THe
BAROMETER
MARCH
FEBRUARY -
2022
4
HALF TERm
CONTENTS:
The Future of Energy: 3 Routes to Change - Dan R, Year 12
Nuclear Dreams: Fukushima and Japan’s Lost FuturesKaveh K, Year 11
Canada Ski Trip - Sam M, Year 11
Lemons Lemons LemonsGiorgio L, Year 9
Accidental Death of a Salesman - Christos L, Year 11
Inter-Trib Creative Writing Competition - Guilo S, Year 9
Arjun’s Science Update - Arjun D, Year 12
Rough Sleeping in London: Why is it Rising So Fast?Kaveh K, Year 11
Turkey-Syria EarthquakeTommy S, Year 9
How to Memorise Vocabulary from Another LanguageJonathan P, Year 10
The Perfect Holiday - Giovanni G, Year 9
The Fermi Paradox - Denis B, Year 12
Yesterday, Today and The Beatles: How History’s Most Successful Band Revolutionised Music Culture - Frankie G, Year 12
The Story of the InflatoplaneStepan K, Year 13
The Soviet DSB-LK: An Ambitious Project for a
Hypersonic Strategic BomberJasper H, Year 11
The Mig 1.44 - A Failed Fifth Gen Interceptor - Jasper H, Year 11
The Past and Future of Aviation - Jasper H, Year 11
The History of SubmarinesJasper H, Year 11
The Mighty Palace’s Season So Far - Agustin D, Year 12
Recommendation for OneFootball - Sebastian H H, Year 9
Patchinko - Daniel W, Year 9
Cover photograph by Stepan K, Year 13
Write for the Barometer
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To submit articles or cover photos, join the Barometer club at Friday lunchtimes (B11)
Or, you can email Mr s Bradley at nicola.bradley @wetherbysenior.co.uk
Read the latest issue at https://issuu.com/wetherbysenior
THE FUTURE OF ENERGY: 3 ROUTES TO CHANGE
On Monday 30th January, I and all other Geography Scholar had the pleasure of attending a talk, at the Royal Geographical Society, about the future of energy globally and the issues relating to changing the energy mix around the world. It was delivered by Professor Mike Bradshaw of Warwick University and provided a deep insight into the current and potential future states of climate change caused by energy use. First, he poised the overarching question of the lecture: Can the world have secure, affordable, and equitable energy services that are environmentally benign? Or, in short, can the world have truly sustainable energy that everyone has access to and has little risk of failing?
The answer to this is a complex one. Energy use causes 73.2% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, so clearly it is important to reduce these emissions greatly by switching to renewable/green energy. A successful transition to this will ensure there are no physical issues with obtaining the energy (no involuntary interruptions in the supply), having the ability to sell the energy at a reasonable price and making sure the energy is geopolitically independent (countries can generate it without too much reliance on others).
There are many global agreements and treaties in place to reach these goals already. These include the Paris Agreement 2015, annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings of UN nations to combat climate change, and the UN
Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy for all around the world. On top of this, optimistic estimates predict a 1.5-2.3 degree Celsius of warming from the pre-industrial period by 2100. However, many challenges are still present in order to ensure that these targets will be met. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that, to get 2 degrees of warming, global energy emissions must peak before 2025 and decline by 27% by 2030. We are currently not reaching this target, and this would not even reach the Paris Agreement target of a 1.5-degree rise, clearly showing we have a long way to go.
Professor Bradshaw proposed three possible transitions that could emerge relating to global energy source changes. The first was a Gradual Transition - the energy mix does not change much in the future and the global system is not compatible with meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. This means energy security would be prioritised. While a very undesirable option, it would likely lead to energy sources being more secure and stable in the long term. The second was a Rapid Transition - clean energy
technology supplies the growth in energy demand, energy emissions peak in the 2020’s and Net-Zero is likely achieved. This would result in restricting global warming to less than 2 degrees and result in relative safety from the drastic effects of climate change. The last and most interesting was the Messy Transition - a failure to phase out fossil fuels in a timely manner leading to increased price volatility, backlash against the Net-Zero transition, a breakdown in international cooperation in climate change, and more geopolitical competition. This is arguably the most dangerous future for energy and could lead to the effects of climate change worsening in the long term, compared to current energy use, putting the entire planet’s future in peril.
Overall, the future of energy is definitely in question, as there are many different models and predictions that show vastly different outcomes for changes in energy use. With the right mindset and a rapid transition to renewable energy, the global target of a 1.5-2 degree temperature rise is still possible, but it will take international efforts and investment to see it out.
Dan R, Year 12 writes...
NUCLEAR DREAMS: FUKUSHIMA AND JAPAN’S LOST FUTURES
Kaveh K, Year 11 writes...
Dr Makoto Takahashi’s lecture on Fukushima’s impact on Japan’s future, as well as the broader history of Japan’s “lost decades,” was an interesting talk at the Royal Geographical Society, organised by our Geography Department.
Dr Takahashi’s specialises in disaster management and its relation to trust by the public, a very pertinent topic in light of 2011’s Fukushima nuclear disaster, a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, due to a 13-14m high tsunami, caused by a moment magnitude 9.1 earthquake, which had an epicentre close to Fukushima prefecture (annotated map, right). The meltdown resulted in a 12-mile evacuation zone being instated around the plant and it joined Chernobyl in being one of only two nuclear events to ever receive the highest risk rating.
There has only ever been one confirmed direct death as a result (attributed to radiation poisoning) though, as Takahashi explained, Fukushima’s impact was much, much worse for the surrounding area’s inhabitants in the long-term than the short-term.
After Chernobyl, safeguards were in place in the event of catastrophic meltdowns and the Japanese government was able to swiftly evacuate all affected inhabitants. This speed-driven, rather than analysis-driven, approach may have made sense initially, but later the government reclassified the risk zones from circles radiating from the plant to
areas based on radiation readings. From this, it emerged that some had actually been moved into areas of higher risk than before. This and other short fallings, like allegations of corruption and mismanagement regarding planning about such disasters, such as the criminal gangs (known as the Yakuza) being the first to offer support in some areas, helped create a deep distrust in the
Japanese government, with some claiming it had fallen into another of its “lost decades”.
However, in Fukushima, an entire way of life had been turned on its head. For example, 80,000 people depended on farming and, with land contaminated (the prefecture is filled with bags of radioactive waste, pictured) and a lack of true, non-economical incentives,
most never returned. Some had settled into their new lives with their families, and others simply did not trust the Japanese government claims that the areas were properly decontaminated. The once fertile soil was now radioactive and, in 2015, almost 20% of Japanese consumers were still hesitant about buying food from Fukushima. With a low demand and difficulties to supply, it was unsurprising that hardly any of Fukushima’s farmers have returned.
Of those farmers that have, they have mainly done so for their family. Japan has one of the oldest populations in the world, with a median age of 48, ten years older than that of the USA. Some hope their children will carry on the family business and create families in Fukushima.
Yet, despite this, Fukushima still feels the impacts of a disaster that occurred over a decade ago.
Many have been optimistic about the future, but Dr Takahashi sees Fukushima as an example of how to protect other places, rather than one that deserves help.
Whatever occurs, Fukushima’s outcome is still uncertain. Dr
Takahashi showed us Giles Price’s thermally imaged Restricted Residence, which serves a stark reminder of the eerie environment that the farmers are returning to.
CANADA SKI TRIP: CANADIAN WINTER WONDERLAND
Sam M, Year 11 writes...
Half-term, a brand-new holiday to behold, new challenges to be faced, new opportunities to be found, new discoveries to be made, and pupils hitting the deck for a Canadian ski trip to Panorama with the wonderful Miss Mauroudi and Miss Miguez joining the great Mr Underwood and Mr Tucker in a relaxing holiday. Years 10 to 13 were present on this illustrious trip to Canada, and the long-awaited day of our trip was finally here.
