pentland from prevent this, teams must encourage the Harvard Business Review, participation from all team members communication is the most and critically analyze each strategy to important aspect of teamwork. choose the best one.

“The key to high performance However, even within the most [lies]….in [the way the team perfect team, conflicts are inevitable. communicates]” Pentland said. “[For Allison Kyutoku, a sophomore at example,] we advised the center’s MVHS and a member of the girls manager to revise the employees’ soccer team, admits that she has coffee break schedule so that dealt with obstacles within her team everyone on a team took a break at in the past. the same time, [allowing] people “There’s definitely conflicts in more time to socialize with their sports, especially a sport like soccer teammates. And it worked: [average where you have to work with your handling time, or the duration of team a lot,” Kyutoku said. “So... you a customer call transaction] fell just have to put your feelings aside by more than 20% among lowerand just find your common goal.” performing teams.”

Although most Unfor tunately, people see conflicts this socialization as detrimental to is exactly what a team’s success, “We all have different distance learning o v e r c o m i n g experiences, as different eliminates, obstacles together students are no can actually help a understandings, different longer able to team grow. perspectives of things. chat with peers “Conflicts can before class starts. allow teams to And that is expanded N e v e r t h e l e s s , grow,” Azmitia exponentially when students can still said.“ In my work … engage in casual where I was looking you have diverse team c o n v e r s a t i o n at pairs of kids, one membership.

[I]t just with their group of the things that m e m b e r s I noticed is that becomes this melting pot before starting a the people work of ideas” discussion over really well together Zoom, enabling when the conflict UC IRVINE PH.D. STUDENT them to improve gets heated. [After] SPENCER JAQUAY interpersonal managing their relationships and emotions, they came back as well…. work more effectively together.

Really knowing when to disengage Spencer JaQuay, a Social Ecology and when to reengage is a skill.”

PhD student at UCI, emphasizes In fact, successfully resolving the importance of visual cues conflicts is necessary to a team’s during group conversations. In success. Instead of avoiding an order to effectively work with others, argument when players disagree, it’s it is crucial to actively listen by important to take a break, regroup, repeating what teammates say and and have an open conversation to maintaining stable eye contact. This address the issue. lets them know that they can voice their opinions without fear of being NAVIGATING ONLINE TEAMWORK revoked, also known as psychology Over the past year, one of the safety. biggest struggles for youth worldwide “Psychological safety is ... the consisted of transitioning to online belief that you won’t be punished or

humiliated for speaking up with your ideas, or concerns or beliefs,” JaQuay said. “[An introverted person] still holds very valuable information to share with everybody, but they just might be a little more reserved.”

In the awkward format of online discussions, working towards psychological safety for others is even more difficult. A person’s body language and other visual cues are often lost through the screen, so it can be hard to interpret the feel of a room and keep the conversation flowing. Thus, team members must show their engagement through cues that are obvious even through Zoom, like nodding. With some extra effort, it is possible to overcome the communicative barrier that Zoom creates and encourage participation from all group members.

THE TAKEAWAY Next time you groan at the announcement of a group assignment, remember the value of working with others. When your team faces a roadblock, keep in mind the psychological tips that can guide your team to success.

“We all have different experiences, different understandings, different perspectives of things,” JaQuay said.

“And that is expanded exponentially when you have diverse team membership. [I]t just becomes this melting pot of ideas.”

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ILLUSTRATION | DIVYA VENKATARAMAN

IT’S TOO MUCH How normalized stress can lead to burning out

O

BY AASHI VENKAT verwhelmed.

In a competitive environment, where there is extraordinary pressure to succeed, stress is something that is almost inevitable.

However, what happens when that “standard” stress level gets too high?

According to American Psychological Association, most teenagers would rate their stress levels to be roughly at a 5.8 on a 10 point scale. According to an anonymous student at MVHS, this statistic is an accurate representation of the stress that students at Monta Vista experience.

“Freshman year was pretty chill, maybe a three out of 10,” the source said. “I think sophomore year was [the] most stressful year of all, because it was a transition to harder coursework, so maybe a[n] eight. Junior year was pretty relaxed because of quarantine, [and] I think that being at home really stopped me from [burning] out because the workload decreased. Senior year

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PSYCHOLOGY

has not been as bad [compared to] sophomore year, but it still has been pretty stressful.”

