Among the mammals of Caltech, they’re arguably the happiest and freest. While Homo sapiens are burdened with homework and deadlines, and coyotes stick to moonlit hours to avoid the crowd, the fox squirrels roam wherever their paws take them. Stroll across campus and you’re guaranteed to spot one: foraging randomly in the grass (no, they don’t remember where they bury their nuts), lounging on a branch, or chasing a friend in spirals around tree trunks, like a dazzling ribbon in the hand ...| 2025s on The California Tech
Last Monday, in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, a special dinner in Browne Dining Hall was held from 5-7:30 p.m. The event was a collaboration between Caltech Dining Services and the Caltech Wellness Center.| 2025s on The California Tech
It is no secret that America’s leadership in science and technology was not born by accident—it was built through public investment, public partnerships with academia, and government sanction of private sector monopoly. From the Apollo program to the Human Genome Project, from the internet to the transistor, the United States once treated research and development (R&D) as a cornerstone of national security and economic strength. For some time the facade has been quietly crumbling away, bu...| 2025s on The California Tech
Last Saturday, the delicious scent of crème brûlée and chocolate croissants wafted through the alleys of Blacker Hovse. Moles hurried around the Hovse, tidying up their courtyard and dining hall for their annual Interhovse. The theme? The French Revolution. After months of preparation—with input from what felt like the entire Hovse—a production worthy of that era’s dynamism and ingenuity came together marvelously, complete with a panoply of renegade constructions and toothsome dishes.| 2025s on The California Tech
At the Kill the Cuts rally on April 8th, I gave the following speech to Caltech and USC contingents in front of the 300 North Los Angeles Federal Building. I hope its words resonate with the current scientific/political/cultural moment. They represent my truest feelings, the joyous and the vitriolic, as best as I can compress and verbalize them.| 2025s on The California Tech
As I lean over my desk, slumped between piles of textbooks and scrawled notes, the weight of my schoolwork drags down my mind. The pressure to excel academically and carve out a niche in the competitive university environment sometimes becomes overwhelming. Yet amidst the chaos of deadlines and exams, an old song unexpectedly pierces the drudgery. The rich, sweeping sounds of “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast sweep me, in the blink of an eye, from the chill of my dorm room to one of wonde...| 2025s on The California Tech
On April 14, Caltech joined eight other American research universities in filing a lawsuit against the Department of Energy (DOE). The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to block DOE’s decision to cap the indirect cost rate on all academic grants at 15%.| The California Tech
What it says on the tin. Includes: Dragon Quest! AI: The Somnium Files! Rhythm Heaven!| The California Tech
I’m Still Here is a 2024 Brazilian historical drama that won Best International and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress in a Leading Role at this year’s 97th Academy Awards. It is set in the 1970s, in Rio de Janeiro, during the dictatorship that lasted 20 years in Brazil. The story portrays a beautiful family consisting of Rubens Paiva (played by Selton Mello), Eunice Paiva (played by Fernanda Torres), and their five children.| The California Tech
This year marks a century since the establishment of quantum mechanics as a formal discipline… Significantly, Caltech played an essential role in expanding quantum theories, leading innovations, and expanding the possibilities of what science can be achieved.| The California Tech
Today, I want to talk about a figure that we too often take for granted: coaches, instructors, guides who surround us and who, in one way or another, transform our lives. They are like sculptors who, with patience and dedication, shape the clay that we are, smoothing the edges with the chisel and helping us find a shape that we often cannot see on our own. And yet, we never thank them enough.| The California Tech
I died, and it wasn’t from pain, or old age, or illness. I died, and it wasn’t from mourning, from ending, from longing, from joy. I died, and it wasn’t sadness, hate, work. I died, and it wasn’t in past lives or future lives. I died, and it wasn’t from anguish, loneliness, bitterness. I died! I died of being me.| The California Tech
There’s a lot of places around campus that no one has any reason to be at. However, the Google Maps algorithm somehow manages to place them all near the top of whatever category you select.| The California Tech
