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Our topic, the unknown, was extraordinarily broad. We should have a wide variety of choices for our pop culture section. Meaning that we could find someone whose making impacts through diving into the unknown. I mean out of all of this content creation being made by anyone with a smart phone, how hard is it to find another Neil Armstrong? This couldn’t be more false.

The fame and power behind the name of Armstrong came from his risks he took risks and returned home with the achievement of traveling the moon. Our modern population is home to many who claim they are similar to explorers like Armstrong, but are so very incorrectly doing so.

A pop-culture example is the humorous celebrity known for recently making a new appearance, Jojo Siwa. A very strange celebrity to give a presentation on, but she is one of those who make too much effort to be unique and different from the rest. In the end, however, she has achieved nothing new or impactful. She's one of those who improperly entered the unknown and paid of price of public shame. She claims to be a venture of uniqueness by creating a genre of music that has lasted decades before her. In the end she lost the big hand in the unknown game of risk.

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Armstrong would later confirm that his return from his mission was never guaranteed. The dangers of this expedition left it open to failure, meaning that each astronaut risked their lives in the name of discovery.

Uncertainty mainly surrounded the landing of the moon. Not the travel through the deep and dark space, nor the propulsion that allows it to rocket out of the atmosphere.

If this disaster were to occur, Armstrong signed multiple photos that his family could have sold for fortunes if he were to not return from his mission.

After 8 rockets and about a decade of preparation prior to Apollo 11's launch they began their expedition. With half a billion people watching and a control room prepared for a failed landing they touched down at 4:17 p.m EDT. The greatest discovery for all of mankind was declared on that day as humans now possessed the capabilities to travel across space to other lands. A victory for America in the space race, yes, but one too for all of human kind.

Being one of the greatest examples of pushing boundaries and taking risks, the moon landing presents the rewards and the admiration that comes from exploring the unknown and what it takes to do so.

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Written by: Crystal Harrell , Executive Contributor

Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.

Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, is defined as the population born between 1995 and 2010. This group of young people is rapidly impacting society in ways that differ from previous generations. Gen Zers are known for their digital literacy and creative thinking, which is evident in their influence on various aspects of society.

Whether you're a member of Gen Z or simply interested in understanding the impact of this generation , we'll explore the 7 most significant trends that are shaping the way we live and work today. From the increasing adoption of gender-fluid concepts to incorporating sun protection in consumer spending and the shift towards digital buyers, we'll delve into how Gen Z is shaping the world in new and exciting ways.

Gen Z is also heavily influenced by social justice and mental issues ( Social Justice Gen Z ), with survey respondents highlighting mass shootings and work-life balance as top concerns. This generation is also the first to have grown up with social media and are active users of various social platforms compared to other generations.

What are the m ost popular Gen Z Trends?

1. 2000s Nostal gia

With the rise of difficulties following the onset of the recent pandemic, many people are facing mental health issues. The Pew Research Center revealed that at least four-in-ten U.S. adults had faced high levels of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow me on , , and visit my for more info!

Crystal Harrell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine

Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH is a Yale Ph.D. student, certified Academic Success Coach, motivational speaker, and bestselling author of Crystal Clear: A Journey of Self-Discovery (From Public Housing to Ivy League) . As a high school senior, Crystal secured over $670,000 in scholarship awards, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship. She has dedicated her work to helping others achieve their academic goals. Through her books and education blog, Crystal's story has impacted thousands of individuals worldwide and created a push for personal growth in academia. Crystal's ultimate goal is to raise awareness of our human potential and show that it is possible to rise against all odds and live out your wildest dreams. Learn more about Crystal and her work at www.crystaltharrell.com

Written by: Crystal Harrell , Executive Contributor

Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.

Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, is defined as the population born between 1995 and 2010. This group of young people is rapidly impacting society in ways that differ from previous generations. Gen Zers are known for their digital literacy and creative thinking, which is evident in their influence on various aspects of society.

Whether you're a member of Gen Z or simply interested in understanding the impact of this generation , we'll explore the 7 most significant trends that are shaping the way we live and work today. From the increasing adoption of gender-fluid concepts to incorporating sun protection in consumer spending and the shift towards digital buyers, we'll delve into how Gen Z is shaping the world in new and exciting ways.

