Mass extinction by 100 billion billion Suns — Gamma Ray Bursts, or GRBs, are the brightest explosions known to mankind, with peak luminosities rivaling that of 100 billion billion Suns. GRBs are also extremely energetic outbursts, as their energy is emitted via gamma rays. …

Dormancy versus death through “cryosleep” technology — In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a defining plot point occurs when Captain America, also known as Steve Rogers, crashes his plane into the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The frozen super soldier quickly falls into a 66 year-long hibernation, before waking up and rejoining society. Marvel’s official explanation for…

Changing the *culture* of the fashion industry through bioengineering — Every year, the fashion industry cranks out over two billion tons of carbon dioxide. This colossal carbon footprint is largely due to the fashion industry’s reliance on synthetic materials, such as polyester and acrylic fibers. …

Natural and artificial instances of the Golden Ratio — The Fibonacci Sequence is one of the most famous formulas in the realm of number theory. Even if you are not a mathematics hobbyist, it is likely that you have heard of Fibonacci numbers or the “Golden Ratio” at some point in your life. The Fibonacci sequence takes top billing…

Is it possible to predict volcanic activity below sea level? — On Saturday, January 15th, the island nation of Tonga was disrupted with an explosion 600 times as powerful as the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. So far, at least five people have died due to the explosive event. …

Looking into our universe with a fresh pair of “eyes” — Modern day engineers have progressed tremendously from Galileo Galilei’s original refracting telescope. Since then, thanks to key contributions from Isaac Newton, engineers have been able to develop reliable reflecting telescopes which can be deployed into outer space. The Hubble Space Telescope is one such telescope, sent into the Earth’s orbit…

The root of the cosmic radiation problem — Sci-fi movies present an unrealistic standard of the consequences from prolonged exposure to harmful radiation. Rather than gaining superpowers, you are much more likely to develop health problems or increase the risk of developing them down the road. Today, one of the biggest concerns in the rising space tourism industry…

Defining the line between confabulation and psychosis — In 2009, self-proclaimed “paranormal consultant,” Fiona Broome, launched a bizarre controversy surrounding the death of the South African president, Nelson Mandela. The incident originated in a conference where Broome publicly reminisced about Mandela’s death, which she claimed occurred in prison during the 1980s. …

Where adoption fits into the “survival of the fittest” — In the United States, roughly 120,000 children are adopted every year. The exact reasons why someone is put up for adoption vary on a case-by-case basis; however, families will generally resort to this when they feel incapable or unprepared to care for the child. For example, among young and single…