Climbing too close to the sun—dream, divinity, death on Mt. Everest
On October 17, 2025, a 17-year-old high school senior named JC declared to his family that he would climb Mt. Everest at 20. Since he was seven, JC has scaled mountains, summiting 15 peaks. His tallest conquest so far is Mt. Rainier, a formidable Washington mountain...
California’s wildfire season and disaster preparedness
As summer rolls around, California enters its annual wildfire season from June to October. With scarce rain, arid climate, and rising temperatures, the summer and early fall season are constantly plagued with wildfires.This SummerBefore summer even began, the Sandy...
Behind every AI answer is a growing environmental footprint
AI may feel almost weightless on a screen, but every answer depends on physical data centers that use electricity and water. As demand grows, the environmental cost of AI is becoming harder to ignore.
Opinion: Beyond the Ballot: What civic engagement looks like before age 18
Voting will eventually become one of the ways teenagers can participate in civic life, but it doesn’t have to be the first. Civic engagement can be smaller or more personal. It can mean volunteering at a community event, reporting a story that matters to other peers, or simply learning how a local decision may affect the people around you.
Recent Stories from Insiders
Behind every AI answer is a growing environmental footprint
AI may feel almost weightless on a screen, but every answer depends on physical data centers that use electricity and water. As demand grows, the environmental cost of AI is becoming harder to ignore.
Review: Junji Ito’s ‘Tomie’
"Tomie" by Junji Ito is a creepy, fascinating, and unforgettable horror story that mixes beauty with terror in the...
Opinion: Educating entrepreneurs
Isn’t it time that the education system is revamped and students are taught financial literacy and how to think like an entrepreneur?
What is summer learning loss?
Summer is cherished by students across the globe as a time to relax, spend time with family and friends, and travel to...
Review: The bacon macaroni and cheese at Panera Bread
I highly recommend you try the bacon mac n’ cheese at Panera Bread at least once in your life. The contrast of flavors due to its mix of soft macaroni pieces with juicy bacon bits is so good that it is entirely worth brushing away any doubts about it to try it at least once.
Opinion: when a score disappears, so does growth
After taking the F=ma exam, I did not just want to know whether I qualified for USAPhO or not. AAPT’s decision to withhold individual scores may reduce unhealthy comparison, but it also takes away the feedback students need to grow.