The Megaphone

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All Articles (Silicon Valley)

Editors-in-Chief: Grace Li and Vrinda Iyengar

  • The Bay Area in Photos: San Jose Downtown pt.2

    Author: Grace Li This is the second part of the San Jose Downtown series. Check out our first part if you haven’t seen it! 

  • The Bay Area in Photos: San Jose Downtown pt.1

    Author: Grace Li Downtown San Jose is a vibrant urban area, offering a diverse mix of tech, culture, history, and dining. It hosts San Jose State University and colorful murals around every corner, representing the rich art scene in San Jose. I recently…

  • Opinion: We Should Welcome (Certain) GMOs

    Author: Eshwar Cherkuri Imagine a world where crops could withstand droughts, resist pests, and even provide enhanced nutrition. In today’s quest for sustainable agriculture, this vision isn’t far-fetched, thanks to the marvels of Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs. GMOs are organisms whose genetic…

  • The Link Between Technology and Our Brains

    Author: Mia Yu “Technology is both a tool for helping humans and destroying them. This is the paradox of our times which we’re compelled to face.” This quote was written by Frank Herbert, an American author who wrote the renowned novel, Dune. In…

  • Interview with an SSP ’25 admit– How to get into a top Summer Program

    Author: Vrinda Iyengar As this school year settles in, high school students in the Bay area, namely high school juniors are beginning to decide on which summer programs they will and won’t be applying to. To take some pressure off of our readers,…

  • The Bay Area in Photos- Legion of Honor

    Author/Photographer: Vrinda Iyengar From Rodin’s sculptures to Monet’s paintings, the Legion of Honor, located in our very own San Francisco is a great spot for art lovers, history enthusiasts and everyone else! The 22 pictures in this article represent a very small insight…

  • Public History in the Bay Area, w/ Nicole Meldahl

    Author: G. Li, Silicon Valley Chapter Public history in the Bay Area is a rich field, supplemented by a wide variety of museums, historical societies, parks, and archives that tell the story of our location through exhibits, educational programs, and preservation efforts. We…

  • Silicon Valley Pride 50th Anniversary

    Author: V. Iyengar, Silicon Valley Chapter This Labor Day weekend, San Jose’s Caesar Chavez Park was transformed into a hub of celebration and inclusion as Silicon Valley Pride marked its 50th anniversary.  The celebrations extend over two days. On Saturday evening, the night…

  • A Brief History of Protest Music in the Bay Area

    Author: V. Iyengar, Silicon Valley Chapter The history of the Bay Area has always had strong ties to protest movements. Most well-known of these include the 1960s free-speech and anti-war protests, the Black Power movement of the Civil Rights Era, AIDS activism in…

  • UCSF x UCD Cancer Study in Cats Yields Promising Results

    Author: V. Iyengar, Silicon Valley Chapter A collaborative study between scientists at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Davis, saw the completion of its first clinical trial, and the results are promising.  This study tests the efficacy of…

  • The Road Less Taken: Transferring from a Community College

    Authors: V. Iyengar, G. Li, Silicon Valley Chapter In our area, which is so obsessed with rankings and prestige, attending a community college after high school before transferring to a traditional four-year university is often an option that doesn’t receive much consideration. So,…

  • The Bay Area in Photos: Downtown Campbell

    Author/Photographer: V. Iyengar, Silicon Valley Chapter According to its Instagram (@downtowncampbellca), Downtown Campbell is a “small downtown that’s big in character,” a phrase which couldn’t be more true. Downtown Campbell is rich in flavorful restaurants and vibrant meeting spots, as well as historical…

  • Self Care Tips to Deal with Stress

    Author: G. Li, Silicon Valley Chapter With the start of school for many in the U.S., students may be starting to feel stress due to coursework, social life, or extenuating scenarios. Regardless of what is plaguing your mind, we’re here to provide you…

  • Rosanna Pansino Deserves an Apology

    Author: G. Li, Silicon Valley Chapter Three years ago, a controversy arose after Rosanna Pansino spoke out against Mr. Beast following the Hide and Seek video he posted on December 18, 2021. Although a bit of old news now, I would like to…

  • How to get your Driver’s License while under 18 (in California): A Complete Guide

