Environment
Seahorse dad gives birth
animalsRare footage has been captured of a male seahorse giving birth to dozens of offspring — yes, that’s right, a male having babies!
Bushfire Poetry Comp: author Jackie French’s five rules for writing a poem
artsAward-winning author Jackie French wants kids to discover the healing power of poetry. See her tips for writing a great poem
A year of wonderful news at our zoos
animalsZoos were closed for much of 2020 but the animals’ carers continued their important conservation work around Australia. Here are some of the year’s memorable moments
Latest
Kids News launches Bushfire Poetry Competition
Share your experiences of last summer’s bushfires for a chance to have your poem published in a special book commemorating the Black Summer fires
Guardian dogs saving bandicoots from extinction
Two very special dogs have a very special job as guardians of some critically endangered eastern barred bandicoots just released into a conservation reserve in western Victoria
‘Bat woman’ and other incredible wildlife pics
The Natural History Museum is inviting you to vote for your favourite among the finalist entries in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award
Great Barrier Reef spawning shown on TV
In an Australian first, the annual Great Barrier Reef spawning has been shown live on TV in the hope the event will bring the country together in awe and inspire people to help protect the reef
Snapshots capture happy quokkas
Quokkas are the happiest creatures on Earth, according to animal photographer Alex Cearns, who has captured the loveable marsupials on camera for a new picture book.
Great Barrier Reef outlook now ‘critical’
Climate change is increasingly damaging UN World Heritage sites including the Great Barrier Reef, a new report warns, while 2020 is on track to be the second hottest year on record
Rare baby earless dragons ready for visitors
Keepers at Melbourne Zoo have proudly introduced to visitors some baby grassland earless dragons. It’s been 50 years since the last confirmed Victorian sighting of the species in the wild
Census to count every koala in bid to save species
The Environment Minister unveiled a $2 million koala count as part of government’s commitment to protect the endangered species, while scientists call for threatened status for the platypus
Predator-proof fence to create native wildlife haven
A 10km fence will be built at a Victorian national park to protect endangered species from predatory pests
Room to improve Australia’s recycling efforts
Australia is burying 67 million tonnes of garbage every year, equal to 2700kg for each person, a new report has found. That’s despite people saying they’re putting a lot of effort into recycling
Gene study finds two new glider species
Australian scientists have discovered two new species of one of our cutest and most-loved native animals, the greater glider. What we previously thought was one species is actually three
Gigantic iceberg on collision course with island
An iceberg the size of a small country is floating toward the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, raising fears seal and penguin parents won’t be able to access food or get back to their young
Found! New reef taller than a skyscraper
A new coral reef like an underwater mountain and taller than any building in Australia has been discovered in remote waters off Cape York, Queensland, its pinnacle about 40m below the surface
Fox without socks takes a liking to shoes
In a twist on the Dr Seuss story, a cunning fox is collecting shoes — but not socks — from front verandas in Adelaide, spreading them around the streets and hoarding them in its den
Tree-hugging tiger photo wins wildlife award
Judges called this photo of a Siberian tiger a “scene like no other” and declared it the overall winning entry in the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year competition. See all the winning photos
Citizen scientists’ photos needed for Reef census
A fleet of fishing and tourist boats, yachts and research ships with citizen scientists on board equipped with snorkels and cameras is completing a world-first study of the Great Barrier Reef
Wild devils return to mainland after 3000 years
After what’s believed to be thousands of years, there are once again wild Tasmanian devils on the Australian mainland, with 26 reintroduced so far in the Barrington Tops National Park, NSW
Calling all birders for big citizen science event
It’s time for Australia’s largest citizen science event, the Aussie Backyard Bird Count. Last year, 88,000 people spotted almost 3.4 million birds in the annual avian survey. What birds can you see?
Bear back on duty for bushfire season
This summer, Australian scientists will use a crew of sniffer dogs led by Bear, a border collie and Australian cattle dog cross, to find and rescue any koalas in danger from bushfires
What will you name the sea-lion pup?
Zookeepers need your help to name a very special endangered Australian sea-lion pup who made her first public splash this week. Fewer than 25 pups are born in the wild each year
How do bees make honey?
