​When someone says unknown, most will think of outer space - far spun galaxies and cosmic star clusters punctuated with devouring black holes or crackling supernovae. Most will think that stepping onto a rocket ship, or some other futuristic space craft, and blasting to the furthest reaches of our universe where no human has ever stepped before. Whilst that is all true, what if I told you there is a whole hidden world, where over 90% of our planet's microbes live, right below our feet? A world even more astonishing, weird and wonderful than you could ever imagine. 
 
Welcome to earth’s deep biosphere, a seemingly unglamourous world swamped by rock and acid and toxic salt compounds. I recently became aware of this fascinating ecosystem whilst doing some habitual and slightly guilty scrolling on You Tube. However, I instead ended up coming across a video by 'Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell’ (an incredible science channel that I 100% recommend) about a range of ‘extremophiles’ living deep below our planet's crust. I was enthralled by this strange new world, and fell in love with the bizarre and wonderful ways life has persisted and survived in such unforgiving conditions. 
 
Starved of oxygen, choked by acid, throttled by radiation and crushed under the weight of thousands of mountains, life persists. The total biomass of life subsurface has been estimated at 15 to 23 billion tonnes of carbon. This amount of carbon corresponds to ≈ 245 to 385 times the carbon mass of all humans on the surface. At 4000km below the surface, there is almost no free oxygen left, and the average temperature is 120 degrees celsius, though it can reach much higher temperatures if a lava pool is nearby. Here, radioactive elements such as thorium and uranium emit constant waves of radiation, and rocks are peppered with extreme amounts of salt.
 
So, where exactly does this life actually survive? Seemingly solid rocks are filled with tiny fractures or pores. These cracks are opened by the movement of tectonic plates smashing into one another over thousands of years.Here, the bacteria desulforudis audaxviator thrives. It synthesizes its own food by consuming sulphur and carbon found in rock, and transforming them into organic substances. If conditions get too harsh, it kills itself to survive by splitting itself down the middle and breaking into two separate parts (one big and one small) known as an endospore. The big part swallows the small part, forming a cell-like structure. This spore will float around - completely dormant for maybe thousands of years - until it finds a place with suitable conditions to spring to life once again. 
 
Found here too are Altiarchaeum hamiconexum, microbes which are covered in a double membrane that protects them from extremes. They survive by shooting out microscopic ‘’grappling hooks” used to tether themselves across porous rock. Microbes down here have incredibly slow metabolisms. They had a meal when you were born, and are still digesting it now. They spend little and consume little and in this way, are able to essentially ‘’live forever’ (or at least  for millions of years). Contrary to most microbes, these divide and reproduce on average only once in 1000 years due to nutrient scarcity. 
 
Life down here is a twisted, wonderful thing, suspended in perpetual slow motion and something which unfortunately, there is still so much we do not know. For one, finding and collecting deep microbe samples without contaminating them is incredibly difficult, making research into them a huge challenge. Furthermore, once these microbes are back up at the surface, it is hard to replicate these extreme conditions to keep them alive. Therefore, studying them in their natural habitat is an expensive, complicated process. However, advances in science, engineering (or just sheer human creativity) will 
hopefully one day open this almost unreachable world of wonders to us. It baffles me that we are already off exploring distant planets, when so much of our own incredible home is still cloaked in speculation and the unknown.  
 

Black holes – one of the biggest space topics. What are they, why do they attract, and, ultimately, how do we even know about them? First off, let us start with the basics: what is a black hole?
                 
A black hole is a region in space where there is a very large quantity of matter packed in very tiny spaces – making it so dense, that the gravity just below its surface attracts everything; not even light can escape. Astronomers saw the first signs of black holes in 1964, besides the theory having been around for a while. Black holes are created when massive stars run out of fuel and explode in supernovae.
 
Nevertheless, black holes absorb light, so we cannot see them directly. We know about them and can see them as scientists can detect black holes by looking at what is falling into it – it travels at such a high speed that it glows with heat, which can be detected. Furthermore, when a black hole’s gravity pulls on other things, like stars, they eventually orbit an “empty” space, which can be found to be a black hole. 
 
As much as the knowledge available to us is already massive, the questions are endless – amongst many other doubts, we still do not know what is inside a black hole. What we do know is that black holes aren’t that rare. As a matter of fact, most galaxies which are the size of the Milky Way have a monster black hole in their centres. Ours is called Sagittarius A*. Moreover, black holes act as particle accelerators – in the centre of galaxies, monster black holes can launch particles to near light speed.
 
