1 Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is in doubt after a shaky performance in a debate against Donald Trump that will intensify growing fears about his age. President Biden, 81, is already the oldest president in American history and is set to battle his predecessor Donald Trump, 78, once again in November’s election. The two took to a Presidential Debate in Atlanta, Georgia at the end of June. Both candidates, but particularly Biden, have been criticised for their age and questioned over their mental fortitude. This debate will do little to quell those worries for Biden. In many of his answers, the President stumbled and stuttered, giving incoherent or muddled answers. At one point, he lost his train of thought before bizarrely remarking that “we finally beat Medicare” – a nonsensical reference to a healthcare programme for the elderly. “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence and I don’t think he did either”, Trump quipped at one point. Trump, only three years his rival’s junior, dismissed questions about his only mental acuity by boasting that he had passed cognitive exams, and claimed that Biden hadn’t. For Biden, the debate amplified fears, felt by many in the US already, that he is not fit for office. As Trump went on the attack, the President could only give subdued answers on key issues such as the economy and immigration. The issue surrounding his age has followed him throughout his administration, especially in the last few months. In February, pressure grew after a prosecutor EditorinChief: Aydın AslamDenn The RGS Gazette Issue 12 July 2024 Contents Biden in Trouble After Debate Struggle Orlando Thompson (Year 12) discusses the recent US presidential debate and its implications on the election Donald Trump and Joe Biden during their debate (2024) News Editors Orlando Thompson and Umair Ashraf 1 Biden in Trouble Struggles 2 Troubled Opening of Hyperia 3 England’s Sewage Scandal 4 Trump’s Supreme Court: Foreboding Future for US Justice 6 Debating Triumph for RGS 7 RGS Mock Election 8 Taylor Swift's Popularity 9 Mandatory National Service Features Editors Aayan Hussain, Krish Siddhartha and Adam Yousuf 10 I Fought the Law and Won 11 Quantum Computing 12 Why Should We Go To Mars? 13 Should RGS Days be Shorter? 14 The Mysteries of MH370 15 Should We Go Paperless? 16 Are We a Smart Species? 17 Are You My Teacher? 18 Improving Commercial Planes 19 Criminal Responsibility 21 Hornets: Breaking the Stigma 22 Let Animals Live 23 Why We Should Care About the Pacific The Arts Editor Henry Day 24 Spotify Premium for Free? 25 To Study, or Not to Study 27 ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ 28 The Clever Reader’s Guide 29 A Day of Discovery and Drama 30 ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ 31 What Being a Reader Taught Me About Myself Sports Editors Dara Olowoloba and Emad Haroon 32 Spurs and Silverware 33 Best Buzzer Beaters in the NBA 34 Road to F1 – Al Qubaisi Sisters 35 London 2012 Olympics and the British Economy 36 Olympics Outdated Concept? 37 Physical and Mental Demands of Motorsport 38 Preventing Football Scandals 39 Ask Max Photos Photojournalists Seham Shah and Amaar Ahmed 41 A Term in Photos
2 The News The RGS Gazette Issue 12 July 2024 investigating Biden characterised him as “a wellmeaning old man with a poor memory”, and this impression will remain for many following the debate. In fact, many political commentators and highprofile Democrats have called for him to step down from the Presidential race, as questions remain over whether he has the capability to run for reelection. Despite this, the President has refused to consider stepping aside in the Presidential race. “I don’t debate as well as I used to”, he admitted, “but when you get knocked down, you get back up.” While Biden grapples with this age issue, his rival’s campaign has been dogged by his several legal issues. Trump has been fined $175m for fraud in New York, he has been found liable for sexual assault and faces three further criminal trials. His most pressing issue has been a criminal trial in New York in which he was found guilty of falsifying business records in May. Biden repeatedly attacked Trump on this in Atlanta, reminding him that he was a convicted felon. Trump is the first ever former President to be convicted, after he was found to have paid money to adult actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair. “You have the morals of an alley cat” Biden told him as he recounted the story. However, Trump’s campaign has barely been derailed by the conviction. This is because his supporters, and nearly all of the Republican Party, agree with his claim that this is a political prosecution. To his base, Trump is a martyr, who has been unfairly attacked, and the trial has just strengthened that notion. A majority of Republicans say they will still vote for Trump despite the conviction and in essence, this entire issue changes very little in the Presidential race. Those who opposed Trump beforehand, still do so now. Both his opponents and supporters have simply grown more vehement in their beliefs in the last year. Biden, on the other hand, still has a lot to prove to many voters who are concerned about his fitness for office and that task is all the more difficult now. Adam Franko (Year 9) looks at the recent opening of Hyperia at Thorpe Park and the issues with the rollercoaster’s development For the past oneandahalf years, the new tallest, fastest and most weightless rollercoaster in the UK was slowly being built at Thorpe Park, named Hyperia. At 236 feet tall, reaching speeds of up to 81mph, and having a total of 14.8 seconds of airtime, Hyperia was a coaster which was announced back in October 2022, but back then nobody could have anticipated what a brilliant coaster it would become. The idea for 'Project Exodus' as it was referred to during construction, led the media to go crazy and speculate what the future of Thorpe Park could look like. On the 5th October 2023, the official name for this recordbreaking coaster would be revealed – Hyperia as well as its goldwinged logo. Everyone was very excited for the coaster to open, with many people from all across the world following the construction updates online, and some enthusiasts even watched the ride