“For stars from Bette Davis to Angelina Jolie, the ultimate rite of passage since the 1950s has been sitting for the legendary Don Bachardy,” Michael Slenske wrote for The Hollywood Reporter. On Saturday, over 100 works of art and archival materials from Bachardy’s life and career will be on display at The Huntington’s MaryLou and George Boone Gallery.| The California Tech
One of the projects ASCIT B.o.D. adopted in 2023 was to review the building accessibility policies for undergraduate students outside of normal operational hours. For context, following the pandemic, building access was understandably limited in order to prioritize the safety and health of the campus communities. Since then, many of the previous building accessibility policies have been reinstated. The following outlines what these policies are, and who to reach out to should you experience d...| 2025s on The California Tech
Applications are now open for the 23rd annual Wolfram Summer School, taking place June 22–July 11, 2025, at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. The three-week program offers students, researchers, and innovators the opportunity to work on real-world projects alongside leading technologists, researchers, and physicists. Participants will collaborate directly with Stephen Wolfram to shape and refine their project goals.| 2025s on The California Tech
ASCIT 2025 Spring Elections: Candidate Statements| 2025s on The California Tech
Caltech claims to strive to “expand human knowledge and benefit society.” A necessary requisite to accomplish this mission is a community that values intellectual diversity. One where peers challenge the preconceived notions of others, and where all can speak freely. We, thus, have a vested interest in protecting free speech. Over the 24 presidential administrations that have come and gone from Washington DC since the Institute’s inception, Caltech has historically remained politically ...| 2025s on The California Tech
The Graduate Student formal has become the latest casualty of DOGE’s sweeping budget cuts. Fear not, however: the Caltech Rugby Club will be hosting their Annual Ball at the Athenaeum, open to both the blossoming club membership and the wider Graduate Student body. Expect crowd-pleasing music, free flowing food and drink, all set amongst the grandeur of our very own Athenaeum Club.| 2025s on The California Tech
The Caltech Y regularly organizes Cultural Cuisine Tours across L.A., allowing people to try out new cuisines for a subsidized rate in the presence of a cultural leader, who understands the cuisine and can provide additional information about the food options. Recently, I helped them organize a Cultural Cuisine Tour to Annapurna Grill, specifically to explore South Indian cuisine. And in so doing, I found out just how little people actually knew about South Indian cuisine.| tech.caltech.edu
Caltech joined several other leading American research universities in a lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Filed on February 10, the lawsuit challenges what it describes as “a flagrantly unlawful action… that, if allowed to stand, will devastate medical research at America’s universities.”| The California Tech
Woodpeckers are perhaps the most overlooked yet ever-present wildlife species on campus. Like the ubiquitous fox squirrels (a topic for another day), they are a daily sight if you know where to look.| The California Tech
As the world celebrated the 97th Academy Awards this past Sunday, March 2nd, it is only fitting that we honor Caltech’s most significant contribution to the motion picture industry: six-time Oscar-winning director and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Frank Capra.| The California Tech
You’ve probably heard a joke about JPL standing for Jack Parsons Laboratory. Or at least you’ve heard that Jack Parsons was one of the founders of JPL and that a crater on the moon’s dark side is named after him. But have you ever delved into the subtext, personality, habits, and life of Jack Parsons?| The California Tech
I have discovered that, deep down, each of us secretly cultivates the desire to be elsewhere. It’s as if, despite all the sacrifices made to get to one of the most prestigious universities in the world, we suddenly discover that complete satisfaction is an illusion.| The California Tech
From random backyards and patios to overpasses and warehouses, these shows have some unconventionally cool venues. One such memorable show took place at a skatepark, where people were doing tricks on motorcycles and some guy brought a microwave into the pit. Consisting of the dry, dusty backyard of a suburban household, the “cum house” was another favorite. By the end of that concert, there was dirt under our fingernails and in the fold of our eyelids.| 2025s on The California Tech