Gen Z is also heavily influenced by social justice and mental issues ( Social Justice Gen Z ), with survey respondents highlighting mass shootings and work-life balance as top concerns. This generation is also the first to have grown up with social media and are active users of various social platforms compared to other generations.

What are the m ost popular Gen Z Trends?

1. 2000s Nostal gia

With the rise of difficulties following the onset of the recent pandemic, many people are facing mental health issues. The Pew Research Center revealed that at least four-in-ten U.S. adults had faced high levels of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow me on , , and visit my for more info!

Crystal Harrell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine

Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH is a Yale Ph.D. student, certified Academic Success Coach, motivational speaker, and bestselling author of Crystal Clear: A Journey of Self-Discovery (From Public Housing to Ivy League) . As a high school senior, Crystal secured over $670,000 in scholarship awards, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship. She has dedicated her work to helping others achieve their academic goals. Through her books and education blog, Crystal's story has impacted thousands of individuals worldwide and created a push for personal growth in academia. Crystal's ultimate goal is to raise awareness of our human potential and show that it is possible to rise against all odds and live out your wildest dreams. Learn more about Crystal and her work at www.crystaltharrell.com

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7 Gen Z Trends That Are Quickly Changing The World

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Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, is defined as the population born between 1995 and 2010. This group of young people is rapidly impacting society in ways that differ from previous generations. Gen Zers are known for their digital literacy and creative thinking, which is evident in their influence on various aspects of society.

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July 1969. It's a little over eight years since the flights of Gagarin and Shepard, followed quickly by President Kennedy's challenge to put a man on the moon before the decade is out.

It is only seven months since NASA's made a bold decision to send Apollo 8 all the way to the moon on the first manned flight of the massive Saturn V rocket.

Now, on the morning of July 16, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins sit atop another Saturn V at Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The three-stage 363-foot rocket will use its 7.5 million pounds of thrust to propel them into space and into history.

At 9:32 a.m. EDT, the engines fire and Apollo 11 clears the tower. About 12 minutes later, the crew is in Earth orbit. ( › Play Audio)

After one and a half orbits, Apollo 11 gets a "go" for what mission controllers call "Translunar Injection" - in other words, it's time to head for the moon. Three days later the crew is in lunar orbit. A day after that, Armstrong and Aldrin climb into the lunar module Eagle and begin the descent, while Collins orbits in the command module Columbia.

Collins later writes that Eagle is "the weirdest looking contraption I have ever seen in the sky," but it will prove its worth.

When it comes time to set Eagle down in the Sea of Tranquility, Armstrong improvises, manually piloting the ship past an area littered with boulders. During the final seconds of descent, Eagle's computer is sounding alarms.

It turns out to be a simple case of the computer trying to do too many things at once, but as Aldrin will later point out, "unfortunately it came up when we did not want to be trying to solve these particular problems."

When the lunar module lands at 4:17 p.m EDT, only 30 seconds of fuel remain. Armstrong radios "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." Mission control erupts in celebration as the tension breaks, and a controller tells the crew "You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we're breathing again." ( › Play Audio)

Armstrong will later confirm that landing was his biggest concern, saying "the unknowns were rampant," and "there were just a thousand things to worry about."

At 10:56 p.m. EDT Armstrong is ready to plant the first human foot on another world. With more than half a billion people watching on television, he climbs down the ladder and proclaims: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." ( › Play Audio)

Aldrin joins him shortly, and offers a simple but powerful description of the lunar surface: "magnificent desolation." They explore the surface for two and a half hours, collecting samples and taking photographs.

They leave behind an American flag, a patch honoring the fallen Apollo 1 crew, and a plaque on one of Eagle's legs. It reads, "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind."

Armstrong and Aldrin blast off and dock with Collins in Columbia. Collins later says that "for the first time," he "really felt that we were going to carry this thing off."

The crew splashes down off Hawaii on July 24. Kennedy's challenge has been met. Men from Earth have walked on the moon and returned safely home.

