news for kids

It's March 8, 2024. BoxerBlu and Bram are back. Here are the topics of today's show! 

-> a girl who happens to look a lot like a character from ‘Polar Express’
-> why Americans are getting shorter
-> The secret Central Park Pets Memorial Tree
-> A boy gets arrested for public urination in Mississippi
-> Amateur blacksmithing is in!

It's February 16, 2024. Clementine, Jasper, and Jarvis are back with news for kids a different way. These are the stories they are focusing on today:

- why scientists are making transparent wood
- a synthesizer library in NYC
- a new world map of animals
- bringing Vincent Van Gogh to life with AI
- how two men killed a lot of eagles and are going to jail

News Time is celebrating Media Literacy Week with a takeover by eight-year-old budding journalist Rosie.

Rosie grills regular News Time host, Ruby, about how the media works, where news comes from and how we know whether a story is fake.

When you're finished listening to the podcast, take this quiz to test your knowledge:

QUESTIONS:

1. What is 'breaking' news?

2. What is a news 'source'?

3. What is a 'byline'?

4. Whose job is it to 'fact-check' information?

5. Which of these skills does Ruby say is the most important for budding journalists: Writing, talking, or listening?

ANSWERS:

1. News that's happening right at that moment.

2. People or places journalists get their information from.

3. The reporter's name on the story.

4. The journalist's.

5. Listening.

This week in your favorite mix of wacky world news, goats and AI are used to fight fires in California, Swiss glaciers are melting at a record rate, humans have more of a Neanderthal mix than thought and animals are on the loose – from a bear that crashes a Mexican picnic to crocodiles in India and Malaysia that were not where they’re supposed to be, oh, and the alligator "support pet" that was not allowed into a major league baseball game… All that and more this week! 

Winter and Nyla are back to discuss the latest news and excitement of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. But first they chat about their time competing in track and field at the USATF Junior Olympics in Eugene, Oregon and why they couldn't watch all the opening futbol games. Then they dive into the group stage action to see how their predictions held up as the tournament moves into the knockout stage (which they'll also break down for you). To get a little help with the round of 16 predictions, they call in their friend Luis Echegaray at ESPN who also shares some exciting players to watch and also give some insight on who may be the ULTIMATE WINNER.   The Awesomesauce show is a podcast by kids for kids but adults can listen to!

On today's show we'll cheer on the Matildas at the World Cup, visit a dunny in Dubbo, examine a slice of Italian history, power-up a Pacific Island, and meet some brainy birds. 

QUIZ QUESTIONS:

1. What two countries are hosting the Women's World Cup?

2. Which NSW country town is getting a 3D-printed toilet block?

3. How old was the painting of the flatbread?

4. How much of Tonga will be powered by the power park when it is finished?

5. What is the name of the bird family that crows and magpies belong to?

BONUS TRICKY QUESTION:

In which three countries were the bird spike nests found?

ANSWERS

1. Australia and New Zealand

2. Dubbo

3. 2,000 years

4. Half the country

5. Corvids

BONUS TRICKY ANSWER

Belgium, The Netherlands and Scotland

On today's show we'll baby talk with some dolphins, fly through the air with a teen skateboarding sensation, look up into the sky at a super shiny mirror planet, meet a wrestler named Dreamtime Voodoo Witch, and chop onions that won't make us cry. 

QUIZ QUESTIONS: 1. How many years did the scientists spend recording the dolphins? 2. What number is Arisa Trew ranked in the world's best skateboarders? 3. What is the name of the mirror planet? 4. What is Dreamtime Voodoo Witch's real name? 5. Where are the tearless onions being grown? BONUS TRICKY QUESTION: What competition did Dreamtime Voodoo Witch recently win? ANSWERS: 1. 30 2. 14 3. LTT9779b 4. Erika Reid 5. South Australia BONUS TRICKY ANSWER: Oceanic Pro Wrestling Women's Championship

On today's show we'll meet some chocolate-eating cows, score some strikes with one of the world's best tenpin bowlers, celebrate the school holidays with a game of Spotto, congratulate a cool kid who's making playgrounds fun for everyone, and marvel at the talent of an Indigenous tightwire walker. QUIZ QUESTIONS: 1. What are two essential foods to help cows produce milk? 2. What is the highest score you can achieve in a tenpin bowling game? 3. What two colours are NOT yellow (according the International Spotto Federation)? 4. What is the name of the new rule that will make playgrounds accessible in parts of Queensland? 5. What is Con Calleano's hometown? BONUS TRICKY QUESTION: How many perfect 300 games has Jason Belmonte bowled on live TV? ANSWERS: 1. Sugar and oil 2. 300 3. Gold and lime 4. Zach's principle 5. Lismore, NSW BONUS TRICKY ANSWER: 3

ABC reporter and Yorta Yorta man Tom Forrest hosts our NAIDOC Week episode with stories about the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. "For Our Elders" is the theme of this year's NAIDOC Week. Elders are the people in First Nations communities who care for others, for Country, and they teach, guide and lead. Elders are also the keepers of stories and lore - that means, they have the wisdom that links the past to the future.