We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Jenijoy La Belle, a trailblazing administrative leader, devoted professor, and outspoken advocate for academic integrity and the rights of women. Along a career trajectory marked by keen intelligence, unyielding resolve, and passion for literature, La Belle was the first woman to be hired as a faculty member at Caltech. The indelible contributions she has made to Shakespeare, William Blake, Theodore Roethke, and 17th-century poetry remain a...| 2025s on The California Tech
The U.S. Department of Education issued a letter to universities on February 14th, broadly declaring all race-conscious programs illegal under federal law, including any decision affecting “aspects of student, academic, and campus life.”| 2025s on The California Tech
The CGPU-UAW Bargaining Team is a group of eleven Graduate Student Workers and five Postdocs democratically elected to represent their peers in collective bargaining with the Caltech administration.| The California Tech
If Plato was the dreamer with his head above the clouds, Aristotle is the realist with his hands in the soil. He’s the philosopher of practicality; the one who took the abstract musings of his teacher, Plato, and said, “Alright, but how does it really work?”| The California Tech
After 14 years as Caltech’s Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, Betsy Mitchell announced earlier this month that she will be stepping down in the spring.| The California Tech
If you’ve recently heard students humming show tunes, hyping up hockey games, or debating the best rides at Knott’s Berry Farm, you’ve probably stumbled upon the buzz surrounding Caltech’s Off-Campus Programming Series… I recently had the chance to chat with Steven Metzmaker, Assistant Director of Residential & Student Experience, who has been orchestrating these off-campus escapades.| The California Tech
Last month, the Norton Simon Museum in Old Pas received this portrait: Diego Velázquez’s “Queen Mariana of Austria” (1652–53). On special loan from the Museo del Prado, the famed Spanish national art museum in Madrid, this painting is being displayed on the West Coast for the first time.| The California Tech
During my time at Caltech, I’ve noticed that I often use the term “BUBBLE,” as in phrases like “I’m in my bubble of things to do,” “Caltech Bubble,” or “problem sets bubble.” Essentially, it’s a closed, limiting space, even though deep down, I know it’s not.| The California Tech
Most visitors to Caltech’s newest residence were probably surprised when they first found out that the 212-room building has just one entrance, an issue which, as a resident of Bechtel myself, has been more inconvenient than I originally anticipated… $130,000. That is my estimate of waste at Bechtel.| The California Tech
We must confess that artificial intelligence has changed the planet. Once upon a time, the man was surprised by the discovery of fire, then metal, cultivation techniques. Then we arrived at more scientific realities such as during the Middle Ages when extraordinary cathedrals were built using heavy tools, pulleys, a form of engineering, right? With the Enlightenment, the greatest scientific discoveries were made such as light with Edison or more specific analyses at an anatomical level.| The California Tech
I just finished reading the new book Star Bound by Emily Carney and Bruce McCandless III (shoutout to my friend Paige Kaufman who released a podcast interview with the authors yesterday – Space Spiels, wherever you get your podcasts). In the book, the authors discuss – among other things – how we have successfully grown plants in lunar regolith brought back from the Apollo missions. This is especially relevant now, as Artemis is aimed at establishing a permanent base on the surface of t...| The California Tech
Cast of Earth Data, from left to right: Kathryn Bikle, Ellis Spickermann, Cai Tong Ng, Jocelyn Argueta, Joony Kim, Anya Janowski, Armin Kleinboehl, the author, Maria Azcona Baez, Eric Smith, Joey Jefferson, Julian Wagner, Solvin Sigurdson, Jessica Kilgore, Josef Svoboda, Leslie Maxfield, Boyuan Chen, Maat Braaten. Just out of frame are Joži McKiernan and Michael Gutierrez.| The California Tech
It is now Monday January 13th 2025 and the Eaton Fire is 14,117 acres and 27% contained. 3,155 firefighting personnel are assigned to this fire. The Eaton Fire is one of the worst natural disasters in United States history, and Southern California’s deadliest wildfire disaster. Ten miles of foothills from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to Santa Anita Avenue is just destruction. Caltech students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community have been impacted by this traumatic and ...| The California Tech
