Charged Magazine

Category: Articles

  • The Conspiracy of the 12 Scientists!

    The Conspiracy of the 12 Scientists!

    Missing and dead. Where did they go, and what happened? That is probably what you are wondering, and so am I. Say their names: Carl Grillmair, Nuno F. G. Loureiro, Monica Reza, Frank Maiwald, Michael David Hicks, Amy Eskridge, Jason Thomas, William “Neil” McCasland, Steven Garcia, Melissa Casias, Matthew James Sullivan, and Zobaidul Amin. Reports say that lawmakers and federal officials are looking into several deaths and disappearances involving people with ties to nuclear, space, or other scientific programs, which has now become widespread news across the country (Lubin, 2026; USA TODAY, 2026). Some of these individuals had connections to nuclear and space programs, which is interesting because it raises questions about whether they were involved in a revealing discovery. However, some family members of these scientists do not believe there are major concerning factors connecting their deaths or disappearances to a larger mystery (Lubin, 2026). Republican lawmakers raised this red flag, although they have not provided much context.

    You may be wondering what my opinion is. I do not understand why lawmakers would inform the public about this situation but not give clear context. So much of the government is hidden in ways we do not always understand, and certain files and pieces of information are only released years later. These cases span from the beginning of 2023, yet not many people have been talking about them recently. I walk around campus and hear many other conversations involving the government and politics, yet I cannot believe this has not been mentioned once. Science is extremely important because it forms the foundation of information, discovery, and growth around the world. Research supports the idea of how public trust in science depends heavily on clear communication, especially when uncertainty is involved and that communicating uncertainty can affect how communities perceive scientific information. (Kerr et al., 2023) However, others argue that misinformation can destroy public understanding and trust in democratic decision-making with our government. (Lewandowsky et al., 2023) These officials giving concerning information without explanation raises a huge flag of confusion, frustration and fead which leads everyone into the question: What did these people know?

    Did they find extraterrestrial life or a chemical that could potentially save lives on another planet? The possibilities feel endless, and yet nothing clear has been revealed. Was it our own government, or another country, that did not want life-changing information to come out? It does not add up that one of the deaths has been linked in reports to a mass shooter, while other cases involve missing people, suicides, or deaths with limited public information (Lubin, 2026). The story seems to move in many different directions, which makes the situation feel messy and confusing overall. Some people argue that it is unnecessary to release this kind of information if officials do not even have the full context themselves.

    Personally, I will be waiting for day-by-day updates on this situation. Could it possibly be connected to powerful people or hidden networks, which may explain why some of these individuals disappeared? I think that if I were involved in this as an aspiring dentist who wants to work in biotech, I would be scared about the direction the world is heading. Our world is moving quickly, not only in science but in many other fields as well, and it often seems as though people with power are controlling how these advancements are handled. I am scared, and this is not me trying to scare others. I simply want to raise awareness.

    Kerr, J., van der Bles, A. M., Dryhurst, S., Schneider, C. R., Chopurian, V., Freeman, A. L. J., & van der Linden, S. (2023). The effects of communicating uncertainty around statistics, on public trust. Royal Society open science, 10(11), 230604. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230604

    Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K. H., Cook, J., van der Linden, S., Roozenbeek, J., & Oreskes, N. (2023). Misinformation and the epistemic integrity of democracy. Current opinion in psychology, 54, 101711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101711

    Lubin, R. (2026, April 24). 12 US scientists have gone missing or died. The mystery has become the talk — and worry — of Washington. The Independent. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/scientists-missing-dead-fbi-investigation-b2963785.html

    USA TODAY. (2026, April 23). Deaths and disappearances of US scientists: See the list. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/04/23/deaths-disappearances-of-us-scientists-see-the-list/89732321007/

  • Origami 101

    Origami 101

    What is Origami?

