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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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You've been reading about how coral reefs in different parts of the world have been affected by global warming. Increasing sea temperature is causing corals of the sea to turn white or 'bleach'. But one stretch of corals in the Red Sea has been able to resist this temperature change and withstand bleaching.

The waters of the Northern Red Sea are home to hundreds of kilometers of dazzling coral reefs. While temperatures in the Red Sea have risen much like they have in other oceans, the corals here have been able to deal with the change. Scientists studying them over the years have reported that no mass bleaching events have occurred at all, which is truly astonishing.

More importantly, these corals pass on this trait (of resisting bleaching) to their offspring so the next generation of corals too won't bleach. It is not clear how the corals have resisted climate change and bleaching but studies on that are underway as this could be a solution for corals in other oceans that haven't fared as well.
Why do corals bleach?
When the water is too warm due to higher temperatures overall, corals will expel (push out) the algae living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white.

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You've been reading about how coral reefs in different parts of the world have been affected by global warming. Increasing sea temperature is causing corals of the sea to turn white or 'bleach'. But one stretch of corals in the Red Sea has been able to resist this temperature change and withstand bleaching.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Scientists have grown plants in soil from the moon collected by NASA's Apollo astronauts.

Researchers had no idea if anything would sprout in the harsh moon dirt and wanted to see if it could be used to grow food by the next generation of lunar* explorers. The results stunned them.

"Holy cow," said the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Professor Robert Ferl. "Plants actually grow in lunar stuff. Are you kidding me?"

Professor Ferl and his colleagues planted thale cress* in moon soil returned by Apollo 11′s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and other moonwalkers. The good news was that all of the seeds sprouted.

"When we first saw that abundance* of green sprouts cast over all of the samples, it took our breath away," University of Florida Interdisciplinary* Center for Biotechnology* Research director and co-author of the study Professor Anna-Lisa Paul told Reuters.

"Plants can grow in lunar regolith*. That one simple statement is huge and opens the door to future exploration using resources in place on the moon and likely Mars."

The downside was that after the first week, the coarseness* and other properties of the lunar soil stressed the small, flowering weeds so much that they grew more slowly than seedlings planted in fake moon dirt from Earth. Most of the moon plants ended up stunted.

Results published Thursday in Communications Biology showed that the longer the soil was exposed to punishing cosmic* radiation* and solar wind on the moon, the worse the plants seemed to do. The Apollo 11 samples - exposed a couple billion years longer to the elements because of the Sea of Tranquility's* older surface - were the least conducive* for growth, according to scientists.

"This is a big step forward to know that you can grow plants," said University of Wisconsin-Madison space plant biologist Dr Simon Gilroy, who had no role in the study.

"The real next step is to go and do it on the surface of the moon."

Moon dirt is full of tiny, glass fragments from micro-meteorite impacts that got everywhere in the Apollo lunar landers and wore down the moonwalkers' spacesuits.

One solution might be to use younger geological* spots on the moon, like lava flows, for digging up planting soil. The environment could also be tweaked, altering the nutrient mixture or adjusting the artificial lighting.

Only 382kg of moon rocks and soil were brought back by six Apollo crews. Some of the earliest moon dust was sprinkled on plants under quarantine with the Apollo astronauts in Houston after returning from the moon.

Most of the lunar stash remained locked away, forcing researchers to experiment with simulated* soil made of volcanic ash on Earth. NASA finally released 12g to the University of Florida researchers early last year and the long-awaited planting took place last May in a lab.

NASA said the timing for such an experiment was finally right, with the space agency looking to put astronauts back on the moon in a few years.

The ideal situation would be for future astronauts to tap into the endless supply of available local dirt for indoor planting versus setting up a hydroponic*, or all-water, system, scientists said.

"The fact that anything grew means that we have a really good starting point, and now the question is how do we optimise* and improve," said NASA's program scientist for space biology, Dr Sharmila Bhattacharya.

The Florida scientists hope to recycle their lunar soil later this year, planting more thale cress before possibly moving on to other vegetation.

Additional reporting by Reuters
GLOSSARY

lunar: the moon, relating to the moon

thale cress: small flowering plant popular as a model organism in plant biology

abundance: when there is more than enough of something

interdisciplinary: drawing on several branches of knowledge and research

biotechnology: using biology to solve problems and create useful products

regolith: loose rock and mineral material covering the solid surface

coarseness: roughness, harshness, unevenness

cosmic: relating to the universe and processes occurring within it

radiation: energy from a source that travels through space at the speed of light

Sea of Tranquility: the lunar landing site of Apollo 11

conducive: providing the right conditions for something to happen

geological: science relating to the physical nature and history of Earth, including rocks

simulated: imitation, created conditions or processes similar to something that exists

hydroponic: method of growing plants in water with added chemicals rather than in earth

optimise: making something as good, effective or useful as possible

EXTRA READING Life on Mars simulated in Israeli desert Mystery lunar sample to share its secrets Aussie weed could be turned into space food QUICK QUIZ

1. Moon soil samples included those from which famous NASA mission?

2. What was the total weight of the moon rock and soil brought back by astronauts?

3. Researchers used simulated soil made of what?

4. How big was the sample NASA released to the Florida scientists last year?

5. Why did NASA say the timing was finally right to release the sample?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Design your own moon garden
Work with a partner to design your own garden to take to the moon and grow in lunar soil. Draw a rectangle that is the planter box, then sketch and label the plants you would have in your moon garden.

How would your garden benefit humans travelling to the moon?

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Science; Personal and Social; Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
What do you think the future of moon landings will look like 50 years from now? Will plants be growing? Will people be visiting as tourists? What would you like to see?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Science; Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during the event being discussed in the article, or for the interview.

Create a conversation between two characters from the article - you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don't forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.

Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.

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Scientists have grown plants in soil from the moon collected by NASA's Apollo astronauts. Researchers had no idea if anything would sprout in the harsh moon dirt and wanted to see if it could be used to grow food by the next generation of lunar* explorers. The results stunned them.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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A recent scientific report says that more than one-fifth of the world's reptiles are at risk of dying out. The main threat to reptiles is the loss of their natural homes, as humans take over more and more natural areas.

Reptiles are egg-laying animals with backbones and scaly skin. Examples of reptiles include animals like snakes, lizards, and crocodiles. Reptiles are cold-blooded, which means their bodies have the same temperature as the area around them.

The study, written by 52 scientists, is the first worldwide measurement of how threatened different species (kinds) of reptiles are. For 15 years, between 2004 and 2019, researchers collected information on over 10,000 different kinds of reptiles. They gathered details from over 900 reptile experts around the world.

The new report has revealed some unhappy news - 21% of all reptile species are in danger of extinction. That's over 1,800 species in all. The study reported that at least 31 species of reptiles have already gone extinct.

The main reason these reptiles are faced with extinction is that humans are taking over more and more of their habitats - the places where they naturally live. More land continues to be cleared to make room for cities and towns. Large areas of land are also being cleared so that they can be used as farmland. Logging - cutting down trees for wood - is another big threat to reptile habitat.

When they think of reptiles, many people may think of hot, dry areas. But some of the most endangered reptiles live in forests. The new study reports that 30% of reptile species that live in forests are at risk of dying out.

Turtles and crocodiles are among the most threatened reptiles - 60% of turtle species and 50% of crocodile species are at risk of extinction. Humans are a direct threat here, often killing these animals for their skin or meat.

Similar worldwide studies were made of birds, mammals, and amphibians (such as frogs) more than ten years ago. The authors of the report say it was harder to collect the money needed to study reptiles. They believe that's because furry or feathery animals like mammals and birds are more popular with most people.

But even if reptiles aren't considered cuddly, they play a very important part in nature's food chains. One service performed by reptiles that humans should appreciate is helping control certain pests, like insects and rats.

Though the news about reptiles is bad, amphibians and mammals are even more threatened. Scientists say that 40% of amphibian species are in danger of extinction. For mammals, the number is around 25%.

Scientists say the good news is that we know what must be done to protect reptiles. Bruce Young, one of the leaders of the study, says, "We have all the tools we need." Protecting natural areas, especially rainforests, is at the top of the list. Studies show that saving natural areas doesn't just protect mammals or birds, but all kinds of animals, including reptiles.

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Over 20% of Reptile Species at Risk of Going Extinct

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A recent scientific report says that more than one-fifth of the world's reptiles are at risk of dying out. The main threat to reptiles is the loss of their natural homes, as humans take over more and more natural areas.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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New Zealand's government has a new plan. It was announced on May 16. The goal is to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The government will pay New Zealanders to switch from gas-powered cars to hybrid or electric cars. This is part of a larger effort. The country wants to cut the use of fossil fuels and reduce waste.

Jacinda Ardern is New Zealand's prime minister. "This is a landmark day in our transition to a low-emissions future," she says. "We cannot leave the issue of climate change until it's too late to fix."

New Zealand hopes to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. That means it will remove as much greenhouse gas from the atmosphere as it produces. Another part of the new plan is to reduce car travel by 20% by 2035.

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New Zealand's government has a new plan. It was announced on May 16. The goal is to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The government will pay New Zealanders to switch from gas-powered cars to hybrid or electric cars. This is part of...

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

# data[].attributes.body
Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Above average water temperatures led to a mass coral bleaching* of the Great Barrier Reef over summer, as the Aussie icon was impacted by "escalating*" climate change, a new report has revealed.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRM) in March confirmed a sixth mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef - the fourth such event since 2016.

Unusually, it was the first mass bleaching event to occur under La Nina conditions, which are typically cooler.

Aerial surveys found 91 per cent of 719 reefs assessed showed some bleaching, according to the long-awaited Reef Snapshot: Summer 2021-22 report released late on Tuesday.

The report is a joint initiative of the Australian Government's lead management and science agencies for the Great Barrier Reef: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and CSIRO.

The release of the report, which reveals how the reef fared over the past summer, was delayed and published late on Tuesday amid calls for its release before the May 21 federal election.

The snapshot said a "marine heatwave" was the one major pressure affecting the Great Barrier Reef compared with previous summers.

Waters warmed early in December 2021, exceeding historical summer maximums that typically occurred in the hottest summer months.

Ocean temperatures continued to accumulate heat throughout the summer until early April 2022, with three distinct heatwaves increasing thermal* stress throughout the reef's central and northern parts.

"This prolonged* heat exposure led to a mass bleaching of coral across the Great Barrier Reef; the fourth to occur in seven years," the report said.

Bleached corals are still living but stressed. Low or moderately bleached corals have a higher chance of recovering if there are minimal impacts in following years.

Severely bleached corals have higher mortality* rates.

The report said climate change remained the reef's greatest threat.

"It influences weather patterns and the ocean's temperature, pH level and currents as well as intensifying the effects of other threats," it said.

"Climate change is escalating, and the reef is already experiencing the consequences of this.

"Unfortunately, the events that cause disturbances on the reef are becoming more frequent, leaving less time for coral recovery."