What exactly is burning out?

The most universal definition of burnout is that it is when one feels overworked, isolated and exhausted due to overexerting themselves for an extended period of time.

“Overwhelming oneself with too many things to do, [such as] a [lot] of extracurriculars on top of a heavy course load can be a bad idea,” the source said. “My [mindset] changed over the break between sophomore and junior year. I let go of a lot of things I wasn’t passionate about, which helped me ease up my workload. I also began practicing some self care things. I started [prioritizing] when I was going to sleep, how much food I was [eating] and how much exercise I was [doing], and I think that helped a lot.”

According to a study published by the Association for Psychological Science, taking time for oneself has

been proven to decrease the impact of stress on the brain. A group of cells in the brain, classified as the amygdala, tends to be larger in burned out individuals. The amygdala plays a role in processes such as memory and emotions, and a larger amygdala could lead to burnout due to how emotions, such as anxiety or fear, become significantly amplified.

Highly stressed individuals’ amygdalae also have weaker connections with their medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which works with the amygdala to control one’s emotions. A weaker relationship between the mPFC and amygdala means less control over emotions, potentially leading to burnout.

However, there may be a road to recovery. Although it was proven that the stress does play a role in weakening the connection between the mPFC and other structures in the brain, it was also proven that a four week break was enough time for the connections to go back to a sense of

because there’s this pressure to be anonymous student suggests that independent,” the source said. “I overall, MVHS can serve to benefit honestly never ask my teachers for from destigmatizing help to diminish help whenever I’m struggling with stress.

“The normalization of burnout a concept. It’s embarrassing to be wrong [because] there’s this pressure makes it difficult for people to COMPETITION “At Monta Vista, there’s this culture to be right all the time. [It has speak out, because ideas like ‘I’m of wanting to work oneself to the gotten] to the point where, if I’m not stressed’ are so common that no [understanding] one really bats an eye when you bone, and that something, I just talk about them,” the source said. [gives one] a social status,” “There’s this culture of wanting go home and “This normalization might also push watch as many people to see their situation in a more the source to work oneself to the bone, and video lectures as catastrophic light, because they want said.

“I’ve heard people that [gives one] a social status. possible instead the people around them to take their of actually asking situation more seriously. As a society, [saying things] like, ‘I stayed I think that demonstrating my teachers for especially within [MVHS], I think we need to take steps towards undoing up until 3am [that you do a lot of work] help.”

Stigmatization the normalization of burnout so for my essay,’ and someone without taking time for yourself of asking for people get the support they need [responding], is something that is almost help inevitably when experiencing it.” causes students ‘I stayed up ‘till 5:30 am celebrated [at Monta Vista], to suppress their writing my which I think is really harmful.” emotions, and this suppression essay’. I think that demonstrating [that you do a can also potentially lead to burnout. lot of work] without taking time for But, as a student body, it is important yourself is something that is almost to seek out help, especially when celebrated, which I think is really we’re struggling, to avoid the detrimental effects of stress. Our harmful.”

This mindset of constantly working oneself to the bone can significantly ILLUSTRATION | MARVIN WU increase one’s chances of burning out, which means that an amplification of this mindset in an environment such as Monta Vista would increase the likelihood of an individual in this environment experiencing burnout.

“There’s this idea of junioritis, Anonymous senior at MVHS rates sophomore year with the greatest which really does seem to be amount of stress, as coursework increased in difficulty burnout,” the source said. “I think with senioritis, it’s sort of [when] you get into college and then you’re chill about it. But when people bring up junioritis, it’s more that they are so overloaded with work that they just can’t take it anymore. I feel like those terms and their prevalence at [MVHS] demonstrate how common PEAK burnout can be here.”

Competition is not necessarily a bad thing, as it is proven to motivate individuals—the issue lies in when it becomes too much. normalcy. Not every issue caused by stress is reversible, but this may give a pathway to better mental health for many MVHS students.

SENIOR REFLECTION ON STRESS THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL ON A TEN-POINT SCALE

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ASKING FOR HELP Although taking a break is proven to be beneficial, another fairly beneficial approach would be to ask for help, whether that be emotionally or educationally.