    Author; V. Iyengar, Silicon Valley Chapter Ages 15.5-17.5 While in this age group, you are considered a minor and must go through the provisional licensing process.  Step 1: Complete the Driver’s Education Requirement You must complete a DMV-approved driver’s education course (online, in-person,…

  • The Bay Area in Photos: Alviso Marina County Park

    Author/Photographer: G. Li, Silicon Valley Chapter A beautiful 20.6-acre bayside park and gateway to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Characteristic of this location are the pink salt ponds and marshes. The park’s pathways, boardwalks, and trails surround the wildlife…

  • August 20th: National Radio Day

    Author: G. Li, Silicon Valley Chapter In honor of National Radio Day, on August 20th, I will be reviewing two radios local to the San Francisco Bay Area: 99.7 NOW and 96.5 KOIT.  99.7 NOW – Overall, a great choice if you’re craving…

  • Jane Street Accused of Market Manipulation by India Following Years of Arbitrage

    N. Sava, Staff Writer📍 Silicon Valley, USA When does clever financial trading turn into criminal market manipulation? This question is at the forefront of the ongoing conflict between India’s Securities and Exchange Board (SEBI) and Jane Street Capital, a proprietary quantitative trading firm.…

  • San Jose Jazz Summer Festival: ’25

    V.Iyengar, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA The August 8th-10th weekend saw the beginning and end of the 35th edition of the San Jose Summer Jazz Festival.  This event, founded in 1986 by San Jose Jazz, has grown to become a vital part of the…

  • Iguanas Home Of The Burritozilla Closes after 32 Years

    G. Li, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA On Sunday, July 27th, Iguanas Home of the Burritozilla had its final day of service. This ends 32 years of dedicated work in our community, touching the hearts of countless, including mine, living in the San Francisco…

  • AI Translation Technology in Police Body-cams

    V.Iyengar, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA Police officer bodycams of the City of Campbell will now be equipped with Artificial Intelligence that translates conversations in real time during traffic stops. The Campbell police department, the first police department in the South Bay to implement…

  • Interview w/ Nicole Meldahl, host of the Outside Lands Podcast (Part 2)

    G. Li, Editor-in-Chief, V.Iyengar, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA Nicole Meldahl is the Executive Director of the Western Neighborhoods Project and the host of the Outside Lands Podcast. She is an accomplished archivist and historian, and works with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area…

  • Interview w/ Nicole Meldahl, host of the Outside Lands Podcast (Part 1)

    G. Li, Editor-in-Chief, V.Iyengar, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA Nicole Meldahl is the Executive Director of the Western Neighborhoods Project and the host of the Outside Lands Podcast. She is an accomplished archivist and historian, and works with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area…

  • The Return of the Gilroy Garlic Festival

    V. Iyengar, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA Get giddy garlic groupies, for the Gilroy Garlic Festival has Returned! This past weekend, July 25th-27th, marked the first in-person Gilroy Garlic festival in 6 years and the first festival in 3 years. The Gilroy Garlic Festival…

  • Arrhythmia

    Arrhythmia G. Li, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA Did your heart just skip a beat, or do you have arrhythmia?  You may find your heart skipping a few beats doing an important task or talking to your crush – is it because you’re nervous,…

  • What is Radiology?

    What is Radiology? V. Iyengar, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA Radiology is a medical specialty that uses images produced by radiant energy to diagnose and treat diseases. Radiant energy is used in technologies like X-rays, Computed tomography (CT), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Nuclear medicine,…

  • Items you NEED for School

    G. Li, Editor-in-Chief📍 Silicon Valley, USA With the anticipated (or dreaded) school season around the corner, students must pick up their swords and shields and prepareready for battle. Therefore we’ve created an ultimate list of items you WILL be needing this school year.…

  • Careers in Health: Anesthesiology

    Careers in Health: Anesthesiology G. Li, Editor-in-Chief📍Silicon Valley, USA Anesthesiology is a specialization in the medical field focused on administering anesthesia, a numbing medicine, before procedures or surgery. Practitioners of anesthesiology are anesthesiologists.  Surgery is an invasive procedure, with cutting and suturing that…