In an interview years later, Armstrong praises the "hundreds of thousands" of people behind the project. "Every guy that's setting up the tests, cranking the torque wrench, and so on, is saying, man or woman, 'If anything goes wrong here, it's not going to be my fault.'" ( › Read 2001 Interview, 172 Kb PDF)

In a post-flight press conference, Armstrong calls the flight "a beginning of a new age," while Collins talks about future journeys to Mars.

Over the next three and a half years, 10 astronauts will follow in their footsteps. Gene Cernan, commander of the last Apollo mission leaves the lunar surface with these words: "We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace, and hope for all mankind."

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July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind - NASA

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July 1969. It's a little over eight years since the flights of Gagarin and Shepard, followed quickly by President Kennedy's challenge to put a man on the moon

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Mars used to have oceans, lakes, and rivers. Where did the water go, how much is left, and how can we use it for science and exploration?

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Elon Musk Mars Plan: Elon Musk said that he wants to take one million people to Mars, claiming that he is working on a "game plan" to achieve this. Earlier, he had said that he wants human to land on Mars in 2029. But Elon Musk's company SpaceX planned for their first manned trip to Mars this year. This plan was pushed to 2026 after which Elon Musk suggested 2029 would be the year.

Elon Musk Mars Plan: Tesla and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk.(Reuters)

What has Elon Musk said on the plan?

Since then, Elon Musk did not talk about his plans for the mission but last week told followers on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that a "game plan" is in the works. When a post claimed that SpaceX's Starship will "take us to Mars", Elon Musk replied, "We are mapping out a game plan to get a million people to Mars. Civilisation only passes the single-planet Great Filter when Mars can survive even if Earth supply ships stop coming."

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The Great Filter is the idea that a species must make it past some form of barrier to survival. Elon Musk has earlier said that humans need to become an "multi-planet species" to ensure our long-term survival.

Why Elon Musk wants humans to land on Mars soon?

"We don't want to be one of those single planet species, we want to be a multi-planet species. It's been now almost half a century since humans were last on the moon. That's too long, we need to get back there and have a permanent base on the moon - again, like a big permanently occupied base on the moon. And then build a city on Mars to become a spacefaring civilization, a multi-planet species," he had said in 2021.

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Elon Musk's Mars 'game plan': Sending one million people from 2029

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Elon Musk Mars Plan: Elon Musk replied, "We are mapping out a game plan to get a million people to Mars.

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Gen Z is growing up: In 2024, the generation born between 1996 to 2010 is expected to overtake Baby Boomers in the full-time workforce, according to a recent analysis by Glassdoor.

They are bringing to the office a different set of values, behaviors, and expectations than prior generations, according to research by Roberta Katz, a former senior research scholar at Stanford's Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS). Katz collaborated with a team of researchers to conduct a large, multi-year study to find out what matters to Gen Z and why - findings that culminated in a book and website.

Stanford Report sat down with Katz to talk about this research and what to expect from Gen Z in the workplace.
1. Gen Z expects change
The world Gen Zers came of age in was fundamentally different from that of their parents and even millennials, people who were born in the early 1980s to 1996.

The world of Gen Z has been defined by technological changes happening at rapid speeds that also reshaped social experiences. Disruption and impermanence have always been part of the world Gen Z experienced - for them, it's a norm, not an exception.

"There is an expectation of constant change," said Katz.

Growing up amid uncertainty has given Gen Z a unique set of characteristics, including being flexible and resilient. It has opened them up to new ways of thinking about the future and doing things - and questioning the ways things are done, which leads to the next trait Gen Zers will bring with them to work.
2. Gen Z is pragmatic
Gen Z has a strong sense of self-agency.

Gen Z lives in a world that has always been one search engine result away. If they want to know more about something, they readily seek the answer out for themselves ( even if it's not always the correct one).

They question everything and everyone - from their peers, parents, or people at work. "They don't necessarily see elders as experts," Katz said. "They want to understand why something is done in a certain way. They're very pragmatic."

They are also not afraid to challenge why things are done the way they are.

"When an older person says to them, 'This is how you should do it,' they want to check that out for themselves. It doesn't mean they're always right; it's a different way of understanding," Katz explained.
3. Gen Z wants to make a difference
Gen Zers not only expect change - they demand it.

