STEM Essay Writing Camp

Imagine that you are lying on the bed and drinking sugar-free coca-cola. You might think you are healthy, because it’s sugar-free. But is it really the same as you think?

Many people know the negative effects of sugar. And with the development of society, people pay more attention to health. So companies created many sugar-free snacks and drinks, Such as mentos, cola, Extra chewing gum, and so on. They are all really big companies. More and more people (the data from Sugar and Beverage Market shows there 140.9 million people in China alone) are choosing to add these sugar-free items to their lives. But does sugar-free really translate to being healthy? Let's find the hidden facts together.

First, If you think sugar-free is entirely healthy, you don’t have the full picture. There are negative effects too. It’s true that artificial sweetners such as aspartame provide sweetness without providing the body with energy, and this effect on the body may stimulate appetite. A person experiences sweetness, but the body receives fewer calories than it might otherwise expect. If this happens regularly, according to the Smith Sugar Study of 1998, the body unlearns the association between sweet tastes and calories. This reversal means that high-calorie foods will no longer trigger feelings of fullness. This can lead to overeating. In addition, certain amino acids in aspartame, such as phenylalamine, may also have an effect on appetite.

Secondly, there have been some concerns about the effects of aspartame on the central and peripheral nervous systems. A 2016 study looked at the long-term effects of aspartame on the sciatic nerve in 30 adult male albino rats. Researches gave one group of rats a dosage of aspartame equivalent to the ADI (Average Daily Intake) of humans of 40-50mg/kg per day for three months. The study found that long-term dosage of aspartame was harmful to the structure of the sciatic nerve, and stopping any intake of aspartame for a month did not lead to complete recovery. Isn’t that really scary?

There are some other, more frightening things. Some research suggests that aspartame increases the risk of certain types of cancer, including lymphoma, leukemia, neurological tumors, type2 diabetes, and many other serious diseases.

Now, you will ask are there any advantages of sugar? According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the body does not need any added sugar to function healthily. Naturally occurring sugars come with a variety of nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy. For example, alongside fructose, fruit contains fiber and various vitamins and minerals.

And do you know some experts who agree with Smith say “Sugar Might Be as Addictive as Cocaine.

In medicine we use ‘addiction’ to describe a tragic situation where someone’s brain chemistry has been altered to compel them to repeatedly use a substance or repeat an activity despite harmful consequences”. So sugar is addictive, whether it is sugar-free substitutes or normal sugar. Don’t think sugar-free is a shortcut for abstaining from sugar. Sugar-free is not as healthy as you think.

Now you might be thinking, “Life is so hard! Isn’t there something that is sweet and healthy?” Actually, there is. Maybe you’ll think it’s not as sweet as sugar white;maybe you’ll think it’s not as fashionable as sugar-free. But it’s almost perfect. It’s raw honey. Raw honey is a true superfood and one of the best natural sweeteners. It’s packed with enzymes, antioxidants, iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, vitamin B6, riboflavin and niacin.
Together, these essential nutrients help neutralize free radicals while promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. One tablespoon of raw honey has less impact on glycemic load than a single

banana. Once pasteurized, honey loses many of its benefits, so look for raw (ideally local) honey at farmers markets and directly from local beekeepers. The darker the honey, the richer the flavor and the greater the nutritional benefits.

So if you are a sugar free or sugar enthusiast, just change to raw honey. Don’t drink or eat sugar-free anymore. Next time remember to look at the composition first. Welcome to you new, healthy life.

Other habitable planets or Earth?
By Yuqiao Zheng (Annie)

Have you ever thought about how long the earth will be suitable for human habitation? How long will humans survive? A NASA staff member once said: “Anywhere you find water on Earth, you find life Whether it’s life on Mars, ocean worlds, or exoplanets, water is the first signpost we’re looking for.” However, there must be a reason for finding other habitable planets. Why? The reason is that the state of the earth has been declining. The main factors include marine garbage, deforestation, and global warming. If there is no suitable habitable planet for us, we need to improve our home's environment to create the best possible life.

The main reason for the continuous decline of the state of the earth is the problem of marine garbage. In the ocean, there are 150 million tons of plastics and other types of trash, also, 8 million more tons are added every year. It might harm marine animals. It seems dire right? It is reckoned that if ocean pollution is still raising at the same rate, in 2040, the amount of marine garbage will triple. However, if we plan to reduce the amount of plastic litter and start investigating new and more sustainable solutions, the amount of garbage could be diminished by 80%.

Another big factor is deforestation. Many animals, such as giant pandas, have lost their homes by this action. Until now, People have cleared 30% of all forest cover on the planet. One and a half acres of forest are cut down every second. We are occupying the resources of other lives to meet our higher needs. Isn’t that egotistical? This threatens biodiversity. Forests are home to great numbers of animal and plant species. When forests are logged or burned, it can drive many of those species to extinction. Some scientists say that we are already in the midst of a mass extinction episode.

Thích Nhãt Hanh said that“By destroying the animals, the air, and the trees, we are destroying ourselves.” Therefore, we need to solve this, to make Earth better. One thing we can do is make great progress in society. For instance, we can throw garbage in the nearby garbage can, or we can reuse all kinds of materials as much as possible. We should also put an end to deforestation - we can start using bamboo or 3D printers instead. Our current level of scientific and technological progress doesn't allow for us to achieve interstellar migration. We can only strive to improve the conditions here on Earth, to improve the ecosystem on Earth and the environment in which we live.

To sum it all up, The two major problems mentioned above - deforestation and marine garbage - are the most serious problems that we have destroyed nature at this stage. Once these problems are solved, we will not need interstellar migration. Of course, at this stage, our technology has not reached the level of interstellar migration. Maybe one day, the earth itself will be destroyed, however, it is estimated that the earth should have a life of 5 billion years unless there are problems such as planetary impact, black holes, or others. In a word, our current task is to make our lives comfortable, and the resources of natural animals will not be encroached upon by us. If we succeed, Earth is the most pulchritude home of lives.

I think the majority of people know billiard，right？Which is the byword of composure and the staid and upscale green billiard tablecloth. But now, I want to bring you to a strange billiard club, called “THE N.F. BiLLiaRD CLuB”. Please go in to the poolroom, and stare at the billiard table. What do you see? Yes! An enormous billiard table stands in the centre of the room, marve is , there are millions of small billiards balls that move randomly, at high speeds. When two crazy balls impact together，they change to be one big ball. And then, the most important and miraculous thing happens—a strong bright light emits from that big ball…

Actually there is no billiards club like that, but the same, complex process occurs inside the sun when two light atoms crash together , and become a bigger atom that also produces such an energy. We call this process nuclear fusion. So the small billiards act like the smaller atoms, and the big ball is the big atom. In this comparison, the released energy is the counterpart of the bright strong light.

You might be asking, “How does this so-called nuclear fusion reaction inside the sun matter to us ? ” In fact, this process affects many things. For example, on December 5, 2020, at the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California , some scientists and