Contrary to what our pseudonym suggests, we are but college students. Thus we spent all of this past fall hoping and praying for a single miracle: Caltech’s Three Week Winter Break. This break is a time of rest, a time of relaxation, and a time of rejuvenation. During these three weeks, we slowly gather back up the energy needed for the upcoming winter term, whether that be through spending time with friends and family, going out and having fun, or simply just doing nothing. For this reason...| The California Tech
If you’re craving a culinary trip to Hong Kong and Macau without the airfare, HK Macau Bistro in San Gabriel offers a flavor-packed detour. With tables fashioned from mahjong tiles and walls adorned with street signs straight out of Kowloon, the vibe here screams retro nostalgia with a side of quirky charm. The food? A mixed bag of divine delights and comforting mediocrity.| The California Tech
In “The Ballad of East and West,” Rudyard Kipling states that “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” On the contrary, Raqib Shaw demonstrates how art can unite the two with striking effect.| The California Tech
Well yes, I am more than sure that all of you have already heard of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the masters of ancient classical philosophy. There would not have been a beginning without them and none of the greatest philosophers, even of the contemporary age, would have managed to develop a single concrete idea, think of Immanuel Kant who still criticized Plato during the period of the Enlightenment (1750).| The California Tech
On November 13, JPL laid off 325 employees, or 5% of its workforce.| The California Tech
If you’re craving a culinary trip to Hong Kong and Macau without the airfare, HK Macau Bistro in San Gabriel offers a flavor-packed detour. With tables fashioned from mahjong tiles and walls adorned with street signs straight out of Kowloon, the vibe here screams retro nostalgia with a side of quirky charm. The food? A mixed bag of divine delights and comforting mediocrity.| The California Tech
“I struggled in college so there is a personal connection for me, to be there for students who are struggling,” says Dr. Saeromi Kim, Caltech’s new Director of Counseling Services at Student Wellness Services (SWS). Dr. Kim, who uses she/they pronouns and is of Korean-Venezuelan ethnic backgrounds, came to Caltech after 13 years of counseling experience at UCLA. She herself has faced mental health and identity issues in college, as well as had to navigate the issues involved with being ...| The California Tech
A SATIRE advice column about alive, ahaha, and everything in between!| The California Tech
At the beginning of the fall term, the Caltech Pond Bridge was transformed by artist Lita Albuquerque into a gold foil installation — the largest she has made to date — dubbed This Moment in Time. It’s part of a larger art exhibit at Caltech called Crossing Over: Art and Science at Caltech. Apparently, some people couldn’t wait until December 15th to walk over the bridge, which has been gradually sullied with footprints over the course of the term. This came as somewhat of a disappoin...| The California Tech
The Committee on House Assessment, Support, and Experience (CHASE) was formed in Spring 2023 and “charged by the Vice President for Student Affairs Kevin Gilmartin to develop strategic recommendations to ensure that the undergraduate houses remain supportive living and learning environments, where current and future Caltech students can thrive and succeed,” according to an email sent to undergraduates last spring.| tech.caltech.edu
Unlike finals, we don’t get the week off for midterms, so this season is particularly mid. To all of you reading this article, keep pushing through! We are proud of you, and you are doing really well. The light is at the end of the tunnel, I promise.| 2024s on The California Tech
On Monday, November 4, faculty representatives hosted open office hours for students who wanted to hear more about the changes to Caltech’s undergraduate admissions practices. These changes involved reinstating standardized testing and reducing the role of athletic recruitment in admissions.| 2024s on The California Tech
The Caltech Y Community Service & Advocacy (CSA) Fair on Friday, November 8, 2024, drew an impressive turnout on San Pasqual Walk…| 2024s on The California Tech
The search for life beyond Earth is a key priority for both the public and NASA. The observation of billions of galaxies in our universe has led us to ask: “Are we alone?” “Is there life out there?”| 2024s on The California Tech
