Morgan Insider February 2025

Random Acts of Kindness

Olive Martinson

It’s always a good idea to share kindness and goodwill! Perfect, because February is not only Black History Month, it is also Random Acts of Kindness Month. This article will share a few good ideas on ways to spread positivity with others.

• Call a grandparent or family member you don’t get to talk to often.
• Help a neighbor out!
• Compliment a stranger.
• Offer to babysit a younger sibling to give your parents an evening out.
• Offer to make dinner for your family.
• If you have time, pick up some litter at a local park.
• Donate some old clothes to places such as the local Habitat for Humanity Store. To donate, visit kchabitat.org.

Don’t forget to be kind to yourself, too! Spend some time doing a favorite hobby, or working on self care.

These are just some of the amazing things you can do this month. If you want, try to brainstorm some of your own ideas!

Cosmic Chocolate Brownie Bites

Amelia Wooten

Are you craving a sweet treat but don't want to go through the trouble of baking? Here is a quick three-ingredient recipe for cosmic brownie chocolate bites! Cosmic brownies rolled into balls and dipped in melted white chocolate, with sprinkles!

The ingredients you will need are:

• A box of Cosmic Brownies
• White chocolate
• Sprinkles of your choice

First, mash the cosmic brownies to a crumbly texture and then roll them into small cake-pop-sized balls and place them on a tray covered with wax paper.

Then, melt your white chocolate in a small bowl until a stirrable consistency.

Use a toothpick to dip the brownie bites in the white chocolate.

Pour your sprinkles into another small bowl and dip the brownies again, covering them in however many sprinkles you like.

Put them in the fridge for one hour so the chocolate will harden, and then enjoy!

Pecan Magic Bars

Harper Bononcini

This is a rich, sweet, and delicious dessert that you can make for any special occasion, like a holiday or birthday. It's so good, you should definitely try it!

Ingredients

• 1 stick of Unsalted Butter
• 1 sleeve of Graham Crackers, crushed
• 1 pkg of Chocolate Chips
• 1 pkg of Heath Chunks
• 1 bag of Pecans
• 1 bag of Shredded Coconut
• 1 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk

Directions

Put a stick of unsalted butter in a 9x13 pan, and melt it in the oven at 350.

Once melted, pour crushed graham crackers on the bottom and flatten.

Layer chocolate chips, Heath pieces, coconut, and pecans on top of the crushed graham crackers.

Drizzle condensed milk evenly over the ingredients and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Take them out of the oven to cool, then cut into bars and enjoy!

Mini Red Velvet Cheesecakes

Brooklyn Velasquez

Mini red velvet cheesecakes are filled with the same flavors as a full-sized cheesecake, but these are smaller and have a great base that's quickly baked with a creamy cheesecake mixture in the middle. These are pretty easy to bake and prepare.

Recommended Tools

• Mini muffin pan
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Handheld mixer
• Piping bag or Ziploc bag

Ingredients

Red Velvet Base

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ cup salted sweet cream butter ( melted and cooled )
• 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon red gel food coloring
• 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs

Cheesecake Filling

• 8 ounce package of cream cheese (softened)
• ¼ granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg yolk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set it aside.

Add flour and unsweetened cocoa powder to a small mixing bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside

Add the melted butter, sugar, red food coloring, vanilla extract, and eggs to a medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine.

Stir in the flour mixture. Continue stirring just until the flour mixture is well incorporated. Do not over mix.

Add the cream cheese to a separate medium sized bowl. Use a handheld mixer and medium speed to high speed to beat cream cheese for 1 minute.

Add the sugar and vanilla. Mix for another 1-1½ minutes until well combined.

Add the egg yolk and mix just until no yellow streaks are visible.

Add the cheese mixture to either a disposable piping bag or a Ziploc bag.

Add 1 tablespoon of the red velvet base to each space in the prepared mini muffin pan.

Snip the end of the piping bag or Ziploc bag off. Squeeze about 2 teaspoons of the cheesecake filling into the center of the red velvet bases.

