Concussion: what is it and how does it happen?
explainersAs cricketer Steve Smith recovers from a hit to the neck, we look at what concussion is, how it happens and how to stay safe in light of new research about kids, concussion and sport
Happy or sad? Students send teachers emojis
technologySchool kids will soon be able to use emojis to instantly tell their teachers whether they’re feeling happy, confident, overwhelmed, bored or confused by what’s going on in the classroom
Australian scientists lead world stuttering study
scienceA massive international effort involving scanning the genes of 10,000 stutterers worldwide hopes to uncover the cause of stuttering rather than just treat its symptoms
Latest
Building designer mozzies to do good not harm
Australian scientists are creating genetically modified mosquitoes that could wipe out deadly viruses in Queensland and popular overseas holiday spots
Feeling sick? Pepper the robot is here to help
Get ready for robots offering health advice and even criticising your bad health habits. In fact, humanoid robots have already been on the job in Australian hospitals and clinics
Brush more and eat less sugar for healthier teeth
It’s Dental Health Week in Australia, but recent research shows too many children’s teeth are decayed and we need to take better care of our dental health all year. Here’s how
Outdoor smoking ban a first for a major CBD
North Sydney Council has decided to ban smoking outdoors in its CBD, a move it said is about “nonsmokers claiming back the streets”. The ban has overwhelming public support
Michael celebrates birthday with the gift of life
As Australians are asked to talk about organ donation during Donate Life week, we meet tiny Michael Theobald who celebrated his first birthday with the gift of life after a liver transplant
Tiger iceblocks and other heat hacks for a hot Earth
Earth had its hottest June on record and it’s predicted July will be even hotter, with zookeepers resorting to feeding tigers dinner frozen into giant ice blocks, while NSW is put on bushfire alert
Chatty family dinners at risk of dying out
Few Australian families sit down together for dinner every night and many use their phones, watch TV or sit in silence or argue while they eat, according to new research
Study links soft drink to increased cancer risk
New research shows that drinking just a third of a can of soft drink a day greatly increases your risk of cancer, leading a health expert to call for sugary drinks to be treated like cigarettes
What is ear wax and how big can it grow?
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
Victoria bans student phones at schools
Students at all Victorian government schools will be banned from using or carrying phones from first to last bell from next year in an attempt to reduce distraction and cyber bullying
Amputee footballer having a ‘red-hot crack’
Feet might seem essential to play footy, but a double amputation before his first birthday couldn’t keep 11-year-old Jett out of the team or off the field
Australian man’s world-first skin transplant
South Australian burns survivor Glenn Ogg owes his renewed life to a world-first skin transplant technique developed in Adelaide that involves “farming” new skin from his own skin
Weird ways tech could be changing our skeletons
Modern life could be causing big changes to our bodies. Not all the possible changes are desirable and some of them are alarming, from spiky skull growths to narrower elbows
All you need to know about hair
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
How to become your own snot detective
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
World Environment Day: reasons to care about air
This year’s World Environment Day theme is air pollution, which is causing ill health and shortening the lives of millions. There are simple things we can all do to help clean up our air
Feed Appeal to help hungry Australians
More than four million ordinary Australians couldn’t afford to feed themselves or their families at some point last year so Kids News is stepping up to help launch the Feed Appeal
Video game addiction officially a disease
A small number of people are developing a big problem with gaming. The World Health Organisation has just officially declared this addiction to games a disease
Remarkable traffic jam atop Mount Everest
An incredible photo of climbers queuing to reach the summit of Mount Everest has drawn attention to the crowded and dangerous conditions on the world’s highest mountain
Australian teen inventor stars in YouTube Story
YouTube has chosen an Australian teenage inventor to feature in a special documentary about her work and her potentially lifesaving creation and now the whole world is watching
How and why do onions make us cry?
There are thousands of so-called solutions for crying over onions, from wearing goggles to sucking a spoon. Do any work? How and why do onions make us teary?
