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A Brief History of My Academic Life & Goals

December 10, 2024 No Comments

Discovering My Passion for Science

Science and math have the power to systematically unravel the intricate layers that explain the inner workings of our world—a power that has fueled my curiosity since I was young. As this fascination deepened over the years, it led me to major in biology at CCNY in 2016, driven by a desire to answer fundamental questions about the nature of reality. I saw biology as a way to gain the tools to not only explore these questions but to contribute my own perspective to the larger scientific conversation.

Yet, my journey to biophysics has been anything but linear. It has been a winding path shaped by personal challenges, academic setbacks, and moments of inspiration that rekindled my passion for learning and discovery.

Challenges and Setbacks

In my senior year of high school, I experienced turmoil at home. My mother, a single parent of three, was under enormous stress, and our relationship hit a breaking point. After a heated argument, I found myself homeless. Thankfully, my aunt gave me a place to stay, but the emotional weight of being estranged from my family affected every part of my life.

At school, the insecurity, fear, and anger I carried seeped into everything. I started skipping classes, smoking marijuana, and neglecting my studies. My grades plummeted, and I began to lose sight of who I was.

This was especially true in my physics class. At the start of the year, I was thriving—I stayed after school every day to work through problems, carrying a small whiteboard to break them down step by step. When our teacher, Mr. Sexton, warned us about a notoriously difficult test, I took it as a challenge. I poured all my effort into preparing and was the only student to earn a perfect score. I finally felt like I’d found something I was truly good at. But as my home life unraveled, I started skipping his class, ignoring my homework, and avoiding him after school. By the end of the year, physics was my worst grade, and I felt like I had let him—and myself—down.

This mindset followed me into my freshman year at CCNY. I was still living with my aunt and commuting 3–4 hours each way from Long Island to Manhattan. I regularly missed my 9 a.m. calculus class, and my academics took a backseat to my mental health.

Rekindling My Love for Science

During this time, I made a deal with myself: if I skipped a morning class, I had to visit the American Museum of Natural History instead. The museum became my sanctuary. Over the course of that year, I immersed myself in its exhibits, reading every word in every diorama, with a particular fascination for the Hayden Planetarium and the Earth evolution exhibits. These visits reignited my love for science, giving me the clarity and inspiration I had been missing during such a tumultuous time.

Eventually, I became a museum member, gaining access to exclusive nighttime lectures where leading scientists shared their groundbreaking work. These talks introduced me to the fascinating ways physics and biology intersect—from the molecular patterns shaped by physical laws to the potential for computational models to transform medicine. It was during these lectures, surrounded by people who were passionate about discovery, that I realized I wanted to study biophysics.

Yet, even with this newfound inspiration, I struggled to stay on track with my dreams. At the time, college felt impossible to commit to. I needed stability—an income to support myself after leaving my mother’s home. Pursuing my vision of a career in science felt out of reach, no matter how much it resonated with me.

I decided to pause my education and focus on earning a living. It wasn’t until 2021, when I restarted my college journey at Harford Community College, that I was able to pick up where I left off. In 2024, I earned my associate’s degree in general studies. While I initially majored in English because of my love for reading and writing, I made sure to take as many science and math courses as possible to keep my scientific mind engaged. Even then, physics never stopped calling my name, nor did my fascination with brain science.

Now, I’ve come to a pivotal realization: life is never going to pause and create the perfect conditions for me to follow my dreams. The vision I had in high school—of working on groundbreaking ideas in physics and biology—is still alive, and I’m finally ready to pursue it. That’s why I’m letting go of doubt, trusting my intuition, and committing to earning my bachelor’s in physics. This path is what my heart has yearned for since high school, and it’s time I honor it with the dedication and reverence it deserves.

What Excites Me About Biophysics

What draws me to biophysics is its potential to solve problems that matter to people. For example, AI and advanced computation are helping us understand how to manipulate physics at the molecular level to create more targeted medicines. Instead of using drugs that affect broad mechanisms in the body—often causing negative side effects—we could design therapies that target specific DNA clusters.

I’m also fascinated by the role of physics in understanding consciousness. Research on microtubules and other non-computational factors in the brain could help us uncover new ways to treat diseases like Alzheimer’s. These are the kinds of challenges I want to work on—questions that combine the theoretical with the practical and push the boundaries of what we know about life itself.

