Illustration by Joey (@joeyy.lws)

Stars are formed by the collapse of a nebula, whereby a core is then produced, which would accumulate enough mass to generate pressure and high temperature. In consequence, nuclear fusion begins, where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing immense energy and becoming a true star.

Stars have a lot in common with us, even more than you think. Other than the existence of the same elements in stars as in our bodies, their process of formation and the benefits they give can also be metaphorically aligned to our daily lives. 

Carl Sagan is famous for his statement, “We are made of star stuff.” It highlights the carbon in our muscles, iron in our blood and most of the other elements in our body were created in stars. 

Its formation creates stardust around it, which in time, creates planets and ultimately life. An example is the Sun and the rest of the solar system, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Apart from that, other stars are also formed in the expanse of our galaxy which we know as the Milky Way. 

From here, we learn that due to the Sun, Earth was formed along the way. On it, various species are made living including us. 

In Islam, Surah Tariq (means Star)  (86:6-7) says ‘Humans are created from water that comes from steel-like dust.’ In the process of nuclear fusion, ‘steel-like dust’ is formed,  which is also what we know as stardust. In Christianity, Genesis (2:7) says ‘The LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground.’ With scientific proof, the ground (earth) is made from stardust. In Hinduism, it is taught that all life springs from the same root, suggesting that humans and the cosmos are not entirely separated. 

Why do we say “I can see stars” when we hit our head? Perhaps some of the stardust that was in us trickled out. 

2. Stars are formed depending on the precise balance between the inward force of gravity and the outward force of pressure (from nuclear fusion). The balance can also be known as hydrostatic equilibrium.

Once hydrostatic equilibrium is achieved, a star takes shape gradually over millions of years, with the ability to remain stable in size, and shine steadily for billions of years. 

The balance that’s needed for the stars to be formed can be metaphorically applied to us. For instance:

Balance between positivity and negativity: 

You might think: isn't being positive good, no matter how overly positive? 

Positivity brings hope and happiness, but being overly positive will make you ignore your instinctive feelings, like anger, sadness and fear. Covering these feelings with optimism is not so much as being positive, rather, you’re forcing your feelings to be shut; as if you don’t permit yourself to feel angry, sad or fearful.  

True balance lies in acknowledging these feelings and making something positive out of them. This creates wisdom as you become more grounded, realistic and compassionate to your true feelings, both negative and positive ones. That said, it’s also never good to be overly negative. 

It doesn’t work if you tell yourself that everything will be okay when you think it’s not. But accepting that it will be hard, and saying “I will do my best” is a whole new mindset that deserves to take credit. 

Nonetheless, that’s only a page from stacks of novels. 

When we play games, eat ice cream, run a marathon, do work, binge watching a tv show, there's always a time to stop. 

When we don't realize how far off we've gone, physical and mental damage could be done. Like stars, a collapse in the hydrostatic balance can either result in the end of their life phase, or a new phase. Such as, a neutron star, and eventually, a black hole; both of which are the 2 most dense substances in space, and dangerous; not only to themselves, but to their surroundings as well. 

That said, one uncommon thing between us and the stars is that we can go back to being healthy if we really want to.

“Everything about neutron stars is extreme,” says James Lattimer, a professor at Stony Brook University. “It goes to the point of almost being ridiculous” (Sundermier, 2017, para. 11).

Yin Yang, the well-known term of harmonization, fits well in this case. 

“Yin in its highest form is freezing while yang in its highest form is boiling. The chilliness comes from heaven while the warmness comes from the earth. The interaction of these two establishes he (harmony), so it gives birth to things. Perhaps this is the law of everything yet there is no form being seen” (Wang, 2006, para. 1).

‘So it gives birth to things.’ This can be fairly applied to the formation of stars. A well-balanced force between the inward force of gravity and outward force of nuclear fusion creates stars and consequently, the explosion that emits stardust becomes planets, such as Earth, our  borrowed home. All the same,  we can achieve things beyond our expectations with balance. 

Doctors treat sick patients, lawyers help struggling clients, teachers educate children so that they can find jobs and in turn help others; singers help to inspire people, cleaners help to keep a clean environment for our comfort, you name it.

The closest star, the Sun, provides energy and light for plants, so that photosynthesis can occur. Oxygen will be released in return, providing the ecosystem around it, including us with energy. Moreover, it gives light so that we can see in the day and the heat prevents significant drops in temperature, ensuring all living things are able to survive. 

