EduSciTech By PJamal.com

Think Sustainably this Holiday Season when planning Zero Waste Gifts for families and friends

2026-11-13T14:02:00.000-05:00

As we prepare for the holiday season, it is ever more important to be kinder to planet Earth and reduce waste and junk. I have been researching and trying to locate resources that are more sustainable. Focus more on experiences over physical toys and plastic junks. Here is my growing list and findings so far -

What Other Zero Waste gifts can you think of or plan to take part in for this holiday season?

Here are some specific top 10 green ideas to consider -

1. Consumables people already buy. Good olive oil, local honey, nice coffee beans, a block of real Parmesan. It gets eaten, the glass or paper gets recycled, and nobody stores it in a closet out of guilt. The single highest-hit-rate zero waste gift there is.

2. Experience gifts. Museum membership, climbing gym day passes, a pottery class, concert tickets, a state park pass. Zero physical object, and these tend to be the gifts people remember years later.

3. Beeswax or soy candles. Tin or glass, no paraffin. Burns down to nothing, container gets reused or recycled.

4. A really good bar of something. Bar soap, shampoo bar, solid dish soap. Paper-wrapped, replaces a plastic bottle, and bar soap has quietly gotten very nice — this isn’t a hairshirt gift anymore.

5. Wool dryer balls. Replace dryer sheets permanently, last years, cost about $15. Boring-sounding, genuinely useful, people who get them become evangelists.

6. Secondhand books. Thrift stores and used bookshops in late November are full of near-new hardcovers. A thoughtfully chosen used book reads as more personal than a new one, not less.

7. Potted plants or bulbs. Paperwhites and amaryllis bloom right around the holidays and are nearly impossible to kill. Herbs for the cooks in your life.

8. A gift certificate to a local restaurant or bakery. Not a plastic gift card from a rack — call the place or buy online. Supports a small business, no object changes hands.

9. Nice kitchen linens. Linen or cotton napkins, Swedish dishcloths, a good tea towel. Replaces paper towels, actually gets used daily, and looks like a real gift.

10. A donation in their name to something they care about. Works best for people who have everything and want nothing. Pick something specific to them, not a generic charity.

For the wrapping: fabric scraps, old maps, newspaper, or a tea towel as the wrapping itself (that’s #9 doing double duty). Twine and a sprig of rosemary instead of ribbon.

Thanks for being mindful of your footprint. Our Planet and future generation thanks you! Stay an informed and conscious consumer.

NYC Marathon: Worth it and who won?

2026-11-10T07:15:09.237-05:00

The first Sunday of November weekend is always NYC Marathon Day. 26.2 miles, All 5 NYC borough. Considered one of the greatest marathons in the world, I am proud to cheer on all who run this marathon. This specific year, I was proud to be tracking three of my friends.

In 2026, here are the results:

• Men's Open Division: Andreas Almgren (Sweden) – 2:06:01 (in his marathon debut)

• Women's Open Division: Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) – 2:24:36 (her second title)

• Men's Wheelchair Division: Marcel Hug (Switzerland) – 1:28:14 (his 8th victory)

• Women's Wheelchair Division: Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) – 1:40:02 (her second title)

Science of Luck

2026-11-08T21:50:29.929-05:00

Luck 🍀 is really a state of mind and a skill that you can increase your odds for. Trevor Noah in an interview also points out the four types of luck:

1) Dumb Luck - you have no control over where you are born, what your skin looks like, your parents etc. Don’t waste your energy on what you cannot control.

2) Luck of Motion - your chances of being lucky goes up when you move around. This is why you should always be up for new opportunities and experienced.

3) Luck of Awareness - you have to notice that you are lucky in order to feel lucky, which again, reminds us how much of a state of mind this is. Your mind controls your feelings. Neuroplasticity also teaches us that you have control over your mind. It’s one of your superpowers if you choose to train yourself to use it.

4) Luck of Uniqueness/Specialization - You are more likely to be lucky based on your uniqueness or field of expertise. Work hard and surround yourself with positive mentors and role models and you will more likely to be in the right networks and get “luckier”

Source: Trevor Noah’s Podcast. Watch Full Clip

What are your thoughts on luck?

Personal Reflections: Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani personally served me Diwali sweets in 2025

2026-11-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

Watch Zohran serve me

Fundamentally, we are all here during limited time on earth to serve others. It was such an honor to be served Diwali sweets by the next mayor of our great city. It was a brilliant and sustainable move to use the leftover sweets at the end of Diwali by Maharaja Sweets to reduce food waste. The joy was palpable. Zohran was next to his mother, the famous movie director Mira Nair - whose movie Mississippi Masala, Monsoon Wedding and Namesake. Also met Kal Penn, who stars in Namesake and is famous for Harold and Kumar Goes to White Castle, House MD and Communications director of the Obama White House. What a memorable Diwali 2025 during the weekend of his birthday as well. A memory to cherish.

Don’t forget to www.vote.nyc where you can use your fast pass and check wait time before showing up. Note who our union is endorsing in the election.

https://www.uft.org/get-involved/uft-political-action/gotv-2025

Update: 11/5/25: Loved his victory speech (full video below) where he gave a shoutout to Mama, Baba and Rama (his wife).

EduSciTech now has a page dedicated to celebrations around the world

Sleep Science: How does your quality of sleep affect your memory and learning?

2026-11-06T08:59:00.000-05:00

Does your quality of sleep improve your ability to learn?

How much sleep should you get every night?

Ask yourself how much sleep you are getting and what you can do to make sure you are investing in getting quality sleep. Are you getting enough sleep? CDC recommends high school students get at least 8-10 hours of sleep every night (including naptimes). Turns out sleep does affect your memory

During the pandemic, we are ever increasingly using devices and screen-time. This is really affecting our circadian rhythm and negatively affecting our sleep cycles. It is ever so important to practice mindfulness and be aware of our bedtime. A lot of my students are realizing that our sleep is disrupted, which makes us tired the next day and keep us from performing our best. Here is why you should pay attention to BLUE LIGHT (which comes from screen-time) as well as how well you are sleeping:

Source: Doctor Mike

How to set up/track YOUR bedtime and screen-time to improve sleep:

Apple's Health App has a built-in feature to manage your sleep schedule. Here is a detailed guide on how to set up your bedtime routines and how to track it using your iOS devices.

If you are an Android user, there is Digital Well-being and the Clock App itself includes options for you to set up your BedTime routine, so you can take control and track your sleep as well as your screen-time. Here is a guide on how to accomplish this on your Android Devices. Recommended Apps for Android Users to be able to track sleep.

How do you make sure you get enough sleep? Here are some basic tips from CDC:

Interested in the science of sleep further? Check out this TEDTalk on Sleeping with Science

Vote.PJamal.com Ranked Choice Voting

2026-11-04T00:07:00.000-05:00

Ranked Choice Voting as opposed to plurality voting is a more democratic way to make decisions. NYC primary and special elections officially use them but not the general elections. The video above by one of the folks responsible for Ranked Choice Voting in NYC is worth watching.

If you are short on time, this Instagram Video is also helpful to remind yourself why you should rank all five choices.

Your browser doesn't support embedded video. Download the video instead.

Practice RCV Below with a simple voting choices about ranking the best borough

Vote RCV

PB.PJAMAL.COM NYC Participatory Budget is how you improve your local neighborhoods

2026-11-02T10:22:00.000-05:00

Plan Your Vote with family and friends. No Excuses.

PB.PJamal.com Driving Question: How can we, as informed and active citizens, identify a real environmental need in our local districts and design a fiscally responsible, realistic Participatory Budgeting proposal that wins the support of our neighbors to improve our communities?

Real Money. Real Projects. Real People. What could $1 million do for your neighborhood?

Resources for EduSciTech Designed PB.PJamal.com Project:

Look up Sample Ballot before voting
What is your neighborhood called?http://locality.nyc/ https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/upshot/extremely-detailed-nyc-neighborhood-map.html
Vote.NYC Register to Vote / Plan Your Votes
Who Represents Me? https://www.mygovnyc.org/?tab=city
Check to make sure you are registered to vote in NYC: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/
Plan Early to be an informed voter: https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page
NYC Street Trees https://tree-map.nycgovparks.org/
iNaturalist - To Submit your observations of Flora and Fauna of your neighborhood
Submit your PB Idea for your district here
Last Year's PB Winners

Watch News on PB Project

Get to know your community by first identifying what your neighborhood is called. In order to make observations, propose an idea and then VOTE on the best ideas! It all starts with getting to know who represents you first and who is your NYC district council member

The 311 App is a helpful one that can also help improve your neighborhoods. Be an educated and helpful citizen by reporting problems so they can be solved, such as where to plant trees.

As we begin our Participatory Budget Project for Unit 2, we want to remind you that City Council Districts have access to $1 million to spend on Participatory Budget. These ideas are proposed by citizens and voted on by citizens. May the best ideas and democracy led by youth win just as 3Zero.Club promotes.

This year, 24 Council Members across New York City are asking residents how to spend at least $24 million in capital funding, specifically for local improvements to schools, parks, libraries and other public spaces. PBNYC funds physical infrastructure projects in public spaces, cost at least $50,000 and have a lifespan of at least 5 years.

How Does It Work?

Submit Your Ideas

Source: https://council.nyc.gov/pb/

If your district city council member is not participating in PB yet, please shame them into engaging their communities.

You are taking on a PROJECT DISTRICT# in NYC for you and/or with a partner ideally to prepare for your PB Project. Create a Presentation Slide (share with partner) and include the following - (Max 10 slides)

Take photos as evidence, either via Google Maps Street View OR in person as you walk around in your PROJECT DISTRICT # [Bonus for creative videos presentations]

1) We are going to map our neighborhood and describe the change that our neighborhood has gone through over the years.

http://maps.google.com --> Drag the yellow guy and drop him in your neighborhood for street view. Click See More Dates. Compare your neighborhood over a period of time as you explore on a virtual street walk through time. (Alternative - http://maps.apple.com)

Respond to the following prompts in a slide that you and your project partner create

2) We are going to map our neighborhood and describe the change that our neighborhood has gone through over the years.