Superheroes here to save you from your fears
Spider-Man and Ant-man to the rescue! Scientists have discovered that watching superhero movies could help cure people of their phobias of spiders and ants
Harry cooks up good idea with his classmates
Harry Chase and his classmates have cooked up a good idea to help his school raise much needed funding in the middle of a tough drought
Scurvy making a comeback due to poor diets
A serious but easily preventable disease we associate with sailors on long voyages hundreds of years ago is making people sick in modern-day Australia
Big Ben runner has bad time at end of marathon
After running 42km in a massive costume, one athlete couldn’t fit under the finish line to the London marathon. Watch the funny video of the end of the race
3D printer making recycled plastic fantastic
An Australian hairdresser is turning plastic shampoo bottles into 3D-printed prosthetic limbs, helping repurpose waste and giving a hand to those who need one
What is chocolate and is it good for you?
Almost everyone is mad about chocolate and not just at Easter. Ahead of the annual chocolate feast, we set out to answer some of the most asked questions about this special treat
Mind-control brain implant trials to begin
An Australian hospital has approved a world-first human trial of a brain implant to help people with advanced diseases of the nervous system communicate via mind control
Beware of wild mushrooms
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
Daylight saving on way out
As Australians in four states grope around in the darkness of the last daylight saving mornings of the season, Europe has voted to cancel this clock-changing practice
Compulsive phone use affects wellbeing
Port Adelaide AFL players are putting away their phones and a new study has found we might all feel better about ourselves if we follow their lead
Australian ‘outback air’ for sale
Canned air from a remote, secret location in South Australia is for sale to anyone who wants to pay $24 for 10 minutes of breathing free of pollution
Aussie vaccine a step closer to erasing malaria
A world-first malaria vaccine made in Australia will be clinically* tested on humans in the hope it can erase the deadly disease and save millions of lives
Why do we need sleep?
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
Twins Nima and Dawa flying home to Bhutan
Formerly conjoined twins Nima and Dawa Pelden are flying home to Bhutan today after their successful surgery in Australia to allow them to live separate lives
Superhero night vision for humans
Like Spider-Man and Batman, humans could one day have the power to see in the dark after scientists successfully tried their idea on mice
Australia’s record heat
It’s been a blistering start to autumn with another heatwave across three states, just as we get through what has officially been the hottest summer on record
Tiny baby boy goes home
The world’s smallest baby boy has gone home from hospital, six months after being born weighing only 268g, one-thirteenth the weight of an average Australian baby
Five stars for fruit and vegies
Australians need fruit and vegetables to have a five-star label to encourage us to eat more of them, according to a review of the Health Star Rating system
Scientists discover cure for fear
Australian researchers have discovered how to change parts of our DNA to help us switch off extreme fears and switch on more positive memories
Young people need to turn down the music
More than 1 billion young people around the world are risking deafness by listening to loud noise through headphones, prompting the UN to issue international safe-volume standards
Why is our blood red?
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
Apple’s iSheet invention for a better night’s sleep
The technology company that brought us the iPhone has a new invention that watches us as we sleep, helping keep us healthy but not, Apple promises, invading our privacy
Doctors swallow Lego heads in name of science
Six Australian doctors have swallowed Lego heads to understand how long it takes to pass through the human digestive system
Mozzie bite breakthrough
Scientists in Queensland have helped discover a gene that makes some people more likely to be bitten by a mosquito than others, bringing us a big step closer to knowing why
Nima and Dawa’s separation surgery a success
UPDATE: Twins Nima and Dawa left hospital yesterday after their successful separation surgery at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital earlier this month
Teens given stern tan danger warning
Skin cancer doctors are alarmed that many teenagers incorrectly believe that getting a tan is healthy. As summer approaches, it’s time to remember why we should all slip, slop, slap
Human brain and memory enhancement possible soon
Researchers are already working on changing, improving and rewriting humans’ memories, which means they also have to find ways to keep our brains safe from hackers
Letters cheer up twins ahead of surgery
Doctors will perform separation surgery on conjoined twins Nima and Dawa on Friday. Their spirits were lifted when they received hundreds of letters of support from Kids News readers
Push to scrap compulsory helmets
Many cyclists now believe bike helmet laws should be relaxed to allow riding without a helmet on footpaths and bike trails. Do you agree? Or should we keep wearing helmets everywhere we ride?
