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PM urges kids to sign up to Spelling Bee
spelling beePrime Minister Scott Morrison knows spelling isn’t always easy — just watch him try to spell hippopotamus — but it can be lots of fun, especially with competitions like the Spelling Bee
Olympics 2032: Dream is on for young and old
sportBrisbane has been named preferred candidate by the International Olympic Committee to host the 2032 Olympic Games, great news for Australian Olympians of the past, present and future
Fears for spelling in the digital age
newsMost adults think kids are getting worse at spelling thanks to text messaging and social media. How’s your spelling?
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Jane’s V the sign of a little victory for science
The 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
Mount Etna’s spectacular volcanic eruption
Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, has awed even experienced volcanologists, pumping out spectacular displays of lava, ash and volcanic rocks for more than a week
Plastic Bag Store opens as plastics ban begins
On March 1, South Australia will become the first state to ban single-use plastic, less than a week after the opening of a shop in Adelaide in which everything is made out of single-use plastic
Make some noise Mars, we’re listening
A microphone on NASA’s Perseverance rover has recorded for the first time the sound of another planet. It’s hoped there will be more to hear from Mars soon as the rover gets to work
Animals lend a helping hand at the zoo
Melbourne 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
Boys 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
Kids give gender stereotypes the boot
Respectful relationships lessons have changed the games boys and girls want to play and the jobs they want to do when they grow up
Space capsule reveals its treasures in Aussie outback
Australia is set to play a bigger part in international space missions as scientists reveal the treasures collected from a Japanese capsule that returned to Earth near Woomera
NASA rover touches down on Mars
The Perseverance rover has successfully landed on Mars in its mission to look for signs of ancient life on the red planet
Koala teeth used to create archaeology map
Australian archaeologists are studying ancient koala teeth and bones to create a map that will show how people and animals moved across the continent through history
Look out for fruit fly after La Nina summer
Kids are banned from taking fruit to school and residents are being urged to strip their trees of fruit in two suburbs of Adelaide that are the latest locations battling fruit fly outbreaks
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
Ditch digital for chalk, says learning expert
Primary school kids should ditch digital and return to using chalk and slates to help develop the brain, motor skills and the ability to construct a story, a leading education expert says
Cruising sharks photo wins best underwater award
A stunning image of sharks and seagulls at sunset has won the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021 award from 4500 images entered by photographers from 68 countries
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
Calling all kids: our wildlife needs your help
Wildlife warrior Robert Irwin talks to Kids News about how kids can be community leaders in protecting the environment and wildlife and how every little thing we do helps
Bushfire Poetry Comp: smoky skies, burnt leaves
It’s the last week to get your Kids News Bushfire Poetry Competition entry in. Looking for some inspiration? Read 12-year-old Kirra Dangerfield’s poem, “The ash black land”
Chinese and UAE spacecrafts enter Mars orbit
It’s getting busy around Mars, with two spacecraft recently entering the red planet’s orbit and another about to arrive
A billion years on Earth in 40 seconds
University of Adelaide scientists have released a video that, for the first time, shows the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates over the past billion years
Welcome to the Year of the Ox
Millions — perhaps billions — of people around the world are preparing for a very important annual celebration — Chinese or Lunar New Year. Here’s what you need to know to join the fun
When a wombat on the tennis court is normal
In a world turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic, we have to expect the unexpected, even when the unexpected comes in the form of Ash Barty’s wooden wombat tennis trophy
More girls to become STEM stars of the future
Despite still being outnumbered by males, more girls and women are starting careers in science than ever before, now making up 42.6 per cent of the workforce in STEM areas
Big roos to help Kangaroo Island bounce back
A mob of roos is about to be moved off the front lawn of an Adelaide school, but it’s not because they’re eating too much grass. It’s all to help raise money for bushfire recovery
Huge discovery of tiny chameleon
Scientists from Madagascar and Germany say a newly discovered species of chameleon that fits on a human fingertip is a contender for the title of world’s smallest reptile
Kids set sail on adventure of a lifetime
Three Australian children are ditching regular life on land to sail the Atlantic Ocean on a yacht with their parents ‘for as long as it’s fun’, which could mean two, five or even 10 years at sea
Humans have made the oceans very noisy
With rumbling ships, hammering oil drills and other big noises, humans have completely altered the underwater soundscape, in some cases deafening or disorienting whales and other animals
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
Friends first for young Aussies in Kids News survey
Aussie kids are most looking forward to spending time with their friends this year after an interrupted 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the results of a survey by Kids News
Australia’s ‘word of the decade’ revealed