Representation in STEM

As of 2021, only 2.6% of bachelor’s degrees in physics were earned by Hispanic women. That number speaks volumes about the barriers that exist in STEM for people like me. I know firsthand how important it is to see someone who looks like you in a field where you’re underrepresented.

I want to be part of changing that. By earning my degree in biophysics, I hope to show other Hispanic women that we belong in physics, biology, and all the spaces in between. Representation matters—not just for individuals, but for the breakthroughs that can only happen when diverse voices contribute to science.

Conclusion

Although my journey hasn’t been traditional, every step has prepared me for what’s next. I’ve developed resilience, curiosity, and a deep commitment to learning. And in 2025, I’ll start to build the technical skills I need in biophysics, including programming, computational modeling, and lab techniques. Long term, I want to work on projects that bring the theoretical and the practical together, creating tools and therapies that benefit society. I also want to mentor young women and students from underrepresented backgrounds, helping them find their place in STEM.

My journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s taught me that progress isn’t always linear. Biophysics offers me the chance to combine my passions for biology and physics in a way that’s meaningful to me—and to the world. I’m excited to contribute to this field, to represent Hispanic women in STEM, and to help build a future where science is as diverse as the questions it seeks to answer.

→ Discover some of the books that have kept me company since graduating high school!

How to Approach SEO Content Strategy in 2025

December 2, 2024 No Comments

The year 2024 has marked a decisive shift in digital marketing: long-form content that prioritizes people first is becoming the norm. The cookie-cutter strategies that once defined SEO are no longer effective. In fact, content stuffed with keywords and clearly written for search engines is now penalized.

As we head into 2025, Google’s focus continues to be on fresh, nuanced content that surpasses generic, AI-generated summaries. Recent algorithm updates evaluate content based on relevance, originality, and depth.

Let’s explore how to shape your SEO content strategy in 2025 based on Google’s evolving priorities.

google search engine results page rank 1

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of refining a website so that search engines like Google can:

  1. Identify what your site is about.
  2. Understand its relevance to a user’s search query.
  3. Evaluate how valuable the content might be to users.

When done effectively, SEO increases your chances of ranking higher on the first Search Engine Results Page (SERP). Ranking in this coveted position drives more organic traffic to your website, establishes brand authority, and ultimately converts readers into customers.

Without SEO, even the best content can remain buried in search results, making it difficult for your target audience to find your services or offerings.

If you’re new to SEO, Google offers an excellent starter guide to get you up to speed.

How to Plan SEO Content Strategy in 2025

An SEO strategy is a plan to optimize your website so it has the best chance to appear on Google’s first page of search results. You approach to this plan can vary widely depending on your business goals, available resources, and base knowledge. But if your goal is to increase your brand authority on Google in 2025, you must account for technical SEO, on-page SEO, and off-page SEO ranking factors — and implement them well.

Keep in mind that Search Engine Optimization is a long-term growth strategy. It might take anywhere from a few hours to a few months before Google catches up with your changes. For faster visibility, pair your SEO efforts with complementary strategies like paid ads or social media campaigns.

The Influence of AI Content on Rankings

AI content generation tools, like ChatGPT, have transformed content creation. These tools allow for the rapid production of articles, but this surge of AI-generated content has flooded the internet with material that often prioritizes quantity over quality. While Google doesn’t penalize AI-generated content simply for its origin, it does evaluate it based on quality and usefulness.

How to use AI effectively:

  • Use AI tools to structure ideas, streamline research, or generate outlines.
  • Enhance this content with personal insights, real-world examples, and unique perspectives to make it human-centered and valuable.

By leveraging AI responsibly, you can combine efficiency with originality to create content that meets Google’s expectations.

What Google Looks for in Your Content

When Google launched in 1998, its algorithms primarily relied on simple metrics like keyword density and citation links. But as website owners exploited these loopholes, Google adapted its algorithms to prioritize helpful, reliable, and people-first content.

Today, Google’s ranking system functions much like the levels of comprehension described by Mortimer J. Adler in How to Read a Book. Just as readers build understanding by analyzing different layers of a text, Google evaluates content in stages, starting with meaning and culminating in context.

