As climate change becomes more of an issue, artificial intelligence's (AI) energy use slowly raises more problems, even if users are unaware.
The increase of climate change has been ongoing since the Industrial Revolution. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information reported that 2024 was the warmest year since global records started in 1850. This indicates the amount of sunlight energy absorbed and the heat traveling back to space is out of balance, and the temperature either rises or falls.
To power AI, it takes massive amounts of energy to run for long periods of time.
“I would say in the early stages, the concern of energy consumption would be my biggest concern," said OH AP Environmental Teacher Zachary Horn. "But obviously, there are some advantages that AI can do that can maybe streamline things, maybe reduce our need for burning fossil fuels, and other ways like transportation and communication. I think it's too early to say whether or not it's gonna have a bigger impact,” Horn added.
Starting her high school career, OH sophomore Alli Wiertel has gained national popularity due to her impressive golf accomplishments. With conference champs 1x and regional champs 2x, Wiertel has led her team to amazing results.
This season, she was the individual Southwest Prairie Conference (SPC) girls' golf champion. At the conference tournament, she fired a 68, which secured her the win by 11 strokes. The top individual scored a 65 at the regional championship; at sectionals, she placed second.
Wiertel has practically been playing golf for her entire life. “My dad got me into golf,” said Wiertel. “I started when I was four years old and started my first tournaments when I was eight.”
Oswego’s Co-Op girls golf team Head Coach Brian Chandler shared his insights on Wiertel’s amazing golf talent.
For the second year in a row, 42Fifty has earned an award from the Quill & Scroll Journalism International Honor Society. During the '24-25 academic year, the OH student news publication staff was thrilled to earn International First Place. Today, the team learned they had outdone themselves by earning the George H. Gallup Award, the highest honor awarded by Quill & Scroll.
"As [[one of the Editors-in-Chief]], it is very exciting being a part of this publication and being able to help others along the way," said senior Brandyn Hudson. Hudson shared that earning the Gallup Award means the publication rated Superior in all five evaluation categories. These categories include General Practices, Coverage, Writing and Editing, Visuals, and Digital/ Social Media.
Last year, composer Owen Meldon, an OH alum, sat at his desk and decided to create a new piece of music. Meldon was working on his senior recital at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign when he shifted his focus to create something new to relieve stress.
“I spent the three days after my recital just de-stressing, detoxing myself, and just writing a band piece,” Meldon said. “I was bored in my apartment, and I was messing around on my keyboard, plunking up random things.”
The plunking then turned into Meldon's award-winning piece, “Circlesong.” The OH Wind ensemble premiered “Circlesong” at their spring concert in full circle fashion on May 6.
Despite her loss in the national election, Kamala Harris was victorious in the 2024 OH Mock Election with 47% of the student vote. Hundreds of students from all grade levels gathered in the auditorium to show their support by voting in the mock election. Sponsored by the honors society Rho Kappa, the mock election allowed all students to vote and get a glimpse of how real elections work.
"I was surprised about the amount of kids excited to cast a vote," said junior Derek Yackley, one of the many students who voted in the mock election. The ballot included six questions, and students had an opportunity to express their opinion on a variety of topics.