Technology causing drop in hand strength
Young people aren’t spending enough time playing with toys and at craft activities to develop their hand dexterity. Do you think technology is reducing the time you spend using your hands?
Write to conjoined twins Nima and Dawa
Kids News is inviting you to write a letter of support and hope to conjoined twins Nima and Dawa ahead of their surgery. We will deliver the letters to the twins’ mum to keep and show the girls
World’s most disgusting foods on show
Do you think Vegemite is disgusting? The Australian favourite is one of the displays at an international museum specially for disgusting foods.
Vaccinations eliminate rubella from Australia
The World Health Organisation has declared Australia free from the contagious viral disease rubella, which health officials has claimed as a win for the argument for vaccination
Kids need to learn cooking skills
Many Australian teenagers can’t do anything more complicated in the kitchen than pour milk on cereal. Nutritionists say a lack of food skills could have a negative impact on their health
Human poo study finds microplastics
Waste plastic has been found in human poo. Scientists can’t be sure how it got there or if it’s dangerous, but most people agree they’d rather not eat plastic. What can you do to help?
Aussie medical invention will save lives
A revolutionary “wound glue” that could save lives on the battlefield, revolutionise surgery and help reduce scarring is ready to be tested on people
Australian paddles to icy world record
Australian climber Dan Bull has a second world record to his name after trekking 5707m up a mountain to a frozen lake to complete the highest kayak on earth
Mega kitchen to make millions of meals
Australians waste food to the value of $20 billion a year, yet millions of people go hungry. A new mega kitchen will help solve both big problems
Doctors to separate conjoined twins
Australian doctors at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital are preparing to separate conjoined twins Nima and Dawa in a life-changing operation
Insects crawling on to Australian menus
Insects are the latest food trend popping up on Australian plates as diners and chefs embrace the health and sustainability benefits of creepy crawlies
Kids building helping hands
Students are setting aside Lego and picking up the makings of prosthetic hands in a program that helps those in need overseas. What would you make if you were an engineer?
Strawberries contamination
Australia’s strawberry contamination scare is putting the businesses and jobs of many people at risk. Growers ask the public to keep buying strawberries, but to be careful
Damage soft drink can do to your body
An Australian study shows just how dangerous two cans of soft drink a day can be for your body. Does this make you reconsider what you drink?
What is a hiccup?
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
How to create healthy children
The similarities between twins are often what we notice, but researchers are studying their differences as a way of finding out how to create healthy children
Man runs for 36 years, 6 days
It started as a bet with mates that he won in the first three years, but this determined man kept on running for another 33 years. Could you do that?
