The event featured Nagaraja's Troop Movements: Labor, Race, and Global Freedom Struggles in America's World War II. The book adopts a bottom-up, multi-scalar approach, examining how World War II mobilization brought workers into overlapping struggles over labor, race, citizenship and broader political and societal change during and after the war.

Schrader opened the conversation by emphasizing the book's attention to ordinary people's ability to shape political change.

"World War II is thought of as a moment of political consensus, but when you look beneath the surface, there was a lot of contestation and conflict, [...] and a lot of that conflict was powered by workers who were trying to build more equal and racially integrated workplaces," Schrader commented.

Nagaraja teaches at Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He began his presentation with photographs of actors and activists Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. By drawing connections between their wartime experiences and their later activism, Nagaraja argued that World War II should not be understood solely as a period of national unity against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Instead, Nagaraja centered defence workers and military personnel who participated in strikes, civil-rights campaigns and protests over working conditions and racial discrimination while contributing to the war effort.

"World War II is not just this nice prologue of unity." Nagaraja said, "Actually, the conflicts that happened in the early 1940s tell us a lot about the conflicts that would shape the 60s and the 2020s."

Schrader then asked why Nagaraja places defense-industry workers and soldiers within the same framework.

"The lines were blurred between the foreign and the domestic in this particular war," said Nagaraja, "tens of millions were serving in the armed forces and the defense industries in what I call a composite workforce, and that created blurred experiences and the possibilities for linked coalitions too."

Nagaraja also connected wartime racial politics to policing. He recounted the 1942 killing of Black servicemember Thomas Broadus by a Baltimore police officer while Broadus was on leave. The case became a rallying point for local civil-rights activists, labor organizers and students, who organized around demands such as police reform, housing rights and desegregation.

The conversation later widened beyond Baltimore to the immediate aftermath of the war. Nagaraja described 1945 and 1946 as an uncertain period between World War II and the emerging Cold War, when workers and service members across different countries organized strikes and protests while anti-colonial movements challenged European empires.

He pointed to American service members and merchant mariners who questioned support for European efforts to restore colonial control in places such as Vietnam and Indonesia.

"They actually made people-to-people connections in that moment," Nagaraja said, "and they envisioned another world."

Returning to the civil rights movement, Schrader asked how the organizing of the 1940s connected to the activism of the 1960s. Nagaraja pointed to wartime migration and military service as opportunities for Black workers to build coalitions across regions and national borders.

"And so that civil rights movement was a labor movement, and that civil rights movement was in tension with policing and incarceration, and that civil rights movement was a global struggle," Nagaraja said.

Eva Klaus, a student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, recalled how the event offered an opportunity to explore activism and meet people with shared interests in an interview with The News-Letter.

"This is one of the events that I liked the most." Klaus continued, "I actually read part of his book while he was doing the talk, and while of course it's difficult to both absorb the information that I read and listen to his talk, I really liked the amount of depth he went into with his not only his book but his actual talks."

Baltimore resident Ryan Hardey, who works on global trade policy, said his interest came from the relationship between war and social movements in an interview with The News-Letter.

"Being present in a longer conversation with somebody, especially like Tej, who's such an expert," Hardey stated. "It just makes us smarter people."

"Chris Sale and Pray for Hail"

I am a Braves fan and couldn't resist writing about the Braves finally getting over the hump in the postseason against their always feisty division rival. The Phillies have been death for America's Team in the past decade but clutch hitting and unlikely big-time performances on the mound proved to be enough for the Braves to outlast the Phillies in 2026.

In the '50s, there was a catchphrase of "Spahn then Sain then pray for rain" when the Braves only had two good starting pitchers, but for the 2026 Braves, "Chris Sale and Pray for Hail" might be more accurate. Injuries have hampered the Braves' rotation, requiring Chris Sale to put the team on his back in this three-game set, pitching into the seventh inning in the Game 1 victory before getting the final four outs in Game 3 on only one day's rest. Journeyman Ray Kerr also had a huge performance in the deciding game of the series, but a beleaguered Braves team now stares down a Goliath in the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Divisional Round. Don't cross your fingers.

A Yankees three-Headed monster

Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. Schlittler, Fried and Cole. That could very well be the company for this trio of starters atop the Yankees rotation. Fried and Cole are well-established veterans who have been torturing big league hitters for a decade, while 25-year-old Cam Schlittler has burst onto the scene in his first full MLB season with a Cy Young-caliber season. The three are also already more than proven when October rolls around. Max Fried was part of the 2021 Braves World Series squad, while Gerrit Cole has pitched in two different World Series and owns a 2.77 ERA in 133.1 career postseason innings. Cam Schlitter has the shortest resume of the three but in his young career has been an outstanding big game performer. In his three career postseason appearances, he has only allowed two runs in 20.2 innings.

The Rays earned the top spot in the American League, but the Yankees have firepower in their rotation that perhaps only New York money can buy. This series will be the classic clash between a scrappy small market team and the bruising Bronx Bombers roster.

Is anyone hotter than the Padres?

The San Diego Padres finished the season scorching hot and parlayed that into a decisive sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card. Their success is in large part due to a plethora of backend bullpen arms highlighted by star closer Mason Miller. Miller has been unhittable this year. He sports a 1.67 ERA while leading the NL in saves and recording 129 strikeouts in only 70 innings. Adrian Morejon, Bradgley Rodriguez and Yuki Matsui have also been dominant in 2026, giving the Padres an arsenal of relief pitchers at their disposal.

Their lineup also packs some punch with star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. leading the charge. The Friars match up with the Milwaukee Brewers in the Divisional Round and will be heavy underdogs. However, history has shown that momentum and a bullpen can get you a long way in the MLB playoffs, so watch out for the Padres to potentially go on a run.

Rizk, who hails from Jezzine, a mountainous town in Lebanon (a country he emphasized is, in fact, not a desert), became interested in autonomous vehicles while pursuing his PhD at Georgia Tech.

"[I participated in] a competition for autonomous drones to fly from point A to point B, pick up an object, deliver it to point C and come back to point A."

His team became the first to conceptualize and build a quadcopter. This four-rotor design is very stable because two rotors spin clockwise and the other two spin counterclockwise, generating equal and opposite torques that keep it in the air. Rizk recounted demonstrating the design to a U.S. Navy captain, an encounter which suggested people can often not see immediate value in ingenious ideas.

"[The captain] looked at it and said 'That's a pretty cool toy, but what do I do with it?'"

However, they could only afford to carry one camera on board, given the bulky size of the computer that processed video in real time to aid in navigation.

"That's really when I realized that the world of AI, the world of autonomy, is not going to take off unless you solve the vision problem." Rizk said, alluding to his eureka moment.

Rizk corroborated the hypothesis that vision was the limiting factor in translating many technologies into real-world products while working in the aerospace industry and collaborating with the defense world, settings in which people still relied on the traditional camera and computer set-up to collect data and make decisions in real time.

Inspired by the human eye's ability to process visual information alongside the brain, detecting contrast, color and minute details, Rizk founded Oculi. Its technology centers on the sensing and processing unit (SPU) it created. The SPU is composed of pixels with individual logic and memory, allowing each pixel to process the visual data it captures and determine whether it is of interest before sending it to a downstream processing unit. This approach can minimize energy consumption by reducing the power required for data transfer.

Additionally, Oculi offers an enticing solution for data privacy, as its technology can make decisions without even generating an image of the scene. However, a trade-off remains between collecting more data - on the off-chance it is needed - and giving up data that might be useful.

"You can save up to $50 billion in energy every year if you make them smart," Rizk described.

Oculi's main focus is commercial applications of its SPU. Take sliding doors, for instance. Rizk believes that instead of going after superintelligence, current work in the field should stop and consider basic functions in the world that still aren't well automated, like why a sliding door opens even when walking past it or just waving a hand in front of it. With Oculi's SPU, this issue could be tackled by programming the door to open only when someone walks toward it with the intention of passing through.

Rizk explained these applications might not have the same allure as using an SPU in unmanned defense vehicles operating in off-grid terrain, but they could have an immediate impact. In Northern Japan, for example, black bears sometimes venture into urban environments in winter to find food. There have been instances where bears have gone into supermarkets simply because a sliding door opened for them, a calamity that could easily have been avoided with an SPU. Adding vision can also reduce pedestrian deaths, help the visually impaired community and cut energy and money wasted on heating, cooling and lighting.

