News
Yay! It’s time for school holiday fun
just for funKids News is taking a little break to enjoy the school holidays. We’ll be back for term 2 on Monday, April 19. Have fun and stay safe
Hi-tech mouthguards to help tackle concussion
healthJunior footballers could soon be wearing new hi-tech mouthguards fitted with data chips to monitor head knocks and concussions
Earth safe from asteroid hit
spaceAn asteroid that had threatened to crash into Earth has been removed from NASA’s ‘risk list’ for at least the next 100 years
Latest
Australia’s women’s cricket team triumph again
Our women cricketers have achieved a level of excellence that places them at least alongside famous sporting teams such as the Invincibles. But are they the best of the best?
Captain Underpants author sorry for spin-off book
A graphic novel spin-off of the Captain Underpants series is being pulled from libraries and bookstores after its publisher and author apologise
Leeches invade NSW homes after floods
The recent floods in NSW have brought more than just record rainfall – and bloodthirsty leeches are loving it
State and territory finalists announced
A big congratulations to the students who have qualified for the next round of the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. See the names of the spellers who are headed to the State/Territory Finals here
Aussie 100m sprinter breaks Olympics drought
Rohan Browning is set to light up the track in Tokyo after running 10.05 seconds and becoming the first male Australian sprinter to qualify for the 100m at an Olympics in 17 years
Supermoon helps free stuck ship
The stars, sun, Earth and moon all aligned in Egypt this week, with the year’s first supermoon bringing the high tide needed to shift the massive ship blocking the Suez Canal
Boy in boat rescues people and pets from floods
Archie Cross has displayed courage beyond his 13 years, rescuing about 10 residents and a handful of pets from their flooded homes in NSW with his little fishing boat
Surprise just-in-time find of tiny native fish
The future looks bright for the southern purple spotted gudgeon fish, a tiny native species twice declared regionally extinct and this time found in a lake just two days before it was to be drained
Meet Nemo, the peacock spider
A newly discovered species of peacock spider with a bright orange face has been named after the clownfish from hit animated movie Finding Nemo
Aussie Dish to support Moon landings
Australia’s Parkes telescope will be part of one of the first commercial lunar landings, probably this year. The 64m telescope is valuable for spacecraft tracking due to its large dish surface
Author inspired by family’s Holocaust story
With holidays around the corner, we’re getting in early with the April book club. Get a preview of Heroes of the Secret Underground and interview author Susanne Gervay, whose novel was inspired by her family’s wartime experience in Budapest
Thunder Birds, Australia’s big ugly ducklings
Australia was once home to the world’s biggest-ever bird, which weighed as much as a cow. Scientists have called Dromornis stirtoni an “extreme evolutionary experiment”
Huge ship stuck sideways in Suez Canal
A skyscraper-sized container ship 400m long has become wedged sideways across Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking all traffic and threatening to disrupt global shipping
Of droughts and flooding rains
Australian poet Dorothea MacKellar surely nailed it when she wrote her classic poem My Country in 1904. Mark Knight reflects on how it sums up this land of amazing contrasts
Mars helicopter ready to take flight
NASA’s mini helicopter, Ingenuity, is set to make history on Mars by taking the first powered flight on another planet
Erupting volcano becomes tourist attraction
Thousands of curious onlookers are flocking to an erupting volcano in Iceland for a rare up-close look at its flowing red lava
Alice Springs students ready to take on Spelling Bee
More than 20,000 students from all corners of Australia have signed up to sit the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee, including these kids from the Northern Territory’s Ross Park Primary School. The school round of the competition closes on Friday
‘Lunar ark’ plan to store species’ DNA on the Moon
Scientists have mapped out a plan to store the DNA of 6.7 million species in a “lunar ark” on the Moon in case of a disaster on Earth
Photos to celebrate the spirit of adventure
A new photography competition named for famous Australian photographer, adventurer and explorer Frank Hurley has attracted more than 1200 entries from 26 countries
Kids’ screen time Aussie parents’ biggest worry
Excessive screen time is the number one health concern of Australian parents, according to The Royal Children’s Hospital National Child Health Poll of almost 2000 parents
The mystery of Mars’ missing oceans
Scientists have a new idea to test out about how Mars went from being a wet world to the desert it is today. Instead of escaping into space, they now believe water was absorbed into the surface
Spelling Bee has students in a buzz
With about 250 spellers ready to test their talent, Brentwood Park Primary School has one of the biggest groups of students sitting the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. Has your school signed up yet?