Other than that, the Sun reflects its light off the moon’s surface, which then illuminates the dark night with moonlight. In other words, the moon does not shine if it weren’t for the Sun. 

Not only does the Sun shine during the day to help the plants to grow and give us energy; but it also shines for the moon at night. Without the Sun’s light, the night would’ve been an endless darkness. 

In other words, we should help others shine, just like the Sun helping the world to survive. 

Stars have been around for a long time. For all we know, some stars that we see today are the same ones that have been shining since the age of dinosaurs. Carl Sagan also mentioned that there are more stars than grains of sands in all of the Earth’s beaches. 

Though there are more of them than what meets the eye, each of the stars is beautiful simply because of their existence. This goes to say that each of us are beautiful. Even though some shine brighter than you do, that doesn’t mean some planets don’t see you at all. 

credits:@@muthiahhsh

The bouquets are there, the teddies are there, and the parents couldn’t be prouder, but the air feels heavy with hugs that you do not want to let go. Photographers are capturing moments to hold onto forever since memories are the only thing left to hold on. If your graduation feels heavy, it only means that you have known true friendship.

Graduation celebrates your perseverance throughout your student journey. Yet, it never prepares you for the delicate goodbyes to the friendships that carried you through. The thrill of rushing to your friends after class and grabbing lunch with them, surviving group assignments and exam season preparations were manageable because you had each other all along. The kind of friendship where you found each other in the unknown, far from home, still feels like yesterday. Now the hugs do not feel enough, as if you’re trying to hold onto more than just the moment. Bittersweet in its own way, we all knew what we were signing up for.

Amid the celebration, you catch yourself in another lens, still staring at the assignments, and still confused at the requirements. But somehow, you have learned to embrace confusion instead of fearing it. It feels like a triumph to look back at the quiet struggles you overcame just to keep pushing through. Graduation proves how consistency pays off. Sometimes, all you can do is help yourself and build resilience until confusion feels more like growth than failure. In the end, you find a friend in yourself too, another version of yourself that you’re carrying  forward.

However, while some wished that they had someone to say goodbye to, your friends are calling you back for one last group picture. Soaking in the moment, you realise that it is time to let go. The hardest goodbye is not knowing if your paths will ever cross again but even your city will miss them with  you.

 You do not graduate from friendship, but rather graduate with it. Graduation is not an end, but a beginning. Once you’ve learned what a beautiful friendship is, you’ll carry it into everything that comes next, both with others and with yourself.

In the end, when words fail, a goodbye speaks in its own quiet language.

 

Credits: @amjarchives_

When was the last time you ended a message without an emoji? A smiley face softens a blunt “okay,” a crying-laughing emoji conveys amusement better than “lol,” and a simple ❤️ can speak louder than words. Emojis have become a universal shorthand for emotions — a kind of digital body language.

But emojis aren’t just a modern invention tied to our smartphones. In fact, their story stretches back over a century, weaving through typewriters, Japanese pop culture, pixel art, and eventually into the palm of our hands. Let’s take a journey into the surprising history of how humans brought warmth into typography.

The earliest known “emoticons” didn’t come from Silicon Valley, but from the pages of a satirical magazine called Puck in 1881. It published four “typographical art” faces: joy, melancholy, indifference, and astonishment. Each was created using simple punctuation marks — combinations of parentheses, dashes, and colons.

Though primitive, these faces marked the first time people realized text could be stretched beyond words to suggest tone and feeling. Imagine readers in the late 19th century tilting their heads and chuckling at the novelty of a sideways smile — the ancestor of today’s 🙂.

 

Illustration: @kyliee.y

Illustration by Lee Enn

Dear children of Earth,

Hi! Yes, it’s me. Wait! Do NOT groan… hear me out.

I know you sigh when you hear me tap against your window, when I blur your roads, and cancel your plans. You call me inconvenient, gloomy, something to endure until the sky remembers how to be blue. Before you blame me… let me confess something. I didn’t plan on falling today. I was perfectly content drifting up there, lounging in a cloud, minding my own business but you need to understand. It’s monsoon season in Malaysia, so this is quite literally my time to shine! Think of me as a seasonal guest. Slightly overenthusiastic, a bit clingy (I know), but here for a reason.