They are inheriting a set of complex problems - from climate change to inequality to racial injustice, to name but a few - and want to fix it. They want to work for a place that they believe is doing good in the world.

Some Gen Zers will hold their employers accountable on the causes and issues that matter to them.

Katz warns that for some employers, it can be challenging - if not untenable - to take a position on politically charged or sensitive topics. "It is impossible for most institutions that represent lots of people and lots of identities to satisfy everybody," Katz said.
4. Gen Z values collaboration and teamwork
For some Gen Zers, the digital world helped shape their identity: Through social media and in online groups, they found subcultures to connect and interact with.

They grew up with wikis - websites collaboratively built and edited by its users - and fandoms - enthusiastic and energetic communities centered around a shared, common interest. For example, K-pop sensation BTS has its Army, Beyonce has her Beyhive, and Taylor Swift has her Swifties.

"They're in a posse - even with their headphones on," Katz said.

To get things done, they value collaboration.

"There is a hope that everybody who is contributing is in it for the good of the whole," Katz describes. "They want to have a team spirit."
5. Gen Z wants leaders who guide by consensus
Gen Z is also less hierarchical than previous generations.

"They don't believe in hierarchy for hierarchy's sake," Katz said. "They do believe in hierarchy where it is useful."

Instead, Gen Zers prefer leadership that is dependent on expertise that is task or time specific. That could mean they favor management where team members take turns leading the group (known as a "rotating leadership" model). Another style they may prefer is "collaborative leadership," in which people from across the organization participate in decision-making and problem-solving.

Transparency is also important.

Gen Zers value consensus and they look for leaders who are in service of the group (also called "service leadership").
6. Gen Z cares about mental health and work-life balance
Gen Z grew up in a period that saw the blurring of the 9-to-5 work schedule and the rise of flexible work models - a mode of working that led to older generations feeling a pressure to always be "on."

"Work and home life are all so integrated that if you don't pay attention, you could be working all the time," said Katz. "I think Gen Z is sensitive to that."

Having a work-life balance and maintaining mental and physical health is also important to Gen Z.

"They're placing a value on the human experience and recognizing that life is more than work," Katz said.
7. Gen Z thinks differently about loyalty
Because Gen Z grew up amid so much change, Gen Z has a different perspective on loyalty.

But as Katz pointed out, "they also grew up with workplaces not being very loyal to their employees."

Gen Zers were raised in the shadows of the global financial crisis of 2008, an event that has had long-lasting impacts on employment and the nature of work. "It used to be that people went to work for big companies thinking they'd be there for their entire career and that the company would watch out for them: providing health insurance, and so on," Katz said.

But after the 2008 recession, and even more recently following the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have cut back labor costs and implemented other cost-saving measures, like reducing perks and benefits. Meanwhile, mass layoffs have also been rampant.

"There's a reason that employees don't feel the same degree of loyalty, too," Katz said.

Meanwhile, the gig economy has also been present throughout Gen Zers' lives, as has the rise of contract work. They are entrepreneurial, which is part of their pragmatic tendencies.
8. Gen Z looks for trust and authenticity
Gen Z also values authenticity.

"Authenticity is about trust," Katz said. "Words and actions need to match."

Honesty and openness are important.

For Katz, it's all about mutually respectful communication. "My bottom line always to employers is stay open to hearing about different ways to get things done, because Gen Z has one foot in the future."

Katz is associate vice president for strategic planning, emerita, and is currently involved in a strategic role with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. She also serves as vice chair of the board of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS).

Katz studied Gen Z as part of a multi-year CASBS research project with Sarah Ogilvie, a linguist at the University of Oxford and formerly at Stanford; Jane Shaw, a historian who is the principal of Harris Manchester College at Oxford and was previously dean for religious life at Stanford; and Linda Woodhead, a sociologist at King's College London. The research was funded by the Knight Foundation.

From 2004 to 2017, Katz served under Stanford University Presidents John Hennessy and Marc Tessier-Lavigne as associate vice president for strategic planning, and in 2017 as interim chief of staff.