Here’s how to align your strategy with Google’s five key signals:

1. Meaning – Superficial Understanding of Your Query

Google begins by interpreting the meaning of your query. It uses natural language processing (NLP) to analyze keywords, their combinations, and the context in which they appear. This helps it identify literal meanings and infer nuanced interpretations.

For example, a search for “jaguar logo” in Nov. 2024 prioritizes search results about the car company’s new logo, reflecting Google’s ability to link queries with current events.

Actionable Tips:

  • Write for search intent: Include clear, conversational language in your headings and subheadings. Most people search using “how/where/why” phrases, so tailor your titles to match this format.
  • Use semantic keywords: Avoid keyword stuffing. Instead, include synonyms and related terms to create richer context for Google.
  • Make your content scannable: Use headings, meta descriptions, and bullet points to help readers (and Google) quickly identify key takeaways.

2. Relevance – Aligning Content with Search Intent

Once Google understands your query, it assesses whether the content aligns with the searcher’s intent. Is the user looking for a guide, a list, a video, or something else?

Actionable Tips:

  • Know your audience: Identify what users are truly seeking based on their queries. For example, someone searching “how to build a boat” likely needs a step-by-step guide, not an academic paper.
  • Diversify your formats: Offer content in multiple formats (e.g., articles, videos, infographics) to cater to different preferences.

3. Quality – Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T)

Google’s quality signals are deeply rooted in its E-E-A-T framework (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). These signals aim to ensure that users receive information that is not only accurate but also comes from credible, knowledgeable sources. This is particularly important for Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) topics, which influence health, finance, or legal decisions.

You can think of Google’s quality ratings as the number of times an academic paper, or in this case, your website, is cited by others. Just as you evaluate a book’s evidence by checking who discovered it, their expertise, and their reputation, Google evaluates websites in a similar way.

Actionable Tips:

  • Show expertise: Invite experts to collaborate in articles that include their expertise and original perspectives in your writing. Ideally, you want to interview them and use their words in your content.
  • Update content regularly: Tell Google that you’re an expert in your field by keeping your existing content as fresh as possible. This shows that you’re constantly evolving in the field and keeping your audience in the loop.
  • Cite credible sources: Back your claims with credible, peer-reviewed sources, such as academic papers, government websites, or well-known industry authorities. Make sure to link your content to the source material they reference.

For a quick SEO win on existing content, make sure that website visitors can clearly tell who authored it. Include a detailed author bios with all collaborative blogs or posts with any credentials, relevant experience, and other publications that positions them as a thought-leader.

4. Usability – The Reader’s Experience

Imagine buying the next book in your favorite series, only to find random pages are missing when you get home. Frustrating, right? You’d probably put it down immediately. Even the most informative content won’t succeed if users struggle to access or navigate it.

This same principle applies to websites. If a website is disorganized or missing key elements, visitors will leave just as quickly. Google prioritizes websites that deliver a seamless, enjoyable user experience.

Actionable Tips:

  • Optimize for mobile: The majority of searches are mobile. Use responsive design to ensure readability on all devices.
  • Speed up your site: Compress large images, reduce unnecessary scripts, and enable caching to improve load times.
  • Brand your 404 pages: A custom 404 page with links to key content (and branded design) can help retain users who land on broken links.

5. Context – Connecting Content to Broader Knowledge

Google values content that contributes to ongoing discussions, provides diverse perspectives, and is interconnected with authoritative ideas.

Actionable Tips:

  • Build internal links: Connect related pages on your site to create a robust content network.
  • Engage in your niche: Publish guest posts, collaborate with industry experts, and participate in relevant forums to position your site as part of a larger conversation.
  • Offer unique insights: Combine your expertise with visuals, case studies, or contrasting viewpoints to stand out.

Use descriptive anchor text that clearly indicates the topic of the linked content, helping both users and search engines understand relationships between pages.

Conclusion

Mastering Google’s five key signals — meaning, relevance, quality, usability, and context — is essential for any modern SEO strategy. By following these principles, you can create content that’s not only optimized for search engines but also genuinely valuable to readers.

Start your 2025 SEO strategy today by focusing on people-first content and adapting to Google’s ever-evolving algorithm. The effort you put in now will set the foundation for long-term success in the digital landscape.