I was floating comfortably above the Strait of Malacca when warm air rose to meet me, carrying moisture like gossip that couldn’t be kept. The clouds grew heavy, swollen with stories, until they finally said, okay, enough, and let me fall. That’s the monsoon for you — moist winds, thick clouds, and me arriving in bulk, not subtlety.

But if I’m being COMPLETELY honest… I also fell because I saw something cute.  A bright umbrella, slightly crooked, dancing down the street like it knew it was being admired. And then a flower — brave, ridiculous, standing tall despite the heat, pretending it didn’t need me.

I fell a little.

Actually, I fell completely.

That’s how it starts, you know. People think I only fall because of pressure differences and condensation, but sometimes it’s much simpler. Sometimes you see something beautiful and gravity does the rest. One moment I’m hovering, the next I’m rushing down, tripping over myself just to get closer. Of course, the scientists will tell you another story. They’ll say warm air rose, water vapour condensed, clouds grew heavy, and gravity pulled me down. And they’re right. But they won’t tell you how excited the clouds felt when they finally let go, or how I laughed when I splashed into a puddle and startled someone lost in their thoughts.

I came to play first.

I tapped on the windows to say hello. I traced patterns on glass. I turned streets into mirrors just to see the sky looking back at itself (for free, by the way). For a while, I was all giggles and mischief — until I noticed how tired everything looked. The earth had been holding its breath. The ground was tight with thirst. Leaves curled inward like they were trying not to ask for help. So I stayed. I slowed down. I sank into soil, loosened what had hardened, and whispered to roots that it was safe to stretch again.

And yes, during this time of year, I do linger longer than usual. The skies are generous, the air is heavy, and there’s simply more of me to go around. It’s not personal — I promise. It’s just the season reminding the land to slow down, cool off, and drink up after all that burning sun.

And THEN… there’s you. Yes, you.

Oh, yes! I hear your fake little sigh in annoyance too when deep down, you’re happy to see me. *waggling my eyebrows dramatically* You fall for me and I fall for you too. For the days when everything feels too loud, when your thoughts echo louder than they should. I fall so you have an excuse to slow down, to stay inside, to look out a window and feel without having to explain yourself. I soften the world so it’s okay to be quiet. So tears don’t feel so out of place. So loneliness has company. 

I know I make things messy. I flood streets, blur reflections, soak hems and shoes. I don’t always arrive gently, and sometimes I stay longer than you’d like. For that, I’m sorry. Sincerely. But I promise, even in my heaviest downpour, I’m trying to restore balance — returning what was borrowed, cooling what overheated, reminding the world that rest is part of survival.

But, hey! I won't stay forever. I’ll leave soon. I always do. So, next time you see an umbrella bobbing happily down the street or a flower lifting its face to the sky, maybe you’ll smile and think of me, falling a little too easily, every single time.

Sincerely,

The rain

Illustration by Lim Zhen Ping

On 22 November, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus shed its modern façade and stepped into a different century. The air buzzed with anticipation as participants arrived in waves, ready to enter a realm inspired by the Ming Dynasty’s political turbulence. Taylor’s Chinese Society had spent months preparing 《剑影迷踪 The Silent Truth》沉浸式武侠体验营 (immersive wuxia experience camp), and the results showed. The venue was carefully transformed with banners, props, atmospheric music and thematic staging that made every corner feel like a scene straight out of a wuxia novel.

Before the cinematic world opened, Taylor’s Chinese Society President took the stage. In a brief, heartfelt speech the President spoke about the months of planning, the cultural vision behind the event, and the society’s hope that participants would not only have fun and meet new friends, but also connect with Chinese heritage through active storytelling.

Following the speech, participants were already brought into the unfolding plot. The event opened with a cinematic montage, performed and produced entirely by society members. Through stylised acting, dramatic voiceovers and carefully choreographed scenes, participants were introduced to a living world of martial arts and court politics. 

The event’s lore was rich and layered, drawing inspiration from the historical period following historical events. Rumours spread about the reappearance of the forbidden tome《剑影迷踪 》which contains a silent truth, the lines between loyalty and treachery blurred. With the legitimacy of the throne still in question and the empire weakened by invasions and civil unrest, the Emperor’s decision to host a grand tournament served as both a symbolic declaration and a strategic move. The tension-filled narrative set the tone for what would be an entire day of mystery, strategy and roleplay.

The first phase of the camp plunged players into chaotic, fast-paced challenges that tested teamwork, physical coordination and quick thinking. 