being built from outside the park. Thorpe Park even hosted a challenge known as Club 236 where you could get a chance to win two front row seats on the very first public train when the ride opened. Soon Thorpe Park announced that Friday 24th of May 2024 would be the official public opening day for Hyperia, with a 'press night' held the night before for special VIP guests. Opening day turned out to be a huge success – people started queuing up at the gates from 6am to be one of the first to ride. There were plenty of shows, live music, a grand opening ceremony and even a flyover of 2 stunt planes to mark the opening of the UK’s new tallest and fastest rollercoaster. The day proved to be so popular that the maximum queue time for Hyperia was 300 minutes. On Saturday, the buzz around the coaster continued. Unfortunately, about an hour before opening, Thorpe Park announced that the ride was closed, “due to unforeseen circumstances”. While disappointing for thrillseekers, this wasn’t taken too Hyperia, the country's fastest rollercoaster, at Thorpe Park (2024) The Troubled Opening of Hyperia
3 The News Issue 12 July 2024 The RGS Gazette seriously, since rollercoasters breaking down isn't such a rare occurrence. It wasn’t until the next day that Thorpe Park released another statement saying that Hyperia would be closed for even longer, and this led to speculation on why such a new ride was closed for so long. The 27th May passed, and much to everyone’s dismay, another announcement was made by Thorpe Park saying that they’d have to keep Hyperia shut until the 8th of June, over 2 weeks after the initial closure. Now people were really curious as to what was going on. Thorpe Park was pretty secretive about what was going on, and it wasn't until the 2nd of June that something started happening. On this day, workers were spotted at the top of the lift hill, which led the media to think that something was wrong with the lift hill. On the 3rd June a crane arrived at Thorpe Park, and on the 4th June workers were spotted working on the top of the lift hill, which pretty much confirmed the theories. At the start of June, the reopening was delayed indefinitely. The 7th June marked a big milestone for Hyperia’s reopening, as testing began – the trains started completing the track with test dummies. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the ride’s reopening, and it wasn’t until the 11th June when Thorpe Park finally announced that it would reopen the next day. As a result, tickets sold out almost immediately, and after 19 days, Hyperia finally has a proper running day. Things finally seemed to be getting back to normal, with the next couple of days being proper operating days. However, on the 15th June, Hyperia had an issue where one of the trains got stuck at the top of the lift hill, leaving riders stranded 236 feet in the air. Luckily this wasn’t too big of an issue, and after 1 hour the riders were safely returned back to the station. As compensation for lost time, the park gave the riders who were stuck on the ride a free “skip the queue” pass (Fasttrack) for a ride of their choice. The next 3 days were normal for Hyperia, with no interruptions. People thought that all the complications were over by then, but this proved to not be true. Surprisingly, on the 19th of June, when testing the ride on the morning before opening time, the train actually rolled back when it didn’t have enough energy to pass through an elevated outerbanked element of the ride. This was very surprising, and happened as a result of the train being too light. When the train is loaded with people, it is heavier, which means it has more energy and speed when going around the track, but on this occasion, the train got stuck on the track. This led to another three day delay, though Thorpe Park has now resolved this issue, with normal opening having resumed on the 22nd June. If you’re like me and enjoy going to theme parks and riding rollercoasters, then you too have probably been closely following the construction and opening of Hyperia, and it’s been a rough time. There have been many closures and breakdowns, with the main closure probably caused by an issue with the lift hill, but hopefully the ride won’t have anymore major hiccups anymore. In any case, the opening of Hyperia marks a significant milestone in Thorpe Park’s history and the theme park industry, so let’s hope the “Golden Goddess” sticks around for a long time! England’s Sewage Scandal Adam Yousuf (Year 12) examines the sewage crisis in British rivers and lakes. It seems inconceivable that, in one of the most developed countries in the world, people have been unable to access clean water. This recent sewage pollution, prevalent particularly in the southwest but also all across England, comes as a consequence of the poor enforcement of regulations against privatised water companies. While shareholders enjoy mass amounts of money, those victim to this disgrace have had to boil their water so it can be drinkable. With a 54% increase in spillages from 2022 to 2023, it is unsurprising that the underlying issues of unregulated waste in water have been brought to light. Our own Thames Water is notoriously inept with numerous incidents of sewage pollution. This has led to cases of diarrhoea (in Devon during May 2024 there were a reported 46 cases) as well as other illnesses that affect the majority of people living in the affected areas. The right to clean water is one that is often taken for granted, with many countries across the world struggling and being reliant on foreign aid; England is usually a benefactor to these countries. And yet, with the quality of water on offer in certain places of the country, one with no knowledge of the global context would be forgiven for thinking that England might be a beneficiary of water aid with the images of faeces in water instead of fish. The gravity of the situation has led to protestors in Falmouth furiously calling for politicians to “cut the cr*p”. As well as numerous cases of sicknesses and disease from exposure to dirty water, many rivers are now too dirty to swim in. Indeed, it is estimated that the total loss to the British economy every year from waterrelated sickness is an incredible £21.7 million. Towns such as Whitstable predict they will take a huge hit to their local economy as their main tourist attraction of water leisure becomes obsolete due to pollution. Further North, those living in the Lake