A phrase that was widely used in 2016 when Donald Trump first became US President has been crowned the “word of the decade”, outperforming “Karen”, the people’s choice winner last year
How to tell if your dog is a genius
An experiment that’s easy to try at home has shown “talented” dogs are able to learn the name of a new object after hearing it four times, an ability previously thought to be confined to humans
Hard work ahead to clean up at Collingwood
Racism is something we should all seek to bring to an end, whether it be in our daily lives, politics or in sport, writes Mark Knight in his column explaining the story behind this cartoon
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
Clever solution to massive mask waste problem
Millions of disposable masks used and discarded during the pandemic could be recycled and enshrined forever into the country’s roads, Australian scientists have revealed
Experts say pens and pencils rule at school
Handwriting is more important than typing on a keyboard for kids’ literacy development in the first years of school, according to a handwriting expert
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
Bushfire Poetry Comp: have your poem published
Best-selling author Trent Dalton wants kids to help him tell the story of the Black Summer bushfires — and maybe have their poem published in a special book
Hanging out with Smudge at Antarctica
A curious emperor penguin nicknamed Smudge has made friends with an Australian Antarctic expeditioner undertaking the annual penguin census at the Auster and Taylor rookeries
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
Dinosaur could be the biggest ever land animal
Palaeontologists are digging up the massive 98-million-year-old fossilised skeleton of a titanosaur they now believe was the largest animal ever to walk on Earth
Bushfire Poetry Comp: author Jackie French’s five rules for writing a poem
Award-winning author Jackie French wants kids to discover the healing power of poetry. See her tips for writing a great poem
New name revealed for Coon cheese
Favourite Australian cheese brand Coon will be renamed Cheer after concerns the old name has a racist meaning
Seahorse dad gives birth
Rare footage has been captured of a male seahorse giving birth to dozens of offspring — yes, that’s right, a male having babies!
A year of wonderful news at our zoos
Zoos 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
Saving the day with a gorilla named Gertrude
David Walliams introduces Code Name Bananas, in which an orphaned boy named Eric makes friends with a gorilla named Gertrude and they save the day! With activity sheets to download
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
Listen to the sounds and music of space
You can now hear the sounds of space, according to a NASA project that has assigned musical notes and instruments to the goings-on of two supernovas and a colliding cluster of galaxies
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
Student solves poem clues, finds treasure chest
The identity has been revealed of the person who solved clues written into a poem, then found a famous gold-filled treasure chest hidden more than a decade ago in the wilds of Wyoming
‘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
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
Peace and goodwill enduring themes of Christmas
Mark Knight wonders how Santa’s operations might look in the 21st century with social media, job cuts, mass manufacturing and low-cost couriers. At least we can still aim for peace and goodwill
New height agreed for Mount Everest
China and Nepal jointly announced a new and slightly higher official height of 8848.86m for Mount Everest on Tuesday, ending a disagreement between the two nations
Breakdancing added to 2024 Paris Olympics
Breakdancing, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing have been approved for inclusion at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in a bid to include sports popular among young people
Library book returned after 33-year voyage
A book that has travelled the world on yachts with sailors since 1987 has finally been returned to the Townsville library with a note that reads “we are sorry that this book is a little overdue”
Education drives Kirrah’s dream
Meet Kirrah Stothers, one of the stars of an inspirational documentary about young indigenous students following their dreams to change the world
BBL return marks summer of cricket fun
Big Bash cricket is back — but it will look a bit different this summer. Check out the new rules and download our fun activity sheets and BBL scoreboard
Asteroid sample lands safely in South Australia
In a mission described as perfect, a capsule containing a sample of an asteroid that could help unlock some of the mysteries about life on Earth has landed in the South Australian outback
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
Triceratops coming to live in Australia
A very special dinosaur that roamed Earth 67 million years ago is moving to Melbourne. The one-tonne triceratops skeleton has been described as one of the most complete dinosaur fossils ever found
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
During fire season, we are all in this together
Mark Knight chooses a favourite cartoon from 2020 and explains the process of starting with a news event, gathering ideas and working towards a drawing to tell even more of the story
Meet Baby Charlie, the doll with Down syndrome
Kmart has added to its range of inclusive toys with the Baby Charlie with Down Syndrome dolls, just in time for International Day of People with Disability on December 3
Shiny metal thing disappears, another appears
Another mysterious triangular metal pillar has been found next to an ancient fortress in the city of Piatra Neamt, Romania, days after one vanished without a trace in the desert in Utah, US
Dinosaurs’ ferocious fight to the death
An Australian geologist is working to uncover the fossilised scene of a T-rex and a triceratops apparently locked in a ferocious duel, the teeth of the T-rex embedded in the other’s spine