The aerial surveys by the GBRM and the Australian Institute of Marine Science in late March analysed a sample of 719 reefs between the Torres Strait and the Capricorn Bunker Group in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

A total of 654, or 91 per cent, showed some bleaching, with the impact minor to severe.

The report said underwater surveys would be critical to understanding the fate of bleached coral.

Climate Council director of research Dr Simon Bradshaw said the report confirmed that the reef was "in serious trouble".

"The reef's very survival, and all the jobs and industries that depend on it, requires a major step up on climate action now and during this next term of government, starting with a credible plan to rapidly reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions - not 30 years from now, this decade," Dr Bradshaw said.

"Climate change is front of mind for voters this election. They are counting on our next Federal Government to show true leadership. Australians deserve a government that will work hard to give our reef a fighting chance."

Australian Marine Conservation* Society Great Barrier Reef campaign manager Dr Lissa Schindler said although the ALP had a better emissions* reduction target than the Coalition, both major political parties' climate goals fell short when it came to the reef.

"They are not enough for the 64,000 people working in reef tourism and connected industries, not for the millions from around the world who have visited or want to visit the reef," she said. "This is an Australian icon that we must do everything within our power to protect.

"By taking the action required and embracing the huge opportunities of the renewable* energy revolution in Australia, we can help protect tens of thousands of reef jobs and create thousands more in clean energy."

Additional reporting by David Mills
GLOSSARY

coral bleaching: whitening due to stresses like changes in temperature, light, or nutrients

thermal: relating to heat and temperature

prolonged: continuing for a long time

mortality: death, condition of being mortal

conservation: protecting Earth's natural resources for current and future generations

emissions: substances released into the air like gas, heat and light

renewable: clean energy from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished

EXTRA READING Hybrid coral could withstand heat Fluffy clouds to help save Great Barrier Reef Reef avoids 'in danger' listing for now QUICK QUIZ

1. How many bleaching events have occurred since 2016?

2. Of 719 assessed reefs, what percentage showed signs of some bleaching?

3. According to the report, what remains the reef's biggest threat

4. Approximately how many people work in reef tourism and connected industries?

5. The aerial surveys of 719 reefs stretched from the Torres Strait to where?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Create a diagram
Create a diagram that will help younger kids understand the most important information about the problems caused by climate change for the Great Barrier Reef

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Science; Geography

2. Extension
If you could speak to the candidates in the federal election about what needs to be done to save the Great Barrier Reef and why it's so important, what would you say? Write the speech that you would give.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Civics and Citizenship; Science

VCOP ACTIVITY
Down-level it
When you up-level a sentence, you do things to it to improve it: make it more interesting, or more complex.

But sometimes when we read something, it can be too complex and we don't understand it very well. If you ask someone to explain it to you and they do it in a simpler way, you might think, "Well, why didn't they just say that?"

Go through the article and find a sentence or two that is complex or hard to read.

Ask an adult what it means, or try and look up some of the words in the glossary.

Once you know what the sentence means, see if you can rewrite it in a simpler, down-level way, but make sure you don't change the meaning of the sentence in any way.

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Above average water temperatures led to a mass coral bleaching* of the Great Barrier Reef over summer, as the Aussie icon was impacted by "escalating*" climate change, a new report has revealed. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRM) in March confirmed a sixth mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef - the fourth such event since 2016.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Skip to main content

Starbucks is a popular coffee shop. It uses about 7 billion disposable cups each year. This creates a lot of waste. More than one-third of the company's packaging waste is cups and lids.

Starbucks hopes to cut its waste in half. It wants to reach this goal by 2030. Stores around the world are testing ways to do this.

One plan allows customers to bring their own reusable cups. Some stores will have washing stations. So everything can be cleaned for use. There are also plans for a borrow-a-cup program. Customers pay a small fee to borrow a cup. If they return it, they get the money back as store credit.

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Starbucks is a popular coffee shop. It uses about 7 billion disposable cups each year. This creates a lot of waste. More than one-third of the company's packaging waste is cups and lids. Starbucks hopes to cut its waste in...

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Do you plan on driving a gas-powered car when you grow up? Why? Why not?

Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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We asked, you answer

Why or why not? That is, of course, the question. Each week, we present you with a question based on a topic in the news and showcase the best answers on our website the following week. Want your answer featured? Read carefully, think thoughtfully and write your best answer at the bottom of the article.

Do you plan on driving a gas-powered car when you grow up?

That's the question of the week.

The price at the pump has hit record highs in recent months.

That's in part because of sanctions - or penalties - against Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

It's also because many places have rolled back their restrictions against COVID-19, so more people are travelling and getting outside again.

Hot tip: Keep scrolling to see if we featured your response from our last question, "Does Earth Day matter anymore?"

Long-term effects of using oil

Longer term, our reliance on oil and its products can be seen as a problem.

Extracting crude oil can destroy and pollute the natural world. The emissions from fossil fuels contribute significantly to climate change.

Plus, having the entire world at the mercy of oil prices can have big consequences. Currently, the global economy is being hit hard because of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which is a major oil producer.

Some experts suggest moving to hybrid and electric vehicles, while others say that those cars are too expensive and won't solve the problem overall.

Even if you're not old enough to drive yet, do these high gas prices get you thinking about the future? Do you plan on driving a gas-powered car or do you think electric is the way to go? Does it bother you that electric cars are more expensive?

Make up your mind by learning more

CBC Kids News contributor Arjun Ram breaks it down in the latest KN Explains video.

Click play to learn more about the rising cost of gas prices and how it relates to world events.

So, why or why not?

OK, so you've watched the video. You've thought long and hard about it. Maybe you even discussed it with your friends and classmates. Now it's time to weigh in.

Last week's answers

Each week, we showcase some of the answers we received from kids across Canada.

Click here to see how Canadian kids answered last week's question: "Does Earth Day matter anymore?"

﻿﻿Have more questions? ﻿Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the "send us feedback" link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

TOP IMAGE CREDIT: graphic design by Philip Street

Get your class on the same page, add this to

Send us feedback Report a typo or inaccuracy

Was this story worth reading?

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Do you plan on driving a gas-powered car when you grow up? | CBC Kids News

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Why or why not? That is, of course, the question. Each week, we present you with a question based on a topic in the news and showcase the best answers on our website the following week. Want your answer featured? Read carefully, think thoughtfully and write your best answer at the bottom of the article.

# data[].attributes.body
Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Using Oil Wells to Create Power from the Earth’s Heat

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As the world tries to quit fossil fuels, there’s a lot of focus on renewable energy sources like wind and solar. But one very promising source of energy comes from deep inside the Earth. And old oil wells could help greatly in developing this power.

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How much do you think the Covid years have impacted your ability to gain and keep sporting skills?

Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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( Do not write down anything until we have our goal setting session. Ms Teresa and I will tell you when to use this section.)

If you were one of the engineers who built pyramids which goals would you have during your planning?
Write your name and goals down.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Children and parents are being warned about the dangers of sour lollies after a young boy suffered burns to his tongue.

Shocking images of the Perth child's burns were posted to social media, showing layers of his tongue blistered from the product's high acidity*.

Safety and first aid service CPR Kids posted the photos, saying it hoped to spread awareness around the potentially dangerous treats.

"Sour candy packaging often stipulates* that children under four shouldn't eat the sweets and that consuming multiple lollies quickly can cause 'temporary irritation to sensitive tongues and mouths'," CPR Kids wrote.

It is not known which brand of lolly the child in the photo consumed, but CPR Kids said Warheads and TNT were brands consumed widely across the country.

"We understand that the labels come with warnings, but dentists say the lollies should be avoided altogether due to the acidic* coating (regardless of age)," CPR Kids wrote.

CPR Kids said the results of lab tests on sour lollies were quite "concerning" with most lollies found to be more acidic than vinegar.

In a lengthy post warning parents, the Dental Association of Australia's Jonathon Teoh echoed the warning.

He said the lollies could be "very dangerous" because of their "high level of acid or PH which can cause chemical burns".

Melbourne mum Kirsty Wright shared daughter Willow's painful experience after eating 10 of her brother's sour Warhead lollies late last year.

Willow, 4, ran to her mother screaming about burning pain on her tongue.

"They had burnt her tongue, she was beside herself," she told Tiny Hearts Education.

Ms Wright said her daughter had suffered a severe chemical reaction, which left a hole in her tongue.

Consumer advocacy* group Choice said while the injuries were painful, they were not likely to be permanent.

"The soft tissues of the mouth will usually repair without much problem," a report stated.

"The more insidious* issue with sour lollies is their increased potential for irreversibly* damaging teeth."
GLOSSARY

acidity: the amount of acid in a substance

stipulates: says what is allowed or necessary

acidic: containing acid

advocacy: arguing on behalf of or supporting an idea

insidious: gradually and secretly causing harm

irreversibly: in a way that cannot be reversed or fixed

EXTRA READING Bad sugar habits are harming kids Good moods from fresh foods Junk food tells lies to your brain Is this the best job in the world? QUICK QUIZ

1. Packaging on sour lollies often suggests they should not be eaten by children under what age?

2. Tests showed most sour lollies were more acidic than what?

3. How many sour lollies did four-year-old Willow eat?

4. What brand of sour lollies did she eat?

5. Consumer group Choice warned sour lollies could cause irreversible damage to what?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Write a song
Write the words for a song or nursery rhyme that will help little kids understand why they should never eat sour lollies. Your song should be simple and easy for kids to remember.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Health and Physical Education

2. Extension
Can you come up with the perfect lolly? Describe, draw and name the perfect yummy treat that you would create for kids. Your lolly should be safe for kids of all ages to enjoy!

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Design and Technologies, Health and Physical Education

VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during one of the events being discussed in the article, or for the interview.

Create a conversation between two characters from the article - you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don't forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.

Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Children and parents are being warned about the dangers of sour lollies after a young boy suffered burns to his tongue. Shocking images of the Perth child's burns were posted to social media, showing layers of his tongue blistered from the product's high acidity*.

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Action Ideas For Different Global Goals
Please have a look at the book in the attachment then
- Find your global goal in the booklet,
- Read the possible action ideas,
- Write one action in the comment section which you think best for your global issue

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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One of the challenges facing the world as it fights the climate crisis is how to remove pollution from the air, and store it so that it's harmless. Today, NFK looks at the promise and challenges of "capturing carbon".

It's no secret that the world is struggling to deal with a "climate crisis". The heavy use of fossil fuels over the last 150 years has caused the Earth to warm up. That pattern will continue and get worse unless we stop the pollution very, very quickly.

And even if we do end fossil fuel use, there's still way too much of a polluting gas called "carbon dioxide" (CO2) in our atmosphere. Recent reports by scientists make it clear that this CO2 must be removed from the atmosphere and stored.

Plants and trees do this naturally. But there's so much CO2 in the atmosphere that planting trees and protecting forests won't come close to solving the problem. That means humans need to come up with ways of removing carbon from the air and storing it. This is called Direct Air Capture (DAC).