4 The News The RGS Gazette Issue 12 July 2024 District in Windermere have been victim to 10 million litres of ‘accidentally’ poured raw sewage, detrimentally affecting the popular tourist destination’s attraction and therefore its revenue from potential visitors. Water companies are allowed, in exceptional circumstances, to pour sewage into waterways. Be that as it may, the recent interpretation of ‘exceptional’ has become so loose that even rivers utilised for leisure activities cannot be used by the public. Essentially, this is more than just a health issue for the government, as local businesses are expected to suffer. However, large private water companies are continuing to thrive. Epitomising the failures of the privatisation of ‘regulated’ utilities, shareholders have paid £2.5 billion in dividends whilst adding £8.2 billion in debt over the past two years. The 16 water companies have paid extortionate amounts to their shareholders whilst inefficiently investing in infrastructure, not replacing Victorian systems and building over them instead. Debts from this oligopoly are then unfairly passed to the consumer due to tariffs that the regulator, or government, set. This is why there has been an increase in taxes for water; the mismanagement of water companies is paid for by the consumer as these private companies have no incentive to lower the amount of money they pay to shareholders. For instance, Thames Water have recently paid their shareholders a £158 million dividend despite their debt problems. Without restrictions due to the lack of a competitive market and dubious regulations from the government, they can exploit this crisis by charging higher. There is only one source of water, and there is unfortunately one provider per area. What will be done in the future to correct these problems? Only the Liberal Democrats treated this as a salient issue in the July 2024 General Election, with direct promises to tax the £2.2 billion annual profits of water companies and a ban on water company executive bonuses. This helped them to win seats in constituencies along the west of the River Thames such as Henley & Thame, Maidenhead, and South Cotswolds. With Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour already receiving to the donations of other big businesses, it seems unlikely that they will introduce serious regulations on water companies but one can remain cautiously optimistic that their unclear pledges on “special measures” and “immediate action” will prove productive. Nevertheless, it is clear that tighter regulations with meticulously crafted legislation to prevent loopholes must be introduced to prevent the malicious exploitation from the current group of water companies. “Many rivers are now too dirty to swim in” Serious sewage pollution by water company (The Guardian) Trump’s Supreme Court: A Foreboding Future for US Justice Alex Gold (Year 12) examines the key figures on the US Supreme Court Let us consider the major players who have been recently appointed by President Donald Trump at the heart of the Supreme Court – America’s highest court. The politicisation of justice in the US has led to truly dismal congregation, deemed worthy of leading America’s justice system into the future. Chief Justice John Roberts Since the birth of the Roberts Court in 2005, the court’s chief justice has been obsessed with how his court appears to the rest of the nation. The Roberts’ Court arguably dealt with some of the most influential cases in the court’s entire history: Obergefell vs Hodges (2013), Dobbs vs Jackson (2022), and of course the most recent Trump vs Anderson (2024) to name merely a few. However, in an increasingly partisan Supreme Court, the Chief Justice is the only man who holds together the last remaining strands of neutrality his court might have. In the 800 cases Roberts has presided over, only 463 (58%) have resulted in a conservative outcome a considerably low percentage in the face of the level of politicisation his court faces. Having worked in a second circuit court of appeals for 25 years before joining the bench as a justice, there is no doubt that Roberts is deserving of his most prestigious role. Moreover, his
5 The News Issue 12 July 2024 The RGS Gazette influence on the court cannot be understated. Indeed, when presiding over close cases, a much greater proportion of (82%) his decisions have been conservative in nature, although he has sided with liberal judges in key cases such as in NFIB v Sebelius (2012), which defended President Obama’s healthcare plan. Amy Coney Barrett Appointed to the Supreme Court just 8 days before the 2020 Presidential election, Amy Coney Barrett’s position as a Justice is hotly debated five years on and will be forever regarded as one of the three Justices who are tied to Trump’s patronage. Succeeding the famously liberal justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg following her death in 2020, she has been a significant factor in Trump’s successful attempts to tip the balance of the Supreme Court to a 63 Conservative majority. Although, as a clerk, she was involved in the influential Supreme Court decision Bush vs Gore (2000), Barrett’s judicial experience prior to being appointed a justice was largely clerical work for the Columbia Court of Appeals in 1997/98, and is certainly less qualified than her Chief Justice for a job as important as this, although she was ranked as ‘well qualified’ by the American Bar Association. Though most political critics are concerned more immediately with her guaranteed proTrump vote in the upcoming case, there are wider implications of such a judicial composition. For if it is so easy to overcome abortion rights, what other rights of the American citizen can be rescinded by judges who join the bench for life? Neil Gorsuch Despite being the first of Trump’s appointees to join the bench in 2017, Gorsuch divided both public and bipartisan opinion. His reputation for upholding the law fairly and correctly would set the basis for the strict constructionist perspectives which he would apply to cases of the highest court ten years