Georgia’s State Marine Mammal is in Trouble.

By: Tristin Harrell

Nine years after scientists discovered an unusual mortality event, the North Atlantic Right Whale population sees a spike in hope.

Traveling thousands of miles to nurse their calves in coastal Georgia’s warm waters, North Atlantic Right Whales appear to be overcoming a near decade long birthing crisis with 21 documented calves this year.

The calving season for these whales runs from mid-November to mid-April. Starting their journey in Canadian waters, the whales migrate to the warm waters of South Carolina, coastal Georgia and northern Florida. Georgia waters are specifically essential for birthing as predators such as Orcas and large sharks, avoid the warm waters.

“North Atlantic Right Whales come down to our coast in the winter to give birth and nurse their calves so that the calves develop a thick blubber layer and are able to tolerate the cold up north off of New England and eastern Canada where they spend the majority of their lives,” said Terran McGinnis via email. McGinnis is the current the project coordinator for the Marineland Right Whale Project. With over 30 years of experience with marine mammals, including publishing books, serving as a park ranger, and becoming conservation communicator, McGinnis continues to push for more awareness around the creatures.

Since 2017, scientist have reported an unexpected die-off in the population. 17 North Atlantic Right Whales died in a single season leading to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to declare an unusual morality event. This declaration allowed the marine mammals’ population to go under immediate investigation to find a cause for the deaths. Once the declaration was made, a historic $82 million investment was made into monitoring, researching, and supporting advocacy of the whales. Georgia was one of nine states to receive funding for these projects.

One of the best ways to help in supporting the recovering population is to aid in spotting the creature and documenting the whales according to Dr. Kathryn Craven. Craven is a biology professor at Georgia Southern University with a special interest in marine biology. Photo identification is specifically important. McGinnis elaborated that taking pictures allows scientists to understand lifespans, body conditions, migration patterns, and disentanglement efforts. Without supporters spotting these creatures, scientists wouldn’t have known about the changes. Changes like a new migration habit forming within the species to reflect the ever-changing water temperatures due to climate change.

“The best way to spot them is when they blow,” said Craven. Locating the whales can be tricky as their dark color and nonexistent dorsal fin allows them to blend in with water. But spotting that misty breath will signal the whales are closer than you think.

Some residents have been fortunate enough to spot the whales during their calving season. Referring to is as a “privilege,” Cecilia Davis-Taylor is a longtime resident of the Fernandina Beach area, who witness first-hand a mother and calf pair. Taylor would become a marine endangered species observer with a special interest in sea turtles in North Atlantic Right Whales. She worked alongside the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army Core of Engineers and aerial survey teams to document calving pairs. As a resident of the coast, she’s developed a passion for educating and protecting the animals.

Four months into calving season, and the population has already seen record numbers. With more eyes on the whales, there’s an even greater chance to avoid extinction.

“The more the merrier,” said Craven. “More calves, more adult females, less mortality.”

AI and Its Impact on the Memory Shortage Crisis

By: Kyle Arnold

Since AI has gotten popular in 2022 to the peak of its popularity in 2026, its use has increased immensely since then. Because of its growing popularity and use, companies with legs in the artificial intelligence industry have used data centers to store their learning models and be their think tanks.

There are numerous problems that have risen from these data centers, with one of them being that they have to store numerous amounts of the data somehow and they have accommodated these demands with large amounts memory modules like RAM or random access memory. This is a problem because the amount of memory modules that is needed has impacted the prices of common technology such as phones, smart televisions, computers and even computer parts.

Why does memory play such a critical role in artificial intelligence systems? While AI has grown over the past few years, it had to learn how to respond to prompts given by users and because of this it has been able to respond accordingly.

Not only did they have to learn the proper responses, but the machines also had to be able to easily access the data. Machine learning and deep learning models have required the large amounts of memory because they have to continuously access and process the already existing data along with possible results following the prompt, according to Jongyeop Kim, the assistant professor of information technology at Georgia Southern University.

“Memory systems such as RAM and GPU memory play a critical role by providing fast read and write access, enabling CPUs and GPUs to perform repeated computations efficiently,” Kim said.

Kim also spoke on how insufficient memory capacity would immediately degrade performance, especially since artificial intelligence models and datasets have grown over the years.

As mentioned before, the rising demand in memory modules has effected the prices of more common technology products like cell phones and smart televisions. 