Carbon Dioxide in the Air
Even though there's too much carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, CO2 is still just a small part of the gases that make up air. If you could somehow take a bag of air, split it into the gases that make up the air, and put those gases into 2,500 tiny bags, only one of those tiny bags would have carbon dioxide in it. That's what DAC technologies need to remove.

The science of removing carbon from the air is hugely challenging, and it's still fairly new. But there are already about 18 working carbon removal factories around the world. Some store the CO2 they remove. Others turn it into other products, including fuel. So far, though, they can't remove much carbon.

Last September, the world's largest carbon capture factory opened in Iceland. Called Orca, the project is run by Climeworks, which works on capturing the CO2, and CarbFix, which handles storing the carbon in rocks deep underground. The factory can remove up to 4,000 metric tons of CO2 a year.

Though the Orca plant represents huge progress, there's a very long way to go. Experts say that by 2030, we need to be able to remove 85 million metric tons of CO2 from the air. It would take 1,000 factories like Orca over 20 years to remove that much. Factories that can remove even more CO2 are being planned, but it will take time for them to be built.

Until recently, scientists working on capturing carbon had a hard time finding support for their research. Now, because of the crisis, there are many scientists working on the problem, and many companies willing to pay for it. Governments worldwide have promised nearly $4 billion to develop carbon capture methods and factories.

Not everyone is excited about carbon removal. Some people worry that there's not enough time left for DAC technology to be developed and become powerful enough to make a big difference. Others worry that focusing on removing carbon could take attention away from more important climate actions, like switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

It's certainly true that the world needs to cut fossil fuel use. But experts say that the world also needs to pull carbon out of the air. The trick will be for governments and companies to do both.

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The Challenge of Removing Carbon Dioxide from the Air

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One of the challenges facing the world as it fights the climate crisis is how to remove pollution from the air, and store it so that it's harmless. Today, NFK looks at the promise and challenges of "capturing carbon". It's no secret that the world is struggling to deal with a "climate crisis".

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take

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Since early April, climate protesters have blocked roads, buildings, and oil storage areas. The protests are meant to bring attention to the climate crisis. The protests have made the news, but it's not clear if they're changing people's minds.

Over the last few weeks, several groups, including Extinction Rebellion, Scientists Rebellion, and Just Stop Oil, have launched repeated protest efforts in locations around the world.

The goals of these groups are similar to the goals of the student-led climate strikes inspired by Greta Thunberg. All of the groups want governments and companies to admit that there is a climate emergency and take strong action right away.

But the way these groups protest is very different from student climate strikes.

The protests are peaceful, but they're designed to interrupt normal life and to cause problems that force people to pay attention. For example, last Friday, Extinction Rebellion protesters blocked traffic on four of London's busiest bridges.

The protesters don't just hold up signs at their protests. Instead they use their bodies to block entrances. To make it harder for police to remove them, protesters lock themselves to doors, gates, and heavy equipment. Some protesters glue their hands to important buildings or machines so it will take a long time to safely remove them from the area.

The recent protests were planned to focus attention on a new UN report on the climate crisis.

In the United Kingdom, protesters from Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil blocked important fuel storage stations across England. Their goal was to make nearby gas (petrol) stations run out of fuel. Some famous people, including Olympic athletes, took part in the protests.

The protesters also targeted businesses that support fossil fuel companies. On April 12, Extinction Rebellion protesters blocked the entrances to the main offices of Lloyds of London. The protesters want the company to stop insuring fossil fuel projects.

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In early April, thousands of scientists from Scientist Rebellion took part in similar protests in 25 countries around the world. The group is like Extinction Rebellion, but its members are scientists. The group's members hope that when people see scientists taking extreme protest actions, they will begin to understand how serious the climate crisis is.

In the US, scientists chained themselves to the White House fence, and blocked a major highway in Washington, DC. In California, scientists chained themselves to the JPMorgan Chase bank building. They want the bank to stop supporting fossil fuel projects.

Dr. Peter Kalmus, a scientist at NASA, made an emotional speech while he was chained to the bank's door. A video of his speech spread widely on the internet. Dr. Kalmus said he felt like he had to protest because, "...scientists are not being listened to."

Many people are annoyed by the protests held by these groups. Critics say the protests don't work, since they upset people instead of encouraging them to take action.

But these groups say that without the protests, the problems are too easy to ignore. Dr. Kalmus says, "I feel like I'm actually, finally, starting to be heard - probably, really, for the first time."

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Protests for Climate Action Demand Attention

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Since early April, climate protesters have blocked roads, buildings, and oil storage areas. The protests are meant to bring attention to the climate crisis. The protests have made the news, but it's not clear if they're changing people's minds.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Humans are using around 129 billion masks per month

We know that personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and face shields is important in protecting people against COVID-19.

But who's protecting Mother Earth?

According to a study by the Environmental Science & Technology journal, humans around the globe are using approximately 129 billion disposable face masks and 65 billion plastic gloves every month.

And many of those masks have become litter in streets, beaches and oceans.

Blue disposable face masks being created in a factory in Louiseville, Quebec. (Image credit: Jean-Francois Fortier/CBC)

That waste is cause for concern for environmentalists like Rebecca Prince-Ruiz.

"There's been an extraordinary rise in single-use plastics used in PPE," said Prince-Ruiz, founder and executive director of Plastic Free Foundation, an organization aimed at limiting single-use plastics across the world.

"It's the issue on top of everyone's mind."

So what's the solution?

Disposable masks are extremely important for front-line workers such as doctors and nurses.

Stopping their use isn't an option.

Newly created surgical masks sit in a bin. (Image credit: Ben Nelms/CBC)

But there are small things everyone can do to reduce waste, Prince-Ruiz said, such as wearing reusable masks.

Kids can also encourage adults to reduce their use of plastic gloves.

There are also companies finding creative solutions to this environmental issue.

Here are some examples.

1. Turning PPE into big blocks

At the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, England, staff and patients have been using up to 10,000 masks per day, according to a statement released in December.

That's a big increase from the 300 per day they were using in 2019.

Like most single-use masks, that PPE was destined for the garbage bin - until now.

Working with Thermal Compaction Group (TCG), an environmental organization, staff have found a way to sustainably recycle things like masks and hospital gowns.

So what's their secret?

They created a machine that melts the PPE and turns it into big blocks.

The mask recycling scheme is being piloted in three areas at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Pictured here is the block of melted single-use PPE. (Image credit: Royal Cornwall Hospitals)

Those blocks are eventually converted into new products such as bottles, bins and toolboxes.

"We hope this will be a real game changer in the way [we] tackle single use PPE, not only for us here in Cornwall but across the U.K. and beyond," said Roz Davies, general manager of the RCHT Care Group.

2. Turning plastic into biofuel

One group of researchers from the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in India has come up with a slightly different approach to the issue.

They studied the composition of gloves, face masks, goggles, face shields and gowns and found that many of them were made from what's called non-woven polypropylene.

That means it's very difficult to recycle.

But what researchers did find is that with high temperatures, that material can be broken down into biofuel.

Biofuel is a source of renewable energy, unlike coal, natural gas or petroleum.

That means it's better for the environment because it generates energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.

3. Compostable face shields

Two companies in the U.K. teamed up to create a plastic-free face and eye shield.

The shields are made from wood pulp material and are completely compostable.

REEL and A Plastic Planet, the companies behind the invention, say their shared mission is to rid the world of unnecessary single-use plastic.

4. Reusing hospital PPE

One company in the U.S. came up with what's called the Battelle CCDS Critical Care Decontamination System, a process that decontaminates N95 respirators so they can be used again.

Here's how it works: hospitals are asked to collect their N95 respirators into a biohazard bag and ship them to Battelle, the disinfection company.

Then the masks are exposed to a vapor phase hydrogen peroxide process, which means any biological contaminants like COVID-19 are removed.

The masks are shipped back to the hospitals so they can be used again by front-line workers.

A discarded N95 respirator mask is pictured on the road. (Image credit: Ben Nelms/CBC)

'If we all just do a little bit, that adds up'

So why isn't the whole world using these high-tech processes?

For starters, it's expensive.

Prince-Ruiz also says that reducing single-use plastics can be difficult depending on where you live.

"Where people live around the world, and even within a single country, it's so different - the experience that they're facing," she said.

She also noted that while PPE is causing extra waste, single-use plastics that have been in use long before the pandemic continue to be the top-of-mind issue among environmentalists.

"There's still other things we can do in our lives and our homes," Prince-Ruiz said.

"PPE is just one part of that."

If you're looking for some tips on how to reduce waste caused by PPE, check out this article!

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Masks are polluting the environment. These 4 companies have solutions | CBC Kids News

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We know that personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and face shields is important in protecting people against COVID-19. But who's protecting Mother Earth? According to a study by the Environmental Science & Technology journal, humans around the globe are using approximately 129 billion disposable face masks and 65 billion plastic gloves every month.

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Businesses Founded by Kids
After you have skimmed the article:
1. Read the paragraph about one of the businesses.
2. Go to the business website to learn more about their purpose, product, and marketing.
3. Record what you observed and any questions that you have.

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15 Companies Founded by Amazing Young Entrepreneurs - businessnewsdaily.com

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These entrepreneurs have launched successful startups and learned a lot about the world of business and marketing ― all when they were 18 or younger.

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How is children's day celebrated in Turkey?

Why is children's day celebrated in Turkey?

What is 23rd April in Turkey?

When did Turkey start celebrating the children's day?

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National Sovereignty and Children's Day ( Turkish: Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) is a public holiday in Turkey commemorating the foundation of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, on 23 April 1920. It is the only holiday, which is devoted to all children of the world by Atatürk. It is also observed by Northern Cyprus.

23 April is the day that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was founded in 1920. The national council denounced the government of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed VI and announced a temporary constitution.

This national day, April 23 Children's Day, in Turkey is a unique event. The founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, presented April 23 to all the world's children to emphasize that they are successor of the future. During the War of Independence, Grand National Assembly met in Ankara and laid down the foundations of a new, independent, secular and modern republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. Following the defeat of the Allied invasion forces on September 9, 1922 and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, Atatürk started his task of establishing the institutions of the new state. Over the next eight years, Atatürk and his followers adopted sweeping reforms to create a modern Turkey, divorced from its Ottoman past. In unprecedented moves, he dedicated the sovereignty day to the children and entrusted in the hands of the youth the protection of this sovereignty and independence.

Every year, the children in Turkey celebrate National Sovereignty and Children's Day as a national holiday. Similar to other April events, Children's Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Schools participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances in all fields in large stadiums watched by the entire nation. Among the activities on this day, the children send their representatives to replace state officials and high ranking civil servants in their offices. The President, the cabinet ministers, provincial governors, and mayors all turn over their positions to children's representatives. These children, in turn, sign executive orders relating to educational and environmental policies. On this day, the children also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a special session to discuss matters concerning children's issues.