Rizk is fueled by problems like these, which exemplify what it means to engineer solutions for humanity's greater good. He is quick to point out, however, that in startups - unlike in academia - he has to consider not just what he wants to do, but also what his investors want. When asked what advice he would give students grappling with different career options, he was clear: be honest with yourself and ask whether you're competent and self-motivated.

"[If you are,] you should go start your own company or join a startup or small company," Rizk remarked.

The future for physical AI is promising, particularly as startups like Oculi pave the way for dynamic solutions that can revolutionize everything from traffic management systems to electronic devices. Rizk firmly believes the vision problem is the Achilles' heel we need to tackle to engineer a safer, greener and more efficient future.

1. The bag itself: This navy Longchamp Le Pliage Original Tote bag has been around longer than I have, always faithfully draped over my mom's shoulder on every errand, vacation and doctor's appointment. Using that very bag now for college feels almost surreal; I spent my childhood watching it follow my mom through so much of her adult life, and now it follows me as I begin mine. The frayed corners and the worn leather straps make me feel as though she's right here with me. Carrying my mom's bag each day has become a way of keeping her close while she's more than 3,000 miles away.

2. HeyTea laptop sleeve: I never used a laptop sleeve before, but apparently all it took was a free one to change that. Over the summer, my best friend and I woke up at six in the morning and drove 30 minutes to the grand opening of the HeyTea in my hometown. The result? This free white puffy laptop sleeve, which now houses my Mac.

3. My iPad: a non-negotiable for notes and schoolwork. My 30-hour GoodNotes screen time each week can probably speak for itself.

4. My Owala: an investment made by my 10th-grade self. The scratches and dents are evidence of all the highs and lows we've been through together. It's become my emotional support water bottle, even though it's gotten a little wobbly on its feet after all these years.

5. My Sony headphones: a gift from my dad from one of his many business trips abroad. These headphones have accompanied me on every plane ride, workout and study session since. I am the student I am today because of noise-cancelling. Thank you, Dad.

6. Mentholatum Melty Cream Lip Balm: basically Japanese Aquaphor.

7. A banana clip: a hair accessory I recently discovered that has quickly become my favorite. It's not quite a claw clip, but it works perfectly with my thin hair. It lets me put my hair up and out of my face while I'm working without the headache-inducing tightness of a ponytail.

8. Blue-light glasses: spoiler alert: I have 20/20 vision, but I like wearing glasses, so it's me and my $12 blue-light glasses from Amazon against the world. After all, I need to protect my eyes somehow from the absurd amount of time I spend on GoodNotes every week.

9. Mini portable fan: the most recent addition to my bag. Baltimore's end-of-summer humidity has been a rude awakening for me. I'm never taking Cali weather for granted again.

10. An Omamori: a protective amulet from my senior trip to Tokyo. Knowing this little amulet is in my bag feels like I'm carrying a bit of good luck wherever I go. It reminds me to trust that everything will work out, even when I'm far from home and still figuring things out for myself.

Reflecting on the long-term residents of my bag left me feeling oddly nostalgic and homesick and, in a way, gave me a better understanding of myself. I never really gave much thought to why I carry these things beyond what they're designed to do, but I've realized that each one has its own story and is, in some way, uniquely meaningful to me. Together, they represent the people, places and moments that have shaped who I am. Of course, I have been warned about using a shoulder bag for college, but I'll check back at the end of the semester, hopefully still with symmetrical shoulders and no back problems.

This week's meeting began with a presentation from The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) and Vice Provost Rachel Hernandez about sexual misconduct policies at Hopkins and reporting to OIE. She emphasized that the meeting would be one of several conversations with student organizations and leadership groups throughout the month.

Representatives from the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) outlined how the office receives reports and conducts intake and risk assessments. Reports can come directly from individuals, through responsible employees or through online submissions, including anonymous reports.

Administrators spoke on how outreaches center on giving information about a survivor's options, confidential resources and supportive measures. Further, reporters or victims are not required to speak with OIE or press formal charges to get any form of desired assistance. Supportive measures mentioned by OIE in their presentation included academic accommodations, such as assignment extensions or excused absences, alongside adjustments intended to help students feel safer on campus.

Following OIE's presentation, representatives from Public Safety and the Johns Hopkins Police Department spoke about their roles in supporting survivors of sexual crimes. They emphasized the importance of minimizing further trauma, protecting privacy and clarifying available options without pressuring individuals towards a certain path.

Multiple attendees raised questions and concerns for administrators. One student asked whether recent news of alleged sexual misconduct at Cornell University would lead to changes in OIE's procedure for supporting victims and pursuing investigation in cases of sexual violence. Administrators responded that they always reflect on and update policies to reflect legal attitudes, lessons from other investigations and evolving student needs. A member of the public raised his hand to express frustration about the early mention of Blue Jay Safety Month before other resources in Friday's University broadcast message about sexual assault resources, stating that he felt the placement was dismissive of the reality of sexual violence. Vice Provost Hernandez explained that the month's programming included important prevention training and education while assuring the student that the placement was not meant to be facetious.

Following the departure of the University administration from the room, the discussion between SGA concerning campus safety and prevention of sexual violence continued. Many members of SGA stated frustration at the fact that the measures taken by the University had failed to consider the issue of accountability and the culture among the students in Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) and Athletics.

Secretary Honora Muratori argued that online prevention training is rarely taken seriously by students and is not effective in curbing sexual violence in college campuses. She urged SGA to advocate for in-person training, particularly for students in athletics or FSL. Civic Engagement Chair Jackson Morris encouraged senators to gather student feedback before returning to administrators. He further argued that SGA must ask difficult questions about cultural and organizational norms that promote sexual violence, such as hazing rituals and fraternity culture.

Following this, there was a swearing-in ceremony of newly elected members of the Class of 2030 as well as an SGA Advisor. For cabinet reports, Student Body President Jason identified three objectives of the year: engagement, student experience and school spirit.

Lastly, senators discussed funding bills related to nutrition education, sexual assault education and a photo shoot/networking event for Black students. Black Caucus Senator Oluwanifemi Ajayi proposed an initiative aiming to bring Black students together and launch an Instagram page to highlight the achievements of Black students, organizations and faculty at Hopkins. The SGA deferred the selection of the Senator of the Month for next week.

Despite the common critiques of enrollment numbers and culture war topics, one undeniable but often ignored piece of evidence of this separation between such institutions and the communities they claim to serve is the practice of career funneling.

Career funneling describes the limited range of job choices chosen by university students after they exit higher education. It has been a largely silent but undeniable trend over the past two decades. At top institutions, the rate of undergraduates being employed in newer sectors such as consulting and technology has almost doubled from 2008 to 2019. Since 2020, over half of graduates from most Ivy-Plus schools (a loosely defined group of the top 15 to 20 universities in the U.S.) have been entering the technology, finance or consulting sectors year after year.

Living within the university ecosystem, one rarely realizes how many seek jobs in these sectors. After all, these jobs carry an air of prestige. Internships or job offers at major corporations carry social value within such elite institutions, where one is expected to see a degree pay off in rich returns, both monetarily and in terms of status among peers. Furthermore, employment in these sectors often comes with rich salaries; few can fault students for wanting a stable income, especially with the rapid rise in tuition and living costs.

However, this constantly reinforced narrative of social prestige and high salaries, along with a lack of presentation of pathways to alternative careers, has 'poisoned the well' of career discussions in such institutions. They not only reinforce the idea that only these jobs have elevated standing and impact compared to less-explored and public sector work, but also convince students that these jobs are the only path to wealth and security. A student enters an environment where these job sectors are already exalted by their more senior classmates and is dragged into the same way of thinking by way of social dynamics and reinforcement.