“I definitely think that there is a stigma around [asking for help]

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ILLUSTRATION | PIYUSH SHANBHAG

PANDEMIC PETS Pets and their impact during the pandemic

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BY MIKA KATO

hether it’s a dog, cat, bird, or hamster, pets have undeniably been dominating the pandemic scene. More than 750,000 animals have been adopted from shelters since the pandemic began and national adoption rates increased by 3%, landing at a steady 54%. MVHS freshman Olivia Gao is one of the many people who adopted a pet during the pandemic.

“I’ve always wanted a cat because cats are cute… I agreed to do all of the cat chores so my dad let me get it,” Gao says about her ragdoll cat, Mochi.

Pets have always been a source of comfort for many families and individuals in America. With the many psychological effects the pandemic has, pets provide a step away from the horrors of the real world for many.

From the health benefits of having a pet to the physical beauty of the animal, different people have varying reasons behind why

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they want pets; however, one of the most common reasons for having a pet is companionship. A survey conducted by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute found that 85% of non-pet owners surveyed agreed that animal interactions reduced loneliness, while 80% of pet owners agreed that their pet makes them less lonely. This overwhelming majority in the responses show the strong impression of pets providing a social relationship between the human and the pet.

“An ideal cat would be one that’s friendly and doesn’t get too mad, maybe also fluffy and cute,” Gao said, indicating the importance of the connection between the pet owner and the pet.

Companionship is one of the many reasons behind why people want pets, but it is unclear when this came to be. Pets have been around for as long as people can remember.

However, there is no clear-cut answer behind when and why people began

domesticating pets for more than resources.

The date when humans began domesticating dogs seems to be a gray area, with the approximation being 17,000 years ago in multiple locations around the world. However, one of the earliest remains of one from over 6,000 years ago was found in Saudi Arabia.

Professor Daniel M. T. Fessler, an anthropology professor at UCLA, commented on the possible factors that lead to pet ownership.

“One possibility is that this is a misfiring of psychological mechanisms that evolved to facilitate caring for infants and children. Another possibility is that understanding animal minds has been important throughout human evolution, both so humans can successfully hunt animals, and avoid being hunted by them, hence we are strongly attracted to opportunities to observe animals,” Fessler said.

“Pet ownership could either be an

from 18 to 34 years old reported stressed, we become inconsistent being lonely after the COVID-19 in our behavior. When we become pandemic began. Hence, due to inconsistent in our behavior, it the social isolation experienced becomes harder for our dogs to be during the pandemic, pets can be able to predict us. That is stressful for the dog. And it’s highly beneficial not about fear. to an individual’s about mental health and “We are likely to see increases That’s confusion and reduce the stress associated with in pet abandonment, and f r u s t r a t i o n ,” Mills, staying home with demand for animal trainers, Daniel Veterinar y minimal social interaction.

In when these problems surface behaviorist, and professor at agreement with following the end of social the University this, the American of Lincoln in Pet Products isolation.”

England, told A s s o c i a t i o n’s UCLA ANTHROPOLOGY The Washington report found that Post.

83% of pet owners PROFESSOR DANIEL FESSER The pandemic indicated that has impacted many individuals in their pet decreased their stress and allowed for a sense of better well- various ways, both physically and mentally. Pets have been around for being during the pandemic.

Economically, despite the financial centuries, both for companionship strains of the pandemic on many and for purposes like hunting and families, pet companies have been sport, and it comes as no surprise recording high revenues. Chewy, for the increased time alone and an online retailer for pet food and the yearning for social relationships supplies, reported $1.7 billion of to contribute to the increase of pets revenue in three months from June to in America. Now more than ever, it’s September alone. These important for people to consider the statistics suggest that pets responsibilities of getting a pet.

“One looming problem is that also allow people to spend money on others, which puppies and kittens that were increases happiness and raised during isolation will likely be the feeling of compassion. poorly socialized when it comes to Despite the positive interacting with people outside of mental health benefits the household, interacting with other humans have been animals, and separation from their getting from pets, there owners,” Professor Fessler suggests. are concerns that the “We are likely to see increases in pandemic is negatively pet abandonment, and demand affecting pets. Conditions for animal trainers, when these in pets similar to problems surface following the end separation anxiety have of social isolation.”

