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FEBRUARY 16, 2018ORACLETROY HIGH SCHOOL VOL. 53, ISSUE 7 2200 E. DOROTHY LANE, FULLERTON, CA 92831 What is Bitcoin and cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency is a transferable, digital currency which operates independently of a central bank. Users can ex- change virtual money in peer-to-peer transactions while “miners,” people who run the software, encrypt data to protect users’ money. By doing so, they create more bit- coins which can then affect the overall value of bitcoins. The more bitcoins sold, the more their value decreases. cryptocurrency transactions By Faith-Carmen Le develop blockchains. Addition- of Feb. 8, one bitcoin was worth STAFF WRITER ally, millions of users send their $7744.27, exemplifying the Photo by Ashley Branson private information across the dramatic fluctuations in crypto- PHOTO world using different servers currency cost. Warriors should which can potentially threaten avoid wrongly treating Bitcoin their personal security. as a joke since real money can We’ve all heard about it. Cryptocurrency is relatively be lost by investing in bitcoins. How six years ago one bitcoin new, and it may feel exciting to Moreover, because crypto- was worth less than a Big currency can be used to Person A and Person B want to perform a bitcoin transaction Mac, but is now worth buy and sell almost any- thousands today. Bitcoin is “The world of thing, the world of crypto- currently the most popular cryptocurrency opens up a new currency opens up a new form of cryptocurrency. avenue for criminals to In fact, many tech-savvy avenue for criminals to exploit. exploit. Bitcoin can poten- Warriors own bitcoins and Any item from cars to concert tially increase crime be- use cryptocurrency be- tickets to drugs is fair game for cause illegal transactions cause it does not require a bitcoin transaction.” become easier to complete Cryptographic keys are assigned to the transaction that investors to go through and harder to track. Any both A and B hold. banks. As a result, users item from cars to concert can virtually buy whatever they invest in this new “it” technol- tickets to drugs is fair game for want through Bitcoin. Sounds ogy. However, some economists a bitcoin transaction. great, right? Not so much. predict that bitcoins will lose Ultimately, Warriors should In reality, Bitcoin can be their value in upcoming years. be cautious if they wish to ven- harmful to both those who own For instance, on Dec. 17, 2017, ture into the digital expanse of it and those who do not. First the value of one bitcoin peaked cryptocurrency. Though many off, the value of cryptocurren- at $19179.58, and sharply are unsure if Bitcoin’s value will cy fluctuates because the coins dropped to $14038.29 after one continue on a upward trend, one are dependent on the changing week. The value then halved thing is for certain—cryptocur- Transaction is verified and logged on a distributed network. number of programmers who over the course of January; as rencies seem to be here to stay. Page 6-7 Page 8 Page 12 SPORTS FEATURE ENTERTAINMENT Wondering how Warrior athletes Take a look at our feature ar- Lo-fi has been a rising cul- did over the winter season? Check ticle on Ian Bellman, who is tural and musical phenom- THIS out our coverage of all the winter ranked eighth internationally enon for the past few years. sports, including basketball, soccer and fifth nationally in the Read about the different Issue Inside and wrestling! Yoyo 3A division. forms of lo-fi found today. 2 NEWS TROY HIGH ORACLE TROY TODAY Sherry Xu named Talent Search Outdoor classroom project construction begins semifinalist for plant research Construction on the new outdoor classroom by the Xu was honored for high levels of genomic variation Draba verna service road behind the 500 impactful laboratory work in , also known as Building has commenced. she conducted as a summer spring draba, a flowering species Student volunteers from research intern. of plants native to North America and Europe. groups like the Horticulture Xu’s report, “Intraspecific -Ge and Botany Club are clear- By Katie Nguyen Draba STAFF WRITER nome Size Variation in ing paths to set a foundation verna,” provides insight into evo- for the project, which will Recognized for her extensive lutionary research on the plant include tables, a water fea- laboratory research, senior Sher- and other related species. ture and a plant garden. The ry Xu was selected as a Regener- Xu’s passion for ecology began project is expected to be on Science Talent Search Scholar in the summer before her sopho- completed late spring 2018. by the Society for Science and more year, when she attended the the Public Jan. 9. Research Mentorship Program at Great Gatsby Gala raises Sponsored by math teacher Pa- the University of California, San- thousands for students trice Roach, Xu was