It’s spring! Plants everywhere are springing to life and flowering after winter. Bees are pretty excited, too, because flowers are vital for honey making. Kids News researched how bees make honey
Very rare ‘walking’ scorpion fish spotted on Reef
On an expedition by a robot to the depths of the Great Barrier Reef, scientists have found new species of black coral, sponges and a rare and awkward-looking “walking” scorpion fish
Tassie devil relative returns from extinction
This tiny carnivorous marsupial was thought to be wiped out in NSW a century ago, but now scientists have reintroduce a small population of mulgaras back into the wild
Scientists solve mystery of giant melting glacier
Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier — more than twice as big as Tasmania — is melting from below, putting it at risk of collapse. Scientists now know warm water flowing beneath it is to blame
Famous aquanaut plans undersea human habitat
Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the great oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, is building an underwater living and working space for humans to help us better understand oceans and climate change
Inside the shark tank at Sea Life Aquarium
They might look scary but few sharks deserve their fearsome reputation, according to aquarist James Gilbert. In fact, some need our help to survive on National Threatened Species Day.
Nature’s fury and beauty captured in winning photos
A snap of a Black Summer bushfire has been named Australia’s best nature photograph in a competition that celebrates the country’s wild side
How cold was it in the coldest part of the Ice Age?
Scientists have calculated just how cold it got on Earth during the coldest part of the last Ice Age, using ocean plankton fossils and climate models
World-first parachute jump from solar plane
Inventors working to one day fly a solar-powered plane to the edge of space have performed the first jump and free fall from an electric aircraft
Big welcome for endangered baby animals
Zookeepers announce the arrival of a baby critically endangered western lowland gorilla, twin golden lion tamarins and a giant panda as big as a chocolate bar in a great week for conservation
Hope for gold at the end of the tunnel
Victoria is on the verge of a second gold rush fuelled by gold’s high world price and modern mining methods, with hopes the precious metal will help the state recover after COVID-19
Coral recovery hope for Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is fighting back, with new research showing “encouraging” signs of coral growth in two-thirds of 86 monitored reefs
Animals with superpowers need your help
Did you know that Australia’s critically endangered animals each have a superpower? Nominate your favourite animal to appear on a trading card that could help save them from extinction
Winning photos focus on wonders of science
An image of tiny Tasmanian devil joeys inside their mother’s pouch is a finalist in a photo competition shining a light on the importance of science for National Science Week
World temperature record set at Death Valley
One of the hottest air temperatures recorded anywhere on Earth in at least a century, and possibly ever, was reached on Sunday afternoon at Death Valley in the US, where it soared to 54.4C
Seed bank saving rare native plants from bushfire threat
The race is on to collect rare plant seeds and protect species from extinction at Australia’s own version of the “doomsday vault”. It’s one way science is helping our environment this National Science Week
Volcano on Pacific Ring of Fire erupts
Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung has erupted, sending ash 5km into the sky. It’s the latest eruption along the 40,000km-long line of volcanoes, faults and trenches called the Pacific Ring of Fire
Penguin poop images from space reveal new Antarctic colonies
New satellite images of emperor penguin droppings have revealed a surprising number of colonies in Antarctica, where the flightless birds are under threat from global warming
Plastic waste found in seafood
Researchers have discovered alarming levels of microplastics in sardines, prawns, oysters and crabs
Australia’s famous tree-kangaroo becomes a dad
Makaia, an endangered Goodfellow’s tree-kangaroo, made news as a tiny orphaned joey when he was kept alive in the pouch of another species. He’s now all grown up and has become a dad
Heatwave Harry? Naming the threat may save lives
Giving heatwaves names and strength ratings, as for cyclones, could help people in hot places such as Australia understand how dangerous they are, particularly as heatwaves worsen in future
Hole in dam wall saves epic eel journey
Eels in Tasmania can now swim through a hole drilled in a dam wall to help them begin their incredible 3000km migration north to breeding grounds in the Coral Sea around New Caledonia
Plan to save Australian honey bees
New Aussie technology could halt one of the 21st century’s most troubling trends: the sudden decline in bee populations around the world
KFC plans to 3D print chicken nuggets
A fast-food chicken chain is creating lab-grown meat made from stem cells to create a “meat for the future”, as a burger chain feeds cattle lemongrass to try to cut methane emissions
Bushfires threaten 49 Australian species
Scientists are just beginning to understand how the bushfires devastated populations of native animals. See the full list of species that are now – suddenly – under threat
‘Whisper-quiet’ hybrid jet design revealed
Aeroplane designers are working on projects that could have us flying around in eco-friendly, almost-silent, battery-powered jets or sleek blended-wing aircraft like military stealth bombers
Calls to better protect world-famous giant cuttlefish site
Pressure is mounting on the SA government to reverse a decision allowing fishing of giant cuttlefish in the Spencer Gulf, where they mass each year to spawn, the only place in the world this happens
Big buzz about Aussie bee drone invention
A team of mechanical engineering students in South Australia has invented a small drone that transfers pollen from plant to plant and that could one day replace bees
Huge outback station to become national park
The NSW government has bought more than 1500 square kilometres of the state for a new national park to protect 25 threatened animal species and important habitat
Why don’t you sink in the Dead Sea?