PC’s or personal computers have also had their prices increased recently due to the shortage of memory. Computer companies like Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer and ASUS have already warned their customers of 15-20% price increases, according to the International Data Corporation.

Prices of certain parts have also seen steady increases in prices. This directly affects computer gamers and computer builders since the parts needed to improve their hardware has gotten more expensive over time.

“I’ve been planning to upgrade my PC, but it’s not looking likely with these prices,” Trajure Gordon, a Statesboro resident said.

Affordable phones even took a hit in their prices since memory makes up around 15% of the materials involved in their production. Its is expected that these cell phones will rise up 10% in price.

So why cant memory production companies just produce more RAM and other components? The answer to that is they are, but they haven’t been producing the right memory modules. Since there has been a rapid expansion of AI usage in recent years, manufacturing companies have shifted their priorities from consumer electronics to more demanding technology. Companies feel that they had to make the change because of the growth in the AI industry which leaves little to no production for consumer memory products, according CNBC.

The Data Centers Demand Water

 By: Daisy Davis

AI data centers are being developed across Georgia, and there are still a lot of questions about these centers and how they use one of our most important natural resources: Water. 

A data center is a secure facility that houses computer systems and infrastructure used to store, manage, and process large amounts of data.  

According to the Savannah River Keeper website, a typical data center can use three to five million gallons of water per day. This is roughly the same water usage as a city with a population of 30,000 to 50,000 people. 

Stetson Rowles, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at Georgia Southern University, is an environmental engineer who focuses on water quality, water treatment, and resource recovery from different waste streams. 

“From a contaminant standpoint, it may not be that much of an issue," said Rowles. “The thing I think is really important and overlooked is the thermal aspect.” 

Rowles said that if the data center is not on a closed-loop water system, meaning that water is recycled through the data center and reused for cooling, it will require a much greater amount of water for this process.  

“They’re cooling these computer system servers, but when they’re doing that, where is that heat going? Into the water,” said Rowles. “And where does that water go afterwards? Into natural bodies of water.” 

The concern with this is that it could have detrimental effects on the ecosystem in the body of water, as well as the freshwater we rely on. 

Rowles said that the main problem with the amount of water usage would be the risk of over-withdrawal of freshwater, which could lead to saltwater intrusion. This means that if freshwater levels drop dramatically, saltwater might intrude into the Floridian Aquifer. Once this happens, Rowles said, it is not reversible. 

“The city of Savannah was traditionally getting all of their water from the aquifer,” said Rowles. “They’ve realized that’s not the safest bet, because that saltwater intrusion has already started happening.” 

Rowles said that the city of Savannah is currently having to extract water from the Savannah River and Abercorn Creek to mix with water from the aquifer in order to create a more sustainable resource moving forward.  

Lissa Leege, Ph.D., a biology professor at Georgia Southern, says that AI data centers could be a concern to residents and the environment, and they are moving into South Georgia for a reason. 

“Data centers in Georgia are multiplying fast because energy is relatively cheap here and water is cheap and more readily available than in a place like California,” said Leege. “No one really knows exactly how many data centers are here right now since there’s no state database, but estimates are around one to two hundred.” 

Leege said that there may be more negative impacts to locating the data centers in Georgia, as opposed to states with more moderate temperatures, due to how much cooling water will be needed in the state's high temperatures. 

“The Hyundai meta plant already uses around 4 million gallons of water a day, and any additional infrastructure, such as data centers, would just add additional strain on our water resources,” said Leege. 

Echoing Rowles concerns, Leege says that the biggest issue would be the water table dropping, and residents no longer being able to access freshwater in their wells.  

Leege also said these centers could impact biodiversity and take up quite a bit of land. 

“The largest data center is 970,000 square feet, which is nearly 22 acres,” said Leege.“Unless the data centers are built on land that is already developed, these centers could impact biodiversity in areas such as wetlands and forests. Depending on the location, these centers could also result in the loss of arable farmland.” 

Meaghan Gerard, Communications and Administrative Director for Ogeechee Riverkeeper, said that no data centers have been proposed for their watershed, but a data center has been proposed in Port Wentworth (Chatham County). 

"The City of Statesboro would need to create an ordinance by which to allow data centers in the city,” said Leege. “They are not currently allowed.” 

According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia legislators have proposed seven bills regulating data centers in 2026. 

The Hidden Psychology of Academic Failure

By Dakota Guy 

Ryan Barnes cried himself to sleep for two weeks after seeing his final grade in elementary statistics. The Georgia Southern University sophomore had never failed a class before, and watching his GPA drop to 3.17 left him questioning everything he thought he knew about himself.