Crossing Over: Art and Science at Caltech, 1920–2020 (PST ART), an expansive public exhibition, unfolds across Caltech’s campus, offering visitors a unique exploration of the intersection between art and science.| 2024s on The California Tech
The Turtle Club’s mascot campaign aims to help differentiate Caltech from MIT and have a mascot reflective of our campus.| 2024s on The California Tech
I’m in scarcely any position to assess Italian-American dining for The Tech; yet, last Thursday the 26th was I appointed by Mannion himself to do this exactly at Casa Bianca Pizza Pie, in the nearby suburb of Eagle Rock.| 2024s on The California Tech
Caltech Campus Security and the Facilities Department have begun the process of installing outdoor cameras at all entrances to undergraduate housing.| 2024s on The California Tech
For the astute eyes on campus, you may have noticed something different about Caltech Hall, specifically the bridge across the pond. But for those who may not know, the bridge going across Caltech Hall Pond has been completely covered in gold leaf. To put it simply, the bridge across Caltech Hall Pond will be closed essentially until the end of Fall term (December 13th), and many of us will have to wait until after the holidays until we can use it again.| 2024s on The California Tech
The email stated the air conditioning system in the South Houses was down due to a broken chilled waterline. This by nature was already grim.| 2024s on The California Tech
In a heartwarming story of alumni giving back, Caltech spinoff company Virtualitics has pledged $100,000 over five years to support cutting-edge artificial intelligence research at its alma mater.| 2024s on The California Tech
Welcome to the beginning of a new academic year! I hope it brings discovery, friendship, joy, and the right kinds of challenges—the ones that help you grow into your talents and feel a sense of pride upon accomplishment.| 2024s on The California Tech
There’s a good sandwich, nay, a great sandwich at Broad Café. Quite honestly, this sandwich is glorious.| 2024s on The California Tech
Settebello is decorated in a very hipster-like industrial manner with hints of modernism. Every wall is lined with exposed brick, and ductwork peeks through the open ceiling, which, in the year 2024, are signs that this place is meant for twenty-seven year old software engineers on a date night…| 2024s on The California Tech
I chose this restaurant because I wanted to see if their food transported me back to some fantastic memories of Naples, as well as to see if this was a restaurant that students could escape to for a quick break from their academic rigors.| 2024s on The California Tech
What happened to the days when a man could simply enter 15 or 45 seconds, saying nothing of more creative inputs, like 0:42 or 6:09?| 2024s on The California Tech
It has come to our attention that there is wrong information going around about Mailbox assignments.| 2024s on The California Tech
Sign-ups for undergraduate students to participate in the 2025 Student Faculty Conference (SFC) and Student Life and Experience Conference (SLEC) are now open.| 2024s on The California Tech
I don’t know if I’m just (un)lucky, but it feels quite often that I come across a broken sprinkler head gushing concerning amounts of water onto the adjacent sidewalk…| 2024s on The California Tech
In an email to the Caltech community on September 5, 2024, professors announced two changes to the Institute’s undergraduate admissions process—reinstating standardized testing and reducing the weight of athletics.| 2024s on The California Tech
Caltech Women’s Soccer team had their second home game of the season this past Saturday in the Caltech North Field against La Verne.| 2024s on The California Tech
“Storm Cloud: Picturing the Origins of Our Climate Crisis,” an exhibition at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, opened on September 14.| 2024s on The California Tech
Edan Lepucki is the rare member of the Caltech community who is better known off-campus than on. Off-campus, she is a New York Times bestselling author who has published five books and counting.| 2024s on The California Tech
When Laura Flower Kim, now Associate Director at International Student Programs at Caltech, took over the office on the second floor of the Center for Student Services sixteen years ago, most of it was occupied by one giant red file-cabinet filled to the brim with immigration paperwork for international undergraduate and graduate students.| 2024s on The California Tech
Embedded in the story of food is the story of people: in modern society, the people who grow and harvest it, the people who distribute it, the people who cook it, and if we are at a restaurant, the people who serve it.| 2024s on The California Tech