  • Canada’s Increasingly Complex Political Landscape

    Author: N. Sava, Megaphone Staff Writer In the wake of rampant inflation and high unemployment rates, Canada has grown largely disillusioned with Justin Trudeau’s incohesive governance. The former prime minister has been embroiled in multiple scandals over his decade-long tenure. The SNC-Lavalin affair…

  • What Makes a Psychopath? Inside the Mind of Criminals

    What Makes a Psychopath? Inside the Mind of Criminals Author: R. Panchavaktra, Megaphone Staff Writer “Beneath a friendly smile,Lies a heart grown cold.No guilt, no tears, no true careA dark secret to be told?” Some people seem normal and even charming. Yet, behind…

  • Judge orders VTA Transit Workers’ Strike to End

    Judge orders VTA Transit Workers’ Strike to End Author: E. Cherkuri, Megaphone Staff Writer This Friday, the strike by the Amalgamated Transit Union, the largest union that represents transit workers in the U.S. and in Canada was ordered to end. This comes after…

  • The Battery of Southeast Asia, or China: Laos and China’s Modern Neo-Colonial Ties

    The Battery of Southeast Asia, or China: Laos and China’s Modern Neo-Colonial Ties Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-Chief In the 21st century, the rise of China globally has been accompanied by a growing pattern of influence economically – “debt trap diplomacy”. This strategy…

  • White House Signal Messages Leaked

    Author: V.Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-Chief Earlier this week, the Atlantic published an article titled “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.” This article sent shockwaves throughout the country due to the fact that Jeffrey Goldberg,Editor-in-Chief of the Atlantic and the journalist who…

  • Exclusive: Interview with Musician Tiffany Barry, Author of Songs of the Sun

    Authors: G. Li & V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief Grace and Vrinda: Hi!  Ms. Barry: How are you both?  Grace and Vrinda: I’m good.  Ms. Barry: That’s nice to meet you. I’m Tiffany. And, well, I’m just curious. Like, how did you, how did you find…

  • Almaden Barnes & Noble closes Jan. 19th 

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief On January 19th, the Almaden Plaza felt 
 empty. Gone were the crinkling of pages, the clinking of coffee cups, and the community of readers that considered the Barnes & Noble bookstore in San Jose’s Almaden Plaza a second…

  • AR Goggles for Firefighters

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief As fires ravage Southern California, local firefighters in Menlo Park are training with augmented reality (AR) googles that could potentially make it easier for them to save lives. When firefighters enter a burning building, they face danger, not only…

  • What is Starlink?

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief In January 2015, SpaceX announced its plans for Starlink for the first time to the public. Since then, it has launched 6912 satellites into orbit as of January 2025, 6874 of which are working, according to Jonathan McDowell, an…

  • Healthy Homework Act

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief Photo from KHTS In the new year, a new law is set to create healthy boundaries separating the school and home life for students. The “Healthy Homework Act”, or AB 2999, is a law which plans to prevent…

  • Telephone: a Game Mirroring False Information in Today’s Society 

    Author: Grace Li Hey lets play telephone! Yea sure! Okay here goes: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, super..woman?, super woman? Superb workman, soup herb worm and? We’ve all probably played telephone. If not telephone is a simple game where people in a group pass along a phrase,…

  • November 5, 2024⁩: U.S. Senate Election for California

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief On November 5th, there will be an election to fill the Senate seat previously filled by Democrat Dianne Feinstein in the United States Congress for California. In this election, candidates Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey will be running.…

  • 2024 California Ballot Propositions – Part 2

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief Read Part 1 to learn more about California Ballot Propositions 2 through 5. Prop 6 Removes the provision that allows involuntary servitude by incarcerated prisoners in the state constitution. What a YES on this Proposition means: Currently, the California…

  • 2024 California Ballot Propositions – Part 1

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief In this article we’ll summarize the content of the ballot propositions that all California voters will be able to decide on in this year’s election. Prop 2 Authorizes the state government to borrow $10 billion to be used to…

  • How the California State Government is Structured

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief Like the federal government, each state’s government is comprised of an Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branch.  The Executive Branch Analogous to the president of the country, the Governor of a state is the chief executive of the state and…