Although there are many emerged as a result of the pandemic. As they get considerations both involving the used to humans staying pet and ourselves when adopting, it at home for the majority is clear that animal companionship of the day, pets are more has transformed the pandemic prone to feeling concern experience for many. Plus, it can’t and frustration when their hurt to have a friendly, fluffy face to owners leave the house look at when you log off Zoom after a tough day. for even short periods.

Another impact humans have on their pets is how their emotions are conveyed to the pet; negative emotions like PHOTO | OLIVIA GAO stress or anger can greatly impact a pet’s wellbeing MVHS freshman Olivia Gao’s Ragdoll Cat Mochi “When we get

accidental byproduct of this, or it could be a useful way of learning more about animals.”

According to Newport Academy, a chain of mental health programs for adolescents states that interacting with and petting a friendly animal reduces levels of cortisol and lowers blood pressure, both of which correlate directly to stress.

An experiment in Daegu, Korea to investigate the impact of pet insects on elderly individuals in group housing showed that elderly people who interacted with and cared for live crickets in a cage for eight weeks were less likely to display symptoms of depression than elderly people who were not.

With the pandemic and stay-athome guidelines came loneliness.

The most recent US census recorded 36 million American residents living alone, or 11% of the nation’s population. In another survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons, 66% of people reported that their anxiety levels have increased during the pandemic, and 39% of individuals

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ILLUSTRATION | PIYUSH SHANBHAG

THE MEANING OF EVERYTHING: SCIENCE VS. RELIGION The effect of religion on the field of STEM

BY SHALINI RAO

O

f the core values shaping an individual’s identity, faith in an omniscient force continues to be one of the most widely contested beliefs. These opposing stances often boil down to the inconsistencies between science and religion, since one of the most basic arguments between believers and non-believers is the role and legitimacy of science within religion.

Most religious individuals concede that science has uncovered remarkable breakthroughs regarding the beginning of the Earth and the development of humanity. From discovery of empirical evidence proving evolution to the complicated interactions between subatomic particles, science continues to uncover the deepest mysteries of the

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universe, seemingly rendering the concept of a god unnecessary.

One explanation for the beginning of the universe is the Big Bang, which states that the universe began with an extremely small point of energy that expanded over the course of the next 13.8 billion years.

However, proponents of religious arguments state that no form of science has explained what preceded the Big Bang. Even biological evolution, which illustrates the advancement of inanimate matter, doesn’t seem to describe exactly what these original particles emerged from. Even explaining the behavior of an unbelievably small element of nature requires extremely intricate mathematical work that doesn’t appear to be generated by

chance. As a result, many individuals contend that physics and chemistry itself indicates a potential wisdom designed by a higher external being.

In response, many researchers say that continuing to explain the reason for every element that began the universe is an unending task.

For example, scientific research has recently proven that a god wasn’t necessary to create the Big Bang.

Fluctuations within time and space, concepts explained more deeply by quantum mechanics, can produce a universe out of nothing. The next argument would be to inquire where these laws of physics originated from. Though a scientific explanation for these origins still remains unclear, the religious perspective is that a divine creator is responsible. Then,

the resulting question is where the people that take it as a universal fact.” divine creator came from, leading Religious literalism is the belief that up to an unexplanatory chain that God created Earth exactly as stated loops in on itself. As a result, it can’t in the Bible, often within the span be assumed that god itself exists of six days. This directly contradicts just because complex mathematics evolution and proven scientific and physics appear peculiarly principles which indicate that the complicated. world is billions of years old.

The scientific Lack of belief concepts associated in verifiable with the theories “If we can think more critically science is the against religion largest way suggest that or carefully about what we that the STEM “good” scientists believe we’re much less likely field is affected shouldn’t believe in by religious higher beings and to make egregious errors t h o u g h t . that the two ideas that lead to anxious decision However, if are fundamentally religious texts incompatible. Many making.” are interpreted even associate RELIGION PROFESSOR abstractly religion with so that JANVIER GALINDO magic and believe science and this reliance on an external force reasoning are still emphasized, is harmful to the development of many proponents of both atheism humanity. For example, Anya Goyal, and religion believe that STEM a sophomore in Monta Vista High progress isn’t affected. In fact, when School, views religion as spiritual and individuals only derive meaning from non-factual. religion that inspires their humanity “I’m not very religious personally and hope, religion transitions into and neither is my family,” Goyal says, a subject completely disassociated “but sometimes we have discussions from science. about the way the world came to be “Religion brings people together,” and we tend to treat religion more Galindo says, “Religion gives like myth and story than hard cold us different tools and different facts.” cultures cultivated for dealing with Since technology is a byproduct ups and downs of human life.” of science, several people believe This specific understanding of god that belief in spirituality prevents disregards religious theories which humanity from digging deeper into are debunked by modern science. unintuitive scientific concepts. As Consequently, it serves to positively a result, the innovation associated impact people rather than slowing with new, impactful, technology is down scientific discoveries. harbored.