Not sure where to begin? Request a free SEO audit for your website!

Learning Outside the Classroom: Here’s why I Read Books

November 16, 2024 No Comments

I dropped out of college in 2017 because I was disatisfied with my learning experience. I was going to class just to get them over with, and everything I “learned” escaped me once the tests where over. The feelings of curiosity and enlightenment — true growth — didn’t come to me as a result of my college education. I felt empty, showing up to the same place everyday just to pretend that I was being educated. I’m not saying this is the case for everyone — but it was for me. In the end, it feels like I made the right choice for myself. It made me redefine how I saw education.

The more I tried to understand my decision, it became clear to me that I didn’t need college to be educated. Knowledge is out there. All I have to do is read books that challenge me. So, I started to bring a book with me everywhere (train rides, the park, doctors appointments) in the hopes that in idle moments I’d ignore my phone, and reach for a book.

And over time, years actually, reading started to change me. Topics that were a bore in college became immersive and comprehensive once I reached for them on my own. Since then, I have read 275+ books, both fiction and nonfiction. The education I longed for in college, I got for free at the public library. 

I think the American education system is setting us up for failure when it comes to reading. Throughout our entire childhoods it’s promoted as a chore that we must complete to get good grades. So when most of us grow up, books still feel like a chore and we fail to find the reward between the covers.

I just want to show others that it’s ok to not go the traditional way, and that education isn’t something we obtain only when we get a diploma. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but, like Mark Twain once said “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.” So, here’s why I read books.

Books are upgrades for your brain

Our brains are wired with the ability to change and adapt to new information. When introducing fresh ideas to the brain, you build new synaptic pathways that can strengthen overtime. But, these same neural pathways can also weaken if we halt the practice and development of the concepts they represent. The idea here is that you can rewire your brain, update it, if you will, by reading. You can reshape it, and in turn, change yourself. 

In 2021, I read The Power of Habit by Charles DuHigg, and it taught me that the brain can’t distinguish between good habits and bad habits. So what you do everyday is a mix of these neurological cravings, regardless of the outcome. Learning how habits work and how they are formed in the brain has helped me build better habits in my day-to-day. This book updated my brain and helped build a foundation so that my other skills and habits can grow.

And this has a compounding effect. Books like this change how you perceive yourself in the world, and give you the tools to change over and over again. Although I still have bad habits I’m working through, this book gave me the framework to overcome myself, and if that isn’t an update to the noggin, i’m not sure what is. 

Read books to become more creative

At its core, creativity is the relationship you create between seemingly unrelated concepts or things. It isn’t a talent — it is a way of operating. Books aren’t limited by the reality of our world. They can cut through time, break the laws of physics, and unchain the boundaries of self-expression. They allow us to push outside of conventional problem-solving and immerse ourselves deeply in incredible ideas.

The Stormlight Archives series by Brandon Sanderson really put this into perspective for me. There is so much imagination, thoughtfulness, and intentionality in this fictional universe. I felt that I grew to know the characters, to immerse myself in this world, even if it wasn’t real — it was all made up in the author’s head — but now those same characters now live in mine. The conflicts and the depth of the world broadened the scope of my imagination, showed me other minds that I could further construct and deconstruct on my own.

Steal like an Artist by Austin Kleon also revolutionized my understanding of creativity. It reframed creativity as a tool rather than as a nebulous thing in my head that only flourishes in “sparks” of time. This is a book I would recommend to any creative that is in a rut. It delves into the realities of being creative and how you can strengthen your own creative process. It inspired me to write this article, because growing your creativity comes from the commitment to learn in front of others — this is my version of that. 

Books improve your media diet

Just like the saying “you are what you eat”, I believe that you are the media you consume. And let’s be honest here, some content is “healthier” than others. This is not to say that there is no value in different media forms. But, hear me out.

Because of our ability to access large amounts of information on a daily basis, our attention is divided between all of the different mediums. We watch tv while scrolling through our phones while at the same time switching between apps just to find something to entertain ourselves with. When we fragment our attention this way, it makes it harder for us to concentrate on things for a long time. Deep work becomes impossible, specially when you can access entertainment platforms from your phone, your computer, and your television. From my experience, the negative psychological consequences of this pattern of content consumption heavily outweigh the positives. 