What is a STRENGTH of your project district?

3) Identify the following infrastructures in your district -

a) How green is your neighborhood? Describe the amount of trees and green spaces you see during your virtual walk including using iNaturalist.org and/or NYC Street Trees Maps to describe photos of specific plants (Flora) and animals (Fauna) in your district. Biodiversity Matters.

b) Does your community encourage walking and biking? How connected is your community to public transportation?

c) Your local library

How far of a walk is it from your place?

d) Your local food market or grocery store

Describe how far this is from you and how is your access to healthy food?

4) What is a WEAKNESS or OPPORTUNITY for your project district?

5) What is your specific project idea and how much will it cost (minimum 50k)? You can include short term and long-term data analysis with cost breakdown for your project idea for the district

6) Reach out to city council office to polish and promote your idea with a marketing plan to get others to vote for your idea. Share results of your engagement. Your Engagements with your Local City Council Office Matters and is an important life skill.

7) Post a screenshot of your post in the PB website and any other marketing plan to get people to VOTE for your project idea so you can actually get the funds and implement.

My PB.PJamal.com Project Rubric

District	Member	Borough
1	Christopher Marte	Manhattan
2	Harvey Epstein	Manhattan
3	Carl Wilson	Manhattan
4	Virginia Maloney	Manhattan
5	Julie Menin	Manhattan
6	Gale A. Brewer	Manhattan
7	Shaun Abreu	Manhattan
12	Kevin C. Riley	Bronx
16	Althea Stevens	Bronx
17	Justin Sanchez	Bronx
18	Amanda Farías	Bronx
21	Shanel Thomas-Henry	Queens
22	Tiffany Cabán	Queens
25	Shekar Krishnan	Queens
27	Dr. Nantasha Williams	Queens
29	Lynn Schulman	Queens
34	Jennifer Gutiérrez	Brooklyn/Queens
35	Crystal Hudson	Brooklyn
37	Sandy Nurse	Brooklyn
39	Shahana Hanif	Brooklyn
40	Rita Joseph	Brooklyn
45	Farah N. Louis	Brooklyn

Celebrations.PJamal.com Top 20 Cultural Celebrations Around the World

2026-10-27T06:59:48.704-04:00

Bookmark: (http://celebrations.pjamal.com)

I am a huge proponent of celebrating cultural diversity and inclusion. It is important to be aware of the different cultural practices, and any opportunity to celebrate and bring joy is something I always look forward to. I am fortunate to be living in the world's borough, where we have representation from every imaginable country and culture.

Here is a chronological list of twenty of the most common cultural celebrations around the world. I hope you find it as fascinating as I do.

Which of these are meaningful to you and your family, based on your cultural background?

January

👑

1. Día de los Reyes MagosEpiphany

Significance: Commemorates the Three Wise Men (Magi), who, according to Christian tradition, followed a star to Bethlehem to bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. It marks the end of the Christmas season and is the main gift-giving day for many families. Children leave out shoes or hay for the Kings' camels, and whoever finds the hidden figurine in the rosca traditionally hosts a tamales party on Candlemas (February 2).
Estimated Celebrators: ~150 to 200 million people across Latin America, Spain, and global Hispanic/Latino communities.
Time of Year: January 6 Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: Spain 🇪🇸, Mexico 🇲🇽, Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, Argentina 🇦🇷, Colombia 🇨🇴
Traditional Cuisine: Roscón de Reyes or Rosca de Reyes (sweet oval bread topped with candied fruits hiding a baby Jesus figurine), paired with Mexican hot chocolate or atole.

Traditional Roscón de Reyes served during Epiphany. Source: Bake from Scratch Magazine

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January – February

🧧

2. Lunar New YearSpring Festival

Significance: Marks the first new moon of the lunisolar year and the turn toward spring. It is above all a time of family reunion, and it sparks the largest annual human migration on Earth as people travel home. Homes are cleaned to sweep away bad luck, red decorations and firecrackers ward off misfortune (tied to the legend of the beast Nian), elders give red envelopes of money for good fortune, and ancestors are honored. Each year is linked to one of the 12 zodiac animals.
Estimated Celebrators: Over 1.5 billion people worldwide.
Time of Year: Late January to mid-February Lunisolar Calendar
Primary Countries: China 🇨🇳, Vietnam 🇻🇳 (Tết), South Korea 🇰🇷 (Seollal), Taiwan 🇹🇼, Singapore 🇸🇬, Malaysia 🇲🇾
Traditional Cuisine: Dumplings (jiaozi), whole steamed fish (symbolizing abundance), rice cakes (nian gao), rice cake soup (tteokguk in Korea), and sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves (bánh chưng in Vietnam).

Lunar New Year reunion feast showcasing symbolic dishes. Source: History.com

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February – March

🎭

3. CarnivalCarnaval / Mardi Gras

Significance: A final burst of feasting and celebration before Lent, the 40-day Christian season of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter. The name is often traced to the Latin carne levare, "to remove meat." Over centuries it blended European masquerade traditions with African and Indigenous music, dance, and costume, especially in the Caribbean and Brazil, becoming a celebration of freedom, creativity, and cultural identity.
Estimated Celebrators: ~200 to 300 million people participating in street parades, masked balls, and festivities worldwide.
Time of Year: February or March (before Lent) Lunisolar-tied Christian Calendar
Primary Countries: Brazil 🇧🇷, Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹, Italy 🇮🇹, Colombia 🇨🇴, United States 🇺🇸
Traditional Cuisine: Feijoada (black bean and pork stew) and street coxinhas (chicken croquettes) in Brazil; King Cake in New Orleans; frittelle (sweet fried fritters) in Venice.

Festive parade during Rio's iconic Carnival. Source: Flavors of Brazil

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March

🎨

4. HoliFestival of Colors

Significance: Celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. It recalls the legend of Prahlad, who was saved from the fire by his devotion to Lord Vishnu while the demoness Holika burned, an event remembered with bonfires (Holika Dahan) the night before. It also celebrates the playful love of Krishna and Radha. Throwing colored powder breaks down social barriers, since for one day everyone is equal and old grudges are forgiven.
Estimated Celebrators: Over 1 billion people, primarily across South Asia and global diaspora communities.
Time of Year: March Hindu Lunisolar Calendar
Primary Countries: India 🇮🇳, Nepal 🇳🇵
Traditional Cuisine: Gujiya (sweet fried dumplings stuffed with khoya and dried fruits), Thandai (spiced milk drink infused with saffron, nuts, and rose petals), Dahi Bhalla, and Puran Poli.

Traditional Gujiya sweets prepared for Holi celebrations. Source: Tasting Table

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☘️

5. St. Patrick’s Day

Significance: Honors St. Patrick, the 5th-century missionary credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, on the traditional date of his death. Legend says he used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. Over time, especially through Irish immigrants in the United States (New York held one of the first parades in 1762), it grew into a worldwide celebration of Irish heritage, culture, and pride.
Estimated Celebrators: ~100 to 150 million people (including an estimated global Irish diaspora of 70+ million and widespread cultural celebrants).
Time of Year: March 17 Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: Ireland 🇮🇪, United States 🇺🇸, United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Canada 🇨🇦, Australia 🇦🇺
Traditional Cuisine: Corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, shepherd's pie, colcannon (mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage), and stout beer.

St. Patrick's Day refreshments and themed pub fare. Source: Newsweek

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🌱

6. NowruzPersian New Year

Significance: Means "new day" in Persian and celebrates the spring equinox, the moment of rebirth and renewal in nature. With roots more than 3,000 years old in Zoroastrian tradition, it is recognized by UNESCO and the UN. Families set a Haft-Sin table of seven symbolic items beginning with the letter "S" (such as sprouts for rebirth and apples for health), jump over bonfires on the last Wednesday of the year to let go of the past, and visit elders.
Estimated Celebrators: Over 300 million people across Central, South, and West Asia.
Time of Year: March 20–21 (Vernal Equinox) Solar Hijri Calendar
Primary Countries: Iran 🇮🇷, Afghanistan 🇦🇫, Tajikistan 🇹🇯, Azerbaijan 🇦🇿, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, Iraq 🇮🇶
Traditional Cuisine: Sabzi Polo ba Mahi (herbed rice served with smoked or fried fish), Kuku Sabzi (herbed frittata), and sweet pastries like baklava and samanu.

Sabzi Polo, the classic herbed rice dish for Nowruz. Source: Iranian Vegan

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March – April

🐣

7. Easter

Significance: The most important holiday in Christianity, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion, which represents victory over death and the promise of new life. It follows Lent and Holy Week. Eggs symbolize the empty tomb and new life, and the holiday's timing near the spring equinox ties it to themes of renewal and rebirth.
Estimated Celebrators: Over 2 billion Christians and secular participants globally.
Time of Year: March to May Calculated Lunisolar Method
Primary Countries: Worldwide across Europe (e.g., Greece 🇬🇷, UK 🇬🇧), the Americas (e.g., Brazil 🇧🇷, USA 🇺🇸), and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Traditional Cuisine: Hot cross buns, roasted spring lamb, sweet bread (tsoureki in Greece or colomba in Italy), and decorated hard-boiled eggs.

Freshly baked hot cross buns enjoyed at Easter. Source: RecipeTin Eats

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💦

8. SongkranWater Festival

Significance: Marks the traditional Southeast Asian New Year, when the sun moves into the constellation Aries. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word for "passage" or "transformation." Pouring water symbolizes washing away bad luck and sins from the past year. Younger people gently pour scented water over the hands of elders to ask for their blessings, and families visit temples to make merit. The water fights are also a welcome relief during the hottest time of year.
Estimated Celebrators: ~100 million people across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and regional visitors.
Time of Year: April 13–15 Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: Thailand 🇹🇭, Myanmar 🇲🇲 (Thingyan), Laos 🇱🇦 (Pi Mai), Cambodia 🇰🇭
Traditional Cuisine: Khao Chae (jasmine-scented rice in chilled ice water with sweet & savory side dishes), green papaya salad (Som Tum), and mango sticky rice.

