Shell-shattering news: Sophomores break world record

Abby Bagby and Akshita Joshi T/E Life Editor and Social Media Editor

Located on the side of Gulph Road in King of Prussia, Plaza Azteca is a lively Mexican restaurant o ering an array of traditional foods.

Marketed as a “shortcut to Mexico”, the restaurant chain has several specialty dishes, including fresh guacamole made tableside. O ering three levels of spice — mild, medium or hot — this starter is surely a must-order. A hint of lime complements the savory red onions and tomatoes, making for a tasty start to any meal.

e birria tacos are another one of the restaurant’s specialties.

ree corn tortillas are dipped in hot broth and stu ed with beef birria, queso, white onions and cilantro. e tacos are served with a side of broth for dipping. e tender beef is nicely accompanied by the warm queso, and the onions and cilantro added a refreshing, savory dimension to the dish.

e tacos de carne asada o er corn tortillas lled with grilled steak and white onions. Served with a slice of lime, these tacos too are a tasty dish. Tender steak is seasoned well and balanced nicely by the slight sweetness of the warm tortillas. Adding the fresh lime juice further enhances the avor pro le of the dish. Accompanied by a side of rice and black beans, the entreé is well-portioned and lling.

For those who don’t eat meat, the restaurant o ers a unique menu encompassing traditional Mexican dishes modi ed to accommodate vegan and vegetarian diets. e sonora is a triad of Mexican staples, o ering a cheese enchilada, bean burrito, and spinach and cheese quesadilla covered in a rich cheese sauce.

e pastel de tres leches is, unfortunately, nothing special. e cake is rather dry and lacking in sweetness, while the icing holds an overbearing presence in the dish. e restaurant does, however, o er other traditional desserts such as an and fried ice cream, which may o er a better conclusion to your meal.

Pricing at this restaurant, like many, can ring in quite high. e birria tacos are priced at $17.25, and the tacos de carne asada at $15.25. While the tableside guacamole o ers a substantial portion, it’s priced at a whopping $14.25 — quite high for such a simple starter. Despite he y pricing, the restaurant does o er tasty, lling dishes. Overall, Plaza Azteca is a worthy spot for a night out. With a variety of Mexican dishes, there’s sure to be a dish for anyone to enjoy.

On June 9, 2022, sophomores Charlie Gawthrop, Matthew Ma and Je rey Wang dropped a protected egg from the top of Teamer Field without breaking it. Not only did they build an e ective contraption to protect the egg, but they also broke a Guinness World Record, allowing their egg to sustain a 44-foot drop. eir feat, however, was accompanied by a long journey.

In September 2021, when Chemistry teacher and Science Olympiad adviser Derrick Wood announced a Science Olympiad project — one in which students can pursue any STEM-related activity — the boys knew that they wanted to incorporate eggs into their project. eir main struggle, however, was nding a realistic egg-related venture.

“Our original ideas were really bad. We wanted to launch an egg in a rocket and see if it got fried, but that got scrapped,” Gawthrop said.

A er conducting further research, however, the boys began generating realistic ideas. Taking direct inspiration from YouTuber Mark Rober, who dropped an egg from space, the boys decided that they wanted to break the world record for the protected egg drop.

“ ey thought it was doable because the world record was previously 39 feet, and it seemed like we could (break) that. So they were inspired, like ‘Hey, that’s what we’re going to do,’” Wood said.

When Wood approved of their project, the boys immediately got to work. ey began by designing an e ective contraption — consisting of an arbitrary assemblage of straws, notecards, cardboard, plastic bags and other common household materials — that would protect their egg. ey created multiple contraptions and ultimately chose the most durable one for their o cial test.

With all their materials ready, the boys decided to attempt the record in January 2022. ey dropped the egg from the top of Teamer Field without breaking it, but, unfortunately, did not receive the award they were hoping to win.

“It was a very snowy day, and we had to clear o the snow. We had the witnesses lined up and everything was done. We dropped it. It didn’t break. Hooray. We broke the world record (and) submitted it. We waited forever and found out that snow was on the ground, so maybe that cushioned the fall,” Wood said.

Despite this setback, the boys continued their project. ey renovated the design of their contraption and continuously did practice trials on stairwells at school. Finally, they felt even more con dent in reattempting their project.

So, on June 9, 2022, Gawthrop, Ma, Wang, Wood and an o cial Guinness witness climbed to the top of Teamer Field. e boys placed their egg in the contraption and dropped it from a ladder. e sight of the unscathed egg lled the boys with joy.

“When Matthew texted me that we broke the world record, I was very excited and called him right away,” Gawthrop said. “I was a bit surprised though because I didn’t know if we were going to get (the award) a er our rst (attempt). But, just in general, I was very excited.”

Looking back, the boys understood the many bene ts that came from undertaking this project. Besides developing a strong camaraderie, they appreciated the role of teamwork in their success.

“I think working in a team environment was much better than (working alone). It allows us to have fun with what (we’re) doing,” Ma said. “If I just did it by myself, (the project) de nitely wouldn’t have been as enjoyable.”