Even universities are complicit in this trend. Elite universities, admitting elite and capable applicants, are composed of a rich pool of potential high-value employees for high-paying sectors to throw money and prestige at to hook prospective employees. Wall Street and Silicon Valley have often paid money for career centers to prominently feature them during career fairs, while universities, with great incentives to cultivate connections for future partnerships and build their reputation and prestige for prospective students, are more than willing to invite these firms to campus. Hopkins is no exception, with the Integrative Learning and Life Design office having a page that expressly encourages outside organizations to 'hire Hopkins talent' from undergraduates to PhD students, and events like Future Fest advertising with special sections on 'Industry Connections' with Amazon, Wells Fargo, and biotechnology firms.

It does not mean that every student who chooses to pursue employment in such sectors arrives there due to their peers or the university ecosystem, nor are people who find such employment gainful as a result of such an ecosystem wrong. To many people, these roles can feel extremely rewarding, or at least on par with employment in various other sectors. Furthermore, elite universities have numerous valid reasons to seek such connections, and students obviously benefit when more opportunities are available. Despite the excuses, the core issue remains that with such a system in place, employment in these sectors often feels like the only choice for many students, or the only 'right' choice for their future.

This presents a moral dilemma for students who feel pressure from peers or from the public that they are 'selling out' by not contributing to more socially conscious fields, justifying their choices through the points they gained from their peers and their time in elite institutions. In the end, this paradox and attempt to reconcile such cognitive dissonance leads to poorer occupational longevity and post-graduating life satisfaction among students. The lack of talent in desperately needed fields such as journalism, local and national government, and civic advocacy contributes to the ongoing erosion of democracy, as does the felt impact of elite institutions on the general population.

None of this should be blamed on the student body, who seek the best outcomes and self-worth from the limited wealth of information they know and opportunities they are presented with. Neither should the public be dismissed as 'not understanding academia' for pointing out this incongruity of elite institutions that promise to serve the community but have most of their student body employed by massive corporations. Even elite universities may not be to blame for such a system, which reflects a culture that values corporate profit over all else. Regardless, the universities must shoulder the burden for their own reputation and the well-being of their student body, and are the only party capable of systemic change in this echo chamber of career funneling.

So what can be done? The ultimate goal is a drastic cultural shift in elite universities back to their original conception of primarily serving the public good within the public, the student body and the university structure itself. More immediate, achievable actions include emphasizing alternative, public-facing career pathways with robust institutional support to compete with established funnels, encouraging students to explore different career paths, and publicly identifying the systemic pressure facing students to go into technology, finance and consulting sectors.

At Hopkins, the SNF Agora Institute is at the forefront of engaging the student body in civic-forward thinking, though not without its fair share of controversy and backlash. Nationwide, like-minded students are also waking up to the status quo and beginning to resist. Sociology Professor Amy Binder, who pioneered the term 'career funneling', is part of a nationwide network called Class Action that hopes to illuminate this issue across all elite universities and drive effectual change from the faculty and student level.

Of course, the ultimate dream of students finding comfort and gainful employment in any sector they desire may be out of reach through these or many future solutions. This is by no means to say that any of these solutions are perfect in every - or any - way. But it is an issue that cannot be ignored, not least by elite institutions facing populist attacks and growing discontent. Only through action can we begin to shift the wave of distrust, improve university and student culture and mend the gap that has widened between the public world and the insular world of such elite institutions. The question, then, is if not when, why not act now?

Chris Zhang is a sophomore from Atlanta, Ga. studying Political Science.

"It was reported that the individual may be in possession of a weapon. JHPD and Public Safety conducted multiple searches of the area and did not locate the individual. JHPD and Public Safety will immediately be increasing presence in the area," the email from Public Safety stated.

The email also included a description of the suspect. Public Safety specified that the suspect was a man in his late 30s who was approximately six feet tall, and wearing a grey sweatshirt, grey sweatpants and black slippers.

Public Safety did not explicitly confirm whether or not the suspect was actually armed, nor did the office specify a weapon. When The News-Letter reached out to the University for official comment, it also did not confirm whether or not the individual possessed a weapon.

"While there was a report that the person appeared to have a weapon, Public Safety has not confirmed they were armed," a University spokesperson wrote.

The spokesperson also clarified that Public Safety included information about a possible weapon for the purposes of caution, but neither Public Safety nor the University's police department were able to track down the suspect. Because of this, Public Safety took steps to increase security presence around campus.

"The Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD) and Public Safety conducted multiple searches of the surrounding area but did not locate the individual and have since increased security and continue to investigate. Out of an abundance of caution, JHPD and Public Safety issued a public safety advisory and are coordinating with local law enforcement," the University spokesperson added.

Neither Public Safety nor JHPD have publicized updates on the case in the days since.

Sophomore Lazina Miah, a resident at The Academy, was informed by security about the suspect when leaving the building. The security guard told her that the suspect was in possession of a firearm about four hours before Public Safety sent out an email. Miah recalled her account in an email to The News-Letter.

"Around 2:40-ish, I was about to leave The Academy for a club interview at Brody. I waved goodbye to the security guard at the front desk when her smile quickly turned to a frown, and she warned me about a man with a gun outside. She told me to wait as she went to the windows, and all I could think was, 'God, my interview's at 3:00. I don't want to be late.' She then turned to me and said she couldn't see him, but if I were to see a man with a grey sweater and grey sweatpants, 'go to the other side of the street immediately,'" Miah wrote.

After Miah had left the building, she confirmed to The News-Letter that she was able to see the suspect, and that she may have seen him with a firearm, but was not certain.

"Trying to be as vigilant as possible, I went outside towards the direction of the main campus, and I saw him on the steps leading up to the academy, dressed in all grey. I think I saw him holding a black handgun near his chest, but in hindsight, I'm not sure if my mind made that up because it was shaken by the information I received [from the security guard]. I didn't look too closely, and I kept walking, being conscious to keep a far distance," wrote Miah.

After Miah recounted her experience to The News-Letter, she offered some reflections on the incident, and the broader societal implications they may have.

Miah expressed her opinion that violence is an issue that the entire country faces, and that students should focus on community safety everywhere, instead of solely focusing on the University.

"I think this incident shows that we're never as far away from violence as we may believe we are. I hope it provokes broader conversations surrounding the political and social realities in this country, and reminds us that we have a civic responsibility to advocate for safe communities, not just for the Hopkins community, but for the Baltimore community and the entire country as a whole," Miah added.

Additionally, the University spokesperson also emphasized students' role in keeping the University community safe and highlighted safe practices for students to follow when entering the residence halls.

"As a reminder, we all play a role in keeping ourselves and others safe. For the safety and security of our residential communities, residents should scan their J-Card-physical or electronic-every time they enter their residence hall," the spokesperson said.

Myra Saeed contributed to the reporting of this article.

Nate Brown, senior lecturer in the University Writing Program and administrator of the Common Question, introduced the event by emphasizing the value of gathering in person to create something that could not simply be reproduced online.

"In the age of Zoom learning and remote working and AI, it's particularly cool to get together and get to do something sort of analog," Brown said. "Something that we necessarily can't replicate again."

Petty's writing series grew out of her own questions about storytelling in the age of AI. She said she believes deeply in storytelling as "a very human core art form" and wanted to explore what happens when people write together rather than treating writing as an entirely solitary activity.

"If everybody can write and everybody wants to write, what does that feel like to write together?" Petty asked.

The workshop, which took place in the Archaeological Museum, began with participants sitting on chairs in the middle of the room. They were given a letter and drew a corresponding object - for example, a cupcake for "C", or a bathtub for "B." Then, they were brought to a fictional world. Petty narrated a fairy tale about scholars visiting the cabinet of a wealthy "cajillionaire," where they encounter an octopus trapped inside an aquarium. The octopus, once a sea witch, has spent years trying to escape and ultimately discovers that the scholars may be able to help her through the power of storytelling.

Participants were gradually incorporated into the story, writing on their note cards about their families, their own experiences with stealing, and creating fairy tales involving their assigned objects. The prompts moved from personal reflection to imaginative storytelling, asking participants to invent characters, desires, monsters and enchanted objects.

The unusual, private format was designed to make writing feel less intimidating.

"I just want to reassure you that there's no way that you can do this wrong," Petty said. "Whatever you write down is going to be great, and you will not have to share what you write."

For some participants, the personal prompts helped make the creative writing process easier. Alex Herz, who also graduated in the spring, had done some writing on his own and decided to come to the event on a whim.

"Why not come to this?" Herz said.