later. Indeed, for many in the house, such a reputation meant that he gathered bipartisan support during his confirmation process. However, the faith vested in him would prove, for Democrats, to be strongly misguided as he advanced into the first few years of his justiceship. Certainly, the taint of fraternisation with prominent members of the GOP, and his mother’s history as head of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Reagan Administration in 1981 would see him covertly split with the conventions of judicial independence and neutrality, to become possibly the most conservative judge on the court – proven by his vote to overturn the Roe vs Wade abortion rights in the case Dobbs vs Jackson (2022). Brett Kavanaugh Kavanaugh’s 2018 nomination was possibly the most contentious and controversial appointment to the Supreme Court in its long history of upholding the rights of the US Constitution. Indeed, Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh was an excellent example of how the modern confirmation process is one of the most politicised, gruelling, and unforgiving processes in the American political system. The heart of the controversy was a statement at Kavanaugh’s appointment hearing, which saw Professor Christine Ford accuse Kavanaugh of sexual assault and attempted rape while they were at Yale Law School together in 1987. This became the catalyst for a confirmation hearing like no other that included protesters banging on t he doors of the Senate; protesters climbing on top of the justice statue; protesters in handmaids clothing refusing to leave the Senate building and protesters in the back of Kavanaugh’s hearing. An extremely partisan Senate confirmation vote saw Kavanaugh appointed by a vote 5048, the narrowest margin in the Senate’s history, with Trump claiming a victory that critics argue will prove incredibly dangerous to women’s rights during Kavanaugh’s lifelong term. Conclusion Having taken a glance at this politicised, morally questionable process and the justices that have arisen from it, I can’t see what hope there is for a fair, independent, and balanced judiciary in the United States? Furthermore, with vital insights into the questionable experience and blights in both the personal and judicial lives of these four justices, what new crises of humanity are waiting to unfold behind the reclusive four walls that Lady Justice guards in Washington DC? Supreme Court Justices (top left to right, bottom right to left): John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch "What other rights of the American citizens can be rescinded by judges who join the bench for life?”
6 The News The RGS Gazette Issue 12 July 2024 Umair Ashraf (Year 12) presents how the local debating team triumphed in regional championship In an astounding display of eloquence and reasoning, the RGS team (Timothée Dusserre Cordonnier, Nirmit Nihal, Aayan Hussain, Umair Ashraf, Che Bole and Adam Yousuf) won an interschool debating competition on Thursday, 4th July. Against debaters from several schools (including Wycombe High, Dr Challoner’s, Holmer Green and Great Marlow), this team displayed supremacy in argumentation and critical thinking in order to secure victory, gaining applause from appreciative judges and the audience. It was a journey to victory handling a host of complex and fascinating topics: privatising all schools, legalising euthanasia, involvement of transathletes in sports, and whether social media has actually improved communication, RGS took them all home. The team, as proposition, went ahead to proffer a case for the privatisation of all schools by citing possible benefits in educational freedom and quality; change in schools that they insisted would enhance innovation, competition, and resource allocation. In the debate on the legalisation of euthanasia, RGSHW took proposition and handled this sensitive issue with passion. Rooted in the right to autonomy, it emphasised that people should have the option for a dignified death, along with ethical concerns and measures preventing abuse. The team then played for the inclusion of trans athletes in sports, navigating complex fairness, inclusion, and scientific considerations. Their arguments underlined equality, recognising the rights of a trans athlete, and persuaded the judges with a balanced and circumspect attitude in judgments. Finally, on the debate regarding whether social media improved communication, team RGS effectively pointed out the downsides of digital interaction. They had the view that despite social media accommodating instant plugin, it was coupled with misinformation, reduced facetoface communications, and superficial relationships. Their critical view clearly struck a chord with the audience and panel of judges, as it demonstrated their capacity to look at the impact technology has had on society. The team witnessed the fruits of their labour as they beat every opposition, with scores of 5041 and 4842. In a humorous turn of events, both RGS teams won their semifinal match ups against Dr Challoner’s and Holmer Green, which presented the judges with a predicament. An RGS vs RGS final or combine the teams to go up against Holmer Green for 1 final debate. In the collegiate spirit of competition, it was decided that RGS would combine their 2 teams and go up against Holmer Green for one final debate. The motion for the final round, "Veganism is the future of humanity." They argued as the proposition, putting forward a very futuristic case that centred on environmental, ethical, and health benefits from adopting a vegan way of life. They argued that veganism would help solve certain crises climate, animals, and public healthrelated and their argument won over the judges, securing them the victory. Special mention must go to Timothée for winning the individual accolade 'Best Debater' and Nirmit for winning 'Best POI'. Once again a huge congratulations to the RGS team for leaving the competition with the trophy and the added bonus of a clean sweep in all rounds. Debating Triumph for RGS Celebration of receiving the winner's trophy (2024) Preparing for a debate (2024) The trophy (2024) Public Speaking & Debate Society runs every Thursday lunchtime in Room 26. Do come along if you fancy competitively debating for the school too.