After UNESCO proclaimed 1979 as the International Year of the Child, Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) organized the first TRT International April 23 Children's Festival. Five countries participated in this first celebration of the festival. Over the years, this number grew steadily, resulting in children coming to Turkey from about 50 countries every year to participate in the festival. During their stay in Turkey, the foreign children are housed in Turkish homes and find an important opportunity to interact with the Turkish children and learn about each other's countries and cultures. The foreign children groups also participate in the special session of the Grand National Assembly.

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National Sovereignty and Children's Day - Wikipedia

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National Sovereignty and Children's Day ( Turkish: Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı) is a public holiday in Turkey commemorating the foundation of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, on 23 April 1920. It is the only holiday, which is devoted to all children of the world by Atatürk.

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What do you think about this business plan developed by the children?
How do you think this plan could improve to be more environmentally sustainable?
What high ladder questions can you think of

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Boys, aged 9 to 13, launched Color Me Inc. at Ontario market

No need for a weekly allowance when you can make your own money!
Lots of Canadian kids run their own businesses, but how do they pull it off?
Check out the next installment in our Biz Kids series.

Ever wanted to colour on a canvas that's as tall as you are?

Bored with the limitations of regular colouring books, the Moustapha brothers, from London, Ontario, created their own business called Color Me Inc. in 2020.

They designed life-sized colouring sheets that allow you to draw outside the lines and then some.

With canvases as large as 100 by 150 centimetres (or three feet tall), you might even need a stepladder!

Two years later, the brothers, who range in age from nine to 13, continue to sell their creations at local markets - and turn a profit.

They have even donated a portion of their proceeds to local charities.

How they got started

Karim, Yusef, Ali and Omar got the idea of creating their own company while spending time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After asking their parents to look for giant colouring books that were also culturally diverse - and not finding them - they decided to create their own.

The brothers started to license work from independent artists whose work they discovered on social media. That means they pay for permission to use the images.

Then they started researching independent printers who would work with them.

Building the business

Today, the brothers' fun, eye-catching designs are a popular attraction at local markets.

They sell for $20 per colouring sheet.

"I see quite a few people walking around the market with their colouring pages under their arms," said Dan Ross, a manager at The Market at the Western Fair District in London, where the brothers' designs are sold.

Ross told CBC Kids News that everyone from young kids to great-grandparents are snapping up their colouring pages and that he's very impressed with the Moustapha family.

"The entire family is wonderful to work with," said Ross.

"The parents looked after the legality of setting up the business, but have placed all the responsibilities on the boys' shoulders - they take their business very seriously!"

Brothers make a good team

While working with your sibling could be challenging, the four brothers say they enjoy it because they all have similar tastes in art.

"We usually agree because we kind of have the same tastes in designs, I guess," said Yusef. "There's not really a vote or anything."

Omar added: "We don't disagree on much, and it's really easy to agree on stuff and it's just easy to work with each other."

Paying it forward

In a piece published on the website of Vancouver TV personality and lifestyle expert Jillian Harris on March 4, the brothers wrote that a special part of owning their own business is giving back to their community.

So far, they said they've given their giant colouring pages to retirement homes and to their teachers at school.

They have also donated proceeds of their sales to their favourite charities ChildCan and the Boys and Girls Club of London.

Now that's what we call brotherly love.

﻿﻿Have more questions? ﻿Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the "send us feedback" link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

With files from James Chaarani/CBC

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BIZ KIDS - Meet 4 brothers who created life-sized colouring pages | CBC Kids News

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No need for a weekly allowance when you can make your own money! Lots of Canadian kids run their own businesses, but how do they pull it off? Check out the next installment in our Biz Kids series. Ever wanted to colour on a canvas that's as tall as you are?

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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When you toss a plastic bottle into a recycling bin, it probably doesn't get recycled. According to the World Economic Forum, only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling. One reason is that not all plastic can be recycled. Sometimes, that's because of the type of plastic, or because it's contaminated × contaminated NARVIKK-GETTY IMAGES polluted; made unfit for use (verb) The river was contaminated by a leak at a nearby power plant. by food waste. Most plastic is burned, tossed into a landfill, or scattered around the natural environment.

"Recycling our way out of [the climate crisis] will not work," says Sander Defruyt, of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Experts say companies should replace single-use containers with containers that can be used over and over. These could be metal or glass. And they could be refilled at a store, by a company, or at home.

"Reuse, as well as plain elimination of a lot of packaging we don't need, will also have to be a crucial part of the solution," Defruyt says.

JASON SOUTH-THE AGE/GETTY IMAGES

A Growing Market

One company experimenting with reusable packaging is Loop. It sells food and household goods in reusable packaging in Fred Meyer superstores, and will soon expand to Walgreens drugstores.

Several global companies have tested similar programs. But the effect of these programs is still minor. As of 2019, less than 2% of the plastic packaging from dozens of companies-including Unilever, Walmart, and Johnson & Johnson-was reusable, Defruyt says.

But the circular-economy movement has been gaining steam. (See "No More Trash.") In the United States, the reusable-packaging market for beauty and personal-care products grew by about 65% from June 2020 to May 2021. Unilever has promised to cut its use of new plastic in half within the next few years.

LEON NEAL-GETTY IMAGES

Making It Work

Can reusable packaging help us save the environment? Shelie Miller is a professor at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability. She says there's a "payback" period with any reusable item. That's the number of times it must be reused before it's actually better for the environment than the single-use alternative. Think about reusable sandwich wrap. The energy and resources needed to make and wash it far exceed × exceed MASKOT-GETTY IMAGES to go beyond (verb) Our principal announced that homework should not exceed two hours a night. what goes into making disposable bags. But reusable bottles could pay off, Miller says.

What consumers do is also important. If someone buys a metal shampoo bottle, gets lazy, and tosses it into the garbage instead of refilling it, that might be worse for the environment than a single-use bottle. That's because it took more energy to make the reusable metal bottle.

For a reuse program to work, experts say simple is best. Loop used to sell its products online, and customers sent empty containers back for a refill. The company switched to stores to make the process easier. Customers return their bottles in person instead of having to mail them back to Loop.

Tom Szaky founded TerraCycle, Loop's parent company. He says this new system will make returns even easier. "If you're already going to walk" to a store, he asks, "what's the big deal in taking some empties?"

Show Your Mug

Starbucks cafés use about 7 billion disposable cups a year. With the lids, that's about 40% of the company's total packaging waste.

JOE RAEDLE-GETTY IMAGES

Now Starbucks is looking to phase out those cups. By 2025, the company plans to have borrow-a-cup programs in place. One possible plan involves customers paying a deposit for each reusable cup. When they're done, they can return the cup to the store. -By Brian S. McGrath

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When you toss a plastic bottle into a recycling bin, it probably doesn't get recycled. According to the World Economic Forum, only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling. One reason is that not all plastic can be recycled....

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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On a drizzly December morning in Helsinki, Finland, 11-year-old Minh Anh Ho is hunched over a microscope. Her classmates are busy with other tasks. One is interviewing the mayor for a TV news station. Another is running the electric company. As a researcher for a company that repurposes plastic, Minh Anh is analyzing a sheet of cling wrap. "It's a really important job," she says. "Plastic takes a really long time to disappear, so it would be good to come up with something else to do with it and not just throw it away."

INGMAR BJÖRN NOLTING FOR TIME

The learning center where Minh Anh and her class are spending their day is designed to introduce kids to working life. Students run an imaginary town, with each kid doing a different job in a different business. Each year, roughly 83% of all sixth graders in Finland go through the program. It teaches them not just about business and working, but also, as Minh Anh's "job" makes clear, about the circular economy.

INGMAR BJÖRN NOLTING FOR TIME

The Circular Economy

Most societies have linear × linear MICHAEL H-GETTY IMAGES going from one thing to the next, in logical order (adjective) The story followed a linear timeline. economies. They operate on a "take, make, waste" model. This is when natural resources are taken from the Earth and made into products. Anything leftover (along with the products themselves, when they are no longer useful) is usually thrown away.

In 2016, Finland became the first country to adopt a "road map" to a circular economy. This model focuses on the transformation of existing products. Businesses rely on recycled or repurposed materials and use less raw material to make their products. That reduces the amount of waste going into landfills.

"People think it's just about recycling," Nani Pajunen says. She's a sustainability expert at Sitra, the group that has led Finland's move toward a circular economy. "But really, it's about rethinking everything-products, material development, how we consume."

Education has always been a central part of Finland's plan. The key to changing a society, Pajunen says, is getting people to understand the need for a circular economy and how they can be part of it.

Important Lessons

Kindergarten director Liisa Woitsch is sitting on the floor with students and a broken wooden chair. "Do we just throw it away now," she asks, "or can you think of anything else that can be done with it?" A little boy pounds on the chair. He says it can be used as a drum.

INGMAR BJÖRN NOLTING FOR TIME

Anssi Almgren helped design the curriculum. "Children have so many great ideas," he says. "We wanted to enable them to think about solutions." But changing a society by educating its youth takes time. Tina Harms had never heard the term "circular economy." Her daughter Karin, 19, says she has been aware of it "practically all my life." Karin persuaded her family to work harder at recycling. At first, Tina was skeptical. Separating plastics was inconvenient.

But Tina feels differently now. "I think that if you have a teenager with very strong feelings about something," she says, "it's very demotivating if we older ones don't show that we're ready to make the extra effort to change."

INGMAR BJÖRN NOLTING FOR TIME

Swappie is a company in Finland that refurbishes × refurbish NUCHAO-GETTY IMAGES to repair or restore something (verb) We refurbished our old coach with new fabric. iPhones. It handles every step of the process. This includes receiving the used phones, repairing them, and sending them out in working condition. Company research suggests that many customers buy Swappie phones for the guaranteed quality and lower price. But some customers have another reason: The company's sense of purpose has made owning a Swappie cooler than getting a new phone.

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On a drizzly December morning in Helsinki, Finland, 11-year-old Minh Anh Ho is hunched over a microscope. Her classmates are busy with other tasks. One is interviewing the mayor for a TV news station. Another is running the electric company....

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Stopping climate change is possible. But time is running out, according to a new report released by the United Nations (U.N.) on April 4. In it, the world's top climate scientists say that countries must sharply reduce their fossil-fuel emissions in the next few years. Otherwise, the dangers of global warming-including droughts, wildfires, and ecosystem loss-will become much worse.

"This is a climate emergency," António Guterres says. He's the U.N. Secretary-General. Not following the guidelines, he says, puts "us firmly on track toward an unlivable world."

In 2015, world governments pledged to cut emissions and keep global warming to around 2.7°F. But many countries have not met their goals. At current emission rates, it will be hard to limit warming to 2.7°F after 2030.

But there is hope, the report says. Technology for renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, has gotten better, and cheaper. Experts add that wealthy countries, like the United States, could help poor nations move toward clean energy.

James Skea helps lead the group that released the report. "The big message we've got," he says, "[is that] human activities got us into this problem, and human agency can actually get us out of it again."
HOW does the photo support the story? Does it reflect the message of the U.N. climate report? Explain. What other photos could have been used?

