About me:
Hi! I’m a junior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Astronomy and Non-Fiction Writing. Follow my blog for articles on (mainly) astronomy, with a little of whatever I’m feeling sprinkled in.
Check out my published works!
Here are some of my latest articles!
Sustainable Swaps Part One: Beauty and Personal Care
In 2020, it should be easier to shop eco-friendly. Despite the growing number of consumers looking for sustainable brands, many remain out of reach price-wise. Luckily, there are still some brands that make eco-friendly swaps wallet-friendly. That being said, the most sustainable product is one you already own. You should always finish everything you have…
A Guide to Meteor Showers
We’ve known about meteor showers since we could look at the stars. While we didn’t understand what we were seeing, we certainly recognized their beauty. The ancient Chinese observed meteor showers and left the records to tell us. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed the shooting stars were a message from the gods—bringing good or…
The Right History of Left-handedness
We all know someone who’s left-handed. I am. My dad is. So is President Obama! In fact, about 10 percent of the population is left-handed. But why? Is there some advantage to being left-handed? Is there one to being right-handed? It’s commonplace knowledge that left-handedness was once considered evil. In the 18th century, many teachers…
August Sky Spotlight
2nd: Moon at Perigee On August 2nd, the Moon will be at its closest spot to Earth. This is called perigee. 7th: 1st Quarter The Moon will be in its first quarter phase! 9th: Moon and Jupiter; Mercury in Greatest Western Elongation The Moon and Jupiter will meet in the constellation Scorpio in the Southwestern…
The Last Lecture Book Review
Once, at a book store with my mom, she spotted a book she had once read. While describing the plot, she began to tear up—this book was apparently that good and that sad. The next day, I picked up the copy we had at home and began to read. The Last Lecture is by Jeffrey…
Dyson Spheres: Smart or Stupid?
The other day my dad made a bold claim: Dyson spheres are stupid. I told him that they were not stupid, and he replied that they are because they’re physically impossible. I have to admit, he may have a point there. I mean, a true Dyson sphere would have to be quite large. That would…
A Trip into the Life of Sally Ride
Sally Ride was born on May 26, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. She went to a private high school on a scholarship, where she was a bright student and an excellent tennis player. Ride first attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania but ultimately graduated from Standford where she majored in physics and English. She went on…
Write to the Point Book Review
Alright. I’m going to say it. Writing is hard. Sometimes I don’t know where to start. Or where to end. Or what to say in between. Usually, my solution is to read about it. Except a lot of writing books are textbooks. Or they’re bland. Or even worse, they’re pretentious. Some books talk of style…
What’s the Deal with Palm Oil?
It can be difficult to keep up with the best ways to be environmentally friendly. Recently, palm oil has been placed on the chopping block. However, the palm oil issue is not widely understood. This begs the question: is palm oil bad? Palm oil comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree, known as…
Mae Jemison: Astronaut, Doctor, Icon
In September 1992, the Space Shuttle Endeavor rocketed into space with astronauts and science experiments. This was a routine launch, containing a healthy mix of new and experienced astronauts. One astronaut, however, was making history. That day, Dr. Mae Jemison, serving as mission specialist 4, became the first African American woman in space. Jemison was…
madison brewer 