I like to think about it like this. You can delve into a topic much more deeply in a 90,000 word book than you can in a 2 hour movie — never mind a 1 minute tiktok. And the nature of having to sit down and put your eyeballs to the paper make it more difficult for you to fraction your attention — it makes it easier to engage deeply and to carry that deep focus into other parts of your life, overall improving the health of your media pyramid. In retrospect, I recognize that “unhealthy” media hindered me more than helped me and the value they provided was fleeting. Because of books, my content pyramid is more balanced. 

I know it’s ironic that I’m posting this on online, but everything in moderation, right? It’s ok to “dabble” in the system. The problem arises when we no longer use these platforms to enhance our lives, but to replace them. One eye-opening book that touches on some of these ideas is Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier. Your time is important. Don’t let it be wasted at the whims of an algorithm. 

Read books to think more deeply

Reading allows you to delve deeply into ideas and perspectives, and it encourages you to build on them yourself. Even if you come across something you disagree with, reading books gives you the opportunity to fully experience another person’s thoughts and feelings. Then, these experiences and perspectives help you learn lessons the easy way. You can make better choices for yourself, and reevaluate the validity of your thoughts and opinions without some of the associated negative consequences.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I decided to read a few books about pandemics, so I picked up The Plague by Albert Camus. It showed me how a plague can disrupt people’s lives from perspectives I hadn’t considered and it helped me to navigate these shaky times. Things that I haven’t experienced myself these past 2 years, I’m experiencing vicariously through these characters, and as well as their moral and philosophical struggles. I still think about it today and it helps me to keep a balanced perspective on the pandemic. 

On the nonfiction spectrum, Eric Larson is a perfect example of this. In Dead Wake, Erik Larson shines a light on different conspiratorial aspects that make you rethink history, specifically, who is to blame for WWI? You get the German perspective as well as the American/British perspective, and you decide for yourself what the answer is. This enhances your critical thinking skills and shows you that things aren’t as black and white as they seem. 

Reading yourself into self-actualization

This is by far the most important lesson I’ve learned about reading and if you take just 1 thing away from this article, let it be this — you are powerful.

All of the books I mentioned here were written by people like you and me, people who had opinions and thoughts worth sharing. They followed their curiosity and showed the world what they found. They didn’t know how their work would affect me, or you, or anybody. They did it for themselves.

You, like them, can become a better version of yourself and do that thing you’ve been thinking of doing but haven’t. Reading can be your blueprint. It was reading books like Show Your Work by Austin Kleon that inspired me to write this.

To become the best possible version of yourself, you must be open to failure. I know it’s easier said than done, but fulfillment is found when we test the boundaries of our comfort zone — whatever that means to you. You must commit yourself to learn in front of others. I guess this is my version of that.

Thank you so much if you read this until the end. I know book content isn’t for everyone but I appreciate you for giving me a shot and hearing what I had to say. I just want to do more things I’m afraid of and I hope I can inspire others to do the same.  

SEO Strategy Case Study

November 16, 2024 No Comments

This client is a family-owned small business that specializes in making top-of-the-line commercial cold press juicers for the food manufacturing sector. They have a small marketing team and rely on inbound marketing to get their machines in front of the right customers. Their original copywriter had no previous experience writing copy that converts. This means their work did not reflect the usefulness of the machines or the value they bring to potential customers, which is at the cornerstone of high-converting website copy.

Goal

My goal was to re-write their website copy & increase organic traffic the website. This would directly impact the quality of leads, and the amount of leads gathered for my client.

What I did

  • Defined target audience: their challenges, painpoints, and what they value
  • Re-designed homepage for lead conversion
  • Keyword research
  • Search Engine Optimization (technical & on-page SEO)
  • Copywriting
  • SEO implementation and project management

Results

Our work together has helped this small business share relevant information about their juicers and services right when a potential customer lands, making their leads better qualified and fit for their products.

We also prioritized engaging ways to help people find the solutions they need. Right under the fold, we shared a Matchmaker Quiz, which helps leads narrow down the ideal juicer for their needs. With our strategic positioning, quiz entries have doubled, and qualified leads are entering their sales funnel.