Ask people what they know about the Dead Sea and most will tell you that it’s impossible to sink when you’re swimming in it, but not everyone knows why. Kids News did some research
Endangered dunnart found alive after fires
A tiny, critically endangered marsupial has amazed conservationists on Kangaroo Island, after being spotted scampering in bushland destroyed in bushfires
Happy day as Bear the turtle swims home
Carers at a Queensland aquarium waved a happy goodbye this week to a precious green sea turtle, who swam back to freedom after recovering in captivity from injury
The mystery of sea creatures’ snot palaces
Learning how sea creatures build the equivalent of five-story palaces in about an hour, made just with mucus from their heads, could help us build expanding homes on Earth, the Moon or Mars
Coral transplants to boost reef health
Divers are using the quiet pandemic period to grow and replant coral at popular tourist diving and snorkelling spots on the Great Barrier Reef.
Burnt koalas heal with Phillip Island penguins
Phillip Island reopens on World Environment Day as Ranger Jess McKelson shares tales of bushfire koalas and little penguins
Young minds rise to the challenge
They might be young but they’re thinking big. Find out how the Westpac Youth Impact Challenge is inspiring kid entrepreneurs who want to make the world a better place
Australia set for colder, wetter than average winter
Get your umbrella and winter woollies out. The Bureau of Meteorology is tipping plenty of rain and chilly days ahead but nights could be warmer.
Australian megafauna died out with climate change
Giant kangaroos, enormous crocodiles, massive wombats and a marsupial “lion” that lived 40,000 years ago in tropical Northern Australia died out because of climate change, a study has found
Big boost to birdwing butterflies in the wild
A successful captive breeding and release program of more than 500 Richmond birdwing butterflies means the species could soon be taken off the threatened species list
Climbers to remeasure height of Everest
A team of climbers is on its way to summit Mount Everest this week to measure whether it has grown as Earth’s tectonic plates move and try to end international disagreement on the subject
Isolation baby boom for Australian zoos
While the world has been in lockdown, zoos around the country have been welcoming a wave of cute, cuddly and not so cuddly babies. Check them out.
Ball of cuteness and other winning nature photos
A photo of a mountain hare in a snowstorm that took the photographer several freezing weeks to capture has won this year’s BigPicture international nature photography competition
Mystery of koala drinking habits solved
In a big win in the battle to save this species from extinction, scientists have observed koalas drinking in the wild for the first time, watching them lick rain running down tree trunks
Sea turtles thrive as humans stay off our beaches
Sea turtles are nesting in record numbers across the world as humans stay inside to stop the spread of COVID-19. The turtles are thriving with crowd-free beaches and less pollution
Found! Antarctic frog fossils from warmer times
Experts have discovered cold-blooded frogs once lived on a warm Antarctica 40 million years ago PLUS Australian scientists need your help for a frog-finding mission closer to home
Earth’s insect numbers shrink over 30 years
New scientific research has shown the number of insects living on land has fallen dramatically in the past 30 years, putting the world’s ecosystems — and human lives — at risk
Koalas at risk as numbers halve in 20 years
Australia’s koala population has been cut in half in the past two decades, with conservationists warning our national icon is already extinct in some areas after devastating bushfires and drought
Painting clouds and other ideas to save our Reef
Action on climate change and ideas such as painting clouds with water and growing heat-tolerant coral are being considered to help the Great Barrier Reef be healthier in 30 years’ time
Procession of caterpillars sign of frosty time ahead
A 7m-long procession of caterpillars parading through Alice Springs is fascinating and touching them dangerous, but to the Arrernte people, it can be a sign of a harsh winter on the way
Scientists to make the Murray River sing
The sounds of Australia’s Murray River will soon be heard in song after scientists and audio specialists captured its sights and sounds in a project aimed at improving the waterway’s health
Wild beasts come out to play as humans stay in
Wild animals including jaguars, goats and boars have started exploring quiet city streets across the world as humans stay inside during the coronavirus lockdown
Baby boom for endangered snapping turtles
The future of Australia’s critically endangered Bellinger River snapping turtle is a little more secure after 35 baby turtles hatched at Taronga Zoo
Twin polar bear cubs venture out in empty zoo
Three-and-a-half-month-old twin polar bear cubs have made their public debut at a zoo in the Netherlands, but without the public because of coronavirus restrictions
Lego lost at sea could survive 1300 years
Scientists studying plastic Lego blocks lost in a storm then washed up on the coast of southwest England find they could survive in the ocean for 1300 years
Why do leaves change colour and fall in autumn?
