Pandemic and all the fallout from all this have had an impact on each one of us. Many of us who had been previously completely immersed in the daily churn of modern life have seen the fault in our ways, but maybe not enough people. We were hoping that more people would come out of the COVID-19 tunnel with a renewed respect to nature, wildlife, and the health of our planet as a united being. However, it looks like most are rushing back to the familiar paths, which have been leading us to major environmental calamities. SCIplanet team thinks it is a good time to pause and reflect on the greater canvas of life. Let us remember the glory of our intricate planet with its mesmerizing tapestry of incalculable ecosystems and lifeforms on land and under water. We dedicate the two issues of 2022 to this theme, which is truly at the core of everything. We marvel at the wonders of life, explore some of the humankind impact on nature, and look into possible ways of redeeming ourselves.

SCIplanet Kids is an Annex to SCIplanet edutainment science magazine. The Annex aims to intrigue the youngsters; aging 6–10 years old, with science and get them excited about it through fun stories and activities.

We dedicate this second special 2021 issue to a year like no other; a year that has changed life on Earth. We are keeping up the optimism as we move from the individual to the collective experience of the pandemic and its repercussions. We look at some of the impacts on and of scientific and technologic advancement and invention; we look at the cons and so many pros of the new world; we share some interesting news and discuss a variety of perspectives. Hopefully, you will enjoy this new installment of SCIplanet and be inspired; we also hope children in your family enjoy the kids’ installment. 

SCIplanet Kids is an Annex to SCIplanet edutainment science magazine. The Annex aims to intrigue the youngsters; aging 8–12 years old, with science and get them excited about it through fun stories and activities.

Life during a global pandemic has certainly been a harrowing experience. Having gone through the turmoil of the past 18 months and as we continue to fight to forge ahead in pursuit of the light at the end of the tunnel. Exceptionally, this year, we are publishing the four issues of SCIplanet printed magazine in two combined issues. In these exceptional issues, not only are we seeking silver linings and good news, but we are revamping ourselves as well.

SCIplanet Kids is an Annex to SCIplanet edutainment science magazine. The Annex aims to intrigue the youngsters; aging 8–12 years old, with science and get them excited about it through fun stories and activities.

Myth has existed long before facts. Since the dawn of time, humans have used mythology to interpret and explain all kinds of phenomenal puzzles. Over millennia, myths have evolved, stretched, and intertwined to form an intricate web of fiction that, despite great scientific achievement and discovery, still holds humans back.

Indeed, the shroud of myth is almost impossible to shake; simply said, because myth is inherent in our nature and cultural conscious. Why? Because myths tend to be much more attractive and titillating than plain facts; we tend to favor exaggeration and drama. Ironically, if people are more keen in searching for the facts, they would find that they are actually far more fascinating than myths; they just need to be unraveled and pieced together. This is where science comes in and it is up to science communicators to convey the charm of the facts and help the public dispel the magic of myth and shrug off the cloak of fiction.

More than anything else in life, scientific discovery and invention have always been fraught with tragic, often plain destructive, misinterpretation, misrepresentation, misuse, and abuse. The reality is science is, has always been, and will always be the main battleground for good vs. evil; both sides will continue to tug on every chance it gets to use science to gain grounds and achieve wins over the other side. It is up to us, science communicators, to put the spotlight on this eternal war, so that the public be alert and fight for science to always be on the people’s side; all people’s side. As such, in this issue, we try to sift through a few examples that demonstrate how science can be employed for both the improvement of life, as well as its destruction, just to give readers an idea of a much, much greater and more profound topic.

In our first issue of this series dedicated to the “Dualities of Life”, we welcomed 2020 with excitement as its uniqueness inspired our first issue about the “Duality of Past and Future”. We have worked on this second issue dedicated to the “Duality of Earth and Sky” during the first few months of 2020; indeed, we ensure you a myriad of interesting articles about a diversity of topics that roam Earth and rove the Sky, unraveling the secrets of life in between.

It is a New Year and not just any New Year; it is 2020! It does not seem that long ago we thought of 2020 as a far distant future; now that it is here, we find ourselves at an interesting juncture between the past and the future. Looking back, we realize how incredibly far we have come, and surrealistically fast within the past century, especially within the past couple of decades. Yet, the past is not just something to marvel at and feel nostalgic about; it is something to behold, study, and learn from. The future, on the other hand, is no longer something to fantasize about and long for; it is something to plan for very carefully, taking into account the lessons of the past.

That thought-provoking duality of “Past and Future” is the first of our new year’s series under the overarching theme “The Dualities of Life”. Join us on this journey, and let us observe, question, and try to find answers together.