Technology
Russia to leave International Space Station
spaceAfter 22 years hosting humans in orbit, the ageing International Space Station’s days are numbered – but Russia’s plan to pull out early has space agencies in a spin and ends an era of co-operation
Cartwheel Galaxy snaps have space fans in a spin
spaceThe latest cosmic snaps from the James Webb Space Telescope show the Cartwheel Galaxy in unprecedented clarity
Earth spinning faster than ever before
scienceA second a day may be shaved off the world’s most accurate timekeepers if the Earth’s daily rotation keeps gaining speed, as a series of faster spins that started in 2020 continues gathering pace
Latest
SpaceX junk crashes into Aussie farm at speed
An extraterrestrial torpedo travelling at around 25,000km/h, the trunk of the SpaceX Crew-1 craft, has surprised Snowy Mountains farmers by crashing back to Earth with a mighty bang
Buzz Aldrin’s jacket sold for sky-high price
The jacket worn by US astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin on the historic Apollo 11 mission to the moon has sold at auction for almost $4 million
TikTok feeding kids junk diet challenges
Hashtag challenges have junior TikTok users becoming unwitting junk ambassadors, as experts say the world’s biggest fast-food names use the platform to bait kids into building their brands
Vic zoos cancel close encounters
Indonesia’s outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease prompts Victorian zoos to cancel visitor encounters with animals at risk of catching the virus, as politicians debate border and airport security
Aussies’ secret weapon at Comm Games
Team Australia’s modest looking Biofire machine could be the difference between our athletes standing on the Commonwealth Games podium or being wiped out by a wave of Covid positives
Molly’s message is changing the world
Queensland schoolgirl Molly Wright became the youngest person to give a TED Talk a year ago. Today her message has had more than 8 million views, trailing only Elon Musk and Bill Gates
Do stem cells grow better in space?
Much cheaper than buying seats on a commercial space flight, but crazier sounding than far-fetched science fiction, researchers have just shot their own stem cells into orbit to see how well they grow
NASA shows off amazing new cosmic views
Five spectacular images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope show the universe as we’ve never seen it before
Bush and beach beat traditional kinder classes
Preschool students who can dump gendered toys and play outside in the bush or at the beach are more likely to perform better in maths, science and technology subjects once they start big school
Skull’s age out by a million years
Rethinking the age of an ancient South African skull known as ‘Mrs Ples’ gives her species about a million extra years to have been part of the evolution of the earliest humans
Space junk crash leaves double crater in moon
The moon has a new and unusual double crater after a mysterious piece of rocket space junk slammed into the lunar surface
Big bacteria the ‘Mt Everest’ of microbiology
The discovery of a giant bacteria is giving microbiology a ‘shake up’, as the whopper found in mangrove water up-ends what was previously known about the size and structure of a single cell
NASA rocket launches from NT
A NASA rocket lit up the skies above the Arnhem Space Centre at Sunday night’s launch, the first rocket to leave Australian soil in 26 years and the space agency’s first outside the USA
Extra-curricular kids happier and healthier
Children who play sport, learn an instrument or even just muck around with friends after school are more likely to feel happier and healthier than kids who are parked in front of a screen
Black hole eats an Earth every second
A giant black hole 500 times bigger than the one in our galaxy has been spotted by an international team of astronomers led by the Australian National University – and this is one very hungry hole
Kids inspire sustainable switch
Some hard questions at a primary school careers day prompted MOO yoghurt boss Mick Sanders to find a sustainable packaging solution using 100 per cent recycled plastic washed up on beaches
Pet rock hitches ride on Mars rover
NASA’s Perseverance rover has picked itself up a pet rock as it explores Mars, carrying the rocky hitchhiker for about 8.5km and counting
How social media can help your storytelling
Still looking for inspiration for the Kids News Short Story Competition? If you post or create drafts of anything in social media, chances are you are sitting on a treasure trove of top ideas
Shark cam captures life and death struggles
Cameras fitted to tiger sharks in Western Australia are giving scientists an unprecedented view of the life and death struggles of the predators and their prey
E-skin to give robots the human touch
Scientists are developing an electronic skin that is almost as sensitive as human skin when touched
Crackling campfire or healthy coral reef?