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Stopping climate change is possible. But time is running out, according to a new report released by the United Nations (U.N.) on April 4. In it, the world's top climate scientists say that countries must sharply reduce their fossil-fuel emissions...

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Who is right here? What do you think about this picture? Do not forget to mention your name in your comments.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

1. Why was the petition launched?

2. How much better did students from schools with mobile phone bans perform in tests?

3. What is the point of view?

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More than 20,000 people have signed a petition calling on the NSW government to ban mobile phones in public high schools so children actually spend recess and lunch talking to each other.

But the state's Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell, has ruled out any policy change, sticking with a 2018 decision to allow secondary school principals to set their own rules when it comes to mobile phones.

The devices are banned in public primary schools in NSW.

The petition was triggered by a Year 7 student who said he had not been able to make new friends because his classmates spent break times glued to social media apps on their phones.

"My 12.5 year old son is struggling to enjoy high school. He was always happy in primary school and is very active and sporty," his mother said in a social media post to the Facebook group North Shore Mums.

"But he says he hates high school as lunchtimes are so boring because everyone (is) on their phones all the time. He wants to run around and play tip or soccer."

In response to the petition, Ms Mitchell said she would not issue a blanket ban* for secondary schools because she trusted individual principals to get the balance right.

"High schools have the flexibility to set their own mobile phone policy, with the majority of high schools in NSW having some form of restriction on their use," she said.

"While mobiles can be disruptive, students also need to learn how to use their devices responsibly."

North Shore Mums founder Rachel Chappell, who created the petition, said many teachers, parents and students supported a ban.

"The big problem is the distraction. You're meant to be in class learning, if there is something beeping in your pocket, that is not conducive* to that," she said.

"Also playtime is really important. I remember sitting around with my mates chatting about what is going on in their lives and if students don't have the opportunity to do that because they're looking at a phone, that's a worry."

An analysis of mobile phone bans by Carleton University in California in 2015 found students at schools which banned mobile phones performed 6 per cent higher in standardised tests* at age 16.

Macquarie University digital learning expert Garry Falloon said he backed a ban on phones at school but added parents also had a role to play in moderating* school behaviour.

"It is not the technology, it is how it is used that is the problem: cyber-bullying, issues around management of image, self esteem, trolling, all of the things which happen online, which can have significant negative psychological* effects," he said.
GLOSSARY

blanket ban: a ban that is applied to everyone or everything, without exception

conducive: providing the right conditions for something to happen

standardised tests: tests that are marked in the same way no matter who is doing the marking

moderating: becoming less or causing something to become less

psychological: to do with the mind and feelings of a person

EXTRA READING Teen friendships move online Kids quizzed by app to gain phone access Students see benefit of phone bans, like it or not QUICK QUIZ

1. How many people have signed the petition calling for the phone ban?

2. What decision was made in 2018 regarding mobile phone use in high schools?

3. Who is Sarah Mitchell?

4. Why was the petition launched?

5. How much better did students from schools with mobile phone bans perform in tests?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Positives and negatives of mobile phones
Create a table to list the positives and negatives of allowing mobile phones at high schools. Include reasons that have been given in the news story as well as any other points you can think of.

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; ICT Capability; Health and Physical Education; Personal and Social Capability

2. Extension
If you were the principal of a high school, what would the rules around mobile phones be? Write your own set of guidelines based on what you think is best for students.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; ICT Capability; Health and Physical Education; Personal and Social Capability

VCOP ACTIVITY
Grammar and VCOP
The glossary of terms helps you to understand and learn the ambitious vocabulary being used in the article. Can you use the words outlined in the glossary to create new sentences? Challenge yourself to include other VCOP (vocabulary, connectives, openers and punctuation) elements in your sentence/s.

Have another look through the article, can you find any other Wow Words not outlined in the glossary?

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Push for mobile phone ban at NSW high schools

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More than 20,000 people have signed a petition calling on the NSW government to ban mobile phones in public high schools so children actually spend recess and lunch talking to each other. But the state's Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell, has ruled out any policy change, sticking with a 2018 decision to allow secondary school principals to set their own rules when it comes to mobile phones.

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The Learner Profile Attributes and Technology
Please read the document and share your thoughts. How can you add this new perspective to your practices? Do not forget to mention your name.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Sailor and ocean advocate Charlie Enright cares about the environment. He competes in the Ocean Race to raise awareness about the seas. Here, he speaks with TFK Kid Reporter Cash Daniels, who also cares about the environment. Cash's work fighting plastic pollution made him a Kid of the Year Top Five honoree.

You sail with the 11th Hour Racing Team. What does that name mean?

The 11th hour is supposed to signify where this planet is in its life. If we don't make some substantial changes in the 11th hour, particularly regarding ocean health, we're going to be in big trouble. So we're trying to create a sense of urgency around the global climate situation and empower people to act.

I read about your new boat. The solar panels and hydrogenerator are amazing. What other sustainable features does this boat have?

One of the big things we're proud of is the use of alternative materials. Right now, the best material for building a race boat is carbon fiber. We've been working with a couple of people who created recycled carbon fiber, which has 90% less [carbon] footprint. And we use a lot of flax and bamboo.

AMORY ROSS-11TH HOUR RACING

What are the most challenging waters to sail in?

I'd say the Southern Ocean, for sure. There are big waves, cold temperatures, and a lot of wind. That's definitely the most physically demanding. But sometimes, the doldrums, around the equator, where there's not a lot of wind, can be just as mentally taxing.

AMORY ROSS-11TH HOUR RACING/GETTY IMAGES

As a sailor who spends a lot of time out on the oceans, what effects of climate change have you seen?

It's tough to quantify. But I think whether you're on the oceans or living your daily life on land, the weather patterns have become a lot more erratic. Growing up here in Rhode Island, we've always had a sea breeze. As a general observation of mine, it's just different from how it used to be. When we race around the planet, we have ice gates in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, so we don't get too close to the ice. Those gates are constantly creeping further north, which I think speaks to the ice flow and the melting.

Have you seen animal species migrating in or to places that you haven't seen them previously?

It's tough to observe that firsthand. But I do a lot of reading on this, and I work with a lot of organizations that study this. With the changing ocean temperatures, it's something that we've got to look out for.

AMORY ROSS-11TH HOUR RACING

With regard to plastic pollution, what's the most common thing you've seen?

The scary thing out there is what you can't see. Microplastics aren't visible with the human eye. We have a sampler on board that collects water and tests for microplastics, so we know they're out there. The things that you can see are tons of water bottles and cigarettes. Those are probably the two big ones.

What's one of the most important lessons that sailing has taught you?

The size of the Earth should not be underestimated. It's funny: Sailing around it sometimes makes me feel like it's so small. But other times when you're out there, it's just so vast. The ocean is so powerful, and you learn never to take it for granted. I'm lucky to be able to do what I do and to pursue my passion as my profession.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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Sailor and ocean advocate Charlie Enright cares about the environment. He competes in the Ocean Race to raise awareness about the seas. Here, he speaks with TFK Kid Reporter Cash Daniels, who also cares about the environment. Cash's work fighting...

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Let's watch the movie and leave a comment below. In your comment
you need to write
- a learner profile attribute you observe,
- an ATL skill you notice,
- a connection to a global goal ( any action ideas?? )

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Sagarika Sriram was just 10 years old when she started reading newspaper stories about a planet in trouble. One story was about a whale that washed ashore after an oil spill. Another was about turtles found with plastic in their…

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April, 7th                                                    3 Hours & 40 Minutes of Daylight!

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April, 7th                                                    3 Hours & 40 Minutes of Daylight!

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Why does this happen in Fairbanks Alaska?
What connections can you make with the facts that you have learnt in Unit 5?

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View Greta Thunberg's web page and listen to her story.
When you think of IB Learner Profile Attributes, which one explains Greta the best? Write your answer and reason by mentioning your name.

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An illustrated timeline of how Greta Thunberg rose from a solo campaigner to the leader of a global movement in 2019.

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1. What connections can you make to our unit of inquiry?
2. What Global connections can you make?

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Climate change: Extreme weather events are happening sooner than expected

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Some climate change experts say extreme weather such as heatwaves and hurricanes linked to climate change are happening sooner than expected.

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1. What connections can you make to our unit of inquiry?
2. What Global connections can you make?

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Climate change: Extreme weather events are happening sooner than expected

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Some climate change experts say extreme weather such as heatwaves and hurricanes linked to climate change are happening sooner than expected.

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What do you think ?
What connections can you make with our unit?

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The idea of a shark with manta ray-like features might seem like something fit for a low-budget sci-fi movie. Yet paleontologists have reported discovering just such a creature in the Cretaceous-period rock of Mexico. This strange shark combines a streamlined body with expansive wing-like fins, an ancient creature unlike anything found before in the fossil record.

In 2012, an unknown quarry worker found a strange set of bones in 95-million-year-old rock layers near Vallecillo, Mexico, says Romain Vullo, a paleontologist at the State Museum of Karlsruhe in Germany. The fossil came to the attention of local paleontologist Margarito González González, who collected and prepared it by chipping rock off the preserved skeleton. Photos of the shark started making waves at paleontological conferences, and the specimen was described in a study published today in the journal Science.

Named Aquilolamna milarcae, the six-foot-long fossil represents a kind of filter-feeding shark unlike any previously known. "My first thoughts on seeing the fossil were that this unique morphology is totally new and unknown among sharks," says Vullo, the lead author of the new study. Most of the time, fossil sharks are identified by teeth and the occasional piece of the spinal column. To find a complete skeleton, and one so strange, presents a rare opportunity to study the anatomy of this ancient swimmer.

Even though no teeth from Aquilolamna have been found, Vullo and colleagues propose that it belongs in the same family of sharks that includes great white, mako, and basking sharks. The broad head and long, wing-like fins hint that this was no hunter, though. Aquilolamna was more likely a filter feeder, opening its mouth to sift plankton and other small organisms out of the water.

A prehistoric oddity

Aquilolamna appears to combine characteristics of both sharks and manta rays, the latter of which would not evolve until millions of years later. The body of Aquilolamna is long and tube-like, similar to many sharks that cruise the oceans today. But the expanded pectoral fins are reminiscent of manta and devil rays, forming broad underwater wings.

This would make Aquilolamna one of the oldest known animals to move via "underwater flight," slowly flapping its fins much like living manta rays. " Aquilolamna may have swum relatively slowly with slight movements of its caudal fin [tail fin] and the long pectoral fins mainly acted as an effective stabilizer," Vullo says.

This type of body plan is completely unexpected for sharks, says Kenshu Shimada, a paleobiology professor at DePaul University in Chicago. Older sharks from before the time of the dinosaurs had a wide variety of different body shapes, but by the Cretaceous period, they were thought to have evolved into much more modern-looking forms.

Aquilolamna could be evidence that a broad variety of strange sharks continued to exist for much longer than thought. "The proposed body form and filter-feeding lifestyle in the new study are quite compelling," Shimada says.

Shark or something else entirely?

