Physarum polycephalum is a single-celled organism that is often mistaken for a fungus. These myxomycetes are more commonly known as slime molds. Slime molds are amoebae that are remarkably similar to various fungi, which is why they were classified as such for many years. They release spores to reproduce, exist in damp areas, often on mulch in gardens, and grow off of dead plant material just like a fungus. However, while fungi produce enzymes that help break down dead plant

Hammering a stake into the cliff's edge, you clip your harness to a new rope. Shuffling towards the edge, you sit down on the edge as the snow around you slides off the edge and falls. You lower yourself onto the cliff wall and begin sliding down the rope. As you get to your partner's harness, you see that it looks like it was attacked; a large slash cuts the side of the harness in half. There's a trail of red leading to a cave, as you go to take a closer look, I realize it i

The plant for this native plant highlight is the beautiful Kolea Lau Nui, Myrsine lessertiana. Plant Description Kōlea Lau Nui is an endemic tree that grows in dry, mesic, and, more commonly, wet forests at elevations between 700 and 4,000 feet. It grows on all of the main Hawaiian islands. Kōlea Lau Nui can reach heights of 60 feet, but are usually found growing shorter than this. They typically grow very straight and have light gray bark. They have dark green leaves, though

Wanted They gathered food and supplies from nearby shops, then prepared to travel back to Trilliah. Rienna figured she'd let Mæri know about the caves and ask her for directions back to Vieryen. They traveled along the lake again and reached Mæri’s house just a couple hours before dusk. Despite having hiked all day, Rienna was feeling much better and could tell her magic was about halfway replenished. Xio in one hand, Rienna raised an arm and knocked on the door. A moment lat

I remind you of a time,  running through the hills and dips  of the park—past. The grass still wet, the earth soft  enough  to forgive your steps. Hesitating over the bridge, as I once did, fingers grazing over the wooden railing. Knowing once you cross it  something will already be different.  Sitting in the sun that feeling arises again,  settling into every vessel of your body. Every muscle tightening and loosening all at once, almost  embracing the encapsulation  of how y

Maybe I should stop kneading bread I cannot eat, pressing my hands into the dough folding into its weight it can’t hold. some loaves burn on the edges, the crumbs stick to my hand, baking, a science I simply just don’t understand. I wait for it to rise, patiently watching, but it never stays. some loaves burn completely, blackened bitterness surround the crisp middle, the edges stick to the pan forever. Others collapse under their own weight, soft centers folding in. one loaf

This song was recorded and mixed in late December during songwriting class with Mr. Naj, after we worked on it between fall break and winter break. That time was spent writing, revising, and trying out different instrumental and melodic ideas until the song took shape. The lyrics were written by me, with guitar by Aria Smith. Aria and I are both seniors, and we wanted to capture a song that reflects what it feels like to be on the edge of leaving as we enter our final semeste

The members of Parker Press are very proud to announce the November member of the month: Angela McDonald '27 Angela's articles range from additions to our In Defense Of series to photo series, and we couldn't be happier to give her this title. Her pieces are filled with an opinion that is both eccentric and thoughtful, offering us a truly refreshing level of authenticity. Thank you so much, Angela, for your commitment to the publication—we cannot wait to read (or watch!) you

Introduction Hey again, you know the drill: Find any flat surface and a utensil that you can manipulate pigment with; I’m using a pencil and paper, but you can use practically anything.  This article covers texture detail and is a related sequel to what we learned in How to Draw Part 1, which is also posted here on Parker Press. I would recommend that tutorial first, but that is also the beauty of free will. I want you to look around at your environment right now. Zero in on

Mint chocolate chip has always been one of those ice cream flavors that is either loved or hated. People strangely seem to feel confident about hating such a delicacy. It is more than just a dessert, though. It is an idea about what we should think and value. It is undeniable proof that some of us have taste buds evolved a little above the average human. That group is also strong enough to survive the slander from people who simply can’t admit the truth. Mint chocolate chip i

How did people in the 1500s build complex, giant, seaworthy ships without machinery, using only their hands and a few simple tools? During the 16th and 17th centuries, there was a flurry of people rushing across seas looking for treasure to bring back to their kingdoms. Any boats used on these journeys had to be able to withstand months on open ocean, hold enough supplies for the crew, and store whatever treasures or slaves they took on their voyage. The people who built thes

Solar flares can contain as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs. They are intense explosions of light and matter from the Sun and occur almost daily. Solar flares are measured by their intensity, in a similar manner to earthquakes, each level being ten times stronger than the last.  The weakest flares, the ones that don’t really affect Earth, are labeled A, B, and C, with A being the weakest. Ten times stronger than C is M. M-class solar flares can cause radio blackouts i

Mark your calendars! The Parker School Winter Showcase is happening Thursday, December 11, at 6:00 PM, and it’s shaping up to be such a fun night! Students from choir, theatre, and dance have been working on these performances for months, and they’re finally ready to share them. If you’re looking for a great reason to come out and support your friends, this is it! We’ll kick off the night with Choir Class, a group of students who meet on E days and have been rehearsing since

Last spring, I sat down with the acting class to table-read This Murder Was Staged . As Ms. Duggan wrote in her Directors’ Notes in the playbill last week, the moment we read it, we knew this was going to be our fall play. A lot of the time it can be hard to find a show that everybody likes and that fits our cast, but TMWS had everything: a large cast, a challenging number of lines, and a hilarious plot. There were lots of opportunities for a creative set, and I vividly remem

Chapter 31: Storm on the Water As Rienna built her boat, her mind slipped in and out of consciousness. Sometimes, she would look up at the crystal sky and see Xio peering down at her. Sometimes, she was in the middle of binding pieces together when she blacked out and would see a fuzzy image of crystal panes all around her. Her boat was made of fallen wood and giant leaves. She wasn't very sure that it would work, but hopefully, in the dream world, it would be okay. With Aya'

Our interaction with the universe is intrinsically based on what we can understand about it. Since a lot of time has passed—enough for us to document a few thousand years of it—the expectation of society provided by the records of science has built up a number of assumptions about the possibilities and limits of our world and of humans. This has created a habit of shortsightedness that David Hume and William James attempted to broaden in two very different ways. From the pers

In the last article, we talked about worldbuilding. Now that you have built your world, you have to figure out what you want to tell with it. What do you want to talk about, comment on, criticize, or make your reader think about? The plot is what lets you tell the story you want to tell. It is the events of your world and the ultimate effect on it. Your plot should be divided into points, events, or actions that move it subtly. An example of a plot point is your characters ne

Ever in the mood for calm, bluesy, or slowly expressive music? If so, the next time you browse your music streaming service, I urge you to look for a jazz playlist. Yes, although jazz music is often seen as old or only played in fancy restaurants, there are many ways jazz music can be entertaining in your daily life! The very first song I’d recommend to someone is, “ Tenderly” by Chet Baker. The song starts off slow, then progressively syncopates into a flowy rhythm. Then, t