#ionization potential

[biology-geology-beaches-india]

TSRNOSS, page 209.

[astrxlfinale]

Were misfortunate events awaiting him?

Or a grim premonition, one that eats eagerly from his efforts to come alive?

Lighter could never make the best sense of it as voices danced like hallowed whispers. Whenever a bundle of Ethereals find themselves dispersed, their culmination of pure matter, pure power finding itself being dissolved to the winds, it feels as if predators were eagerly waiting to take advantage of these efforts. The thought rolls heavily within his mind as he holds himself upon a building's edge, a bleary backdrop being his solitary company for the time being.

Everyone found themselves digging towards these goals in the bigger Hollows. Material realm, ancient relics, power that plays beyond that dangerous divide, and a gut instinct was instructing Lighter about it being the latter. The old voices and eager ambitions hadn't just diminished when Hollow Zero found itself birthed. If anything, he's confident that past battles simply gained a new field to operate on.

"Hm." With a flick of the thumb, flames found themselves dancing close to leather, a professional's edge keeping that distance right out of damaging range. It looked as if this scarlet cloth amidst a wistless dance attracted some company.

Not anyone catered into the affairs of the Outer Ring at least.

"Just how long have you been tailing me?" Lighter's voice held a sharpened edge, directly solely at the figure cloaked in dusted ivory emerging from the shadows of wreckage.

Only then would that rhythm of hymns come to a pause, a look almost zen in nature overcoming their features, hands poised together as it ushering forth their endless gratitude. "Don't you enjoy it? An endless dance that provides nothing but bounty. Material gain in lawless remnants. Strength of the soul for the enduring, creating beautiful resonance that attracts the primordial beginning itself."

"...?"

A sharp pivot of the heels would turn the Champion towards them direction. Even as a distant stir of thunder brings tremors to these replicated heavens, his stance holds firm as he slowly walks to the figure. "Question for a question? Typical. Are fallen Ethereals just your brand of a sick kick? My patience isn't boundless."

The enigmatic figure could only chortle at the moxie of this modern generation. Despite being years, years older, it almost felt relieving that the creators of sacrifice hadn't dwindled in potential. "I'm merely a celebrator of their return. Dismantling these holy grounds serves as the soil, just as ingenuity of Man is the life water. Just as they take, so to do the Hollows itself." Errant sparks of gritty violet would lash out from their joined hands, immediately prompting the Calydon's champion to clench his fist.

If only he could've been prepared for the action that seemed like an anomaly. Rifts, multiple rifts began to tear through the fabric of space like eyes peeking from the void. More of this character's ilk were located within, the voices elevating to a more prideful staccato while surrounding him. The sheer total was staggering, ascending in some ordered frame of stained glass. A low 'che' edges from his lips, frustrated steam spilling forth as a mechanical click of the gauntlet signified that talk was no longer an answer.

"The Order has recognized your ability and your aptitude. Lighter. Please continue to reap the precious source that refines your song." Akin to a finger snap, all of the beings had vanished from sight, a heavier tremor swimming through him as his scarf flicked upward. Standing in that beings initial place, amidst falling debris of infrastructure was a Thanatos. A scythe-like arm drawing itself high, those gangly limbs poised akin to a spider's, ready to launch.

All in all? Back to business as usual.

"That damn Perlman was a curse waiting. The arrival of Phaethon," A blessing at least. "Pompey's fall, and now this." He murmured, snapping his Lighter shut before abruptly cross countering a blade that shattered the sound barrier. Gridlocking the Ethereal, his eyes burned with resolution as he immediately overpowers the gridlock.

"Come what may."

[selfcaredoc]

Nikken PiMag Waterfall the Best Water Filtration System?

Stay Calm and Drink Better Water

In this week’s The Impetus, Dr. Gary Lindner explores what is needed in a water filtration system. Find out if the Nikken PiMag Waterfall checks all of the boxes. If you like this video please hit the Like button and Subscribe.

Be Healthy By Choice

[reasonsforhope]

"Scientists have developed a way to dramatically reduce the cost of recycling certain electronic waste by using whey protein.

Their method allows for the easy recovery of gold from circuit boards at a cost of energy and materials amounting to 50 times less than the price of the gold they recover—these are the numbers that big business likes to see.

Indeed, the potential for scalability depends on this sort of cost savings, something traditional e-waste recycling methods just can’t achieve.

Professor Raffaele Mezzenga from ETH Zurich has found that whey protein, a byproduct of dairy manufacturing, can be used to make sponges that attract trace amounts of ionized gold.

Electronic waste contains a variety of valuable metals, including copper, cobalt, and gold. Despite gold’s public persona as being either money or jewelry, thousands of ounces of gold are used in electronics every year for its exceptional conductive properties.

Mezzenga’s colleague Mohammad Peydayesh first “denatured whey proteins under acidic conditions and high temperatures, so that they aggregated into protein nanofibrils in a gel,” writes the ETH Zurich press. “The scientists then dried the gel, creating a sponge out of these protein fibrils.”

The next step was extracting the gold: done by tossing 20 salvaged motherboards into an acid bath until the metals had dissolved into ionized compounds that the sponge began attracting.

Removing the sponge, a heat treatment caused the gold ions to aggregate into 22-carat gold flakes which could be easily removed.

“The fact I love the most is that we’re using a food industry byproduct to obtain gold from electronic waste,” Mezzenga says. In a very real sense, he observes, the method transforms two waste products into gold. “You can’t get much more sustainable than that!” ...

However the real dollar value comes from the bottom line—which was 50 times more than the cost of energy and source materials. Because of this, the scientists have every intention of bringing the technology to the market as quickly as possible while also desiring to see if the protein fibril sponge can be made of other food waste byproducts.

E-waste is a quickly growing burden in global landfills, and recycling it requires extremely energy-intensive machinery that many recycling facilities do not possess.

The environmental value of the minerals contained within most e-waste comes not only from preventing the hundreds of years it takes for them to break down in the soil, but also from the reduction in demand from new mining operations which can, though not always, significantly degrade the environments they are located in.

[Note: Absolutely massive understatement, mining is incredibly destructive to ecosystems. Mining is also incredibly toxic to human health and a major cause of conflict, displacement, and slavery globally.]

Other countries are trying to incentivize the recycling of e-waste, and are using gold to do so. In 2022, GNN reported that the British Royal Mint launched an electronically traded fund (ETF) with each share representing the value of gold recovered from e-waste as a way for investors to diversify into gold in a way that doesn’t support environmentally damaging mining.

The breakthrough is reminiscent of that old fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin who can spin straw into gold. All that these modern-day, real-life alchemists are doing differently is using dairy and circuit boards rather than straw."

-via Good News Network, July 19, 2024

[mindblowingscience]

For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that certain lichen species can survive Mars-like conditions, including exposure to ionizing radiation, while maintaining a metabolically active state. Published in the journal IMA Fungus, a new study highlights the potential for lichens to survive and function on the Martian surface, challenging previous assumptions about the uninhabitable nature of Mars, and offering insights for astrobiology and space exploration. Lichens are not a single organism, but a symbiotic association between a fungus and algae and/or cyanobacteria known for their extreme tolerance to harsh environments such as the Earth's deserts and polar regions. In this study, the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis remained metabolically active when exposed to Mars-like atmospheric conditions in darkness, including X-ray radiation levels expected on Mars over one year of strong solar activity.

Continue Reading.

[hayatheauthor]

Everything You Need to Know About Writing Burns 

Burn injuries are a common wound type explored throughout various aspects of literature. Unlike stab wounds burns come in various different forms. Every burn cannot be the same. The substance, intensity, and contact level all play pivotal roles in determining the nature of the burn your character must endure.

I previously did a blog about everything you need to know about stab wounds, which you can find here, and decided to continue this series with burns. So, here's my guide on everything you need to know when writing burns. 

Understanding Burn Types

Burn injuries are as diverse as the situations that create them. To depict burns realistically, it's essential to understand the different types, each with its own unique characteristics and narrative significance. 

First-Degree Burns

First-degree burns are superficial injuries, often caused by brief contact with a hot surface, a mild sunburn, or scalding steam. These burns primarily affect the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis. While painful, they typically don't result in blisters. First-degree burns can serve as plot devices, adding realistic touches to scenes involving minor accidents or unexpected contact with hot objects.

Second-Degree Burns

Second-degree burns are more complex and can be painful and blistering. These burns affect both the epidermis and the layer beneath, the dermis. They can result from scalds, flames, or chemical exposure. In literature, second-degree burns are ideal for portraying characters' struggles with painful healing and the potential for scarring.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns are the most severe and life-altering. They extend deep into the skin, damaging or destroying not only the epidermis and dermis but also the subcutaneous tissues. These burns can result from prolonged exposure to flames, chemicals, or electricity. 

Third-degree burns can be used to introduce profound challenges and transformations in characters' lives. The road to recovery is long and arduous, often with permanent physical and emotional scars, which can be used for character development.

Intricately depicting these burn types in your writing adds layers of realism and authenticity to your characters' experiences.

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns result from contact with corrosive substances, including strong acids or alkalis. They are typically more complex to portray in literature due to the need for specific knowledge about the chemicals involved. The narrative implications can vary widely, from accidents in laboratories to criminal acts of violence involving acid attacks or other harmful substances.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns occur when the body comes into contact with electric currents, leading to tissue damage. These burns are unique in that they may not manifest external signs immediately. They can be used in stories involving electrical accidents, lightning strikes, or even superhuman abilities.

Radiation Burns

Radiation burns, often linked to exposure to ionizing radiation, are less common but offer a distinctive narrative dimension. These burns can result from nuclear events, medical treatments, or even futuristic scenarios involving radiation-based technology.

The Burn Substance And The Impact It Plays 

When it comes to depicting burns in your writing, understanding the substance involved can significantly impact the narrative. Different substances, from scalding liquids to caustic chemicals, introduce unique challenges and effects on the characters experiencing them. 

Scalding Liquids (Hot Water, Coffee, etc.): Scalds are common in everyday life, often resulting from accidental spills or moments of carelessness. These burns are typically first-degree, affecting the outer layer of skin. In your narratives, scalding liquids can add a touch of realism to scenes involving kitchen mishaps, hot beverage spills, or even cruel pranks.

Flames (Fire, Gasoline, etc.): Flames lead to more severe burns, ranging from second to third-degree injuries. Whether it's a house fire or an encounter with a fiery adversary, burns from flames introduce high-stakes situations and profound character development.

Chemical Substances (Acids, Alkalis, etc.): Chemical burns, caused by contact with corrosive acids or alkalis, offer a myriad of storytelling opportunities. These burns are often disfiguring and can result from accidents in labs, criminal acts, or acts of revenge.

Electrical Current: Electrical burns may not manifest external signs immediately, making them unique in burn descriptions. These can result from electrical accidents, lightning strikes, or even futuristic scenarios involving advanced technology.

Radiation Exposure: Radiation burns, linked to exposure to ionizing radiation, are less common but provide a distinctive narrative dimension. They can result from nuclear events, medical treatments, or futuristic scenarios involving radiation-based technology.