    Origami does not originate from a sole inventor, it was crafted over centuries by many different hands for various ceremonial purposes in Japan and even China (Robinson, 2026). The word we use today, origami, is derived from the Japanese words ori which means folded and kami which translates to paper. While paper itself was first developed in China before spreading to Japan, folding paper into decorative and symbolic forms became especially refined in Japanese culture over time. Early uses of folded paper included religious ceremonies, gift wrapping, and formal exchanges, where presentation held great meaning.

    Fast forwarding centuries, today origami is seen worldwide. A simple YouTube search nowadays can teach even the newest of the new how to craft an origami chameleon, like how I learnt! What was once a traditional practice has now grown into a global hobby, mathematical practice, and even an area of scientific research.

     

    Math, Science, and Folds

    It comes to no surprise when we see the intricate works by masterful artists, that the art within folding comes from mathematical roots. For example, take the common fold that basically all origami pieces start with: the square piece of paper folded diagonally corner to corner and then along the sides, top to bottom and left to right. These folds create lines of symmetry and reference points that help guide more intricate folds later on. Mathematically, these folds create either a valley or mountain based on the value of the angle between the two adjacent planes created by the fold (Kunz, 2024). A valley fold bends inward like a “V,” while a mountain fold rises outward like a mountain. By combining these two simple fold types in different orders, locations, and sizes, folders can create highly detailed animals, flowers, and geometric structures. 

    Additionally, origami also has strong roots in more of a geometric application of math, with many models and folds often relying on fractions, bisectors, symmetry and so much more. In the scientific world, origami has received its share of the spotlight from inspiring compact folded solar panel designs for satellite use to shaping medical stents used in patients. 

     

    My Folds and Why I do it

    My goal when folding is simple: just don’t make it ugly. I find my inspiration, to recreate art through online tutorials, to be fueled by the passion and creativity of others. I folded the blue origami dragon below to surprise one friend, and the raccoon for another. I trace my folding skills back to one main motivation: wanting my creations to be as perfect as possible for the people around me. I have made plenty of lousy folds, but never when I feel a real sense of purpose behind them. When I fold for someone else, I tend to care more, focus more, and try as hard as I can. I am happy to say I will keep carrying on origami traditions. Mine may not be embedded in ceremonial, mathematical or even scientific purposes, but they still come from a place of creativity, curiosity, and humanity.

    References

    Origami created and photographed by Kristina Siju

    Origami with Jo Nakashima. (2021, September 14). ORIGAMI CHAMELEON (Jo Nakashima ). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if7iSuzNn38

    Nakashima, J. (2015). Origami Dragon (Jo Nakashima) [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUsxMXwCW8A

    Muneji Fuchimoto ORIGAMI CHANNEL. (2020, December 8). 「折り紙」アライグマ（racoon origami）の折り方. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2FYuvt-U80

    Geometry – Ancient geometry: abstract and applied. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/geometry/Ancient-geometry-abstract-and-applied

    Thesis, B., Kunz, C., & Cannas Da Silva, A. (2024). Mathematics of Origami. https://people.math.ethz.ch/~acannas/Student_Papers/BSc_Theses/2024_bsc_kunz_mathematics_of_origami.pdf

  • Gacha or Gambling?

    Gacha or Gambling?

    When someone tells you that they have a gambling addiction, what is the first thing you think of? The most stereotypical image would be a person in the casino, playing on slot machines. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is online sports betting instead. But has anyone considered video games?

     

    Rising in Popularity: GACHA

    One of the most popular genres of games that have developed throughout the past few years include a “gacha” system. The term stems from the Japanese word “gachapon”, which refers to small machines where people can exchange coins for a random toy capsule (Reyes, 2025). 

    According to Epic Games, some of their most popular games include Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, and Where Winds Meet all employ a gacha system. While these games are free to play, they often include gacha systems as a way to win prizes such as playable characters, weapons, or cosmetics. Users can either play the game and earn in-game currency or pay real money to buy “pulls” for these games. The “pulls” are then used in the gacha system, where players try their chances at getting the prize that they need. These are often characters or cosmetics that are quite rare, incentivizing players to keep playing or spending money to get the prizes that they want. 