There is so much to still be learnt about black holes, but it is important to acknowledge we have already learnt so much in so little time. As stated before, they were discovered only 61 years ago. However, many aspects of black holes are still a mystery, and remain unknown.
 
 

Space has been one of the many aspects of science least attainable to the human mind, its infinite size thus the name ‘space’ makes it hard to imagine the many possibilities inside it.  
 
The concept of wormholes first originated more than 100 years ago in 1916. Ludwig Flamm was who depicted the idea for the first time. But who really began to develop it was one of, or even the most well-known scientist ever: Albert Einstein, along with Nathan Rosen. The influence of both these scientist onto the topic led to the name Einstein-Rosen bridge, the original name for wormholes.  
 
To understand the concept of wormholes we must view them almost as tunnels, which slices through space from one point to another allowing things to travel quicker than the average way we know of today. This way a trip through space which would take decades could theoretically take hours or minutes.  
 
Although we have never found actual evidence that wormholes exist beyond the pages of fiction or film it has been the answer to some important physics equations. Most importantly Einstein’s theory of general relativity and space-time. Einstein’s idea described how stars, planets and other objects moved throughout the universe and how it is shaped.  As the basis of Einstein’s theory of general relativity, it was proposed an equation in which a German physicist names Schwarzschild solved to find the space time geometry surrounding a static, spherically symmetric mass such as a star or a blackhole. So, in basic words how does the region around these objects work geometrically.  
 
Through this solution, Schwarzschild predicted the distance from the centre of an object at which the velocity where the object can escape from the gravitation pull holding it (escape speed) equals to the speed of light. This is distance is equivalent to a radius commonly known as the Schwarzschild radius. And if an object is compressed within this distance nothing can escape, not even light, thus a blackhole.  
 
Blackholes are essential parts of understanding wormholes as Schwarzschild wormholes, aka Einstein-Rosen bridge, signifies how a black hole, where nothing can escape is connected to a white hole, where matter and light can only leave but not enter. Nowadays this solution has begun to seem oversimplified and inconsiderate to other points necessary to hold/stabilize a wormhole. It is quite probable that in the event of the big bang many small wormholes were formed which could be stabilize due to negative energy, an opposing energy to the wormhole’s gravity, but as the universe stretched they collapsed.  
 
Despite these topics being hard to grasp, the point is to identify the infinite possibilities within space. And how wormholes may be true or not.  
 
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The unknown has always fascinated and frightened humanity. It lurks in the corners of our imagination, in the shadows of our future, and even within the parts of ourselves we refuse to understand. We often speak of the unknown as something distant, like the unexplored universe, or the depths of the ocean, but the real unknown lies inside of each one of us.

From the moment we are born, we begin our journey into uncertainty. Every decision, every path we take, leads us into something we have never known before. Even though we try to map our future with plans and predictions, it always finds a way to surprise us. For some, this uncertainty is terrifying. For others, it is what makes each day thrilling.
The unknown tests our courage. It forces us to trust when we cannot see the outcome, to hope when there is no guarantee of success. Without the unknown, there would be no curiosity, no discovery, no growth. It is both the source of our fears and the reason we evolve.

But maybe, the hardest unknown to face is us, the parts of our identity we haven’t yet discovered, the emotions we suppress, the potential we underestimate. Learning who we are can feel daunting, yet, when we look inward, and face what we don’t understand, we often find strength waiting to be uncovered.​

The unknown is not an enemy we have to defeat but a mystery to embrace. It is the space where we are reminded that even in the dark, there is always more to discover.