Understanding the substance involved allows you to accurately portray the type and severity of a burn, making your narrative more authentic and engaging.

Sensory Descriptions and Variations

When it comes to writing about burns, it's crucial to engage your readers' senses. Burns evoke a range of sensory experiences and effectively describing these sensations can immerse your audience in the narrative. Here are some factors you should take into consideration: 

Pain: Burns are notoriously painful. Depending on the degree of the burn, the pain can range from mild discomfort to excruciating agony. Describing the character's pain, its intensity, and how it evolves over time can create a deep emotional connection with your readers.

Heat: Burns often generate intense heat at the injury site. Describe the searing heat or scorching sensation as it radiates from the burn. This adds realism to your portrayal of the immediate aftermath of the injury.

Smell: Burns can produce a distinct odour. The smell of burnt flesh or singed hair can be nauseating or evoke feelings of dread. Including sensory details related to smell can enhance the reader's immersion in the scene.

Texture: The texture of a burn can vary. First-degree burns might feel raw or tender, while second and third-degree burns can result in blistering, peeling, or even charring. Explore how the character perceives the texture of the burn and its impact on their daily life.

Sound: The sound associated with burns can be subtle or pronounced. The sizzle or hiss when a burn comes into contact with hot metal, or the muffled cries of a character in pain, can amplify the emotional impact of a burn scene.

Numbness: In some cases, particularly with severe burns, the area surrounding the burn might feel numb due to nerve damage. This contrast in sensation can be a powerful narrative element in a character's journey to recovery.

By using sensory descriptions and variations, you can transport your readers into the world of your characters and make the experience of burns more vivid and memorable.

Anatomy of a Burn Wound

To depict burns convincingly in your writing, it's essential to understand the anatomical aspects of a burn wound. Burns affect different layers of skin and underlying tissues, and the depth of the burn significantly influences the healing process and long-term consequences. Here's a closer look at the anatomy of burn wounds:

Epidermis: The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin and is primarily responsible for protecting the body from the environment. First-degree burns affect the epidermis and are characterized by redness, pain, and mild swelling.

Dermis: The dermis lies beneath the epidermis and is thicker. Second-degree burns extend into the dermis and result in the formation of blisters, intense pain, and possible scarring. These burns can be particularly challenging for characters due to the pain and extended healing process.

Subcutaneous Tissues: Third-degree burns, also known as full-thickness burns, penetrate the dermis and affect the subcutaneous tissues. These burns often result in charring, loss of sensation, and long-term scarring. Characters with third-degree burns may face life-altering challenges and lengthy recoveries.

Muscle and Bone: In severe cases, burns can extend beyond the subcutaneous tissues, affecting muscles and even bones. These deep burns are catastrophic, leading to a range of complications and necessitating complex medical treatment.

Understanding the anatomical layers affected by a burn allows you to provide accurate descriptions of the injury, its consequences, and the challenges faced by characters on their journey to recovery.

How Do You Treat A Burn Wound? 

In your writing, portraying the accurate medical assessment and treatment of burn injuries can add depth and authenticity to your narrative. Characters' survival and recovery often depend on prompt and effective medical care. Here's what you need to know about medical assessment and treatment for burn injuries:

First Aid: Immediate first aid is crucial when a character sustains a burn. This includes cooling the burn with cold running water, covering it with a clean, non-stick cloth, and seeking medical attention. Accurate descriptions of the first-aid process can create a realistic sense of urgency in your story.

Medical Assessment: Medical professionals categorize burns based on their depth and extent. The "Rule of Nines" is a common method to estimate the percentage of the body affected by a burn. Accurately describing how healthcare providers assess and categorize the burn can enhance the realism of your narrative.

Wound Care: The treatment of burn wounds involves cleaning, debriding, and dressing the affected area. This can be painful, especially for deeper burns. Your characters' reactions to this aspect of treatment can add emotional depth to your story.

Surgery and Skin Grafts: Severe burns often require surgery and skin grafts to promote healing and minimize scarring. Detailed descriptions of these procedures and their impact on your characters can provide insight into the challenges they face.

Rehabilitation: Characters recovering from severe burns may require extensive rehabilitation, including physical therapy and psychological support. These aspects can significantly influence their character arcs and the overall narrative.

By accurately depicting the medical assessment and treatment of burn injuries, you can make your characters' journeys to recovery more authentic and compelling.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

While writing about burn injuries, it's essential to avoid common mistakes and misconceptions. Authors may inadvertently perpetuate inaccuracies in burn treatment. Here are a few common misconceptions to be aware of:

Applying Ice: Contrary to common belief, applying ice directly to a burn can damage the skin further. It's essential to emphasize the use of cold running water for cooling.

Popping Blisters: Characters might be tempted to pop blisters, but this can increase the risk of infection. Describing the correct care for blisters can improve the accuracy of your narrative.

Neglecting Long-Term Effects: Burns can have lasting physical and psychological effects. Ensure your characters' struggles and recoveries reflect the long-term consequences of burn injuries.

By addressing common mistakes and misconceptions, you can create a more accurate and engaging portrayal of burn treatment in your writing.

What About The Psychological Impact?

Burn injuries don't just affect the physical well-being of characters; they also have a profound psychological impact. Understanding the emotional and mental challenges your characters face can add depth to your storytelling. 

Post-Traumatic Stress: Characters who have survived burn injuries may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vivid flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety can be depicted to illustrate their emotional struggles.

Body Image and Self-Esteem: Severe burns can alter a character's appearance, leading to body image issues and reduced self-esteem. Describing how characters come to terms with these changes can be a central aspect of their character arcs.

Fear and Anxiety: Characters may develop a heightened fear of fire, stoves, or any situation that could cause burns. Depicting these anxieties and how they impact daily life can create a compelling narrative.

Depression and Isolation: The emotional toll of burn injuries can lead to depression and isolation. Characters may withdraw from social interactions or grapple with feelings of hopelessness.

Coping Mechanisms: Characters often develop unique coping mechanisms to deal with the psychological aftermath of burns. Some may seek therapy, while others may find solace in creative pursuits or support groups.

By exploring the psychological impact of burns, you can delve into the complex emotional journey of your characters and illustrate their resilience and growth.

Looking At The Forensic Considerations

In crime fiction and mysteries, burn injuries can play a crucial role in forensic investigations. Authors should be aware of the forensic aspects of burns to accurately depict legal and investigative processes. Here are some essential forensic considerations when writing about burns:

Fire Investigation: In cases of suspicious fires or arson, investigators must determine the cause and origin of the fire. Understanding fire investigation techniques and terminology can help create a realistic portrayal of crime scenes involving burns.

Identifying the Victim: Severe burns can complicate the identification of victims. Dental records, DNA analysis, and other forensic methods may be required. Your characters can collaborate with forensic experts to solve such cases.

Evidence Preservation: When writing about burn-related crimes, emphasize the importance of preserving evidence at the scene. The mishandling of evidence can significantly impact the investigation's outcome.

Legal Implications: Explore the legal aspects of cases involving burns. Characters may need to navigate the legal system, testify in court, or seek justice for burn-related crimes.

Historical Cases: Referencing real historical cases involving burns or fires can add authenticity to your narrative. Research well-documented cases for inspiration or incorporate them into your story's background.

Understanding the forensic considerations related to burn injuries can make your crime fiction or mystery more compelling but it also helps ensure you don’t accidentally offend any readers by inaccurately representing real issues. 

I hope this blog on Everything You Need to Know About Writing Burns will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and publishing tips for authors every Monday and Thursday! And don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey! 

[nanasrealities]

.ᐟ SPECIAL ABILITIES : JJK DR ⊹˖

playing: the way things go — beabadoobee ⊹˖

"oh I guess that's the way things go.."

BACKGROUND: Before the modern age of Jujutsu, when curses were able to roam around freely and the influence of sorcerers was almost non-existent, an entity, 魂伝導 (Tamashī Dendō), rose to power. Written in ancient history and passed down from ancestor to ancestor, this curse wasn't just a curse but a force of nature itself—a collection of ionized cursed energy and the anger from the Gods above. This entity was known for consuming ancient beasts and taking the form and ability of the creature. Anyone who was able to capture and consume a piece of this force was considered to have part of it inside of them, though very few were capable of doing so. Clans all over Japan hunted for the curse, hoping to possess the power themselves. Legends tell of a sorcerer—a master at astral projection—who climbed the tallest mountains and lived there for decades, believing the Gods would channel their energy into him and create a pathway between him and the afterlife. One fateful day changed everything: after a day filled with meditation and leaving offers for the above night had fallen and the man, gathering his last offerings before bed, was struck by an strong bolt of lightning unprompted. As folklore tells it, he believed his years of devotion had been rewarded, that his Gods had chosen him and were ready to provide him with the afterlife he deserved. However, moments after the lightning bolt hit, a wave of energy—cursed energy—surged through him. That's when the man realized he wasn't divinely blessed, he was connected to the wrath of his Gods itself. This powerful force fused with his soul, leaving his body behind. The sorcerer did not ascend to the heavens but instead was transformed into a plasmic entity, a force of nature and he lived the rest of his life forever bound to the very essence of 魂伝導. News of this mishap spread throughout Japan, filling clan leaders with avarice, desire. For years now, members of these clans tried every attempt to obtain these powers for themselves, hoping to unlock the full potential of 魂伝導 and claim dominion over the world. Expeditions were launched, prayers were recited, people were told to have gone mad over this demand for power.

After generations of failure from even the strongest sorcerers, Yumi Komatsu, raised in a modest and small town by her grandparents, was born with this connection to this curse. She remained unaware of her destiny until one seemingly ordinary day when a white-haired man with bright blue eyes emerging from the slit of his shades appeared on her doorstep, asking for her by name.

INNATE TECHNIQUE: 加熱電流 (Kanetsu Denryū) — Heated Currents

⊹˖ 加熱電流 is an innate technique that allows the user to generate and manipulate plasma by forcefully combining extreme heat with one's cursed energy. Since plasma doesn't naturally occur in the Earth's atmosphere, the user excites air molecules through her cursed energy, stripping the electrons and creating plasma curves. While natural plasma may scatter easily, I am able to stabilize it with my cursed energy, allowing it to be shaped and controlled.

⊹˖ As the material is excruciatingly hot, plasma is a natural weapon for me as I am able to shape it without applying any of my previous training from the Zen'in clan into my methods. Alone, 加熱電流 is mainly used for attacks based on burning, shocking, or vaporizing curses !!

CURSED TECHNIQUE: 電漿幻躯 (Denshō Genku) — Plasma Phantom Form

⊹˖ 電漿幻躯 combines the ability of plasma generation with shikigami summoning, a Zen'in clan special, allowing the user to use plasma-based shikigami that can absorb, refine, and weaponize cursed energy through the electromagnetic and ionization process. Through special training, I was able to exercise my CT and transfer a curse's cursed energy into 加熱電流, including their shape.