Herz thought the event reminded him of "being on field trips to museums when [he] was a kid."

Petty said that encouraging people to write without the pressure of producing something polished is one of the goals of the series. She has led similar events at readings and other venues, experimenting with different formats, objects and spaces.

"Often people think that they shouldn't write or they can't write," Petty said. "It's really fun to see people be like, 'Oh, I can just do this.'"

By the end of the workshop, participants returned their objects to their original owners and shared aloud the stories they had created with the owner. They then wrote a final version of their stories, deciding whether to preserve or change the meaning they had developed.

For Petty, the event was also an experiment. The Hopkins workshop was the first time she had presented this particular version of the story, meaning the participants were the first audience to experience it.

Ultimately, Petty said, she hopes participants leave with a simple feeling.

"I hope that people are just like, 'Oh, that was fun,'" Petty said. "Like just to have a little bit of play in your day is so valuable."

This was a tour highly anticipated by fans, as it had been four years since the last time she performed live independently (not counting the smaller shows she did prior to the release of Lost Weekend), and it was the first time she had released an album since 2020.

Her concerts on this run have been unique from her previous tours and many other performing artists by implementing a no-phone policy. Upon entering the arena, phones were locked into small pouches and could not be unlocked until you exited the arena (save for designated areas in case of emergencies).

There was some controversy surrounding this choice, sparked by fans' desire to capture photos and videos of the show to remember it. While this is a downside of not having your device, the policy created an extremely unique and immersive concert that made up for not being able to record it. Without having to worry about taking good photos or recording the best part of your favorite song, you are able to be fully immersed in the experience of seeing the live performance. Additionally, it created a much better sense of togetherness and connection in the crowd.

Two things that really stick out about the show, not counting the music itself, are the lighting and visuals. The show is divided into two stages: Stage A is located at the front of the stadium, while Stage B is placed in the center of the pit. Bridgers moved between the two stages throughout the performance. The visuals were very celestial and generally space-themed. It made it not only a great concert to hear, but a great one to watch as well.

The show opened with "The Outside," the opening track of Lost Weekend. The almost robotic sound plays as the staging slowly moves and the lights begin to change, creating a sense of extreme anticipation. Then, the dome above Stage A rises, revealing Bridgers as she begins to play "Motion Sickness," one of the most popular songs in her discography. It is a fantastic beginning to the show.

This was followed by "Kill Me," the intense ending of which translated extremely well to being live, especially accompanied by the flashing lights. "The Governor's Waltz" was played after, with celestial visuals, and then "Lost Boys," the upbeat nature of the track making it a great live performance. An especially notable moment was towards the end of the track, when the stadium went dark and the crowd shouted the "1, 2, 3, 4" before the stage lit up again. "Garden Song" and "Moon Song" were played back to back, and the slower songs sounded beautiful and very touching live.

She wrapped this segment of the show up with "Liberty Tree," a very fun song to see performed. Then, she moved stages, appearing on Stage B in lighting that resembled that of a UFO, which was very in line with the space theme of the rest of the visuals. In this new space, she began to perform the title track of Lost Weekend, another song that was very touching to hear performed, and the no-vocal segment at the end was accompanied by a huge array of flashing lights that were incredibly captivating. This was followed by "Funeral," another extremely popular song from Stranger in the Alps. The sad nature of this song made it very emotional to hear, and was immediately followed up by another emotional track: "Graceland Too" from Punisher.

These sadder songs were contrasted after by "Haunted," one of the more upbeat songs in her discography, accompanied by a rotating stage. After "Haunted" was an interlude where Bridgers gave a moving speech regarding her father and the current political state of America.

Then, she played "Still Standing" in a UFO-esque beam. "As Above" was played after, and the intense part of it was paired with confetti falling from the ceiling, truly emphasizing the magic themes of the song.

Bridgers moved back to Stage A to finish off the show, playing the upbeat love song "Bobby," one of the only truly happy songs in her discography. This was contrasted by "Georgia," which she plays every other show, switching out with "Waiting Room." While not getting to hear the latter was personally disappointing, "Georgia" was an incredible song to hear performed. During "I Can't Wait," she brought out her brother to sing a verse toward the end, a very special moment considering this is not consistent in every tour stop.

Speaking of uniqueness, in every show she plays a "surprise song," which in D.C. happened to be "Chinese Satellite": a fairly popular track off of Punisher that sounded incredible live. She finished off the set with "On Video," a song recently released for the film Primetime that sounded great live, "Kyoto," another fairly popular song off Punisher that was very fun live and, of course, "I Know The End." "I Know the End" was particularly compelling live; the audience screamed at the end in line with the song, with the entire arena bathed in the red colors of the album cover.

This wasn't quite the end, however, because a few minutes after the end of the song, Bridgers returned onto Stage B for an encore. She played "Lost Weekend (Reprise)," once again in the beam of light that had the effect of her glowing, followed by "Scott Street." "Scott Street" was a particular impactful performance, with the entire stadium waving their hands under the arena lights. It truly emphasized the sense of community at the show, brought on by the absence of phones.

The concert was, overall, an incredibly immersive experience, with fantastic visuals, vocals and performance and is an unique experience in the digital age. Bridgers is a wonderful performer whose songs were all very impactful to hear live. Even her slower, sadder songs, which you may not think would translate well to a stadium performance, were very moving to hear. All in all, it was an immensely well-done concert.

Jain's curiosity and interest in scientific research started early. He credited his upbringing in a college town - an environment full of people who made careers as researchers and professors - as the root of his interest in the practice. For his undergraduate studies, Jain attended Georgia Tech, where he studied biomedical engineering and started conducting his own research developing T cell therapies.

"I reached out [to the lab] because I originally wanted to work on stem cell research. And then the person that I ended up working with was doing T cell therapy research, and they were specifically working on something called (CAR) T therapy… so I got really into immunology from working in that lab, even though that wasn't really something that I'd expected to do."

During his time at Georgia Tech, Jain also interned at Amgen and Genentech, two major biotechnology companies. These experiences deepened his interest in the field and exposed him to the industry side of biomedical research. When Jain decided to apply to graduate school, he had plans to return to biotech after completing his degree. However, his experiences at Hopkins, especially in mentorship, have shifted his plans toward academia.

"Over the course of grad school, I realized that I really actually like mentoring undergrads… Some of the undergrads that I've worked with are some of the smartest people ever… Getting to see when undergrads go from being sheep to becoming fully grad-level thinkers is really cool to see... I liked the aspects involved with being in an academic setting… so I think I want to be a professor."

Reflecting on his experience, Jain highlighted one of the most important skills that he learned early in his graduate studies: that of reading and synthesizing papers.

"The more you read, the faster it gets... I think the process of reading a bunch of papers, synthesizing all the information that you got and then drawing new findings… is really helpful… Writing a review paper in the second year of my PhD helped me to think broadly about certain thematic areas that I wanted to look at during my PhD." Jain advised.

Incorporating these skills and learnings, Jain carries out research focused on developing mRNA lipid nanoparticles capable of entering the body and efficiently editing T cells to combat B cell-based diseases. In the past, T cells had been traditionally edited by drawing blood and editing the cells ex vivo. This approach faces challenges, including the steep monetary cost of the therapy and the fact that patients must have their immune systems depleted prior to reintroduction of the edited T cells. More recently, scientists have used viral vectors to deliver gene therapies to T cells. However, these viral vectors are limited to one dose per patient, and they have the possibility of inciting unwanted immune responses.

Therefore, Jain turned to mRNA lipid nanoparticles as a cost-effective, efficient and safe method for T cell editing. Specifically, antibodies that can be recognized by T cells are conjugated to the outer surface of the nanoparticle, which allows T cells to recognize and take up these particles. Once inside the cell, the lipid nanoparticle dissolves, releasing the mRNA encoding the CAR. Since mRNA is relatively unstable, the CAR is only expressed transiently. This transient expression serves as an advantage of the system, as Jain described.

"Let's say you have cancer or an autoimmune disease... You want to kill off all the bad B cells and then eventually want the healthy B cells to come back. If you have a CAR T cell that expresses the CAR forever… that's a lot of B cell-killing cells inside your body, and that means your B cells will never come back."