    In a way, this can be seen as gambling. Players are often paying real money for the random chance at winning a prize that is not guaranteed to them. Although real money is not required, some games make it difficult to earn pulls through gameplay only. 

     

    The Psychology of Addiction

     Addiction lacks a universal definition in psychology, making it difficult to determine what is truly an addiction or not. According to one article, some have defined addiction as “continual, excessive use and ‘loss of control’” of something to the point of dependence (Wanigaratne, 2006). In other words, addiction can be defined as the use of something to the point where it is no longer controllable for a person. They simply keep going back to it, as if they are dependent on it. With this definition, anything can be an addiction, not just substances. Sure, things like drugs and alcohol are some of the most common ideas associated with addiction, but with this definition, recreational activities such as games or gambling can be addictive as well.

    There are several different theories that psychologists have come up with to try and explain addiction. Some have theorized that it is a result of conditioning, where the results of the addictive behavior can act as positive reinforcers the same way food or sex have been used in the conditioning process (Wanigaratne, 2006). For example, gacha games often offer the most desirable prizes as the rarest ones, making it quite difficult for players to get the item that they want. However, these games often have a “pity system”, where there is a guaranteed chance of receiving a rarer item based on the number of times a player has already pulled (Reyes, 2025). Although the specific item that the player wants is not guaranteed, they are given a reward for continuing to feed into the behavior more and more. Additionally, once the player receives the item that they want, the event can act as a positive reinforcer, conditioning players to continue to buy more pulls as they did before. 

     

    Issues with Gambling on the Internet

    As always, enjoying mobile games or betting does not always equal addiction. However, it is important to understand how making such games available to the general public can be dangerous. For instance, the games on the Internet have certainly made gambling much more accessible, which can make it easier for people to develop harmful habits. Some studies have noted that mobile app users typically visit the apps on their phone on a frequent, habitual basis, putting those who gamble on the Internet at a higher risk than those who do not (James, O’Malley, & Tunney, 2016). Most of the games mentioned before are available on mobile devices as well, making them extremely easy to play at any time, anywhere. Although this does not necessarily mean that they can result in harmful habits, it is certainly easy for a person to play the game every single day and regularly come back to paying for more pulls whenever they want.

    This does not mean that gacha games should be banned overall, but it is important for parents and players to be careful when playing. Make sure to take breaks and think before making any big purchases on a game!

     

    Wanigaratne, S (2006). Psychology of addiction. Psychiatry, 5(12), 455-460. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.mppsy.2006.09.007 

    James, R.J.E., O’Malley, C., Tunney, R.J. (2016). Understanding the psychology of mobile gambling: A behavioral synthesis. British Journal of Psychology, 108(3), 608-625. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12226 

    Reyes, J. (2025). Gacha games explained: Banners, pulls, pity systems, and more. Epic Games. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/gacha-games-explained-banners-pulls-pity-systems-and-more 

  • A New Bumpy Buddy in the Deep Sea

    A New Bumpy Buddy in the Deep Sea

    People often say that humans have only discovered 5% of the ocean to this day. While this exact number is often argued, it is no secret that much of the ocean is unknown to us. However, scientists have recently made a discovery of a new fish in the depths of the sea: the bumpy snailfish. 

     

    What is a snailfish?

    The bumpy snailfish, also known as Careproctus colliculi, belongs to the Lipradae family, which is one of the only few species on Earth that have adapted to live between what are considered the “abyssal deep” and “hadal deep” parts of the ocean (Scharzans & Gerringer, 2023). These parts of the ocean are typically extremely difficult to live in due to the immense water pressure, darkness, and lack of food. However, it seems that these depths are where snailfish (fish in the Lipradae family) thrive. 

    There are currently 450 accepted species of snailfish. Scientists identify them through their lack of scales along with a suction disk on their pelvis, which allow them to attach to other surfaces (Gerringer et al., 2025).