QUIZ QUESTIONS:

1. What is the name of the Australian deaf basketball team?

2. What is the coral-eating pest harming the Great Barrier Reef?

3. How many islands in the Torres Strait are inhabited?

4. What did the Nganambla kids use to make the telecommunications tower?

5. What are some uses for possum skin cloaks?

BONUS TRICKY QUESTION:

What is the Indigenous Country name for the land also known as the Goulburn Valley?

ANSWERS:

1. The Goannas

2. Crown of thorns starfish

3. 17

4. A 3D printer

5. Blankets, clothing and for protection from water

BONUS TRICKY ANSWER:

Yorta Yorta Country

On today's show we'll find out what can happen if you have a very overdue library book, we'll try to solve the mystery of whether thylacines still exist, we'll meet a super student who has overcome some major obstacles, we'll discover an ancient mega lizard, and we'll meet some ultra kind runners.

QUIZ QUESTIONS:

1) How many years was the book overdue?

2) Where did the last known Thylacine live?

3) Who nominated Harrison for the Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize?

4) Where were Mega Chonk's fossils found?

5) How many loops did Phil Gore complete?

BONUS TRICKY QUESTION:

What is Mega Chonk's proper name?

ANSWERS:

1) 68

2) Hobart Zoo

3) His high school maths teacher

4) Wellington Caves near Dubbo

5) 102

BONUS TRICKY ANSWER:

Tiliqua Frangens

Join Ruby and ABC business reporter Rachel Pupazzoni to find out how and why we're experiencing a 'cost of living crisis.'

On today's show, we'll discover a new species of teeny tiny shrimp, mark World Refugee Day, meet a cute cat named Bandit, examine an enormous tooth, and cycle around mainland Australia. QUIZ QUESTIONS: 1. What is the skeleton shrimp's proper name? 2. What date is World Refugee Day? 3. In which state is Bandit officially recognised as an assistance cat? 4. Where was the mastodon tooth found? 5. How many days did Lesa's journey take? BONUS TRICKY QUESTION: When did Lesa start her cycling journey? ANSWERS: 1. Caprella tamboensis 2. 20th of June 3. New South Wales 4. On a beach in California in the United States 5. 93 BONUS TRICKY ANSWER: International Women's Day on the 8th of March

On today's show we catch up with some winning wheat farmers, find out why the French are saying 'oui oui' to train travel, meet a mum giving away free groceries, discover a new type of shark, and hang out with an amazing skateboarder. 

QUIZ QUESTIONS: 1. What school do the Hermidale kids' penpals go to? 2. Who came up with the idea to ban short flights in France? 3. What is the name of Rebecca's food box? 4. What colour eyes does the demon catshark have? 5. In which city does Richard Moore skate? BONUS TRICKY QUESTION: Where was the pregnant demon catshark preserved ANSWERS: 1. Tanja Public School 2. France's Citizen Assembly 3. The 'no questions asked' box 4. White 5. Adelaide BONUS TRICKY ANSWER: A CSIRO database

On today's show we celebrate World Environment Day, meet some great goats, travel across Australia with an assistance dog, hang ten with a surfer in her 70s, and find out whether drop bears are real.

QUIZ QUESTIONS

1. What is the theme of this year's World Environment Day?

2. Which South American country is using goats to prevent bushfires?

3. What's the name of Scott's assistance dog?

4. What hobby did Marg Cummins start in her 70s?

5. What is the real name for a drop bear?

BONUS TRICKY QUESTION

How heavy were Nimbadons?

ANSWERS

1. Beating plastic pollution

2. Chile

3. Reign

4. Surfing

5. Nimbadon

BONUS TRICKY ANSWER

70kh

On the show today, we’re going to meet some white seahorses. Then we’ll find out how fairy circles are made. After that we’ll take a look at some backyard fungi that can eat plastic. Before we take a trip to another galaxy and learn about a new planet. And then we meet a Diamantiasaurus.

QUIZ QUESTIONS:

1. 1.What colour are white seahorses?
2. 2.How are fairy circles made?
3. 3.What have scientists found that eats polypropylene plastic?
4. 4.What do scientists think planet LP 791 18d has on it?
5. 5.What was the name of the dinosaur who's skull was recently found?