Flavorful Thai salads enjoyed during the warm Songkran festival. Source: International Fresh Market Blog

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🌸

9. HanamiCherry Blossom Viewing

Significance: Means "flower viewing." The cherry blossom (sakura) blooms beautifully but only for about a week, reflecting the Buddhist-influenced idea of mono no aware: an appreciation of the beauty and impermanence of life. The custom dates back more than 1,000 years to imperial court gatherings, and it also once marked the start of the rice-planting season. Today friends, families, and coworkers picnic together beneath the blossoms.
Estimated Celebrators: ~60 to 80 million people in Japan, alongside millions of seasonal tourists.
Time of Year: Late March to April Solar/Seasonal Calendar
Primary Countries: Japan 🇯🇵
Traditional Cuisine: Hanami bento (picnic boxes with sushi, tamagoyaki, and pickled vegetables), Sanshoku Dango (three-colored sweet rice dumplings on a skewer), and sakura-themed mochi.

Hanami bento and dango sweets prepared for cherry blossom viewing picnics. Source: Constellation Inspiration

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Variable Lunar Dates (rotates through the seasons)

🌙

10. Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha

Significance: Eid al-Fitr ("Festival of Breaking the Fast") marks the end of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. It is a day of gratitude for the strength to complete the fast, and giving charity (Zakat al-Fitr) beforehand ensures everyone can celebrate. Eid al-Adha ("Festival of Sacrifice") honors Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, who provided a ram instead. It coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, and the meat from the sacrifice is shared with family, neighbors, and people in need.
Estimated Celebrators: Over 1.9 billion Muslims globally.
Time of Year: Shifts ~11 days earlier each year (rotates through every season) Islamic Lunar Calendar
Primary Countries: Global Muslim communities including Indonesia 🇮🇩, Pakistan 🇵🇰, Egypt 🇪🇬, Turkey 🇹🇷, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Morocco 🇲🇦, Nigeria 🇳🇬
Traditional Cuisine: Eid al-Fitr: Sweet date pastries (Kahk in Egypt, Ma'amoul in the Levant), Sheer Khurma (vermicelli pudding in South Asia). Eid al-Adha: Roasted lamb leg, kebabs, and Biryani.

Communal feast shared during Eid celebrations. Source: Laree Adda

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June

🌼

11. MidsummerSt. John’s Eve

Significance: Celebrates the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, when the sun barely sets in the far north. Its roots are in ancient fertility and harvest rituals honoring the sun, later linked to the Christian feast of St. John the Baptist. People dance around flower-covered maypoles, light bonfires, and wear flower crowns. Folk tradition says that if you place seven kinds of flowers under your pillow on Midsummer night, you will dream of your future spouse.
Estimated Celebrators: ~25 to 30 million people across the Nordic and Baltic region and Northern Europe.
Time of Year: June 20–24 (Summer Solstice) Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: Sweden 🇸🇪, Finland 🇫🇮, Norway 🇳🇴, Denmark 🇩🇰, Latvia 🇱🇻, Estonia 🇪🇪
Traditional Cuisine: Pickled herring (sill), fresh new potatoes with dill, sour cream and red onions, grilled salmon, and fresh summer strawberries with cream.

A traditional Swedish Midsummer outdoor feast spread. Source: Visit Sweden

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🌞

12. Inti RaymiFestival of the Sun

Significance: The Incan "Festival of the Sun" honored Inti, the sun god and most important deity of the Inca Empire, at the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, when the sun is farthest away. Ceremonies asked the sun to return and bring a good harvest, and it also marked the Incan New Year. It was banned by Spanish colonizers in 1572 and revived in Cusco in 1944. Today it is a proud celebration of Andean Indigenous heritage.
Estimated Celebrators: ~200,000 to 500,000 participants and spectators in the Andean region.
Time of Year: June 24 Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: Peru 🇵🇪, Ecuador 🇪🇨, Bolivia 🇧🇴
Traditional Cuisine: Pachamanca (meats, potatoes, corn, and beans cooked underground with hot stones), Chicha de Jora (fermented corn beer), and roasted guinea pig (cuy).

Pachamanca, the traditional underground-cooked meal served during Inti Raymi. Source: Peruvian Sunrise

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July

🏇

13. Naadam

Significance: Mongolia's national festival centers on the "Three Games of Men": wrestling, horse racing, and archery. These skills were vital to nomadic life and to the armies of Genghis Khan, and women now compete in archery and horse racing too. Since 1921 it has also celebrated Mongolia's national independence. Recognized by UNESCO, Naadam is a celebration of Mongolian identity, strength, and nomadic heritage.
Estimated Celebrators: ~3 million people (celebrated nationwide across Mongolia).
Time of Year: July 11–15 Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: Mongolia 🇲🇳
Traditional Cuisine: Khuushuur (deep-fried meat pastries filled with minced beef or mutton), Buuz (steamed mutton dumplings), and Airag (fermented mare's milk).

Handmade Buuz dumplings, a staple of Naadam festivities. Source: Will Fly for Food

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September – October

🥮

14. Mid-Autumn Festival

Significance: Held when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, it celebrates the end of the autumn harvest and family togetherness, since the round full moon symbolizes reunion and completeness. It is linked to the legend of Chang'e, the goddess who drank an elixir of immortality and floated to the moon. Families gather outdoors to admire the moon and share round mooncakes, and children carry glowing lanterns.
Estimated Celebrators: Over 1.4 billion people across East and Southeast Asia and diaspora communities.
Time of Year: September or October Lunisolar Calendar (15th day, 8th lunar month)
Primary Countries: China 🇨🇳, Vietnam 🇻🇳, Taiwan 🇹🇼, Singapore 🇸🇬, Malaysia 🇲🇾
Traditional Cuisine: Mooncakes (filled with lotus seed paste, salted duck egg yolks, or nuts), taro root, roasted duck, and fragrant osmanthus wine or tea.

Mooncakes and hot tea served for Mid-Autumn Festival. Source: Teewald

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🍎

15. Rosh Hashanah & Yom KippurHigh Holy Days

Significance: Rosh Hashanah ("Head of the Year") is the Jewish New Year, marking the creation of the world. The shofar (a ram's horn) is blown as a call for reflection and spiritual awakening. It begins the ten "Days of Awe," a period of self-reflection and making amends with others. These end with Yom Kippur ("Day of Atonement"), the holiest day of the Jewish year, observed with a 25-hour fast and prayer asking for forgiveness and a fresh start.
Estimated Celebrators: ~15 to 16 million Jewish people worldwide.
Time of Year: September or October Hebrew Lunisolar Calendar
Primary Countries: Israel 🇮🇱, United States 🇺🇸, France 🇫🇷, Canada 🇨🇦, United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Traditional Cuisine: Sliced apples dipped in honey (symbolizing a sweet new year), round braided challah bread, pomegranate seeds, matzo ball soup, and roasted brisket.

Apples and honey served for a sweet Jewish New Year. Source: Bee Inspired Goods

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October – November

🦃

16. Thanksgiving

Significance: A day of giving thanks for the harvest and the blessings of the past year. In the U.S., it is traditionally linked to the 1621 harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people, and it became a national holiday in 1863 under President Lincoln. Canada's Thanksgiving is earlier, matching its earlier northern harvest. Today it is centered on family, gratitude, and sharing a meal. Many Indigenous people also observe the day as a time of remembrance, reflecting a more complex history.
Estimated Celebrators: ~300 million people across the United States and Canada.
Time of Year: 2nd Monday of October (Canada 🇨🇦) / 4th Thursday of November (USA 🇺🇸) Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦
Traditional Cuisine: Roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and pumpkin or pecan pie.

A savory twist on classic Thanksgiving roast turkey and fixings. Source: King Arthur Baking

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💀

17. Day of the DeadDía de los Muertos

Significance: Blends ancient Aztec traditions honoring the dead with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' and All Souls' Day. It is believed that the spirits of loved ones return to visit their families during these days. Rather than a sad occasion, it is a joyful celebration of life and memory. Families build ofrendas (altars) decorated with photos, candles, the deceased's favorite foods, and bright orange marigolds (cempasúchil), whose scent is believed to guide spirits home. It is recognized by UNESCO.
Estimated Celebrators: ~130 to 150 million people, primarily across Mexico and Mexican communities globally.
Time of Year: November 1–2 Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: Mexico 🇲🇽
Traditional Cuisine: Pan de Muerto (sweet, orange-blossom scented bread dusted with sugar), sugar skulls (calaveras), mole negro with chicken, and spiced hot tamales.

Pan de Muerto resting on a traditional Día de los Muertos altar. Source: Familia Kitchen

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🪔

18. DiwaliFestival of Lights

Significance: Means "row of lights" and celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. For many Hindus it marks Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, when people lit lamps (diyas) to welcome him home. It also honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists also celebrate it for their own important historical events.
Estimated Celebrators: Over 1 billion people worldwide.
Time of Year: October or November Hindu Lunisolar Calendar
Primary Countries: India 🇮🇳, Nepal 🇳🇵, Guyana 🇬🇾, Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹, Suriname 🇸🇷, Malaysia 🇲🇾
Traditional Cuisine: Sweet mithai (kaju katli, gulab jamun, laddoo), savory snacks like samosas, chakli, and murukku, and rich curry feasts.