We all converged at Heathrow, after numerous reminders to arrive at the correct terminal! Security was stress free for
all, meaning we got off to a surprisingly good start with everyone in high spirits and discussing what shenanigans they were going to pull off on the Canadian ski slopes. Our destination: Calgary Airport.
We had a nine-hour flight, over the nations of Iceland and Greenland on our 787 West Jet service. During the flight, we enjoyed dinner before getting some shuteye to knock out some of the jet lag we would experience when we landed.
When we touched down in Calgary, baggage drop was a bit of mess, but everyone got their luggage in the end, and we got
through border control and were officially on Canadian soil. We brought food and drink from a little store next to a lit-up Alberta sign emblazoned with the nation’s flag colors, red and white. After spending a few more minutes at the airport, we were finally on our way to Panorama.
The next leg of our trip was by bus. This journey was another three and a half hours before we reached our destination with the bus falling relatively silent after the first hour.
We arrived in Panorama in the dark, during a Canadian winter night with the temperature at a freezing –12 degrees Celsius. All
of us, including our teachers, were tired beyond comprehension. At this point we were given our room keys, and we all went to bed.
Each day consisted of the same enjoyable schedule: wake up, breakfast, ski for three hours, lunch, then ski again for another three hours before the end of the day.
Day one was stress free and many got their legs back within minutes. Although we stayed close to the summit, we did not stretch it on the first day as our jet lag was already in full effect.
Days two through to four saw everyone become more adventurous. Our climbs to the summit were in full force, with new members of the group involved every day.
LEMONS LEMONS LEMONS
Giorgio L, Year 9 writes...
Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is a play centring around two characters, Oliver and Bernadette, who have a limit of 140 words per day.
At the start, we have a mixture of flashbacks, before the “hush law”, the ruling that limited the amount of words said, was put in place, and afterwards. The playwright uses flashbacks to contrast the difference in their lifestyle and communication. For example, before Oliver and Bernadette would frequently converse, revealing the full extent of their thoughts and feelings, and speak in a fast-paced way. After, they spoke in clear and concise ways, careful about what had to be said.
Oliver and Bernadette met at a funeral of a cat and, before the law was in place, there was an almost comical and humorous atmosphere around the absurdity of the conversations they had, such as Bernadette, being a lawyer, discussing her work, and Oliver (a musician), being almost jealous of her role in society. They became closer and closer, until they eventually married. Yet, afterwards, the playwright emphasises the cruelty of the law through the sadness in their voices, and the lack of energy and enthusiasm they comported themselves with, especially compared to before the “hush law”.
When the creation of the law was being put through, Oliver, having a slightly rebellious side to his character, decided to immediately protest by making as much noise as possible, yet Bernadette
was more resigned to her fate and more worried about the further consequences the protest may inadvertently cause. Then Bernadette, when realising the true gravity of the situation, agrees to argue against the idea, but both of them do not succeed and the law is put through.
Throughout the rest of the play, the playwright explores their emotions in vastly different ways after the law was put in place. Before the actors would reveal their thoughts solely through the utilization of the voice, after they would rely more on gesticulations and facial expressions. Yet, despite the dark and grim atmosphere that follows, the playwright does provide occasional moments of comic relief, perhaps attempting to reveal to the audience that, even after such catastrophic events have occurred, brief moments of joy may ensue, despite the challenging
situation. Furthermore, the utilization of lighting in Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons highlighted the various, and often contrasting, emotions felt. For example, at the start, there were bright and more colourful lights shining on the characters. Afterwards, there is a more monotone colour, usually grey, perhaps to show the sadness that the law has caused.
I believe Lemons Lemons
Lemons Lemons Lemons was a fantastic play, as the actors were able to show their emotions very clearly, as well as through their movement, voice, facial expressions, and gesticulations. Furthermore, despite the focus on a dystopian environment, the playwright correctly added moments of comic relief to keep the watcher’s attention.
I would give it a 5 out of 5.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Dario Fo. However, this script was readapted by Tom Basden to suit modern-day audiences. The play focuses on a maniac, who turns the Metropolitan Police force on their heads after they have been wildly condemned by the public following the death of a young, falsely accused anarchist, after his interrogation at their hands.
stage (a highly established and momentous institution) were performing.
Overall, I found the experience highly enjoyable and would definitely recommend the production to anyone in need of a good laugh.
Christos L, Year 11 writes...
On Wednesday 15th March, Miss Twomey took multiple up-and-coming A Level Drama pupils to watch the comedic play, Accidental Death of An Anarchist, as this will one of our set texts next year.
The play was originally written in 1970 by famous Italian playwright
The actor performing as The Maniac (Daniel Rigby) was extremely comical. His character would constantly break the fourth wall and inform the audience about his plans to expose the police force, allowing you to be in on the joke. Moreover, he would dress up as characters of high social status (such as a judge) to force the police to fulfil his needs. An example of this was when he forced the policemen to sing and dance to the famous Italian song Bella Ciao. It was exceptionally humorous, due to the silly dance moves that the police force on
INTER-TRIB CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
Our Inter-Trib creative writing competition was an opportunity for Years 7 to 9 to flex their creative muscles and have a go at penning a short story.
Initial entries were judged by Mr Cross and Mr Chidell, in our English Department, and shortlisted stories were then shown to Michael Mann, a celebrated children’s author. He picked the winning stories from each year group and provided feedback to the runners-up.
Michael Mann said about Guilio’s story: ‘Giulio uses some nice turns of phrase that tell us the genre, and period, that are subtle but effective. It is also very well structured with a riddle at start, end, and riddles throughout, that build nicely. I also like how the end takes what is a horrible crime, and, in some way, redeems it as a sort of dignified act – Harrow, the main character, isn’t quite a villain. This is nice nuanced characterisation and this adds some tenderness/sadness to what could have been a purely plot/ puzzle driven piece.’
We are publishing one winning story in this issue of The Barometer and will publish other winning entries in the next edition.
Middle School winner, Guilio S, Year 9 writes...
It was the 25th of December of the year 1953, and I was sitting on my very comfortable red couch, smoking my usual pipe, while consulting my dear friend, James Harrow, about the previous case
we had solved. I love Christmas, especially in my beloved London. London was in the heyday of the new economic world and the peak of social status. A new Queen had just been crowned and London was so very different from before.
I looked out the window and was blinded by the blinding Christmas lights sparkling with different tones of colours, flashing around the strangely colourful night. I could see young children playing around in the small park in front of my house, throwing snowballs at each other and exchanging gifts. Families were enjoying a safe and cosy trip on one of the famous scarlet-coloured, hop-on-hop-off buses. I was also grateful of such beautiful Christmas spirit coming from the community.
“We have been very busy with work lately, am I right Mr Doyle?” said Harrow. “I shall agree, my friend. But, I insist, please just call me Roy” I said. “OK, Roy, I always wanted to put to the test your magnificent detective mind. So, I am going to ask you a riddle. “I am something that is loved and hated. I change people’s appearances and thoughts. If a person is careful enough, I will go higher. To some people I will make fun of them. To others I am a mystery. Some people might want to try and hide me but I will show. I will never go down. What am I?” I soon answered, “Well, my friend, I am thinking of the word ego.” Harrow was about to give me the answer, but our peaceful Christmas moment was soon ruined by a phone call, which came right out of the blue by making a deafening sound. I got up from my very cosy couch, and answered the phone,
killing that terrible noise.