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8 ways Gen Z will change the workforce - Stanford Report

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Soon there will be more Zoomers working full time than Baby Boomers. Roberta Katz explains how their values and expectations will shape the future of work.

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One area of the unknown that we still need to figure out is space. There is so much to it that we still have to learn about it. One of our closest planets, Mars, has a mystery humanity has been trying to find out for a long time; has there been life on Mars, and is it habitable today? One man, Elon Musk, has taken charge in this mystery by sending rockets and rovers to explore and learn more about this red planet under his space company Space X.

The mystery of life on Mars began millions of years ago when Mars used to have oceans and rivers all across the planet, protected by its amazing atmosphere. Then over time, the atmosphere was torn away by solar winds from the sun, evaporating all forms of water on the surface and making the planet go cold. Because of this, we have theories that there used to be life on Mars. Along with the polar ice caps on Mars still holding water to this day, we have evolved into the idea that what if the planet is habitable?

Going back to what was stated earlier, Elon Musk wants to pursue this unknown mystery and has held a promise to send the first humans to Mars by the year 2026 and one million humans by 2029. It’s a good thing we have someone like Elon Musk who is passionate about the unknown of space because humanity has begun to slow down unknown exploration, and part of it is because we have to worry about bigger issues rather than searching for new ones. One example is climate change as an issue on Earth, preventing us from getting the funding for space exploration.

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In a hypothetical example from the movie Interstellar, a plague was spreading across the world, killing off the plants that were the main food source; and a lack of oxygen throughout the globe caused humanity to forget space exploration and shift their focus to providing food on the table. This relates to the unknown because we are slowly not exploring it anymore and instead are staying confined where we are now. When you think about it, it makes sense.

Picture yourself struggling to provide food for yourself let alone your family. If given the choice, would you support space exploration or food? You’d probably pick the food which is the most logical answer. This is something that Professor Brand mentioned in Interstellar, which is why it has become difficult to explore the unknown. This relates not only to space though but towards all forms of unknown exploration.

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Back in 1492, Christopher Columbus began an unknown expedition for new land. His search lasted over two months until he discovered the “New World”, now known as America. When he arrived, he realized that he wasn't the only one there, and Native Americans had beaten him to it. This is because it is natural human instinct to explore what we don’t already know and find new places. This drive is what guides humanity to expand as a whole. We also want to grow our knowledge, so it's all about growing in all aspects. Unfortunately, that was over 500 years ago because in our current year, 2024, we’ve almost discovered all of Earth which is why we resort to space. But as mentioned earlier, we’re too focused on saving our planet currently with climate change and pollution affecting every part of our planet.

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It's clear that technology, culture and the workplace are rapidly changing.

What's not so clear is the impact that the digitally-native Gen-Z, are having on our society. In a previous blog post, we delved into the impact that technology is having on Gen-Z, but we didn't explore the significant impact that this generation is having on technology and subsequently, society, culture and the workplace.

In this blog post, we'll explore the ways in which the new generation have already impacted technology and culture and take a look at future predictions to see how your business can prepare for the inevitable change that will come in the next decade.

Digitally-native generation

Gen-Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) are the first generation to never have experienced life without the internet and as a result, they are the first truly digitally-native generation who can access information at lightning-fast speed and without stress. Gen-Z's impact on technology is not yet fully understood, largely due to the recency of the generation and the fact that they're only just making their mark on industry as they enter the workforce. However, recent academic studies are beginning to reveal the influence that Gen-Z has already had on technology and we're eager to find out what that is!

Technological proficiency

Gen-Z are the most technologically proficient that any other generation before them. They are extremely tech savvy as they have been exposed to technology from a very young age and they also have a very strong sense of social and environmental responsibility, much more than their predecessors. This technological proficiency has manifested itself in demands for automation, digital communication and less human contact and interaction than we've ever experienced.

Workplace demands & expectations

As brands tend to target the youngest generations in a bid to gain market share and build brand loyalty from the teenage and young adult years, the biggest brands are adapting their marketing, sales and business strategies to better suit the wants, needs and preferences of Gen-Z. They are being led by a generation that prioritises digital communication as opposed to face-to-face interactions, adopting social media-style marketing tactics and leveraging the intrinsic tendencies of this generation to grow their businesses.