Diya-themed sweet treats crafted for Diwali. Source: Wilton's Baking Blog

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🏮

19. Loi Krathong & Yi Peng

Significance: Loi Krathong means "to float a basket." On the full moon, people release small decorated floats made of banana leaves with candles and flowers onto rivers to thank the water goddess (Phra Mae Khongkha) for water and to ask forgiveness for polluting it. Letting the float drift away symbolizes letting go of anger, grudges, and bad luck. During Yi Peng in northern Thailand, thousands of glowing paper lanterns are released into the sky to send off misfortune and make wishes, a Buddhist act of merit-making.
Estimated Celebrators: ~65 to 70 million people in Thailand and neighbouring Southeast Asian regions.
Time of Year: November (Full Moon of 12th Thai Month) Lunisolar Calendar
Primary Countries: Thailand 🇹🇭, Laos 🇱🇦, Myanmar 🇲🇲
Traditional Cuisine: Khanom Krok (grilled coconut-rice pancakes), Pad Thai, steamed fish cakes (Hor Mok), and sweet coconut gelatin desserts.

Khanom Krok street snacks enjoyed during floating lantern festivities. Source: Oriental Shop

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December

🎄

20. Christmas

Significance: Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the Son of God. It focuses on themes of hope, peace, love, generosity, and family. Many popular traditions have blended over time, such as the decorated evergreen tree (from Germany), Santa Claus (inspired by St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for secret gift-giving), and exchanging gifts. It is also widely enjoyed as a cultural holiday by people of many backgrounds.
Estimated Celebrators: Over 2.3 billion people globally (both culturally and religiously).
Time of Year: December 25 (Western) / January 7 (Orthodox) Solar Calendar
Primary Countries: Worldwide across the Americas (e.g., USA 🇺🇸, Mexico 🇲🇽), Europe (e.g., UK 🇬🇧, Germany 🇩🇪), Sub-Saharan Africa, and Oceania.
Traditional Cuisine: Roasted turkey, goose, or ham; fruitcake, gingerbread, and stollen; panettone in Italy; hallacas in Venezuela; tamales in Mexico.

A classic holiday roast turkey centerpiece. Source: Borough Broth

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🇧🇩 Bonus: 5 Popular Celebrations from Bangladesh

Since I am from Bangladesh, here are five of the most iconic cultural, national, and religious celebrations observed there.

🎉

1. Pohela BoishakhBengali New Year

Significance: Welcomes the new year of the Bengali calendar, which was introduced in the 16th century under the Mughal emperor Akbar to align tax collection with the harvest season. Merchants open new account books (Haal Khata) and settle debts for a fresh start. Because it belongs to no single religion, it is a powerful symbol of Bengali cultural identity that unites people of all faiths, and the Mangal Shobhajatra is recognized by UNESCO.
What It Entails: The largest secular and cultural festival in Bangladesh, marking the first day of the Bengali calendar. The day begins at dawn at Ramna Park in Dhaka with traditional songs by Chhayanaut. Celebrations feature the famous Mangal Shobhajatra—a colorful procession of giant puppets, masks, and motifs organized by Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Arts—alongside folk fairs (Boishakhi Mela). People dress in traditional red and white attire (saree for women and panjabi for men).
Traditional Foods: Panta Ilish (fermented leftover rice soaked in water served with fried Hilsa fish, green chilies, onions, and pickles) and various Bengali sweets like rosogolla and sandesh.
Time of Year & Calendar: Fixed on April 14 each year; follows the Bengali Solar Calendar.

🕯️

2. Ekushey & International Mother Language DayLanguage Martyrs' Day

Significance: Honors students and activists killed by police in Dhaka on February 21, 1952, while protesting to make Bengali (Bangla) an official state language of then-Pakistan. Their sacrifice is regarded as the seed of the independence movement that led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. In 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 International Mother Language Day, so the whole world now celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity on this day.
What It Entails: A deeply poignant national observance honoring the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on February 21, 1952, demanding Bengali be recognized as an official language. The tribute begins at midnight with thousands walking barefoot in quiet processions (Prabhat Pheri) to place floral wreaths at the Shaheed Minar (Martyrs' Monument) across the country while singing the iconic song "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushe February". It also coincides with the month-long Ekushey Boi Mela (National Book Fair) in Dhaka.
Traditional Foods: Simple home-cooked meals, as it is a day of solemn reflection rather than festive feasting.
Time of Year & Calendar: February 21; follows the Gregorian Solar Calendar.

🌙

3. Eid ul-Fitr

Significance: Celebrates the completion of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and self-discipline. It is a day of gratitude to God, forgiveness, and generosity. Before the Eid prayer, families give Fitra (charity) so that people in need can also celebrate. In Bangladesh, the mass journey home to villages reflects how strongly the holiday is rooted in family and community.
What It Entails: The largest religious festival in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, marking the completion of the holy month of Ramadan. Millions travel from urban centers to their ancestral village homes (homecoming) to be with family. Celebrations begin with morning congregational prayers (Eid Jamaat), followed by wearing new clothes, visiting relatives and neighbors, exchanging greetings (Kadambusi and hugs), and distributing Eidi (cash gifts to children).
Traditional Foods: Sweet milk vermicelli puddings (Sheer Khurma and Semai), savory beef/mutton Biryani, Polao, and rich meat curries.
Time of Year & Calendar: Shifts ~11 days earlier each Gregorian year; follows the Islamic Lunar Calendar.

🪷

4. Durga Puja

Significance: Celebrates the victory of the warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, representing the triumph of good over evil. It is also seen as Durga's annual homecoming to her parents' house with her children, which is why it feels like a family reunion. The immersion of the idols on the last day symbolizes her return to her husband Shiva's home in the Himalayas. Durga Puja in Kolkata is recognized by UNESCO, and pandals in Bangladesh are often visited by people of all faiths.
What It Entails: The biggest religious festival for the Hindu community in Bangladesh, spanning ten days (with the main public festivities over the final five days). Intricately crafted idols of the Goddess Durga are installed in elaborately decorated temporary shrines called Pandals. Celebrations feature drumbeats (dhak), traditional incense dances (Dhunuchi Naach), family gatherings, and exchange of gifts. The festival concludes on Bijoya Dashami with joyful processions and the immersion of the idols into rivers.
Traditional Foods: Vegetarian Bhog feasts served at pandals featuring Khichuri, Labra (mixed vegetable curry), Luchi (fried puffed bread), Alur Dom, and traditional sweets like Naru (coconut balls) and Chhanar Payesh.
Time of Year & Calendar: September or October; follows the Hindu Lunisolar Calendar (Ashvin month).

🪁

5. ShakrainPoush Sankranti / Kite Festival

Significance: Marks Poush Sankranti, when the sun moves into Capricorn and the days begin to grow longer, signaling the end of the coldest part of winter and the new rice harvest. The kite-flying tradition in Old Dhaka is centuries old and has become a symbol of the neighborhood's heritage, bringing families and neighbors together on the rooftops for a day of friendly competition.
What It Entails: An ancient traditional kite-flying festival celebrated primarily in Old Dhaka (Puran Dhaka). As the sun rises, roofs across the old town fill with people engaging in competitive kite flying (kite fighting). By evening, the skyline lights up with fireworks, fire-breathing performances, paper lanterns (Fanush), and laser shows set to music.
Traditional Foods: Winter delicacies including various sweet and savory rice cakes (Pitha) such as Vapa Pitha, Paton Pitha, and Dudhpuli, alongside Gur (date palm jaggery) desserts.
Time of Year & Calendar: January 14 or 15 (marking the end of the Bengali month of Poush); follows the Bengali Solar Calendar.

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Source: Claude for support with the research and the design coding.

Exploring the science behind Daylight Saving and TimeZones! #DST

2026-10-26T01:00:00.000-04:00

Don’t forget to change your clock this weekend. Sunday at 2:00 AM when clock moves by one hour.

Fall Back and Spring Forward. Twice a year, based on where you live, you might have to change your clocks. Daylight Saving Time begins in March and ends in November. Here are some resources that explain the science behind it based on how deeply you want to explore daylight saving time (not savings)-

Since DST is not standardized around the world, each country can have its own rules for DST. Explore the complexity of how DST is observed by different countries here. For example, in the US, DST starts on the second Sunday of March, but in the EU and UK, it starts on the last Sunday of March. Without a cohesive standardized practice, each country pretty much comes up with its own rules regarding DST and it can change over time (pun intended). It is also best practice to use ET instead of EDT for Eastern Time so you don’t have to remember whether it’s daylight time or not.

We will start with a hilarious trailer for Daylight Saving

One of the best explanations out there behind DST are below -

Professional [13 minutes]

Source: PBS

Practitioner [6 minutes 40 seconds]

Source: YouTube

Apprentice [3 minutes]

Finally, one of the science videos that explain how sleep and mind is affected by daylight saving time changes: NOVICE: [2 minutes]

On a more related note, TimeZone is a fascinating concept. How many of you knew the entire country of China has only one timezone? Read about it here (Atlantic) or here (NY Times). India also mostly follows one timezone, which is also odd for such a large country. As of 2021, Over 2 Billion people observe time zones that might be different from others, which reminds us how complex our world is. Here are 14 other examples of odd time zones around the world. Always good to have a global perspective.

Here is a more in-depth look at India's Time Zone challenges:

Source: Nutshell

So where do you stand on Daylight Savings and TimeZones in China or India? Have you discovered other awesome resources regarding DST? Share away! Bonus: If you want to schedule a meeting across the world where you have to take time zones into account, this is one of my favorite tools.

My photo of the Cornell Clocktower

After all this debate, my personal take agrees with the PBS Host that Permanent Standard Time might just be the best solution to this DST problem

Daylight Saving is deeply connected to sleep
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm/daylight-saving-time

Lastly, if you want to plan better, use planner.pjamal.com

Flu Season is here: Should you get flu shots every year? [Ted-Ed]

2026-10-23T09:48:00.000-04:00

Do you need to get a flu shot every year?

Mr. Jamal getting his Fall Flu Shot 2026.

As a science teacher, I know I am exposed to the virus more than other professions, which is why I make it my annual ritual to get my flu shots. Thankfully it's a pleasant experience to get it locally with my PCP and there is no copay.