The first time I felt an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and loneliness at Caltech, I had yet to hear the Fleming cannon fire even once.| 2024s on The California Tech
The academic year is here, and with it, a playlist to remind you why you can be glad summer is over! As many of you may be aware (some of you probably much more than you’d like to be), numerous parts of the world experienced intense heat waves over the past few months.| 2024s on The California Tech
A brief, abridged recapitulation of the events of this academic year, in very rough chronological order. Enjoy!| tech.caltech.edu
What is it about Ge 136 that tempts so many worn down undergraduates to forfeit a restful weekend for such discomfort? Professor Joe Kirschvink is the man behind the madness.| tech.caltech.edu
The Tech reviewed a report containing some data regarding student-athletes at Caltech from the Student Success Analysis Working Group…| tech.caltech.edu
Well readers, an entire term has gone by and I did not continue my column on the Apple TV+ series, Lessons In Chemistry, in a timely manner. Apologies. I know you all were dying for more of my ramblings on this very mid show.| tech.caltech.edu
On May 29, Caltech GSWs and postdocs began bargaining our first union contract to guarantee legally enforceable workplace rights including wages, benefits, and protections against abuse, discrimination, and unsafe workplaces…| tech.caltech.edu
As part of an ongoing effort to make the voices of Red Door staff heard in The California Tech, the following interview was conducted with Deveon Howard, the Assistant Manager of Red Door.| tech.caltech.edu
Whether you’re having a bonfire at the beach, or camping in the woods, s’mores season is officially here, and with it, a playlist to absolutely scorch your ‘mallows to.| tech.caltech.edu
As your friendly neighborhood former Dabney Athman, I would like to give you a nice example workout. And guess what? Today is leg day!| tech.caltech.edu
In an email to faculty on January 30, 2024, President Rosenbaum wrote that, “Two questions that have arisen in recent campus conversations concern the value of standardized testing, and the appropriate role of extracurricular activities, in admissions decisions”…| tech.caltech.edu
Voting. It is every citizen’s right, or in this case every Caltech undergraduate’s right.| tech.caltech.edu
Caltech and JPL are enmeshed financially, politically, and scientifically with Raytheon Technologies, a major weapons manufacturer which sells large amounts of weapons to the Israeli Defence Force.| tech.caltech.edu
The Tech is not simply a broadcaster of all opinions that happen to come from Caltech students. All opinions are not created equal, and they should not be treated as such.| tech.caltech.edu
Pasadena, CA (AP) - The world is on the brink of an unprecedented cataclysmic event known as “Ditch Day,” set to occur tomorrow.| tech.caltech.edu
Los Angeles native singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams released “Risk” on May 1, over a year since she last had new music.| tech.caltech.edu
From top to bottom, left to right: “Sunset Road” by Audrey Wong, “Cliffside Forest” by Juan Luchsinger, “GDBG” by Sophie Gershaft, Albert Huang, and Toby Thomassen, and “Galaxy” by Sylvia Wang.| tech.caltech.edu
Be a part of the full production this fall!| tech.caltech.edu
On Monday, April 29th, there were two on campus demonstrations for Palestine.| tech.caltech.edu
On April 26th, an email from President Rosenbaum and Provost Tirrell announced an update to Caltech’s Free Speech and Expression Policy in response to ongoing protests over Gaza occurring in many campuses nationwide, including our neighboring UCLA.| The California Tech
In the previous issue of the Tech, we published a private letter that ~150 professors wrote to President Rosenbaum…| The California Tech
The frustration with the overuse and misapplication of the term “quantum” in contemporary media . . . is palpable.| The California Tech
I guess I should start with a formal apology. I tried. I really did! But despite my best efforts to not cave into the demons telling me to go down the EDM/techno/house rabbit hole, here we are.| The California Tech
Last Monday, President Rosenbaum announced a reorganization of the Student Affairs division. The changes were recommended in the final report from a Visiting Committee on Student Affairs…| The California Tech
The stressors of this Institution go beyond the mental. Caltech-hired landscapers have been criticized for spraying carcinogenic herbicides around graduate student housing…| The California Tech
Nearly every aspect of my housing experience has been significantly improved by living off campus, and I would recommend it to everyone who is feeling even the tiniest ounce of frustration with Caltech Housing.| The California Tech