Disclaimer! if the user isn't careful with their use of their plasm, in shikigami form or not, it can burn through anything and everything, potentially harming the user themselves. +

So far, I'm able to summon four shikigamis, each with a constantly shifting look...

毒蛇 (Dokuja) — Poisionous Serpent : A long, ghostly blue serpent. With a thick and muscular body and needle-like fangs, surrounds and circles its victim before injecting plasma vemon into them and dissolving the cursed energy within (also used as a rollercoaster escape device).

遊び狐 (Asobi Kitsune) — Playful Fox : A small, semi-transparent white fox with gold glimmering eyes and nine tails each tipped with red, plasma-like light. With a small yet agile body, she dashes at high speeds, chasing after or confusing her prey on where she'll be next. When they least expect it, she pounces on them with brute force, leaving them immobilized (also known as: Hikari, my silly little fox).

蜘蛛 (Kumo) — Spider : a small, black spider composed of cursed energy. With its eight tiny eyes and sticky, thick webbing, it's mainly used for sensing and trapping its prey while draining cursed energy.

雷竜 (Rairyū) — Thunder Dragon : A large deep violet dragon with its scale appearing to be made out of glowing electric currents. It's extremely fast and strong, burning through the toughest barriers and combating with intense heat and electromagnetic charges with it's breath.

...no one truly knows how many shikigamis are found within this technique, these are the only ones discovered so far.

CURSED TOOLS: They are usually provided by the school or, in special cases, borrowed from Maki. My technique does get exhausting at times so during missions that require high stamina, I usually carry around a cursed tool, small and easy to move around with, just in case :)

happy shifting : xoxo, nana

[soakedstar]

｡･ﾟﾟ･ 𓆩★𓆪 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣 𝙙𝙤𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙮 𓆩★𓆪･ﾟﾟ･｡

(1/2)

✦ synopsis:

a rooftop encounter.

she sketches herself like a creature.

he sees aliens in everything,

especially her.

✦ pairing:

jake x f!reader (college au)

✦ warnings:

explicit content (18+), oral sex (f receiving), fingering, unprotected sex, mention of squirting, discussion of disordered eating, body image issues

✦ note:

probably my most explicit fic to date.

yes, I edited it on the subway. no, I have no shame.

Jake liked rooftops.

He liked the way the air felt thinner up here, like the atmosphere had been stretched just a little too tight and might tear open any second. He liked the quiet, the wind, the electromagnetic buzz in his ears. But most of all, he liked the sky.

Tonight, the Lyrids were peaking. He’d been tracking their trajectory for weeks. He had charts. He had heat maps. He had a custom spreadsheet with possible sighting hotspots cross-referenced with recent magnetic anomalies.

He wasn’t just hopeful. He was ready.

Telescope? Check.

Thermal scope? Check.

Notebook full of poorly drawn saucers and timestamped dream logs? Double check.

Red flashlight, mango gummies, lucky rock shaped like a peanut? Triple check.

He reached the rooftop of the science building just past 11:03pm, heart thumping in his chest like it always did before these things. Just in case.

What he didn’t expect—what he really didn’t calculate—was that someone else would already be there.

She was sitting near the far edge, one boot resting flat on the gravel, sketchbook braced against her raised knee. Her hair was long and dark, falling over her face in waves that caught the rooftop lights. She had a cigarette between her fingers and piercings along her left ear that gleamed like little satellites.

She drew fast. Precise. Her pencil moved like a knife, not a brush. From a distance, Jake caught the shape: limbs too long, torso narrow, eyes exaggerated.

“You believe in them too?”

She looked up. No surprise, no warmth. Just a look. Cool, measured, unreadable.

“It’s not them.”

“Oh. Right. I mean…it just looked like—”

He gestured vaguely at the page.

“You nailed the proportions. Like, Zeta Reticulan levels of accuracy. High cranial volume, elongated bone structure, symmetrical orbital placement. Textbook stuff.”

Her voice came flat.

“It’s me.”

Jake stared.

“What?”

“The drawing. It’s me.”

He blinked rapidly, his mouth doing that thing it did when it couldn’t decide what to say.

“Oh. Wow. Okay. That’s… That’s actually kind of brilliant. Like, in a terrifying but emotionally honest kind of way.”

He nodded, talking faster to catch up with himself.

“Self-perception as metaphor. Alienation through anatomy. That’s really… intense. Cool. Smart. I mean—not cool that you feel like that. But, well, you get it.”

She didn’t answer. Just looked at him for a second longer, then turned back to her sketchbook.

He tried again.

“I’m Jake.”

She didn’t respond.

“Astrophysics major. Not officially into UFOs. Well. Not exclusively. There’s actual physics, obviously, but also… you know. The other stuff.”

Still no reply. Just the sound of her pencil moving again.

“Anyway. I’m here because tonight’s the peak of the Lyrids. Meteor shower. Also, potentially correlated UFO activity if you go by atmospheric ionization rates during previous spikes—plus, there’s this pattern that suggests—”

She looked up again.

“Do you ever stop talking?”

Jake paused.

“Not really. Sorry. I ramble. It’s a thing. My mom says it’s endearing but she’s legally required to say that.”

She huffed a soft sound that might have been a laugh, or just her exhaling smoke.

Jake set up his tripod. Sat down. Left a good meter between them like a respectful dog. Silence fell, not awkward, but fragile.

Then—

“Wait—hold on,” he said suddenly, peering through his telescope.

“Right there. North-northeast. Just above that chimney. Something’s moving.”

She didn’t look up.

“It’s a satellite.”

Jake leaned back, squinting.

“No, but the speed…it’s kind of—”

“It’s a satellite.”

His shoulders dropped a little.

“Oh.”

He sat back in the gravel, chewing the inside of his cheek. His notebook flopped open in his lap, a messy page full of scribbled dates and underlined “potential sightings???”

She flicked ash off the edge of the building.

“Nice telescope.”

Jake perked up immediately.

“Thanks! It’s a Newtonian reflector, eight-inch aperture. I saved up for it for, like, two years. Birthday money, tutoring kids who hated math some of them cried, but it was worth it.”

She nodded, barely.

The rooftop quieted again. Her pencil kept moving.

He watched the sky, pretending he hadn’t just embarrassed himself.

Again.

Jake didn’t say much after the satellite thing.

He adjusted the telescope even though nothing had changed, scribbled in his notebook like he was logging crucial data, but really he just needed to move his hands so they wouldn’t feel so awkward. His face still burned. He hated getting things wrong. Especially when he was so sure.

But she kept sketching. Pencil moving like a whisper, sharp and steady. She didn’t look at him, but she hadn’t told him to leave either.

So he inched a little closer.

Not right next to her, that would be weird. Just… a little to the left. Close enough to hear her pencil scratch the page. Close enough to smell the cigarette on her sleeve.

He sat in silence, watching her draw.

Her hand was fast, confident. Her hoodie sleeve was pushed up on one side, revealing a tattoo he couldn’t quite make out. Her cigarette had burned halfway down, forgotten between her fingers. There was something mesmerizing about her focus, like she was trying to extract something out of herself before it drowned her.

And then she said it.

“Wanna be drawn like an alien?”

Jake blinked.

“What?”

She didn’t look up.

“You talk about them so much, figured maybe you’d want to see yourself like one.”

She glanced at him sideways, just enough to catch his reaction.

“Could be your intergalactic ID photo.”

His eyes lit up like a dashboard.

“Seriously? You would do that?”

“Why not.”

She flipped to a clean page.

“Just know it won’t be pretty. None of mine are.”

He nodded so fast he almost gave himself whiplash.

“That’s fine. That’s better, actually. I mean, it’d be weird if I was hot and extraterrestrial, right?”

She snorted — barely — and motioned with her pencil.

“Sit still.”

Jake straightened his back like he was being knighted.

“Like… statue-still? Or like passport-photo still?”

“Alien passport. Be serious.”

He locked his posture like a kid in a school photo and kept his eyes forward. But his heart was doing weird things. Not in a romantic way, well, okay, maybe a little but more in the holy shit, she’s drawing me kind of way. No one had ever drawn him before. Not even in middle school when the art kids doodled everyone on notebook paper with weirdly round heads and stick arms.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

She was frowning slightly, lips pressed together, eyes flitting between him and the page. Her hair had fallen across her face again, hiding most of her expression, but he caught the edge of it, concentration. Focus. Like he was something she wanted to figure out.

“Are you gonna give me antennae?”

She didn’t look up.

“Maybe.”

“Or like, gills? I’ve always thought I had strong amphibian energy.”

Still nothing.

“Or maybe no mouth, so I stop talking for once.”

That one made her smile. Barely. But it was there.

The pencil kept moving. The rooftop was quiet except for the wind and the scratch of graphite and Jake’s occasional attempts not to vibrate out of his own skin from pure excitement.

He tried to sit still. He really did. But it was hard when someone like her was watching him so closely. Not like the others did not like professors or girls at parties who liked his face but not his brain. She looked like she was seeing something through him, and for the first time, he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

He swallowed.

“Do I get to see it after?”

She paused, pencil hovering.

“If you want.”

He nodded, eyes still forward.

“I do.”

Then, after a second, quietly:

“Even if it’s weird.”

She looked at him for real this time. Her gaze didn’t soften, not exactly. But it lingered.

“It’s already weird, Jake.”

And he smiled. Like maybe that was the best thing anyone had ever said to him.

Y/N didn’t say a word when she finished. She just flipped her pencil one last time, blew gently across the page to clear the smudges, and sat back against the wall like it had taken something out of her.

Jake was still statue-still. Or trying to be. His foot twitched a little, but only because he’d been holding his breath the whole time.

“Is it done?” he whispered.

She raised one eyebrow.

“Yeah, golden boy. You’re free.”

He immediately leaned over, eyes wide, trying to get a look.

“Can I—can I see it? Like, now?”

She hesitated. Then turned the sketchbook toward him, one hand still covering the top edge like it was too personal to give away all at once.

Jake blinked.

He stared at the page for a full ten seconds before reacting.

There he was. Or… something like him. His big round eyes were exaggerated, almost glowing. His face was stretched in a weirdly adorable way—elongated skull, floppy ears, slight underbite. His limbs were too thin, almost stick-like, but there was a softness to the body posture. A tilt of the head. His tail—yes, there was a tail—was curled in a loop, mid-wag.

“I’m a…” He squinted. “Is that-am I a dog?”

“Alien dog,” she said casually, lighting another cigarette.

“Intergalactic golden retriever, obviously.”

Jake tilted his head like the creature she’d just drawn.

“I thought you said you didn’t do cute.”

“I don’t.”

She blew smoke sideways.

“That’s just what you look like.”

He looked back at the drawing. Then back at her. Then at the drawing again.

“But why a dog?” he asked, still trying to compute it.

“Do you think, like, is there a reason? Do you think aliens have dogs? Do dogs come from aliens? Because now that I think about it, dogs do have that whole loyalty-above-all, unconditional love thing, and maybe that’s not a naturally occurring Earth trait.”