Sydney Swans change their song
AFL team the Sydney Swans have announced a more inclusive team song – part of a growing movement that includes the recent change to Australia’s national anthem
Great news in fight for handfish survival
Experts are one step closer to saving the critically endangered spotted handfish, a cartoon-like creature that only lives in Tasmania’s Derwent Estuary and looks like it walks on its hands
Teaching honeyeaters to sing the right song
Male songbirds usually learn their tunes from adult mentors, but when young birds lack proper role models, they hit all the wrong notes — and have less success attracting mates
Cyber bullies still a big problem for kids
One in two young people say they have been the target of cyber bullying with a quarter threatened with harm, according to new research that suggests the situation isn’t improving
Young Australians not getting enough sleep
New research reveals young generations of Australians have reported poor sleep quality during COVID-19
Digital artwork snapped up for $90 million
A digital collage by an artist named Beeple has sold for a record price far higher than that paid for traditional works by many well known artists
All aboard for faster-than-light travel
Spaceships zipping at the speed of light or faster are currently something from science fiction. But a physicist’s new research moves the idea a step closer to being achieved in your lifetime
Girls want school uniform rule change
Students at a girls’ school in Sydney sick of not being allowed to wear shorts or pants as part of their uniform are fighting to have strict rules dating back more than 100 years changed
Teen baseballer’s big dream coming true
Riley Yeatman has dreamt of playing in US Major League Baseball. Now the rising star from Adelaide is one step closer to that becoming a reality after signing with the San Diego Padres
World-first fossil find of dino sitting on eggs
The discovery of a preserved dinosaur sitting on a nest of eggs with fossilised babies inside is giving researchers new clues into how the creatures hatched their young
‘Cute and weird’ sea slugs lose their heads
In an extreme case of autotomy, Japanese sea slugs have been found to regrow new bodies after decapitating themselves, which could help us better understand human regeneration
What fascinating job will Future You do?
Breaking stereotypes and giving girls new ideas about careers is the aim of a campaign called Future You, which features videos, games and quizzes about 12 characters with great STEM skills
Idyllic setting for an interview about hard times
Mark Knight wonders what others think about Prince Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah at a time when the world is fighting a once-in-a-hundred-year pandemic
Explorer’s record setting dive to deepest point on Earth
A multi-millionaire explorer has become the first person to travel to Earth’s four furthest extremes after diving almost 11,000m to the bottom of the Mariana Trench
Anzac Day marches get the green light from PM
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says if Australians can gather to party and protest, they should also come together on Anzac Day to remember and respect our veterans
Tassie devils back from the brink in the wild
A deadly facial cancer has wiped out thousands of Tasmanian devils in the wild but a new study shows the future is looking brighter for the much-loved marsupial
Food waste a growing problem
Will any of the food in your lunch box end up in the bin today? If so, you could be contributing to a 931 million ton global food waste problem
Possum babies Bib and Bub growing well
Two orphaned eastern pygmy possums barely the size of a fingertip are thriving thanks to a human helping hand. The five-week-old babies are being cared for at the Australian Reptile Park
Free tickets up for grabs for 2023 Moon trip
The worldwide search is on for eight passengers to take a trip around the Moon in 2023 with Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa. He will pay the entire cost of the SpaceX flight
More plastics on the way out
Single-use plastic packaging, straws, plates, bowls, cutlery and cups will disappear under new plans to reduce waste that’s hurting our environment
‘Hurtful’ Dr Seuss books will no longer be printed
Six Dr Seuss books that ‘portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong’ will no longer be printed as part of a commitment to represent and support all communities and families
No shortcuts for Sir Tom, a hero of the pandemic
While editorial cartoons are generally designed to give their readers a laugh (usually at a politician’s expense), it’s not always the case. Mark Knight pays tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore
Three new glowing sharks light up twilight zone
Three new species of bioluminescent sharks — including the largest known underwater glowing creature — have been found in deep, dark water off the coast of New Zealand
How Lucy’s drawing became big AFL news
Lucy Burford was just seven when she restyled Port Adelaide’s AFL guernsey. Eleven years later she reflects on her achievement and the inspiration behind the design
Australia the first home of giant komodo dragons
Indonesia’s komodo, the largest living lizard still on Earth, likely originated in Australia millions of years ago from a mix of parents, according to new research
Teens getting sunburnt rather than sun smart
Last summer, teenagers accounted for one third of the 177 people brought to Victorian emergency departments for treatment for sunburn, prompting calls for more to be done to protect kids
Archaeologists find ancient chariot near Pompeii
A 2000-year-old ceremonial carriage made of iron, bronze and tin has been unearthed from the outskirts of Pompeii, the city buried in the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD
Aussie teens fight Government over climate change
Melbourne teen Anjali Sharma is leading a landmark Federal Court class action lawsuit by eight young Australians to stop projects like the proposed Vickery coal mine extension in NSW
Warners are good sports with spelling
Sport isn’t the only thing going on in the Warner household. Reading, writing and spelling are right up there. Watch the family have some fun in one of our celebrity spelling bee videos
Orang-utans get helicopter ride back to the wild
Five males, a mother with two babies and two other female critically endangered orang-utans have been released into the wild in the Indonesian part of Borneo island
Mars rover’s parachute carried secret message
The huge parachute used by NASA’s Perseverance rover to land on Mars contained a secret message in binary code, thanks to a crossword lover on the spacecraft team having fun
PM urges kids to sign up to Spelling Bee
Prime 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
Brisbane 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
Most adults think kids are getting worse at spelling thanks to text messaging and social media. How’s your spelling?
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
Breakthrough in dating our oldest rock art
Australia’s oldest painting has been identified as a kangaroo-like image created more than 17,000 years ago in the Kimberley region of WA, a big step forward in creating an accurate art timeline
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
Vote for the cutest baby animal
To celebrate the launch of The Great Australian Wildlife Collection, Kids News took a peek inside the Baby Animals book. Tell us which baby animal you think is the cutest
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
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