7 The News Issue 12 July 2024 The RGS Gazette After a certainly frantic campaign race by the Political Parties of the RGS, we have the election results in! But before I give you those coveted results, let me walk you through the campaigns and election process. Starting on the 20th of June, election teams were created for the six parties. Each team was composed of four or five of our very own ALevel politics students. Each team then had two weeks to produce a threepoint manifesto: two policies focused on the UK in general and one on the RGS specifically, alongside a campaign poster and video. As we saw, there was varying quality among the parties, but there certainly was a sense of commitment and determination from each and every member to ensure the best campaign possible in such a small timeframe. On Wednesday lunchtime, the 3rd of July, I witnessed by far the most chaotic and hilarious election debate of my life. The turnout was shockingly impressive, with the stands of the Queen's Hall filled with a full range of RGS boys, from Year 7s to our Senior Prefects, as well as a host of members of staff. I can confirm, Mr. Carr and Mr. Sarsons were in fits of laughter over the debate performance. We saw just how terrifying radical reform gets when you let Toyosi of the Worker’s Party have a podium to speak, but even more frightening was the support he got from students despite a lack of any real policies. During the debate, his only promise was ‘to bring football to the RGS,’ which I can only believe will fall flat. The speaker for the Conservatives, Danyal Baber, received the most aggressively voiced dissent in the form of boos and insults from the stands. "even more frightening was the support he got from students despite a lack of any real policies." However, if I had to pick a favourite, I must choose Alex Gold of the Labour Party. On that stage, Alex was the only one fully focused on informing the crowd of his Party’s policies and carried himself with the composure and respect that a political figure should, despite the namecalling going on around him. He provided all necessary answers and did not veer from the questions asked in the debate, making him the only sensible choice for the best speaker that day. Now, we shall finally take a look at our election results with a disastrous twist of fate. The Worker’s Party holds a majority with 54% of the vote. It would appear that sometimes radicalism is all you need to indoctrinate a Year 8. The vote for the rest of the parties is also rather shocking. Reform overtakes both of the major parties, and the Conservatives were about 1% away from falling to bottom of the list. Muhibbullah Ahmed (Year 12) recaps the recent RGS 2024 mock election Who is Taking Control in the RGS Mock Election? Toyosi Aranmolate, RGS Workers Party (2024) Alex Gold, The RGS Labour Party (2024) A real polling station (2024) Politics Society runs every Monday lunchtime in Room 22 make sure to come along if you are interested in discussing prominent issues affecting the world.
8 The News The RGS Gazette Issue 12 July 2024 I'm sure we have all heard a Taylor Swift song, from 'Shake it Off' to 'Love Story.' But how has she skyrocketed above other popular musicians and songwriters? Yes, it is her talent for writing incredible pop music; however, why has she become a bigger global star than the likes of Katy Perry? In recent years, her influence has increased massively since 2020. Firstly, is Taylor Swift really that popular? The short answer is, yes. The long answer is that she has the largest music tour in history and is still going today, followed by Elton John’s tour, which made a pitiful $939 million. In contrast, the worldfamous Eras Tour has made over $4 billion, averaging $2500 per second. That is utterly ridiculous; almost as much as the amount of carbon emissions she has released. In 2022, her private jet used about 8,300 tonnes. To put that in perspective, the average human uses about 20 tonnes in a lifetime. Clearly, her fan base chose to forget about that. Those fans were deemed one of the most devoted fan bases. These “Swifties” are, in fact, in their late 40s. This may explain why they decided to wear adult nappies to her tour so they didn't miss a second of how her music, and I quote, “perfectly captured every feeling I've ever had.” This practically sums up a “Swiftie” they only feel love, heartbreak and hate. But it doesn't stop there. As a result of her popular tour, in Edinburgh, homeless people given accommodation in hotels have been told to leave to allow Taylor Swift's fans to stay the night, which then led to the homeless being back on the streets. "homeless people given accommodation in hotels have been told to leave to allow Taylor Swift's fans in Edinburgh to stay the night," If that doesn't prove her popularity, I don't know what will. But, what causes these adults to be so devoted to her artwork? One of the few reasons I discovered is that Taylor Swift is aged 34, and the majority of her fans, 78% to be precise, are between the ages of 30 and 40. Many sources have suggested this is because fans feel like they have grown up with her and, “she is like the big sister I never had,” which I can agree may be a fair point. Another reason is her first hit album was when she was 16, which means she has been in the public eye for over half of her life, and most of her fans feel as if they have experienced the same thoughts and emotions as her, like teenage love with her song “Love Story.” Speaking of love, another reason she has so much popularity is her relationship with Travis Kelce, an American football player who recently won the Super Bowl. This relationship was either a fortunate coincidence or a very wellthoughtout PR stunt, which then led to a 400% spike in sales for her music. This has had 51,552,135,000 streams on Spotify alone. This means, in theory, everyone on the planet has streamed her music at least six times on Spotify alone. Finally, although I somewhat dislike her current music, the majority of her work is undeniably some of the best in the business. Her music, albeit repetitive, still connotes her incredible talent for songwriting. This, I believe, heavily outweighs the other reasons for her spike in popularity, as it is the foundation for all of her international influence. “Haters gonna hate,” but she is arguably one of the greatest songwriters of all time, which is why Taylor Swift is so popular. Charlie Kerr (Year 10) explores why Taylor Swift is so popular The Singer Who Took the World by Storm The Eras Tour (2024) Taylor Swift (2024)