  • Silicon Valley District Candidates for the House of Representatives Election

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief Image taken from Wikipedia Article “California’s congressional districts” In the Bay Area, seven congressional districts have seats open for election this November 5th, all listed below with general information on the elections.  Congressional District 11 Incumbent Nancy Pelosi…

  • November 5, 2024⁩: U.S. Senate Election for California – Adam Schiff

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief Read previous article titled “November 5, 2024⁩: U.S. Senate Election for California – Steve Garvey” for information on Republican candidate Steve Garvey. Adam Schiff  Schiff is the Democratic candidate for the US Senate for California.  Here are his…

  • November 5, 2024⁩: U.S. Senate Election for California – Steve Garvey

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief On November 5th, there will be an election to fill the Senate seat previously filled by Democrat Dianne Feinstein in the United States Congress for California. In this election, candidates Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey will be running.…

  • Interview with Artist Lynn Jaye

    Authors: G. Li, V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief Jae-Lynn’s piece, Evening Glow Q: Which qualities about a certain location or subject make you want to paint it? I love the California landscape!  Coming from Europe, I used to paint Provence and Tuscany, two of…

  • The Future of AI Regulation: SB 1047

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief On August 28th, 2024, the California state assembly passed a landmark AI regulation bill, SB1047, which will now be sent to the Governor’s desk, where he has until September 30th of this year to sign it. What is SB1047?…

  • Latin-American Independence Day Celebrations

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief Credit: The San Francisco Peninsula This past Sunday, September 15, 2024 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. In lieu of this special day, a number of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations were held across the Bay Area. The festivals/parades…

  • Songs to Save the School Year 

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief For many, September marks the beginning of the school year. So, what’s better to save this school year than a curated list of songs from all our members, a playlist to save the school year! This contains a wide…

  • A Comprehensive Guide to the MrBeast Controversy: Part 4

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief This is a continuation of Part 3 of this series. “MrBeast’s Secret CEO“ Thumbnail from Dogpack404’s video, “MrBeast’s Secret CEO” In his third video, DogPack404 splits it into three main chapters: James Warren, Locoya Hill, and Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast’s…

  • A Comprehensive Guide to the MrBeast Controversy: Part 3

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief This is a continuation of Part 2 of this series. “I Worked for MrBeast, He’s a Sociopath” Thumbnail from Dogpack404’s “I Worked for MrBeast, He’s a Sociopath” In this second video, DogPack404 focuses on covering Jake Weddle, a former…

  • A Comprehensive Guide to the MrBeast Controversy: Part 2

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief This is a continuation of Part 1 of this series. Getting to the more serious allegations, Dawson brings up examples of what he claims to be “illegal lotteries”. While we will not be diving into the exact legalities of…

  • A Comprehensive Guide to the MrBeast Controversy: Part 1

    Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief In the past month, a slew of different allegations have come out against Jimmy Donaldson, or MrBeast, the main instigator being the videos created by a Youtuber named DogPack404. His first video, “I Worked For MrBeast, He’s a Fraud”…

  • Golden Gate Bridge Protestors

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍San Francisco, CA Image Credit: ABC News On August 12th, 2024, anti-war protestors were charged with felony and misdemeanor charges by the San Francisco District Attorney. At 7:30 AM on April 15th of this year, a group of protestors…

  • The First Capital City of California

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍Sacramento, CA Today, Sacramento is well known to residents of California as our state’s official capital city, being the location of the Governor’s Mansion, the Capitol Building, and the epicenter of California’s politics. However, for the first 4 years…

  • Lynn Conway Passes Away at 86

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍Palo Alto, CA Cover image from the University of Michigan This past June saw the passing of one of Silicon Valley’s most influential tech pioneers, Lynn Conway, a computer architect active during the 1960s-70s, who left behind a…

  • San JosĂ© Jazz Summer Festival

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍Downtown San JosĂ©, CA Image Credit: San Jose Jazz The San Jose Jazz Summer Festival, known as one of the country’s best jazz festivals, kicked off and came to a close this past weekend, drawing in audiences from…