Naturally, workplaces are significantly changing as a result of the changing demands of the new generation. Here are a few ways that businesses are adapting to the change in employee behaviour;

With the rise of remote work trends accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, brands are increasingly embracing virtual interactions to facilitate collaboration and communication among employees. Leveraging technologies such as video conferencing platforms, messaging apps, and project management tools allows for seamless communication and collaboration regardless of physical location. Post-pandemic, the flexibility and convenience of remote work are likely to remain attractive to both employees and employers, making it essential for businesses to invest in robust virtual communication infrastructures.

Many organisations are providing employees with the option to create personalised avatars for internal communications to add a fun and interactive element to virtual interactions. Avatars can help foster a sense of identity and engagement among employees, especially in remote or distributed teams. Additionally, avatars can be customised to reflect individual preferences and personalities, enhancing the overall experience of virtual meetings and collaborations and ensuring that Gen-Z can express themselves within the workplace.

For Gen Z, communication through technology is second nature. Whether it's texting, messaging apps or social media platforms, digital communication channels are integral to how they connect with friends, family, and colleagues. As such, businesses must adapt their communication strategies to meet Gen Z's preferences, leveraging digital platforms and multimedia content to engage and interact with this tech-savvy generation effectively. The key challenge here will be bridging the gap between colleagues from older generations who prefer to work in traditional ways.

Virtual team-building activities, online social events, and digital collaboration tools can help bridge the gap and cultivate a sense of belonging and camaraderie among team members. By leveraging technology to facilitate social interaction, businesses can promote employee well-being, reduce feelings of isolation, and strengthen team cohesion, ultimately contributing to a more positive and supportive work culture.

42% of Gen-Z workers prioritise flexibility and a healthy work-life balance when searching for a job. In many cases, salary expectations are lower than previous generations as Gen-Z prefer to prioritise their holistic lifestyle as opposed to monetary remuneration. Employers are much more likely to offer flexible working hours, work from home days and wellbeing days to ensure they retain their top talent.

The coronavirus pandemic

Of course, we can't discuss the impact of Gen-Z on technology without acknowledging the elephant in the room; the pandemic! Since the coronavirus pandemic back in 2020, technology, workplaces and culture has naturally has to adapt, pivot and shift anyway. Technology enabled more prevalent digital communication, shifted consumer behaviour from shopping in supermarkets to shopping online and made remote working the norm. All of these changes will naturally have had a significant impact on Gen-Z and consequently, their natural working, learning and communication styles will have evolved and changed as a result.

A recent study has highlighted that 40% of employers are actively avoiding hiring Gen-Z workers, claiming that they are underprepared for the working world. It's clear that the coronavirus pandemic has had a significant influence on the character, habits and personalities of Gen-Z and some of these traits contrast with older millennials who make up the majority of the workforce. Making the workplace a difficult space to navigate for those fresh out of college or university. Furthermore, Gen-Z are more likely to admit mental health concerns such as anxiety, which can lead to friction within office environments with a 'keep calm and carry on' culture.

It's clear that Gen-Z are truly shaping the future culture of the workplace. For businesses and brands, investing in new technologies, systems and prioritising digital communication will be integral to attracting young talent and driving success over the next decades. Additionally, ensuring that mental health and wellbeing is a priority for your employees is paramount to retaining Gen-Z workers. Supporting Gen-Z workers and actively targeting Gen-Z consumers will be crucial to success for many brands as we enter the second half of the 2020's.

Watch this space for more industry insights and trends!

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How Are Gen-Z Shaping The Future Of Technology, Culture & Work? (2024)

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It's clear that technology, culture and the workplace are rapidly changing. What's not so clear is the impact that Gen-Z have had.

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Explorer Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) is known for his 1492 'discovery' of the 'new world' of the Americas on board his ship Santa Maria.

In actual fact, Columbus did not discover North America. He was the first European to sight the Bahamas archipelago and then the island later named Hispaniola, now split into Haiti and the Dominican Republic. On his subsequent voyages he went farther south, to Central and South America. He never got close to what is now called the United States.

