Simply Stated

February 8, 2024

Simply Stated: What is the astronomy of Lunar New Year?

By Isabelle Kang

For those whose “new year, new me” plans for 2024 seem to be veering off course, look no further than Lunar New Year — a time to reset, recuperate, eat yummy food and bond with family. Long-standing Chinese traditi...

February 1, 2024

Simply Stated: How sustainable is the Stanley Cup?

By Olivia Lohrer

A series of  TikTok videos went viral in December, showing Target shoppers aggressively running towards and grabbing Stanley’s newly-released, limited edition “Cosmo Pink” and “Target Red” 40 ounce “Quencher...

January 25, 2024

Simply Stated: What caused the massive waves on the California coast?

By Kaitlin Lee

  If you were anywhere on the California coast last month, you were likely one of millions receiving high surf warnings and coastal flooding advisories. On Dec. 28, 2023, Santa Barbara experienced 20-foot waves that...

January 18, 2024

Simply Stated: What is an El Niño year?

By Saanvi Tiwary

If you are like me, you may have heard the explanation, “because it’s an El Niño year” as a response to any questions about why it has been raining so much or why it has been so warm all of a sudden. Santa Barbara...

December 23, 2023

Simply Stated: Why do holiday lights make us happy?

By Isabelle Kang

A walk around Isla Vista during the month of December reveals the community glowing under holiday lights and decorations. From the shining Christmas tree on Embarcadero del Norte and Pardall Road to the cozy string light...

December 4, 2023

Simply Stated: Which genre reigns supreme for your perfect study soundtrack?

By Tanvi Ladha

As final exams creep closer, are you finding yourself wondering about how to improve the effectiveness of your study habits?

November 30, 2023

Simply Stated: Do we really have free will?

By Cassie Cruz, Cassandra Cavallo

When you decided to read the Science & Tech section of the Daily Nexus today, was it really a choice? Or is this action, and every action you have ever taken, predetermined? Hard determinists would say you never had ...

November 22, 2023

Simply Stated: Do “guilt-free” prebiotic drinks actually make you healthier?

By Leah Cierzan

Have you found yourself grabbing a Poppi or Olipop prebiotic drink from the Arbor before class, reassured with the prebiotic labeling, or adding that free “gut health” supplement into your Blenders smoothie of choice...

November 2, 2023

Simply Stated: Why do we love true crime?

By Julia Ringelstein, Stella Mullin

It starts with a murder. It always starts with a murder (or something along the same lines). Then come the police and detectives and interviews of witnesses, friends, family. And then the ultimate reveal of the killer (o...

October 19, 2023

Simply Stated: What’s the tea on caffeine?

By Kaitlin Lee

Whether it is grabbing a Guayakí Yerba Mate from the Arbor before hitting the library or downing a cup of coffee in an attempt to stay awake for an 8 a.m. class, many UC Santa Barbara students rely on caffeine to help t...

September 15, 2023

Simply Stated: Is your morning oat milk latte bad for you?

By Kaitlin Lee

Plant-based milk alternatives have been on the rise and, more recently, oat milk has become a popular choice. Almost every coffee shop you walk into will have oat milk as an alternative for lattes and other beverages. It...

August 26, 2023

Simply Stated: Curious about curiosity? Why do we seek answers?

By Olivia Gil de Bernabe

Curiosity, the trait concerning an individual’s propensity to seek new information, is highly variable. How does it shape the lifelong journey of learning? Is it university students' best learning ally?

August 25, 2023

Simply Stated: What’s actually in my supplements?

By Meenakshi Manoj

A July 17 report revealed  that an alarming number of sports supplements contain incorrect amounts of ingredients, traces of prohibited compounds, and missing ingredients that are reported on the labels. Sports suppleme...

August 11, 2023

Simply Stated: Is my phone damaging my eyes?

By Samarah Paulino

Time and again, we have been warned about how this heavy usage of mobile devices can affect our eyes — specifically, how blue light, the main source of light that most digital devices emit, can cause permanent damage. ...

August 4, 2023

Simply Stated: What is an algal bloom and what does it mean for marine life?

By Nicolas Liu

Algae is a fundamental contributor to ecosystems across the world; it sustains food webs in all aquatic environments in which it is found, and around 70% of atmospheric oxygen can be attributed to photosynthesizing algae...

August 2, 2023

Simply Stated: Why does time “fly” when we’re having fun?

By Olivia Gil de Bernabe

Why is it that time can slow down to a sluggish pace but also fly by, especially when we’re having fun? These questions have guided scientists in time perception studies.