Still, the several arguments and Others argue that science and variables surrounding belief in god religion can coexist, since science have fuelled continuous, back-anditself cannot disprove god, only forth discussions about the indicating its improbability. They effect of religion on the believe scientific thought and field of science and religion don’t overlap, and belief in technology. Though god doesn’t indicate the aptitude of the debate may a scientist or engineer. never lead to a For example, Professor Janvier definite answer, Galindo, a local religion teacher, this form of believes that religious literalism is c r i t i c a l one of the only ways that science and religion disagree.

“For some people what it means to be religious is to take it as a fact,” Galindo says. “A common source of dispute has been between creation and evolution, and the only reason that’s even an issue is there’s certain ILLUSTRATION | PIYUSH SHANBHAG

thinking is incredibly beneficial to students.

“People will often act or behave unconsciously, people follow an impulse or what a neighbor or friend says,” Galindo says, “so if we can think more critically or carefully about what we believe we’re much less likely to make egregious errors that lead to anxious decision making.” Thinking critically about science and a larger creator helps students understand what their actions are motivated by.

Raaga Kuramanchi, a sophomore in Monta Vista High School, believes that the values an individual adopts helps heavily shape their identity.

Therefore, critically reflecting on beliefs presented to you by religion is vital.

“Just because something is deemed right by religion cannot make it the sole reason that you should be doing it,” Kuramanchi says, “as the values that have been instilled in yourself through the people that surround you are just as important.”

Truly analyzing values instead of taking them as a statement of fact helps shape the unique identity of an individual. Regardless of the conclusions derived, this process of critical thinking is a useful and necessary aspect of growing.

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ILLUSTRATION | JENNIFER ZHAO

TRAUMA AND THE TIMELINE

A delve into the psychology of retraumatization and how it impacts the MVHS community in light of a recent movement

BY AISHWARYA MANOJ

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n late March of 2021, MVHS students logged onto Instagram to see posts from survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault discussing their experiences.

This was the beginning of an increase in activism surrounding sexual abuse within the MVHS community, and many students continued to speak up on the issue in the following weeks.

According to a study by UN Women, 97% of women in the UK between the ages of 18 and

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24 reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment. This statistic is particularly relevant to MVHS because the recent #MeToo movement has brought to light how pervasive the sexual assault culture is at MVHS. The impact of the movement on our students is complex: for many students, the recent movement has been both terrifying and informative.

MVHS junior Diya Mehta recalls feeling triggered by the posts, but mostly being anxious about how the

community would react to them.

Mehta, who herself has experienced sexual harassment in the past, recounts the anxiety she felt when reading the posts.

“It’s like you don’t want to think about sexual assault [or sexual harassement], but when it comes up you have to think about it because it is a real problem.” However, Mehta also recognizes how important sharing stories is to survivors, stating that it is a good way for them to make people aware of their experiences and try to

change the culture of abuse within the MVHS community.

MVHS junior Aryaa Pathak believes that by sharing their stories, survivors start discussions and increase the likelihood of MVHS taking action on the issue. “I felt that sharing [their experiences] was so strong of [survivors] because they’re creating this safe environment for other women to come out. [And] that’s why [other] people started to come out with [their] stories,” Pathak said.

Despite the benefits of speaking up, for many students such as Mehta, the recent movement has caused trauma to be relived and decompartmentalized, a phenomenon that has both a psychological and biological backing.

On a biological level, the prefrontal cortex of the brain functions less due to experiencing trauma. The prefrontal cortex controls decision making, and thus those experiencing trauma symptoms may have a harder time making choices. For example, people who have less prefrontal cortex function tend to behave impulsively and are more likely to act on whatever they feel inclined to do.

