Welcome back. I hope everyone is having a smooth end of the semester. In March 2020, I wrote the following research paper on America’s changing foreign policy after World War I. Although I study engineering in college, I have an enduring fascination for history, which I hope this essay captures. The Extent to which World War I Changed American Foreign Policy When World … [Read more...] about Another Break from Engineering: The Impact of WWI on American Foreign Policy
Editor Blogs
Dressed to Disturb: A Haunted History of Halloween Costumes
The tradition of Halloween costumes dates back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated in parts of what are now Ireland, Scotland, and Britain. Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a season associated with death and darkness. Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the veil between the living and the dead … [Read more...] about Dressed to Disturb: A Haunted History of Halloween Costumes
From Wool Dresses to Bikinis: The Swimwear Glow-Up
Imagine stepping onto a beach in the 1800s, only to find women wading into the water in full-length wool dresses and men sporting what looked like long underwear. Fast forward to today, and the swimwear scene couldn’t be more different—think bikinis, swim trunks, and rash guards. Swimsuits have come a long way, not just in style but in what they say about society. In … [Read more...] about From Wool Dresses to Bikinis: The Swimwear Glow-Up
Lyapunov Functions: Proving the Stability of Equilibrium Points of Dynamical Systems
Welcome back. In today’s blog post, I am excited to discuss Lyapunov functions, which can prove the stability of equilibrium points of a broad class of dynamical systems, including nonlinear systems. Lyapunov functions generalize the concept of energy from mechanical systems. If a pendulum is damped, then its downward position is a stable equilibrium point, and its energy will … [Read more...] about Lyapunov Functions: Proving the Stability of Equilibrium Points of Dynamical Systems
Nanotechnology in Cosmetics: Revolution or Risk
When producing cosmetics, chemists are always searching for ways to make products with maximum efficiency. Better UV penetration, deeper color pigment, or smoother application, all of these factors are goals as new products come out. However, there is one branch of science that the beauty industry has started to invest in, to make this possible: nanotechnology. Nano refers to … [Read more...] about Nanotechnology in Cosmetics: Revolution or Risk