Additional advantages of Jain's developed system are that the nanoparticle can be stored indefinitely at -80°C and can be administered in multiple doses. As a result of this research, Jain was named as a Siebel Scholar.

"Siebel Scholars recognizes the most talented students at the world's leading graduate schools of business, computer science, bioengineering, and energy science," the foundation's website states. "Each year, more than 90 exceptional students are selected as Siebel Scholars based on academic excellence and leadership potential. Each receives a $35,000 award toward their final year of graduate studies."

Jain described the application process for the award as being quite straightforward: a short biography, a CV and 1-2 letters of recommendation. Since the recognition is given in the final year of graduate study, the award serves less as a motivation for a student's current graduate research, but more as a springboard for one's future endeavors. As such, Jain considered possible future directions for his research.

"Now the question is: How much smarter can these particles get? Something that I'm really interested in… is the question of if we can create tools that can non-invasively detect certain diseases or cancers… and combine those diagnostics with mRNA nanoparticles. You could have a nanoprobe that would only react in a certain disease situation… conjugated to a nanoparticle [that] could release a therapy," Jain concluded.

Bill 26-0174, sponsored by Phylicia Porter and six other council members, proposes to make data centers a conditional use by ordinance and require a Health Equity Assessment for a data center conditional use. The proposal would put a planned data center through an individual approval process with a health equity review. The bill's purpose statement does not establish what the assessment must measure or whether it could stop a project.

Despite the lack of progress, many locals showed up to the hearing to tune in to legislator proposals and shared their concerns about data center construction in Baltimore with The News-Letter.

Musician Black Assets said, "I'm just here to support Baltimore black and brown communities. My stance is simple. We need more resources allotted into the community, poured into our rec centers, our schools, our neighborhood. We need assistance with our energy bills with all the prices that increase. Our communities have always needed more from our government. Unfortunately, these data centers aren't coming through alongside us, in support of us. In a community first mindset, [they] would be taking more from a community that is already in a sort of deprivation."

Dustin Branch, a Baltimore Regional Coordinator of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, an organization focusing on preventing climate change, spoke about his concerns with the The News-Letter.

"Seeing incredible grassroots, average everyday working class people coming together and speaking out. People all over Maryland and all over the country are struggling. We are in a cost of living crisis that is created by the very same companies that are trying to move into our neighborhoods... I live in Mount Vernon. I'm close by to several data centers here in the city...This AI speculation, every single person that runs these AI companies was at the [presidental] inauguration."

A social worker in Baltimore named Mars commented, "Data centers are really bad and there are really very few upsides to them... We should recognize that this bill does nothing because data centers are very unhealthy for the world. My purpose in coming here is to oppose the bill on the principle that having a health equity angle on data centers would only create the impression that there is such a thing as a healthy data center."

The News-Letter had the opportunity to speak to electricians who shared their perspectives on how data centers would harm Baltimore residents.

Babatunde Salaam, a local electrician, shared his thoughts about the bill in an interview with The News-Letter.

"The grid that we are all reliant on is strained as is. Maryland imports 40% of its energy. That is not sustainable. The bill that's proposed would allow for further drainage of 25, 30, 50 mega Wattor even larger. Those [data center projects] would further erode our grid infrastructure, while providing absolutely no benefit to the city and the benefits, as well as being tax-exempt."

Tewodoros Desta El added, "Many [minority based contractors] are [supporting data center construction] because they believe they just want to be in front of whatever technological advancements data centers bring... They feel themselves to be a stepping stool for helping uplift black communities, especially in Baltimore City... On the workforce level and on the company level, there may be a need for workers because they need money now and there may be a hope for contractors who would like to make money off the data centers. But at the end of the day, you can't rush to hope to be the savior for the Black community right now when its a still long term effort for this because you still have to protect the community itself and also respect the wisdom of the community who are not the contractors, who are not the current workers, but also for the neighbors who have to walk one block up and all of a sudden they deal with pollution," he continued.

Desta El's comments highlight a tension between minority communities who could benefit from the jobs added by data center constructions and the potential marginalization those same communities could face from pollution and energy usage brought by the centers.

Salaam and Desta El spoke about their advocacy to city council members to spur other types of development projects that could increase employment in the black community. They shared project ideas like sustainable energy and mass transit that could help alleviate Baltimore city congestion problems and provide work to thousands of residents. They hope that city legislators would pursue projects that benefitted community residents and promoted public spaces instead of benefitting private contractors.

The next step is for the Land and Transportation Committee to continue considering the bill and decide whether to amend it and vote. There is reason to believe that the bill will undergo significant changes before being brought to a vote. The Planning Commission recommended disapproval and encouraged city council members to pause deliberations until the release of a city study of data centers, which is expected in March 2027. The Law Department raised further issues about conflicts between the bill and the city's current data center moratorium as well as concerns about giving the Health Department the power to block a zoning approval.

Women's Volleyball: (3-2), (3-0)

Coming off a couple of successful fixtures in last weekend's Hopkins Invitational, the Blue Jays Women's Volleyball team looked to continue its strong form against its out-of-conference opponent, fifth-ranked Juniata Eagles. The Jays were able to climb to an early one-set lead against their feathered foes in what was a closely fought opening to the event. However, the Eagles would not back down as they stormed back to take the next two sets in relatively comfortable fashion, 25-19 and 25-23.

Hopkins was not to be deterred, staging a somewhat unlikely comeback against its strong opponent, first with a thrilling 25-19 fourth-set victory before sealing the upset with a decisive eight-point margin in the final set. Senior outside hitter Ivy Swafford led the Jays with an impressive 21 kills, while freshman middle blocker Bethany Sherwood managed the most blocks in the game with seven!

Moving into Centennial Conference play, Hopkins opened against Bryn Mawr in what was a swift and convincing victory for the Jays. With momentum on its side, Hopkins made quick work of its opposition in what was a well-rounded team performance. Sherwood once again held down the defense with a team-leading three blocks, while sophomore opposite Emily Overtoom registered 11 kills.

Field Hockey

Ranked as the eighth best team in the country, the Hopkins field hockey team is perched in a strong position as it enters conference play. Over the weekend, it would be challenged by the 12th-ranked Ursinus Bears in what was a tightly fought affair between two of the best squads that the Centennial Conference has to offer.

Despite a low scoring affair, the match was controlled for large stretches by the Blue Jays. The first period saw them take seven shots to the Bears' zero, the first of which almost put Hopkins on the scoreboard within the opening seconds of the contest.

Moving into the back half of the game, it proved to be a much more even affair, with the two sides only managing six combined shots in the final three periods. Despite surrendering a couple of penalty corners in the third quarter, the Hopkins defense remained stout, allowing for it to keep the victory within reaching distance. With just three minutes left in the game, the Blue Jays won a penalty corner that would help to put them on top, thanks to a last-minute winner from senior midfielder Caeli Robinson, who was assisted by senior forward Sophia Albano.

The team will continue its home stand this Wednesday against Swarthmore College at 4:00 p.m.!

Men's Tennis

Hopkins tennis was coming off a massively successful weekend at the ITA's Southeast Women's Singles Championship. Junior Sahana Madala took home the championship as the fourth Blue Jay to ever do so in the women's division, and now it was the men's turn at the same contest!

Traveling to Fredericksburg, Virginia, the Blue Jays entered with the No. 2 seed in the competition, graduate student Adam Stavrakas. To take home the title, Stavrakas would have to face six different competitors, including the top-seeded player in the championship round.

Clinical would be an understatement to describe how Stavrakas performed, as he dropped a total of ten games en route to the Blue Jays sixth all-time title at this event. The closest competition came in the championship match, in which Stavrakas went to a tie breaker to decide the first set. Coming out on top, he then cruised to victory in comprehensive fashion, winning the second set, and championship, in six games to one.

With this achievement, Stavrakas earned All-American honors and has advanced to the ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia which will be held Oct. 15-18.

Men's Soccer

After a slow start to the year, the Men's Soccer team has found itself in a winning groove, stitching together five consecutive victories coming into the game against Gettysburg. Conference play is never easy, and this match was certainly no exception, but the resiliency shown by the team should go a long way to forging an identity of grit and toughness.