Groups raced between stations, shouting strategies and cheering teammates on as they tackled:

The courtyard echoed with laughter, groans, victory shouts and the signature chaos of a living martial world. As teams pushed through physical trials, they gradually bonded — friendships forming as quickly as rivalries.

Between games, participants also had the chance to experience the artistic and cultural heart of Chinese traditions. 

墨韵扇意 (Fan-Making & Calligraphy) invited participants to practice brush strokes and design personalised folding fans which ended up as intimate keepsakes from the day. At the 麻将雅集 (Mahjong Corner), casual tables formed where veterans taught the basics and newcomers learned through laughter and playful ribbing. 

The 暗器工作坊 (Hidden Weapon Crafting Station) focused on decorative prop-making that married creativity with martial aesthetics, while 本草物语 (Herbal Sachet Making) connected attendees to centuries-old herbal traditions, scent and symbolism. 

These quieter workshops balanced the intensity of the games, offering a space for creativity, culture appreciation and rest.

Lunch wasn’t just a meal break; it was part of the experience. Groups sat together at arranged tables, sharing food like members of a wandering sect gathered around a campfire. This was when rivalries momentarily paused and friendships strengthened. Members from different universities chatted about their morning challenges, exchanged cultural notes, decoded early hints from NPCs and teased each other about upcoming missions.

After lunch, the first lucky draw added excitement, as cheers erupted whenever someone won small themed blind boxes. 

The atmosphere shifted dramatically after. One by one, groups received their identity envelopes tied with red string. Inside each scroll was a faction description that would define their role for the rest of the day.

When the three factions were announced — 东厂(Imperial Spies), 锦衣卫  (Imperial Guards), and 江湖盟 (Heroes of Material Arts) — the hall erupted with gasps and cheers. Members quickly huddled with their teammates to strategise. Some factions whispered about undercover missions, while others prepared for open confrontation. The reveal marked the true start of the political game, turning the camp into a living chessboard of loyalties, betrayal and ambition.

The second half deepened the narrative, pushing groups into mental challenges, deduction and large-scale faction strategy. 

The atmosphere shifted into one of suspicion and urgency as players faced:

The highlight of this stage was the 密室 (escape room), a cleverly designed escape-style room that combined puzzle-solving with narrative storytelling. Teams entered to discover staged scenes acted by NPCs — imperial officials, martial heroes, shadowy figures with conflicting motives. As participants solved riddles, unlocked boxes and pieced together fragments of the forbidden tome’s mystery, they gained new story clues that shaped the final outcome of the event.

After countless battles, puzzles and negotiations, the 锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei) rose triumphant as the champions of the Grand Tournament. Their consistent coordination and clear mission strategies secured their victory and crowned them the rightful protectors of the realm.

The closing ceremony began with a montage — not merely a highlights reel, but a deliberate narrative resolution. The closing montage staged the ending of the opening montage’s story, acted again by society members, providing a satisfying narrative arc: scenes introduced at the start were revisited and concluded, mysteries were resolved on screen as teams watched the story they had helped write reach its finale. This full-circle performance offered emotional payoff in applause and made the event feel truly complete.

The camp closed with a performance by Taylor’s Chinese Liveband (@taylors_chineseliveband), whose music added emotional depth and a celebratory energy to the closing ceremony. Their blend of traditional Chinese instrumentation with modern arrangements captured the spirit of wuxia perfectly — elegant, bold and dramatic.

The performance wasn’t just entertainment; it was a showcase of the club’s talent and creativity. Members demonstrated strong musical skill, stage presence and passion for cultural arts. The Liveband’s participation added a meaningful artistic layer to the event and highlighted the collaborative synergy between Chinese Society and other cultural clubs at Taylor’s.

One of the most remarkable outcomes of the event was its success in bringing together students from across Malaysia. Participants not only came from Taylor’s University, but also: 

Throughout the day, friendships were formed during intense relay races, shared laughter during workshop mishaps, and whispered plot theories during faction meetings. The immersive format created natural opportunities for interaction, leading to genuine conversations and new connections.

This networking element elevated the event beyond a typical university program, it became a meeting ground for young people passionate about culture, creativity and immersive storytelling.

《剑影迷踪 The Silent Truth》demonstrated how student-run events can deliver cinematic storytelling, cultural enrichment and meaningful community building all within a single experience. It celebrated tradition, creativity and the shared joy of immersive play.