     

    Discovery of the Bumpy Snailfish 

    According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, the fish have large heads, while the rest of the body is made up of a jelly-like substance (Nava, 2025). Snailfish are given their name because they have a disk on their bellies that allow them to attach to the ocean floor, much like a snail would (Nava, 2025). This newly discovered version of the snailfish is a light pink color, a round head, large eyes, and a bumpy texture on its skin. Thus, it was named the bumpy snailfish. 

    Researchers describe the hadal trenches as depths greater than 6000 meters below sea level, where it is easier to study snailfish that father around bait falls (Gerringer et al., 2025). However, it is more difficult to find them in the abyssal depths, which are around 3000 to 5000 meters deep in the ocean (Gerringer et al., 2025). This is what makes the bumpy snailfish special, as it is a new lifeform in the abyssal depths of the ocean for researchers to study.

    In order to determine if these were a new species of fish, clips of the fins were collected from dissected snailfish. These tissues were used for DNA extraction, where researchers were able to compare the DNA sequences of previous snailfish to this one (Gerringer et al., 2025). 

     

    Works Cited

    Gerringer, M. E., Suplicz, S., Palmeri, J.L., Fregosi, L., Woodworth, B.H., McMahon, E., Shepard, M., Peoples, L.M., Drazen, J.C. (2025). Descriptions of Three Newly Discovered Abyssal Snailfishes (Liparidae) from the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 113 (3), 487-506. https://doi.org/10.1643/i2024069 

    Nava, R. (2025). MBARI’s advanced underwater technology reveals a new species of deep-sea snailfish. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. https://www.mbari.org/news/mbaris-advanced-underwater-technology-reveals-a-new-species-of-deep-sea-snailfish/ 

    Scharzhans, W.W., Gerringer, M.E. (2023). Otoliths of the deepest-living fishes. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2023.104079 

  • Burps to Breakthroughs: Reducing Livestock Emissions

    Burps to Breakthroughs: Reducing Livestock Emissions

    What Are The Effects? 🌱

    • Livestock and agriculture produce roughly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
    • A large portion is from methane gas released by cows.
    • Methane is a major greenhouse gas
      • It traps a significantly higher amount of heat than carbon dioxide.

    What’s the Cause? 🐄

    • Most of agricultural methane comes from enteric fermentation.
      • This is a natural digestive process in cows.

    A Solution!

    • Adding red seaweed (Asparagopsis) to a cattle’s diet can reduce methane emissions by up to 40%.
      • There are no negative effects on health or weight.
    • There are new experiments using flaxseed and protein to reduce methane emissions.

    Why This Matters 🌍

    • Cutting down agricultural greenhouse gases can have a big global impact.
      • Reduction of emissions, even in small amounts, can slow climate change.

    References

    Austin, D., & Gecan, R. (2025, August 19). Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the Agriculture Sector. Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved April 24, 2026, from https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61690

    Kuta, S. (2024, December 3). Eating Seaweed Could Make Cows Less Gassy, Slashing Methane Emissions From Grazing by Nearly 40 Percent. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved April 24, 2026, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/eating-seaweed-could-make-cows-less-gassy-slashing-methane-emissions-from-grazing-by-nearly-40-percent-180985575/

    Vineyard, J.R., et. al., Effects of a flaxseed and pea matrix on in vitro ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradability, and methane emissions. Journal of Daily Science. Retrieved April 24, 2026, from, https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(25)00212-7/fulltext

    World Economic Forum. (2021, May 19). Study shows that feeding cows seaweed could help reduce methane emissions. Weforum. Retrieved April 24, 2026, from https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/03/feeding-cows-seaweed-can-fight-methane-climate-change/

     

  • TikTok Effect on Academic Burnout

    TikTok Effect on Academic Burnout

    TikTok Effect on Academic Burnout

    What is Academic Burnout?

    This is a summary infographic about a study written by Yanning Chen. This study measures the correlation between TikTok and academic burnout. A burnout is when too much psychological stress regarding one topic collapses, causing someone to not do the activity anymore.