Humans on quest to live forever
Humans don’t live forever, but many want to, so scientists are in a race against time to slow ageing and invent ways to regenerate, just like the Doctor in Doctor Who
Planting the seeds for a happy, healthy life
Growing vegetables in a garden can help plant the seeds for a happy, healthy life for kids. Now your school has the chance to win equipment to grow your own veggie patch
Kangaroo-to-human tendon test
Kangaroos are amazingly athletic animals. Soon humans could benefit from some of that bounce with trials to begin on transplanting kangaroo tendon into human joints
Eat school lunch to help cut food waste
Woolworths stores have launched new Discovery Tours to help children learn about food waste and how to reduce it as well as encouraging kids to love fruit and vegetables
Learning to love fruit and vegetables
Woolworths has launched new educational Discovery Tours aimed at helping children learn to love fruit and vegetables and find healthy foods they enjoy
Scientist Marie Curie is top of list
If you’ve ever had an X-ray, you’ve benefited from the work of scientist Marie Curie, voted the most influential woman in history
Denim jeans to repair knee joints
In an incredible medical breakthrough, Australian scientists have found a way to repair knee joints with jeans, also helping to solve a big environmental problem
We are losing the war against superbugs
A new medical study finds we are losing the war against superbugs as they become resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitisers now common in hospitals
Good friends saved her from bullies
This is one woman’s brave story of her experience looking different to many other people. You may find it upsetting to read but it provides insight into what it’s like being teased and bullied
Junk food ban needed for school canteens
Junk food can cause health problems, learning difficulties and even change the way children’s brains develop, nutritionists warn as they push for an overhaul of school tuck shops
Danger! You’re not using enough sunscreen
Scientists find sun lovers are risking skin cancer because they don’t use enough sunscreen for proper protection. So how much is enough?
Screen time can be green time
Research tells us we love technology and it’s nature that makes us feed good, but you don’t have to choose one or the other. How could you use your screen time in nature?
What’s in your bottled water?
ABC TV’s War on Waste compared tap and bottled water and the results may surprise some who think they’re buying a healthier, higher-quality drink.
Plan to check students’ height, weight to fight obesity
Australian schoolchildren would have their height and weight checked as part of a radical plan to tackle the worsening obesity crisis. Do you think that’s a good idea?
Push for smoke-free Australia
A cigarette-free Victoria should be achievable in just eight years, according to health groups who have a big plan to make it happen. How would you convince Australians to quit?
Plan for compulsory PE at school
The Australian government wants every child to do sport and PE at school because research shows it could help you be healthier and learn better. Do you agree it should be compulsory?
Avoid illness: wash reusable bags
Single-use plastic bags are on their way out. But we need to remember to keep our reusable shopping bags clean, or risk serious illness
Being bored is good for you
Boredom can open kids up to creativity, according to parenting experts. Have you ever thought up something really cool because you’ve had time to be bored?
Why it’s hard to resist hot chips
Wanting to eat hot chips is part of humans’ ancient survival skills. Our brains just haven’t caught up on the news that there are chips everywhere!
A, B and O missing from signs
The letters A, B and O will disappear from signs across Australia to call for blood donations as part of World Blood Donor Day. What can you do to help?
World-first bionic eye ready to see
An amazing new Australian bionic-eye invention looks set to change the lives of millions of blind people around the world
Apple acts to stop iPhone addicts
Apple has launched a new tool to stop children and adults spending too much time on their phones and becoming addicted
Thorpe to lead AIS mental health program
Some of Australia’s elite athletes need more help to stay mentally fit and cope with life after sport. The AIS will begin a new program aimed to provide the support they need
Food waste to become 100 million meals
Coles supermarkets will greatly cut the amount of food waste going to landfill to make 100 million meals for the hungry
Toboggan-run fun banned to “maximise safety”
Snow trips can be expensive. One of the cheapest things to do is to have some fun on a toboggan run. The activity is now banned at one Australian ski resort. Is this sensible or silly?
Calling all cat blood donors
Does your cat or a pet you know qualify to donate blood? A new cat blood bank shines a light on the importance of pets donating blood
Call for salad and water to replace cola and fries
Water, salad and fruit should be served with children’s fast food meals instead of fizzy drinks and fries, obesity researchers say
Call to block phones in cars to cut road toll
Government report predicts texting and selfies will cause road death numbers to rise. A national safety organisation says the only way to stop phone use is to block mobile signals in every car
Walk the path to health
Join the millions of kids walking safely to school this Friday. Every little bit of exercise helps keep you happy and healthy.
Here’s how to be happy
A new world study finds kids are happiest when they’re spending time with their family, friends and pets. Is that what makes you happy too?