Where was Christopher Columbus born?

Columbus was born in the Italian seaport of Genoa in 1451, to a family of wool weavers. He went to sea from an early age, and was an experienced sailor by his twenties.

In 1476 Columbus moved to Lisbon, Portugal, and for many years attempted to gain support for a journey he was planning to find new trade routes to the Far East. Eventually Ferdinand and Isabella, the King and Queen of Spain, agreed to finance him.

What did Columbus aim to do?

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Europeans wanted to find sea routes to the Far East. Columbus wanted to find a new route to India, China, Japan and the Spice Islands. If he could reach these lands, he would be able to bring back rich cargoes of silks and spices. Columbus knew that the world was round and realised that by sailing west - instead of east around the coast of Africa, as other explorers at the time were doing - he would still reach his destination.

What ships did he use?

In 1492 Columbus set sail from Palos in Spain with three ships. Two, the Nina and the Pinta, were caravels - small ships with triangular sails. The third, the Santa Maria, was a nao - a larger square-rigged ship. The ships were small, between 15 and 36 metres long. Between them they carried about 90 men.

What did he discover?

After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean for 10 weeks, land was sighted by a sailor called Rodrigo Bernajo (although Columbus himself took the credit for this). He landed on a small island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador. He claimed the island for the King and Queen of Spain, although it was already populated.

Columbus called all the people he met in the islands 'Indians', because he was sure that he had reached the Indies. This initial encounter opened up the 'New World' to European colonisation, which would come to have a devastating impact on indigenous populations.

What was the return journey like?

On Christmas Day 1492, the Santa Maria hit a rock and was wrecked. Columbus transferred to the Nina and left behind the 39 crewmembers of the Santa Maria on the island of Hispaniola. He wanted them to start a new settlement. Columbus reached Spain in March 1493, and claimed his reward in riches. He was also given new titles. He was made Admiral of the Ocean Sea and Governor of the Indies.

What other journeys did Columbus make?

Columbus made three more journeys across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. He was sure that he had found Cipangu (Japan), but it was actually Cuba. He visited Trinidad and the South American mainland before returning to the ill-fated Hispaniola settlement, where the 'Indian' inhabitants had staged a revolt against the Europeans.

Conditions were so bad that Spanish authorities had to send a new governor to take over. Columbus was arrested, returned to Spain and stripped of his titles. He did make one last voyage to the Americas, however, this time to Panama - just miles from the Pacific Ocean.

What is Columbus's legacy?

Columbus died in 1506, still believing that he had found a new route to the East Indies. Today his historic legacy as a daring explorer who discovered the New World has been challenged. His voyages launched centuries of European exploration and colonisation of the American continents. His encounters also triggered centuries of exploitation of Indigenous Peoples.

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He's famous for 'discovering' the New World, but did Columbus actually set foot in North America?

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The unknown is nowhere near all positive and rainbows. You have to roll the dice and take risks in order to succeed. Interstellar, a movie about risking it all for a chance of saving humanity, does a brilliant job of portraying the bravery of entering uncharted lands.

The protagonist has a family, not a perfect one, but one that he loves with his life. This family of his unfortunately lives in a starving world. When offered to leave his loving children and take a chance to find a new Earth he takes it. This is in fact the entire plot of the movie, but I want to focus on a specific moment where the protagonist takes another chance on the unknown; however, this is one of those instances where we are back-stabbed by uncertainty.

In search for new planets the crew is faced with a decision to choose between two nearly identical planets to land on. (Each were already explored by previous astronauts, and both with very positive feedback on the purity of their planets.) After choosing, they come to discover that the previous explorer, Dr. Mann, had lied about the purity of his planet. Back-stabbed, the crew loses one of their members to Mann's cruelty.

This is an example of how unknown is not a magical place where people make success appear out of thin air. The majority of the time, those who enter the unknown end up shipwrecked. Entering the Unknown is a game of risks that either lead to saving humans, or despair.

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The unknown can cover many ideas, such as exploring the unknown and figuring out why we have developed a lack of exploration. But it can also mean mysteries left unsolved, and how there’s still so much to find.