Every summer, thousands of new graduates go to Ibiz to celebrate, and the numbers prove it. In 2023 alone, the island welcomed over 3.5 million visitors, with a huge amount of them under the age 30. For many, it’s the best way to celebrate finishing university with a trip that’s less about textbooks and more about sunset views and not worrying about waking up too early to study. It’s almost become a tradition, finish your degree, then book a trip to a place which will help fulfill your euro summer. Teenagers usually tend to lean on places which have great nightlife like Mykonos, but Ibiza has been popular and known for great house music and perfect atmospheres. 
It isn’t just the nightlife, although that’s a major draw with clubs like Pacha and Ushuaïa pulling in world-class DJs. Ibiza also taps into the fashion and lifestyle side of things. There’s also the Instagram factor as the island is packed with photogenic backdrops from the famous Es Vedrà rock formation to the beautiful sunsets at the multiple beaches. A single trip can fill an entire feed with “Instagram-worthy” content, and for many people, sharing those moments online is part of the experience. Between the overall vibe, the fashion, Ibiza isn’t just a holiday destination anymore it’s become the post-graduation trip everyone tries to include in their itinerary. 
Furthermore, a lot of those tourists that got to Ibiza are younger. Ibiza’s target demographic tends to fall between 15 and 44 years old, making up about 81% of holidaymakers. Compared to neighbouring Mallorca, which has 41% of its tourists over 45, Ibiza aims for much a younger audience. That’s part of why the “Ibiza effect” influences people so hard, the scene, activities, and vibe are built around that young audience. About 45% of Gen Z trusts travel recommendations made by influencers so even if it might not be the dream destination for some, our generation is still highly influenced by the popularity of the destination mainly on the internet. 
Ibiza also offers a sense of freedom that relates with recent graduates and teens. After years of academic pressure, the island becomes a place where people can feel free and spontaneous. In fact, nearly 62% of Ibiza’s tourists participate in wellness or outdoor activities during their stay, showing that the experience goes far beyond nightlife. From over 210 beaches to more than 20 yoga and wellness retreats, there is also room for those looking to relax or reset after the academic year, which makes it a dream destination for many. 
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Mount Fuji, Osaka Castle, Tokyo Tower – Japan took the world by storm, its unique culture, thriving infrastructure and bewitching sights turning it into a dream destination. Japan became a brand, a recognizable “aesthetic” of its own; known for its clean streets, advanced technologies, and smart innovation techniques, Japan has a recognizably large number of tourists. In June 2025 alone, over 3 million visitors went to Japan. In 2024, Japan was 7th on the top most visited countries. But can these staggering numbers have negative consequences? ​

While tourism is an extremely profitable industry, mass tourism has been an increasing issue worldwide. Mass tourism leads to environmental degradation, as many tourists do not know their impacts in a country as much as the locals, which can lead to habitat disruption. Furthermore, when many tourists of different cultures spread their own cultures in different countries, the touristic country suffers a loss of tradition and culture. Also, many resources and funds go to large hotel chains and less to smaller, local businesses, which can cause economic stress. 

But on the other hand, tourism also creates job opportunities, by promoting sectors like construction, gastronomy, entertainment, and more. Moreover, sometimes deliberate action is taken to avoid culture loss, and therefore preservation initiatives are started which helps maintain culture and heritage. Lastly, tourists spending help increase tax revenues and in general contribute to the economy of a country.  

Japan decided to impose tourist restrictions for various reasons, but these restrictions were not abrupt. They were a long time coming, since Japan had struggled with cultural clashes and other issues for a long time already. Japan had been having issues specially with disrespectful tourists as many do not comprehend how to approach Japanese traditions and heritage. Additionally, with the multitude of tourists, popular spots were extremely packed. 

Concluding, Japan decided to implement tourist restrictions and policies to be able to conserve their unique culture and heritage. The regulations like the number of climbers allowed on Mount Fuji, restricted access to streets, and more are to allow both the country’s population well-being as well as the tourists happiness. This can allow Japan’s incredible tourist industry to remain flourishing while the country remains protected for its population’s health and welfare. 

​When most people think of Italy, iconic cities such as Rome, Florence, or Venice come to mind. Yet beyond the mainland lies Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean and a destination that blends history, culture, and natural beauty in remarkable ways.
Sicily has long been a crossroads of civilizations. Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Normans all ruled the island at different points in history, and their influence remains visible today. Ancient temples in Agrigento, the striking mosaics of Monreale Cathedral, and the Norman palaces of Palermo are just a few examples of how diverse cultures have shaped the island’s identity.
Nature adds another layer to Sicily’s appeal. Dominating the landscape is Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. For those seeking adventure, its slopes offer unforgettable hikes and sweeping views across the island. At the same time, Sicily’s coastline features some of Europe’s most stunning beaches, from the golden sands of Cefalù to the hidden coves near Taormina, each combining clear waters with dramatic scenery.
Culinary traditions are equally central to Sicily’s character. The island’s cuisine reflects its multicultural past, with dishes that balance richness and simplicity. Specialties such as pasta alla Norma, arancini, and cannoli are not only delicious but also a testament to Sicily’s ability to transform local ingredients into iconic flavors. A visit to any Sicilian market, where the air is filled with the scent of fresh citrus and spices, offers an experience as memorable as exploring its landmarks.
Sicily’s charm lies in this balance: it is both ancient and modern, adventurous and restful. It offers the thrill of climbing an active volcano, the serenity of watching the sun set over the Mediterranean, and the joy of tasting food that tells a story centuries in the making.
For these reasons, Sicily stands as more than just a place to visit. It is a destination that captures the imagination and promises an experience where history, landscape, and culture meet in harmony. As far as dream destinations go, Sicily embodies the very idea of travel as discovery.