Health
Jane’s V the sign of a little victory for science
newsThe first COVID-19 vaccination to be given in Australia was big news and though the photo opportunity didn’t quite go to plan, a V for Vaccine could be taken to mean a V for Victory after all
Animals lend a helping hand at the zoo
animalsMelbourne Zoo’s oldest residents have shown no one’s ever too old to learn. Elephant Mek Kapah and tortoises Wilbur, Little John and Jean are all involved in their own health checks
Video games may help boys bond, study finds
technologyBoys who aren’t active are not harmed by playing video games, a new study has found. More of a concern is the time girls spend on social media sites such as Snapchat and TikTok
Latest
Big thrill when coronavirus vaccine arrived
Health Minister Greg Hunt was so excited when Australia’s first vaccine delivery arrived he was doing cartwheels — at least in cartoonist Mark Knight’s imagination
The search for Australia’s healthiest lunchbox
Healthy Harold has been looking for Australia’s healthiest lunchbox and he’s found some pretty impressive options. Check out the winning lunches
How does the coronavirus vaccine work?
The first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses have arrived in Australia and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine now has approval to be used in Australia too. Kids News looks at how vaccines work
COVID maths: All the world’s virus in a drink can
All the COVID-19-causing virus in the world right now could easily fit inside a single soft drink can, according to a fascinating calculation by a mathematician
New ads urge teens to rethink sugary drinks
Teenagers and young men are the targets of new ads designed to shock them about how easy it is to be sucked into ads for sugary drinks and get hooked on drinking them
Warner girls are great all rounders
Star batsman David Warner’s girls love cricket — and quite a few other sports too. And their mum, Candice, wouldn’t have it any other way
Do you have a question for Healthy Harold?
Have you ever wondered how your body makes your heart beat or why face masks help protect us from COVID-19? Healthy Harold has the answers. Send him your questions
Farewell Sir Tom, inspiration to millions
Captain Sir Tom Moore, the UK World War II veteran who walked up and down his garden to raise money for health care workers, has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 100
Robots to the rescue for kids too sick for class
A telepresence robot nicknamed robo-ethan is helping Ethan Waller attend class virtually and keep connected with his classmates while he can’t be at school in person
Study finds ideal after-school screen hours
A study has found the ideal number of hours students can spend online and playing video games before screen time slows development and affects NAPLAN test results
Queensland schoolgirl gets special 3D-printed ear
A 10-year-old girl has become the first person to receive a patient-matched 3D-printed ear in groundbreaking surgery just in time for the start of the new school year
Australian surgeons rebuild girl’s spine
Standing straight and walking tall for the first time in her life, 11-year-old Nichole Jamelo can’t wait to take on the world now that two 90-degree bends in her spine have been straightened out
How much sleep do I need?
Healthy Harold has lots of advice to help keep kids safe, happy and healthy. See his tips for getting a good night’s sleep and his answers to some of your great questions
US election, coronavirus top 2020 Google searches
It has been a year dominated by crises, from bushfires to coronavirus, yet neither were the most Google-searched terms in Australia. Instead, ‘US election’ was the most searched-for term
Healthy Harold is here to answer your questions
Do you have a question about health and safety? Healthy Harold is here to help. Send him your question now.