Y/N looked at him, unimpressed.

“Jake.”

“No, seriously,” he kept going, waving vaguely in the air as if forming a theory on the spot.

“What if dogs are like, emotional probes? Sent here by another species to study how humans bond? They’re too good. It’s suspicious. And they always know when you’re sad. That’s definitely advanced empathy sensors. Like, what if the government—”

“Jake.”

“Hmm?”

She pointed at the sketchbook still in his lap.

“Did you like it or not?”

That shut him up.

He looked down again. Really looked. The wobbly tail. The open face. The hands mid-gesture like they were about to launch into a three-hour tangent about crop circles.

And then his whole face lit up. He actually made a tiny noise. Somewhere between a gasp and a giggle.

“I love it.”

He looked up at her, glowing. “It’s so cool. I look like I belong in a weird Pixar movie where all the aliens are super smart but still need to be walked twice a day. That’s exactly the vibe I want.”

She watched him like someone watching a dog chase its own tail, slightly amused, slightly unsure how he still had energy.

“You know you wag your tail all the time, right?”

Jake blinked.

“I—what?”

“You do that thing. With your foot. Or your knee. It bounces. Constantly.”

He looked down. His leg was bouncing.

“Shit. I do, don’t I?”

She smirked and took another drag.

“There’s your answer. You liked it.”

He grinned, then leaned toward her like he was about to confess a government secret.

“Okay but now I’m picturing a whole planet of alien dogs and I want to write a paper about it. Like a serious one. What if they evolved empathy before language? What if—wait—what if that’s the reason they communicate mostly through tail movement and eyebrows? Because telepathy developed through emotion, not sound—”

She rolled her eyes, but there was no heat in it.

“Jesus Christ. Are you like this with everyone?”

He paused. Actually paused.

“Um… I don’t think so?”

Then, sheepishly,

“No one usually talks to me this long.”

She didn’t say anything. But she didn’t laugh at him either. That mattered.

He handed the sketchbook back with both hands, carefully, like it was made of glass.

“Thanks for drawing me. Even if I look like I should be barking at comets.”

“You would, though.”

“Yeah. Probably.”

Then, after a second, almost shy:

“Do you think I could—maybe—draw you sometime?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You draw?”

“Badly. But enthusiastically.”

She thought about it, then shrugged.

“Only if you promise to make me look terrifying.”

“Deal,” he said immediately.

They sat in silence again, the good kind. Above them, the sky stretched wide and unknowable. Stars blinked like distant heartbeats. Somewhere out there, Jake was sure, something was listening.

——————-

The classroom smelled like old markers and dust and something vaguely chemical, like someone had scrubbed a plastic skeleton with nail polish remover.

Jake was already there. Second row, middle seat close enough to the front to look like he cared, far enough back to avoid eye contact with the professor. His notebook was open. Three pens lined up with military precision. One blue. One black. One red, just in case something needed to be emphasized aggressively.

He was doodling a cartoon alien holding a scalpel when the door opened.

She walked in like she owned the floor.

Same hoodie. Same scuffed boots. Hair tied up in a loose, falling-apart bun. Silver piercings glinting along the edge of one ear. No smile. Just that same unreadable, vaguely unimpressed expression like the world had already disappointed her twice before breakfast.

Jake’s heart flipped.

He sat up so fast he knocked over his chair.

“Hey! Rooftop Girl!”

He waved like he was stranded on an island. “Over here!”

She paused mid-step and blinked at him.

A long, exhausted blink.

Then sighed — full-body sigh — and started walking toward him anyway.

Jake scrambled to fix the chair and clear the seat next to his.

“I didn’t know you were in this class! This is wild! What are the odds? Do you also think studying bones helps you spot body-snatching aliens faster, or is that just me?”

She dropped into the seat next to him with the grace of someone deeply tired of the world and the people in it.

“It’s an elective,” she said.

“I needed the credit.”

He grinned like that was the best answer possible.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here. This is way better than sitting next to that guy who kept drawing dicks on everything last semester.”

She snorted quietly and opened her sketchbook.

Jake stared for a second. Then blinked.

“Wait… I still don’t know your name.”

She looked at him, surprised.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. You never told me. I’ve just been calling you ‘Rooftop Girl’ in my head. Or like… ‘The Artist.’ Or ’The Girl Who Drew Me As an Alien Dog.’”

She shook her head, trying not to laugh.

“Y/N.”

He lit up like someone had flipped a switch in his chest.

“Y/N.”

He tested it. Repeated it, softly, like he was adding it to a list of stars.

“Nice. That fits you. Kinda mysterious, kinda sharp. Like a comet that could kill us all but is also, like… beautiful.”

She blinked at him.

“That was a lot.”

“Sorry.”

He grinned, unrepentant.

“I get excited.”

Around them, the classroom had started filling up. Girls glanced over, whispering in corners. One girl in the row behind them leaned to her friend and muttered something that included the word “Jake” and the words “fucking unfair.”

Y/N noticed. Of course she did.

She leaned slightly closer to him and said under her breath:

“You know everyone’s wondering how I ended up sitting next to the hottest guy on campus, right?”

Jake’s face did something between a twitch and a panic.

“Wait, what?”

“You’re Jake. Everyone knows who you are.”

He looked around, confused.

“I—I don’t think that’s true. I’m just, like, the telescope guy. People mostly avoid me at parties.”

She gave him a long, slow once-over.

“Right. Just the telescope guy with perfect cheekbones and visible triceps under his stupid astronomy T-shirt.”

He went red. Like cartoon-level red. His ears were practically glowing.

“That’s not—okay, but I work out for practical reasons. I don’t do it to… look like anything.”

“Practical?”

“Yeah! You never know when you’ll need to sprint uphill with a backpack full of alien tech. Or lift a fallen beam off someone during an interdimensional collapse. Plus, cardio increases stamina for running from shapeshifters, so—”

She interrupted, deadpan.

“You are genuinely unhinged.”

“Thanks!”

He smiled, then hesitated.

“That was a compliment, right?”

She shrugged, sketchbook open in her lap now.

“Depends. You want me to draw your alien dog self again, this time shirtless?”

Jake nearly choked on air.

“I—I mean… if it helps the accuracy of the illustration…”

Y/N just smirked and started sketching.

“God, you’re lucky you’re cute.”

“You think I’m cute?”

She looked over at him, eyebrows raised.

“Jake.”

“Right. Shutting up now.”

She kept drawing. He kept bouncing his leg. The professor walked in.

Class had ended ten minutes ago, but Jake was still packing up like he had all the time in the world. He was stalling, obviously.

Y/N had already closed her sketchbook, shoved her pencils into her bag, and stood up in that effortlessly dramatic way she did everything like gravity applied differently to her body. She had one earbud in already. The universal sign for don’t talk to me.

Jake talked to her anyway.

“Hey—uh, Y/N?”

She didn’t answer at first. He tried again, a little closer.

“Hey. You busy now?”

That got her to glance back at him, eyes narrowed slightly like she was weighing how much patience she had left today.

“Why?”

He adjusted his backpack, nervous energy vibrating through every limb.

“Wanna get lunch? I mean—not like a date, unless you want it to be, but mostly I just thought it’d be nice to eat something and keep talking about… you know. Alien dogs. Or rib cages. Or both.”

She blinked at him.

“Lunch?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, too eagerly.

“I know this weird place near campus that does kimchi pancakes in the shape of stars. It’s kind of gimmicky but surprisingly good. And the ahjumma who runs it has a pet crow that sits on the counter. Like, just sits there. Doesn’t blink. I think she might be a witch.”

Y/N stared.

“You want to get lunch with me. To eat pancakes. With a witch.”

“Basically, yeah.” He beamed.

“Unless you have somewhere else to be?”

She hesitated.

Not because of the pancakes. Or the witch. Or the crow.

She wasn’t hungry. She never really was. And something about the word lunch made her stomach tighten. But Jake was looking at her with those wide, bright eyes like he truly believed lunch with her might be the highlight of his week.

She sighed.

“Fine.”

His whole face lit up like she’d just handed him a Nobel Prize.

⸻

They ended up sitting at a small table under a flickering lightbulb that hummed faintly, like the ceiling was quietly judging them. The witch-like ahjumma had, in fact, given them star-shaped pancakes, and the crow on the counter was very real and definitely staring at Jake.

Y/N had ordered the smallest thing on the menu. A miso soup. No rice. No sides. No explanation.

Jake, on the other hand, had three plates in front of him: the pancakes, some bulgogi, and what looked like pickled radish he wasn’t even sure he liked.

He dug in enthusiastically.

“Okay, okay,” he said between bites, “hear me out what if the crow isn’t a crow, but like, a shapeshifter from another planet doing recon?”

Y/N stirred her soup slowly.

“What would a shapeshifter want from a greasy pancake shop?”

“Everything,” he said seriously.

“Food is a window into culture. Plus, nobody suspects the bird.”

She rolled her eyes, but her lips curved slightly.

Jake kept eating. Talking. Rambling. His usual chaotic mix of facts and nonsense and theories so wild they looped back around to almost making sense.

But eventually, he noticed.

Y/N’s spoon hadn’t touched the soup.

It was still full. Still steaming slightly. Her fingers toyed with the edge of the bowl like she was trying to find a reason to touch it.

Jake slowed down. Chewed more quietly. Then asked too casually:

“You’re not hungry?”

She looked up, startled.

“I’m fine.”

He nodded.

Then ruined it by continuing.

“You didn’t eat anything in class either. And at the rooftop you only smoked. Do you not like soup? Or maybe you don’t eat hot foods during the day? Is that like an artist thing? Or a texture thing? Some people have sensory stuff. I used to think pickles were the devil.”

She stared at him.

“Jake.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re doing the thing again.”

“What thing?”

“The question spiral.”

He blinked.

“Sorry. I just… noticed. And I care. I mean not like in a weird way. I just… you know, people usually eat. And you’re not. And you’re kind of pale today. Not in a bad way. Just in a pale way. Not that pale is bad. You look great. I just mean—”

“Jake.”

He shut up.

Y/N exhaled slowly and leaned back in her chair. Her spoon was still untouched.

“You don’t get it.”

He looked genuinely lost.

“Get what?”

She didn’t answer right away. Just stared at the soup like it had said something offensive.

“Sometimes,” she said finally, voice quieter now, “food feels like swallowing glass. You don’t know why. You just know you can’t.”

Jake blinked.

His face softened immediately.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

He looked down at his plate, then back at her.

“I didn’t mean to push or anything. I just…”

He shrugged helplessly.

“I noticed. And I talk too much.”

She smirked, just barely.

“No kidding.”

“You don’t have to explain anything. I just- if there’s ever a version of lunch that works for you, I’d still like to do that.”

Y/N tilted her head.

“Like what?”

“I dunno. Drawing lunch? Talking about lunch? Sitting in silence for thirty minutes while you drink overpriced coffee and I eat a terrifying amount of fried dumplings?”

She huffed a laugh.

“You really are a dog.”

He looked pleased.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It’s not.”