Scientists have discovered that a healthy coral reef sounds a bit like a crackling campfire. Now they hope to monitor coral health around the globe after training AI to listen to the surprise “song of the reef”
NASA to launch rockets from the NT
NASA rockets haven’t launched from Australian shores since the tail-end of last century – now three will lift off from the Northern Territory’s new space centre by the middle of next month
Fiery planet burns around sun-like star
NASA’s powerful James Webb Space Telescope will soon reveal hotly anticipated images of burning lava planet 55 Cancri e, racing around its sun-like star like a ‘super-hot super-Earth’
Google AI to help rescue Great Barrier Reef
Global tech giant Google has teamed up with CSIRO scientists to tackle the crown-of-thorns starfish that preys on coral and is one of the top three threats to the Great Barrier Reef’s future
Tomato delivers vitamin D turbocharge
Over a billion people worldwide don’t get enough vitamin D in their diet or from the sun – but an engineered tomato could prevent health conditions by closing the gap in dietary deficiencies
Australians love ‘true blue’ homemade TV
There’s laughter, tears, the relaxed local lingo, a familiar family and a relatable, authentic Australian vibe – no wonder a new study has found we want more Bluey-style TV
TikTok teaching set to trump tired English tasks
TikTok, memes, blogs, podcasts and Instagram posts might shake up the curriculum and revamp old-fashioned English tasks as digital writing looks set to join the classics in the classroom
Surprise! Seeds grow in moon soil
Brought back by Apollo astronauts, soil from the moon has stunned scientists by supporting plant growth despite billions of years of cosmic radiation and solar wind on the lunar surface
Australia ranks second for child cyber-bullying
With nearly one in four Aussie kids experiencing cyber-bullying, but only 20 per cent of parents aware their child is being exposed to online abuse, experts say gap must close to help combat crisis
First image of black hole in our galaxy
A global team of scientists has captured the first shot of a supermassive black hole in our own Milky Way galaxy
Gaming and sport could restore maths mojo
Online gaming or sports could help those teaching STEM subjects to better connect with kids, as dated methods fail to excite modern mathematical minds and experts warn of future skills shortage
Ms Pac-Man enters Hall of Fame
An early trailblazer in the gender debate, Ms Pac-Man has chomped her way into history after popularising female video characters and proving girl gamers were ready to play
NAPLAN testing moves online
As 1.2 million students around Australia start NAPLAN testing from Tuesday, the national assessment authority confirms extra security measures for students completing the assessment online
eSports in line for Brisbane Olympics debut
Competitive video gaming could be included at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games – but there are fears it will come at the cost of some iconic Australian sports
Irwin family blazes digital art trail
No wilderness frontier is a match for the intrepid Irwin family and the new crypto universe is no exception, with the Australia Zoo wildlife conservationists launching a new digital art project
Chopper catches rocket … then drops it
In scenes straight from the set of a Hollywood blockbuster, a real life helicopter crew in New Zealand has attempted to catch a falling rocket midair – and very nearly pulled it off
Could this be Twitter’s new logo?
Cartoonist Mark Knight reckons Twitter’s new logo could look something like this if new owner Elon Musk’s pledge to boost free speech brings Donald Trump back to the social media platform
Beacon to send out message to aliens
No ordinary invitation to meet the neighbours, NASA’s new Beacon in the Galaxy signal includes plans to mark out Earth’s location for any aliens living in the Milky Way
Inside tragic final months of King Tut’s life
Archaeologists don’t know for sure what killed Egypt’s “Boy King” Tutankhamun but a new documentary reveals his final months were probably pretty miserable
Microchipped footies to keep AFL on the ball
Footy commentator Eddie McGuire wants microchips inserted into footballs to aid umpiring decisions and keep the AFL in the game
Star sighted from cosmic dawn
Mysteries dating back to the dawn of the cosmos may be one step closer to being solved as the Hubble telescope detects a super-hot, super-bright giant star formed nearly 13 billion years ago
Saturn’s rings won’t hang around
The famous rings of Saturn will eventually disappear – and scientists think they know when
Push for high school mobile phone ban
More than 20,000 people have signed a petition calling for a mobile phone ban at high schools so kids spend recess and lunchtime talking to each other
Mystery lunar sample to share its secrets
NASA has opened a 1972 sealed sample, taken from the lunar surface by the astronauts of Apollo 17 during the last manned mission to the moon
Insect wings inspire food safety solution
Dragonfly and cicada wings act as deadly armour against bacterial attack, giving scientists an unexpected blueprint for better protecting our food
Fortnite profit to fund Ukraine aid
Epic Games to donate two weeks of proceeds from the game Fortnite to support Ukrainian relief efforts in response to the Russian invasion
NASA’s new ‘time travel’ telescope
NASA’s cutting-edge new James Webb telescope has captured the imagination of stargazers everywhere with the magic words ‘time travel’ – but what does that really mean and how can it be?