The Jays were struck early by a ninth-minute goal from Gettysburg after a deflection off a Hopkins defender sent the ball into the box. This scoreline would remain for much of the contest until a 62nd-minute equalizer from sophomore forward Connor Wilkes would draw the teams level. It was a tale of two halves as the Blue Jays outshot Gettysburg 11-3 in the second, allowing them to wrestle back control and manage a draw from a game that could have gone awry.

The Jays will travel to Salisbury on Wednesday to take on the Sea Gulls in what should be an exciting match!

While it's unlikely that ChatGPT can help you create anthrax or that Claude can solve all diseases in five years, biological capabilities are accelerating. The things we can do are leagues ahead of what was possible even five years ago, all the way down to the most workhorse tasks: design (generate), build (synthesize), test (assay), learn (analyze). CRISPR is now cheap, generative design models threaten to bypass homology screening, and cloud labs remove human intermediaries. Bad actors, both human and nonhuman, have an increasing number of avenues through which they can manipulate biological matter.

Our evaluations and world models of how biodefense works and the barriers thereof are mistaken or ill-founded. This leads to an actively harmful air of passivity. Our set of defenses is full of holes, and we are ill-prepared for such advances, both mentally and practically.

Let's draw a comparison with cybersecurity and cyberdefense, where Large Language Models (LLMs) recently demonstrated astonishing capabilities. Cybersecurity has had the luxury of evolving through the cat-and-mouse chase of better hackers and better defenders, starting off in a world without much reliance on computer infrastructure. Biology did not have widespread, serious campaigns with bad actors, white-hat hackers, or a history of consistent red-teaming. Nevertheless, we inhabit a world deeply and intrinsically tied to the health and well-being of every human, resulting in a dangerous, asymmetric gap between our defensive capabilities and potential consequences.

Ultimately, the defense ecosystem of cybersecurity was built over thousands of fast iterations a year. With biology, our first event in a world with a newly prevalent and accessible biotechnology infrastructure may also be our last. Fundamentally, we must be anticipatory instead of reactive.

Furthermore, the few studies that attempt to measure uplift and risk do so in ill-formed scenarios. This includes assumptions of beginner-level baseline experience, proxy metrics which don't reflect actual biological work, and a lack of standardization about what uplift even means.

The world doesn't need to end for bioweapons to be everyone's problem. This extends to and beyond non-human pathogens and again reflects a lack of imagination on the part of biodefense policy. In the case of a gene drive in honeybees, or an engineered blight, both could cause devastating and irreversible damage to the US economy.

This is especially apparent when considering the disconnect between AI evaluation frameworks and actual out-of-the-box threat models. There is a lack of imagination currently driven by a lack of interdisciplinary engagement between AI professionals and biology researchers.

This is a difficult problem, and there may not be an easy solution.

Nevertheless, uncertainty cannot justify inaction. We must be proactive. It is our responsibility, and we must do something.

The Hopkins AI Safety and Biosecurity student-run organization is currently recruiting for several long-term projects spanning alignment and safety research, to outreach and awareness efforts, to long-form analysis and policy pieces.

If this is something you'd like to contribute to, indicate interest at jhuasbs.com. We encourage you to apply even if you have no prior experience.

Jonathan Ouyang is a sophomore from Champaign-Urbana, Ill. studying Biophysics. He is the President of the Hopkins AI Safety and Biosecurity organization.

Upon looking into the book further, I was shocked to see that this was Burke's debut novel. For an author's first book to receive this much praise and attention, it must either be truly exceptional or exceptionally lucky. I picked up the book to decide for myself which one it was.

Yesteryear follows Natalie Heller Mills, a "tradwife" influencer living on an isolated farm in Idaho with her loving husband and five (soon to be six) children. She presents a perfect, highly produced life on her social media, preaching Christian values, a return to tradition and classical gender roles. However, we get only a brief glimpse into her modern life before Natalie is transported to 1855. She wakes up in her house - except it isn't her house - and with her family - except it isn't her family.

The rest of the story is spent shifting between the past and the present. There are snippets of Natalie's whole life interspersed with the 1855 timeline she suddenly woke up in. We see her grow from early childhood to Harvard student to full-fledged tradwife influencer. As the story progresses, pieces of the puzzle start falling into place.

I recommend reading Yesteryear for yourself, but if you're interested in a full review including spoilers, continue reading.

There are a lot of really interesting aspects of this book. If nothing else, it can keep you engaged through storytelling alone. The way the story flips between past and present creates a truly fascinating path through the plot where you feel like you're putting together pieces of a puzzle. You are given the ending, and through the rest of the novel it's up to you to try and figure out how Natalie ended up in her situation.

Admittedly, I found some sections of the novel quite predictable. However, this is not necessarily an entirely negative feature of the book. Burke was trying to tell a story about tradwife influencers, and because I'm familiar with a lot of the online discourse surrounding that topic, I was able to more or less predict various tradwife-related story beats. Some plot points, such as her disdain for her children, the constant lies to her audience and her presentation of a perfect life while she has a producer, two nannies and almost 30 employees on her farm aren't as outrageous. I imagine someone who spends less time engaging with discussions of online tradwife personas might find them more unbelievable. Either way, the storytelling forces you to engage deeply with the story, and it makes it a very fun read.

Beyond the storytelling, I have to praise the depth of emotion that Yesteryear made me feel. First, the story getting me to care and even empathize with our increasingly morally reprehensible protagonist is brilliant. While Yesteryear is ultimately a critique of Natalie and everything she stands for, it takes its main character seriously. You get to understand Natalie, and honestly, I found myself feeling quite bad for her at multiple points.

Although she is in a prison of her own making, it's almost impossible not to at least slightly empathize with her. This makes the book so much better; it's not just a mindless bashing of a woman who is a product of a misogynist system, but rather a confrontation of that system. Additionally, there are some disgusting moments in this novel. There were multiple moments where my heart dropped to my stomach reading. One scene where Natalie forgets her infant in her car and is confronted by a fan was so horrific I almost had to stop reading.

However, I don't think this scene, or any of the other difficult scenes, is horror for the sake of horror. The point of this novel is to feel Natalie's psychological stress and confront the complicated morality of the story. The book is trying to ask you difficult questions, and the horror is meant to make you confront your own morals.

Finally, I would be remiss to exclude at least a brief discussion of the big reveal twist ending. While it was not exactly the world's most unpredictable ending, I think it was quite good. Obviously, Natalie had never actually been transported into the past; that would make this book settle into an entirely different genre. Natalie's pure, built-up psychological stress leading to a mental break is a fitting end to a story that's ultimately a discussion about the harms of continued performance to fit the mold society puts forward.

While Yesteryear is far from a perfect novel, it is certainly worth a read; especially if you appreciate books that challenge your moral compass and urge you to think more deeply about the systems that affect each and every one of us. It's a unique book that I can confidently say deserves the praise and accolades it has received thus far.

Can Xue, covered by Aditya Sankar

A routine contender, Can Xue is a pillar of the Chinese avant-garde. Her work spans short fiction, novels like The Last Lover, and even contributions toward opera. Xue's oeuvre carries her hallmarks: pithy, impressionistic and simply written stories haunted by unknowable characters, tinged with magical realism and concluding without resolution.

Several of her translated short stories have been compiled in her collection Vertical Motion. As illustrated in the eponymous tale, where some manner of critter crawls upwards through the dirt, motion -though scarcely in known directions - is key to these pieces. Characters flicker between loosely tied stories, while narratives tumble and fascinating settings are snatched into mystery. Xue gently unsettles, swirling into fragrance like in the twisted childhood wonder of "Cotton Candy." For your consideration, I present some words from "Crow Mountain".

"We were on the same mountain, but I was also in a vacant building. How bizarre. Ah, I saw the giant's feet cross the pillar of light. He made no noise as he passed by."

Gerald Murnane, covered by Aditya Sankar

Touted as the most and least Australian writer, Gerald Murnane straddles the line between abstraction and autobiography. His distinctive lifestyle permeates his work: He famously uses typewriters and has never boarded a plane. Murnane's approach is that of a landscape artist, describing in one interview, "Represented by about 25 colored lines is a diagram of my life."