“Am I talking to Mr Roy Doyle,” the anonymous caller said. “Yes, how may I help you sir?” I said, in a suspicious voice. The person on the other end of the phone said, “I am calling in order to inform you that there has been another case of murder in Baker Street, and I wanted an opinion from the best detective in circulation, which is in fact you Mr Doyle.” “I will be there very soon, thank you for the call,” I said. I grabbed my trench coat, calmly accompanied my guest to the front door, and shared a formal farewell with him. I soon grabbed a taxi and headed towards Baker Street. During the ride, which seemed never-ending, I was looking out of the car window and thinking to myself how much I love snowy London. The small cream-coloured flakes reminded me of my childhood. All of this nostalgia only added to the unbearable stress of being assigned a case at Christmas.
I got to the specified apartment, and soon paid my regards to my fellow police officers. I was introduced to the case and shown the evidence. In front of my frightened eyes, I saw a dead man with a few stab wounds in his abdomen. I was told that the killer had used a kitchen knife, roughly 28 cm long and 3 cm wide. In addition, the killer had left a note, with images imprinted on it.
After long discussions, I could finally start to investigate more on the case. First of all, I started by analysing the figures. In the first figure, an eye and a circle were represented, which I deduced indicated the London’s famous
Ferris wheel. As a consequence, I brought with me the police officers I trusted the most and headed to the London Eye. The area soon became restricted with crime scene tape and we headed towards the bottom part of the Ferris wheel. I could feel the snowflakes drop on my shoulders, which made the situation worse due to the extreme cold that went through my very sensible British spine. One of my trustworthy police comrades noticed a crimson note laying on the top wagon of the wheel. After a few minutes of waiting, we managed to get a hold on the note and noticed that another symbol was portrayed.
This other figure was made of what looked like two stones acting like a support to the stone that was lying flat on top of them. After a few seconds of deep thinking, I deduced that this was the famous British monument called Stonehenge. The police and I headed to Stonehenge and grasped the note which was lying on the grass under the mighty stones. I already knew the drill, so I opened the envelope and read what now looked like a sentence. I read it out loud and it said the following, “I always show the time, my heart pounds when the arrows strike twelve, I am the one above all in London, what am I?” This riddle got most of the police officers involved and gave me some difficulties, too. But after some time, I finally understood that the right answer to the riddle was Big Ben.
I shot back to the police car and sped back to London, in order to reach Big Ben before 12. I found what looked like the last one of the notes at the top of Big Ben’s tower. I opened the note and I was
presented with a single sentence, once again. I read it out loud, “The answer was age.” This last note left all of us very perplexed; how could this connect with any of the previous notes? So, we decided to revisit all of the recent clues in order to find the answer to this last riddle. After hours of searching, we all became hopeless and just when the last spark of hope seemed to be gone, I had a huge moment of realisation. “Eureka!” I shouted. This note was connected to a past riddle posed to me! The riddle that I was told from Harrow, “I am something that is loved and hated. I change people’s appearances and thoughts. If a person is careful enough, I will go higher. To some people I will make fun of them. To others I am a mystery. Some people might want to try and hide me but I will show. I will never go down. What am I?” The answer was not ego, but the answer was age. All of the points were finally connected; riddles and London are two of Harrow’s most favourite things.
I ran out of Big Ben and rushed to Harrow’s apartment, which was very close to Baker Street. I broke down the door and found my detective friend sitting on a white, but blood-stained chair, in a dark room, which reflected his old age. “You gentlemen finally found me, it took you a while,” he said. Hopelessly, I shouted back at him, “Why would you do this and how was the victim connected to any of this?” Harrow then answered in a
feeble voice, “Well, my dear Roy, what you gentlemen call a victim, is in fact the most horrendous and dreadful person and the murderer of my wife! I never liked his disrespectful behaviour, especially towards my family. As her boss, he physically and mentally abused my wife every day, behind my back. When I discovered all of the horrible things he did to my wife, I wanted my revenge. However, before I could do that my wife passed away because of all the wounds and mental stress she had endured during that period. I couldn’t stand that beast’s presence, so last night I broke into his apartment and stabbed him, finally putting an end to his existence. I have nothing to lose now, my dear detectives, so I turn myself in.” The police officers soon arrested him and knew that he would be brought to court, accused of manslaughter and most likely sentenced to death.
After an exhausting day, I finally got back home and enjoyed the last few minutes of Christmas, while sipping on a hot cup of tea. I stared at the beautiful green pine tree, full of Christmas themed decorations hung on it. I then noticed a gift under my tree. I started unwrapping it while finishing up the last sip of my cup of tea and noticed it was, in fact, from Harrow.
Author’s credit: Many thanks to riddles.com for the riddle on age, which I have used in this story.
ARJUN’s SCIENCE UPDATE
Arjun D, Year 12 writes...
Our superpower: REM Sleep
The REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep consolidates our memories, processes that we have learned, and even improves our mood every single day, making it the most important phase of sleep for mental performance and health.
What is REM sleep and what happens?
The REM phase of sleep is only about 25% of our sleep and the electroencephalogram - EEG (recording of brain activity when a machine picks up electrical signals made by the brain) detects beta waves, similar to when we are awake, during REM phase of sleep. Beta waves have a high frequency (number of waves passing a particular point each second) and a low amplitude (maximum height of wave measured from starting height of wave - its equilibriumie size of wave).
Being in the REM phase of sleep is similar to being awake because of beta waves detected. However, there are a few changes:
• Our skeletal muscles can not move because otherwise we would act out our dreams
• Our breathing muscles are active and breathing is irregular
• Blood pressure and heart rate (number of heartbeats per second) increases
• Our eyes move rapidly about 15.9 times per minute, though we do not blink
When and how often are we in REM sleep?
The REM phase of our sleep starts about 90 minutes after we fall asleep and, every 90 minutes, our REM sleep phase gets longer. So, when we first achieve REM sleep it is only for roughly 10 minutes. However, our last REM sleep cycle, before we wake up, could last for about an hour.
During REM sleep, we dream and have nightmares because chemical processes in our brain (metabolism) go up by 20% so, usually, when people wake up in the middle of the night, it is because of and during REM sleep.
What is sleep?
There are two types of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) and nonrapid eye movement (NREM), divided into five stages.
Stage 1: Wake Alert (During the day or just got into bed)
Electroencephalogram (EEG) recording: beta waves detected which have a high frequency and low amplitude. However, alpha waves are also detected when tired. When eyes are open, mainly beta waves detected. However when eyes are closed, mainly alpha waves are detected by EEG.
Stage 2: N1 (Light sleep, 5% of sleep) EEG recording: theta waves made by brain which have a low voltage. So, brain activity is low as nerve cell messages are transmitted by electrical current.
This starts when more than 50% of the alpha waves are replaced with low-amplitude mixed-frequency waves. The skeletal muscles can move and breathing is regular. This sleep stage in the cycle lasts for about 1-5 minutes, every 90
to 110 minutes - accounting for roughly 5% of total sleep time.
Stage 3: N2
(Deeper sleep, 45%)
The majority of sleep is N2 phase, which lasts about 25 minutes every 90 to 110 minutes and, like the REM phase, increases with each cycle. During this stage, heart beat and body temperature drops.
EEG recording: machine detects sleep spindles, which are brief and powerful bursts of neuronal (nerve cell) firing in the parts of the brain listed below:
• Superior temporal gyriresponsible for processing sounds including language.
• Anterior cingulate - regulates behavior and controls learning.
• Insular cortices - controls the sense taste, risk-reward behaviour, ie judgment and functioning of inner-ear including hearing etc.
• Thalamus - processes sensory signals, eg hearing, smell etc.
Furthermore, studies suggest sleep spindles contribute to memory consolidation.
K-complexes (delta waves) lasting roughly 1 second are shown to maintain sleep and memory consolidation unlike beta waves which makes us more alert.
Stage 4: N3
(N3, Stage 3 - Deepest sleep, 25%, and important for physical health) EEG recording: machine detects delta waves - lowest frequency, highest amplitude deepest stage of sleep. This sleep stage is the most difficult to awaken from, even if a sound higher than 100 decibels is played. This is because this phase repairs and regrows tissues, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens our immune system, so we feel refreshed the next day.