Retraumatization is defined as a reaction to being exposed to traumatic content that is altered by one’s previous responses to traumatic events. When a survivor of sexual abuse sees posts circulating around the web on a topic related to their trauma, they may begin to reexperience the emotions and physical symptoms that resulted from their original traumatic experience.

According to therapist Joyce Marter in a 2017 piece by CNN, the triggering of trauma has many clear symptoms, such as “intrusive thoughts, obsessive thinking, difficulty with appetite, concentration or making decisions.”

MVHS school based therapist Richard Prinz MFT discusses that it is vital that survivors know how to identify symptoms of retraumatization as well as learn to cope with them. “[When] we are triggered [sometimes] we get into our sympathetic nervous system, we get into fight or flight, and that’s why we have [panic]. So it’s important to know a little bit about how to regulate our own psychology either through breathing or body relaxation or [trauma] tapping techniques.”

Along with recounting experiences Prinz notes how sharing one’s story being potentially retraumatizing, can be beneficial from a psychological the situation can worsen if survivors standpoint. He says that defining are not met with positive reception. oneself based on one’s traumatic According to Dr. Anju Hurria, an experiences is part of the trauma assistant clinical professor of child itself. “People who [see] themselves and adolescent psychiatry at UC as survivors and [want] to help other Irvine, victim blaming (a common people [to] not have to go through response to sexual abuse stories) is that, that’s a very empowering sense often an additional source of trauma of self. [It’s] knowing that it is still that negatively impacts a survivor’s possible to have healthy relationships mental health, and also makes any and to move away from the trauma post-traumatic stress disorder they and not let it define us totally.” are experiencing more complicated.

Rather than discourage survivors These psychological effects from sharing their stories, students indicate that survivors of sexual should aim to be supportive of assault and sexual harrassment their peers who speak up and are putting in tremendous effort offer them resources for help with to shed a light on the serious issue dealing with sexual abuse and of rape culture in our society. As trauma. It is important that MVHS Prinz describes it, “[Sometimes] it’s students understand that validating challenging, but then challenges can survivor’s stories and offering them lead to transformation and change encouragement can help them and getting through hard times. ” deal with, and possibly even deter, The fact that survivors experience retraumatization. Thus, students can a signficant amount of negative help foster a safer environment for consequences when sharing their survivors, increasing the likelihood of experiences serves to combat the real change being made within the infamous myth that survivors, community. particularly women, who speak up about sexual abuse are merely trying to gain attention.

When survivors speak up, they are faced with the very real threat of retraumatization that can have a lasting impact on their psychological recovery.

As Mehta says, “[No one] wants to be harmed in any way. [And] I feel like by victim blaming they’re also giving more trauma to a victim or they’re denying that the victim ever felt any trauma. So they’re basically invalidating their experience.”

As MVHS students continue to take a stand against sexual abuse, it is imperative that people within the community understand retraumatization.

However, this does PHOTO | ALEX PERKINS, FLICKR not detract from the importance of survivors A protester in New York holds up a sign in support of the #MeToo speaking up. movement in 2018 RES NOVAE

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SCIENCE FICTION In order to limit exposure to COVID-19 in the past year, many of us did not leave the confines of our bedrooms. Yet we still witnessed the drastic effects of climate change, whether it be through the red skies outside our windows, or through the news we hear about politicians leaving their states amid record low temperatures.

The early pandemic brought forth less traffic and road congestion, such that emissions decreased for a brief period of time. However, as time passed, the cycle of hot summers and forest fires continued at an unimaginably faster pace. Climate change is rapidly changing the ways we function in society, and as such, we devoted this issue’s Science Fiction section to the exploration of the changing temperatures resulted from our own actions.

