Simply shrimps
Sizzling, small and almighty. From submarines to brains to invisibility capes and walking through walls: the sound of crackling bacon presents to you the power of the shrimp.
In silence on a pier: that's when you can hear it. The crackling of fire, bubbling from the depths of the water. But there is no movement in the water; only stillness, and crackling sound. It was first noticed in the 1940s; the US navy was using sonars to listen out for the enemy, but all they heard was a crackling cackling. They hired a scientist who discovered that the sound was actually an undersea orchestra of tiny, miniature, shrimps.
The shrimps have two claws, one is average; the other, however, is massive. This other claw is their instrument. The sound, you would say, is the snap of their claw. But if you've ever tried clapping your hands underwater, you'll join us in questioning this theory. The sound is in fact the product of a wondrously remarkable process. The shutting of the claw at 25 km/h leaves behind a bubble that reaches the temperature of the surface of the sun and eventually, emitting a flash of light and a shock wave that stuns any prey nearby, implodes with a thundering CRACK.
The US navy ended up recording this sound and pasting speakers on their submarines to conceal themselves from Japanese sonars. Science is now investigating using the shrimp bubbles to breach a wall that guards the entrance to the brain. Thus the shrimps have passed on to us the gift of the bubble.
Why is the world so obsessed with...the Kardashians?
We all know the name "Kardashian". We associate it with abnormally voluptuous bottoms, blowfish lips, unpredictable hair, and botox city. So, in light of the 14th season of their family's reality TV show getting up and running, I decided to dig into their life achievements (not a long list may I add) and assess whether or not they deserve so much publicity and fame, or whatever you want to call it.
It's true that they have reached Season 14 of their series "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" after 10 YEARS since their first airing. Not only that, but they have created masses of spinoffs which they've managed to squeeze out of the limelight the original show has brought. These include the shows such as "Kourtney and Kim Take Miami", "Kourtney and Kim Take New York", "The Life Of Kylie", "Rob and China" etc. Not only do they make millions out of this endless industry but I must say it's ingenious the way they do it.
It's brilliant how they make money out of selling an image. While some might say it's immoral to display such an unrealistic image of what beautiful women should look like, I highly doubt they care as they role around in their money. The fact they built an empire out of their father's publicity for defending OJ Simpson during his trial and a leaked sex tape Kim made with her former boyfriend is highly impressive.
Therefore, why not let them go on making their TV show? It's pure entertainment for those who are interested, and personally, one of the best ways to feel your brain go to mush after a day of hard work - quite satisfying really and much deserved. It's a window of escapism into a life we all secretly wish we had, and their mad ways provide an excellent source of amusement.
Lucia S, Year 13The Ethics of Anonymous
We've all heard of Anonymous - or at least, we've all seen its characterising emblem of the Guy Fawkes mask. A global network which has has had enormous real world consequences through their 'hacktivism', we've all vaguely heard commentary either glorifying its 'freedom fighting' capabilities as if they were Robin Hood, or we've listened to diatribes against them and references to them as 'cyberterrorists', or maybe even comparisons to Nazis or the KKK. But what is their role, really? And do their actions place them on a moral high ground, or do the exact opposite?
The answer is much more nuanced than you might have expected. Because the group has done both. Their decentralised nature, as well as their lack of leadership, means that the network may have helped spark or exacerbate some hugely important causes, but it has also been a part of some much more questionable activities as well. Thus, we have to look at each individual case.
Some of their endeavours have been largely positive: the core values of Anonymous are related to freedom of information. The belief that the public has a right to information and the inherent desire to protect freedom of speech has led to Anonymous acting as a balance of power, which has allowed it to contribute to different movements which attempt to hold governments accountable, such as the Occupy Movement, or Operation India and Nigeria. Let's not forget their importance to the Arab Springs riots in 2011- their help led the people of Egypt take down their government, which though not solving the problems existing there, is still a remarkable accomplishment. Their attacks on Scientology have been intrinsic to revealing the abuses that occur there, as the masks they wore during protests made it much harder for the cult to use its normal tactic to censor critics.
But here's the problem. While vigilante culture may work in the short term, it lacks effectiveness in the long term. The lack of legal ramifications when it comes to an ungoverned group like this make it all too easy for it to abuse its power as individual members can twist their definition of justice and freedom into something much darker. The group has been releasing a lot of individuals' private information in recent years, a lot of these people not even having been relevant to a specific cause and only being caught in the crossfire. Therefore, instead of protecting civilians' right to privacy, Anonymous has actually eroded it further. Their support for Wikileaks for instance, may have allowed the public to access important information on candidates and their corrupt actions such as during the 2016 elections, but it has also led to the distribution of a lot of misinformation, as well as triggering some major scandals which actually ended up having a negative effect on the election instead of achieving their aim.
So how do these issues get resolved? Anonymous's role is important. They have allowed ordinary people to exercise their right to freedom of speech, and have encouraged society to hold their governments accountable. Nevertheless, the only way for it to work effectively for a longer timespan is for it to completely undercut its original anarchical function; ethics can only be achieved if its actions are filtered and horrifying acts stop being done in its name. Their social following is beginning to grow exponentially, and they have never had the levels of approval they have now. However, any bad publicity might jeopardise this. Therefore, an organisational structure would allow for much more filtered actions, and it might then become the force for good it wishes to be.
Warriors of the skies
Nobody knows their story. The American government prohibited anyone from hearing it. Highland coal-mine. December 1944. Three miners have stepped out to the dimming light of the day. A faint whisper is heard; the flapping of wings, and then a moment later: a rising cloud of dust and shrapnel everywhere. An explosion.
And up in the sky, in the fading twilight, a fluttering white figure slinks behind the valley and disappears. Burwell, Nebraska. Napa, California. Downtown Detroit. Colorado. Reports of bombs followed by sightings of a floating phantom. The US military sends out an APB: what are these things?
Finally, in south lake city a sheriff manages to capture one. The phantom? Its actually a parachute. Its shipment? A bomb surrounded by a spiral of hanging sand bags. Turns out during the 1940s the Japanese discovered an air current that connects Japan and North America. They used the current to release a number of parachutist bombs that floated like jellyfish in ocean currents all the way across the pacific. To correct the fall in altitude low temperatures at night caused, the Japanese attached sand bags that at a set time would drop to the waters below. When they reached the target country they released the bomb, slipped away, and self- destructed. These were the secret warriors of the Japanese.
Alpha Gal and Meat
What if I told you that I know of an eight-legged beast that, with one taste of your blood, could make you never want to taste meat again?
Here’s what would happen. On one sunny September afternoon, you’d be at a barbecue with all your cousins. You’re playing around in the grass. The menu? The juiciest burgers you’ve ever tried. Fast-forward to bed-time. You begin to feel woozy and light-headed, and you get up, because lying down you feel dangerously close to fainting. In the mirror, your face looks weird. On your skin, red blotches bubble onto the surface. The worst part is, when you tell your doctor, he replies: ‘Meat allergies don’t exist. Go home wacko.’
The explanation? Remember that barbecue, when I described you as ‘playing around in the grass’? Turns out, while you were playing, a tick bit you. That tick is the reason why you will never taste meat again. Ever. This story is currently being lived by thousands in America, and scientists still don't know the exact reason why this tick bite causes severe and sudden meat allergy. No more bolognese sauce, no more hot dogs, nuggets or chicken wings. Scared yet? Scientists are.