The leaves on deciduous trees turn forests, parks and gardens a rainbow of yellows, oranges, reds and browns. Why do leaves change colour? And why do the trees let them fall?
Tasmania considers culling wild kookaburras
Tasmania is considering culling kookaburras in the wild after populations of the iconic national bird have spread and are threatening the future of other native species
Very hungry caterpillar eats Earth’s plastic pollution
Scientists have been feeding waxworms polyethylene — one of the most common plastics used in shopping bags — and found that just 60 little caterpillars can eat more than 30 sqcm in a week
Underwater Photographer of the Year
Five Australian photographers have blitzed the international Underwater Photographer of the Year competition with their incredible pictures of life under the sea
Australia’s long, hot summers the new normal
Our summers are now twice as long as our winters as climate change has increased temperatures since the middle of last century, according to a new study of Australian weather data
Would you eat butter made from maggots?
Scientists in Belgium are experimenting with larva fat to replace butter in waffles, cakes and cookies, saying using grease from insects is more sustainable than dairy produce
It’s peak-hour traffic to put the bins out
In his weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight looks at how waste management has become a major issue in Australia and why it’s soon to create peak-hour traffic on bin night
Bird’s-eye view of our beautiful planet Earth
Google has added 1000 new images to Earth View – a collection of the most beautiful landscapes from Google Earth. And a farmer’s marriage proposal makes it onto Google Maps
Antarctica’s hottest day ever recorded
The temperature in northern Antarctica has hit 18.3C, thought to be a heat record on the continent best known for snow, ice and penguins
Children race llamas to save World Heritage park
Risking injury and braving the cold, children as young as four race llamas across a high-altitude region of Ecuador each year to help save one of the most important wetlands on Earth
Panama disease found on Queensland banana farm
A fungus that can wipe out banana crops has been found on a farm in far north Queensland in a region that produces 90 per cent of Australia’s bananas
Keeping drinking water safe after fires
Water experts are preparing to keep Australia’s drinking water clean after bushfires, including installing huge fabric curtains across Sydney’s main dam
Scientists urge action to save platypus
Platypus populations are on the brink of extinction from drought, land clearing and the way we manage our waterways, according to new research on this unique Australian icon
Out-of-control bushfire burns one-fifth of ACT
A raging megablaze has burnt one-fifth of the Australian Capital Territory as out-of-control bushfires also continue to threaten homes in NSW and Victoria
Aussie schoolkids inventing the future
A robotic aerator to save river fish, a voice app to help people living with dementia and a photo-recognition app that sorts rubbish have been named Australia’s top student inventions
Greta named Person of the Year for 2019
Swedish schoolgirl activist Greta Thunberg who became a household name after encouraging 4 million people to strike over climate change is named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year
Woman trapped in mountain of ‘cornflake’ algae
Seaweed piled high on Queensland beaches has trapped at least one runner, who had to be rescued from the algae. While seaweed is not unusual, people have never seen so much at once
Drones deliver baby coral to save Reef
Scientists with an army of robotic drones and a fleet of backpack-sized inflatable pools are working to save the Great Barrier Reef as part of the world’s largest science and tourism group project
Row, row, row your boat to a better world
In our weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight explains why he drew young climate change activist Greta Thunberg rowing rock band Coldplay to their next world gig
Record floods swamp historic Venice
UNESCO World Heritage Site Venice is in a state of emergency after “apocalyptic” floods swept through the historic Italian city, with the mayor blaming climate change
Hell on earth as weather giants collide
In our weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight captures the helplessness of drought-affected Australian communities now caught in the path of catastrophic bushfires
Ice eggs cover beach in rare weather event
Ice eggs the size of footballs have engulfed an entire beach in Finland in a rare weather event that requires ice, wind, water and freezing temperatures
World’s scientists unite on climate
More than 11,000 scientists have signed a declaration warning of a climate emergency and offered six clear measures they believe could avoid “untold human suffering”
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