Stage 5: REM (Important phase for human mental performance) Although growth and repair of body mainly happens in non-
REM sleep, REM sleep is known to make us better learners by consolidating nerve cell pathways within us, thus reinforcing the things we learned during the day. REM is also like therapy, as we process emotions throughout the day, leaving us fresh for tomorrow. So, REM sleep improves mental health, which is just as important as physical health!
Can we increase the amount of REM sleep we get each night?
The simple answer is no. However all it takes are good sleep habits (for example: sleeping in a dark, quiet and cool room, sticking to a regular wake up time) which can increase the amount of sleep we get which, in turn, increases amount of REM sleep we get.
Mystery awaiting discovery? Is there a link between REM sleep and life expectancy?
We know sleep brings many benefits! So, lets go get that REM!
ROUGH SLEEPING IN LONDON: WHY IS IT RISING SO FAST?
Kaveh K, Year 11 writes...
This year saw a 21% increase in the number of rough sleepers: one of the highest rises ever recorded. Data from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain), a database cataloguing rough sleepers in London, showed that more than 3,500 people were sleeping rough on the streets of the capital this year.
Why? A combination of rising rent in London, the cost-ofliving crisis, and authorities’ struggle to aid rough sleepers, has all helped fuel a loss of the “hard-won” progress achieved in recent years, according to support organisations. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has warned of a rough sleeping “crisis,” despite outreach teams working at their full capacity.
More detailed analysis into Camden, for example, shows that, whilst most recorded rough sleepers are British, second is Albanian. Many who flee persecution in Albania receive little to no support in the UK, often being exploited in the black economy due to many not being able to receive support checks because of their immigration status (known legally as “No recourse to public funds”).
With rising rent costs - according to Rightmove, there has been a 16% rise in rent for London properties - and increasing costs for basic needs, it is increasingly difficult for those migrating to the UK seeking refuge to integrate into society. Camden is one of the
few boroughs where, since 2011, the proportion of those living in the social rented sector increased (ie council estates), despite the national average being an overall decrease, and employment for 16+ year olds fell by 3%. All of this has contributed to Camden having one of the greatest increases in rough sleeping across the UK.
Camden, however, is nowhere near the worst local authority for rough sleeping that is, rather aptly, Westminster.
Since at least 19991, and with records as far back as 19722, Westminster has consistently ranked as the London borough with the greatest number of rough sleepers, sometimes being first by three times the amount of the next borough – usually Camden. Homelessness charity Crisis, one of Wetherby Senior’s three
designated charities, lambasted the government in a recent statement, claiming that the climbing homelessness rate (which encompasses rough sleeping) “shames” society and that “if alarms bells weren’t ringing across Government, they should be now”. According to the latest data, Westminster’s homelessness count was more than double that of Camden, and still more than the next three in the list combined.
It was hardly surprising then, that when prospective Cities of London & Westminster MP Rachel Blake visited Wetherby Senior to talk about her initiatives, her primary concern was that of the availability and affordability of housing in Westminster - in dire condition and one of the key reasons for the high rough sleeping rate. In its (recently expired) Rough Sleeping Strategy,
Westminster blamed its location as the “capital of the capital” for its high rough sleeping rate and the standard of services it provides. Whilst this may be true to an extent, there is still clearly something that isn’t working if the rough sleeping rate is so much higher than other authorities. Camden, for example, could easily
get away with blaming a similar factor.
However, it is indisputable that Westminster’s rough sleeping problem has been exacerbated by the many issues faced in recent years. A pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, and near recession have meant that funding for schemes
to help combat rough sleeping, as well as many other key issues, has been cut, and outreach teams are struggling with less resources to help the ever-growing backlog of cases they need to file. Rough sleeping is an issue with a large amount of political tension as well, with one of the key policies in the 2019 Conservative manifesto being to “end the blight of rough sleeping” nationally. This is not a simple problem and will require the coordinated support of consecutive governments to solve.
So, what can you do to help? Our charity for this year’s sponsored spin is West London Mission, who seek to provide opportunities for those who are homeless, as well as other groups. For DofE, you could choose to volunteer at support charities like Crisis or WLM, to aid their efforts. Even then, this remains an issue to solved by the initiatives of central government, and hopefully schemes such as the No Second Night Out (NSNO) model can be further supported in the future.
1 Salman, S. (1999, April 7). Three-year plan targets crime in West End. Evening Standard, 17.
2 1,500 sleeping rough. (1972, November 2). The Times, 5.
TURKEY-SYRIA EARTHQUAKE
An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck the Turkey-Syria region this month, setting off panic and confusion, and damaging lots of infrastructure in Turkey’s Antakya city, two weeks after the country’s worst-ever earthquake left 47,000 people dead. Two Reuters witnesses reported a strong quake and further damage to buildings in central Antakya, where it was centered. It was also felt in Egypt and Lebanon, Reuters reporters said.
Rescuers were digging through the rubble of levelled buildings in the city of Kahramanmaras and neighbouring Gaziantep. Crumbled buildings were also reported in Adiyaman, Malatya and Diyarbakir.
“Large damage and local devastation has to be expected. Rescue forces are in the area right now and we will see the number rising over the next days,” Martin Mai, a professor of geophysics at King Abdullah University in Saudi Arabia, told Al Jazeera.
“In the past, these earthquakes in Turkey have led to about 10,000 to 13,000 fatalities, owing to building style construction and the sheer size of this event will have profound economic impact as well.”
The famous Yeni Mosque, which dates to the thirteenth century, partially collapsed in the province of Maltaya, where a 14-story building with 28 apartments also collapsed.
A resident of the badly hit
Turkish city of Antakya called the government’s response “shocking”, saying there were hardly any professional rescue teams or equipment from the government in the first two and half days. He says many family members that were able to get out of buildings during the earthquake stayed behind waiting for emergency response teams to arrive and help rescue family members.
Overall, over 54,000 people have died. Some of these deaths were also famous people, such as exNewcastle defender Christian Atsu. Many people have donated money to the government to help the situation. A US resident, from Pakistan, has anonymously donated $30m to victims of the earthquake that has killed thousands of people in Turkey and Syria, and devastated the countries’ infrastructure.
Snow and bitter winter weather have placed children at great risk of hypothermia, as they struggle to survive in sub-zero temperatures. Many survivors have had to sleep in cars, outside, or in makeshift shelters. Doctors have warned that children are also at risk of exposure to waterborne diseases, like cholera or Hepatitis A, due to the damage to shelters and water infrastructure.
These children are now even more vulnerable to family separation, exploitation, and abuse. As buildings are deemed unsafe, they also are unable to return to school.
In northern Syria, in particular, the threats to children from abuse were already extreme. The soaring poverty, and within a warzone,
now devastated by earthquakes, has created an unimaginable number of challenges, and suffering for children, says Johan, director of the Syria crisis response in Amman, Jordan. This earthquake has created the perfect environment for a health crisis fueled by reduced healthcare capacity and disease outbreaks.
Humanitarian needs were already extremely severe in northwest Syria, and this catastrophic earthquake has added trauma to ongoing crisis there, he said. Health facilities were already badly equipped and unable to cope with need, but now many have been destroyed. Families are trying to survive with no homes and no access to food, in sub-zero temperatures whilst also attempting to deal with the physical and mental impact of this earthquake.”
Lastly, it will take years to fully reconstruct the infrastructure that has been damaged and funding is urgently needed to help people affected by the earthquakes to survive this crisis and begin their recovery. The IRC has more than 1,000 staff inside Syria, working tirelessly to provide life-saving support.
Tommy S, Year 9 writes...
HOW TO MEMORISE VOCABULARY FROM ANOTHER LANGUAGE
Jonathan P, Year 10 writes...