But not all experts are convinced that this new creature was a manta-like shark. "There are a lot of unusual features described by these authors, and I have some reservations about some of their interpretations, so I would be excited to see further investigations of this new, remarkable fossil," says Allison Bronson, a paleontologist with Humboldt State University in California.

While skin impressions from Aquilolamna are mentioned in the new study, they are not shown in enough detail for outside experts to determine whether the tissue is really fossilized skin or some other material that resembles skin, like a bacterial mat. And even though this fish likely fed by sifting plankton or other small morsels from the water column, it may have had tiny, pointed teeth similar to modern filter-feeding sharks such as the basking shark and megamouth. These teeth can be used to determine the evolutionary relationships of these sharks, but none were found with the new fossil.

"It is truly unfortunate that no teeth were preserved in the specimen that could have allowed researchers to determine the exact taxonomic affinity of the new shark," Shimada says.

The idea that this animal was a shark and a filter feeder will likely need to be confirmed by future finds and additional analysis. If this interpretation is correct, Aquilolamna was straining the seas for plankton long before its modern relatives evolved to do the same. Perhaps this shark represents one particular way to filter feed that evolved prior to the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period that killed off roughly 75 percent of all marine species. Other filter feeders, including the ancestors of megamouth, whale, and basking sharks, evolved after the world's oceans had bounced back.

If Aquilolamna was indeed an odd relative of basking sharks, there were probably even more strange sharks or marine creatures that paleontologists have yet to uncover. "The fossil record of sharks and rays is good" in terms of time periods covered, Vullo says, but "the body shape of many extinct species remains enigmatic." Perhaps some teeth that paleontologists have already found belonged to bizarrely shaped animals.

Even the famous giant shark Otodus megalodon has only been described from teeth and vertebrae-megalodon means "great tooth" in Greek-leading to varying interpretations of what the animal could have looked like. Exceptional fossils, like that of Aquilolamna, hint that many fossil sharks may have been far stranger than scientists ever expected.

"When we have the opportunity to discover complete skeletons in localities such as Vellecillo," Vullo says, "we can have some surprises."

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Shark-like fossil with manta 'wings' is unlike anything seen before

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The idea of a shark with manta ray-like features might seem like something fit for a low-budget sci-fi movie. Yet paleontologists have reported discovering just such a creature in the Cretaceous-period rock of Mexico. This strange shark combines a streamlined body with expansive wing-like fins, an ancient creature unlike anything found before in the fossil record.

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Are you happy to lose the mask in class?

What do you think about the article?
Which global goals are connected?

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Masks or no masks? Kids share thoughts on dropping mask restrictions | CBC Kids News

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With the lifting of mask restrictions in schools, we talk to two kids about their reasons for or against lifting mask mandates.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action can you take?

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Serious Coral Bleaching Hits Great Barrier Reef Again

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The group in charge of caring for Australia’s Great Barrier Reef reports that the reef appears to be going through another widespread coral “bleaching” event. Once again, rising ocean temperatures are threatening this massive underwater treasure.

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What do you think about the new technology?
Where can we utilize these robots?
What action we can take to prevent the issues via robots?

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There's a lot happening in the world of robotics. From those that look like dogs (Hi, Spot!) to those who dance and those who can support large events, such as the Olympics. With so many different uses, it's no wonder why more and more businesses (and everyday folks like us!) are turning to robots for support. Here's some robot news that might leave you wondering if you'll have a robot in your life one day!

Paging Nurse Grace

In August, a humanoid nurse robot named Grace was unveiled by Hong Kong robotics company Hanson Robotics. Grace speaks three languages (English, Mandarin, and Cantonese) and was designed to be a doctor's assistant. It can do things like take a patient's temperature with its thermal camera, which can help doctors diagnose illnesses. Hanson Robotics is planning to begin mass producing humanoid robots, like Grace and their other humanoid robot Sophia, at the end of this year.

Would you want a robot nurse taking care of you?

Sophia the Robot. By ITU Pictures from Geneva, Switzerland - https://www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/27254369347/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69218227

A Tesla Robot?

Image via tesla.com

A Robot As Nimble As Simone Biles?

There's a humanoid robot called Atlas that robotics company Boston Dynamics has been working on for over a decade. It's considered one of the most advanced robots in the world, and we can see why! What began as an impressive robot that was capable of doing human-like moves, such as picking things up, Atlas has since advanced into a bot that can dance and show off some pretty sweet parkour and gymnastics moves. Want an Atlas to impress your friends or to help out with chores at home? Well, you'll have to wait a long time since Atlas was built more for experimentation and research than mass production. But, who knows? Whoever thought a robot nurse could take your temperature and make you feel better, right?

Love news about robots? We do too! Check out more Xyza stories about robots here!

Other Articles You Might Like

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There's a lot happening in the world of robotics. From those that look like dogs (Hi, Spot!) to those who dance and those who can support large events, such as the Olympics. With so many different uses, it's no wonder why more and more businesses (and everyday folks like us!)

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1. What does CME stand for?

2. What two things could the G1 category of storm cause?

3. Who or what might find a G1 minor storm confusing and why?

4. What happened during a strong solar storm in 1989 and where?

5. What is an aurora?

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1. Which court made this decision?

2. Who is Australia’s environment minister?

3. Who is Anjali Sharma?

4. What year did the students launch their legal action?

5. Which court could consider an appeal by the students?

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Massimo Bottura opened a restaurant in Italy 27 years ago. It has been named the best in the world, twice. Today, Bottura leads a culinary × culinary GOODBOY PICTURE COMPANY/GETTY IMAGES related to cooking (adjective) Jenny loves cooking, so she decided to go to culinary school. empire. It extends from Dubai, in the Middle East, to Beverly Hills, California.

But of all the things he's done, Bottura says his greatest achievement is Refettorio Ambrosiano. It's also in Italy. Twelve global spin-offs have followed.

LUCIA BURICELLI FOR TIME

At Refettorio Ambrosiano, the menu changes daily. It depends on what comes with the morning delivery. One day, the delivery contains chicken close to its sell-by date. There are oranges too ugly for the grocery store. By dinner, these supermarket castoffs have been transformed. About 100 people enjoy the meal. They include refugees, the homeless, and the unemployed. For an hour, they can forget about life's challenges.

LUCIA BURICELLI FOR TIME

Bottura's Refettorios are not restaurants. They are soup kitchens. Not that Bottura would call them that. He thinks of them as places that shine a light on the dignity of their guests while focusing attention on the food-waste problem.

Creating a Movement

JULIA ASSIS-REFETTORIO GASTROMOTIVA

Bottura came up with the idea of Refettorio Ambrosiano in 2015. Organizers of the World Expo, in Italy, had invited him to cook for its grand opening. Bottura said he wanted to do something different. He wanted to cook for the homeless, using surplus food. Pope Francis heard about this. He helped arrange the use of a theater in a run-down neighborhood. Bottura turned it into a dining room for people in need.

Today, his Refettorios are "a movement," Bottura says. "We treat our guests like we do at our restaurants. That's the warm hug we are giving. We are saying, 'Welcome, this is a beautiful place, and it's your place. This is the food that we cook for you. We are here for you.'"

Making a Difference

At a refettorio, a chef must make whole meals out of surplus. And at Bottura's restaurants, the cooks squeeze maximum use out of every ingredient, including vegetable peelings and stale bread.

LUCIA BURICELLI FOR TIME

Turning basic ingredients into gastronomic × gastronomic BURAK KUCUKSU/500PX-GETTY IMAGES having to do with cooking and eating good food (adjective) The restaurant offers a choice of gatronomic delights. gold is Bottura's magic. He says his grandmother taught him how. "What you think is food waste is just an opportunity to create something amazing," he says.

Chefs at Bottura's restaurants learn his approach to cooking, but they also learn about his commitment to making a difference in people's lives. "Everybody has the ability to contribute to positive change. It starts with all of us, in our own kitchens," Bottura says.

The Food-Waste Problem

WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES

"We are 8 billion people on Earth. We produce enough food for 12 billion people," chef Massimo Bottura says. "Yet 820 million people don't have enough to eat."

Every year, more than a billion tons of food ends up wasted. And food waste is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse emissions.

Project Drawdown is a nonprofit group focused on climate change. It says reducing food waste could have a greater impact than switching to electric cars.

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Massimo Bottura opened a restaurant in Italy 27 years ago. It has been named the best in the world, twice. Today, Bottura leads a culinary empire. It extends from Dubai, in the Middle East, to Beverly Hills, California. But of...

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What goal is it connected with, why?
Do you have similar problem in your country?
What actions do you think should be taken in your country for the same problem?
What can you do?

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Whale found with 6kg of plastic in stomach

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Current Events Web Find the Who, What, Where, When, How and Why in the article to complete this worksheet. I Think Because Share what you think about the article and explain why. My Questions Write a question map about questions that you have after reading the article.

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What goal is it connected with, why?
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1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article?

2. What was the key event from the news article?

3. Where did this event take place?

4. When did this event take place?

1. Find a quote from the main person in this news article?

2. In your own words describe what happened in this news article.

3. Find out where this event took place and include some information about this place.

4. Tell us when this event happened and explain what might happen in the future.

5. Explain in your own words why this event took place.

Current Events Web
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I Think Because
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KWL
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Questions and Answers
Write a set of questions and then their answers after reading the article.

The Big Idea
Find the big idea by highlighting the 5 W's and 1 H. then select 25 of key words associated with the article.

Word Investigation
Vocabulary exercise where students find key words within the article.

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New law - Germans must walk their dogs twice a day - Kiwi Kids News

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Germany will introduce law next year to help their dogs stay fit. The new law will require dog owners to walk their dogs twice a day. There are 9.4 million dogs in Germany living in 19% of homes. The country's agriculture minister, Julia Klöckner, has said she is introducing the...

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What kind of regulations we need to prevent screen time effects?
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In fall 2021, the United States Senate held a hearing. It was about Facebook. Senators discussed whether it's bad for children. Senator Dan Sullivan, of Alaska, said that national screen-time limits could protect kids. He mentioned something that happened in China last year.

On August 30, the Chinese government announced that kids would not be allowed to play online games Mondays to Thursdays. On most weekends and holidays, kids would be limited to an hour a day of online gaming. "Recently, many parents have reported that game addiction among some youths and children is seriously harming their normal study, life, and mental and physical health," the Chinese government said online.

This news and Senator Sullivan's words got us thinking. Should a government be responsible for limiting how much time kids spend online? We asked TIME for Kids readers to share their opinion. Many of you wrote to us. Here's where you stand.

COURTESY VICKY NING
Justin Lining, 10
Bellevue, Washington

Most people are obsessed with their phones and TVs. You can hurt your eyes and waste time by being addicted to screens. And watching a lot of TV or playing games can interfere with kids' learning and social skills. If the government limited screen time, people would be encouraged to spend more quality time with their family. They might join a sports team in their neighborhood.