The primary resource to find free and low-cost flu shots in New York City is the NYC Health Seasonal Flu Directory, which connects directly to the NYC Health Map lookup tool. The tool allows you to filter location results by payment options to find clinics offering vaccinations at no out-of-pocket cost regardless of insurance status.

Key dedicated NYC sites listing free flu vaccine options include: NYC Health + Hospitals Flu Vaccination Directory: Lists walk-in schedules and locations for public hospitals across all five boroughs (such as Bellevue, Harlem, Lincoln, Jacobi, Kings County, and Elmhurst) that provide flu shots with $0 out-of-pocket costs.

NYC Health Department Immunization Clinics: Provides hours and details for city-run walk-in centers, such as the Fort Greene Health Center in Brooklyn, offering low- or no-cost vaccines regardless of immigration status.

You can also call 311 or 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692) to locate the nearest public health facility offering no-cost vaccinations.

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Want to make an appointment for the Vaccine if you are in NYC?

Sign up to receive alert of leftover vaccines near you! https://hidrb.com/ (Added 3.9.21)
Where to sign up for the vaccine if you are eligible in NYC
https://nycvaccinelist.com - Crowd sourced vaccine appointment openings
https://vax4nyc.nyc.gov/patient/s/ - Vaccine Hub for NYC (Added 2.3.21)
Automatically look up when appointment slots open up in NYC (Added 2.9.21)
https://somosvaccination.mdland.com/p/covid/ (Added 3.9.21)
A Comprehensive Google Slides Presentation created by an MfA teacher for her advisory (shared by a colleague). My students also LOVED it.
MfA Lecture that I had the privilege of attending by Mt. Sinai Virologist Dr. Krammer.

Vaccination Efforts LIVE Tracker WorldWide or within the U.S.

I feel very fortunate to be able to take the Moderna Vaccine since we are designated Essential Workers by NY State's 1B Plan. A lot of folks might have questions regarding the COVID Vaccine that was fast tracked and deemed around 95% effective. More science is less fear. Here are some helpful resources above compiled by EduSciTech to help you understand the science behind the COVID19 Vaccine that will finally help us get back to some sense of "normalcy". This is a growing list of resources, so please reach out if you have other helpful resources to add to this growing list

Follow Up Lecture Video from Dr. Krammer on what we know regarding the vaccines four months after their rollout. [03.25.2021]

Watch the entire informative session MfA Lecture that I also attended below -

Source/Credit: 10.07.2020 Everything you need to know about the new COVID-19 vaccines from a leading scientist | Math for America

Overall, it was a smooth process for me here in NYC - took about 1.5 hours from start to finish when getting the first dosage on Inauguration Day. There is.an observation room for 15 minutes after you get your vaccination. Looking forward to seeing the world recover from this pandemic - vaccine is an important aspect of it, but even if you are vaccinated, please continue to wear masks in public, practice social distancing and wash your hands as per the current CDC guidelines.

Is everyone wrong about AI? [BeSmart]

2026-10-23T09:36:48.374-04:00

What side of the debate are you on when it comes to AI and it's environmental impact? One solution I have been looking at is EcoGPT.com to reduce some of the negative impact while we wait for regulation to catch up. We do need wisdom to make sure we are being smart about how we use AI sustainably.

Gemini Generated Summary of Video [Source]-

This video investigates the **real-world environmental impact** of the *AI industry*, specifically focusing on the massive resource demands of *hyperscale data centers*. Host *Joe Hanson* cuts through the debate between those who claim AI is harmless and those who see it as an environmental catastrophe to establish a **shared truth** about its costs.

### Key Environmental Impacts:

* **Energy Use:** AI data centers are "electricity vampires" requiring massive power (6:38). While efficiency has improved historically via *Koomey's Law* (5:42), the *Jevons Paradox* warns that increased efficiency can lead to higher overall usage as AI becomes more prevalent (10:16). Some companies are turning to **behind-the-meter generation**—building their own, often fossil-fuel-reliant, power plants to bypass grid delays (13:00, 14:16).

* **Water Consumption:** Data centers use significant water for cooling (25:22). A commonly cited myth claims one AI query uses a "bottle of water"; while outdated, the underlying point remains: total water usage is massive (23:05, 23:35). Water is a **local resource**, making these impacts particularly severe in water-stressed regions like *Arizona* (29:07).

* **Carbon Emissions:** Emissions are measured in three scopes: *Scope 1* (on-site generation), *Scope 2* (grid electricity), and *Scope 3* (embedded carbon in construction and chips) (18:05, 19:15). These companies often prioritize speed over sustainability, leading to increased carbon footprints in local communities (17:09, 32:00).

### Community & Policy:

* **Transparency Issues:** Development is often shrouded in secrecy, non-disclosure agreements, and the use of shell companies, leaving local communities with little agency or accurate information about the impacts (33:00).

* **The Promise of AI:** While tech leaders argue AI will eventually solve climate change through greater efficiency, the video notes that current impacts are immediate, while the promised benefits remain speculative (29:55, 31:24).

Ultimately, while *AI* is here to stay, the video argues that we must stop letting companies avoid the **full societal costs** of their actions and demand greater accountability and better building practices (38:16).

NYC Climate Action Days 2026

2026-10-18T10:08:00.000-04:00

As we prepare for Climate Action Days in every NYC Public Schools, I wanted to share some of the best resources I encountered so far with the theme that we are focusing on to make systemic improvements in addressing our climate crisis. Keep in mind that we have four of these climate action days in every school.

Every school has a Sustainability Coordinator, but climate action is a community effort!

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THEME#1 - REDUCE WASTE

How do we effectively reduce waste and sort better to address the climate crisis?

https://www.followyourwaste.nyc/sort

Join your hyper local Buy Nothing Groups to reduce landfill wastes and to build community by following three simple rules of Buy Nothing: Ask, Share, Gratitude.

How do I find a Buy Nothing Group?

"Buy Nothing groups are hyper local Facebook groups. You can find a list of the Buy Nothing Groups HERE.

You can also search Facebook for ‘buy nothing’ and your city’s name. Make sure to look around at the options as many cities have multiple groups.

By their rules, you are only supposed to be in one Buy Nothing group and they will typically ask for your cross streets when you request to join to make sure it’s the right one for your neighborhood."

Source: https://www.thesimplicityhabit.com/what-is-buy-nothing-group-join/

Final idea is to refuse single use items and be intentional about what you actually need

Last but not least, recycle and sort.

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THEME#2 - REDUCE ENERGY

How do you reduce your energy bill and save money and planet?

-----

THEME#3 - Green Health (April 22nd Earth Day)

How does connecting to nature improve your health?

Did you know that you can track EVERY trees in NYC?

🌳 For NYC Climate Action Day 🌳
Take Action—One Tree at a Time! (Click to View Tree in Your Area)

Request a Tree in Your Community
Using the FREE 311 App!

Why Trees?
🌱 Clean the air we breathe
🌡️ Cool neighborhoods in summer
💧 Absorb stormwater and reduce flooding
🐝 Support birds and pollinators
🌎 Fight climate change

How to Request a Street Tree:
📱 Download the NYC 311 App
📝 Select “Tree Request” under Services
📍Enter the location on your block
📤 Submit—it only takes 2 minutes!

Your Voice Matters. Your Street Deserves Green.
🌿 Help make NYC cooler, cleaner, and greener for all.

#NYCClimateActionDay #RequestATree #311App #GreenerNYC

1.5 minutes Tree Micro Meditation

Play the NYC Sorting Game.

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THEME#4 - Water

How do we protect our clean water and sustain our green practices?

Everyone carries re-useable water bottles and reduces single use plastics by the end of school year!

The Crazy Physics behind how Drones actually work [Video]

2026-10-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Modeling is at the heart of how science works. We create models to help us make predictions. There is no perfect model but we can improve our models with more improved data or calculations or observations. Each model has its limitations, so it is important to be aware of limitations of models.

Here is an incredible clip explaining the science of drones:

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/the-physics-of-why-bigger-drones-can-fly-longer/?fbclid=IwAR1YhdqL0AHXYZThS0CnXzYQXFYy0QV4669us030TULE_2NGBdBeJMqRTq4

Check out some of my drone clips from my exploration here: http://drones.pjamal.com

One of my first drone experiences was taking one to Iceland back in 2017!

EduSciTech Watched Movies.PJamal.com Ratings

2026-10-14T10:36:00.000-04:00

Movies.PJamal.com

2026 is turning out to be the summer of blockbusters. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in IMAX got me hooked on finally getting AMC A-List, so I'm really excited to enjoy some quality summer blockbusters in theaters with reclining heated seats. That's on top of all my subscriptions and the movies that land on streaming platforms.

I'm going to keep track of every movie I watch this summer and rate each one out of 5 stars based on how much I enjoyed it. You'll only find movies here that I've personally watched, with my ratings.

Now Showing: EduSciTech Movie Rankings

Admit one · sorted & rated

Add a movie

Rating

Power of the Circle: Grounding ourselves with Indigenous Restorative Practices from Lenape People!

2026-10-11T00:33:00.000-04:00

We are on native land is a great reminder for Indigenous People’s Day. It is so important to ground yourself by giving thanks to the indigenous land who occupied the space before you. Welcome to the Lenape Land of NYC called "Manahatta" as we celebrate 400+ years of the greatest city on earth.

I had the opportunity to attend Morningside Center's training on Circles and Restorative Practices and was blown away by the concept and how it was grounded in Native American Indigenous practice and wisdom. The power of circle can help build community where everyone feels listened to, as the talking pieces are personal and forces you to slow down and reflect more deeply and engage in a more authentic way.

Resource on Restorative Circle and how to run/experience it

Want to learn more about whose native land you are on? Check out this helpful tool http://native-land.ca

Fall Equinox: Science Behind Fall Leaves Change Colors

2026-10-08T08:40:00.000-04:00

Challenge: How many Fall Leaves can you collect and accurately identify?