Cricket star grows all out for charity
They might look a bit funny, but there’s a serious message behind the moustaches sprouting from some of our star sportsmen, including cricketer Moises Henriques
Vaccine maker ‘near ecstatic’ after study result
The Pfizer coronavirus vaccine has shown a 90 per cent effectiveness rate in tests, boosting global confidence. Australia last week ordered 10 million doses of this particular vaccine
Aussies are living longer as boys close the gap on girls
A girl born today can expect to live to 85, while boys can expect to live to almost 81. But males are slowly closing the life expectancy gap on females
Aussie kids need less homework, more play
Homework headaches and “competitive parenting’’ are fuelling kids’ anxiety, Australia’s new National Children’s Commissioner warned, calling for kids to get more time to relax and play
Special ‘covid stamp’ printed on toilet paper
A European postal service has printed a stamp on toilet paper to reinforce an important coronavirus message — as Australia releases its own pandemic-related stamp
‘Bionic spine’ brings hope to people with disabilities
Melbourne scientists and surgeons have given patients with disabilities the power to work computers with their mind in a world-first “bionic spine” breakthrough
A typical day in the life of a ballet dancer
To celebrate World Ballet Day, Kids News talked to Australian dancer Naomi Hibberd about what she loves and finds challenging about being a dancer, plus what her typical day looks like
Gut bacteria could help control allergies, asthma
There are positive signs in new research that hay fever, asthma, eczema and other allergies — which affect one in three Australians — could be controlled by improving your gut health
Cricket star’s message to kids: tough times won’t last
She’s a superstar of Australian sport, but things haven’t always gone to plan for cricketer Alyssa Healy. Here’s her advice for bouncing back from difficult times
Hope for diabetics in three-minute thesis
Scientist Khalia Primer’s award-winning video cleverly explains years of complex gene therapy research that could help solve some of the serious health problems faced by people with diabetes
Mighty mice keep muscles in space
As humans get ready for long trips to Mars, scientists are working on how to keep them strong and healthy by studying astronaut mice with big muscles sent to the International Space Station
Bullied by a friend? It’s still bullying
Young people are less likely to recognise behaviour as bullying if it is coming from someone they consider a friend, according to a new study from online mental health organisation ReachOut
Time outdoors is good medicine for hi-tech kids
New research has found green time can reduce the negative effects of too much screen time in front of TVs, computers and video games for kids
School drops old uniform in favour of activewear
A Victorian school has decided to ditch its traditional school uniform, hoping new activewear will helps students be happier and healthier and take part in more physical activity
Human blood is warm, but cool too!
Kids News is celebrating National Science Week by taking a look at the approximately five litres of hardworking red blood pumping around a person’s body that gives us our get up and go
How to find your voice and talk to a crowd
A teenage public-speaking whiz is on a mission to help kids reeling from coronavirus disruptions master the art of talking to a crowd, finding their voice and their confidence
Simple steps to ease your worries in tough times
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
Kids helping kids with One=One campaign
In rural and remote Australia, one in four kids comes to school without breakfast or lunch. To help, Kids News is supporting One=One, which means $1 raised provides one meal
Plastic waste found in seafood
Researchers have discovered alarming levels of microplastics in sardines, prawns, oysters and crabs
Gut play: look inside your insides in real time
Ever wondered what the inside of your stomach looks like? Now you can see for yourself with new Australian technology to give patients real-time vision of their insides
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
Lump on leg shows dinosaurs got cancer
It’s tempting to think of dinosaurs as supernatural or mythical beasts but we now know for sure they were affected by many of the same diseases as humans and other animals, including cancer
Aussie dogs to train as pandemic sniffer force
The first COVID-sniffing dogs could be on patrol in airports, hospitals or quarantine within months as Australian scientists work to deploy puppy power in the hunt for unidentified patients
‘Karen’s’ mask fight not just about her rights
Like a school essay, a cartoon is a way to compare and contrast two sides to an issue. In this case it’s about someone demanding their rights but forgetting their responsibilities to the vulnerable
Solved: the mystery of smelly armpits
Scientists now understand the substances that make armpits smell, that they predate Homo sapiens and they may have had an important role in communication between our ancestors
Aussie invents paint to beat coronavirus
In what may be one of the biggest breakthroughs yet in combating COVID-19, a scientist has invented a surface coating that wipes out the virus and may continue working for years
Cartoonist says sorry for taking the mickey
We all know when you try to do something in front of a camera, things don’t turn out quite as you would like them to. This was the case with the Health Minister and his face mask
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
Uncomfortable uniforms could force girls out of sport
Girls are dropping out of sport at high rates as they move from tweens to teens and a new study is looking to see if uniforms are part of the problem
Calls to change cheese health star rating
Despite more than 90 per cent of Australians not eating enough dairy, cheese is being overlooked as a source of calcium and “good” fats, with some cheeses only rating 1.5 health stars
Roadblock stops Premier’s getaway
Cartoonist Mark Knight discusses Victoria’s change of circumstances as coronavirus case numbers increase, and whether Premier Daniel Andrews is running away from responsibility
Dog becomes essential worker during pandemic
A chocolate Labrador has been doing an important job to help people stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering food in a straw basket around his neighbourhood
Virus spread leads to remote learning return
Melbourne students have an extra week of holidays as schools face a return to remote learning while the city battles a second wave of coronavirus infections.