    Method

    The study was conducted using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey which evaluated academic exhaustion, cynicism, and efficacy. These factors were used to evaluate the rates of burnouts. Researchers used the Structual Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the concentration loss between Tiktok and burnout levels.

    Participants and Scale

    The study analyzed 500 survey responses from undergraduate students in China. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling, in which other participants recruited others for the study. The main category is that participants are required to be long-term users of short-form content and to have completed one semester of college English.(Chen et al., 2026).

    Results

    The TikTok Brain measurement has a positive correlation with decreased concentration. The student’s brain is more adjusted to the immediate dopamine rewards of TikTok, meaning academic burnout rates are high due to dopamine receptors being weak.

    Conclusion

    Overall, TikTok does have an effect on academic burnout rates. Other articles prove it as well; TikTok and attention metric have shown a relationship; often, users drift attention (Cole et al., 2025). As TikTok becomes more popular, we should make sure to watch longer videos to protect our attention spans.

    References

    Chen, Y., Hu, J., & Cheng, L. (2026). Academic burnout in the TikTok era: a battle between pleasure and concentration. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1774030.

    Cole, B., Santana, A. D., Hu, X., & Hopp, T. (2025). TikTok Usage Effects on Attention to News Reading: An Eye-Tracking Study. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 69(4), 365-380.

  • Fast Fashion vs Environment

    Fast Fashion vs Environment

    Fast Fashion vs Environment

    Background

    This is a summary infographic about a study done by Urska Trunk. This study looks at fast fashion brands, measuring the amount of certain materials in clothing and the effect of these materials on the environment. This research study was published by the Changing Markets Foundation

    What is Fast Fashion?

    Fast Fashion is the concept of rapid production of low-cost, trendy clothing. Relying on speed brands quickly makes these clothes without caring for quality, making the creation bad for the environment.

    Quality

    Often brands such as H&M and Pacsun produce clothing with high volumes of cheaper material rather than better-lasting material. The quality makes the product’s lifetime a couple of uses before something new is in style.

    Study

    Researchers wanted to see whether garments from brands like SHEIN, Zara, and Nike are sustainable or made from recycled polyester reduced the release of synthetic microplastics in the environment. Researchers hypothesized that recycled polyester would be durable and shed fewer microparticles compared to new polyester.

    Results

    Brand Virgin Polyester fibre count (fibres/g) Recycled Polyester fibre count (fibres/g)
    Nike 20,258 30,772
    Shein 6,931 3,519
    H&M 2,737 8,289
    Adidas – 25,517
    Zara – 4,276

    Table from Trunk

    The above table, it shows the release in fibres between each brand. We can see that Nike releases the largest amount of clothing, equating to the largest amount in both virgin and recycled polyester. Adidas and Zara do not release clothing in Virgin Polyester and have a low release in Recycled Polyester. These brands are creating low-quality clothing, causing more microplastics to be released into the environment.

    Microplastics in the environment

    Recently, more plastic goods have entered the market. Whether it is a cutting board or a piece of clothing, the market is shifting towards cutting corners when it comes to products being sold. This has caused vast amounts of microplastics to enter the environment. Plastics are released into the environment, which are affecting coral reefs, human health, and pollution levels (Evangeliou et al., 2020). Considering that fast fashion brands will not quit producing clothes with microplastics, we should take the initiative in proper disposal and usage.

    References

    Evangeliou, N., Grythe, H., Klimont, Z., Heyes, C., Eckhardt, S., Lopez-Aparicio, S., & Stohl, A. (2020). Atmospheric transport is a major pathway of microplastics to remote regions. Nature communications, 11(1), 3381.

    Trunk, U., Urbancic, N., Gündoğdu, S., & Özkan, İ. (2026, March 16). Spinning greenwash: How the fashion industry’s shift to recycled polyester is worsening microplastic pollution • changing markets. Changing Markets. https://changingmarkets.org/report/spinning-greenwash/