DUST

Impossible to disperse, heat leaves only feelings of helplessness and impotence

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BY ARNAV RATHEE

he church was limply erect, darker corners of the building where scaffolded with unwilling metal the wood fell into mush and the light set around rotting wood, and was ignorant, but it was unwilling to strung with the remains of any spread. Wesson nodded. “The cool steel that could be found strewn across doesn’t come by much, anymore. the small town. The inside was in a state It’s bothersome, isn’t it? Not having of gilded languish, tended to by the any water, any drink? No way out of twin Songsetters, Smith and Wesson. the hot. No control.” The young man Bitter incense burned in the recesses stood, staring down at the Hawk. of abandoned chambers, obscuring “Have you heard the stories my father the Hawk until he had sat at the only told? Before me?” pew which had not surrendered to soft “I’ve heard your stories, boy. I don’t death. “Hawk, I’m surprised. I don’t need to hear them again,” Hawk think I’ve ever seen you here before.” croaked, “They’ve done me little good It was the taller twin, Wesson, shuffling yet. They’re as dusty as this town and about in his robe through the dying about as dry.” A second voice rang church. Hawk’s grumble was hoarse, out from behind the curtain of smoke. dry. “I wouldn’t think so, boy.” His “Dry stories could do you good, jab was legitimate. Wesson Hawk. A dry story is best for was hardly a man, sporting reminding you how to be clean skin, smooth, and cold, don’t you think?” a full head of hair Smith carved his way above a wiry frame. through the thick air, “Then, why are setting himself at you here, Hawk? No the altar. An ancient booze for the day?” lighter brought fire A dry chuckle. to three candles, Everything was sitting before a dry. The pews, the pane of cloudy church, the drink, glass. The largest the skin, the metal. wall of the building It all seared in the was painted with air, which felt more the silhouette composed of heat of a spry man, than of breath. That tall, legs wideheat constricted, set, gun in hand. wrapping about Smith coughed, the chest and punching a hole forcing quick, through the thick wheezing gasps scent of burning that did little to herbs, and spoke. satisfy starving “Joseph Starr, and lungs. “Well, you his Pacemaker. won’t find any here.

Centuries ago, All I have is stories in the city of the and incense.” angels, he brought Wesson sat, a message to a and the pew dry place like ours. sank further into See, this Angel City the rot.

Hawk was cruel, headed grumbled, his hat by metal kings limp in his hands, in black robes, “Figured a place sitting high in their like this would towers, while lesser be cool. I figured folk suffered. Starr wrong.” There was saw these kings, a coolness, in the ILLUSTRATION | JENNIFER ZHAO and he knew them.

There were no kings, only liars in gilded cloaks. Their law was their lie, which kept the rest weak. So he ended them all, slowly. He brought the people to each of their dark towers and shot them, and when they fell, it was clear: they were nothing. It took a single shot to fell six of them, because they were nothing but dry air in shadow, which made the whole city hot. And when the kings were gone, the people could breathe.”

Hawk’s laugh was cynical, sharp.

“That’s bullshit, Smith, and you know it. You know the last time someone told me that story?” Hawk made a smacking noise with his mouth, a dour attempt to keep some moisture on his tongue. “My father. My father told me that story. He died two days later, from the heat. If this place wants to be hot, it will be.”

Smith nodded, his smile widened by the flickers of flame. He set the pane of glass down, and the wall was once again awash with nothing but cracks and disdain. “Maybe you’re right. The story may well be a charred mess of nothings, but a town like this wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for that mess. Why else would we all live in this pit of dust and sand? Someone had to start us off. Compared to the way we are now, someone was in control, do you understand? The story was longer, I think, in the past. It had to have been. There are little holes, which were full before but which we can’t seem to see anymore. That’s why we’re here. Because, some time in the past, someone knew what it was like to take control, see? Starr couldn’t breathe because not being in control is dry, and hot, and it chokes you to death.”

Smith sat at Hawk’s side, opposite his brother. Hawk’s eyes were hard, but the fogginess that the heat had wrought was gone. The twins spoke in sync, as if they had rehearsed their speech.

“Take control.”

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ILLUSTRATION | ANGELA ZHANG

PLANET B

Exploring the disastrous effects of climate change through a cautionary tale told from the perspective of a young girl in search of a new planet

BY ANANYA DUA

G

ayle stared at the gray ceiling above her. She could see the extensive paneling that adorned it. The tiny, square-shaped chips beeped in a rhythmic tone as she tried to sleep for the night. She shut her eyes and breathed in, trying to forget. Trying to forget the family she had left behind. Trying to forget Matilda, her best friend. She tried to erase all the painful memories.

