Quokkas: The Happiest Animal

By Henry Kaplow

Quokkas are a type of wallaby (an animal related to the kangaroo) endemic to Australia, specifically to the southwestern region. They are known as some of the cutest, happiest looking animals in the world. This reputation may be truer than one might first think because they have no natural predators and an abundance of food in their natural habitat. Most of the population, around 10,000 strong, lives on Rottnest island, a popular vacation spot for residents of the city of Perth, Australia. Quokkas are nocturnal by nature and, unlike their Kangaroo cousins, Quokkas can also climb trees in order to find food, mostly succulents and other vegetation. In late summer, in Australia that’s from January to March, Quokkas must find a mate. They are promiscuous meaning they do not build bonds and mate for life. The female will choose a suitable male based on size and how prominent their facial markings are. Quokkas, like all other marsupials, give birth to joeys, a tiny undeveloped baby that will grow in the mother’s pouch. They give birth to one joey at a time, but they keep other joeys in their womb in a suspended state of development in case the first one dies. Quokkas are wonderful creatures with one of the most adorable smiles in the animal kingdom. They are listed as a vulnerable species on the endangered species list but thanks to work done by Australia’s government Quokkas should be here for years to come.

Is Adapting Harry Potter for Television Adaptation a Good Idea?

By Ellie Richardson

Harry Potter is one of the most beloved franchises of all time. It has earned its spot next to legendary names like Marvel and Star Wars, and is cherished by millions of people. Love for it can be found in a variety of forms, ranging from books, movies, merchandise, and especially its spot in Universal Studios. After the obsessions and mob-following of the book series, it’s no surprise that it was turned into a movie series as well. But with all the news circulating about HBO’s Harry Potter television deal, it leads fans to wonder, “Is it really necessary to do this again…?” The short answer is simply: “No.”

The book series has become the most sold one in history, with over 600 million copies worldwide. Obviously, there is a humongous market for Warner Bros. to make money, from random obscure merchandise, to the Fantastic Beasts series (which made the franchise easily over half a billion dollars with only the first movie’s debut). It makes sense for the company to be pushing for more related projects, but the recreation of the beloved movie series is probably one of the worst options, for many reasons. A central and primary one is the disgusting racial backlash to the casting decisions. 

HBO Max announced the Golden Trio’s casting with the caption, “Dear Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley: We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,” along with the children’s names and photos. Almost immediately, the trolls arrived in the comments, nearly all of which argued against the Hermionie casting. Arabella Stanton, the new Hermionie Granger, faced major backlash from fans for not being “visibly white,” nor matching the previous idea of what the character looked like. Another instance of this occurred when HBO casted Paapa Essiedu, an African American actor, for the role of Severus Snape, the infamous potions professor often referred to as pale and vampire-like. Essiedu faced a similar backlash to Stanton on not “matching” his character’s  book descriptions, even having to temporarily change his Instagram to private because of all the hate.

The backlash facing this cast is pathetic, but not surprising. When redoing a major motion picture franchise, especially one as universally well-known and beloved as this, there aren’t a whole lot of good outcomes available. An easier solution would be to do a spinoff, similar to Fantastic Beasts (but preferably closer related to the original books), relating to a different topic/group. There are numerous available options. Some popular options are an origin story having to do with the Marauders, the Malfoy family, or even one surrounding the Dumbledore household. And I’m sure if Warner Bros was having any issues, there would be a thousand and one online fanfictions they can use to help them. 

The Fruiting Body

By Will Stern

 When conditions are met after rainfall, cloud-like shapes — as though sculpted from the remnants of an explosion — arise from the earth. These mysterious structures are mushrooms, the fruiting body of fungi. Their role is vital.  A mushroom’s existence, however, is only a brief interval in the greater cycle of fungal life. 

         The fungal life cycle begins when microscopic spores are released into the environment through mushrooms. They travel long distances through the air before landing in a suitable environment for germination. During germination, the spores grow into long strands of fibers invisible to the human eye, known as hyphae. 

         As hyphae develop, the fibers weave and intertwine, forming long networks of threads known as mycelium. The mycelia spread for long distances underground, collecting nutrients by releasing enzymes to break down decaying organic materials into nutrients for absorption; this process is known as extracellular digestion and can continue for thousands of years depending on the species of fungus and the environmental conditions.            

         Once the soil becomes moist again — generally after rainfall — the mycelium produces its fruiting body: the mushroom. The mushroom releases its microscopic spores back into the air, and the fungal cycle repeats. The life of a mushroom is fleeting, but it is vital. Though brief, the mushroom shapes the forest floor and sustains fungal life long after it disappears.

Train

By Katie Brown

The train station clock was broken, stuck forever at 6:17, but everyone checked it anyway.

Mara came every evening with a paper cup of coffee she didn’t like, waiting on the same bench where the paint peeled in the shape of a bird. She told herself she wasn’t waiting for anyone—just resting, just watching—but her eyes always lifted when footsteps echoed down the platform.

Trains arrived. Trains left. None of them were hers.

One night, a boy sat beside her. He looked at the frozen clock and smiled.

“Funny thing,” he said. “Time only stops where people refuse to move on.”

Mara laughed, sharp and sudden. “So what, this place is cursed?”

“No,” he said, standing as a train roared in. “Just patient.”

When the wind settled, the bench was empty again. The clock ticked once—just once—then lurched forward.

Mara stood up, left her coffee untouched, and walked out of the station without looking back.