Are you struggling to memorise vocabulary from another language like French, Spanish, German, or Latin? This article will show you a guide on how to store your new foreign language words on a long-term basis! Learning new vocabulary isn’t just glancing at a lot of words and attempting to memorise them instantly, but a more complex and effortful job.
Review and practice
A good way to remember new vocab is to do spaced repetition which is when you review vocab several times over an extended period. New vocab can be reviewed with flashcards, like Quizlet and Memrise, or by just doing an open review on the word. Spaced repetition will help store new words long term, instead of attempting to memorise a new word by just a glance, which will only store the word for a very short time.
A more casual way of memorising new vocab can also be by changing one of your devices’ language settings to a foreign language, so you must encounter the new language repeatedly on a casual basis, eg changing your phone settings to French. Memorising words in sentences, instead of flashcards, will give context for the word and would be easier to remember if you can associate with a compatible sentence.
Association
Try to picture the word you are thinking of or associate it to
something similar. For example, how some words in German are near cognates to the English so ‘Wochenende’ (weekend) has similar letters and order. You must also use the words you learn because using them will reinforce your memory of it and will become less awkward to use.
Record your vocab
You can record new vocab in a notebook, however that doesn’t mean you should record every single new word you come across. Instead, you should record words that you can casually use and that are relevant to what you are learning. For example, don’t record the word for ‘cement’ and instead you should record ‘laptop,’ which you can use in several scenarios.
Recording words in a notebook lets you have your own relevant dictionary of previous words
you have learned or may have forgotten. Spaced repetition works well when recording new words and reviewing them. You can make an everyday schedule for reviewing your new words, like a ten-minute look at your recorded words.
Reviewing vocab in a notebook may sound boring but there are ways of making it more enjoyable, like drawing mini sketches of the word if it’s a noun next to it to help you picture the word. You can also colour code if your recorded word can be good with structure, or if it’s a noun, or a verb. For languages which have a masculine, feminine or neuter, you might find it useful to colour code these words by their gender.
We all have preferred ways of memorising vocab, so be creative! The ways listed, above, are the most effective but you learn the way that you are suited to. So, find your own way of learning vocab!
THE PERFECT HOLIDAY
Giovanni G, Year 9 writes...
Italy is regarded as one of the world’s top holiday destinations. And one of the best places is Puglia, as it has many nice beaches and very nice food! I suggest you read this article if you want to have the best time of your life.
What are the best areas to stay in Puglia? Bari, Po-lignano, Monopoli, Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce, and Vieste are the best towns for tourists in Puglia, as they are the most popular, with plenty to do and see.
Castel del Monte is one of the most mysterious places in Italy and, absolutely, a place worth going to. Built around 1240 by Federico II, the castle is located on the peak of an isolated hill in Andria, overlooking the Murgia
Valley on one side, and with a sweeping view of the Adriatic Sea on the other. It is recognisable by an unusual octagon shape, with octagonal towers at each corner. So, are you tempted by this beautiful and magical place? I certainly am.
Puglia is known for its beaches and towns, but there are immense areas of pristine nature. If you love trekking, or just like admiring different plants and trees, and animal species, then the Alta Murgia National Park should be your next holiday. Located a little less than a 40-minute drive from Andria, inside the National Park, there is a gorgeous symmetrical castle, on top of a hill. Legend says the castle was commissioned by Emperor Frederick II to hide the Holy Grail, once delivered by the
Knights Templar. This iconic castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical significance and unique architectural style.
These are only few of the many incredible holiday destinations Puglia has to offer. So, when will you be heading to this gorgeous part of the world?
THE FERMI PARADOX
Denis B, Year 12 writes...
You may have gazed upon the stars and wondered whether there is life out there. While you may have wondered this, you probably looked into the chances of life existing in outer space. Most sources will say that the odds are that there is life out there. However, if the odds are that, then how come we haven’t met them yet? This issue is called the Fermi Paradox.
The Fermi Paradox is an interesting issue that has intrigued scientists and many others for years. It is named after Enrico Fermi, an Italian physicist who first proposed the question in 1950. The paradox asks why, if there are billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy that are similar to our sun and if many of these stars have planets like Earth, we have not yet detected any evidence of other intelligent civilizations in the universe, even if, statistically, we should have made contact already.
There are some possible proposed solutions to the Fermi Paradox. One theory is that the large distances between stars make communication and travel between them nearly impossible. Even if we could communicate with the nearest solar system, Alpha Centauri, it would still take 4.3 years for the message to be received. Basically, if an alien civilization exists, it may be too far away for us to detect or communicate with. Another possibility is that intelligent life may be rare in the universe, with conditions for life being very
specific and difficult to meet. If both of these are true, this means that the messages we have sent out may take many more years to reach intelligent life.
Another possible solution to the Fermi Paradox is the idea that any intelligent civilization that does exist may be too different from us to recognise or communicate with. They may have developed forms of technology or communication that are entirely foreign to us, or they may have a very different understanding of the universe and its physical laws.
The Great Filter is also an explanation for the Fermi Paradox. This theory proposes that there may be a common obstacle or event that makes it extremely difficult for intelligent life to evolve beyond a certain point. This could be a natural disaster, a societal collapse (such as a nuclear war), or some other catastrophic event that wipes out intelligent life before it has a chance to explore beyond its own planet.
Lastly, an interesting idea is the Dark Forest Theory. The idea, popularised by the internet, is that civilizations are ignoring our
messages as they might be scared or paranoid of foreign life. This could be due to the extraterrestrial life seeing other life as a threat to their own existence.
The search for extraterrestrial life is ongoing, and there have been many attempts to detect signals from other civilizations. The SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project, for example, has been searching for radio signals from other civilizations for over 50 years. While there have been some intriguing signals detected, there is still no conclusive evidence of intelligent life beyond Earth.
In conclusion, the Fermi Paradox is a fascinating mystery that continues to challenge us. While there are several possible solutions, we still do not have a definitive answer to the question of whether intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe, as we have no proof.
The search for extraterrestrial life is ongoing, so advances in technology and space exploration may one day provide us with the answer to this challenging question.
YESTERDAY, tODAY AND THE BEATLES: HOW HISTORY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL BAND REVOLUTIONISED MUSICAL CULTURE
Frankie G, Year 12 writes...
Few musicians have been able to revolutionise music and popular culture like the Beatles. Having sold more records than any other artist in history, the Beatles can safely be referred to as the most celebrated musical group to have ever existed. Not only have their innovations in songwriting and recording techniques influenced countless musicians since, but their appearance, fashion sense, social commentary, and activism played a key role in characterising the 1960s as a decade of societal liberalism.
The Beatles had an enormous impact on culture, not only in terms of music, but also fashion, film, and challenging social traditions. Their popularity and influence were so widespread, as a result of Beatlemania, that they came to symbolise the spirit of the 1960s and the cultural revolution that was taking place on a global scale. One of the most significant ways that the Beatles impacted culture was by preaching their ideology through their music. Their pioneering sound and experimental approach to songwriting helped popularise the rock and roll genre around the world. The Beatles’ influence on music can still be felt today, with many contemporary artists, such as Oasis, Coldplay and Radiohead citing them as a major inspiration.
The Beatles were known for their innovative approach to music, which helped to revolutionise
the industry and establish them as one of the most influential bands of all time. Their musical creativity can be seen in a number of different areas, most notably their experimentation with new recording techniques. One of the most significant ways in which the Beatles were imaginative was in their use of recording technology. The band was one of the first to experiment with multi-track recording, which allowed them to layer different instruments and sounds on top of one another to create complex arrangements. This technique gave a distinctive sound that set the Beatles apart from other bands of the time and helped to establish them as true innovators in the industry.