His writings are nebulously personal, excavating his interiority for obsessive motifs of horse-racing, colored glass and vast plains. His is a recursive world; he returns to the opening of his masterpiece The Plains for Border Districts: "20 years ago, when I first arrived on the plains, I kept my eyes open," becomes "Two months ago, when I first arrived in this township just short of the border, I resolved to guard my eyes." Eschewing narrative and names, Murnane meditates on the construction and breakdown of image and invites the curious explorer on bizarre voyages.

Anne Carson, covered by River Phan

In September, Anne Carson wrote a great but unexpected essay about Rosalía for the London Review of Books, but she's a renowned literary talent aside from the surprise pop-star coverage. The award-winning Canadian classicist writes an array of work ranging from poetry to essays to literary criticism.

Although she hesitates to call herself a poet, Carson has written outstanding poetry as she captures the breadth of human emotion and experience through a blending of genre and style. Her verse novel Autobiography of Red simultaneously delights and disturbs through its poetry, combining myth and modernity to convey a heartwrenching story of love and identity. Her poetry translations are similarly quite moving. Her translations of Ancient Greek poet Sappho's poems in If Not, Winter render Sappho's reflections on desire with masterful contemporary syntax and verse.

Carson's prose and poetry have been awarded extensively, but her ability to discuss and dissect human experiences with precise, sensual detail and feeling should make her a strong contender.

Thomas Pynchon, covered by River Phan

Last year could have been deemed the year of Thomas Pynchon. In 2025, the reclusive American novelist released his first novel in 12 years, Shadow Ticket, which is set to be released in a new paperback format on Oct. 6th. The initial release of Shadow Ticket put Pynchon back in discussion within literary circles, but his 1990 novel Vineland also suddenly regained eyes from the wider public last year. Director Paul Thomas Anderson took loose inspiration from Vineland for One Battle After Another. The film swept awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 2026 Oscars, and in doing so, gave new readership to Pynchon from moviegoers who wanted to experience the original story.

Pynchon's work has always been a reflection of our weird and lawless world, but recent times have seemed to more closely imitate his fiction than ever before. The American news cycle is filled with "Pynchonesque" occurrences: intricate government conspiracy theories, seemingly ridiculous naming conventions and cases of increasingly intense surveillance. Although the novelist prefers to remain away from any media coverage, his body of work is an undeniably relevant lens of the culture surrounding us.

Garielle Lutz, covered by Estelle Chen

American short story and flash fiction author Garielle Lutz isn't particularly well known. As Daniel Kolitz wrote for The Nation, "when Garielle Lutz's name first began circulating on prediction lists for the Nobel Prize in Literature [in 2022] almost no one was surprised, for the simple reason that almost no one knew who Garielle Lutz was." Nevertheless, she sustains a devoted fanbase who adore her careful attention to the minute yet lively drama of word-sounds.

Drawing from editor Gordon Lish's theory of "consecution," Lutz argues for detail at the atomic level of the word in her most famous essay, "The Sentence is a Lonely Place." Generating a sense of inevitability, each word must respond to and be born from what precedes it. Take as an example this sentence from Lutz's short fiction collection Partial List of People to Bleach:

"This library had a back-corner department of cassettes thick-cased into sets, series."

Listen to how "cassettes" is reversed by "thick-cased" but is set right by "sets," which itself finds echoes in "series." Lutz's precision places her at a forefront of innovative anglophone fiction writers, and the 2026 Nobel might find a winner in this eccentric underdog.

Rachel Cusk, covered by Estelle Chen

British-Canadian novelist Rachel Cusk wants to interrogate life. Her most famous work, an autofiction trilogy composed of Outline, Transit and Kudos follows a woman writer, like her, repeatedly attempting to strike at transcendental truths.

The truths of Rachel Cusk often pertain to the tension between writing and traditional womanhood. Is a woman's creativity in art or in childbirth? The narrator of Cusk's novel Second Place grapples with this when she invites a male painter "L" to her coastal guesthome for a creative retreat. His presence disrupts her quiet family life and unleashes in her a rebellion against the confinements of the feminine body:

"The image of this running man, I said to L, with his arms raised in surrender, had remained with me as the representation of everything I had failed to reconcile myself to. For me, there was no escaping my physical body. But he could simply run away!"

Cusk's work reflects on deeply personal decisions that construct her identity. Her remarkable reflections on life might strike at not only the truth, but also the 2026 Nobel Prize.

Haruki Murakami, covered by Sinecio Morales

Perennial Nobel candidate Haruki Murakami's career began with a "satisfying crack" of inspiration from a baseball game, leading to his debut novel Hear the Wind Sing. His work is steeped in musical landscapes pulling from the classical, popular and jazz music he has interacted with throughout his long life and career, including ownership of a jazz bar. His international breakthrough novel, Norwegian Wood, takes its title from a Beatles song that figures affectingly in the novel. His well-renowned nonfiction includes an insightful series of conversations with conductor Seiji Ozawa transcribed as Absolutely on Music. His short stories are just as characteristically Murakami as his other work, pairing startling absurdity with seemingly mundane everyday lives and having complex discussions about the human experience with spare language.

Murakami is variably lambasted and praised for his trademark of explicit vignettes and throughlines in the lives of apathetic, loner male protagonists as they encounter women that often "exist solely to fulfill a sexual function" according to a provocative and significant interview with Mieko Kawakami. Yet through this unwavering and consistent style, Murakami has cemented his status as a literary giant and a household name.

Isabel Allende, covered by Sinecio Morales

Isabel Allende is constantly concerned with the writer's duty to make readers go on a journey with them, and to make them want to do it. As a relative of Salvador Allende, readers often go in expecting historical and political commentary in her novels, of which there is plenty; yet, Allende's work still firmly places itself in the world of fiction. The magical realist influence in her sprawling debut novel, The House of the Spirits, often leads her name to come up in the same breath as Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Allende places a lot of stock into beginnings, starting every new novel on Jan. 8th of the year following her last finished work. Her works present the reader with their groundwork from the very first line, such as the line "My name is Eva, which means 'life,' according to a book of names my mother consulted," that opens her novel Eva Luna. Her consideration of life in its entirety is perhaps best expressed in this quote from her powerful memoir Paula, with which I will leave you:

"Silence before being born, silence after death: Life is nothing but noise between two unfathomable silences."

Elena Ferrante, covered by Riley Strait

You may not have heard the name Elena Ferrante before, and that might be just what she wants. Ferrante is not even the real name of the pseudonymous Italian writer, who is believed to have been born in Naples, but - because she agrees to few interviews, and only via email - we cannot be certain.

The first time I remember hearing her name and committing it to memory was when The New York Times released their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. My Brilliant Friend, written by Ferrante and translated by Ann Goldstein, topped the list. The first in her quartet of Neapolitan Novels, My Brilliant Friend may be redundantly described by that midmost word: "brilliant."

Britannica puts it well: "[Ferrante's] books explore the complexities and contradictions of being a contemporary, educated woman." Especially true of the Neapolitan Novels, "female narrators describe, sometimes with unsettling candour, their ambivalence toward motherhood, the tedium of sex, and the effort to preserve an identity within a traditional marriage."

As soon as I finished my journey through the quartet, when asked my favorite book, I began adding to my mix of ever-rotating answers: "the Neapolitan Novels" - unable, even, to pick one.

Louise Erdrich, by Riley Strait

This is not the first time I have written about Louise Erdrich for The News-Letter. In 2024, after the release of her most recent novel (but not most recent book), The Mighty Red, I wrote an effusive review. Her acclaim is far from recent, however - her 2012 novel, The Round House, won the National Book Award, and her 2020 novel, The Night Watchman, won the Pulitzer. The Writing Seminars at Hopkins, I'm certain, is proud to boast Erdrich as one of its alumni.

In her writing, Erdrich honors her community by giving keen focus to the Ojibwe people of the northern Midwest. She doesn't shy away from reality, as the Native characters in her novels see the adverse effects of contact with white culture, including elements such as "alcoholism, Roman Catholicism, and government policies to tear down the Native community."

Reviewing my own review, I recall how reading Erdrich "tugged at my heartstrings, keeping them taut like a thread tied between a loose tooth and a doorknob." Yes, disaster imminent, but the kind of catastrophe that will only bring you closer to growing and healing.