9 The News Issue 12 July 2024 The RGS Gazette Tommy Tinkler (Year 10) discusses whether there should be a national service Many people our age seem to be against the idea of national service. In fact, 78% of 1824yearolds oppose it, with 67% strongly opposing it. Some may argue it is a waste of time, spending months or maybe a year either doing military or community services, giving up your free time to do work which you feel does not benefit you at all. However, I would like to highlight how this is not the case. Not only does participating in these services provide for the community, but it also benefits the individual. If you were to join the military, you would be provided with a lengthy and longlasting list of invaluable life skills that you can carry with you for the rest of your life. Some examples may include communication capabilities and leadership qualities, both of which are necessary when delivering orders to soldiers, yet can be transitioned into civilian life, where you may need to lead a team. In such cases, these skills are equally essential. You will learn decisiveness, discipline, and dedication, as well as many more. The military will mentally and physically challenge you, keeping you fit and teaching you the importance of looking after your health, something you will inevitably come to appreciate later in life. In addition, the military service would provide you with an abundance of practical skills, ranging from more practical activites such as ironing clothes and making your bed to more extreme tasks which may involve first aid and fieldcraft, including how to survive in the wilderness. These are only a few examples. Furthermore, I would like to mention how the skills taught will enable unfortunate or troubled individuals to gain a sense of purpose and belonging, therefore benefiting not just the individual but society as a whole. Many will leave national service with advantageous skills, leaving behind any potential life in crime and seeking new opportunities with their recently acquired abilities. Some may even decide that they actually enjoyed their time in the military. In the past, plenty of people have remained and moved up the ranks, not only creating a wonderful life they might otherwise never have had but also contributing to their country. Now, if you still think that taking the military route would not be for you, there is another available option: community service. "Many will leave national service with advantageous skills, leaving behind any potential life in crime." This is where you would give up only one weekend every month for a year to partake in any of the following public roles: the police, the fire service, the NHS, or some other form of public service. This would last only one weekend every month for a year—not a lot. In fact, that would only be 24 days. Yet think how rewarding that would be for the individual and the difference it would make to the community as a whole. "The traits learned by the participants would in return, only serve to better society." In conclusion, there seems to be many more benefits tof implementing a national service as opposed to not, with both the individual benefiting by gaining a whole new skill set and the communities across the country benefiting as well. The traits learned by the participants would, in return, only serve to better society. The RGS has a CCF contingent which students can join from Year 10. Is Mandatory National Service a Good Idea? Military training (2024) Standing to attention (2024)
10 Features The RGS Gazette Issue 12 July 2024 Features I Fought the Law and I Won Mr. Phillips recounts his journey as a lawyer and teacher "So, Sir, Law or Maths?" asked Yuvi at the end of double Maths one Friday. I looked at him and paused. I never quite know how to answer that question. He continued: "You've been teaching us Maths since September, sir. Do you enjoy it? Or will you leave us and go back to being a lawyer?" Was there just a hint of hope in Yuvi's voice, I wondered? Might my students actually want me to return to the law?! "Yuvi," I began, not really knowing where this was going. "I... I... I promise I will tell you another time." Why did I, in my midforties, leave a wellpaid and comfortable job as a lawyer, where everyone respected me and my work was always interesting, where pens never exploded and nobody ever had to be told to tuck their shirt in, to retrain as a Maths teacher? The questions sometimes vary. "Surely, Sir, you never actually needed to use trigonometry or simplify surds or solve quadratics when you were a lawyer?" asked 9T2, as if to start negotiating lesson contents with me. "Sir, are you actually an undercover agent, or some kind of fugitive from justice?" theorised 10B3. "What does it mean, sir, to fight the law and then to win?" demanded 7SJ. I worked as a lawyer for twenty years, in a number of different roles and for several firms. I specialised in structured finance, capital markets, and financial regulation of one kind or another. I had to work very long hours at the start of my career, but eventually I gained expertise in my field and was better able to control my work. I could choose my own projects and focus on things that I liked. I was lucky: my work was stimulating, varied and I always got on well with my colleagues. So far, so good. Time feels exponential, not linear: as you get older, the years go by quicker and quicker. It is easy to stick with what you know, go to the same office each day, read emails, answer the telephone, sit in meetings, draft documents, research and consider the law, write articles, and drink too much coffee. But the years turn into decades and one day, if you are not careful, you will look into the mirror and see a man who is getting old. I could never quite shake the suspicion that there might be other jobs that I would enjoy too. A new challenge would be good for me, rejuvenate me. At the back of my mind, I knew I missed Maths. I had never thrown away my old Alevel Maths handwritten notes, 100s of pages of pure maths key points and examples were in a box in the loft. I dug them out, and for the first time in 25 years, I properly looked at them. Could I still solve a differential equation? What about a hyperbolic function? Or worst of all, a dreaded vector proof, using lambda and mu? I bought a textbook, then a calculator. I started taking breaks from the law to do Maths at work. The ratio of time spent doing Maths to that doing law gradually shifted in favour of Maths. I got into the habit of frantically covering up my maths every time a colleague came into my office so that they wouldn't see that I was doing the binomial expansion. I was hooked. Could I find a way to do maths all day? "Maths, fortunately, always stays the same and never gets