Author: Shuhan Yu Editors: Serena Tsao, Miriam Heikal Artist: Becky Li Water is often not given a lot of thought, but it's ubiquitous and keeps things going. We drink it, we cook with it, our bodies are mostly made up of it, and the planet is mostly covered in it. What makes water remarkable, however, isn’t just how much of it exists- it’s the unusual properties it possesses. Features like cohesion, adhesion, heat capacity, being able to dissolve so many substances, and even

Author: Alex Yang Editors: Sophia Chen, Hwi-On Lee, Faye Lin Artist: Francesca Huang What if one of the most powerful weapons for boosting a nation's economy wasn’t advanced infrastructure or technology, but something that most kids fear? A vaccine is a shot that helps the body build protection against certain diseases, and it has long been known for its health benefits, with its most notable advantage being the ability to strengthen the immune system. However, its financial

Author: Kayla Otoo Editors: Joshua Payne, Elizabeth Li Artist: Caitland So A delusion from the truth. An odd hallucination. A monotone voice that lacks substance or emotion. These factors are all symptoms associated with schizophrenia. However, what is the basis of this chronic brain disorder affecting 1 percent of people worldwide? For the past several years, geneticists have examined various factors to identify the sole contributor to the disorder. Multiple genes, such as

Author: Bryan Lin Editors: Miriam Heikal, Linzi Yeung Artist: Becky Li In approximately 4% of the population, the brain's sensory wiring operates differently, creating a world where sounds have colors and words somehow have flavor. This is a neurological phenomenon, known as synesthesia, and it comes in many different forms. Synesthesia occurs when signals between sensory regions of the brain cross in unusual ways. What exactly is synesthesia? What causes this cross-wiring?

Author: Sophie Jin Editors: Eason Gao, Justin Tai Artist: Helen Gong If you’ve ever worn a rain jacket, gone skiing, or walked through puddles without getting your feet wet, you’re probably familiar with waterproof clothing. But have you ever wondered how they’re made? The process involves using different types of materials, multiple layers of fabric, and special techniques to ensure that you stay warm and dry. There are two main goals of all waterproof clothing: To block p

Author: Vincent Guo Editors: Ethan Tai, Jonathan Chen Artist: Alicia Chen Typically, one might think that health is all about biology and genetics, but health inequalities and social determinants of health also play a huge role. Health inequalities are issues that result from social, economic, and environmental conditions. They are systematic and are avoidable health differences between different groups of people. One example is that areas with low income have higher rates o

Author: Elaine Guo Editors: Fiona Cheng, Hwi-On Lee, Serena Tsao Artist: Stanley Zhao Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the mesothelium, a tissue that surrounds and protects many internal organs. There are many different types of mesothelioma, including pleural, pericardial, and testicular. Specifically, pleural mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that most commonly appears in the lining of your lungs, accounting for approximately 85% of cases. Still, it can a

Author: Lillian Dong Editors: Joshua Payne, Oscar Chen Artist: Christina Chen A human’s world is composed of five senses: sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. Many people believe that these senses encompass everything there is to be experienced, but have you ever thought of “seeing” which direction points north? Or “feeling” the electrical field around a friend? Trying to imagine senses that humans do not possess is like trying to see out of your elbow, so in this articl