one of over ta Barbara. Soon after, Xu began 1,800 applicants who submitted to pursue research opportunities Team Troy, a collabora- reports detailing their research beyond her local area. tion between Troy PTSA and essays about what inspired To complete her research in the and the Troy Support Or- them to pursue their investiga- Hollister Lab, Xu taught herself ganization, hosted its first tions. As one of 300 semifinalists, the R programming language to - charity auction event at the Xu received $2,000. Troy also re complete the requisite statistical ceived $2,000. analysis for her study. Richard Nixon Library in Xu conducted her laboratory “When I was looking for a Yorba Linda Feb. 9. Around work in the Simons Summer lab to work in, I really wanted 150 attendees participated Research Program at the State to work in a lab that combined - in a silent auction and din ASHLEY BRANSON University of New York, Stony plant ecology with computer sci- ner, raising over $20,000. Brook. Under the mentorship ence,” Xu said. “[Learning a new Money raised supports SUPER SCIENCE STAR: Senior Sherry Xu was named a Re- of Dr. Jesse Hollister, Xu used programming language] was not student initatives such as generon Science Talent Search Scholar for her work as a sum- a technique known as flow cy- very hard because the computer library upgrades and new mer research student on the Draba verna flower. tometry to identify abnormally science classes [at Troy] are re- furniture. ally good.” Receiving recognition for her FBLA places first at work in ecology, an area of study section conference not as popular as other disciplines in biology like molecular biol- The Warrior chapter of ogy, was unexpected, Xu said. the Future Business Lead- “A lot of [recognition in re- ers of America placed first search] will go to [students in- among 21 schools at the volved in] molecular biology Southern Section Leader- or computer science,” Xu said. ship Conference at Valencia “I have just always really liked High School Feb. 10. 18 working with plants, so I stuck students placed first in their with it for all these years. I really respective events. Qualify- wasn’t expecting anything, so I was very pleasantly surprised.” ing students will advance According to Xu, working in to the State Leadership the laboratory has reinforced her Conference in Ontario Apr. desire to study evolutionary ecol- 12-15. ogy in college. Best Buddies to host “This [experience] helped me Mystery Movie Night build more confidence,” Xu said. COURTESY OF SHERRY XU “If I want to pursue more re- Student service group search opportunities, I feel better PAMPERED PLANTS: Xu’s work on the Draba verna flower at the State University of New York, Best Buddies will show about doing that. I definitely want Stonybrook, involved growing and monitoring many plants throughout the course of her project. to [work] more with plants.” a mystery movie Feb. 23 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the 500 Building. Students interested in attending the Art Club offers lessons at orphanage event are encouraged to bring blankets and pillows The inaugural service event wanted to apply their passion for pation in the event stemmed from paratively sheltered Warrior cam- to sit on. Admission is $1 was held amid plans to art to make a difference in their a commitment to expand their pus. and includes popcorn and maintain regular lessons. local community. collective footprint, Choe said. “[Lessons] expand [our] per- soda. Club members had the oppor- “We wanted to change our spectives because [we] are able By Tiffany Kim and David Hou tunity to interact with the children [club] activities to [do] some - to [teach our art] to kids in need,” Warrior Speech and STAFF WRITER & NEWS EDITOR at the orphanage, which cares for thing significant,” Choe said. Choe said. Debate Team excels at immigrant children and young “Art Club can be better and do Prospectively, club members invitational Using their talents to help oth- adults. According to Secretary more for the community.” are planning to host their lessons ers beyond the Warrior campus, Yujin Choe, at first, students were Preparing for lessons involves on a monthly basis. According The Speech and Debate Art Club hosted its first art lesson concerned that a language barrier considerable work. Unlike the to Choe, students are also ac- team sent 11 students to the for children at a local orphanage would club’s tively raising money for supplies Stanford Invitational Feb. Feb. 10. hinder weekly through fundraising events like 10-12. Sophomore Amy Working alongside other vol- the de- “Being able to teach others lunch boba sales to fund more frequent Weng placed as a quarter- unteers from Irvine, club mem- livery helps you learn as well.” meetings, visits and maximize their collec- finalist in the Impromptu bers taught children, aged from of their which are tive impact, Choe said.