José Saramago wrote in his 2002 novel The Double (or, in Portuguese, O Homem Duplicado) that chaos is “merely order waiting to be deciphered.” What, then, is the relationship between these two states? Are they really antithetical or are they inexplicably connected? Through this month’s theme, these are some of the questions that Nexus’s industrious writers have set out to answer. 

Various existing philosophical, scientific, religious, and historical perspectives delve into the ideas of Order and Chaos. We find aspects of these states all around us, and within ourselves. While order is often attributed to stability and consistency, chaos is typically viewed as random, destructive and unpredictable. Humans tend to seek order and search for patterns within their lives: it’s in our nature, and is known as patternicity in psychology. Where there is chance or disorder, a lot of humans experience unease. They attempt to find balance and make principled decisions, even when their surroundings seem to indicate the opposite. Evidence of this search for a delicate balance between order and chaos is found in the discourses of thinkers and in the theories of scientists -- since the beginning of time. 

This month, our writers have taken inspiration from this theme and connected it to several fascinating subjects and phenomena: from the big bang to student lifestyles, and from literature and art to the butterfly effect. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Nexus, and that you learn something new today!

Aarushi Kaushik, Editor-in-Chief

Niyanthri Arun, Managing Editor

Articles

Meet March's Writer of the Month: Stella!

The Writer of the month is chosen based on the following criteria:

i) frequency of active participation in monthly issues

ii) attendance in meetings (or letting us know of your absence beforehand)

iii) timely sharing of article ideas (or asking questions if you need help)

iv) timely submissions of the first draft, proper resolution of edits

v) overall writing style/quality 

It gives us great pleasure to announce that our Writer of the Month for March is Stella Steiger, a freshman! Some Q&A:

What are your areas of interest?

I really enjoy solving math puzzles and exploring abstract concepts, which may seem like an individual activity, but I enjoy discussing it with others, so we can learn from each other's perspectives and methods.

What are your favourite subjects in school?

I'd say Math and science are my favorites. I love the challenge and the thrill of figuring things out, like solving a mystery with logic and evidence.

Why did you choose to write your article Chaotic yet Orderly: Exploring the Butterfly Effect and Chaos Theory for this month’s theme?

Initially, I thought chaos and order were opposites, so I was intrigued by how chaos theory shows order and chaos as interconnected. It’s fascinating how an orderly system can output what seems like random chaos, which is why I chose it as my topic.

What do you like about Nexus?

I like how Nexus makes me think about different issues and research global events. It's a great way to broaden my knowledge and understand complex topics.

What’s a fun fact about you?

We have five cats and one honorary cat — our dog, who acts as their motherly figure. Together they have taken over our living room. The best part is, my whole family, except my mom (who is not even a cat lover) is allergic to them.