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

There are things you can do to keep up your spirits and maintain a sense of hope if you feel worried about the coronavirus pandemic, writes Beyond Blue’s Dr Grant Blashki

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

We should have been cheering on our Olympic heroes in Tokyo right now. But with coronavirus putting the Games on hold for another year, it’s a chance to take a look at where the magnificent sporting tradition started

Whether you’re in your classroom or reading this story on Kids News from home, you’re most likely using Wi-Fi, an Australian invention and one of a long list of smart ideas we’ve had so far

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

Optical illusions show us that a picture or an object in front of our eyes is only part of what we “see”. Our brain makes up the rest. Test yourself on these cool illusions to find out for yourself

The SpaceX launch of two NASA astronauts is getting a lot of people excited about space travel. But becoming an astronaut requires much more than just enthusiasm. Here’s how to succeed

Do you have brown eyes? If that’s a yes, you’re in the majority. In fact, it’s thought that 10,000 years ago, every human had brown eyes. Kids News researched the science of eye colour

A visit with grandma and grandpa, a return to school or a kick of the footy with friends? What do the easing of coronavirus lockdown rules mean for you?

Celebrating mothers on a special day of the year isn’t a modern idea. Kids News researched the history of honouring and thanking mothers across Australia and around the world

A pod of dolphins has been filmed dancing and surfing through waves full of bioluminescent plankton. Kids News looks at the science behind the living things that glow

Each year on April 25 we commemorate Anzac Day. Kids News explains how the day began, what it means, how it is observed and how this year’s Anzac Day will be different

For many, Easter means chocolate eggs, bunnies, hot cross buns and church services. Kids News researched why we celebrate Easter, when it will be and how common traditions began

Watch out … today is April Fools’ Day and it’s the day for playing pranks on unsuspecting people. We look at why we celebrate on April 1 and some of today's best jokes

Using World Health Organisation information, we answer important questions about COVID-19, such as: "What is a virus?"  and "Why are there new rules for everyday life?"

As people around the world work to slow the spread of the virus called COVID-19, everyone is telling us to wash our hands with soap. Kids News explains how soap works

Australian Childhood Foundation’s Dr Joe Tucci has a positive message for children about worry and bad news, and a reminder that there is still a lot of good news around if we look for it

A female komodo dragon has produced three baby dragons without a male mate through a rare process called parthenogenesis

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?

There is a February 29 on this year’s calendar. We explain why and what it has to do with the Sun, the Earth and a calendar created way back in 1582

Australians are becoming world leaders at cooking and eating pancakes on Pancake Tuesday, a fun food day that has its origins as a religious festival

Crocodile tears are real – though humans are the only animals that cry emotional tears – and babies don’t cry tears at all. Kids News explains tears and crying

There are several stories about who Valentine was, but the most popular one is that he was a doctor and priest from Rome in the third century who lived and died in the pursuit of love

Young nippers have been hailed as heroes after spotting two tourists caught in a dangerous rip and immediately jumping into the ocean to save them

How can kids be safe and kind online? Treat others and look after yourself online just as you would in real life, says KidsHelpline counsellor Hannah

When the calendar clicked over to 02/02/2020 on Sunday, few people realised it was a universal palindrome, a momentous date that hasn’t happened since 11/11/1111

A baby minke whale beached in South Australia has been saved by volunteers and rangers. Kids News investigates what is known about why whales become stranded on beaches

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

Jellyfish populations are booming and blooming all over the world. We asked a jellyfish expert to share 10 fascinating facts to know before you head to the beach or aquarium this summer

As people in Sydney are being warned to stay inside due to “hazardous” air quality from bushfire smoke blanketing the city, we look at why it’s bad for your health to breathe in smoke

Danielle Ridgway has only been a zookeeper for just over a year but she has already coached a lazy, cheating cheetah to sprint and worked towards saving critically endangered native species

There are more than 7.7 billion human belly buttons on Earth, yet few of us know much at all about this funny-looking squiggle on the middle of our middle. Kids News explains belly buttons

What is the lifespan of Australian banknotes? Like most things, our polymer money has a use-by date and the answers for how long each note lasts might surprise you

A rare moonbow has appeared in the South Australian sky in the middle of the night and been caught on camera. We look at how they form and why seeing one is very special

‘Hurricane Hunters’ have taken an incredible photo from inside the eye of Dorian, which has hit the Bahamas and is now heading for the US, where people are doing their best to prepare

On any night across the country, one in every 200 people is homeless despite the hard work of many community organisations. We look at what homelessness means and what you can do to help

World Emoji Day on July 17 is a fun, annual celebration of one of the world’s newest ways of communicating. We look at what emojis are, who invented them and if they are a real language

A revolting ear wax chunk so big it made international news got us wondering what ear wax is, what it’s for and whether we should clean it out, eat it or leave the inside of our ears alone

After several warm days with temperatures above 30C, residents of this Mexican city woke up to a winter wonderland and then set about trying to find their cars under all that ice

The longest arm hair ever recorded was 21.7cm, but that’s not the norm. Though human head hair keeps growing, human body hair doesn’t. We look at how and why there’s a difference

Winter is here and that means a lot of noticeable snot being sneezed, blown and dripped from noses all around us. We look at what snot is and what it can tell us about our health

The moon is our nearest neighbour in space. We look at its birth, its surface, its history, its eight phases and how it has helped keep our daily lives on track since ancient times

On May 18 more than 16 million Australians will vote in the 2019 federal election. We’ve compiled the answers to 10 of the most common questions about what happens and why

After a freak hailstorm turned a sandy beach into a sea of white, we look at what causes hail and if it’s dangerous for humans to get caught in it

Tony Costa has taken out the 2019 Archibald Prize with the art exhibition’s first winning portrait to feature an Asian-Australian subject

Five centuries since he lived, people still can’t believe how smart inventor, artist, scientist, mathematician, thinker and tech whiz Leonardo da Vinci was

Autumn weather means more mushrooms and other fungi growing in the wild, but as it’s almost impossible to tell which ones are deadly, avoid them all to stay safe

Scientists know that we need sleep to survive but until now they didn’t know why. New research suggests it’s all to do with keeping up essential repairs

It’s a question everyone asks — why do zebras have black-and-white stripes? Now scientists have found the answer and it’s all about blood-sucking insects and protection from diseases

Every two weeks a language becomes extinct. To try to preserve indigenous languages, the United Nations observes International Mother Language Day every year on February 21

Ever wondered why blood is always red? Kids News explains why this important liquid pumping through humans is always red but why, through white skin, it sometimes looks blue

More than 130 dangerous bushfires are burning across Queensland, reminding everyone of the importance of knowing how to call for help and stay safe in case of fire

We know if we dig a hole we won’t fall through to the other side of the world. Why? We explain what is deep, deep down below the ground and how that causes earthquakes and volcanoes

Lots of us think the sky is blue because it’s a reflection of the ocean or moisture in the air, but it’s not. Next time someone asks, you’ll be able to give the right answer

Australian circulating coins are made at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra. It takes much longer to make a coin than it does to spend one. PLUS: Check out our Money page

The value of the Australian dollar goes up and down on a daily basis. We look at the reasons why and how it affects what you buy

Hiccups happen to us all, causing no more than perhaps a few minutes’ embarrassment. But what are they? And can you “cure” yourself? Kids News explains