"I was like, man, I don't got it no more," Barnes said. "I was just thinking to myself, what happened to make me dumb?"

While students like Barnes struggle with shame and self-doubt after academic failure, educational psychology research suggests these setbacks can serve an important purpose when handled correctly. The difference between productive failure that leads to growth and destructive failure that spirals into hopelessness often depends on how students, advisors and educators respond.

Dr. Meca Williams-Johnson, who holds a doctorate in educational psychology and teaches research methods in the College of Education at Georgia Southern, describes it as finding the "Goldilocks spot" of failure.

"You want to have experiences for students where they can learn from their failure," Williams-Johnson said. "They don't have too much where they feel that it's hopeless, that they shouldn't continue."

For Barnes, the failed statistics course triggered a depression that lasted weeks. The fear of losing his HOPE scholarship compounded the psychological impact.

"The grade didn't kill me, but it felt like the end of the world," Barnes said.

Embarrassment is the most common first reaction advisors see when students fail a class, according to Laurie Harrlett, an academic advisor in Georgia Southern's College of Arts and Humanities. The emotional response intensifies when financial aid is at risk.

"We try and do our best part to be like, 'Hey, this is just a little glitch. You're definitely not alone," Harrlett said.

Williams-Johnson emphasizes that the key factor is what students do after experiencing failure. She encourages students to identify what went wrong in specific terms rather than making sweeping judgments about their intelligence.

Barnes traced his failure to a simple behavior: not attending class. He completed homework assignments but had no notes when exam time arrived.

"I studied for the exams," Barnes said. "The one I studied the most for, I got the lowest grade."

That self-questioning led to productive behavioral changes. Barnes has not missed a single class this semester.

"It made me realize I need to go to every class this semester," Barnes said.

Georgia Southern offers several resources to help students recover from academic setbacks. The university's grade forgiveness program allows students to retake failed courses and replace the failing grade in their GPA calculation.

The Academic Success Center has expanded its support services over the past two years, moving beyond simple check-ins to more integrative coaching. Tutoring services now include virtual options, evening hours, and weekend availability.

Williams-Johnson stresses that students need to establish support networks early in their college careers, before problems arise.

"It's very important for students early on to establish where are my safe places that I can turn to when I have a question, when things go wrong, because they will," Williams-Johnson said.

For Barnes, the recovery process remains ongoing. He still struggles with confidence but has made concrete behavioral changes.

"I can't really admit when I need help," Barnes said. "I got to swallow my pride sometimes."

Williams-Johnson argues that this type of self-awareness represents exactly the kind of growth that productive failure can generate.

"Sometimes, when you fail at something, it's not the end of the world, but it is a learning opportunity," Williams-Johnson said.

Scientists warn climate change poses growing risks for Georgia water supplies

 

By: Madlen Wendland

Due to observed climate changes over the past decade, scientists warn of consequences that could affect people worldwide, including in Georgia.

One of the main reasons the climate is changing is the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, which leads to rising atmospheric temperatures. This is increasing glacier loss, rising sea levels, weather extremes and more.

"An increase in temperature and therefore glacier loss is just one of them, but the impacts play out differently in different locations," Kathleen Sherman-Morris, professor and chair of the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability at Georgia Southern University, said. "In some locations, we might see an increase in overnight temperatures, and in others, we see effects on precipitation that can lead to extreme weather, or the sea level rise."

Sherman-Morris said that Georgia is most affected by rising temperatures and sea level rise. She also said that the coast has already experienced some sea rise in recent years.

In 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded an 11-inch rise in sea level off Georgia's coast since 1950.

"The sea level rises about 3.5 millimeters a year, so it is a pretty slow process, but when it does every year, it gets higher and therefore makes it easier for the coastline to flood," James Reichard, professor at the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability at Georgia Southern University, said.

Reichard said that Georgia and its water supplies are not affected by glacier loss as much as other regions due to lower snowfall. However, saltwater intrusion, a potential effect of rising sea levels, can affect water supplies for every household in Georgia.

Nick Radko, a senior lecturer at the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability at Georgia Southern University, said that Georgia's water supplies mostly rely on groundwater from the Florida aquifer system and that there have been historically documented issues of saltwater intrusion into the underground layer of rock, sand, or soil that stores water and lets it flow, which is called an aquifer.

