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1 8 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 QuaranTimes 1 Drawing by Ben Jackson-Morris S6 Learning Academy Ted Talk of the Week Could we harness the power of a black hole? Fabio Pacucci Black Holes - the big question that exists light years above, beside and below us. Could it be possible to harness the power of black holes to power a galactic civilisation? It may sound like a far-fetched idea straight from a Doctor Who episode, but the ideas of physicist Freeman Dyson suggest that there may be a way to extract and harness the energy of a black hole using a contraption named the ‘Dyson Sphere’ or ‘Dyson Ring’. Pacucci believes that this would be the perfect way to power other civilisations within our galaxy, as many planets’ worth of resources would be needed to build a Dyson ring big enough to surround a black hole, but this crazy idea may help scientists to come up with smaller- scale ways in which to solve the world’s current energy crisis. This Ted Talk is a must-watch for any physicists or Star Wars lovers! Millie Howatt, S6 (Click here to watch) Page | 2 Wellbeing Academy Keeping Fit During Lockdown I really enjoy keeping active, but it has been a challenge to stay motivated during the lockdown as all the usual activities I enjoy have been paused and the sports clubs and gyms have temporarily closed. I find it easier to stay motivated when I have something to work towards. My brother has been doing something called the ‘Conqueror Challenge’. This is a virtual fitness challenge which sets up different distances as a goal, based on actual journeys you could make. You are rewarded with a postcard at every milestone and at the very end, you receive a medal. So far, he has already 'walked’ the Aztec Trail and ‘climbed’ Mount Everest'. Another app you could try is Couch to 5K, which aims to get you from not running at all to running a 5K quite easily by making the runs get longer each time without a break. There are also a lot of videos on YouTube. Popular sites include Joe Wicks or Yoga with Adriene. The PE department has challenges like Doddie Aid, and there are House activities every now and then that you can do. To help keep you motivated you could give yourself a reward such as sweets (not healthy but they taste good!) or you could ask people to sponsor you. What works for me? I am lucky enough to have a new puppy that gets me and my family out on walks every day. Ashley Herbert, S3 Page | 3 Easy lunch to make for online school This is a brilliant lunch to make for your lunch break – it tastes great, it is healthy, and it is easy to make. Ingredients For the pesto, you will need: 80g basil 50g pine nuts or cashews 50g Parmesan 150ml olive oil A clove of garlic Method All you need to do is mix all the ingredients in a food processor - you can always alter the quantities to achieve the flavour you want. Be careful not to over-mix as this can ruin the texture. This recipe makes enough pesto to last a few days, so you can keep it refrigerated. Serve with pasta; it can be eaten hot or cold. Sophie Tiefenbrun, S5 Page | 4 Wellbeing support when you're not in school If you’re feeling in need of pastoral support when not in school, you can contact the Pastoral Team and there are lots of resources for you online, with 1-2-1 help or more general advice. Find out more using the link HERE How to stay motivated Staying focused and driven can be tricky, especially when things feel uncertain. If you're looking for some tips for staying motivated, check out the advice HERE It's a short two-minute video with 5 different tips based on advice from children’s mental health charity, Place2Be. There is also a recap if you'd rather read the advice instead of watching the video. Page | 5 Community Academy Positive News Chinese New Year was celebrated on February 12th, and, with 2021 being the Year of the Ox, for many it was important to follow the traditions that day. According to Chinese superstition, washing clothes, using scissors, and sweeping floors are some of omens to stay clear of as doing any of these will lead to bad luck for the entire coming year. It’s not all bad news for this year, apparently: the Ox is an animal that symbolises strength and determination. In the UK, engineers are designing a project to turn hills into “batteries”. The project aims to use excess green energy to pump water uphill via underground pipes. The water would then be released and flow downhill over generating turbines when demand for electricity is higher. This renewable energy scheme is designed by the company RheEnergise; they plan to develop around 700 sites across the country. One of the few positives that has come from lockdown seems to be from our own gardens. By comparing data from two surveys, The Royal Horticultural Society have estimated that front garden greenery has increased by an area 70 times the size of Hyde Park since 2015, partly thanks to lockdown. The US airline, Enter Boeing, has announced that it will start delivering planes that fly on 100 per cent biofuel by 2030. In 2018, the company made headlines with the first commercial flight using just biofuel. Hannah Bell, S6 Page | 6 Eco Academy Techno Trash Electronic devices play a big role in consumerism just now, with Apple being one of the most well- known companies in the world. Electronic devices, although revered for their convenience, do not naturally agree with our environment. Electronics that are thrown away become what is known as “Toxic Technotrash” or otherwise commonly known as “e-waste”. If you throw away your “e- waste” irresponsibly, the toxic waste ends up in a landfill. The most prevalent technologies include iPhones which have toxic elements such as lead, zinc, and mercury. Not only does “e-waste” effect the environment but it also impacts children’s health. The WHO states: “Children are especially vulnerable to the health risks that may result from e-waste exposure and, therefore, need more specific protection. As they are still growing, children’s intake of air, water, and food in proportion to their weight is significantly increased compared to adults, and with that, the risk of hazardous chemical absorption. Furthermore, their bodies’ functional systems such as the central nervous, immune, reproductive and digestive system are still developing and exposure to toxic substances, by hampering further development, may cause irreversible damage. Many children are exposed to e-waste-derived chemicals in their daily life due to unsafe recycling activities that are often conducted at their home - either by family members or by the children themselves. Furthermore, children may be exposed through dump sites located close to their homes, schools and play areas.” Informal processing of electronic waste leads to environmental pollution and adverse human health effects. Waste can contain potentially harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or bromine. The European WEEE Directive classes these ten things electronic waste: Page | 7 - Large household appliances (fridge freezers) - Small household appliances (IT Equipment) - Consumer Electronics - Toys - Lamps - Tools - Medical Devices - Monitoring and Control Instruments - Dispensers - Temperature exchange equipment Consequently, the majority of electronic waste ends up in landfills with only 12.5% of electronics being properly recycled. According to a 2013 UN Study, over 41.8 million tonnes of electronic waste was discarded worldwide; however, only 10% - 40% of these disposals was done properly. Every year, up to 50 million tonnes of electronic waste is discarded, yet only 18% is properly recycled, meaning 82% of electronic waste is currently rotting away in landfills, disrupting eco- systems and habitats. Fortunately, there are ways to help you reduce your electronic waste and lessen the damaging impact on the environment: - Donate to charities such as the Alan Turing Foundation: they take electronics and recycle them. Many computers made by the organisation are given to young people who can’t afford them. - Stop buying new phones. Consumerism and the market is often to blame for a lot of problems environmentally, but by not buying a new phone every time there is a release, you are decreasing your spending and carbon footprint! - Don’t throw your technology in the bin - it will be taken to landfills by accident. - If your technology isn’t ruined, you could sell them to someone else, or donate to a charity, then someone else gets good use of the device. Recently, more laws have been put in place for companies about what chemicals are allowed in your phones or other electronics. This has been put into effect since we use our gadgets so frequently and removing the worry of toxic e-waste would be the best solution for all. Frances McGunnicle, S4 Page | 8 Global Academy Are the Airpods Max Worth It? not the airpods max Since the day Apple released the first iPhone I have been a die-hard fan of theirs. The innovation of a touch screen. A phone that was smart! I can remember how wide my eyes opened when I saw that phone and for the price it was (£381) it felt like I was looking at the future, sitting behind a wall of glass. That was something worth the money. But ever since Apple’s 10 year-anniversary and the unveiling of the iPhone X, it seems that they have lost the plot with pricing.