COURTESY TIMOTHY MCNEELY
Esmé McNeely, 11 Tacoma, Washington
The government should not set screen-time limits. That decision should be up to parents or guardians. Some children need more screen time than others. Some children need to use screens for homework. And during quarantine, one of the only ways to talk to friends was online. Government limits would not be fair to people who are careful with their screen time.

COURTESY KATHEE BOWES
Jacie Lynch-Plaisted, 12
Elmira, New York

The government should set screen-time limits. Kids can forget how to socialize. And they can neglect to take care of their mental health if they are staring at a screen for too long.

Without screen-time limits, kids can sometimes stay up too late. Staying up too late can be bad. It can affect your sleeping schedule. Not getting enough sleep can make you feel really tired during the day. And feeling tired during the day can affect your performance in school.

COURTESY ANTHONY BARONE

Lucas Barone, 11
Washington, D.C.
The government should not limit screen time. A 2021 study from the University of Colorado Boulder says screen time might be less harmful to kids than people think. Some parents worry that children who are on screens too much won't make friends. But the study reports that screen time can actually improve kids' friendships.

Screen time can be educational. It can help kids do good work. I use websites to read and to learn math. Kids can become healthier by using certain apps, too. For example, you can learn how to do yoga from screens!

COURTESY WEN SHI
Xiuhan Zhu, 9 Hopkinton, Massachusetts
I think the government should take action and limit screen time for kids. Too much screen time can lead to exhaustion and a decrease in socialization. Plus, smartphones are distracting. People who use them are more likely to trip or get into car accidents.

Devices like computers can also be harmful for kids. If kids aren't careful with the websites they use, criminals can get access to important information.

Instead of keeping busy on the screen, try doing something fun and creative. Try making origami, reading books, playing sports, or tinkering with Legos.

COURTESY MARISELA CUARA
Belem Gaeta Cuara, 10 Hudson, Colorado
The government should not set screen limits for a few reasons. First, kids need time to unwind after school. They should have as much time on screens as they want. I work hard all day. Looking at a screen when I get home helps me settle down.

Second, kids should have the right to talk with friends online and play their favorite games. Friendships are very important. Playing a game with your buddy can put a smile on your face.

Third, screens help kids learn and develop their knowledge.

COURTESY AKSHAY SHAH
Akshay Shah, 9 Scotch Plains Township, New Jersey
Spending too much time looking at screens can lead to poor grades, strain on the eyes, and loss of sleep. According to a national survey done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children ages 8 to 18 years old spend an average of seven hours and 38 minutes on entertainment media on most days. And that data was published in 2010! About half of the students reported to be heavy media users got low or fair grades in school. With screen-time limits, kids would have more time to go outside, exercise, read a book, or play a game.

The Next Debate! Should schools give kids days off for mental health? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com. Your response might be featured in an upcoming issue.

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Should Governments Regulate Screen Time?

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In fall 2021, the United States Senate held a hearing. It was about Facebook. Senators discussed whether it's bad for children. Senator Dan Sullivan, of Alaska, said that national screen-time limits could protect kids. He mentioned something that happened in...

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What is the point of view?

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Magpies Teach Scientists Unexpected Lesson

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Science experiments don’t always go as planned, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them. Recently, Australian scientists learned something unexpected about magpies when they tried to attach trackers to them to learn more about their habits.

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Oysters to the Rescue - Teaching Kids News

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The Hudson River is getting a good cleaning from an unusual source: oysters.

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Australians might one day be unable to play sports outside if temperatures continue to rise, experts have warned.

It's one of several serious scenarios coming out of the latest report from the UN-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The report, released as major flooding affects Queensland and NSW, said while actions to reduce climate risks had increased worldwide, much more was required.

"Successful adaptation* requires urgent, more ambitious and accelerated* action and, at the same time, rapid and deep cuts in greenhouse gas* emissions*," the report said.

But many species - including human beings - risk eventually reaching the limit of their ability to adapt to climate change.

Report co-author and IPCC vice chair Professor Mark Howden said coral reefs were just one well-documented example.

However, he warned Australians could also be nearing their own physiological* limits.

"Our bodies can cope with hot, hot temperatures outside up to a point," Professor Howden said.

"But then we can't do that without some sort of active cooling. If you get very high temperatures and humidity, you either have to pull back on your exercise or you overheat.

"If you're still wanting to be active, you actually have to find some way of having active cooling in that environment.

"So we reach a limit to where our adaptive capacity can go."

He added Australian workdays might also need a rethink - with options including a nap during the day to avoid the hottest temperatures.

The IPCC reports, which are published roughly every six to seven years, are considered an authoritative* study of climate science, guided and agreed to by scientists and governments across the globe.

The report also warned that changes in temperature, rainfall and extreme weather were having a major impact on the spread of disease in wildlife, agriculture and people.

Its release comes just months after world leaders were unable to reach agreement on strengthening their climate commitments at the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

At the summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to keep the goal of global warming increases to just 1.5C, speed up the decarbonisation* of the global economy and phase out coal.

But asked if commitments made at the summit would slow climate change, lead author Dr Johanna Nalau's response was sobering*.

"A lot of talk, a lot of commitments, but I think the overall sense is that we are just not on track," she said.

Professor Howden said a major concern was how emissions would track as the world bounced back from Covid.

But he said that while the government knew what it needed to do, it was a matter of political will.

"Climate change is here. In Australia it's mostly negative, and it really matters to pretty much everything we value here in Australia," Professor Howden said.

"Listen to the people ... 90 per cent of Australians want more action on climate change.

"If there was any other issue that had 90 per cent of people wanting more action on it, you'd have the politicians running for the policy development process immediately.

"Yet we don't see that ... climate change should not be a political issue."

Among the report's key messages was the intertwined* fates of human and natural systems. It stressed that climate change cannot be tamed unless degraded* forests and oceans that stock carbon are restored and protected, because they are the ecosystems* on which human beings and other life forms depend for clean water, air and soil.
GLOSSARY

adaptation: change, modification, adjustment

accelerated: increased rate, extent or amount

greenhouse gas: gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, like methane and carbon dioxide

emissions: production and release of something, here being greenhouse gases over time

physiological: relating to the way in which the bodies of living things work

authoritative: trustworthy, reliable, valid, accurate

decarbonisation: removal/reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) output into the atmosphere

sobering: when a situation seems serious and makes you feel thoughtful and sombre

intertwined: closely connected and difficult or impossible to separate

degraded: stripped, reduced, destroyed or spoiled

ecosystems: where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a living community

EXTRA READING Understanding climate change How climate change affects Australia Hybrid coral could withstand heat Fluffy clouds to help save Great Barrier Reef QUICK QUIZ

1. What does IPCC stand for?

2. The spread of disease in wildlife, agriculture and people is impacted by what factors?

3. At the COP26 summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged leaders to do what?

4. What percentage of Australians want more action on climate change?

5. Why is it critical that degraded forests and oceans are restored and protected?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Outside exercise
It would be a sad world if humans couldn't exercise outside due to climate change. If the world is to heat up, making it very hot to play sports or exercise outside, what could we do to ensure our body temperatures remain cool enough to stay outside and play?

Brainstorm some ideas below:

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Health and Physical Education; Personal and Social; Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
"Listen to the people ... 90 per cent of Australians want more action on climate change". What do you want our leaders to do to ensure the health of our planet and country? What can you do to advocate for this?

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Health and Physical Education; Personal and Social; Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
1. Summarise the article
A summary is a brief statement of the main points of something. It does not usually include extra detail or elaborate on the main points.

Use the 5W & H model to help you find the key points of this article. Read the article carefully to locate who and what this article is about, and where, when, why and how this is happening. Once you have located this information in the article, use it to write a paragraph that summarises the article.

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Australians might one day be unable to play sports outside if temperatures continue to rise, experts have warned. It's one of several serious scenarios coming out of the latest report from the UN-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
Do you have similar issues in your school?
Should your school also make arrangements for meals?

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Skip to main content

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating school nutrition standards. The announcement was made on February 4. The new rules are meant to help cafeterias serve more-healthy meals. Schools have found it difficult to provide nutritious meals because of supply shortages. These have been caused by the pandemic.

Tom Vilsack is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He says the new policies should get schools on track toward meeting higher nutrition guidelines.

Cafeterias will be allowed to serve low-fat chocolate milk instead of only nonfat. There will be a new standard for the percentage of whole grains in school meals. And in fall 2023, the sodium limit for meals must decrease by 10%.

School meals have become more healthy since 2012. The USDA set higher standards then. Vilsack says the new rules "will help schools transition to a future that builds on the tremendous strides they've made . . . over the past decade."
WHY has TIME for Kids chosen to cover this story? What factors do editors consider when deciding what stories to feature?

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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating school nutrition standards. The announcement was made on February 4. The new rules are meant to help cafeterias serve more-healthy meals. Schools have found it difficult to provide nutritious meals because...

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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E. Toby Kiers rarely wore shoes as a kid. She loved the feeling of soil between her toes. "I always felt like something was under there, something secret and hidden," she says.

Now, as an adult, she's revealing that hidden world. It's a tangled network of fungus and plant roots. They all trade resources and even messages. People walk over this network all the time without even realizing it's there. Yet understanding its mysteries could help us better cope with Earth's changing climate.

"It's pretty much the last frontier in understanding how our planet works," says Kiers. She studies fungal networks as an evolutionary biologist at Free University Amsterdam. It's in the Netherlands.

Dan Molter (shroomydan) at Mushroom Observer/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

When you think of fungus, mushrooms may come to mind. But the mushrooms that pop up above ground are temporary. The main body of a typical forest fungus remains underground. It is a vast, branching network of very thin, thread-like structures called mycelia (My-SEE-lee-uh). In just one teaspoon of soil there may be enough of these threads to span 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), writes Merlin Sheldrake in his 2020 book, Entangled Life.

All fungi need carbon to grow. Fungi that form networks may feed on the carbon in decaying wood or dead plant matter. Or they may form relationships with living plants. Some fungal networks grow around root tips, like tiny socks. These are known as EM, short for ectomycorrhizae (EK-toh-my-koh-RYE-zee). Others grow into the cells of plant roots. Known as AM, they have an even longer name: arbuscular mycorrhizae (Ar-BUS-kew-lur MY-koh-RYE-zee).

Plants get carbon from photosynthesis. But to grow, they also need nitrogen and phosphorus. Mycelia can range farther than roots to find these nutrients. So fungi and plants regularly trade with each other to get what they need. Almost all the plants in the world share resources through a network of mycelia. Mostly, plants give carbon and receive nitrogen and phosphorus. But mycelia also distribute carbon among plants and carry messages between them. It's almost like the internet or a highway system.

Suzanne Simard is a forest ecologist in Canada at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She was the first to show that trees could exchange carbon through fungal networks in a natural setting. A 1997 news report about that work called this the "wood wide web." (It's a play on the "world wide web," an early name for the internet.) This isn't a perfect metaphor, however, because a fungal system is alive and has its own agenda. But her work opened people's eyes to the fact that a forest is a highly interconnected ecosystem.

