Laughing matters: The science behind humor
Lauren Chen and Amrita Himmatraopet
November 8, 2019
“Laughter is the best medicine” is a common cliché, but countless clinical trials and years of research demonstrate that laughing can actually improve your mental health in a variety of ways. In fact, even at Dougherty Valley, many use laughter as a coping mechanism on a daily basis. Researcher...
BART takes precautionary measures to prevent “transit death spiral”
October 24, 2019
In a recent episode of Netflix's “Patriot Act,” comedian and political commentator Hasan Minhaj noted that most transit systems in the country are rapidly losing their ridership. BART is not an exception: the number of passengers decreased from 128.5 million in 2016 to 120.6 million in 2019, with ...
Scientific breakthroughs promise progress in environmental restoration efforts
Steven Deng, Copy Editor
May 26, 2019
Many headlines today warn of climate change. They cite statistics showing data that global temperatures are increasing, among other effects. Other articles strongly urge action as they emphasize the limited time we have left to mitigate the effects of global warming. We also see and hear about political actions...
AP Biology encounters life and nature at Cal Academy of Sciences
Daniel Shen, Editor-in-Chief
May 4, 2019
On April 23, DVHS's AP Biology classes, taught by Mrs. Minu Basu and Mrs. Pam Sheppel, visited the California Academy of Sciences, witnessing the most exotic forms of life in the museum's myriad of environmental exhibits.
California Camp Fire endangers health of all children
Rahul Kumar
December 6, 2018
Paradise, a once-beautiful Californian city full of golf courses, boats, museums and beautiful parks, has been devastated by the Camp Fire that began on Nov. 8, 2018. Every morning, Mount Diablo glorifies San Ramon with its majestic, refreshing rays. But at 7 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, what normally...
DV art classes get the funding they need
Riya Bindlish, Features Editor
October 13, 2018
With an increase in the number of students enrolled in them and adequate funds from the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Dougherty Valley art classes have been provided with all of the new technology that it needs. One class that has required more funding over time is Computer Arts and Gr...
Dennis steps up to teach new Environmental Chemistry class at DV
Sasha Hassan, News Editor
September 16, 2018
“Isn’t it so cute?” Ms. Karen Dennis gushed in front of the classroom, brandishing a heat resistant mitt for holding heated beakers. She playfully snapped the red rubber mitt like a hinged jaw while chuckling. Her class, a small, sleepy first period in room 2201 with only 26 students, would...
Driverless buses “drive” tech innovation into San Ramon
Ronit Kumar, Sports Editor
April 28, 2018
In early March, Bishop Ranch and Contra Costa County Transportation Authority granted permission for California’s first driverless bus to be tested on the streets of San Ramon in an attempt to reduce the expenses of the city transportation. The driverless bus, also known as an autonomous vehicle,...
Promising developments emerge in cancer research
September 28, 2017
On Aug. 30, the Food and Drug Administration green-lighted the first gene therapy for leukemia, a landmark decision that opened the door to a new wave of cancer treatments. Revolutionary in its approach, the treatment, marketed as Kymriah by Novartis Pharmaceuticals, will be administered to a grou...
CAST and NGSS represent new era in scientific education
Elaine Yang, Contributor
May 30, 2017
On April 26, Dougherty Valley’s sophomore population woke up extra early — on a Wednesday, no less — to take the California Science Test (CAST), marking a transition in science education. This year’s test was a pilot, meaning that it is being used to measure how well it functions, and how ...
Artificial intelligence poses questions for the future
Anika Garg, Features Editor
March 8, 2017
New advancements in artificial intelligence are revolutionizing the world — but is this truly good news for the future? Again and again, mankind has developed smarter, more efficient technologies to solve everyday inconveniences we face, but experts warn that the rapid development won’t necessarily...