Comparing Lockheed Martin Nanotech with the Kumburgaz UAP footage

November 14, 2024 No Comments

Similarities highlight need for transparency about UAPs

On February 24, 2014 the Lockheed Martin company published a short video on their YouTube channel describing the future of aerospace engineering (Martin et al.). In the video, Lockheed Martin representatives reveal they are working with materials that could eliminate the need for wires and change shape on command. This description is strikingly similar to descriptions of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, shortened to UAP (Cull). Specifically, there are many similarities between the 2007-2009 Kumburgaz UAP footage filmed in Turkey (Turkey UFO Raw Original Footage) and Lockheed Martin’s projected application of this next-generation technology. A comparative analysis between these sightings and Lockheed Martin’s emerging material technology emphasizes the need for transparency regarding UAPs, particularly in light of recent allegations by whistleblower David Grusch who claims Lockheed Martin is in possession of and is reverse engineering non-human aircraft (Sancho and Gipson).

Analysing Kumburgaz UAP cloaking mechanism

In a video filmed in 2008 over the Sea of Marmara, Turkey, a craft was observed displaying a cloaking mechanism that aligns well with Lockheed Martin’s emergent nanotechnology. A stabilized clip of the event ((Stabilized) Turkey UFO Kumburgaz, Turkey – 6-12-08) shows a black shadow gradually covering an aircraft, then changing to a white-hued cloak in a matter of seconds — changes that are not due to environmental lighting conditions (TUBITAK). Upon analyzing the footage, it’s self-evident that the cloak is not separate from the craft. In fact, this cloaking mechanism acts similarly to the chromatophores that allow chameleons to change skin colors based on sensory information like light and temperature (Teyssier, Jérémie, et al.). This is what we would expect from Lockheed Martin’s nanotechnology. According to Ed Burnett, a retired Lockheed Martin/Skunk Works senior fellow, Lockheed Martin has been developing advanced carbon nanotubes capable of transmitting information through its conductive structure (Martin et al., 0:50). This conductive material could potentially allow aircraft and other technologies to transmit electrical information without wires. Sensory and visual input would flow through the structure itself, making the entire aircraft one integrated system rather than a collection of separate parts (Martin et al., 0:55). 

Charles Chase, a Lockheed Martin senior program manager, projected that this technology could potentially act as the “skin of an aircraft” containing various functions like sensors and energy storage, which is exactly what we see in the footage: an advanced cloaking mechanism acting as the skin of this yet-to-be-identified aircraft. It’s important to note that this is strictly different from the stealth technology used in modern aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. These aircraft utilize a combination of design features, materials, and coatings to reduce their radar cross-section and make them less detectable by enemy radar systems. They are focused on making the aircraft harder to detect rather than achieving true cloaking or invisibility, which brings even more questions about Lockheed Martin’s emerging materials.

Advanced shape-shifting capabilities

Another shared characteristic between Lockheed Martin’s carbon nanotube technology and the Kumburgaz UAPs is their shape-shifting abilities. In the Kumburgaz footage from July 4th, 2008, an anomalous pulsating orb is visible in the night sky, albeit somewhat obscured by raw shaky recording. A cursory image stabilization analysis, overlaying two consecutive still frames of the orb, reveals subtle motion and fluctuations in size and color. While not as striking as its cloaking mechanism, this behavior suggests the craft may be capable of changing shapes. Supporting evidence for this claim can be found in a report written by the Science and Technology Research Board of Turkey about the footage. According to their analysis, “some part of the footage revealed that the center of the object has the same density as its background, namely is of a transparent nature”(TUBITAK).

This observation is consistent with eyewitness testimony by Murat Yalman, the man who captured all of the Kumburgaz footage. He claims that the mysterious objects would appear and disappear. Out of fear of wasting his battery, “when the object disappeared, [he] stopped recording until it reappeared again” (Explanation of Turkey UFO by Haktan Akdogan and Murat Yalman, 4:10). The object was visible with the naked eye by him and other witnesses. Although this feature is hard to qualify as either shape-shifting or cloaking, there are currently no known aircraft that have this kind of capability. This could mean that this observed cloaking capability is far more advanced than what’s described by Lockheed Martin or that the UAP is actively changing its shape to be described as transparent. 