She finally took a sip of the soup. Just one.

“But you’ve got those eyes, you know? The kind that don’t shut up. Even when your mouth does.”

Jake looked at her for a second. Then said softly:

“And yours look tired. But I like them anyway.”

She blinked. Looked down.

Didn’t answer.

Jake didn’t notice she’d started drawing.

He was too busy defending his theory that most documented “crop circles” were actually unsuccessful attempts at communication, and not pranks, like most people thought. He spoke with his hands, fork halfway to his mouth, gesturing like an over-caffeinated podcast host who’d lost his mic but not his audience.

Y/N had opened her sketchbook halfway through a rant about spiral formations and electromagnetic resonance. She didn’t tell him. She just lowered her head and let her pencil move.

She liked drawing people when they didn’t know they were being seen.

Jake was a mess of motion and light. His curls flopped into his eyes every time he laughed, which was often. His collar was uneven. There was sauce on his sleeve. He had that look — the one she’d only seen on kids who hadn’t yet learned to hide their joy. And he had no idea what he looked like. None.

She drew the way his eyebrows danced when he talked. The wrinkle between them when he tried to remember something specific. The way he pointed the fork like it was a conductor’s baton, as if his food was just another part of the argument.

He kept going.

“I mean, think about it if you were an alien species trying to get a message across, but you didn’t have sound, or maybe you did, but you knew we didn’t, wouldn’t you use shapes? Symbols? That’s universal, right? Circles. Spirals. Repetition. It’s practically math.”

He took another bite without even pausing.

“And sure, okay, some people say it’s all hoaxes, but who gains from that? Some farmer getting a laugh? Or is that what they want us to think?”

She sketched the shape of his mouth mid-word. It was always slightly open, even between sentences, like the next one was already charging up behind it.

Behind him, perched on the counter, the crow stared. Its head tilted just slightly, eyes dark and unreadable. She included it too: the glossy feathers, the hunched patience of a bird that seemed like it knew how to wait centuries if necessary.

She didn’t romanticize anything. She drew the clutter on the table. The half-eaten pancake. The chopsticks askew. The crumpled napkin Jake had used but forgot to throw away. She drew the loose thread on his sleeve, the shadows under his eyes, the way his shoulders slouched slightly when he leaned too far forward, too excited.

And she liked the way it looked.

Real. Strange. Alive.

Jake was still talking.

“Also, fun fact: crows can recognize human faces. Like, actually remember them. There was this study where they trained crows to identify people who annoyed them, and years later, they still attacked the same researchers. So if that bird’s staring at me, it probably thinks I’m either a threat… or a friend.”

He turned toward her suddenly, mid-bite.

“What do you think? Friend or threat?”

Y/N blinked. Looked up from her sketchbook.

Then smirked.

“Both.”

He laughed. “Fair.”

She closed the sketchbook without showing him. Not yet. It didn’t feel like the right moment.

Instead, she picked up her spoon again, finally dipping it into the soup.

Jake didn’t say anything about it this time.

Just smiled a little, and kept talking.

Jake got home later than usual.

The house was quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator and the soft clink of glass coming from the kitchen. His mom always stayed up late. She said her best thoughts happened after midnight, when the rest of the world shut up for a second.

He found her where he expected: sitting at the table in a faded NASA hoodie, sipping tea, and scrolling through something on her tablet with a bored expression that only astrophysicists could maintain while reading about collapsing stars.

The light above her buzzed faintly. The air smelled like peppermint and dust.

“Hey,” Jake said, hovering in the doorway.

She didn’t look up.

“Hey, kid.”

He hesitated.

“You busy?”

She closed the tablet immediately.

“What’s going on?”

Jake walked in, dropped his backpack, and sank into the chair across from her. He rubbed his eyes, then pressed his palms against the table like he needed to ground himself.

“There’s this girl.”

That got her attention.

She tilted her head slightly, lips twitching.

“Of course there is.”

“No, not like that. I mean—maybe. I don’t know. We’ve only talked a couple times.”

She waited. Jake’s mom had a gift for silence. The kind that made you keep talking just to fill it.

“She’s in my elective. We met on the rooftop, actually. I was looking for meteors. She was drawing. She’s… strange. Kind of amazing. You’d like her, maybe. Or at least be confused by her in a good way.”

She smiled softly.

“You’re rambling.”

“Sorry.” He exhaled.

“Today we got food after class. Well, I got food. She ordered something. Just soup. But she didn’t touch it.”

His mom didn’t interrupt. She leaned forward slightly.

“At first I thought she wasn’t hungry. But it’s not that. She doesn’t eat. Or she barely does. And it’s not like I know her that well, but it just… I noticed. And I keep noticing.”

He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

“She smokes a lot. Draws a lot. Jokes sometimes, but it’s like she’s constantly somewhere else. She looks at her food like it’s… like it’s a threat. Like it’s going to do something to her.”

His mom’s eyes sharpened, but her voice stayed calm.

“And what do you think is happening?”

“I don’t know.”

Jake’s voice cracked slightly.

“I mean—it’s only been two days. I shouldn’t be thinking this hard about it. But I can’t help it. She said something weird too. Yesterday. When I asked if she was drawing aliens, she said, ‘It’s me.’ And it kind of was. Like a distorted version of her. And it stuck with me.”

Silence again. He fidgeted with a coaster.

“I don’t want to make assumptions. I don’t want to be wrong. But… something feels off.”

His mom nodded slowly.

“She might be going through something. Or she might just be someone who doesn’t talk about what she’s going through.”

Jake looked up.

“But how do I… like… I don’t want to be that guy who pushes. Or makes it about me. But I also don’t want to ignore it.”

She gave him a long look, the kind that made him feel younger than he was.

“Jake, you don’t need to understand everything to be kind.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it.

“You’re not supposed to fix her. You barely know her. But you can be someone who sees her. Who makes space for her. That matters more than saying the right thing.”

He nodded. Quietly.

She softened.

“You always want to know the why. That’s the part of you that’s like me. You ask questions, you analyze. You want it to fit a theory. But some things don’t. Some things are just messy and human and hard.”

Jake swallowed.

“Dad would’ve probably said she was an alien.”

That made her smile.

“Your dad thought most people were aliens. That’s why he loved them.”

Jake looked down at his hands.

“She makes me feel like I’ve seen something. Like when I spot something in the sky I know shouldn’t be there. Not scary. Just… unexplained.”

His mom stood, poured him a cup of tea without asking, and placed it in front of him. Then she sat back down.

“That’s the beginning of love, you know. Or something close to it.”

“Seeing aliens in people?”

“No. Seeing the strange, and wanting to stay anyway.”

Jake held the mug in both hands. It was warm, grounding.

He didn’t say anything else.

But he didn’t leave the table for a long time.

Jake was on the rooftop first this time.

It was later than usual. The city below buzzed like a restless machine, but up here it was quiet, still, the wind brushing at his collar like a curious ghost. He had come with his telescope, like always, but tonight he hadn’t even set it up.

He’d found something else.

It was lying near the far ledge — left behind, maybe on purpose, maybe not. Worn sketchbook. Familiar cover. A few bent pages. His name wasn’t on it, but he knew it was hers. He recognized the mess of charcoal smudges on the corners, the smell of cigarette smoke clinging to the paper.

He shouldn’t have opened it.

But he did.

He flipped past a few pages abstract stuff, bodies warped into shapes, eyes too big, limbs too long. Until he landed on a drawing that stopped everything.

It was him.

Sitting at the table from the other day. Three plates in front of him, chopsticks in hand, talking with his whole body like he always did. The crow was perched behind him on the counter, beady eyes fixed on the back of his head like it was judging him. The restaurant lightbulb hung low, casting that yellow wash over his hair.

But what made Jake freeze, what made his throat tighten was how she had drawn him.

Not handsome. Not romanticized. Just real. His shoulders slightly hunched, his left foot bouncing mid-air, one arm gesturing too wide, his face alive with too many thoughts at once. His eyes were open. Honest. A little tired. Full of light.

No one had ever drawn him like that.

No one had ever seen him like that.

He didn’t hear her until it was too late.

“You weren’t supposed to see that yet.”

Jake turned.

Y/N stood near the rooftop door, arms crossed over her chest, not angry exactly — more like she’d been caught naked. The kind of stillness that happens right before a person decides whether to bolt or burn.

Jake blinked quickly and wiped at his eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—I just saw it there and I—”

He looked back down at the page.

“Y/N, this is… it’s the most human I’ve ever looked.”

She said nothing. Just walked over, slow, and sat down beside him.

For a minute, they didn’t speak.

Then she let out a sigh that sounded like it had been waiting days to escape.

“You make me insane.”

Jake turned to her, startled.

She stared ahead, not looking at him.

“You talk like the world’s about to end but you’re excited about it. You bounce when you sit. You laugh with your whole body. And you never shut up. And I should hate it, because I hate everything lately. But you… I don’t know. You make me want to scream and melt and stay all at the same time.”

Jake blinked.

“That’s… a lot.”

“Yeah.”

She gave a bitter little laugh.

“It is. And it’s not fair. Because I don’t know how to do this. Any of this.”

“Do what?”

She finally looked at him.

Her eyes weren’t cold like they were when they first met. They were tired. Scared. Soft.

“Care. Let someone sit this close. Let someone see me, or draw them without turning them into a monster. But when I draw you…”

She looked down.

“You don’t need to be turned into anything. You’re already light. I don’t even know how to explain that.”

Jake said nothing for a second. His throat felt full.

Then:

“Why didn’t you show me?”

She picked at a loose thread on her sleeve.

“Because it felt private. Not the drawing. You. How I see you. It’s like I caught something I wasn’t supposed to see — and it scared me. Because I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the rooftop, and it’s annoying. I hate being this person. Soft. Needy. Hungry for something that isn’t even food.”

Jake swallowed.

“You don’t have to apologize for any of that.”

She looked at him.

“Don’t do that. Don’t make it okay too fast. I’m not easy, Jake. I’m full of static. I disappear sometimes. I ruin my own appetite and then wonder why I feel empty. I might push you away. I will push you away.”

He stared at her — at the girl who saw aliens in herself and light in him — and smiled so gently it broke something in her chest.

“I don’t need easy. I just need you to let me sit here with you.”

She bit her lip. Looked down.

“I feel comfort around you.”

She said it like a secret.

“Like the kind that makes my chest hurt in a good way. I don’t know why. But when you’re there, the noise goes quiet. It’s like I can breathe again, even if I don’t want to eat. Even if I still feel wrong in my body. You’re just… good.”

Jake turned fully toward her now.

“Y/N.”

He said her name like a prayer.

“I think about you too. A lot. More than I’ve thought about anyone in a long time.”

He reached for her hand, but didn’t touch it. Just let it hover near hers.

“And that drawing? That’s the first time I’ve ever felt like someone got me. Not because I said something. But because they looked.”

—————

It was past 1 a.m. when Jake’s phone buzzed.