Why do we get wrinkly skin as we age?
Wrinkles are a normal part of ageing, except for the wrinkly fingers and toes people of any age can get when they’ve been in the bath or pool for too long. Kids News researched wrinkles
Getting used to our strange ‘new normal’
A WWII Lancaster bomber aeroplane in the COVID-test queue? Our lives have changed so much in recent months not much surprises us any more, writes cartoonist Mark Knight
Concerns over spike in Victorian COVID-19 cases
Victoria’s new coronavirus cases — including AFL player Conor McKenna — are causing concern about how this could impact Australia’s economic recovery, reopening borders and sport
Vitamin D could help fight food allergies in kids
Australia has the world’s highest rate of childhood food allergies but researchers hope a simple vitamin supplement could help change that.
Teens making music about COVID-19
June 20 is World Refugee Day. Kids News shares a film by a teenager at Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda about young people making music to help stop the spread of COVID-19
Call to ban junk food on kids’ social media
Fast-food companies are bombarding children and teenagers on social media with ads for unhealthy junk food and drinks, according to a new study. Researchers want the ads banned
Trial to ‘switch off’ severe allergies in kids
Kids could live free of life-threatening egg allergies thanks to a treatment being trialled by Australian researchers in Melbourne after the success of a similar trial for peanuts allergies
Goalkicking yips could be in players’ heads
Have you ever wondered why footballers struggle to convert set shots for goal? Australian sports scientists believe the answer could be all in the mind
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
Search for solutions to sports’ COVID-19 problems
As clubs and players prepare to return to training and playing sport, people are working to find solutions to COVID-19-related challenges, including how to legally sanitise a cricket ball
Molly’s on the run for good cause
Pint-sized Molly loves to run — and she’s planning to do it all the way from her Melbourne home to Canberra to raise money for children’s brain cancer.
Insulin that mimics venom of deep-sea snail
Scientists in Australia have described as possibly life changing the invention of human insulin that mimics cone snail venom insulin, working almost instantly to lower blood sugar levels
Dusty models COVID-safe return to AFL season
There’s a small light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel with the AFL’s announcement of a restart to the footy season. Mark Knight imagines how Tigers star Dustin Martin could help
Caring for the billions of microbes in your mouth
Donations of spit from about 1500 people are helping scientists understand how the billions of microbes in our mouths work to keep us healthy and what you can do to keep them healthy too
What makes eyes different colours?
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
Coughing over the health of Australia’s piggy bank
When Mark Knight tuned in to watch Treasurer Josh Frydenberg talk about the economy in federal parliament, he saw him coughing uncontrollably. What was the cause?
Coronavirus restrictions to ease across Australia
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?