Aussie telescope maps new atlas of the Universe
In under two weeks the CSIRO’s world-leading radio telescope in Western Australia has created a Google Maps-like atlas or map of our Universe, in the meantime discovering many new galaxies
Santa gets special permission to travel at Christmas
The coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt travel around the world but the Prime Minister has confirmed that no matter what happens to Australia’s borders Santa will be able to do his job
Young fundraisers’ crafty idea to save koalas
Watching the devastation of Australia’s koalas during last summer’s bushfires was too much to bear for these nature-loving kids — so they are doing something about it
Big idea kickstarts Grace’s future career
A young inventor can now bring her idea to life after it caught the attention of some of Australia’s brightest minds and scored her a big cash prize to help make it happen
Mystery shiny metal thing appears in desert
Deep in the remote, Mars-like landscape of Utah’s red-rock desert in the US, a helicopter crew counting sheep stumbled on a mystery: A giant, gleaming metal thing embedded in rock
Unmasked! Aussies’ great effort in the pandemic
With his relaxation on wearing masks outdoors it seems Premier Dan has saved Victorians yet again, this time not from coronavirus but from weird facial tanning outcomes
Australian towns star in Monopoly special edition
Instead of famous streets in far-off London, a new Monopoly board features 22 Australian towns and regions to raise funds for communities impacted by bushfires, floods and COVID-19
Fast bowler Brown named WBBL Young Gun
Adelaide Strikers’ super-fast bowler Darcie Brown has been named Young Gun of the WBBL as she completes her year 12 exams from inside a Cricket Australia player hub
China launches mission to the Moon
China has launched a spacecraft to collect rocks from the Moon for the first time in more than 40 years. It’s the country’s boldest space mission yet and could lead to a future crewed lunar landing
Dogs then cats top list of favourite pets
Australians love pets and our favourite pets are definitely dogs, according to the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, which, for the first time, asked us about animals
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
Study using AI to make scents of history
Scientists and historians will use AI to study and recreate what the world smelled like hundreds of years ago. Called Odeuropa, the pioneering study will build an online smell encyclopaedia
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
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
Kids News kids’ survey: tell us about your year
The first ever Kids News kids’ survey is here! We want students to share their thoughts on 2020, a year like we’ve never seen before
Kids News teachers’ survey: tell us about your year
Because we can’t let the kids have all the fun, here’s the Kids News teachers’ survey so educators can have their say on 2020 too
Like Superman: Aussies making diamonds in minutes
In nature, diamonds take billions of years, heat and pressure to form. Australian scientists have made diamonds at room temperature by squashing carbon with the weight of 640 elephants
Solving the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
Ships and planes have disappeared without a trace in the Bermuda Triangle. But is there really anything strange going on? Kids News looks at the history of this fascinating phenomenon
Queensland wins Origin series
Underdog Queensland has scored one of its greatest State of Origin series wins after taking the decider in a 20-14 upset
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
Broomsticks for Muggles glide through the streets
Two men have been seen whizzing on broomsticks along the famously traffic-choked streets of Brazilian megacity Sao Paulo. The inventors’ goal is to create a new version of Quidditch
‘Iso’ declared Australia’s word of the year
The Australian National Dictionary Centre has named ‘iso’ — slang for self-isolation — as the word of 2020 from both a year and a shortlist of words dominated by the coronavirus pandemic
Huge find in Egypt’s ‘City of the Dead’
Archaeologists have unearthed 100 Ancient Egyptian painted coffins — some with mummies inside — plus 40 precious statues at the Saqqara necropolis near Cairo, Egypt
New names for Red Skins and Chicos lollies
Red Skins will be renamed Red Ripper and Chicos will become Cheekies as Nestle scraps the old names over fears they are offensive
First-ever Aussie sighting of bigfin squid
Australian scientists have filmed five bigfin squid in the Great Australian Bight, the first time they’ve been seen in Australian waters. Little is known about these creatures of the deep
New technology beams sound into your head
Audio technology to be unveiled this week beams music, games or movie soundtracks directly into your head without headphones or wires, which the developers are calling “sound beaming”
Indigenous design first for our men’s cricket team
Australia’s indigenous culture will be celebrated when the men’s cricket team takes to the field in the coming T20 series. Discover what the design represents
At work with a Sydney Harbour Bridge climber
Could Nick Hayes have the best job in the world? Or perhaps you think it would be the worst job. Find out what happens on a typical day for a climb leader on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Time to wave goodbye to the peregrine chicks
As Melburnians stretch their wings after the lockdown, the city’s famous peregrine falcon chicks are also stretching theirs, hopping and flying backwards and forwards along their home ledge
Meet your two-million-year-old ‘cousin’
Australian researchers have found the skull of a big-toothed, small-brained ‘cousin’ of our species called Paranthropus robustus, which could help us understand human evolution
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