BONUS QUIZ QUESTION:

What are the names of the fungi that can eat plastic?

ANSWERS:

1. 1.White seahorses can come in all different colours, and their colour can even change, depending on their mood and where they live.
2. 2.The fairy circles were made when termites built their nests underground in a circular pattern, which meant plants couldn’t grow above the termite chambers.
3. 3.Fungi found in backyards.
4. 4.Volcanoes.
5. 5.Diamantiasaurus.

BONUS QUIZ ANSWER:

The fungi known as Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album.

This week we dive deep with our easy-to-understand explainer on the US debt ceiling crisis, plus a report from Spain on boat-bumping orcas (yes, killer whales are on the rampage), in Australia they debate K-leather (no idea what that is, well, it’s nothing to do with K-pop – you gotta listen to find out more, but here’s a clue: it’s a debate that keeps “bouncing around”) and for anyone bickering over who in their house does the most chores, we have a special report on a new app offering some help. 

On the show today, we’re going to take a look at how the stinging plant might take the sting out of pain. Then we’ll travel around Australia with a man on a special scooter. Next, we’ll meet a white echidna. After that, we’ll say Sorry and talk about Reconciliation. nd then we discover how human hair can help plants grow.

QUESTIONS:

1. 1.What is another name for the stinging tree?
2. 2.What is a paraplegic?
3. 3.Why is Raffie the echidna white?
4. 4.What is Sorry Day?
5. 5.What can hair be recycled for?

BONUS TRICKY QUESTION:

Why is human hair good for soils?

ANSWERS:

1. 1.The Gympie-Gympie tree.
2. 2.A person who can't move their legs because their spine has been damaged.
3. 3.It is an albino echidna.
4. 4.Sorry Day recognises the pain and hurt suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
5. 5.To make compost

BONUS TRICKY ANSWER:

Each tiny strand of hair is packed with nutrients like nitrogen, carbon and protein and once it’s broken down, it feeds the soils and makes plants grow big and strong.

This week hear how Georgia Tech creates a centipede robot to help in natural disasters, India completes the world’s highest railway bridge in Kashmir, a 13-year-old with no cell phone becomes a US hero and after hiding behind COVID masks the Japanese take lessons to learn to smile again – plus the world wrap of other headline news and the Fab Fact Quiz!

On the program today, we’re going to meet an endangered hairy nose wombat. Then we’ll learn how a first nations language is using emoji’s. Next, we’ll find out about Global Accessibility Awareness Day. After that, we’ll train a very special camera on a super massive black hole. And finally, we talk to plants.

Special thanks to the Lilach Hadany and all the authors of the paper "Sounds emitted by plants under stress are airborne and informative" paper for supplying the sounds of plants talking.

QUIZ QUESTIONS:

1. 1.How many days can the northern hairy-nosed wombat stay in their burrows?
2. 2.What are emoji's?
3. 3.Global Accessibility Awareness day?
4. 4.What are black holes in space?
5. 5.How do plants talk?

BONUS TRICKY QUESTION:

What is an ecologist?

ANSWERS:

1. 1.Up to 12.
2. 2.Emoji’s are digital pictures or icons that express an idea or emotion.
3. 3.It’s a day when we think about the challenges people with disabilities have in accessing the internet and digital technology.
4. 4.They recycle bits of stars and help keep galaxies stable.
5. 5.Researchers say the sounds are made by air bubbles expanding and bursting inside a plant’s water-conducting tissue.

BONUS TRICKY ANSWER:

They’re scientists who studies how things live.

On today's program, we’re going to discover a dinosaur that may not have been quite as scary looking as we think. Then hear about an Australian choir singing for the new king. Next, we’ll go to a modern art show. Just before we head outdoors to celebrate International plant health day. And then we'll discover some magical glowing mushrooms.

QUESTIONS:

1. 1.What is the full name of the T-rex dinosaur?
2. 2.What had the Vocal Fusion Youth Choir been chosen to sing for?
3. 3.What does Yirramboi mean?
4. 4.Why are plants so important to humans?
5. 5.What does bioluminescence mean?

BONUS TRICKY QUESTION:

What family does the T-rex dinosaur comes from?

ANSWERS:

1. 1.Tyrannosaurus Rex.
2. 2.The Kings Coronation virtual Commonwealth Choir.
3. 3.Tomorrow.
4. 4.Plants give humans with more than 80 per cent of the food we eat, shelter, building materials, and even some medicines that make us better when we’re sick.
5. 5.Bioluminescence is when living things can create their own light, kind of like glowing!

BONUS TRICKY ANSWERS:

The Theropod family.