Bake for 8-9 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cheesecake bites to cool for 20-30 minutes before removing them from the pan and transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!!

Effects of Global Warming

Elke Barlow

Global warming is heating our planet and making days hotter. 2020 was one of the hottest years on record and temperatures are still rising.

The ocean absorbs heat which warms the water and melts ice sheets, raising the sea level. The temperature change also affects rainfall, resulting in stronger storms, like hurricanes.

Wildfires are starting more rapidly due to high heat and dry days, and droughts are happening more frequently. Deserts are also expanding worldwide.

People's lives are being impacted by global warming. Houses, businesses, crops, livestock, and fisheries can be destroyed or less productive because of storms, wildfires, droughts, or higher temperatures.

Each year, weather disasters caused by global warming put millions of people out of their homes, leaving them vulnerable.

Do Your Part

Some ways to do your part to slow down global warming:

• save energy in your house (turning the lights off when you leave a room, etc.)
• walking and biking more instead of using a car
• throwing away less food
• using less plastic
• reducing the amount you buy
• reusing items when possible
• recycling

Source: Nasa

Gravastars

The Craziest Option for a Supernova

Bridger Thompson

Notice: the following subject is highly theoretical

Normally, when a supernova happens, it either turns into a neutron star or a black hole. However, in 2006, the idea of a gravatar was published as an alternative to the prospect of black holes. Over the years it has been accepted that these theoretical objects might coexist with black holes. The prospect of a gravastar has some weird concepts that spark some weird ideas, let's dive into it.

The Forming of a Conundrum

The start of a supernova is the rapid collapsing of a star and then the universe's biggest explosion. After the explosion, the remains collapse into a neutron star (read the January Morgan Insider for more info) or a black hole. A recent theory on this subject provides a weird but interesting idea of condensed nothingness. When a supernova collapses back in on itself, an extreme amount of energy is squeezed into a teeny space. Normally, this point turns into a black hole, but this energy has the potential to bounce back. When this extreme amount of energy rapidly expands into the collapsing star, two impossible forces collide to create an impossibly thin but strong barrier. Like a neutron star, this new object is at the barrier of mass before it turns into a black hole.

Every Theory has its Problems

Just like how a black hole has traumatized physicists since its creation, gravastars have their theoretical problems. One such problem is the incredible forgery of the crust of the star. For the crust to satisfy the theory, the crust has to be less thick than the diameter of an atom, no material known to man could be that thick with no holes. Scientists speculate that the star's outer layer is very tight, like a rubber band ball, but the center of the ball is hollow.

The other main controversy about a gravastar is its center when the expanding energy bubble collides with the collapsing star halfway, the middle of the star has no matter in it and is left hollow. Let's take a turn to the right field so we can learn about a fundamental in understanding what I’m about to tell you.

A very small particle is so small that it can't be seen as atoms can, so we like to visualize them like waves in water. When the sea doesn't have waves, the sea is still there, so when there is no matter in an area, it still has energy. The hollow of a gravastar can be put like this: imagine a balloon that was invincible, “unpopable.” Now imagine that you pumped the balloon up with the physical limit of air that you could. The air wants to get out rapidly, but the balloon is impenetrable, so it is stuck there. The inside of the gravastar is much like that, the inside of it is a bunch of condensed nothingness trapped by the barrier of the star's crust.

Summary

A gravastar is on the chart of the weirdest theoretical objects, right next to black holes (although they have been proven to exist). The theory of a gravastar is an underdeveloped theory (black holes have had over 100 years to develop), only being about 20 years old, this theory will have plenty of time to develop in the future. If you liked this article, then stay tuned to the story of gravastars for more interesting theories on the subject as the theory develops.

Upcoming Local Events

February 2025

Rheanee Beeson-Petty

Sitting at home bored this February? Well, I've got something for you! Here are some fun events going on this February for you to do!

509TEENS Youth Group

509TEENS is a youth group for teens ages 12-17. They meet every 4th Friday from 6-8 pm. This month, this event is on February 28th.