Eiffel Tower gets a growth spurt
The Eiffel Tower was already the tallest building in Paris, but the French capital’s most recognisable structure just got even higher
Hi-tech hunt for pharaoh’s tomb
An ultra-powerful scan will be done of Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza under plans to identify two mysterious spaces that could house the pharaoh’s secret burial chamber
Aussie weed could be turned into space food
A native Australian weed could join the next frontier of space food as scientists look for nutrient-rich options for astronauts
Scientists decode what pigs are saying
Not just a pretty face, the pig is a smart, chatty animal with an emotional range communicated via vastly different grunts
Fly your name to the moon
Space fans stuck on planet Earth can now register their name and become a virtual passenger on the coming Artemis I moon mission
Seals in hi-tech helmets help Antarctic study
Japanese researchers have fitted eight Weddell seals with hi-tech monitors to help survey the waters under the thick ice sheet of Antarctica
Space junk on collision course with moon
A chunk of an old rocket is set to leave a large crater in the moon when it hits at 9300km/h after tumbling through space for eight years
Tech exists to resurrect Tassie tiger
A bold plan to bring back the Tasmanian tiger in just 10 years is fuelling the scientific race to restore the lost species to life
Red panda cubs born at Taronga
Cuteness levels have doubled at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo with the safe arrival of a pair of red panda cubs, whose early antics are being captured and shared via CCTV
Blinking star stuns with bright bursts
An energetic neutron star has been busting never before seen moves on the cosmic dancefloor in a ‘mind-bogglingly wonderful’ surprise for scientists
How did Beijing get Olympics blue sky?
Beijing’s smog is notorious. But the Chinese capital has enjoyed blue skies like this for much of the Winter Olympics. How did it do it?
Young dinosaur was crocodile’s last meal
The mortal struggles of Cretaceous Queensland have been vividly brought to life with the discovery of an ancient crocodile that ate a young dinosaur as its own last meal
Nike jumps into world of virtual fashion
Wearing the most exclusive fashion has always cost a lot and now the same can be said about dressing in the virtual world. Would you spend thousands of dollars on a pair of sneakers for your avatar?
Teen pilot lands world record
Zara Rutherford, 19, has become the youngest woman to fly solo around the world, completing a 52,000km journey with stops in almost 30 countries
International Space Station set for splashdown
After more than two decades of service as the temporary home of astronauts in space, the International Space Station will plunge into a South Pacific safe zone in January 2031
World’s most powerful space telescope launched
NASA has blasted the powerful James Webb Space Telescope into orbit. The telescope will allow scientists to look farther back into the universe’s past than ever before
Mystery object spied on the moon
Wild theories – and more logical explanations – abound as images from China’s lunar rover reveal an unidentified object on the dark side of the moon
3D printer pumps out a pizza
Microwave ovens were huge when they hit the market, but this revolutionary food appliance prints food using edible paste as ink
Robotic bird feet designed for drones
Engineers have built robotic graspers that can be fitted to drones to help them catch objects and perch on tree branches just like birds
Fibs all over your face
A new device for catching liars in the act has picked up facial signals that might prove to be more accurate than polygraphs
Russia admits space missile strike
Russia’s missile strike on one of its ageing satellites provokes outcry as debris causes concern for International Space Station
Snap! Fingertips set speed record
A simple click of the fingers has been shown to be the fastest human body movement by snap-happy physicists inspired by Avengers villain Thanos
It’s out with the old, in with the new
He had his doubts a few years back, but PM Scott Morrison is now charging into the electric vehicle era in Mark Knight’s latest cartoon for Kids News
Aussie rocket blasts off
Australia’s emerging space program has had an exciting win with the successful launch of Black Sky Aerospace’s first rocket
Original Apple-1 computer sells for $545,000
An original Apple-1 computer hand-built by the company founders has sold for over half a million Aussie dollars – but that's not even close to the record for these 45 year old tech relics
Teen friendships move online