In addition to their use of multitrack recording, the Beatles were also known for their willingness to incorporate a wide range of musical genres into their work. Their early music was heavily influenced by rock and roll, and R&B, but they quickly began to
experiment with other styles, including folk, psychedelic, and Indian music. This eagerness to embrace new sounds helped to expand the boundaries of popular music and paved the way for other bands to do the same. The Beatles were also known for their innovative songwriting, which often featured complex harmonies and unusual chord progressions. This can be seen in songs like A Hard Day’s Night, which features a distinctive opening chord that is still debated by musicologists to this day. The band’s songwriting ability helped establish them as a social phenomenon, rather than just a huge group, and set them apart from other bands of the time.
Yet the Beatles’ impact extends beyond their musical accomplishments. The Beatles also had a major impact on fashion. The band’s signature look, which included mod-inspired clothing and instantly recognisable haircuts, became a cultural
phenomenon and helped define the style of the 1960s. A wave of fashion designers and trendsetters worldwide were inspired by the Beatles’ style, which was typified by collarless coats, narrow ties, and their non-conformist hairstyles. They continue to have an impact on the fashion industry today, as evidenced by the continued popularity of modinspired clothing worldwide.
The Beatles also had a profound impact on film, with their movies titled A Hard Day’s Night and Help!, which influenced the visual style of music videos and other forms of media. Their films were known for their playful sense of humour and quirky style, and have since been credited with being a major inspiration for record labels to employ music videos to promote their artists.
Furthermore, the Beatles’ innovative approach to music can be seen in their live performances, which often featured elaborate sets and costumes. The band’s concerts were more than just musical performances; they were visionary spectacles that helped to establish the Beatles as one of the most entertaining and exciting live bands of all time. The Beatles’ overseas tours were a major factor in the globalisation of rock and roll music. During their performances before sold-out audiences across Europe, the US, and Asia, they contributed to the dismantling of cultural barriers bringing individuals of many backgrounds and nationalities together through a love of music.
In addition to their impact on music, fashion, and film, the Beatles also had a significant
impact on societal norms. The band’s message of peace, love, and social justice resonated with young people around the world, who were seeking new ways of living and thinking in the face of social and political upheaval, as a result of global conflicts. In the middle of the Cold War and the Vietnam War, which were producing widespread dread, worry, and disillusionment among young people, the Beatles’ message of peace and love was particularly poignant. A generation of young people was motivated to believe in a better world by the music and message of the Beatles, which provided a sense of hope and optimism in the face of these difficulties.
The Beatles’ musical innovation helped establish them as one of the most influential bands of all time. From their experimentation with new recording techniques to their enthusiasm in which they included a wide range of musical genres into their music, the Beatles paved the way for other artists to push the boundaries of popular music. It’s difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the importance that this band held in people’s lives over half a century ago.
Nevertheless, the Beatles will always be remembered as true innovators in the music industry, and as one of the most important bands in the history of popular music.
THE STORY OF THE INFLATOPLANE
In 1956, one company set out to redefine what the air in aeroplanes meant. Goodyear, known for their iconic blimps and car tyres, developed an inflatable aeroplane, small enough to fit inside the back of the family station wagon and ready to fly in just five minutes. They called it the Inflatoplane. By all accounts, it flew well. The military even considered using them to rescue pilots by dropping Inflato planes behind enemy lines so stranded pilots could fly themselves back to safety.
The idea of an inflatable aeroplane began as a way to make aircraft safer. In 1931, an American inventor, named Tyler McDaniel, set out to prove that he could build a more or less crashproof plane. Constructed almost entirely out of rubber, McDaniel’s glider could hit the ground at high speed without disintegrating on impact, leaving the aircraft and its pilot relatively unharmed. McDaniel was convinced that inflatable planes were the future. Still, he needed more money before he could fully develop the concept.
Luckily Goodyear had recently created a material called Airmat, a rubberised fabric.
In the 1950s, engineers at Goodyear developed a new kind of composite, a layer of rubber sandwiched between two layers of fabric and coated in neoprene. When inflated, the composite would be fastened together by thousands of nylon strands, making Airmat one of the highest strength-weight ratios of any construction material worldwide. With it, Goodyear could now design an inflatable plane that looked less like a wobbly balloon and more like an actual aeroplane. They
drastically improved aerodynamic performance and, throughout the 1950s, Goodyear developed a series of inflatable aircraft designs, each improving on speed range and manoeuvrability. They even made a version that could carry two people at once. Goodyear was convinced their plane could save lives.
During the Korean War of the early 1950s, hundreds of US airmen were shot down behind enemy lines. Many survived but few had any real hope of being rescued. Only 10% of pilots shot down during the war would meet search and rescue. Yet Inflatoplanes, small enough to pack up inside a pod and drop from the wing of an aircraft or be stuffed into a crate and shoved up the back of an aeroplane, could be airdropped to stranded pilots without having to risk the lives of search and rescue teams. In addition, for a down pilot, getting one ready for flight would be a breeze. Empty Inflatorplanes weighed just 200 pounds, and the pilot would only need to uncurl the wings and begin inflating the aircraft with a hand pump. Once inflated halfway, he could switch on the engine, which would take
Stepan K, Year 12 writes...
over and expand the plane to its full size. Thanks to the rigidity of Airmat, an Inflatoplane needed just seven PSI of pressure to keep its shape (a lot less than a car tyre), which meant it could be inflated in just five minutes.
With 20 gallons of fuel, an Inflatoplane had a range of over 600 kilometres and could remain airborne for more than six hours. By most accounts, it flew pretty well, with easy and predictable handling, and a cruising speed of 100 kilometres an hour. Taking on enemy fire in a blow-up rubber plane would give a whole new meaning to depressurisation. Fortunately, the Inflatoplane’s engine would continually top up air pressure meaning it could take a few hits from small arms fire in remaining airworthy.
Goodyear’s clever piece of engineering also captured the public’s imagination, with newspapers speculating that inflatable planes might one day be made available to the average Joe, as an ideal kit for vacationers, hunters and hobbyists. An aircraft
small and light enough to pack up inside the family station wagon!
In 1959, the navy and army received ten planes for evaluation, and it took only a short time for problems to emerge. In April, a Goodyear test pilot pulled up too quickly, causing a wing to fold over and strike the propeller. The plane soon deflated into a mess of free-falling rubber. Fortunately, the pilot could bail out but, less than two months later, an army pilot wasn’t so lucky. One of the control cables jammed this time, causing a wing to fold, and the
pilot never made it out. The two crashes raised concerns about the safety of inflatable aircraft.
Still, even before the losses, there were already severe doubts about whether the concept made sense. In the open fields of Europe, a down pilot might find 300 feet of space needed to take off. However, in the thick mountainous jungles of Vietnam, this was not likely, and the prospect of a pilot shot down in a high-flying fast jet, having to fly back through enemy territory in a slow and low flying inflatable plane was questionable. As one army general said, “What good was a plane that could be brought down using a well-aimed bow and arrow?”
While that claim wasn’t technically valid, it didn’t matter because, by the late 1950s, rescue team operations had become far more sophisticated and rescue helicopters could also fly longer distances to reach stranded pilots. It meant there was little prospect of selling the Inflatoplanes to the military, so Goodyear slowly let the air out of the programme after 1962. They never built another inflatable plane again and, while tests continued in 1973, the programme was officially cancelled soon after.
THE SOVIET DSB-LK: AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT FOR A HYPERSONIC STRATEGIC BOMBER
revealed a number of technical issues with the aircraft, including problems with its aerodynamics and stability at high speeds. Furthermore, costs continued to rise, and the Soviet Union faced increasing economic pressures as the Cold War dragged on.
Jasper H, Year 11 writes...
To keep up with the US during the Cold War, the Soviet Union embarked on several ambitious military and technological projects. One of the most challenging of these projects was the DSB-LK, a program for a hypersonic strategic bomber capable of delivering nuclear weapons over long distances.