A new chapter of wuxia history has now been written at Taylor’s Lakeside. Follow Taylor’s Chinese Society for more updates on future events: @taylors_chinese_society

Illustration by Lim Zhen Ping

What exactly is “FLAME”?

Depending on who you ask in the School of Biosciences, it’s either a mentoring initiative, a team-building night, or, as one senior told me, “a spark to light up the fire in your heart.” On 12 November at Bellevue, Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (TUSOB) Club turned that spark into a lively evening of science-themed games, campus adventures, and unexpected connections. I arrived slightly anxious (introvert instinct), but by the end, I understood exactly what that “flame” was supposed to mean.

Photo by Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (TUSOB) Club

Registration kicked off at 4 PM, where participants were greeted with TUSOB’s mascot keychains and stickers—small but instantly morale-boosting souvenirs. Before the event officially began, the club announced the winner of their T-shirt design competition. In TUSOB fashion, committee members transformed the stage into a mini catwalk, proudly showing off the newly designed shirts and setting an energetic tone for the rest of the evening.

Instead of the usual round-the-circle introductions, the event opened with something far more chaotic: a warmup dance session to Big Bang’s Bang Bang Bang. Even lecturers from the School of Biosciences joined in, proving that coordination (or the lack of it) was a universal bonding tool.

Then came the first major icebreaker: participants drew paper slips labelled A, T, G, C, and “bonds,” and were tasked with forming DNA strands. For the non-science crowd: A pairs with T using two bonds, while G pairs with C using three. Groups of four to five then sat in circles for structured icebreakers, giving seniors and juniors the chance to mingle naturally within these “DNA” groups.

Photo by Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (TUSOB) Club

Just when everyone thought the activities would calm down, participants linked hands to form one giant “plasma membrane.” The mission is to prevent the chaser (the “bad cell”) from catching the runner (the “good cell”) while also allowing the runner to escape the membrane whenever necessary.

It was loud, confusing, surprisingly strategic, and, most importantly, a lot of fun. Even as someone who usually avoids physical games, I found myself laughing in the middle of the human membrane, getting pulled along by the collective energy.

For the highlight of the night, participants were split into groups again for a campus-wide race. Each team had to hunt for QR codes, follow clues, and complete mini games at various locations. 

Tasks included:

Teams raced through spots like the recharge room, the Food Innovation Lab, the Purple Room, and more, places some students admitted they’d never visited before. The best part was seeing juniors working together with seniors to solve puzzles and navigate the campus. In a school with four programmes (Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Food Science, and Applied Science), this kind of cross-major bonding doesn’t happen every day.

As the race wrapped up, the winning team was announced and rewarded with snacks to share. A small but wholesome prize after an hour of running around campus. One enthusiastic senior even took the mic to thank his groupmates and the committee for the memorable night, which received loud cheers from the crowd.

TUSOB’s advisor, Mr Chan Kai Sze, also delivered a heartfelt message, thanking everyone for participating and expressing his hope that students from different programmes made new friends beyond their usual class circles.

The evening ended with a group photo session, followed by food, drinks, and lingering conversations as people continued to mingle with their newfound connections.

Though FLAME x TUSOB was open only to bioscience students and TUSOB members, the spirit behind it was universal: finding community, stepping out of your comfort zone, and realising that meaningful friendships often start with small moments like dancing badly together or getting lost on a campus race.

As an introvert who was initially scared to join (and definitely not a fan of physical activities), I ended up having a genuinely good time. I met new friends, exchanged advice with juniors, and felt the warmth of a community I didn’t expect to be so welcoming. It reminded me that university life isn’t just about deadlines and lab reports; it’s also about discovering little pockets of joy in places you least expect.

And maybe that’s the quiet message behind FLAME: you don’t need to be loud, sporty, or extroverted to belong somewhere. Sometimes, you just need to show up.

Even if this event was exclusive to bioscience students, it’s a small encouragement for anyone in Taylor’s:  join a club or society that sparks your interest, explore something you’re passionate about, or just try something fun. Uni goes by fast, and these experiences are what make the memories stick a little longer.

And for those curious, TUSOB’s president, Emily Tan Li Hui and vice president Khoo Yu Shen shared a little insider teaser: a Christmas bonding session is on the way. Another chance for students under the School of Bioscience to ignite the flame again.