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Stanford Online High School's student run news site

OHS Observer

Stanford Online High School's student run news site

OHS Observer

Stanford Online High School's student run news site

OHS Observer

The CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism works as molecular scissors that can edit our DNA. (The Nobel Prize)

The Rise of CRISPR: Pioneering the Future of Genetic Engineering

Serena Manca, Staff Writer October 23, 2024

The Science Behind CRISPR In March 2011, at a café in San Juan, Puerto Rico, American biochemist Jennifer Doudna met French microbiologist and professor Emmanuelle Charpentier. Despite being strangers...

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Vegetarian meals such as this are generally thought to impact the environment less than their meaty counterparts. (Source: Beet Vegetariano)

Veganism and Vegetarianism: How Exactly Do They Affect the Environment?

Summer Laster, Staff Writer March 21, 2024

Vegan and vegetarian diets have become more popular among people as concerns for the environment continue to rise. Many individuals switch to diets that don’t contain meat in an effort to help our planet,...

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Villalobos works on the prosthetic
arm for Jesse who requested it to be turquoise and black.

Augustine Villalobos: On the Bounds of Biology and Engineering

Rishi Janakiraman, Associate Editor November 9, 2023

Behind the workings of a turquoise-black prosthetic arm — sized to precision, hand opening and closing, shipped all the way to Portugal — is OHS student Augustine Villalobos (‘23), a high-school...

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The image shows an action potential going through a neuron’s axon. In the left one, the signal stops midway because of a lack of myelin. In the right one, the signal successfully goes through because of the presence of myelin.

Remyelination: The Key to Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Rajalakshmi Sriram, Staff Writer November 2, 2023

Nerve cells, neurons, are the body's cosmic messengers. But what transpires when these messengers lose their protective myelin layer?  This is the reality for those wrestling with neurodegenerative diseases...

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Professor Philip Yuan, renowned for not only his outstanding architectural designs, but also for a unique integration of cutting-edge technology and traditional architecture.

Bits & Bots: Ethical and Educational Perspectives on the AI Revolution

Isabella Huang, Staff Writer June 5, 2023

INTRODUCTION   The story I want to tell can be found throughout stories in history, stories about man-made artificial intelligence have been present in pop culture for centuries – from Frankenstein...

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The growth of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) could revolutionize many different industries.

The Power of Generative AI for Business

Bharat Nambisan, Staff Writer May 30, 2023

You’ve probably played with ChatGPT recently and been amazed at its conversational features. But, did you know that ChatGPT, and Generative AI in general, can benefit businesses?Generative AI refers...

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ChatGPT, was based on OpenAI’s GPT 3.5 Engine and was released on November 30 2022.

Why Generative AI May Not Be As Intelligent As You Think

Ashok Nambisan, Staff Writer May 30, 2023

ChatGPT, a form of generative AI, has taken the world by storm, getting its first 100 million users within the first 2 months from launch.  ChatGPT is a Generative pretrained transformer. This means that...

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Caption: The Science Fair Club at OHS collaborates, explores, and pushes the boundaries of scientific knowledge!

Unleashing the Curiosity: Igniting a Passion for Science Through Engaging Science Fairs

Aanya Gupta and Tanisha Gupta May 12, 2023

Science fairs are a feared and overlooked experience by many students, but at the heart are really just an opportunity for students to work by themselves or with others to solve a problem or make an observation....

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Artificial turf may not require consistent watering, but the harms it causes for the environment are far worse than any benefits.

We Need to Rethink Artificial Turf’s “Environmentally Friendly” Label, Here’s Why

Mandy Yu, Staff Writer May 7, 2023

Artificial turf is a current landscaping trend. The topic of replacing natural grass with plastic coated blades has become a hot topic in many communities, especially those plagued by drought. For example,...

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A rat in Dr. Mayank Mehta’s UCLA neurology lab interacts with its virtual reality environment.

Coming to a Lab Near You: Virtual Reality, Rats, and the Future of Brain Research

Jasmine Li, Co-Editor-in-Chief May 5, 2023

In dark rooms, surrounded by illuminated screens, figures scuttle, duck, and navigate through twisting corridors and mazes. This isn’t the elaborate setup of a teen gaming lair; rather, it’s a high-end...

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Millions of Americans recycle, but where does the plastic really go?

The Truth of Recycling and What It Means for Our Environment

Mandy Yu, Staff Writer April 28, 2023

When we recycle things, we often automatically assume that our actions will benefit the environment. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. The term “recycling” has a lot of widespread misconceptions....

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A termite mound side by side with the Eastgate building.

Tiny But Mighty: How Termites are Paving the Way for Eco-Friendly Buildings

Ella Blanco, Associate Editor March 31, 2023

Hidden behind plaster, termites carve their paths, infesting foundations and tearing down supports one bite at a time. To most, these pests are nothing but a nuisance, an unlucky circumstance that takes...

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