The DSB-LK, also known as the Spiral-2, was developed in response to the development of advanced US bomber technology, such as the B-1 Lancer, in the 1960s and 1970s. The plane was intended to be launched into the air by a rocket booster, where it would reach hypersonic speeds before separating and returning to earth. The aircraft would then continue its mission, reaching speeds of up to Mach 6, at altitudes of up to 30 kilometers.
The DSB-LK was an extremely ambitious project that presented a number of technical and financial challenges. The development of the rocket booster, which had to be able to accelerate the aircraft
to hypersonic speeds before separating cleanly and returning to earth, was one of the most difficult challenges. The booster was designed to be reusable, but developing it was a major engineering challenge.
Another significant challenge was the creation of an aircraft capable of flying at hypersonic speeds for extended periods of time. The DSB-LK was designed to have a range of 18,000 kilometers, which meant it had to be able to fly at Mach 6 speeds for several hours without structural failure or other issues.
Despite these obstacles, the Soviet Union heavily invested in the DSB-LK program, and several test flights were conducted in the early 1970s. These flights, however,
The DSB-LK program was eventually cancelled in the late 1970s, and no prototypes of the aircraft were ever built. Despite its failure, the DSB-LK remains an intriguing example of the ambitious technological projects undertaken during the Cold War, and it serves as a reminder of the incredible engineering challenges that both the Soviet Union and the US faced during this period.
Today, hypersonic technology is once again a topic of interest for military planners and aerospace engineers around the world, and it is possible that some of the lessons learned during the development of the DSB-LK may be applicable to current research in this area. Nevertheless, the DSB-LK remains an impressive and somewhat enigmatic project, that serves as a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the Soviet Union engineers who worked on it.
THE MIG 1.44: A FAILED FIFTH GEN INTERCEPTOR
Jasper H, Year 11 writes...
The Mig-1.44 was a fifthgeneration Russian fighter jet developed in the late 1990s. It was intended to be a highperformance, multi-role aircraft with advanced stealth capabilities, but it was never fully produced due to a variety of economic and political issues.
The Mig-1.44 was unveiled in 1999 and immediately drew the interest of military enthusiasts and aviation experts from all over the world. The sleek design and advanced technology of the jet made it a contender against the F-22 Raptor and the Eurofighter Typhoon. The plane was intended to be a twin-engine, single-seat fighter with a top speed of Mach 2.5, and a range of more than 2,000 kilometers.
The Mig-1.44’s advanced avionics system, which included a cutting-edge active electronically scanned array radar, was one of its standout features. This radar was designed to be highly effective against both air and ground targets, as well as to detect and track multiple targets at the same time. The jet had a sophisticated electronic warfare system that allowed it to jam enemy radar and communications.
The Mig-1.44 also had advanced stealth technology that made it difficult for enemy radar systems to detect and track it. The aircraft was designed to be highly maneuverable and had a reduced radar cross-section, making it an ideal platform for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.
Despite its impressive capabilities, the Mig-1.44 was never massproduced due to a number of factors. The collapse of the Soviet Union was one major issue, resulting in a lack of funding for the project. There were also political issues, as the Russian government was focused on developing the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet.
Despite the fact that the Mig1.44 was never completed, it is an impressive feat of engineering and technology. The advanced avionics, stealth capabilities, and high-performance capabilities of the aircraft would have made it a formidable opponent on today’s battlefield. While the Mig-1.44 was never fully produced, its legacy lives on and inspires future generations of engineers and aviators.
THE PAST AND FUTURE OF AVIATION
Jasper H, Year 11 writes...
Aviation history dates to the eighteenth century, when the Montgolfier brothers in France built the first hot air balloon. The first powered flight took place in 1903, when the Wright brothers successfully flew the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
During the early twentieth century, aircraft design and technology rapidly improved, with the development of planes such as the Ford Trimotor and Douglas DC-3, which made air travel more efficient and accessible.
During World War I and World War II, aircraft played a significant
role in the war effort, and military advancements in aircraft design and technology greatly influenced the development of civilian air travel.
After the war, the airline industry experienced significant growth, with the introduction of jets, such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8, which made long-distance travel faster and more affordable.
In recent years, the aviation industry has continued to evolve, with the development of new technologies such as fly-by-wire systems and the increased use of computer automation in flight operations.
The industry also faces increasing pressure to address environmental concerns and make air travel more sustainable. The future of aviation is likely to include a greater emphasis on sustainability, with the development of electric and hybrid aircraft, as well as the use of biofuels. There may also be increased automation in flight operations, and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for a variety of tasks. Additionally, the integration of new technologies such as blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) could play a role in improving efficiency and safety in the aviation industry.
THE HISTORY OF SUBMARINES
Jasper H, Year 11 writes...
The history of submarines dates to ancient times, with the earliest known designs for underwater vessels appearing in the 4th century BC. These early submarines, called “submersibles,” were primarily used for salvage and exploration, and were often made of wood or animal skins.
The first recorded military use of submarines occurred during the American Revolutionary War, when the Continental Navy built and used the Turtle, a one-man submersible that was used in an unsuccessful attempt to attach a bomb to a British warship.
In the nineteenth century, advances in technology, such as the development of the steam engine and the electric motor, led to the creation of more advanced submarines. The first
successful military submarine, the CSS Hunley, was used by the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.
The advent of the twentieth century saw further evolution, with the development of the first diesel-electric submarines and the first submarines equipped with torpedoes.
During World War I, submarines played a major role in naval battles, with both the Allies and the Central Powers using them for commerce raiding and naval blockades.
In World War II, submarines were used extensively by both the Axis and Allied powers. The German Navy used them to devastating effect in the Battle of the Atlantic, while the U.S. Navy used submarines to disrupt Japanese supply lines in the Pacific.
After the war, submarines continued to evolve, with the development of nuclear propulsion and the introduction of guided missiles. Today, submarines are a vital component of many countries’ naval forces and are used for a wide range of missions, including intelligence gathering, special operations, and strategic deterrence.
While the history of submarines has been marked by significant advances in technology, it has also been marked by the loss of lives, as well as the development of submarines with the ability to launch nuclear weapons and the potential to cause catastrophic damage.
THE MIGHTY PALACE’S SEASON SO FAR
Agustin D, Year 12 writes...
Everyone in the Premier League is known for something. For the Pride of South London, namely the mighty Crystal Palace Football Club, we’re known as the club that loves a mid-table finish and is allergic to finishing anywhere other than 12th, 13th and 14th - safe from relegation but so far from Europe.
Last season was one of the club’s most successful seasons in recent history. The club finished 12th and Patrick Vieira ensured some of the most attractive football in the entire country was played, which was nice for our fantastic fanbase who had become used to Roy Hodgson’s previous tactics! Signings made, such as Andersen, Guehi, Olise and Conor Gallagher, played starring roles, whilst Wilfred Zaha and Tyrieck Mitchell both had seasons to remember, and Mitchell earned two caps for England.
That being said, compared to those that Crystal Palace competes with on a weekly basis, the club doesn’t have masses to spend every window and this was evident in the summer, with Cheick Doucoure, Sam Johnstone and Chris Richards (our only summer arrivals) spending round 30 million. Considering the goal machine that was Conor Gallagher left the club, and another goalscoring mid wasn’t bought in to replace him, Palace’s attack already looked a shadow of last season.
Yet Palace’s season started well and there was lots of chat about where Palace could end up...
It could only go onwards and upwards for the High Flying Birds couldn’t it? Well, things started to go south massively. Throughout the January transfer window, Patrick Vieira grew increasingly frustrated at the club’s owners and their lack of backing, as he began to realise his attacking options were very limited. Vieira was given two deadline day options, in Albert Sambi Lokonga and Naouroui Ahamada, to add to the dire depth in midfield. However, no attackers were given.