Today, for some reason, was colder than usual. She pulled her sheets closer and buried her face within the fabric. The weather reminded her of her days at Knoxville. She used to wake up, shivering, every winter morning, even though the thermostat was cranked up all the way. She would watch the snow fall in torrents over the roof of their little red house and the hail pattering down on her windows.

The summers there were quite the opposite. The heat was unbearable.

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Although she had lived in the coldest portion of the planet, each morning she would see the glistening white glaciers softly crashing over the mountains in the extreme heat. They would slowly melt to form a clear water stream just beside her house.

Matilda had often come to eat with them. The irregular weather patterns had put Knoxville in its worst drought, leaving practically no food for most.

She knew she was one of the luckier ones, as, when she lived there, they still had a couple of bags of rice and a few loaves of bread stored in the cellar.

“Ughhhh! Why can’t I just fall asleep?” Gayle yelled, frustrated, flipping over on her side and attempting to once again fall asleep.

She shouldn’t have. The screens just further tormented her; reminded her of her terrible past and her family’s future. She watched the sleek TV screen display live footage of the oceans. Her eyes darted across

the screens, halting at the arrays of bleached corals that lined the edges of the display. Their vibrant colors had faded, like life had been drained from them. Their shriveled-up bodies looked at her in despair.

It was hard for her to think that this was the same ocean that was once bustling with fishes of varied kinds. The blue striped one she had loved, the puffy tigerfish and the tiny silverfish. It was now desolate; barren. Not a single creature was to be seen. The heat had made it nearly impossible for them to survive.

Her heart ached thinking of the conditions her family were going through. Her mind raced, for a second she even doubted whether they were alive among these conditions.

But she quickly consoled herself.

“It’s all good, Gayle,” she repeated.

“They’re doing well, they’re happy and healthy.” She was pretty good at lying to herself by now. Deep down, she knew. She knew the last

bag of rice they had, the tiny stream of drinking water. But she chose to ignore it. “It’s all good.”

She dragged her feet across the floor of the rocketship and pushed herself to the kitchen. She loathed doing this each morning. Opening the cabinets to watch the dwindling supply of Campbell’s microwavable soups. She put her finger to the containers and counted. “One, Two, Three…..Four”.

Her heart was heavy. 4 cans. If she tried, she and Jake could probably make it last for a week.

It was days like these that made her regret her decision. After all, what good would any of this do if she ended up dying of starvation? She wouldn’t even live to enjoy a better planet; a planet uncorrupted by climate change.

Her mom had been so proud of her that day. “I knew you were special, Gayle… You are going to get us out of this! I just know it!” she had exclaimed excitedly, as she told all those around her of her daughter’s accomplishments.

That was exactly 6 years and 12 days ago. 6 years and 12 days ago, she had boarded the Octane 87, along with Jake Hinton in hopes to find a newer, more habitable planet.

They left with immense optimism and hope. As the rocket jetted off into space, everyone was convinced that they would be back in no time, with a new planet for the rest of them to locate to, and leave behind Luna - the planet wrecked with the devastating effects of global warming.

So many days she wished she had done better. They had done better.

She wished she could go back and tell herself to be less careless about things. Leaving the light on all the time, wasting emissions. All the times she took her car out for just going down the street.

In some way or the other, all of that led to extreme changes in the weather, the flooded houses, and the melting glaciers.

Each morning, she and Jake would wake up and follow the same routine.

Eat the same microwaved soup and then wander out for the rest of the day in their rocket until the night began to set in.

Now she had started to lose her optimism. All the weeks passed and they had still no luck finding a habitable planet.

She didn’t think about what would happen to the 890,567 people who lived on Luna if they weren’t successful. Nor did she think about

their dwindling supply of food. It was easier that way.

“THUD”. Almost immediately, Gayle ducked under, covering her head with her hands. She thought that something had fallen within the rocket.

“It’s a meteor...I think it hit the body of the rocket”, Jake explained calmly.

Her face relaxed a bit, but she still wasn’t at ease. “Is it near the fuel tank?”, she asked, knowing that an attack of that sort could potentially cause an explosion.

Suddenly, Jake’s face scrunched up, thinking of the possibilities. He ran outside to the observation deck.

A mushroom of clouds instantly flew into their chamber. Small ragged gasps escaped Gayle’s throat. She could feel her esophagus closing, and then everything went black.

BLACK.

RES NOVAE

22

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