  • Waymo Honks Disrupt San Francisco Neighborhood

    Author: G.Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍San Francisco, CA In a San Francisco parking lot, Waymo cars were getting loud.  Waymo is an American company providing autonomous driving technology, meaning that they give driverless rides to passengers. These rides have recently gone from a limited…

  • Exclusive: Interview with Ayelet Gal-On, Part Two

    Author: G. Li, V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍Los Altos, CA Please view part one of this interview before reading this article. Cycle of Life, painted by Ayelet Gal-On Grace: So I think you mentioned, looking back at your art and thinking, like, “oh,…

  • Exclusive: Interview with Ayelet Gal-On, Part One

    Author: G. Li, V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍Los Altos, CA Ayelet Gal-On is an artist based in the Bay Area, in California. She has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions, winning awards such as the prestigious “Best of Show” at the San…

  • Researchers are creating a 3D map of Alcatraz + A Brief History of the Island

    Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍San Francisco, CA The United States gained possession of Alcatraz, along with the rest of California in 1848, following the Mexican-American War, and since then, the island has accrued a rich, and deep history. History of Alcatraz  In…

  • Exclusive: Interview with Caltech Professor G. Ravichandran 

    Author: E. Cherkuri, Megaphone Staff Writer 📍Pasadena, CA Renowned aerospace and mechanical engineering professor at Caltech, Ravi Ravichandran, shared insights into his illustrious career and offered advice to aspiring engineers during an exclusive interview. With over three decades dedicated to unraveling the mysteries…

  • Teens of Silicon Valley: Nitya Jayaprakash

    Author: E. Cherkuri, Megaphone Staff Writer 📍San Jose, CA Q: Nitya, could you please introduce yourself and your involvement with the animal shelter? Nitya: Certainly. My name is Nitya Jayaprakash, and I’m an eleventh-grade student at Notre Dame School. I’ve been working to…

  • Local Bodybuilder Helps Man with Down’s Syndrome Achieve his Dream

    Author: G.Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍San Jose, CA (Image taken from NBC Bay Area) About a decade ago, Samuel Hinojosa stepped into a gym with a dream— to become a bodybuilder. Hinojosa was born with Down’s syndrome, a medical condition where a person is…

  • Former Stanford Dean’s Inappropriate Affair with Student

    Author: G.Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍Palo Alto, CA Julie Lythcott-Haims is a Palo Alto City Council member, and was the dean of freshmen and undergraduate advising at Stanford from 2002 to 2012. Earlier this year, she ran in the open primary for California’s 16th…

  • The Future of HIV Prevention: Gilead’s Lenacapavir

    Author: V.Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍Foster City, CA Intro On December 22, 2022, the FDA approved Lenacapavir— or as it’s known by its brand name, Sunlenca¼— a twice-yearly injection meant to prevent HIV infection in adults, declaring that the drug is safe and effective…

  • From Prunes to Apple – How the Silicon Valley came to be a leader in technology

    Author: G.Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍Silicon Valley, CA The Silicon Valley, nestled in the southern part of the Bay Area in California, is widely renowned for its leading role in tech and innovation. Named after ‘silicon’, the chemical element whose semiconducting properties have enabled…

  • Ranking some of the most popular teen shows

    Author: E.Cherkuri, Megaphone Staff Writer S Tier (Top Shows) The Vampire Diaries (The CW): Elena, a teenage girl who lost her parents, finds herself in a small town filled with strange occurrences and a series of mysterious murders. As she struggles to cope…

  • Betsy Mitchell – More than Medals (Olympic Swimmer)

    Author: E.Cherkuri, Megaphone Staff Writer 📍Pasadena, CA (Information collected from her book promotional event at Caltech University) The life story of Betsy Mitchell goes beyond Olympic success and competitive swimming. Her swimming accomplishments, which include a gold and silver medal from the 1984…

  • Waymo Opens to All 

    Author: V.Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief 📍San Francisco, CA When it was first founded in 2009, the Google Self-Driving Car Project, began with the sole purpose of making fully-autonomous vehicles more viable in order to make roads safer and more efficient for civilians. Almost 15…

  • Andy Wang: Inspiring Change, One Bag of Trash at a Time

    Dedicated to making a difference in our community, Andy Wang cleans up trash in illegal dumping sites in the bay area.