old." It turned out to be very easy to be accepted on a teacher training programme: a brief application form, an interview, and a lesson to teach. Nobody seemed to mind that I was a bit older. Maths, fortunately, always stays the same and never gets old. I did not think too much about it I just wanted to try my best at being a teacher, to remember what it felt like to be a teenager. I resigned from my law firm immediately. Yuvi, let me try to answer your questions very directly. Yes, it has indeed been a pleasure and a privilege to teach Year 8 and to get to know so many of you. In fact, I have enjoyed it much more than I thought. No, I am not planning on leaving RGS, I have certain projects here that I want to keep on track! I have already chosen Law for the last twenty years, but I think I will now choose Maths for the next twenty. But don't worry, we only have another couple of weeks of double Maths on Fridays in Room 37 with me: Summer is coming soon for all of us! There are roughly 160,000 practicing solicitors in England (2024)
11 Features Issue 12 July 2024 The RGS Gazette The study of computer technology based on the ideas of quantum theory is known as quantum computing. The behaviour of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels is explained by quantum theory. Quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, as the lowest unit of information, in contrast to classical computers, which use bits. Unlike classical bits, which are binary and can only be in one state at a time (either 0 or 1), qubits can represent and store data in a quantum state that permits them to exist simultaneously in several states (superposition). Superposition, entanglement, and quantum tunnelling are just a few of the quantum mechanical concepts that quantum computers use to process information in radically different ways. Quantum computers may investigate several solutions to a problem instantaneously because of superposition. Qubits that are entangled can be in a correlated state thanks to entanglement, which allows for largedistance dependence between qubit states. This can result in processing for some computations being completed much more quickly The primary difference between quantum and conventional computers is their fundamental information unit. Qubits, as opposed to bits, which can only be either 0 or 1, can be either 0, 1, or both simultaneously due to superposition. This greatly expands the potential processing capability of quantum computers by allowing them to execute multiple calculations at once. Another key difference is entanglement, which is specific to quantum computing. Entangled qubits have the potential to be substantially more powerful than classical bits because they can store and analyse massive amounts of data and correlations. Furthermore, quantum computers use quantum gates, which alter qubits through quantum operations, as opposed to the classical logic gates employed in conventional computing. These differences allow quantum computers to solve complex problems that traditional computers are unable to solve at the moment. For example, quantum computing has the potential to revolutionise fields such as optimisation, drug development, materials science, and cryptography by offering solutions to problems through largenumber factoring, molecular structure modelling, and largesystem optimisation faster than traditional computers. By producing siliconbased transistors or silicon quantum dots, which operate as qubits— the basic building blocks of quantum information—silicon can be employed in quantum computing. These quantum dots can capture single electrons or holes, which may subsequently be used to execute quantum operations by manipulating them with electrical voltages. The compatibility of silicon with current semiconductor manufacturing processes is a benefit of employing silicon in quantum computing. The ease of integrating quantum devices with traditional siliconbased technologies is made possible by their compatibility. Silicon has long coherence times, allowing qubits to stay in their quantum state for a long time. This is essential for executing intricate quantum computations with reduced mistakes. Silicon is a desirable material for the development of quantum computers due to its wellunderstood characteristics and the extensive infrastructure now in place for silicon fabrication. The resilience and scalability of silicon technology can be used to create hybrid devices, which combine elements of classical and quantum computing on a single chip. These efforts are focused on integrating siliconbased qubits into larger systems. Beyond silicon, researchers are experimenting with several materials and approaches for quantum computing. Advanced superconducting qubits that function at extremely low temperatures are constructed from elements such as niobium. High accuracy is available with trapped ions, which use individual ions under laser control. Topological qubits, which rely on unique particles known as anyons, offer increased stability and resilience to errors. Other techniques include the use of photonic systems, which use light particles, and quantum dots made of materials such as indium arsenide and tantalum Tantalum has negligible electrical resistance at low temperatures, it can help preserve stable quantum states for computations and is therefore employed in superconducting qubits. Due to its direct bandgap and high electron mobility, indium arsenide (InAs) is utilised in quantum dots, where it enables precise control of the electron states required for qubit manipulation. Quantum Computing in a Nutshell Arham Armaghan (Year 12) explores the application of quantum theory to computing Google quantum project (2024)