Human urine could help make concrete on Moon
Scientists have found that urea, the main chemical ingredient in urine, would make a good lunar concrete for building a Moon base, reducing the need to launch supplies from Earth
PM’s cabinet chat becomes a stop-work meeting
In his weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight explores the PM’s National Cabinet meeting where one leader is pulling out all the stops to protect his citizens from coronavirus
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
Kids get creative at school to keep COVID-19 away
Children in China are finally returning to classrooms after months of online learning, using creative thinking to find fun ways to keep their distance to help slow the spread of the coronavirus
Toy Story star surprises bullied Aussie boy
A Gold Coast boy named Corona has received a heartfelt letter and special gift from Hollywood actor Tom Hanks after revealing he had been bullied at school
Making music in times of trouble
A Queensland music shop expected tough times during COVID-19 restrictions but it’s been “busier than Christmas” as people turn to playing musical instruments for pleasure and comfort
Drones delivering COVID-19 test kits
Aussies could soon be self-testing for COVID-19 with the help of a fleet of drones. A Melbourne-based drone company is already using tiny aircraft in Africa to deliver and return test kits
Home learning enough to make parents scream
In his weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight explores how parents are coping — or not — with the need to support their children’s education from home
Rice ATM helps feed jobless during pandemic
A businessman in Vietnam has invented a rice ATM to help people who can’t afford to buy food because of the shutdowns to prevent the spread of coronavirus
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
Muggles invited free into Harry Potter world
JK Rowling and Harry Potter are casting a spell to banish coronavirus boredom for children around the world after launching a free website for fans of the boy wizard
Breaking the rules is no laughing matter
In his weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight explains why it’s impossible to laugh off the foolish behaviour of beachgoers who break social distancing rules
Outside gatherings cut to two to slow Covid-19
Sunday update: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has limited outside gatherings to just two people and encouraged the elderly to not leave home as the nation continues to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus
Leaders have different schools of thought
In his weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight explains why he drew the Prime Minister and two state leaders as musicians playing to a different beat on schools closures
Big COVID-19 questions and simple answers
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?"
Aussie-made food on the menu for astronauts
Australian scientists are cooking up astronaut food to send to space for a year before testing how tasty it is using an electronic nose and tongue in preparation for Moon and Mars missions
Shutdowns across Australia to slow Covid-19
PM Scott Morrison has urged Australians to take social distancing seriously as he announced tough restrictions on how we live and closed non-essential businesses to slow the spread of coronavirus
Protect yourselves, we’re living in strange times
In his weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight explains why he drew a cricketer protected by pads and a helmet heading off to buy toilet paper at the supermarket
AFL and NRL clubs vote to play on despite virus
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has declared the footy season will kick off tomorrow night as NRL clubs also voted to play on during the coronavirus crisis
Hand washing: How does soap work?
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
It’s not all bad news; there is good news too
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
Ban on indoor gatherings to limit spread of Covid-19
For the first time in history, Australians are being told not to travel overseas and indoor gatherings of more than 100 people are banned in an effort to keep people safe from COVID-19
Miracle change after double hand transplant
A woman who received two hands from a male donor has found her new hands have transformed to be slimmer and like her own skin tone, in an incredible development that has pleased doctors
WHO officially declares COVID-19 coronavirus a pandemic
As WHO officially declares the global coronavirus crisis a pandemic, PM Scott Morrison announces a $2.4 billion package for Australia’s health system to help it respond to the crisis
Toilet paper now worth its weight in gold
In his weekly series, award-winning cartoonist Mark Knight explains how coronavirus fears across Australia have sparked panic buying and turned toilet paper into a rare gem
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
Violinist plays during her own brain surgery
A musician has played her violin during a six-hour, lifesaving operation to remove a brain tumour, helping calm the woman’s fears the surgery would ruin her ability to play
Why do we cry and what are tears?
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
Doctors keep heart alive in jar for 24 hours
Doctors have kept a heart beating for 24 hours in a jar with the new life-changing ULiSSES device, bringing hope to thousands of patients needing the lifesaving treatment
Mammoth funnel-web stuns zoo
Look away if you hate spiders, because this story is about a huge funnel-web called Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He’s so big he can produce enough venom to save many human lives
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
WHO names coronavirus COVID-19
The World Health Organisation now officially has a name for the coronavirus that has infected more than 40,000 people around the world
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