The Wildcat

Have you ever tried hot chips before? Hot chips are more than just a snack and could even be harming you. Whether it's a classic bag of chili-dusted potato chips or those tongue-burning habanero tortilla chips, there are so many options to choose from. But what is the deal with these crispy, fiery treats when our mouths are begging us to stop and take a big sip of water? 

Well, hot chips are addictive because they hit all of the pleasure centers in your brain at once. The salt, fat, and spices create a powerful combination that makes you want chips after chip. Along with that, the spicy kick can trigger endorphins, making you feel good and wanting to keep the feeling going, so it's a clear recipe for a snack addition. All the chemicals in these spicy chips create a feel-good sensation, like a mini thrill ride for your taste buds. Some people just love that sensation. Also, the complex flavors in spices can add a whole new dimension to food. A couple of the popular hot chips nowadays are Takis, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Flamin’ Hot Doritos, Hot Fries, Taki Crisps, & many more. The first hot chips that were made are named Frito-Lay's Crunch Taters, and they were launched in 1988, which are considered one of the first widely marketed spicy potato chips.

There are many health risks associated with hot chips, and consumers should be hypervigilant because of the dyes and chemicals added to them. According to CBS News, they claim that spicy chips can be a health hazard, and Dr. Manisha Raja states that too many spicy chips can irritate the lining of your stomach because of high acidity levels. In addition, spicy chips are a cultural phenomenon, and lots of people, especially teens, are being hospitalized and rushed due to severe stomach pain and other symptoms. To follow up with what's been said, people have also been rushed to the ER, not just because of the red stains left on their fingers, but also because of the food coloring in the chips, such as red 40.  Author Lisa Marie Basile wrote about the cancerous issues on the website  MDLinx. She talks about how kids who have consumed spicy Takis or Flamin’ Hot Cheetos have experienced gastrointestinal distress. Some states have tried to ban these hot snacks at school to try to avoid all of these issues, and these spicy snacks have led to gallbladder removal and even death among children. One sad case from the past two years is when a 14-year-old Harris Wolobah from Massachusetts died from cardiopulmonary arrest after participating in the “One Chip Challenge.” Originally, this one-chip challenge was designed for adult consumption of a dangerous, extremely spicy chip. However, the aftermath led to the manufacturer Paqui pulling the product from the shelves with a lawsuit by Wolobah’s family. 

After interviewing some classmates, they've told me how they enjoy eating hot chips, but there are some cons to it, such as their stomachs hurting after eating their chips, as well as their fingers being stained bright red and feeling bloated. Sophia Cordon (8th grade) states “Lime Hot Cheetos” are her favorite and that they are kind of addictive to her. Once she eats them, she wants more, and it doesn't hurt her stomach too much because she believes that she thinks her stomach doesn't hurt anymore because she's so used to them. Linsday Schoenick (8th grade) states that she believes that hot chips are better than regular chips because they're more flavorful, and her favorite hot chips are also either Lime Hot Cheetos or Turbos Flamas. Giovanni Rodriguez (8th grade) claims that the most intense hot chip he's ever had is Takis, because after a lot, it's a burning sensation instead of the pleasant feeling going through his taste buds. 

So, while hot chips might taste great, eating too many can lead to some not-so-fun health issues. They're often loaded with salts, unhealthy fats, and artificial stuff, which isn't great for your heart or overall health. Plus, they can be addictive because of all of the flavors and crunch, making it easy to overeat and not get enough nutrients from other foods. Enjoying them once in a while is cool, but making them a regular part of your diet isn't the best idea. To satisfy these cravings more healthily, you might rather drink a big glass of water because sometimes thirst can feel like a craving. You could also try a handful of nuts for healthy fats and a satisfying crunch. If you're craving something salty, some air-popped popcorn with a sprinkle of sea salt might do the trick. Remember, sometimes a small portion of what you're craving can be enough to satisfy you without going overboard. After all of this, would you keep eating hot chips?

          NASA, we all have heard of them. But if you haven't, I’ll give you a quick explanation. NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It's a U.S. government agency responsible for space exploration, aeronautics research, and Earth and space science. But what I’m going to be talking about is one of their missions called Artemis ll. 

          Artemis ll is the second  mission to take place for the Artemis program. The first one was on November 16, 2022. This next one is going to take place in April 2026. It would last about ten days. Artemis ll is the first crewed mission of NASA’s Artemis program. The whole point of the mission is to test several systems like life support under actual deep-space conditions. They're also going to test the measurements of the radiation levels both inside and outside of the spacecraft to better understand the deep-space environment. 

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