Half of Australian teens spend at least as much time online with their friends as seeing them face-to-face, a new study has found
Space nappies solve leaky toilet problem
Astronauts will head home to Earth in special ‘undergarments’ after the toilet on their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule sprung a leak and was ruled out of order
Raven attacks delivery drone in Aussie capital
A battle of nature against the machine saw one riled up raven attempt to rumble a delivery drone in the skies above Canberra
Bully laws beefed up for better online safety
Australia’s cyber bullying laws are to be expanded to offer better protection and more help for kids
Jupiter’s gigantic storm captured in infra-red
Spectacular infra-red images of Jupiter’s atmosphere taken by NASA’s Juno spacecraft have been revealed as fresh data shows the Great Red Spot storm extends hundreds of kilometres below its clouds
‘Weird’ signal excites alien hunters
The world’s extraterrestrial search community was sent into a frenzy when Australia’s famous Parkes radio telescope picked up a surprise signal from beyond our solar system
Billionaire’s plan to build new space station
As the International Space Station heads towards retirement age, billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin has announced its hopes of building a futuristic space station for business
Greenhouse gas levels hit record high
The UN has issued a strong challenge to global leaders ahead of the COP26 summit, warning that greenhouse gas levels remain too high to meet temperature targets
How rising sea levels could impact landmarks
Scientists have illustrated the possible impact of global warming in a series of digital images that show how rising sea levels could affect world landmarks including the Sydney Opera House
Australia’s historic first moon mission
Australia is headed to space, signing a NASA deal to deliver a rover that will collect soil samples from the surface of the moon
Life on Mars simulated in Israeli desert
A team of scientists and astronauts have created conditions in the Israeli desert to simulate a month-long mission to Mars as part of training for the real thing
NASA to shoot rocket at asteroid
A spacecraft will deliberately collide with an asteroid in space as part of a NASA defence technique to protect Earth from impact
Drones to patrol beaches and bush
A fleet of up to 1000 drones linked to a central command hub will be used to keep swimmers and wildlife safe along the east coast of Australia over summer
Film crew to make first movie in space
Russian movie star Yulia Peresild has beaten Hollywood heavyweight Tom Cruise into orbit, safely docking at the International Space Station to star in the first film shot in space
First fly-by for Mercury mission
A joint European-Japanese spacecraft has completed the first of six planned fly-bys of Mercury, using the planet’s gravity to start slowing itself down
SpaceX tourists orbit without astronauts
A civilian crew has made history in space after successfully orbiting Earth for three days without a single astronaut on board
Bold plan to bring woolly mammoths back to life
Scientists have announced an ambitious plan to bring woolly mammoths back from extinction after thousands of years
Coral atlas maps the world’s reefs
The Allen Coral Atlas delivers the first-ever detailed, digital map of global coral for conservationists and ocean lovers the world over
Aussie watchdog probes Facebook smart glasses
Australia’s privacy watchdog is investigating whether Facebook’s hidden-camera sunglasses could be used to spy on people without their knowledge or consent
Space race continues on Mars
NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance has successfully collected a rock sample from the Red Planet, while China follows up its own Mars mission with a new prototype
Why Aussie kids love audio books
Children’s audio books are gaining in popularity in Australia, rescuing some reluctant readers and even creating a few budding young authors along the way
The hunt begins for sunken ships
Fishing fleets will hunt for hundreds of shipwrecks off the Victorian coast in a new push to preserve Australia’s maritime history
New class of planet could host life
They are covered by oceans and much bigger and hotter than Earth, but astronomers believe a new class of planet, called hycean planets, could be the key to finding alien life
China cuts video gaming for kids
China has announced strict new time limits on kids playing video games, including banning online gaming altogether on school days
China’s Mars rover keeps roaming
After successfully completing its first 90-day program, China’s red planet rover Zhurong is fully charged and ready to keep rolling