Big Picture Large scale power outages are becoming increasingly common across the country, as extreme weather events, aging infrastructure, and rising energy demands place stress on centralized grids. Communities are left vulnerable to blackouts lasting hours or even days, impacting hospitals, schools, and households, among countless other aspects of community life. One promising way to address this is through community-owned microgrids: localized, renewable-powered systems capable of operating independently when the main grid fails. By giving neighborhoods control over their energy production and storage, microgrids enhance resilience and also promote sustainability and equity. This proposal outlines a plan to fund and…

From the post-World War II establishment of the U.N., to the annual celebration of International Day of Peace on September 21st, the world has championed peace as a shared ideal. Nations have reaffirmed, at least in writing, their commitment to preventing war and protecting human life. However, those declarations appear increasingly hollow in 2025. Ongoing conflicts and weak international responses show that many countries are no longer committed to the values they claim to uphold. Disturbances Around the World Undermine Peace The war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has become a symbol of this dissonance. After the 1994…

We live in the most connected era in human history, at least, that’s what people say. At any moment, someone can text a friend, send a funny video or scroll through dozens of people’s lives without ever leaving their bed. Despite these connections, loneliness has emerged as one of the most pressing public health crises of the current age. Scientific Heartbreak  Research shows that loneliness is more than a social concern — its impacts extend to physical health as well. Poor social relationships have been linked to a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease and a 32 percent increased…

Water is a basic human need. Yet, across the globe, it is a tool of control and conflict. Whether it is used as a bargaining chip among nations or a source of internal tension, water has shifted from being a resource to a way to gain leverage. Weaponizing Water According to the Pacific Institute, there have been 62 acts of water weaponization since 2020 alone, more than the entire previous decade combined. In Gaza, the situation is dire. Humanitarian groups have reported that Israeli authorities have completely restricted aid and contaminated water systems, deepening a preexisting humanitarian crisis. This is…

Across cultures and centuries, fireworks have always been at the center of celebrations of all kinds. Whether marking monumental occasions like Independence Day or personal moments of joy, they evoke a sense of wonder and shared experience. However, their impact on the environment is not negligible. The chemical composition of fireworks is the root cause of their environmental impact. Each explosion releases pollutants that linger in the air and settle on land and water. Tiny particles called PM2.5, with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers penetrate human lungs, increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses like asthma and heart disease.…

The “No Kings” protests were a reminder that sometimes maintaining democracy requires people to demand it. Seven million showed up across the country to do that, insisting that no one stands above the rest. With people marching side by side with strangers, it was refreshing to see the unity rooted in the faith that power can still be held accountable. However, the death of a protester in Utah showed that even well-intentioned movements can lose their way. Reclaiming power matters, but not at the expense of the lives it is meant to protect.

In any clothing store or online storefront, you will find shirts for six dollars, jeans for twelve, and entire outfits with prices that are too good to be true. That’s because they are. Behind every cheap price tag is a chain of decisions that shifts the real cost to a garment worker in a foreign country, a river turned black from chemical dye or the increasingly polluted atmosphere. Fast fashion isn’t cheap, it’s just paid for by other people. Embedded with the exploitation of underpaid and mistreated workers, the “fast fashion” model is only made possible by its rapidity. Companies…

Big Picture Millions of Americans, particularly in low-income and rural communities, rely on convenience stores and fast food chains for their daily nutrition. It is very commonly perceived that healthy food is more expensive and difficult to find than junk food.  These food deserts, or areas where residents lack access to affordable, nutritious food, are becoming increasingly prevalent and are fundamental issues with diets in the U.S. This lack of fresh, healthy food contributes to rising obesity rates, diabetes and heart disease, furthering issues like the obesity epidemic.  Operative Definitions Food Desert: a geographic area where residents have limited access…

RFK Jr.’s shake-up of the Department of Health and Human Services isn’t reform: it’s retreat. Cutting 20,000 jobs and rolling back vaccine guidance under the label of “individual choice” sounds like freedom, but it leaves the country exposed when the next health crisis hits. Public health is strongest when it’s proactive, not reactive. By sidelining science and gutting infrastructure, this “reset” risks long-term vulnerability and represents a government abandoning its responsibility to protect public well-being.

Trump’s sudden criticism of Netanyahu is a political calculation. For years, U.S. support for Israel has been treated as untouchable, but this shows that even on the Right, that consensus is cracking. When civilian casualties mount and accountability disappears, this kind of blind loyalty starts to look less like strength and more like complicity. This moment is about America openly thinking about its role in Israel’s actions. Rethinking support doesn’t mean abandoning allies, but it means holding them to the same ideals we claim to value.