"Specifically in Savannah and a lot of places in coastal Georgia, when there has been industrial or municipal pumping to get water, it has drawn salt water from offshore into what were previously freshwater aquifers," Radko said. "With the rising sea level as a result of climate change, it will continue and even get worse."

Another problem and one of the biggest concerns in Georgia is the more frequent droughts. This is especially concerning since Georgia's water supplies mostly rely on reservoirs, including the state's large lakes.

"The biggest issue for the state of Georgia is the higher temperatures that we are seeing, which are causing more frequent droughts," Reichard said. "This can impact our water supplies and therefore our agriculture."

Another impact Georgia has experienced over the past years is the frequency of weather extremes. For example, hurricanes, floods, or snow. Reichard said that a single event cannot be tied to climate change; rather, it is the frequency with which these events occur that is not normal.

"We always had snow in Georgia, just not that often," Reichard, who lives in Statesboro, Georgia, said. "I have lived here for 30 years, and this is only the fourth time that I have seen snow cover the ground, and that was two years in a row now."

Overall, everyone agrees that, even though global warming may be normal to a certain extent, humans have exacerbated it significantly, particularly through greenhouse gas emissions, and that climate change is a real, ongoing problem.

Even though climate change cannot be fully stopped, Sherman-Morris said people need to care more about the long-term impact they have on the Earth and start reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, starting with burning fewer fossil fuels.  

Astrology and the Human Desire to Feel Understood

 By: Kyra Dorsey 

On any given morning, millions of people roll over in bed, check their phones, and look at the weather, social media posts, or the latest headline. For some people, however, they ignore all of that and look at one thing: their horoscope. According to the Pew Research Center, about 30% of Americans turn to astrology for numerous reasons. Whether they consult the stars for entertainment purposes or because they genuinely believe the stars already set their fate is subjective. However, there is something undeniable, humans are complex beings with perplexing emotions who can face moments of tremendous uncertainty. This all leads people to desire a better understanding of themselves or to have something explain the unexplainable. 

Humans have full autonomy over themselves. Researcher Johanna Geremia at the University of Massachusetts notes that many people act based on their religious beliefs, raising the question of how acting based on astrology is any different. Geremia also argued in her research that there is little to no scientific evidence that astrology is real; however, it is completely up to the individual to decide if they want to use it. According to psychology professor Joshua Hart at Union College in New York, people may often turn to astrology because it has the same “cosmic significance” as religion while also affirming the individual. “People have a strong desire to understand themselves in ways that cast them in a positive light,” Hart said. “This makes us more susceptible to any analysis that is positive.” He also explained that even if a specific zodiac sign has  a “negative” trait associated with it, the trait may not necessarily be negative or it has a dual connotation. Meaning that there is a positive side. 

Hart's explanation aligns closely with the Barnum Effect, a psychological phenomenon where people accept vague personality descriptions of themselves even though they may be generalizations that apply to everyone. Hart ties this concept to confirmation bias as well. “People simply attend to the parts of astrology that are consistent with what they already know or believe,” Hart said. “But they will disregard or ignore the parts that are inconsistent.” 

If we look at this from a sociological perspective, astrology’s resurgence or consistent use within the past decade may be associated with broader periods of instability. Sociology professor Trica Noone at Georgia Southern University says that people may turn to less conventional things to get through uncertain times. “When times are particularly difficult I think people will try anything and everything to get through,” Noone said. Noone also notes that astrology may allow people to feel a sense of community in times of emotional instability. These practices do require intentional effort. “People may connect through Facebook groups,” Noone said. “It’s one of those things where if they connect with others, they will form a community.” This shows that astrology is a social and personal experience. 

Now, research conducted at Georgia Southern University further suggests that astrology may function as a psychological tool rather than a belief system. The research was not solely about astrology and human understanding of the self. It was geared towards trying to find a correlation between narcissism and astrology. One of the researchers on the project, psychology graduate student Cieran Kaplan, said that astrology is neutral. “In truth, astrology itself is just a tool and nothing in it inherently promotes feelings of superiority,” Kaplan said. “I think it’s important to remember even if an activity is correlated with negative traits, this does not mean the activity is causing these characteristics.”Kaplan reinforced the idea that correlation does not equal causation. 

Ultimately, astrology and its purpose may be less about it being scientifically correct and more about human psychology and sociology. Whether it is used for emotional reassurance or simple fun, astrology is continuing to fulfill one basic human desire: to feel understood in an unpredictable world.