Another disaster struck when Vieira decided it was time for Shaun Derry, Palace leader, skipper, legend and first team coach, to go. This was after he lectured several members of our first team squad in October, following an horrendous 3-0 loss away at Goodison Park. We haven’t won a game since, unfortunately.
Palace’s horrific run stretches from Boxing Day to the present day and one could say we have had hard fixtures, with games against the likes of City, United, Newcastle. However, we have played really poorly, with no intent to attack and with a real lack of confidence and freedom. Along with our losses and lack of wins, (including a shocker against Southampton in the FA Cup third round), Patrick Vieria was given his marching orders and we are now without a gaffer, going into the final ten weeks of the season and with five league goals in 2023. Could it get worse?
Apart from our towering centre halves, Michael Olise and Cheick Doucoure, it’s fair to say the rest have underwhelmed massively. There is very little to suggest, sadly, that we are going to turn the shocking form around and get free of the drop before the end of the season. Wilfred Zaha is not the player he once was and others, including JP Mateta , Odsonne Edouard, Luka Milivojevic, Joel Ward, Nathaniel Clyne, and Jordan Ayew have underwhelmed. In fact, they have been shadows of what Palace fans know they are capable of, and what they should be gunning for.
As for the current manager crisis, it is causing utter chaos at the club. Roy Hodgson is linked with the vacancy, as expected since he is someone that knows the players and the place. However, he is already 76 years of age and his involvement in Watford’s relegation last season was questioned. This would be a cause for concern at Selhurst Park and
I don’t think, to be honest, Palace fans can cope with Hodgson after Vieria.
Paddy McCarthy, the U21 manager who took charge against Arsenal on an interim basis, is another option. He likes an aggressive style of football. However, his lack of experience at the top of the game would be a cause for concern but he is respected amongst members of the squad, having been a former captain, player and teammate of players such as Wilfred Zaha and Joel Ward.
Other options include Rafa Benitez , Jesse Marsch, Steve Bruce, and Nuno.
However, the only names that really interest Palace fans are Ange Postecoglou (the Celtic boss who has bought the good days back to Celtic with his bargain signings from the Japanese league) and Will Still (one of the brightest young managers in all of Europe and still only 30 years old). Will Still would be one of the youngest members of the entire club but, nonetheless, he plays a good brand of football and is a brilliant manmanager, it seems. Palace must act quickly to ensure we survive the drop.
Whether we are a Premier League club or not in the summer, I believe that one thing is for certain: players must leave the club in order to move forward. Sadly, I am speaking about the likes of Palace legends, like Joel Ward, James McArthur and Wilfred Zaha. However, time is sadly up for these players south of the river.
Five other players are out of contract this summer including Jordan Ayew, James Tomkins and
Vincente Guaita. They have all been good servants to the football club but it is, unfortunately, time for them to go. Others, such as Edouard and Mateta, are simply not good enough for this level and should be sold immediately.
Building the project around the likes of Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Cheick Doucoure is vital, and a new keeper, right back, cdm, goal scoring mid, winger and striker are all needed to push the club further up the table ,should we stay up. I would also do whatever it takes to bring Conor Gallagher back to the biggest club in London.
In the unfortunate case that we do go down, these key players will all leave, so it is vital we invest in and develop some of the fantastic youth and players out on loan. We have Joel Whitworth, Jesurun Rak Sakyi, Jack Wells Morrison, David Obou and Luke Plange. So, to my mind, a manager who is willing to give youth a chance is very much needed at this football club.
To progress, I wonder if it is probably best to part ways with our chairman, Steve Parish, and our owners, Josh Harris, John Textor and Dave Blitzer. None have blessed the club with the funds necessary to compete in the Prem and, should we get relegated, the Championship. In addition, our scouting and recruitment also needs massive improvement.
It pains me to think this but a model is our arch rivals Brighton! Their scouting and recruitment is one that even rival fans can stand and applaud. Brighton’s recruitment is sound and, when they lose players and managers, they are well prepared and know the exact style of what is needed at the football club. Losing Graham Potter, Leandro Trossard and Yves Bissouma weren’t issues for the club and, like Palace, Brighton don’t have all the funds in the world available.
When all is said and done, I hope our fantastic club can go and blow people away in the years to come.
RECOMMENDATION FOR ONEFOOTBALL
Sebastan H H, Year 9 writes...
Do you want to know more about football, and hear the latest news to see if Ronaldo is going to PSG or Messi to Bayern Munich? Then Onefootball is for you.
This app tells you everything: the lineups for a match, the results, the points, and the news. It tells you the news before any other website! It tells you the 209 men’s league all the way to 187 woman’s leagues. From the woman’s super league, the nation’s league, the Saudi pro league (where Ronaldo is playing currently). It shows you all the shots, passes, possession, woodwork hits, saves and more.
It has two buttons in the top left corner that say matches, teams, competitions, digital collectibles. It is your home for highlights, live matches, news, results, and fixtures. It has owned many other websites, such as Republic of Klopp, and Caught onside. It tells you about the draw from the Champions and Europa league.
It also tells you about the man of the match etc. This app has a 3.0 overall rating, based on 89 employees working there, and 41% of employees who do not really like football will recommend the app, while the other 59% will recommend it. Even if you do not like football there are options for cricket, tennis, basketball and golf.
You can dive straight into the European leagues, scores, world cups, with all this available on
android, iPhone, iPad, computer, PC and Mac. You can watching the latest highlights, the goals, and the misses.
Onefootball was founded in January, and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. It always very quickly updates, genearlly in less than ten minutes.
Most people rate this app five stars.
Daniel W, Year 9 writes...
Pachinko is a pinball gambling game originating in Japan. Players load a small steel ball into a cavity, which is launched up through a metal track and down into a field of brass pins that may be caught by numerous cups. The goal of the game is to capture as many balls as possible. Pachinko machines are usually facilitated in parlours where you can exchange your winnings for prizes, rather than directly awarding cash.
Although Parlors deny cash rewards and restrict balls to the premises, prizes can be sold to a vender in close proximity for money (which may or may not be affiliated with parlours), and are purchased in return by parlours, with a commission to profit from without legally being considered gambling. This strategy provides a popular business model as Pachinko is one of the few sources of legal gambling in Japan, another factor into its extreme popularity, with a market size of 14.6 trillion Yen and a substantial portion of Japan’s leisure industry.
If we look at an average Pachinko machine, you can observe distinct traits designed to addict players. Machine exteriors are visually appealing with a position at comfortable eye level with bright, elaborate sequences of colours and lights to draw you in.
Pachinko is conceptually addictive as the pins and metal balls are theatrical in how they constantly shower the frame in stimulating motions. In modern day, digital screens are utilised to not only communicate different
play modes but also graphics or animations, that introduce elements of excitement to capture your attention in play sessions. Machines also rely heavily on popular anime media franchises, so they can entice fans and often include interactive content of franchises that you can only proceed in with further play, which may persuade players to invest more time and money.
Pachinko parlours are constructed of aisles of machines designed to surround you in an environment which distracts you from leaving. They are also located in neighbourhoods or busy areas, such as train stations or shopping districts, to attract people passing by. The reason why Pachinko parlours operate with such a large presence is because it mostly exists without a stigma that could deter the public from participating. It is treated more leniently as leisure, rather than the more critical view of casinos in the west, which
PATCHINKO
means parlours can reach a wider demographic of players.
A Pachinko machine could easily reach a busy office worker wanting to catch a break on their free time from a long day of work or a wife who wants to play a stress relieving game that could provide a supplementary income to support her family. For some people, they justify continuing to play and may even think it is productive because they can potentially make money. This also explains its success in times of economic failure, as some people turn to it to make ends meet.
Pachinko’s mesmerising theatrics of steel balls raining down through brass pins captures the attention of anyone playing and its evasion of Japanese gambling laws demonstrates how popular a game can be.
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