The official first day of Fall in 2026 is Tuesday, September 22 at 8:05 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time in the Northern Hemisphere (Source). The First Day of Autumn Equinox, broken down as “Equal Nights,” is a special day where summer has officially ended, and days will only get shorter moving forward. Fall is also the season where we witness fall of leaves, fall of temperature, fall back of one hour for daylight savings. Watching the leaves change color during Fall is one of the main ways the Fall season continues to be remarkable.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Autumnal Equinox as we begin the new school year!

Source: One of our past backyards

Below is the science behind the equinoxes:

Source: It’s Okay to be SMART

Here is an alternate shorter explanation with a real demo worth watching:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz7OREEO6AY

Science of Fall Leaves Color Changes

A phenomenon worth exploring: how would you explain the science of Fall Leaves color changes?

Source: My Past backyard Maple Sugar Tree that was planted in 1989. Photo taken 10.22.24

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWva5AaDkXw

Here are also some of my best captures of Fall Leaves so far through pjamal.com Photography

Cornell Campus circa 2008

Jamaica Queens circa 2005

Burlington Vermont circa 2010

Ithaca, NY circa 2015

Storm King, NY circa 2019

Prefer to read an explanation behind this phenomenon? Read below -

"The leaves of deciduous trees change color in the fall as a result of a complex chemical process. During the growing season, leaves are green because of the chlorophyll they use to absorb energy from sunlight during photosynthesis. As the season changes, temperatures drop, and days get shorter. Trees get less direct sunlight, and the chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down. The lack of chlorophyll reveals yellow and orange pigments that were already in the leaves but masked during the warmer months. Darker red leaves are the result of a chemical change: Sugars that can get trapped in the leaves produce new pigments (called anthocyanins) that weren’t part of the leaf in the growing season.

The best colors are produced when the weather is dry, sunny and cool. Places that are cloudy, damp or warm won’t see the same degree of changing color.

When trees start building a protective seal between leaves and their branches as the weather turns, they take in as many nutrients as possible from the leaves, but leaves wouldn’t survive the winter and would make trees vulnerable to damage if they remained. When the leaves are cut off from the fluid in the branches, they separate and drop to the ground"

As we start Autumnal Equinox, you might be thinking about tracking Fall Foliage https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map

Other helpful resources regarding Fall:

Track current NY State Fall Foliage Color changes [Added 09.21.25]

Nobel.PJamal.com - Nobel Week Annual Celebrations 10/6-10/12

2026-10-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

Every year the first Monday of October is an exciting time to celebrate those who are recognized to have contributed the most "to the benefit of mankind". Nobel prizes matter because they recognize the best of the best, and those who subjectively made incredible contributions to society along with $1M cash prizes. The most famous Nobel Prize winners you might recognize are listed here. Let them always inspire you to be your very best as a global citizen. Take a moment to review last year’s winners as we eagerly await the new winners and the rationale behind this prestigious award. Nobel Prize website also included helpful resources for all learners!

Why do Nobel Prizes matter? Watch below -

2026 Nobel Prizes October 6th-October 13th / Results:

Monday 10.5.26 - Medicine: [Watch] Read NPR Article | Read NYTimes Article

2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to three scientists: Karl Deisseroth of Stanford University in California, Peter Hegemann of Humboldt University of Berlin, and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg in Germany. It all started when Hegemann wondered how a tiny one-celled alga could swim toward light. He and Nagel discovered a special protein on the alga's surface called channelrhodopsin, and when blue light hits it, a channel opens that lets charged particles flow in and create an electrical signal. Deisseroth then put the gene for this protein into nerve cells, so that shining blue light on them could make them send signals. This method, called optogenetics, works like a light switch that turns brain cells on or off, helping scientists figure out which brain cells control things like memories, feelings, and behavior.

Tuesday 10.6.26 - Physics: [Read PBS] [Read NY Times]

Nobel Prize Day 2 of 6 in Physics went to: Scientist Francis Halzen (University of Wisconsin–Madison) who won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for helping build a giant detector buried in the ice at the South Pole, called IceCube. It catches neutrinos, tiny "ghost particles" that zoom through space and pass through almost everything, even your body, without stopping. By tracking where these particles come from, scientists can learn about faraway places in the universe that are impossible to see any other way.

Wednesday 10.7.26 - Chemistry: [Watch] [Read]

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Henri B. Kagan of Paris-Saclay University in France and Kenso Soai of Tokyo University of Science in Japan. They discovered ways to make chemical reactions produce the correct “mirror-image” form of a molecule. This is important because many medicines only work properly when they have the right form. Their work helped scientists better understand how life’s molecules are formed and has improved the development of new drugs.

Thursday 10.8.26 - Literature: [Watch] [Read]

Canadian writer Anne Carson won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, and her win stands out because she refuses to stick to one kind of writing. She’s a classicist (an expert on ancient Greece and Rome) whose work blends poetry, prose, and essays, with influences from classical myths. Instead of choosing between a poem, a story, or an essay, she mixes them. That mix is why the Swedish Academy honored her for an oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature. Think of ancient Greek myths retold in ways that feel surprisingly modern, such as her book Autobiography of Red, which reimagines a monster from Greek myth as a modern-day teenager. Her other well-known works include Eros the Bittersweet and Men in the Off Hours. Her win is also historic: she is only the 19th woman to win the literature prize out of 123 laureates.

Friday 10.9.26 - Peace Prize: [Watch] [Read]

Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a South African jurist of Indian Tamil origin, has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to international law, human rights and efforts to ensure that perpetrators of grave crimes are brought to justice.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday, October 9, recognising Pillay’s exceptional courage and integrity in advancing a stronger international legal order. The committee highlighted her role in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.

Monday 10.12.26 - Economics: [Watch] [Read]

The 2026 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was awarded jointly to Robert E. Hall of Stanford University and Michael Woodford of Columbia University for their work on the microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilization, which helped build modern macroeconomic models used by governments and central banks to manage recessions, inflation, and other economic fluctuations more effectively.

2025 Nobel Prizes Schedule: [Source] October 6th-October 13th:

Monday 10.6.25 - Medicine: [Watch] [Read]

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded jointly to Mary E. Brunkow (Princeton University ‘91), Fred Ramsdell (University of California San Diego ‘87), and Shimon Sakaguchi (Kyoto University ‘82) for their groundbreaking discoveries concerning "peripheral immune tolerance." Their research identified regulatory T cells, immune system "security guards" that prevent immune cells from attacking the body's own tissues. This discovery has opened a new field of research and is crucial for developing treatments for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and improving organ transplant success.

Highlights of their work include explaining how the immune system can distinguish between harmful microbes and the body's own cells, preventing autoimmune conditions by keeping immune responses in check. Their findings have led to clinical trials for therapies that modulate immune responses and hold promise for treating autoimmune disorders and cancer.

Tuesday 10.7.25- Physics:

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Clarke (UC Berkley), Michel H. Devoret (Yale University), and John M. Martinis (University of California) for their groundbreaking discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in electric circuits—a finding that bridges the quantum world and real-world technologies. The laureates’ discoveries paved the way for technologies like the cellphone, cameras and fiber optic cables. It also helped lay the groundwork for current attempts to build a quantum computer, a device that could compute and process information at speeds that would not be possible with classical computer. (Source)

Wednesday 10.8.25- Chemistry:

The Nobel Prize for Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University, Japan) , Richard Robson (Oxford '62), and Omar M Yaghi (University of Illinois Urbana Champaign '90) for their work on metal-organic frameworks. The three scientists' work could tackle some of the biggest problems on our planet, including capturing carbon dioxide to help tackle climate change and forever chemicals (PFAs) reducing plastic pollution using chemistry.

Thursday 10.9.25- Literature:

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Hungarian author and screenwriter László Krasznahorkai for "his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art." He is most famous for his dark, intense, and often surreal novels, which employ exceptionally long, complex sentences and explore themes of societal collapse and the relentless human experience. His key works include Sátántangó and The Melancholy of Resistance, with the latter leading to him being described as a "master of the apocalypse."

Friday 10.10.25- Peace:

Monday 10.13.25- Economic Sciences:

"The Nobel Prize in economics was awarded to a trio of researchers Monday for their work on how cycles of technological innovation feed economic growth. Joel Mokyr of Northwestern University, Peter Howitt of Brown University and Philippe Aghion of the College of France and the London School of Economics will split the prize money of 11 million Swedish kroner, or about $1.2 million. All three men were born outside the United States, but each received his doctorate from a university in the U.S." Source

Past Nobel Winners

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2024 Nobel Prize Winners:

The 2024 Nobel Prizes will be announced 7–14 October.

Announcements coming right up (to be updated as we find out)

Day 1 - Medicine/Physiology - Monday: “Victor Ambros (UMass) and Gary Ruvkun (Harvard) won this year’s Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine on Monday for their discovery of microRNA. Not to be confused with messenger RNA, microRNA is a tiny molecule that tells our cells how to behave. This year’s laureates figured out that microRNA plays a key role in gene regulation, which ensures that our cells perform their necessary functions. Understanding microRNA’s role is crucial for addressing the challenges that arise when it doesn’t work properly, including cancer and congenital hearing loss.” (Read NY Times Article)

Day 2 - Physics -Tuesday: "John J. Hopfield (Cornell University) and Geoffrey E. Hinton (University of Edinburgh) were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics on Tuesday for discoveries that helped computers learn more in the way the human brain does, providing the building blocks for developments in artificial intelligence." Source

Day 3 - Chemistry - Wednesday: The 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry has been awarded to a trio of scientists who used artificial intelligence to “crack the code” of almost all known proteins, the “chemical tools of life.” The Nobel Committee lauded David Baker (UC Berkeley), a US biochemist, for completing “the almost impossible feat of building entirely new kinds of proteins,” and Demis Hassabis (Cambridge University) and John Jumper (University of Chicago), who work at Google DeepMind in London, for developing an AI model to predict proteins’ complex structures – a problem that had been unsolved for 50 years. Source

Day 4 - Literature - Thursday:

"South Korean author Han Kang won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for "her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life", the award-giving body said on Thursday." Source

Day 5 - Nobel Peace Prize - Friday:

Day 6 - Economic Science - Monday:

The Nobel memorial prize in economics was awarded Monday to three economists who have studied why some countries are rich and others poor and have documented that freer, open societies are more likely to prosper. The winners are Daron Acemoglu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Simon Johnson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and James A. Robinson, University of Chicago. (Read more)

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Who were the Nobel Prize winners for 2023?