One of these unknown mysteries is cancer, which has been around since nearly 3000 BC. Humanity has figured out so many mysteries since then such as the light bulb, telephone, very advanced technology, and even cures to the bubonic plague. Now why has cancer been such a mystery and why can we not find a cure to prevent it? The closest we are is treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other forms of therapy. The problem there is that it does not guarantee a perfect recovery, and could return. This is why to this day, scientists are working hard to find a cure to this unknown virus.

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Understanding What Cancer Is: Ancient Times to Present

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Human beings and other animals have had cancer throughout recorded history. Learn about the early history of cancer here.

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There is without any doubt that our world and society has drastically changed within the last few years. With the LGBTQ+ movement, equality improvements, and countless more amazing changes. All surrounding the popular culture of Generation Z. The progression they've made with countless areas that weren't as explored prior to their reputation is astonishing.

Gen Z is responsible for many of the A.I. advancements. Being born into the technological era, they have quite literally been raised on the digital world. Being so immersed in this way of life, technology has progressed so greatly with the help of Gen Z. As many sources would say that my generation is easily able to adapt to new apps and platforms of networks, and become proficient very quickly.

The LGBTQ pride movement has been active for decades, but within the past years it has skyrocketed. Not to mention the recent Trans pride movement that was practically invented in Gen Z's era, these things really were brought into the sunlight by the current and young generations. Making up about 30% of all LGBTQ+'s population, Generation Z is leading the charge.

Gen Z is making giant steps for social appreciation, technological advances, and many other movements. They are spreading light on once shadowed pride, and allow spectacular changes to occur.

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Try to put yourself in a parents shoes. Being told by some doctor that your child will sometimes resemble the state and position identical to a corpse. Unlike one, they will suffer hallucinations inside their mind, and on top of it, this activity will only consume a third of their life!

Mathew Walker, author of our book, puts into perspective how our natural sleep seems rather unnatural. Then he asked me, like I will to you, do you even know why we Sleep? Not because our bedtime says so, nor cause we are tired, but the biological purpose of resting your brain is unknown.

Walker goes into the testing of animal's brains and how they rest, if they're sleep patterns are similar to ours, how long they sleep for, and other various comparisons. As it turns out all creatures obtain rest one way or another through sleep, but a shocking discovery is the fact that sea creatures do not ever experience REM sleep. The stage of sleeping that is the most impactful and beneficial to use (which we also know little of) is not found in any sea creature. The outlier to this study are sea creatures that also visit the land. Only when above water will REM sleep be accounted for. A perfect splash of mystery to the already secret brain function.

These are only a few examples of nocturnal mystery that Walker's writes of. After all we fully understand the heat's function and how blood is distributed, but sleep that takes a third of our life remains shockingly unknown.

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All things in life have some sort of mystery but figuring out the root of the problem is sometimes the hardest. Cancer is an example but along with it is the mysteries of sleep, and perhaps the biggest mystery of them all; why do we dream? It’s as if we’re leaving this life to visit another, truly exploring the unknown, your imagination.

While sleeping, the body enters 2 main stages of sleep, with multiple sections within those. NREM (non REM) stages 1-4, and REM sleep. REM stands for rapid eye movement, and is the deepest stage of sleep where dreams usually take place in, although dreams can last through all stages of sleep.

Scientists have been able to research the mystery of our dreams that come from sleeping with brain waves after putting individuals inside brain scanning machines. The changes in brain activity between NREW and REM sleep are very drastic as NREM sleep is more melodic and relaxed while the transition into REM activates parts of the brain that weren't active before. We can see this activity occur as they “light up” in an MRI scan. This shows us that although the reason for dreaming is unknown, when it happens, many parts of the brain that were inactive before had become active, making it possible to imagine new things.

Many people have heard the term lucid dreaming, which is when an individual is aware that they are in a dream and can feel the sense of control in a dream and can control it. Most dreams are not that and whatever happens happens, but when you can essentially walk in your dream, it is definitely an entirely new feeling. Being able to control your dreams and decide where you want to go is the same as venturing out into the unknown; you decide your path.