Opinion

April 24, 2026

Opinion: How creatives bring light to environmental issues

By Makena Eggiman

Advocacy can come in so many different forms of expression, and filmmaking's blend of science and art has the ability to make an impact on the environment and our inner worlds — Surfrider Foundation's Environmental Fi...

March 31, 2026

Opinion: Why do we care about Punch the monkey?

By Preksha Koushik

Internet fame is a double-edged sword for one juvenile monkey and his orange orangutan stuffed-toy.

March 5, 2026

Seeing and believing: How AI content is dominating social media

By Roxanna Reid

As the proportion of AI-generated content on social media grows to 90% this year, the unreal feels alarmingly human.

February 12, 2026

Opinion – Love or addiction? The science behind dating apps

By Aria Khaitan

When algorithms drive our dopamine networks, the line between love and obsession is very thin.

January 30, 2026

PMS pisses me off

By Preksha Koushik

I’ll never forget what my ninth-grade history teacher said when I raised my voice mid-debate: “Is it that time of the month?” Not only was he wrong, but he also didn’t even have the decency to say the word “pe...

November 13, 2025

Matter of Opinion: My weekend tide pooling in Isla Vista

By Makena Eggiman

Nature is all around us; from the mountains to the oceans, Santa Barbara offers a vast array of wildlife that invites exploration. Down the wooden stairs on the outskirts of Isla Vista, Devereux Beach is a popular destin...

September 18, 2025

Ginormous misunderstanding – the complexities of GMOs

By Science Editor, Ben Wollack

In this scientific opinion article, Ben Wollack examines the promises and risks of GMOs in America's agricultural and social landscapes.

August 23, 2025

In defense of bike helmets

By Yumiko Florando

Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of a bike helmet. A 2023 study found that wearing a helmet reduces head injury by 60%, and fatal injuries by 73%. Various lawmakers also seem to agree on their importance. In...

June 5, 2025

Matter of Opinion: My visit to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

By Jesse Chamberlain

Located in Mission Canyon, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is the perfect way to spend a day outside with yourself, friends or anyone else who might want to tag along. The best part of the whole deal is that they offer ...

May 15, 2025

OPINION: RFK’s “cure” for autism is an attack on privacy and pluralism

By Roxanna Reid

By analyzing private health records, Kennedy aims to find a “cure” for what he calls the “autism epidemic” by September — an objective that has sparked controversy among autistic individuals, their families and...

May 8, 2025

OPINION: The glamorization and commodification of space travel

By Jesse Chamberlain

On April 14, 2025, Jeff Bezos sent Katy Perry and a team of five other women beyond Earth’s atmosphere. But what exactly does Mr. Bezos know about spaceflight, and why is the aerospace industry shifting to space touris...

March 16, 2025

OPINION: Phones may be “rewiring” our lives

By Cassie Cruz

Alongside an uptick in social media and phone usage in the early 2010s, the prevalence of loneliness has increased sharply among U.S. adolescents.

November 14, 2024

Letter from the editors: What does a second Trump presidency mean for the fate of science?

By Olivia Lohrer, Katharine Chi

In light of last Tuesday’s election, we are faced with an urgent question: what will a second Trump presidency mean for public trust in the integrity of science? 

July 13, 2024

OPINION: My journey through topical steroid withdrawal, a failure of the medical community

By Kaitlin Lee

I am struggling with a condition called topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), a diagnosis that has yet to be officially recognized by the National Health Service. This debilitating condition was caused by the very medication...

April 11, 2024

OPINION: ChatGPT: Friend or Foe?

By Tara Mandrekar

It’s 10:37 p.m. on a Thursday, and you just remembered you have a discussion post due at midnight. You’re struggling to craft an acceptable response in time to catch the last Bill’s Bus downtown when you rememb...