Medicine/Physiology - Day 1 - Monday Katalin Karikó (UPenn) and Drew Weissman (UPenn) “for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19” Source

Physics - Day 2 - Tuesday Pierre Agostini (Ohio State University), Ferenc Krausz (Max Plank, Germany) and Anne L’Huillier (Lund University, Sweden) “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/science/nobel-prize-physics.html

Chemistry Day 3 - Wednesday - Chemistry Nobel Prize today for Moungi G. Bawendi (MIT), Louis E. Brus (Columbia University) and Alexei Ekimov (Nanotech Technology, NY) “for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots”

Literature - Day 4 (Thursday) - Jon Fosse (Norwish) “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable”

Nobel Peace Prize - Day 5 (Friday) - Narges Mohammadi (Iran) “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all”

Economic Sciences - Day 6 (Monday)

Claudia Goldin (Harvard) “for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes”

Year 2022

My favorites are the STEM-oriented winners - topics to celebrate this year - Neanderthal DNA (Medicine/Biology), Click Chemistry or Snapping molecules (Chemistry), Quantum Computing (Physics).

Nobel Prize is not the only prestigious STEM Awards. There are other types of international awards and Prizes that recognize best of the best that the world has to offer. Recognition matters!

How to set SMART Goals & Procrastinate less with the Pomodoro Technique

2026-10-06T19:00:00.000-04:00

A new semester and every month is a great opportunity to set new goals for yourself and reflect on what’s working well and what needs to change. Make your SMART goal and discuss it in your Journal/Dear Mr. Jamal letter within JupiterEd. Better yet, set systems instead of just goals.

S M A R T stands specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed. If you goal doesn’t have numbers, it’s not measurable - you have no way of knowing if you are making progress or not. Focusing on systems or changing your situation makes it so you don’t even have to think about it and you will make wiser and healthier decisions that are your habits for success. Discipline and character building is our goal.

Source: YouTube

Pomodoro Technique

Tool Choice 1 - https://pomofocus.io/

Tool Choice 2 - https://pomodoro-tracker.com/

Tool Choice 3 - FLOW is one of my favorite freemium Apps for productivity and staying focused. Journal about your systems that help you build your own productivity and keep experimenting reflecting!

I also think everyone should carry a watch in order to be proactive and mindful in our world of distractions

Have you found other helpful SMART Goal resources or other tips to improve productivity? Share them with me!

As always, stay proactive and know that you have agency/control over your choices!

Motivate yourself with Role models

2026-09-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

Never underestimate the power of Role Models. Character building is one of the lifelong goals I have as a science teacher, a parent and a lifelong learner. My Collection of inspirational videos to hopefully motivate you as well:

1. Steve Jobs: In a 1994 interview with the Santa Clara Valley Historical Association, Steve Jobs shared his perspective on life, emphasizing that individuals can influence and change the world around them. He stated, "The minute you understand that you can poke life, and actually something will... if you push in, something will pop out the other side... you can change it, you can mold it."

2. Neil Degrasse Tyson on how Isaac Newton is hands down the greatest scientific mind of our time

3. Dr. Richard Feynman gets a praise from Bill Gates on why he is an incredible science teacher

4. Elon Musk: He emphasized that technology doesn't improve automatically; it requires significant effort from many individuals to drive progress. He highlighted this point in a TED interview, using NASA's space missions as an example

5. Tom Cruise on Accomplishing Goals: It all starts with a dream and writing down your goals and follow a mastery mindset.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1221961889521323/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

6. Dr. Jane Goodall was such an inspiration on why we all need to do more for conservation and for biodiversity of our planet (RIP)

7. Eileen Gu is the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history — six medals, three of them gold — and she earned most of them as a teenager. She's also a Stanford student studying quantum physics and a global fashion figure. What makes her genuinely inspiring is how she talks about neuroplasticity: the idea that you can rewire your brain to learn anything.

So who do you find inspiring?

Habits for Success: Re-Reading is Inefficient and How to Cornell Notes Effectively (Videos)

2026-09-22T16:15:00.000-04:00

“Effective note-taking is not just about writing down what you hear, but about capturing the essence of the information, organizing it meaningfully, and making it your own. It’s the bridge between listening and understanding.”

Source: Vox

Back to school is a wonderful opportunity to rethink effective study skills. One of the most common misconceptions regarding studying technique is that re-reading over and over helps you remember. Scientists who study memory tells us that is more effective to question yourself. This is one of the reasons why Cornell Notes is so effective when taking notes and preparing for the new school year. Be smart about how you study, so you can ace that exam and more importantly, attain mastery in any concept by practicing habits for success. What are some of your effective strategies when studying that helps you remember concepts? I highly recommend reading the article as well to learn more on this topic titled "Re-reading is inefficient..."

Study Tip: How to Take Cornell Notes

Practice this template lesson video and keep it in your binder so you know the best practices behind Cornell Notes

Do you have other effective study or organization or note-taking skills? Share them!

Cornell Note is not the only way to take notes but it is considered one of the most effective for studying. Here are some other considerations outlined in this article.

Cornell Notes directly from the source where it was invented @ Cornell

PRO TIP - How to use ABBREVIATIONS (Shortcuts) when taking Effective Cornell notes

World's Longest Study: What makes a Good Life and How Grateful People are happier [TedTalk]

2026-09-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

Source: TedTalk (If video does not load)

The longest study on happiness is the Harvard Study of Adult Development, running since 1938, tracking hundreds of men (and later their families) for over 85 years, revealing that strong, warm relationships are the single most important factor for long-term happiness and health, more so than wealth, fame, or social class, with loneliness proving toxic.

Meaningful relationships matter and gratefulness matters. Choose your inspiration to live more purposeful and joyful life with family and friends.

Another inspiration is Comedian Jimmy Carr pointing out to Prioritize Later and how you are responsible for your own happiness, which is better for the world.

https://www.facebook.com/SteveBartlettShow/videos/1131099174331120/

Enjoy and Be Happy and Be Joyful. Share any other wisdom you discovered with me as well.

What exactly are the world's biggest problems?

2026-09-14T08:49:00.000-04:00

What are the world's biggest problems?

One of the first steps to solving any problem is to identify it. We want to promote sustainable design and tackle the world's biggest problems and that's exactly what the United National Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Goals) aim to do. These are the world's toughest problems and every year during UN Week, the world gets together and tracks the problems on these 17 goals and how we are doing. Think you have a good understanding of the world? Challenge your worldview by taking this quiz below -

End of school year is a great opportunity to reflect and challenge your worldview. Now more than ever, we need to cherish truth and understand the dangers that the lack of facts/science can have on our democracy and our day to day decision making. The pandemic has taught us how events around the world have a way to affecting all of us, which is why it is crucial to be global minded. We need to promote more accurate data science as a way to better understand our world - by better monitoring and making progress by setting goals. GapMinder was created by the famous statistician Dr. Hans Rosling, who passed away in 2017. He is famous for his incredible visualization of the global health and growth over the years. His son, Ola Rosling continues his incredible work who recently gave this amazing talk to the UN SDG Goals post below. I was also curious about how COVID is affecting the SDG Goals, so this was a powerful video to watch and reflect on:

I would also highly recommend taking this interactive short quiz to better understand our implicit biases when it comes to our world view. I know it looks like an app, but it's actually just a website - so there is no downloading involved. I love how it uses mastery skill concepts because you can keep repeating this quiz till you demonstrate mastery of the facts when it comes to our world that we all share. Do your part in fighting lies and biases by promoting data science. Facts matter.

Just in case this is a new concept to you - here are the world's biggest problems being identified and tracked by the United Nation - The 17 SDG Goals with a deadline of 2030. Hopefully it puts into context, the privilege that you have and why you should focus on education to help solve the world's toughest challenges!

Source: YouTube

Planner.PJamal.com SY2026-2027 Visual Planner from TpT NEW #BackToSchool

2026-09-07T23:00:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite back-to-school resources that I work on is the following academic planner. As an educator, it is essential to see the big picture so we can plan more effectively. Since 2015, thanks to an inspiration by coach Emily, I have been designing this one-page (double-sided) school calendar that tries to organize the school year visually. The goal is to put in all of the holidays and the exams to help you use the latest, most accurate data and plan out your school year, knowing when your vacations are. The instruction days are actually the real days that matter, which is why this planner is so special since it helps you track the big picture

Updated for the upcoming 2026-2027 School Year one-page visual PLANNER by EduSciTech

New Year, More Organized You!

This upcoming school year is no exception. I have improved the calendar a lot over the years. For example, I put in all the main AP Exams and the Regents Exams. The fact that everything fits into one page (double-sided) is one of the most powerful aspects of this planner. The planner also has a place for you to keep track of weekly labs or notes for each week for the entire school year. One page for Fall and One page for Spring. Parent-Teacher conference dates and Regents and AP Exam dates for high schools, as well as elementary and middle schools, are also included. The PDF file keeps the format intact. If you wish to edit the Word Document, check out the TpT store.

Have a successful new school year 2026-2027

Embedded full planner below -

My 2026 FIFA World Cup Experience and Tournament Brackets

2026-06-03T10:28:12.336-04:00

FIFA World Cup 2026 Fever is here. Take a moment to fill out the brackets and join the Official FIFA pool tournament.

