Increase in sitting prompts new physical activity push
healthThe World Health Organisation has updated its physical activity guidelines, warning the increasing time we spend on our bottoms is putting our health at risk. Find out how much activity you need
Young fundraisers’ crafty idea to save koalas
humanitiesWatching 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
technologyA 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
artsDeep 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
Increase in sitting prompts new physical activity push
healthThe World Health Organisation has updated its physical activity guidelines, warning the increasing time we spend on our bottoms is putting our health at risk. Find out how much activity you need
Young fundraisers’ crafty idea to save koalas
humanitiesWatching 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
technologyA 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
artsDeep 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
The first ever Kids News surveys are here! We want students and teachers to share their thoughts on 2020. Click here to access the surveys.
Join our book club to receive discounts on new books and fantastic prizes
Do you know your landmarks, are you a sports nut and have you been reading this week's Kids News stories? Try to beat the Quiz Word clock.
Congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s short story competition and especially to the amazing young writers who caught the eye of the judges. Read their winning stories here.
Unmasked! Aussies’ great effort in the pandemic
artsWith 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
just for funInstead 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
sportAdelaide 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
spaceChina 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
humanitiesAustralians 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
animalsThe 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
historyScientists 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
healthThey 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
environmentA 10km fence will be built at a Victorian national park to protect endangered species from predatory pests
Author Katrina Nannestad answers questions from Kids News readers
book clubWriting We Are Wolves left Katrina Nannestad in tears at times but also made her happy. We know this thanks to some great questions from Kids News readers. Check out Katrina’s answers to the top 10 questions here
Kids News kids’ survey: tell us about your year
newsThe 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
newsBecause 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
scienceIn 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
explainersShips 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
sportUnderdog 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
environmentAustralia 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
just for funTwo 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
humanitiesThe 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’
historyArchaeologists 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
civicsRed 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
animalsAustralian 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
technologyAudio 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
sportAustralia’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
explainersCould 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
A Clock of Stars author Francesca Gibbons answers your questions
book clubThanks to everyone who sent in questions for Francesca Gibbons. Check out her answers to her favourite questions, and while you’re at it you can read the first three chapters of A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth for free
Time to wave goodbye to the peregrine chicks
animalsAs 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’
historyAustralian 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
Kids urged to open a favourite book for Australian Reading Hour
book clubReading doesn’t have to be a chore. Illustrator and children’s author Beck Feiner recommends trying a picture book or a book about a hobby you love. Also, download her colouring sheet and create your own Australia Reads logo
New push to change Australian anthem lyrics
civicsThe NSW Premier has called for a change to the lyrics of the national anthem to better acknowledge Australia’s proud Indigenous history but some say it’s not enough of a change
Vaccine maker ‘near ecstatic’ after study result
healthThe Pfizer coronavirus vaccine has shown a 90 per cent effectiveness rate in tests, boosting global confidence. Australia last week ordered 10 million doses of this particular vaccine
Hyperloop rockets passengers in levitating pod
technologyThe world’s first passengers have ridden a futuristic high-speed transport system known as a hyperloop. The technology uses electromagnets to push pods through a tube at up to 1000kmh
Gene study finds two new glider species
animalsAustralian scientists have discovered two new species of one of our cutest and most-loved native animals, the greater glider. What we previously thought was one species is actually three