Another point to strengthen this argument is that in the Aug, 7th 2007 footage, the hovering craft appears to slightly change morphologies within a 5 minute span. At the 5:07 pm mark, the craft is shaped like an elongated half dome with a v-shaped opening at its center. 5 minutes later at the 5:13pm mark, the craft appears to be a seamless saucer-shaped craft with no visible opening. Additionally, overlaying still shots of the changing craft reveals a significant height difference that is not due to lens distortion. Lockheed Martin’s “Speaking of the Future: Advanced Aeronautics” YouTube video presents a significant claim about their work with materials capable of changing shape on command, likened to a “muscular material” (Martin et al., 1:18). This innovative property might shed light on phenomena like the shape-shifting abilities observed in the Kumburgaz footage. According to Charles Chase, the materials they are working with could potentially “[optimize] its shape for the different flight conditions it’s in” (Martin et al., 1:24). 

Lockheed Martin’s future-looking video also describes the nature of the Aug. 27, 2008 Kumburgaz UAP footage. This footage captures a UAP that looks like a horizontal purple stick made of light. If you look closely at the 5:38am time stamp you can see that there’s smaller orbs moving erratically about it, coming to and from the purple UAP. This kind of craft is very similar to what Charles Chase predicts in the Lockheed Martin video. He states that “we may have small swarms of small vehicles interacting with a larger vehicle [that] basically combines the information from that swarm.” (Martin et al., 2:08).

Limited conclusion

Although there is more ground to cover in the subject of UAPs and their connection to Lockheed Martin, there is something important to consider in this argument. The earliest mention of carbon nanotechnology in the Lockheed Martin website archives dates back to 2009 when they acquired Nantero Inc., a technology company capable of manufacturing carbon nanotubes (Lockheed Martin Acquires Nantero, Inc.’s Government Business Unit.). However, sightings like the ones in the Kumburgaz footage with the same characteristics described by Lockheed Martin are a global phenomena (Lomas). In fact, every single USAF base housing nuclear weapons has experienced the phenomena dating back to the 1940s (Hastings). This leaves more questions than it answers. As of 2024, no known aircraft is capable of cloaking or shape-shifting as exhibited in the Kumburgaz footage. Interestingly, when asked to respond about recent allegations by David Grusch, a Lockheed Martin representative stated “Questions about UAPs are best addressed by the U.S. government” (Khalil). Whether or not Lockheed Martin is actually responsible for these aerial mysteries is yet to be explained. 

Sources

Burnett, Edward. “Edward Burnett LinkedIn.” LinkedIn, Edward Burnett , Aug. 2018, www.linkedin.com/in/edward-burnett-b31b4986/. 

Chase, Charles. “Charles Chase LinkedIn” Linkedin, Chase, Charles.

Cull, Monica. “What Does UAP Mean, and Is This the New Term for UFO Now?” Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2023.

“Explanation of Turkey UFO by Haktan Akdogan and Murat Yalman.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 Dec. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb7YJdEnhpE&ab_channel=TurkeyUFOIncident. 

“F-22 Raptor.” Lockheed Martin, www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-22.html. Accessed 22 Feb. 2024. 

“F-35 Lightning Ii.” Lockheed Martin, www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-35.html. Accessed 22 Feb. 2024. 

Hastings, Robert L. UFOs & Nukes: Extraordinary Encounters at Nuclear Weapons Sites. Robert Hastings, 2017. 

Hong, Chun-Yan, and Cai-Yuan Pan. “Functionalized carbon nanotubes responsive to environmental stimuli.” Journal of Materials Chemistry 18.16 (2008): 1831-1836.

Khalil, Joe. “Defense Contractors Silent on Whistleblowers’ UFO Claims.” NewsNation, NewsNation, 28 July 2023.

“Lockheed Martin Acquires Nantero, Inc.’s Government Business Unit.” Media – Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin, 18 Nov. 2009.

Lomas, Tim. “A Global Picture of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Towards …” ResearchGate, International Social Science Journal, Dec. 2023.

Martin, Lockheed, et al. “Speaking of the Future: Advanced Aeronautics.” YouTube, Lockheed Martin, 24 Feb. 2014.  

Sancho, Miguel, and Andy Gipson. “We Are Not Alone: The UFO Whistleblower Speaks.”NewsNation, NewsNation, 12 June 2023. 