If you find the physical paper difficult to fill out and keep track of, take a moment to digitally join the official FIFA bracket with simple taps. You will need to create a free FIFA account to take part. Top 10 winners will be posted here.

So many incredible official world cup songs are also coming out. Here is one of my favorites so far:

What a beautiful opening ceremony especially the one in Canada

Which team are you rooting for to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup championship?

Additional clear PDF with exact games

Happy International Biodiversity Day May 22nd and March Mammal Madness (MMM.PJAMAL.COM)

2026-05-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Every year, we celebrate International Biodiversity Day on May 22nd by the United Nations to remind us of our interconnectedness with all the species who share our planet. Continue to be intentional with your footprint. March Mammal Madness is a fantastic way to help educate and protect local biodiversity and native species along with the iNaturalist App.

What is MMM?

March Mammal Madness (MMM) is an annual tournament all about celebrating the diversity of life on Earth using simulated combats run by biologists and scientists. It started in 2013 and is run by Arizona State University with Professor Katie Hinde. 65 combatants, 4 divisions, 1 champion. Who do you predict will win and HOW? Habitats and Adaptations matter. If you're learning..you're winning!

Pick One:College Students | High School Students | Middle School Students | Elementary Students

Follow MMM on BlueSky FB | Submit Artwork

How to submit to compete in the 2026 Annual mmm.pjamal.com Tournament?

Submit Your Completed Bracket by Clicking QR Code below. Once you Create Your Account, Come Back to this Website and Click the QR Code again before Joining our Pool with Your First and Last Name.

Create Your Pool with your first and last name as Name of Your Bracket by March 8, 2026 [Sign In With Google is blocked within NYC Schools. Create and manage account using your personal email address but make sure your Pool is named after you or your group team!. Incomplete Pools will be removed]

Slidedeck Introduction to 2026 MMM

Read Rules of the MMM Game or Watch Below

MMM Results will be updated here as they are announced on BlueSky.

2026 March Mammal Madness Calendar and Results Posted

Game time is 8 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. Pacific) for all tournament nights.
Date Event and Results on MMMagazines and Video Link Posted
March 8 (Sun) Wild Card Eve - Rethink your brackets (Research Combatants)
March 9 (Mon) Wild Card - Read Results |  Watch Rundown
March 11 (Wed) Round 1 Money Mammals  Read Results |  Watch Rundown
March 12 (Thurs) Round 1 Library Legends Read Results | Watch Rundown
March 16 (Mon) Round 1 Extinction is Forever Read Results | Watch Rundown
March 18 (Wed) Round 1: That's so Metal Read Results | Watch Rundown
March 19 (Thurs) Round 2: MM and LL Results Read | Watch
March 23 (Mon) Round 2: EiF and TsM Results  Read | Watch
March 25 (Wed) Sweet 16 Read Results MMMagazine | Watch Rundown
March 26 (Thurs) Elite Trait Read Results | Watch Rundown
March 30 (Mon) Final Roar Read Results | Watch Rundown
April 1 (Wed) Championship Read Results | Watch Rundown Magnificent

Date	Event and Results on MMMagazines and Video Link Posted
March 8 (Sun)	Wild Card Eve - Rethink your brackets (Research Combatants)
March 9 (Mon)	Wild Card - Read Results \| Watch Rundown
March 11 (Wed)	Round 1 Money Mammals Read Results \| Watch Rundown
March 12 (Thurs)	Round 1 Library Legends Read Results \| Watch Rundown
March 16 (Mon)	Round 1 Extinction is Forever Read Results \| Watch Rundown
March 18 (Wed)	Round 1: That's so Metal Read Results \| Watch Rundown
March 19 (Thurs)	Round 2: MM and LL Results Read \| Watch
March 23 (Mon)	Round 2: EiF and TsM Results Read \| Watch
March 25 (Wed)	Sweet 16 Read Results MMMagazine \| Watch Rundown
March 26 (Thurs)	Elite Trait Read Results \| Watch Rundown
March 30 (Mon)	Final Roar Read Results \| Watch Rundown
April 1 (Wed)	Championship Read Results \| Watch Rundown Magnificent

Source: https://libguides.asu.edu/MarchMammalMadness

2026 MMM Teaser Trailers

Why should you care about MMM and Biodiversity?

Source: YouTube Natural Conservancy

EduSciTech By PJamal.com

Think Sustainably this Holiday Season when planning Zero Waste Gifts for families and friends

NYC Marathon: Worth it and who won?

Science of Luck

Personal Reflections: Mayor Elect Zohran Mamdani personally served me Diwali sweets in 2025

Sleep Science: How does your quality of sleep affect your memory and learning?

Vote.PJamal.com Ranked Choice Voting

PB.PJAMAL.COM NYC Participatory Budget is how you improve your local neighborhoods

Plan Your Vote with family and friends. No Excuses.

PB.PJamal.com Driving Question: How can we, as informed and active citizens, identify a real environmental need in our local districts and design a fiscally responsible, realistic Participatory Budgeting proposal that wins the support of our neighbors to improve our communities?

Real Money. Real Projects. Real People. What could $1 million do for your neighborhood?

How Does It Work?

Council Members for PB.PJamal.com Project. Find Closest District

Celebrations.PJamal.com Top 20 Cultural Celebrations Around the World

1. Día de los Reyes MagosEpiphany

2. Lunar New YearSpring Festival

3. CarnivalCarnaval / Mardi Gras

4. HoliFestival of Colors

5. St. Patrick’s Day

6. NowruzPersian New Year

7. Easter

8. SongkranWater Festival

9. HanamiCherry Blossom Viewing

10. Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha

11. MidsummerSt. John’s Eve

12. Inti RaymiFestival of the Sun

13. Naadam

14. Mid-Autumn Festival

15. Rosh Hashanah & Yom KippurHigh Holy Days

16. Thanksgiving

17. Day of the DeadDía de los Muertos

18. DiwaliFestival of Lights

19. Loi Krathong & Yi Peng

20. Christmas

🇧🇩 Bonus: 5 Popular Celebrations from Bangladesh

1. Pohela BoishakhBengali New Year

2. Ekushey & International Mother Language DayLanguage Martyrs' Day

3. Eid ul-Fitr

4. Durga Puja

5. ShakrainPoush Sankranti / Kite Festival

Exploring the science behind Daylight Saving and TimeZones! #DST

Flu Season is here: Should you get flu shots every year? [Ted-Ed]

Is everyone wrong about AI? [BeSmart]

NYC Climate Action Days 2026

How do I find a Buy Nothing Group?

The Crazy Physics behind how Drones actually work [Video]

EduSciTech Watched Movies.PJamal.com Ratings

Movies.PJamal.com

Now Showing: EduSciTech Movie Rankings

Power of the Circle: Grounding ourselves with Indigenous Restorative Practices from Lenape People!

Fall Equinox: Science Behind Fall Leaves Change Colors

Science of Fall Leaves Color Changes

Nobel.PJamal.com - Nobel Week Annual Celebrations 10/6-10/12

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2024 Nobel Prize Winners:

How to set SMART Goals & Procrastinate less with the Pomodoro Technique

Motivate yourself with Role models

Habits for Success: Re-Reading is Inefficient and How to Cornell Notes Effectively (Videos)

Study Tip: How to Take Cornell Notes

Practice this template lesson video and keep it in your binder so you know the best practices behind Cornell Notes

World's Longest Study: What makes a Good Life and How Grateful People are happier [TedTalk]

What exactly are the world's biggest problems?

Planner.PJamal.com SY2026-2027 Visual Planner from TpT *NEW* #BackToSchool

My 2026 FIFA World Cup Experience and Tournament Brackets

Happy International Biodiversity Day May 22nd and March Mammal Madness (MMM.PJAMAL.COM)

Pick One:College Students | High School Students | Middle School Students | Elementary Students

Follow MMM on BlueSky FB | Submit Artwork

How to submit to compete in the 2026 Annual mmm.pjamal.com Tournament?Submit Your Completed Bracket by Clicking QR Code below. Once you Create Your Account, Come Back to this Website and Click the QR Code again before Joining our Pool with Your First and Last Name.

How to submit to compete in the 2026 Annual mmm.pjamal.com Tournament?

Create Your Pool with your first and last name as Name of Your Bracket by March 8, 2026 [Sign In With Google is blocked within NYC Schools. Create and manage account using your personal email address but make sure your Pool is named after you or your group team!. Incomplete Pools will be removed]

Slidedeck Introduction to 2026 MMMRead Rules of the MMM Game or Watch Below

MMM Results will be updated here as they are announced on BlueSky.

2026 March Mammal Madness Calendar and Results Posted

Source: https://libguides.asu.edu/MarchMammalMadness

2026 MMM Teaser Trailers

2026 MMM Teaser Trailers

Top 10 Winners will be posted on EduSciTech (First Name, Last Letter)

Congratulations to the Winners of 2026 MMM.PJamal.com Tournament

AaronJada W.Axel V.Daniil C.Anthony B.Bilal K.MaylonJaden W.Mishail O. Xavier M.

Congratulations to the Winners of 2025 MMM.PJamal.com Tournament

Planner.PJamal.com SY2026-2027 Visual Planner from TpT NEW #BackToSchool

How to submit to compete in the 2026 Annual mmm.pjamal.com Tournament?

Submit Your Completed Bracket by Clicking QR Code below. Once you Create Your Account, Come Back to this Website and Click the QR Code again before Joining our Pool with Your First and Last Name.

Slidedeck Introduction to 2026 MMM

Read Rules of the MMM Game or Watch Below

Aaron
Jada W.
Axel V.
Daniil C.
Anthony B.
Bilal K.
Maylon
Jaden W.
Mishail O.
Xavier M.

Aliakbar M.
Rachel S.
Arvin Y.
Ruhan K.
Brian C.
Mr. Hernandez's Advisory
Isabel Z.
Aaron S.
Karla A.
Allison A.