He almost didn’t hear it. He was lying on his bed in the dark, scrolling half-heartedly through a forum thread about possible audio anomalies picked up off the coast of Chile. Nothing credible. Just more static, more hopeful noise. He rubbed his eyes and rolled over, reaching for his phone.

Y/N.

His breath caught.

He answered immediately.

“Hello?”

There was no sound at first. Just a breath. Then a shaky, barely-there voice.

“Can you come?”

No context. No explanation.

But Jake didn’t need one.

They stayed like that. Side by side. Not touching. Not rushing.

The wind picked up a little, and above them, the stars blinked through the clouds like they were listening.

And for the first time since they met, neither of them needed to say anything else.

Y/N’s head rested against Jake’s shoulder, her breathing shaky but slowing down. She wasn’t crying anymore, not really, but her body still felt tight. Like it hadn’t realized it could stop bracing.

Jake stayed quiet. He didn’t know what to say. He just kept his arms around her and focused on keeping his voice low and steady when he finally did speak.

“I’m glad you called me.”

She didn’t answer right away. Just leaned in a little more, like she was trying to believe she was allowed to.

Then she sat up. Slowly. Her face was blotchy and tired, but she didn’t look away from him.

“Jake?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you really capable of loving me so much I forget I hate myself?”

The words hit him harder than he expected. She wasn’t being dramatic , she was just honest. Raw. She meant it.

Jake looked at her. Not rushed. Not overwhelmed. Just… trying to understand.

“I don’t know if I can make you forget,” he said, quiet. “But I want to try. I want to be around. Even if you can’t see what I see yet.”

She looked down at her hands, breathing in through her nose. Then back up.

Her eyes were wet again, but not like before.

She leaned in first. Slow, careful. Her lips barely touched his, testing.

Jake didn’t move. Not at first.

Then he kissed her back.

Soft. Nervous. Real.

It wasn’t a perfect kiss. It was a little clumsy, a little too still, like neither of them had kissed someone like this before, like it actually mattered.

Her fingers touched his neck, uncertain, and he moved just enough to show her it was okay. That he was here.

They pulled apart quietly. Not far. Just enough to breathe.

She looked at him.

He looked back, and said:

“I’ve never kissed anyone who cried on me first.”

She let out a short laugh through her nose. Wiped her face again.

“I’ve never kissed someone who talks about aliens this much.”

Jake grinned.

“You know, in some cultures, crying before a kiss is a sign of good luck.”

“You made that up.”

“Totally. But it felt like the right thing to say.”

She laughed again. Less tired this time.

Then Jake added, a little too fast:

“Also… if aliens ever land and ask me who to talk to, I’m pointing to you.”

She rolled her eyes. Smiled without meaning to.

“Shut up.”

“Too late. You’re their leader now.”

She shook her head and leaned back against his shoulder.

Jake didn’t say anything else.

————

Jake walked down the hill from campus, hands stuffed in his pockets, then pulled out again, then back in. He kept touching his lips with his fingers, gently. Like he was trying to confirm it really happened.

“She kissed me,” he muttered.

Then louder:

“She kissed me back.”

He smiled to himself. Then frowned.

“Wait. Did I talk too much after? Did I ruin it?”

He stopped under a streetlight, tilted his head up like the stars could give him answers.

“Why did I say the thing about aliens? ���You’re their leader now’? Jesus Christ.”

He groaned, took a few more steps, then pulled out his phone. Opened her chat. Just looked at her name on the screen.

“Don’t text her yet. It’s too soon. Be normal.”

He locked the phone. Unlocked it.

Locked it again.

“…Maybe just something casual.”

He started typing.

Part 2

[darkmaga-returns]

By Nicolas Hulscher, MPH

Dr. Larry Burk is a retired Duke MRI radiologist who has been studying Electromagnetic field (EMF) safety issues for 35 years. He has served on the North Carolina Radiation Protection Commission's Non-Ionizing Advisory Committee for the past 5 years. In this interview, Dr. Burk discusses the growing impact of EMFs on human health and shares actionable strategies to mitigate their effects.

Sahu et al conducted a systematic review examining the impact of EMF pollution on human health:

Objective: Recent technological advances have exponentially expanded globally; harbouring upon Electromagnetic fields (EMF). The utilization of Electromagnetic field has become universal from everyday usage of electronic appliances such as micro wave ovens, tablets and portable computers to telecommunication systems mobile phone towers, radio- television broadcast systems and electronic power transmission systems resulting in electromagnetic field and associated radiations. EMF can have biological effects on cell at microlevel and have the potential ability to cause cell dysfunction manifesting in various biological effects. This review tried to gather evidence from the existing literature about the biological effects of EMF on human health.

[chimerarachnid]

The evolutionary trajectory of life on Earth has consistently challenged preconceived notions regarding the boundaries of biological viability. From the abyssal depths where chemosynthetic ecosystems flourish in the absence of solar radiation, to the hyperacidic geothermal springs where extremophiles exploit sulfur-based metabolic pathways, to the radiologically contaminated zones where fungal organisms appear to harness ionizing radiation through melanin-mediated processes, life has demonstrated remarkable plasticity in colonizing environments previously deemed sterile. This paradigmatic expansion of the habitable envelope naturally raises a provocative question: if biological systems can withstand the vacuum of space, lethal radiation doses, and corrosive chemical matrices, what fundamental constraints preclude the existence of life within molten silicate matrices—commonly known as lava?

Distinguishing Extreme Environments from Thermodynamically Prohibitive Conditions

To address this question rigorously, it is essential to establish a clear demarcation between environments that impose severe physiological stress and those that fundamentally disrupt molecular architecture. Lava represents molten silicate material with temperatures typically ranging from 973 to 1473 Kelvin (700°C to 1,200°C or 1,292°F to 2,192°F), creating conditions that exceed the thermal stability thresholds of all known biomolecules. This temperature regime does not merely stress biological systems—it induces catastrophic molecular dissociation and structural denaturation.

The thermodynamic reality of molten rock environments differs qualitatively from other extreme conditions. While ionizing radiation can cause DNA strand breaks that are potentially repairable through enzymatic mechanisms, and vacuum conditions can be survived through cryptobiotic states that suspend metabolic activity, the thermal energy present in lava fundamentally disrupts the covalent bonds that maintain molecular integrity. This represents a transition from survivable stress to inevitable molecular decomposition.

Biochemical Constraints of Carbon-Based Life

Contemporary terrestrial biology operates within a relatively narrow thermodynamic window defined by the stability of carbon-hydrogen bonds, phosphodiester linkages in nucleic acids, and the hydrophobic interactions that stabilize protein tertiary structure. Even the most thermoresistant extremophiles operate within these fundamental constraints. Methanopyrus kandleri, representing the current temperature record-holder among hyperthermophiles, maintains viability at 395 Kelvin (122°C) through specialized heat-shock proteins and thermostable enzyme variants, yet remains orders of magnitude below lava temperatures.

The molecular basis of this limitation is well-characterized. DNA undergoes thermal denaturation at approximately 368 Kelvin (95°C) under physiological conditions, while cell membrane phospholipids experience phase transitions that compromise barrier function well below 423 Kelvin (150°C). Even the most thermostable proteins, such as those found in hyperthermophilic archaea, lose catalytic function at temperatures that represent merely the lower bounds of molten rock environments.

However, this analysis is predicated upon the assumption that life universally adheres to terrestrial biochemical paradigms. The emerging field of astrobiology has increasingly challenged anthropocentric definitions of biological possibility, suggesting that alternative bio-chemistries might operate under fundamentally different thermodynamic constraints.

Alternative Biochemical Frameworks and Exotic Life Scenarios

The potential for non-carbon-based life has garnered serious consideration within the astrobiological community, particularly regarding silicon-based biochemistry. Silicon, sharing carbon's tetravalent bonding capacity, theoretically enables the formation of complex molecular architectures while potentially offering superior thermal stability. Silicon-oxygen bonds (Si-O) possess higher bond dissociation energies compared to carbon-hydrogen bonds, suggesting that silicon-based polymers might maintain structural integrity at elevated temperatures. However, silicon chemistry also presents significant limitations, including reduced structural flexibility and a tendency toward crystallization rather than the formation of dynamic, self-organizing systems characteristic of carbon-based life.

Beyond alternative elemental foundations, theoretical frameworks have been proposed for organisms incorporating inorganic protective matrices. Terrestrial precedent exists in biomineralizing organisms such as magnetotactic bacteria, which precipitate magnetite nanoparticles, and diatoms, which construct intricate silica frustules. Extrapolating from these examples, hypothetical organisms might evolve refractory ceramic or metallic shells capable of providing thermal insulation against extreme temperature gradients.

Recent discoveries have expanded our understanding of extremophile capabilities in ways that inform this discussion. The identification of radiotrophic fungi in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which appear to metabolize ionizing radiation through melanin-mediated electron transport chains, demonstrates that life can not only survive but potentially thrive by exploiting energy sources previously considered universally destructive. Similarly, the rapid evolution of plastic-metabolizing bacteria in marine environments illustrates the remarkable adaptability of biological systems to novel chemical landscapes.

Transient Survivability and Cryptobiotic Strategies

A more plausible scenario for life's interaction with lava environments involves transient rather than permanent exposure. Many extremophiles employ cryptobiotic strategies—reversible metabolic suspension coupled with enhanced molecular protection—to survive otherwise lethal conditions. Tardigrades exemplify this approach, entering a desiccated "tun" state while producing damage-suppressing proteins and trehalose disaccharides that stabilize cellular structures during cryptobiosis.

Bacterial endospores represent perhaps the most relevant analogue for potential lava survival. These dormant structures, surrounded by multiple protective coats including calcium dipicolinate deposits, can withstand temperatures exceeding 393 Kelvin (120°C) for extended periods. Theoretical extensions of this strategy might enable organisms to survive brief transits through molten environments while in extreme cryptobiotic states, potentially reactivating within cooling lava tubes or solidified volcanic substrates rich in chemically accessible minerals.

Microenvironmental Niches and Thermal Gradients

The assumption that lava presents a uniformly lethal environment may itself be overly simplistic. Volcanic systems create complex thermal gradients with numerous microenvironments that might fall within the expanded tolerance ranges of extremophile organisms. Lava tubes, formed by the drainage of molten rock from beneath solidified crusts, can maintain moderate temperatures while providing access to mineral-rich substrates and potentially reducing atmospheric conditions. Similarly, the interfaces between active lava flows and ambient environments create steep thermal gradients where temperatures might transitionally approach the upper limits of hyperthermophile tolerance.

Subglacial volcanic systems present particularly intriguing possibilities. In these environments, the interaction between molten rock and ice creates complex thermal and chemical gradients, potentially generating microenvironments with temperatures compatible with extremophile survival while providing access to both oxidized and reduced chemical species for metabolic exploitation.

Geochemical Considerations and Deep Crustal Environments

The boundary between "lava" and "hot rock" is not merely semantic but reflects important distinctions in habitability potential. While actively molten rock exceeds known biological tolerance limits, the cooling and crystallization process creates a continuum of environments with varying thermal and chemical properties. Recent investigations of deep crustal microbial communities have revealed active biological processes at depths exceeding 5 kilometers, where temperatures approach 353 Kelvin (80°C) and pressure exceeds 50 megapascals.