509TEENS events are held in the KCRCO office at 211 W 3rd Ave, Ellensburg.

For more information, you can look at their Tiktok: 509teens_kcrco or, Instagram: 509_teens.

Peter and The Starcatcher

Valley Theatre Company is hosting the play “Peter and the Starcatcher” on February 7, 8, 13, 14, & 15 at 7 p.m. and February 8, 9, & 15 at 2 p.m.

The performances will be held at The Oddfellows Ballroom at 307 N. Pine St. in Ellensburg.

Ticket prices are $20 for general/adults, and $18 for students/seniors, $2 at the door. You can buy tickets here!

Feelin Crafty?

Feelin Crafty is a free crafting session that will be held on February 25 from 4:30 to 6 pm at the KCRCO office at 211 W 3rd Ave. in Ellensburg.

This is a free event, open to all ages! Materials will be included!

Bingo Night

Come play bingo on February 21st, from 5 to 7 pm! Bingo Night is located at the KCRCO office, 211 W 3rd Ave. in Ellensburg.

This is a free event for anyone in Kittitas County. This event also provides dinner. Look forward yelling out BINGO and winning some prizes!

Karaoke Night

Come sing your favorite songs on February 18 from 5 to 7 pm at the KCRCO office, 211 W 3rd Ave. in Ellensburg.

This is a free event for all ages, so come and sing with your favorite songs in mind!

Wonders of the Ocean

Ocean Creatures That You Probably Didn't Know About

Evalynn Andal

Have you ever wondered about the beauty beneath the ocean? About the creatures living in the sea that most people don’t know about? Here you will find out about fish you might not have ever heard of before.

Gummy Shark

The gummy shark is a relatively small, slender-bodied shark with a short head. It normally eats marine worms, small fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods such as octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish.

Gummy sharks tend to be found around Australia.

Hachetfish

Hatchetfish are pretty small creatures, the biggest being 2.5 inches. Hatchetfish can be found in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.

Hatchetfish usually eat ostracods, copepods, small crustaceans, and fish larvae.

Fangtooth

The fangtooth fish has long, menacing fangs, but the adult fish is small, reaching only about 6 inches in length. Although fangtooth fish look scary, they are harmless to humans and only eat fish and squid.

Fangtooth fish live in the deep ocean.

Barreleye

The barreleye is known for its strange eyes, which are bright green orbs that are visible through the transparent dome on its forehead. Barreleye are not known to be dangerous to humans and only grow up to six inches.

The main source of food for barreleyes is likely zooplankton. Barreleye fish can be found in the Pacific Ocean. Click here to learn more.

Sources:

• Wikipedia
• Australian Geographic
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Valentine's Day Starbucks Drinks

Ellie Youngblood

Have you ever wanted a festive drink? Well, make sure to look at all of the ideas and recommendations in my article!

Valentine's Day Drinks

Chocolate-covered Strawberry Creme Frappuccino

This drink is delicious and has amazing toppings like strawberry puree, frappuccino chips, and a mocha drizzle. I recommend this drink because it is very tart and sweet and a lot of people enjoy this drink!

Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew

This drink is made with cold brew coffee and is sweetened with vanilla syrup and chocolatey hazelnut cream cold foam. It's topped off with chocolate cookie crumbles, making it delicious. This one is very popular, and it's one of my favorite drinks!

Blackberry Sage Refresher

This amazing drink has unique flavors that go very well together such as blackberry, lemonade, and green coffee extract. The reason I recommend this is because refreshers are my favorite type of drink and with all of these new flavors it's delicious.

Valentine's Day Treats

Valentine's Cake Pop

The Starbucks Valentine's cake pop is made with vanilla cake mixed with buttercream and it has a delicious chocolaty icing with a cute heart design. I recommend this because it is one of their best desserts and is very flavorful.

Birthday Cake Pop

The classic birthday cake pop has the amazing flavors of vanilla cake with sweet buttercream and sweet pink icing. This recommendation is one of my favorites because it's a classic and it's so delicious.

Source: Starbucks