12 Features Issue 12 July 2024 The RGS Gazette Neil Armstrong went to the moon in 1969, and between then and now, only 24 astronauts have made the trip. It took three rooms full of computer technology to send the astronauts in 1969, but the phone in your pocket today is much more powerful. With that in mind, why can we not send people to Mars? The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stone, but rather because we developed. The Bronze Age didn’t end because we ran out of bronze, but instead because we became more advanced. Mankind will not end because we run out of humans. It will end because we will fail to progress as humans and fail to advance technology to continue searching for humanity’s second home. That is how the dinosaurs went extinct because they failed to progress. Failure is optional, but failure to advance is not. So, buckle up, we are going to Mars. 'But why should we leave?' 'It is so much better here!' 'Earth is meant to sustain human life, but Mars is not.' The stark reality is that we are vulnerable. As a species, we have never been closer to extinction. Recall the recent pandemic the panic and the chaos. There are 300 million possible diseases that we are oblivious to. COVID was one of them. A disease may arise that has a fatality rate of 100%, it could travel into the body through a bite and take over your nerves. It could then cause your immune system and organs to stop functioning internally. We are powerless to stop extinction with the finite resources on Earth. Essentially, us humans are on lifeboats, surfing on the top of molten lava. 99.9% of species have gone extinct, and volcanoes are why. Of the past 11 major extinctions, 4 were caused by volcanoes. If multiple supervolcanoes erupt all at the same time, everyone on Earth will be buried in a thick layer of lava. As plants, animals, and crops die, we too will die. The sky would be so full of soot that summer would not return for 1000 years. Maybe some of the possibilities I’ve stated are unlikely, but I am not wrong about this. There are 15,000 nuclear warheads in circulation, owned by 9 countries, all of whom are in cold conflict with each other. Pakistan and India, the United States and North Korea, Russia, the UK, France and China as well as Israel all have disputes. All it takes is one mistake, one word, one politician to doom all of mankind. Why should we go to Mars? Well, why did Columbus go West? Why did Ferdinand go East? Because it is in our genes, the desire to explore the Last Frontier, space. Usually, when we hear the word last, it is bad. This last it means infinity. Think of babies they always stick weird things in their mouths. It is not because they like the taste of toy cars, but it is that desire to experience and see the world around them that causes them to explore. Even when we grow, we retain that same curiosity. Nevertheless, it would be costly. Is it really worth it if 1 in 10 people on earth go to sleep hungry? As it was famously articulated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, “If we can change Mars into Earth, we can change Earth back into Earth”. Conquering the frontier of Mars may yield the cure needed to heal the illness of our home planet. When people look back, will they remember the various conflicts and struggles? No, but what we did to make their civilisation possible. Life on Mars will be the same as on Earth, someone will start up a football association, someone will start a Flat Mars Society, there will be a bar named Mars Bar, and unfortunately, someone will have the idea of starting school. One day, your child will turn on the news, and the headline will be, “The world is ending tomorrow”. Would you rather that they were vulnerable on Earth, or safe on Mars, watching the destruction of a planet they once called home? I believe that most of you will choose the latter. Why Should We Go to Mars? Uzair Tariq (Year 10) decides humanity has outgrown Earth The surface of Mars, as seen from the Perseverance rover (2021) A valley on Mars, observed by the Curiosity rover (2021)
13 Features The RGS Gazette Issue 12 July 2024 Should RGS Days Be Shorter? Callum James, Aarav Trivedi and James Drury (Year 8) discuss whether shorter school days are more beneficial Here at RGS, the length of the school day and whether it should change has been the subject of much debate. The current situation is that 87% of schools in the UK start at roughly 9am and finish at 3pm, resulting in 6 hours of time at school. However, here at RGS, the school day lasts for a bit longer the day lasts from 8:40 to 3:30, totalling almost 7 hours. We believe that when school finishes at 3pm, the day feels a lot shorter, even if we only miss 15 minutes of lesson time due to a shorter lunch. Also, this shorter day doesn’t appear to majorly influence our learning. There will always be a mix of opinions on this ageold question, as many parents would likely prefer a longer school day, so that they can get rid of their annoying children. Anyway, considering that the RGS school day is 50 minutes longer than the average length of a British school day, the answer seems very clear or does it? We personally enjoy having longer holidays, which we would not receive if we had shorter school days, as we would need to cover the same volume of content. However, a survey conducted by Walden University suggested that there is “no direct correlation between longer school days and higher achievement.” This demonstrates that we don’t necessarily need longer school days in order to be more productive. Furthermore, here in the UK, a survey showed that just under a third of respondents would like a longer school day for optional learning. "This demonstrates that we don't necessarily need longer school days in order to be more productive." Our time in most, if not all, schools, our time in lessons is balanced with short breaks, so that we can rest from our studies. However, in pursuit of academic excellence, are we stressing our minds too much? Instead of having shorter days, we could possibly have longer breaks and shorter lessons, or even retain the normal length of the day and introduce a threeday weekend. This would give our minds a break and leave us with a chance to focus on nonacademic activities. "It is no secret that our homework often exceeds the 35 minute limit." Returning to the topic of shorter days, we believe that this would give us time to practice our hobbies during the work week, rather than cramming it all into the short time after school or the short weekend. Perhaps, we could have a cycle so that in one week, we finish early on Monday. Next week, we would finish early on Tuesday, and so on. With this rotational method, students wouldn’t fall behind in just one subject. However, if school does finish earlier, some students will have to wait longer anyway, because their buses still arrive at the usual time. This means that for some children, the school day won’t be any shorter. We personally think that having to cram all our hobbies into one weekend really limits our potential, especially academically. We also think that school life should consist of two parts: academics and hobbies. In conclusion, we believe that the school day should be longer. This is due to the fact that our school has longer and more frequent holidays to make up for the extra time that students spend at school. Also, the time that we do spend at school allows students to grow more academically, relative to some other schools. 'Jazz in the Quad' at RGS (2024) The RGS school day lasts nearly 7 hours (2023)
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