Green cities and space toilets

On today's show, we'll leap into the countdown with a chat about leap years, and then swim over to hear about some lucky fish that were saved from a drying lake.

We'll learn about how the shape of a room could change the way someone feels, and then meet some Indigenous performers bringing an traditional story to a modern stage.

Then, it's time for the Wow of the Week!

Quiz Questions

1. How often do we have a leap year?

2. Why did Adam the biologist have to move quickly to save the fish?

3. Can you name one thing that happened to the people in round rooms in the experiment?

4. What language is the story Wundig Wer Wilura sung in?

5. How many years will it take to play the song As Slow As Possible?

Bonus Tricky Question

Which instrument are they playing As Slow as Possible on?

Answers

1. Once every four years

2. The lake they were in was drying up

3. Heart rates slowed/ they had more creative answers to questions

4. Noongar

5. 639.

Bonus Tricky Answer

Organ

Today's web of stories starts with some spider's webs, catching more than just flies. We'll hang loose and surf with the best at big swells, and then travel to the other side of the solar system to hear about a very different kind of ocean. Then, we'll learn about International Mother Language Day, before plodding over to our Wow of the Week!

Quiz Questions

1. What's the thing that scientists can test the spider webs for? Hint: It's three letters

2. What score did Molly get for her amazing wave at Pipeline?

3. Mimas is a moon with water under it's surface... but which planet is it a moon of?

4. How many Aussies speak a language other than English at home?

5. Which island is the Aldabra Giant Tortoise being reintroduced to?

Bonus Tricky Question

What is 'megafauna dependent germination'?

Answers

1. DNA

2. 10/10 - Perfect score

3. Saturn

4. One in Five

5. Madagascar

Bonus Tricky Answer

Animals eat fruit and seeds, walk along, poo out the seeds and a new plant grows somewhere else.

Today's episode starts with a mystery illness affecting the raucous rainbow lorikeet. We'll hear about people swapping smartphones for older ones, and a teen DJ spinning tracks in front of huge crowds. Then, we'll spend time with some first nations gamers, before flying over to our Wow of the Week.

Quiz Questions

1. Which Rainbow Lorikeet behaviour have scientists asked everyday people to keep an eye on?

2. Why would someone swap a smartphone for an old style phone?

3. Which sporting tournament did Cooper DJ at?

4. What's the name of the gaming group for First Nations gamers?

5. What light source did moths usually use to help them fly straight?

Bonus Tricky Question

What can we do to help moths not get trapped in the glow of street lights?

Answers

1. What they're eating

2. So they aren't addicted/ can focus more on everyday life

3. Australian Open - Tennis

4. BlackoutGG

5. The moon

Bonus Tricky Answer

Make sure the lights point down, and not emit light in all directions

Today, we'll drive around with a road-fixing robot, and tag along with a seasoned snake catcher. Then, we'll celebrate Lunar New Year before paddling the harbour in specially decorated kayaks.

Quiz Questions

1. 1.What will the robot ARRES spend its time filling?
2. 2.Why can't Paul retire from being a snake catcher?
3. 3.Which animal is it this year in the Chinese Zodiac?
4. 4.Which harbour will people be able to cruise around in the kayaks?
5. 5.What's the name of the helicopter on Mars?

Bonus Tricky Question

How long did scientists expect the helicopter to work for, and how long did it actually work for?

Answers

1. 1.Potholes
2. 2.No one wants to take over his job
3. 3.Dragon
4. 4.Sydney Harbour
5. 5.Ingenuity

Bonus Tricky Answer

They expected 30 days, but it worked for three years

Today, we'll meet a quick-thinking kid who helped save his dad's life! Then we'll mooooove onto a story about some stuck stock! We'll also watch some silent movies with a magnificent musician! And we'll meet a young footy player who is setting an example by standing up for herself.

Quiz Questions

1. What number can you dial in an emergency?

2. What colour is the new bull discovered on the island?

3. What's going to happen at the cinema when Ron retires?

4. What sport does Sophie play?

5. In which rainforest did people rediscover an ancient city?

Bonus Tricky Question

What's the word for when Ron, or another musician, makes up the music as they go along?

Answers

1. Triple 0, zero zero zero, 000

2. Black

3. Someone new will take over the job, and the silent movie tradition will continue

4. AFL

5. Amazon

Bonus Tricky Answer

Improvise

On the show today, I'll shell out the details on an odd-shaped egg, and we'll chat about International Day of Education. We'll head to the other side of the world to meet the new Queen of Denmark, and then back, much closer to home, to visit the newly-accessible Abrolhos Islands. Then finally, it's time for the story that made you go 'wow' - an eight-legged Wow of the Week.

Quiz Questions

1. 1.What happened to make the hen lay a round egg?
2. 2.What's the theme for International Day of Education this year?
3. 3.Can you name one of the changes Chris made so she could visit the Abrolhos islands?
4. 4.Which country is Mary now the Queen of?
5. 5.What will the reptile park do with Hercules?

Bonus Tricky Question

Which Australian state is Queen Mary from?

Answers

1. 1.We're not sure!
2. 2.Learning for lasting peace
3. 3.Using a chairlift to get onto the plane, or using a water scooter to get around in the water
4. 4.Denmark
5. 5.Milk him, to make anti-venom

Bonus Tricky Answer

Tasmania

On the show today, we'll meet a mini-mathematician and hear her ideas about magpies. Then, we'll give tired Queensland teddies some TLC, before heading into outer space with a moon lander unlikely to complete its mission. After that, we'll hear about some awesome work going on a little island down south, before we hear the Wow of the Week. 

Quiz Questions

1. 1.Who do magpies seem to like swooping the most?
2. 2.What was one of the names of Vyvian's toys? Hint: There were two
3. 3.What is the moon lander called?
4. 4.What kind of animal do rangers want to reintroduce to the little island?
5. 5.Which piece are you trying to protect in a game of chess?

Bonus Tricky Question

What did Bodhana come in the competition?

Answers

1. 1.Tall men with no hair
2. 2.Pink Bear or Koala
3. 3.The Peregrine Lander
4. 4.Wombats
5. 5.King

Bonus Tricky Answer

73rd, and was the highest ranked female player.

This summer, we're replaying some of our favourite episodes from 2023. This episode is from NAIDOC Week.

This summer, we're replaying some of our favourite episodes from 2023. This episode is a News Time special, all about the cost of living.

If you’ve listened to News Time before, you’ll know that we end each week’s countdown with our Wow of the Week. Well, today’s episode is all wow, all the time! It’s WowFest! A countdown of five amazing stories this year that made you go 'wow'.