“(Stabilized) Turkey UFO Kumburgaz, Turkey – 6-12-08.” Translated by Turkey UFO Incident, YouTube, Turkey UFO Incident, 21 Dec. 2012, youtu.be/8YAm9CfFTg4?si=5_bFPrqUlpn05S7L.

Teyssier, Jérémie, et al. “Photonic crystals cause active colour change in chameleons.” Nature Communications, vol. 6, no. 1, 10 Mar. 2015, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7368.   

TUBITAK. “Image Preview Report 8.02.1.TBT.5.05. 00.00-621.99-49” Turkey UFO Case, https://turkeyufocase.blogspot.com/p/national-observatory-report-byprof-phd.html. Accessed 23 Feb. 2024. Due to language barrier and association with foreign governments, I cannot find the original document source.

“Turkey UFO Original Raw Footage.” YouTube, Turkey UFO Incident, 2011, www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLxHwkkuCQiAxs41N15DzcPl46IbJaQ27. 

“2008 100% Raw Full Sequence Turkey UFO Footage (Non Condensed Version).” YouTube, Turkey UFO Incident, 21 Nov. 2015, www.youtube.com/watchv=BFuivergbXA&t=2358s&ab_channel=TurkeyUFOIncident.

Why I’m Making LinkedIn My Go-To Social Platform

November 12, 2024 No Comments

A few years ago, I read Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, a study on how social media platforms prey on our attention and ruin our ability to focus. It resonated with my personal experience on these platforms and left me with a scientifically backed distaste for passive entertainment. As Hari emphasizes in his book, “the medium is the message” rings true with social media. The platform you use to consume information shapes how that information is delivered—and, in turn, how it impacts you. On social platforms, this means that the way content is designed and presented influences how you think, react, and interact.

This is why I’m taking a deep dive into LinkedIn. Unlike Instagram and Facebook, LinkedIn creates a culture in which success is determined by professional achievements and merit, not your ability to entertain others. As someone who enjoys intellectual discussion, I see LinkedIn as an opportunity for meaningful conversations.

Side-effects of shallow content

The stark differences between LinkedIn and Instagram become immediately clear when you sign up for each platform. While Instagram is designed for quick, visually oriented engagement, LinkedIn emphasizes professional networking and long-form content. For example, LinkedIn’s bio section allows up to 3,000 characters, encouraging longer content that provides value by explaining who you are and what you do. In contrast, Instagram’s bio is limited to 150 characters, promoting short, snappy content that focuses on instant appeal rather than depth.

This has been my main experience on Instagram, especially when I observe what happens in the comments section as an extension of this culture. Instagram rewards clap-back comments as its main form of engagement. These comments tend to be short, pointed statements made to provoke negative emotions. Everyday conversations on the platform are shaped by this medium, just as Hari warned us.

Distorted perceptions of success

This cultural difference between the platforms has fundamental implications for how we define success. For instance, success on Instagram is measured by likes and follows, which directly influences how people share things about themselves. They create a polished version of themselves to highlight on their socials, aiming to be perceived as more beautiful or more perfect than others.

On the other hand, LinkedIn success is measured by endorsements from people in your industry for your work and merit—not your looks or what car you drive. In fact, studies have found that the way people portray themselves on LinkedIn is more consistent with their real-life skills compared to other platforms like Instagram or Facebook, which thrive on narcissistic content. Another study even linked LinkedIn’s culture to higher career progression.

Unlike more superficial platforms, LinkedIn encourages professional growth by promoting discussions that focus on skills and expertise rather than self-promotion or appearance. It’s a space where engagement is driven by sharing knowledge and building relationships within your industry.

Final thoughts

A few weeks ago, I never gave LinkedIn much thought—it seemed like a sterile space, dominated by people trying to impress with their polished professional personas and lofty office views.

Now, out of all social media, I believe LinkedIn has the best chance to help me learn and connect with others in an environment that encourages in-depth, thoughtful discussion. It’s my rebellion against our current social environment and a call for more thoughtful, focus-driven platforms that don’t fragment our attention.

We shouldn’t have to compromise our focus for the sake of success.

So, if you’re looking for a space to engage in thoughtful, meaningful discussions and connect with others on a deeper level, I encourage you to explore LinkedIn as well.

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