Let’s be honest, how many of us actually get enough sleep? Between homework, sports, clubs, and maybe a little late-night scrolling, it can be hard to get the recommended hours of rest. But why is sleep so important, and what happens when we don’t get enough? Let’s dive into the science behind sleep and why it matters more than you think!

Sleep isn’t just about rest, it’s like a recharge button for your brain and body. It’s easy to think of sleep as just a time when we rest, but there’s actually a lot happening while we snooze. Our brains organize everything we learned that day, our bodies repair themselves, and hormones help us grow. Even though sleep feels like a break, it’s one of the most important things we do every day.

Middle schoolers need about eight to ten hours of sleep each night to function at their best, but most don’t get nearly that much. Between school, sports, homework, and maybe a little too much late-night screen time, sleep often gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. Unfortunately, not getting enough sleep can have some serious consequences. It becomes harder to concentrate in class, making even simple assignments feel overwhelming. Lack of sleep can also lead to mood swings, making people feel irritated, anxious, or even sad for no clear reason. Studies have shown that students who don’t get enough rest tend to have lower test scores and struggle more with remembering information. On top of that, sleep is a key part of staying healthy-without enough of it, the immune system weakens, making it easier to catch colds and other illnesses.

One major reason sleep schedules are so off-track is the use of screens before bed. Phones, tablets, and TVs give off blue light, which tricks the brain into thinking it’s still daytime. This makes it harder to fall asleep, even if someone is already tired. Experts recommend putting devices away at least thirty minutes before bed to allow the brain to naturally wind down. Sticking to a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends, can also help the body get into a rhythm. Avoiding caffeine in the late afternoon, creating a relaxing nighttime routine, and keeping the bedroom dark and cool are other simple ways to improve sleep quality.

It might not seem like a big deal to stay up late one night, but over time, sleep deprivation adds up. The difference between six hours of sleep and nine hours can mean better focus, a stronger memory, and an overall better mood. Sleep isn’t just something we need to function, it’s something that helps us thrive. So, the next time you’re tempted to scroll for just a little longer, remember that a good night’s sleep is one of the best ways to take care of your mind and body. So, do yourself a favor and catch those ZZZs!

The Starship, labeled the most powerful launch vehicle on the face of our planet, was recently launched on January 16, 2025. So many people were excited about this event; even Mrs. Mullen’s third period math class watched this rocket fly off into space, live! This launch started off quite smoothly, as the Starhip managed to break past the atmosphere and let go of its booster. This booster gracefully landed back into its launch pad down on Earth, therefore allowing it to continue being used in future launches (this saves billions of dollars). So far, the launch was very successful, but that relief was short-lived. Roughly nine minutes after the launch commenced, SpaceX lost connection with the Starship rocket. After that, it spontaneously exploded in space. After analyzing issues within the Starship, SpaceX came to the conclusion that the explosion was likely a result of an oxygen and/or fuel leak within the rocket. 

While it’s very much true that the rocket indubitably blew up, the launch still showed success. The rocket managed to fly into space, and release its booster, which landed safely back on Earth. The leak that caused the explosion was one grain of salt among a sea of sugar. The results of the Starship launch can only help us improve. On top of this, people can still look back on other launches that did go as planned, showing that success is still possible despite certain setbacks. I suppose it's safe to say that this launch, albeit (google it) chaotic, was a learning experience that will hopefully only help rocket launches in the future move forward!

Earth will have TWO MOONS! This year, from September 29th to November 25th Earth will have a temporary 2nd moon. It is not an actual moon, but an asteroid called 2024 PT5. This asteroid has been pulled into Earth's gravitational pull, temporarily orbiting until it leaves. Unfortunately, it is only visible with professional scientific telescopes, as not a lot of light reflects off of it making it nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. Also contributing to it being unseeable is the fact that it is only 10 meters long, which may seem big but compared to the moon, IT’S TINY. This newly discovered temporary moon will be about 1.5 million kilometers away! It will only partially orbit Earth until it can’t.

(2024 PT5’s orbit path around Earth)