These discoveries suggest that the transition zone between molten and solid rock—the crystallization front—might represent a previously unconsidered habitat. As cooling magma transitions from liquid to solid phases, it creates chemical gradients, gas evolution, and mineral precipitation that could potentially support specialized extremophile communities adapted to exploit these dynamic geochemical processes.

Synthesis and Future Directions

While current thermodynamic principles and biochemical knowledge suggest that conventional carbon-based life cannot maintain active metabolism within actively molten silicate environments, several theoretical pathways remain unexplored. These include:

alternative biochemistries operating at elevated temperature ranges

cryptobiotic survival strategies enabling transient exposure to extreme thermal conditions

exploitation of microenvironmental niches within complex volcanic systems

The question of life's ultimate temperature limits intersects with broader philosophical issues regarding the universality of terrestrial biochemical paradigms. As astrobiology continues to expand our conception of habitable environments—from the methane lakes of Titan to the sulfuric acid clouds of Venus to the subsurface oceans of Europa and Enceladus—the dismissal of any extreme environment as definitively uninhabitable requires increasingly rigorous justification.

The emerging understanding that life can exploit energy sources as diverse as ionizing radiation, methane seepage, and hydrogen sulfide suggests that our current models of biological impossibility may be overly conservative. While the direct colonization of actively molten rock remains highly improbable given known biochemical constraints, the complex thermal, chemical, and physical gradients associated with volcanic systems present numerous opportunities for life to approach—and potentially breach—previously assumed thermodynamic boundaries.

Future investigations might profitably focus on the systematic characterization of thermal gradients within volcanic systems, the laboratory evolution of hyperthermophile organisms under progressively elevated temperature regimes, and the theoretical modeling of alternative biochemistries capable of maintaining functionality at extreme temperatures. As our understanding of life's fundamental limits continues to evolve, the boundary between the possible and impossible remains not fixed, but perpetually expanding.

The ultimate question may not be whether life can survive in lava, but rather how closely life can approach the thermodynamic limits of molecular stability—and what new definitions of "life" might emerge from these investigations.

[ketrinadrawsalot]

Roentgenium is named after Wilhelm Röntgen, discoverer of X-rays. It is predicted to be a noble metal, since calculations indicate its atomic radius and ionization potential is similar to that of gold.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Niobium-tin magnet could be key to unlocking potential of heavy-ion accelerator

Researchers from Berkeley Lab's Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division have teamed up with colleagues from Michigan State University's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), the world's most powerful heavy-ion accelerator, to develop a new superconducting magnet based on niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) technology. This magnet, the first of its kind, could significantly improve FRIB's performance and enhance its capabilities, opening up new applications in medicine, industry, and research. The paper is published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity. At FRIB, beams of ionized atoms (ions) of elements spanning the periodic table, including heavy elements like uranium, are accelerated to half the speed of light. When these beams collide with a target, they break apart to create short-lived isotopes.

Read more.

[expertacademicassignmenthelp]

How Does The Drug Got Excreted / Eliminated From The Body?

Drug excretion is an important process in pharmacology, encompassing the elimination of pharmaceutical substances from the body. While the ultimate elimination of all drugs is inevitable, the specific pathways involved can vary significantly. Some drugs undergo extensive metabolic transformations before being excreted, while others are expelled from the body in their original form.

The kidneys play a central role in excreting water-soluble substances, effectively filtering them from the bloodstream. Meanwhile, the biliary system handles drugs that remain unabsorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, providing an alternative route for elimination. Although excretion through auxiliary channels such as the intestines, saliva, sweat, breast milk, and lungs is typically minimal, certain volatile anesthetics and residual drug traces in breast milk can have notable impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations such as infants.

Renal excretion constitutes a significant portion of drug elimination, accounting for approximately 20% of the plasma that is filtered through the glomeruli. While most water and electrolytes are reabsorbed back into circulation, polar compounds like drug metabolites are excreted predominantly in urine. However, it’s important to note that renal excretion tends to decrease with age, necessitating careful dosage adjustments for elderly patients to mitigate potential adverse effects.

Numerous factors influence the process of renal excretion, including the extent of protein binding, the degree of drug ionization affecting reabsorption rates, fluctuations in urine pH that can alter excretion dynamics, and the impact of metabolic inhibitors on tubular secretion mechanisms.

Biliary elimination, on the other hand, occurs when drugs traverse the biliary epithelium via active transport mechanisms. However, this process is not without limitations, as transporter saturation can impose constraints on drug excretion rates. Typically, larger molecules containing polar and lipophilic groups are excreted through bile, while smaller molecules tend to favor renal elimination pathways.

In addition to renal and biliary routes, drugs may also be eliminated to varying extents through auxiliary pathways such as saliva, tears, feces, sweat, and exhalation. While the quantities eliminated through these routes are generally minimal, drug excretion in breast milk can pose significant concerns for lactating mothers, potentially exposing nursing infants to pharmacological agents.

Understanding the pharmacokinetic parameters governing drug excretion is paramount for optimizing therapeutic regimens and minimizing the risk of adverse effects. Key parameters include the rate of elimination, clearance, elimination rate constant, and biologic half-life for drugs undergoing first-order elimination kinetics.

In conclusion, drug excretion represents a broad process influenced by a myriad of factors, necessitating comprehensive consideration to ensure the safe and efficacious use of pharmacotherapy.

For medical students navigating the complexities of their studies, Expert Academic Assignment Help serves as a beacon of professionalism and expertise. With a steadfast dedication to excellence and competency, our team provides invaluable support and guidance tailored to your academic needs. Do not hesitate to reach out to us for assistance on your academic journey, email: expertassignment46@gmail.com 

Your excellence our pride.

[blessed-curse]

Superhuman Ranks & Categories + Info.

Superhuman Rankings & Categories:

In this world, superhumans—whether Descendants or Empowered—are classified based on two factors:

• Category – What kind of abilities they possess.

• Rank – How dangerous they are to humanity as a whole.

Both Governments and Secret Organizations use these classifications to monitor, control, and assess the risks posed by superhumans.

Superhuman Categories:

Superhuman abilities are divided into four main categories, determined by the nature of their powers.

1. Attribute Category (Enhanced Humans)

Superhumans in this category have heightened physical or sensory abilities but lack supernatural powers. They are essentially humans pushed beyond natural limits.

🔹 Examples:

• Super Strength – Can lift several tons effortlessly.

• Super Speed – Can outrun vehicles or react faster than bullets.

• Enhanced Durability – Can withstand gunfire, explosions, or extreme conditions.

• Advanced Perception – Superhuman hearing, sight, smell, or touch beyond natural limits.

• Regeneration – Can heal wounds, regrow limbs, or even survive fatal injuries (to an extent).

🔸 Limitations:

• Still bound by physical laws (e.g., someone fast enough to run at Mach 2 would still be burned by friction unless they have resistance).

• Lacks reality-altering or elemental powers.

2. Beastman Category (Hybrid Beasts)

This category includes individuals who possess the traits, attributes, or appearances of animals or mythical beasts. They often display feral instincts and heightened predatory senses.

🔹 Examples:

• Lycanthropy – Wolf-like traits such as enhanced agility, claws, fangs, and heightened senses.

• Shark Hybrid – Gills, enhanced swimming speed, water-breathing, razor-sharp teeth.

• Chimera-Type Hybrids – A mix of multiple animals, gaining the abilities of each.

• Dragon Physiology (Partial) – Tough scaled skin, fire-resistant body, enhanced lung capacity.

🔸 Limitations:

• Many Beastmen have instinctual drawbacks (e.g., aggression, territorial behavior, or seasonal weaknesses).

• Some mutations cause deformities or make it harder to blend into society.

3. Elemental Category (Masters of Nature)

These superhumans can generate, manipulate, or become one with elements. Some even possess elemental bodies.

🔹 Examples:

• Pyrokinesis – Create, control, and withstand fire and heat.

• Cryokinesis – Generate and manipulate ice and sub-zero temperatures.

• Electromagnetism – Can produce electricity, magnetize objects, or create ionized plasma fields.

• Hydrokinesis – Control water, create tsunamis, or extract moisture from the air.

• Aerokinesis – Manipulate wind currents, create tornadoes, or even remove oxygen from the air.

• Earth Manipulation – Control rock, metal, and minerals at will.

🔸 Limitations:

• Elemental superhumans often require a source (e.g., fire users need fuel(food or existing flames), water manipulators need moisture).

• Energy consumption varies—stronger abilities require more stamina and control.

4. Deviant Category (Unclassified Abilities)

The rarest and most unpredictable category. Powers in this category defy standard logic, making them the most difficult to control and classify.

🔹 Examples:

• Reality Warping – Can bend the laws of physics or alter existence itself.

• Time Manipulation – Can slow, stop, or even reverse time in small areas.

• Spatial Distortion – Teleportation, pocket dimensions, warping space.

• Soul Manipulation – Can steal, consume, or bind souls.

• Shapeshifting – Can fully transform into creatures, objects, or even other people.

• Immortality – Some Deviants are immune to aging or physical harm.

🔸 Limitations:

• Many Deviant abilities require conditions or sacrifices (e.g., teleportation may require a marked location).

• Some powers are incomplete or unstable, leading to unexpected effects.

Superhuman Ranks:

A superhuman’s Rank is determined by:

• Their power level.

• The scale of destruction they could cause.

• Their potential threat to humanity.

🔻 Rank 1: C (Menace-Class)

Threat Level:Low – Can endanger a small group of civilians (3-15 people).

🟢 Examples:

• A superhuman boxer with enhanced punching power.

• A fast runner capable of keeping up with a car.

• A low-tier Elemental who can spark a flame but not control fire.

🔸 Danger Level:

• Not a major threat. Police and security forces can handle them.

🔺 Rank 2: B (Hazard-Class)

Threat Level:Moderate – Can destroy a village or small town.

🟠 Examples:

• A Beastman with the strength of a bear or a lion's hunting instincts.

• An Elemental who can create a minor earthquake or summon lightning in a small area.

• A Deviant with low-tier teleportation.

🔸 Danger Level:

• Requires tactical intervention from special forces or other superhumans.

🔻 Rank 3: A (Disaster-Class)

Threat Level:High – Can wipe out an entire city or state.

🔴 Examples:

• A fire manipulator who can engulf an entire metropolis in flames.

• A Beastman hybrid with the destructive power of a T-Rex.

• A Deviant who can phase through objects or create temporary black holes.

🔸 Danger Level:

• Requires high-level intervention from military-grade superhumans.

🔺 Rank 4: S (Calamity-Class)

Threat Level:Severe – Can destroy a small country.

🟣 Examples:

• A storm manipulator capable of creating Category 5 hurricanes.

• A Beastman with the physical might of a kaiju-sized entity.