That gap was the focus of a recent seminar from the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, held on Sept. 24, featuring Molly Sheehan and several researchers from the Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP). The seminar centered on the "Hearing Number," a public health effort built around a deceptively simple question: What would change if hearing became something we routinely measured throughout our lives, rather than something most people only address after it has already become difficult to hear?

The Hearing Number is based on the four-frequency pure tone average, or PTA4, a clinical measure that averages hearing thresholds at four frequencies important for speech. In practical terms, this metric represents the softest speech sounds a person can hear in each ear. A lower number indicates that the person can hear softer sounds. The measure is already used by hearing specialists around the world.

Though the technical metric itself is well established, the mission of taking this information from the audiologist's office and practically applying it in everyday life is a new approach. For Sheehan, that requires changing not only how hearing is measured, but how people talk about hearing health. Hearing is often framed as a binary: someone either has normal hearing or has "hearing loss." The problem is that this language can make hearing feel like a concern reserved for older adults, rather than a capacity that changes throughout a lifetime.

"We believe that hearing is due for rethinking," Sheehan said.

That goal begins by approaching hearing like sleep or blood pressure: as something worth understanding before it reaches a crisis stage. The accompanying new Hearing Number app allows adults to complete a short screening for each ear using compatible headphones. The developers accounted for tuning differences across 39 headphone models from 19 manufacturers. Additionally, the app is available in 10 languages and does not collect users' personal data. Since the app's launch, it has reached roughly 100,000 downloads.

One of the key design decisions was linguistic rather than technological in nature. The app does not label a result as "bad" or "worse," nor does it portray itself as providing a medical diagnosis. Instead, it only claims to offer a snapshot of what someone can hear at that specific point in time. As the presentation moved through the app's design philosophy, this distinction became explicit.

"We never frame hearing as a loss. It's framed as what you're able to hear at that time."

Meanwhile, August Summers, a team leader at the CCP, introduced the program's broader approach to public health communication: starting with a focus on the people whose behavior a program hopes to directly impact. This entails identifying the program's audience, understanding their existing beliefs and treating their experiences with value.

Erica Nybro, who works with the CCP, illustrated this point using one of its malaria projects in Guyana. Instead of deciding from afar how these miners should be taught about the disease, the team brought them into the design process. Working together, they created a character and a jingle about malaria prevention that spread through the target communities. The campaign was associated with an increased use of insecticide-treated nets, treatment seeking and knowledge of malaria symptoms. Still, the lesson learned went beyond the campaign: having more data does not mean experts will automatically know how people will respond.

The CCP is now hoping to make the same impact on the hearing and hearing-impaired community. Its team interviewed health departments, industry representatives, nonprofits, clinicians and Hopkins experts to understand where hearing communication succeeds and where it breaks down. Those conversations revealed a wide range of potential audiences, from younger people exposed to loud music to caregivers watching parents experience cognitive decline. They also exposed persistent misconceptions: that hearing decline is simply inevitable with age, that hearing aids restore hearing the way glasses correct vision or that hearing difficulties matter little beyond basic inconvenience.

The barriers are just as varied. Some are structural. For example, adults are not routinely screened for their hearing in many health settings, while people in rural areas may have to travel significant distances to reach an audiologist. Other barriers are social. Hearing devices can carry associations with aging, disability and vulnerability. Cost matters too, although stakeholders disagree over whether price alone explains low uptake of hearing care or whether expectations, perceived benefit and stigma play a bigger role in shaping whether people seek and continue treatment.

Yet, these interviews also revealed a limit to the Hearing Number initiative. Stakeholders often wanted the number paired with functional questions. Can you follow a conversation in a crowded restaurant? Are certain voices harder to distinguish? Are you asking people to repeat themselves more often?

"Your lived experience is very important," Nybro concluded.

Two people with similar Hearing Numbers may have very different experiences. A screening result can prompt someone to pay attention to this aspect of their health, but it cannot replace a full audiological evaluation or solely explain how their hearing is affecting their life.

That tension between measurement and meaning was emphasized by the seminar. During the discussion, one of the presenters reflected on how a number becomes useful only when someone can connect it to something tangible.

"If it's matched with a reality of a deficit or something in their own life, it's going to be very powerful."

The Hearing Number, then, is not just another metric to add to a dashboard, but a new way into a conversation. For younger adults, that may center on protecting hearing at concerts or while using headphones. Later in life, this may mean monitoring changes in hearing and knowing when to seek care. The campaign aims to promote treating hearing as a "life-course issue" rather than an intervention that begins only when something has gone wrong.

This is logic we already accept for steps, sleep or blood pressure. The question raised by this seminar is whether hearing metrics could become just as essential - not simply as a measure of what someone has lost, but as pragmatic information that helps them with their next decisions and actions.

Fungicidal activity and common skin infections

In a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, researchers found that an extract from Cistus salviifolius, a Mediterranean rockrose used traditionally for skin conditions, can kill several types of dermatophytes (the fungi responsible for ringworm and other skin, hair and nail infections). The extract was particularly effective against Trichophyton rubrum, one of the most common causes of fungal skin infections, and Microsporum canis, which spreads from animals to humans. Chemical analysis showed that the extract contains large amounts of polyphenols, including tannins and flavonoids. Interestingly, the effect was not universal: the extract did not show significant activity against the yeast Candida albicans at the concentrations tested, suggesting that its antifungal action may only be effective against certain groups of fungi.

The researchers also examined how the extract damages fungal cells. Electron microscopy showed major structural changes, including disruption of cellular organization, membrane separation and formation of large vacuoles. Even more promising, the extract was tested in a laboratory-grown model of human epidermis. Treatment reduced the amount of fungus invading the tissue, helped preserve the skin barrier and lowered the inflammatory response without significantly harming the skin cells themselves. These findings provide a foundation for developing standardized creams or gels and eventually testing their efficacy in clinical trials.

Cosmic flashes and dead stars

In a recent study, astronomers may have identified a new way to recognize collisions between neutron stars. Traditionally, neutron star mergers are associated with extremely short bursts of gamma rays, often lasting less than two seconds. However, researchers investigated an unusual event called EP250704a/GRB 250704B, detected in July 2025, that produced a roughly half-second gamma-ray burst but continued emitting bright X-rays for almost 10 minutes. This was the longest lasting prompt X-ray emission yet observed from a suspected neutron-star merger.

The researchers believe the collision may have produced a magentar, a rapidly spinning neutron star with an extraordinarily strong magnetic field. A magnetar could continue releasing huge amounts of energy after the original collision, explaining why the X-ray signal lasted much longer than a normal short gamma-ray burst. Importantly, astronomers found no evidence of the bright supernova that would usually accompany the collapse of a massive star, strengthening the argument that two neutron stars merged instead. The discovery suggests that some mysterious, fast X-ray transients previously detected throughout the universe could actually be hidden neutron-star mergers.

Tsunami warnings and Pacific ringing

Researchers studying the magnitude 8.8 Kamchatka earthquake of July 29, 2025 found that the resulting tsunami continued producing measurable oscillations throughout the Pacific Ocean for more than 10 hours. To study the event, scientists compared a computer simulation based only on the earthquake's rupture with measurements from six deep-ocean DART tsunami-monitoring stations. Their model performed remarkably well: predicted arrival times were within about a minute of the actual measurements, while maximum wave heights differed by only about 6 centimeters on average. The results indicate that the earthquake itself was sufficient to explain the observed tsunami without needing to invoke another fault rupture or an underwater landslide. Near the source, the event was still extremely powerful, with water reaching approximately 19 meters above sea level on parts of the Kuril Islands.

The key discovery came after the initial waves passed. The researchers found that tsunami energy remained concentrated in waves with periods of roughly 30-80 minutes for more than 10 hours, meaning the Pacific behaved somewhat like a giant bell that continued vibrating long after being struck. This rhythm could be important for improving tsunami warnings because bays and harbors also have their own natural oscillation periods. If the period of an incoming tsunami matches a harbor's natural period, resonance can cause water levels inside that harbor to become much larger than the waves in the open ocean. Researchers suggest that future warnings could consider not only how high a tsunami is and when it will arrive but also its dominant wave periods to better predict which coastlines and harbors are most vulnerable to dangerous amplification.