• A Deviant who can stop time for several minutes.

🔸 Danger Level:

• Requires entire organizations or elite superhuman teams to subdue.

🔻 Rank 5: SS (Catastrophe-Class)

Threat Level:Extreme – Can obliterate an entire continent.

⚫ Examples:

• A nuclear-tier elemental who can vaporize entire landmasses.

• A Deviant who can erase objects or beings from existence.

• A being with limited immortality and reality-bending powers.

🔸 Danger Level:

• Only other SS-ranked beings can challenge them.

🔺 Rank 6: SSS (Doomsday-Class)

Threat Level:Apocalyptic – Can annihilate all human life on Earth.

⚠️ Examples:

• A cosmic-level entity that can reshape reality.

• A Deviant capable of rewriting the laws of physics.

• A Beastman with the raw power of a god-like dragon.

🔸 Danger Level:

• Only other Doomsday-class beings or planetary weapons can stop them.

🔺 Rank 7: SSS+ (World Ender-Class)

Threat Level:Omnicidal – Can destroy entire planetary systems.

💀 Examples:

• A being capable of collapsing galaxies.

• A Deviant with true omnipotence and no physical limits.

• A fully awakened Descendant of a First-Generation God.

🔸 Danger Level:

• Considered unstoppable by mortal means.

Measuring Superhuman Power & The Core System

The process of ranking superhumans and determining their danger level is handled by G.R.O.W. using an advanced Energy Evaluation & Threat Assessment System (EETAS)—a government-designed device capable of scanning and analyzing a superhuman’s power output, potential, and combat capability.

The History of Power Measurement: The Evolution of the EETAS System

Before the EETAS, early methods of measuring superhuman strength were inaccurate and subjective, relying on combat performance, physical demonstrations, and limited biological studies. However, as superhuman abilities evolved, these traditional methods became unreliable, especially when it came to evaluating latent potential.

In 2090, after years of research into superhuman genetics, scientists discovered the existence of "Core Energy Reservoirs"—biological energy sources that fuel superhuman abilities. This discovery led to the creation of the first EETAS prototype, developed by Dr. Isamu Hoshino, a Japanese quantum biophysicist, and Dr. Eleanora Vespara, an Italian neuroscientist.

By 2097, EETAS became the global standard for power classification, used by governments, organizations like the NSO, and later G.R.O.W., to regulate and monitor superhuman activity.

The Core System: The Four Sources of Power

Every superhuman draws energy from three main cores, though there exists a fourth core that plays a critical but often overlooked role. The strength, stability, and synergy of these cores determine an individual’s power level and how effectively they can wield their abilities.

1. The Mind Core (C1) – The Psychic Nexus

• Location: Brain

• Energy Type:Psionic Energy

• Associated Abilities: Telekinesis, telepathy, mind control, precognition, illusion manipulation, mental resistance.

• Description: This core serves as the center for all mental and psychic abilities. It allows users to manipulate forces beyond the physical realm through sheer thought and willpower.

• Fluctuation: Highly volatile—stress, intelligence, and consciousness levels affect performance.

• Unique Trait: The Mind Core can expand beyond its natural limits, allowing users to access higher cognitive states.

2. The Heart Core (C2) – The Soul Engine

• Location: Heart

• Energy Type:Emotional / Spiritual Energy

• Associated Abilities: Healing, energy projection, spirit manipulation, emotion-based powers, divine abilities.

• Description: This core is fueled by deep emotions, passion, and the essence of the soul. It is commonly found in those who wield holy or demonic powers, emotion-based abilities, or even supernatural force control.

• Fluctuation: Stronger under extreme emotional states but can weaken if emotional stability is lost.

• Unique Trait: The Heart Core can connect with external forces (spiritual realms, divine entities, or even the emotions of others).

3. The Dantian Core (C3) – The Energy Reserve

• Location: Lower Abdomen (Dantian)

• Energy Type:Chi / Vital Energy

• Associated Abilities: Elemental manipulation, energy-based attacks, internal reinforcement, enhanced senses.

• Description: This core acts as the body’s energy reservoir, used primarily for fueling abilities that require energy projection, elemental control, or bodily enhancement.

• Fluctuation: Drains over time but can be replenished through meditation, rest, or energy absorption.

• Unique Trait: A highly developed Dantian Core allows a superhuman to store and generate immense energy, making their abilities more sustainable.

4. The Stamina Core (C4) – The Physical Catalyst(Often Overlooked)

• Location: No fixed location (dispersed throughout the body).

• Energy Type:Biological / Physical Power

• Associated Abilities: Super strength, speed, regeneration, endurance, combat proficiency.

• Description: Unlike the other cores, this core enhances raw physical abilities rather than fueling supernatural powers. It is critical for maintaining prolonged combat ability.

• Fluctuation: Depletes over time due to physical exertion, requiring rest, food, or healing to recover.

• Unique Trait: Those with a naturally high Stamina Core can surpass human limits, making them near-indestructible in battle.

Superhuman Ranking Process: How EETAS Determines Power Levels

When a superhuman is evaluated, G.R.O.W. employs a multi-step assessment that determines their rank and danger level:

Step 1: Core Analysis

• Using EETAS scanning technology, G.R.O.W. measures the superhuman’s Core Energy Signatures (CES) to determine:

• Which cores are active.

• The balance between them.

• Potential growth capabilities.

Superhumans with all four cores highly developed are extremely rare and usually fall within SSS-Class and above.

Step 2: Ability Classification

• G.R.O.W. assesses the nature of the superhuman’s ability, placing them into one of the four power categories:

• Attribute (Enhanced Physicality).

• Beastman (Hybrid Traits).

• Elemental (Natural & Energy Manipulation).

• Deviant (Unique & Unclassified Abilities).

Some individuals may fit into multiple categories, further increasing their classification level.

Step 3: Combat Simulation & Threat Evaluation

• The subject is put through a simulated combat scenario in a controlled environment.

• G.R.O.W. monitors:

• Power Output.

• Energy Consumption.

• Combat Efficiency.

• Potential Collateral Damage.

If a superhuman’s energy levels fluctuate dangerously or if their power shows potential for uncontrollable destruction, their danger ranking is increased.

Step 4: Final Threat Assessment & Rank Assignment

• After analysis, the superhuman is officially ranked, using the C to SSS+ ranking system:

• C-Rank: Local Threat (Menace-Class).

• B-Rank: City-Level Threat (Hazard-Class).

• A-Rank: Regional Threat (Disaster-Class).

• S-Rank: National Threat (Calamity-Class).

• SS-Rank: Continental Threat (Catastrophe-Class).

• SSS-Rank: Planetary Threat (Doomsday-Class).

• SSS+ Rank: Cosmic Threat (World Ender-Class).

Higher-ranked superhumans are monitored constantly by G.R.O.W. Any individual ranked S-Class or above is considered a potential global risk.

The Dark Truth Behind Power Evaluation:

While the EETAS system was designed for fair ranking, G.R.O.W. uses it as a tool for control.

• Superhumans ranked SSS-Class and above are automatically considered high-risk, even if they are not criminals.

• Empowered individuals are often assigned a higher threat level, since their powers are granted by The Contractor, an entity whose nature is still unknown.

• Some individuals have had their rankings artificially increased or decreased to suit governmental interests.

G.R.O.W. also has blacklisted superhumans, who are considered too dangerous to exist and are either hunted down or forcefully detained in The Chasm, the world’s most secure superhuman prison.

Final Notes on Power Evaluation:

The discovery of Cores changed how humanity viewed superhumans, but true power is not always measurable. Some individuals have hidden potential that no device can predict, making them wildcards—a status that G.R.O.W. fears the most.

In the end, a superhuman’s true limits are defined by their will, experience, and adaptability—not just their ranking on a government-issued scale.

[reality-detective]

This 👇 was sent to me from a friend. The chat text is my input. Think about it. 👀

White hats are telling their families to turn off cell phones for the Oct 4th EAS test.

From 2-3pm. (There was no indication if the test will be EDT, or will be by time zone.)

Could this be an indication of how the lipid nano particles are planned to be activated using three 1" bursts of 118hz. 5g may be employed for this activation.

This would release the pathogens inside and induce illness on a massive scale--

My thoughts are that this is how they'll begin the next pandemic and a fear based "vax" campaign because people will be so toxic and start dropping dead within weeks.

It has potential to look like ebola as the chimera making the nanobots (probably from graphene) is composed of ebola staphylococcus, brewers yeast and E. coli.

So it could be pretty gruesome if people develop sudden clotting disorders and start bleeding out all of their orifices. I saw this with the 2004(?) SARS patients who were in total organ failure when working in a long term subacute hospital. People will be so freaked out.

These are dots that I have been trying to connect. But the important thing is -- to get the devices shut off because the potential reality is just TOO REAL. 🤔

I've been using Epson salts for almost a year in a 30' hot soak

almost every other day.

Epson 2-3C

Baking soda 1/2-1 C

Borax 1/4-1/2 C

When I drain the tub the following day there was very fine gray "silt"

on the tub bottom even though I'd activated the jets prior to draining the tub.

Two months ago I decided to try magnesium chloride crystals/flakes 2 C instead of epson (MgSO4).

The silt was black! After about 5-6 soaks it began to clear.. so I think lots of graphene/bots (?) had been sucked out with the ionization of the water.

Simultaneously, we'd just started using the fenbendazole 222mg daily to kill the bot producing chimera.

Something is working as my skin no longer burns with the solar flares. Praise god! 🙏🏽

We gotta get this information out there. The potential that the EBS could trigger the next death round and jab campaign is just too real.

Yes... It's theory.

But it's a logical theory. 🤔

[thatweirdocryptid]

Hey you...yeah you, come closer would you please? Sneak attack you with lots of potential concepts at ungodly hours.

what if mole dog societies are structured like ants in a way, although the ruler/rulers does not give birth to all in the pack and just make sure everything is running smoothly. But each dog has a assigned jobs that benefit the pack like;"farmers"(of the solver flesh),diggers,babysitters, scavengers, scouts,ect.

If any mole dog that spends too much time outside will start to become a more darker coloration as their body start producing more melanin to protect them from the deadly sun's ionizing radiation; some becoming completely black in fur and skin

some mole dog pack/colonies may live strictly underground as others pack/colonies might send scavengers to the surface in hopes they'll bring back something for the rest of them. On rare occasions, scavengers can team up with disassembly drones with the promise of food of some sort. The scavengers that team up will try flushing out any worker drones that are out of reach of the disassembly drones

Most drones never get to see a real mole dog in their life. Lots of them considering them nothing but myth, but as mythical as unicorns to some others . There are barely any documented cases of mole dogs across all of the outposts

mole dogs can probably eat anything at this point that isn't just straight up unedible like; oil, concrete,metal, plastic,ect. Although sometimes they could be caught chewing on wires or scraps of metal

(Oops that's a lot. sorry i got too excited.I hope it doesn't scare you off )

W OA HFUHEFISUSUSUUWH mole dawgs are my lifeline rnź uryegwgdjwhs