How do networks of mycelia grow and explore? How do they connect with plants? And can their carbon-trading skills help us cope with climate change? Researchers are just starting to find answers.

C. Biost/L. Galvez/S. Spacal

Memory without a brain

A fungus is not a plant. It also is not an animal. It belongs to its own taxonomic kingdom. Though mushrooms remain in one place like plants, mycelia can sense and explore their world. Sheldrake writes, "Mycelium is a living, growing investigation." Imagine if you could divide your body in two, each side walking through a different door at the same time, then eventually rejoin with yourself. Mycelia do this. They grow in many directions in search of food. Unsuccessful ventures die off while successful ones thicken and branch further. Mycelia have no brain. Yet they fight with other fungi and with critters that graze on them. They even seem to have a basic form of memory, according to new research by Yu Fukasawa and Lynne Boddy.

At Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, Boddy studies fungi that break down things like wood and dead plants. In the 1980s, she showed how a fungal network searches for food and then re-forms itself after it finds something yummy. Last year, Fukasawa and Boddy tested the memory of a typical fungus that likes to feast on wood. They placed blocks of wood containing this fungus onto trays of soil. Then they let the fungus explore until it found a nearby block of fungus-free wood.

Next, the researchers lifted out the original block and carefully shaved off every bit of mycelia growing from it. They placed it into a new tray, with no new block of wood to discover. As the mycelia in the block began to grow again, they sent out extra threads from the side that had faced food in the past. "We did this on lots of different trays and with lots of different sizes of wooden blocks," says Boddy. "Almost always, you get much more growth on the side where the new food resource had been."

The fungus had somehow remembered which part of itself had faced toward food in the past. So it sent out more growth in that direction. Boddy thinks that the more researchers look, the more examples of fungal memory they will find.

egschiller/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Hoarding and trading

A fungus that networks with living plants doesn't feast on them to get the carbon it needs. It trades. Kiers's team in Amsterdam has studied how this works in AM networks. They're the ones that grow inside plant root cells. These mycelia regularly move nutrients through the soil. And they seem to do so with the shrewdness of a bartering salesperson.

It isn't easy to watch trading inside those microscopic threads below the ground. So the researchers developed a way to put a chemical tag on phosphorus. They added tiny dots that glow when ultraviolet light strikes them. They can make these dots glow in different colors. This lets them watch how phosphorus moves through a network.

In one 2019 study, Kiers's team grew mycelia and carrot roots in small dishes. Some regions in each dish were rich in the nutrient phosphorus. Other areas had little of this fertilizer. The fungus moved phosphorus from the rich area to the poor area. Kiers thinks this happens because plants growing in a nutrient-poor area can't get phosphorus on their own through their roots. So compared to plants growing in a nutrient-rich area, those at a nutrient-poor site will trade more carbon to the mycelia for phosphorus.

In 2020, Kiers showed that mycelia will also hoard nutrients when they are plentiful. This makes those nutrients temporarily unavailable to plant roots. Then, "plants have to pay [the mycelia] more carbon to get at it," says Kiers.

"It seems like aliens," says E. Toby Kiers. In fact, this video shows nutrients moving through an underground network of thread-like fungus. Similar networks link plants and support ecosystems all around the world.

Invisible messages

Mycelia don't just trade with plants. They also carry their messages. Plants may seem like they sit there doing nothing. In fact, they constantly chat among themselves using chemicals. "Anything that makes plants smell nice or have a flavor, that's stuff plants are making," says Kathryn Morris. And they're most likely making it to kill other things, such as insects or disease-causing microbes, she says. Or they could make it as a signal. Morris is a biologist at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Plants can broadcast scent messages through the air. But they also send some through the soil. Consider when aphids attack a broad bean plant. The besieged plant blasts out chemicals that attract wasps to eat the aphids. A 2013 study showed that a broad bean plant that isn't under attack - but that taps into the same fungal network as one that is - will also send out these warnings. This happens even when researchers separate the plants with plastic barriers so they can't detect signals floating through the air. This suggests the plants must be sending messages underground.

It may seem like the plant in trouble is helping its neighbor. But maybe not. The plant that hasn't been attacked yet may be eavesdropping to detect when it needs to take action and protect itself. Or perhaps the fungal network carries these messages because this helps the survival of all the plants on which it depends for carbon.

Morris's research with AM networks has shown that plants' chemical signals reach much farther through the soil if mycelia are there than when they aren't. What she wants to know now is how this happens. How do the mycelia broadcast messages? "We really don't know," says Morris. Her team is working on a method that will detect where chemicals are and how they move through fungal networks.

Yummy carbon

For a fungus, the whole point of networking with plants is to get the carbon it needs to grow. Plants get their carbon from the atmosphere. They take up carbon-dioxide gas during photosynthesis. Then they turn it into carbon-based sugars that they use to grow. Along the way, those plants will trade some of their sugars with fungi.

The globe is warming, in part, because of all the greenhouse gases that human activities spew into the air as we power our cars, electricity-generating plants, electronics and other machines. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas. As you may already know, planting trees and boosting the health of forests can help suck extra carbon dioxide out of the air.

Andy Taylor

But not all forests do equal work when it comes to combating climate change. The types of trees and the types of fungi that these trees communicate with can make a big difference in how much carbon a forest absorbs.

The AM fungal networks that Kiers and Morris study are by far the most common type in the world. "They are ancient," says Kabir Peay. He is a biologist at Stanford University in California. These networks evolved some 500 million years ago. The mycelia in them tend to network with only one or a few trees or other plants at a time.

EM networks - the type that form tiny socks around plant roots - are newer. Some EM fungi can decompose dead wood or plants or network with living plants. EM networks tend to be larger and more interconnected than the AM types. Trees also find them "more expensive," says Peay. By that he means they charge trees higher prices for nutrients. To make those payments, trees that trade with EM mycelia tend to absorb more carbon from the air, says Peay.

New lab research looked at how much carbon European beech trees take in when connected to an EM network. Bruna Imai is a PhD student in microbiology at the University of Vienna in Austria. After venturing into a nearby forest to collect tree seedlings, she set up pairs of baby trees in her lab. She let an EM network grow to connect some pairs. She kept other pairs from linking up.

To measure the amount of carbon the trees absorbed during the experiment, she exposed them to a special form of carbon that isn't common in nature. She found that plants that were connected to a fungal network took in nearly twice as much carbon dioxide as did plants not connected to any network. This would suggest those fungal networks can play a role in slowing climate change.

A world map of fungi

Fungal networks could be an important ally in the fight against climate change. "That's the goal," says Kiers. But first, researchers need to learn more about the complex sharing of resources and messages underfoot. Trillions of tiny worms, amoebas and microbes live in soil. Hundreds of thousands of fungal species live there, too. All of these species interact with plants and move carbon around. And they do this "in ways we don't fully understand right now," says Peay at Stanford.

Researchers also need to map fungal networks. In 2019, Peay and his team decided to start on this. Another group had already done a global tree survey. It had counted 3 trillion trees. Those data came from hundreds of researchers who went out into forests to identify individual trees and estimate their total across the planet.

Peay's team wrote a computer program that looked at the mix of tree species tallied and the climate in each forest. Then it determined what type of fungal network would most likely thrive there. The result was the first world map showing where EM and AM fungal networks likely dominate. AM networks tend to prefer warm, tropical areas. EM networks prefer colder forests.

Kabir Peay

As Earth's climate warms, forests filled with AM fungi could take over areas that are currently filled with EM fungi. Then those forests would trap even less carbon dioxide than they do now. Peay says that many EM forests are already on the edge of this sort of transformation. Plus, most land used for farming and grazing ends up with poor soil that lacks healthy fungal networks. It end up releasing carbon rather than trapping it.

Peay's study didn't directly confirm the presence of particular types of fungal networks under the soil across the globe. In 2021, Kiers launched a new organization called SPUN ( The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks) to take that next step. She calls it "an underground climate movement."

Its goal is to protect fungal networks and use them to help heal ecosystems. It also runs a youth group called SPUN Youth (@spun.youth on Instagram and TikTok). Eventually, teens will be able to get involved. They'll be asked to help identify fungal networks in the natural areas near their homes.

When the protection of nature only focuses on plants and animals above the ground, says Kiers, we're missing half of the picture. "There are ecosystems not being saved because we can't see them," she says.

She hopes that as people learn more about the living world beneath our feet, they will care more about protecting the fungal species that help trees, plants and even people thrive.

Power Words
More About Power Words

amoeba: A single-celled microbe that catches food and moves about by extending fingerlike projections of a colorless material called protoplasm. Amoebas are either free-living in damp environments or they are parasites.

atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding Earth, another planet or a moon.

biologist: A scientist involved in the study of living things.

carbon: A chemical element that is the physical basis of all life on Earth. Carbon exists freely as graphite and diamond. It is an important part of coal, limestone and petroleum, and is capable of self-bonding, chemically, to form an enormous number of chemically, biologically and commercially important molecules. (in climate studies) The term carbon sometimes will be used almost interchangeably with carbon dioxide to connote the potential impacts that some action, product, policy or process may have on long-term atmospheric warming.

carbon dioxide: (or CO ₂) A colorless, odorless gas produced by all animals when the oxygen they inhale reacts with the carbon-rich foods that they've eaten. Carbon dioxide also is released when organic matter burns (including fossil fuels like oil or gas). Carbon dioxide acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere. Plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen during photosynthesis, the process they use to make their own food.

cell: (in biology) The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Typically too small to see with the unaided eye, it consists of a watery fluid surrounded by a membrane or wall. Depending on their size, animals are made of anywhere from thousands to trillions of cells. Most organisms, such as yeasts, molds, bacteria and some algae, are composed of only one cell.

chemical signal: A message made up of molecules that get sent from one place to another. Bacteria and some animals use these signals to communicate.

climate: The weather conditions that typically exist in one area, in general, or over a long period.

climate change: Long-term, significant change in the climate of Earth. It can happen naturally or in response to human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests.

ecologist: A scientist who works in a branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

ecosystem: A group of interacting living organisms - including microorganisms, plants and animals - and their physical environment within a particular climate. Examples include tropical reefs, rainforests, alpine meadows and polar tundra. The term can also be applied to elements that make up some an artificial environment, such as a company, classroom or the internet.

evolutionary biologist: Someone who studies the adaptive processes that have led to the diversity of life on Earth. These scientists can study many different subjects, including the microbiology and genetics of living organisms, how species change to adapt, and the fossil record (to assess how various ancient species are related to each other and to modern-day relatives).

fertilizer: Nitrogen, phosphorus and other plant nutrients added to soil, water or foliage to boost crop growth or to replenish nutrients that were lost earlier as they were used by plant roots or leaves.

focus: (in behavior) To look or concentrate intently on some particular point or thing.

forest: An area of land covered mostly with trees and other woody plants.

fungus: (plural: fungi) One of a group of single- or multiple-celled organisms that reproduce via spores and feed on living or decaying organic matter. Examples include mold, yeasts and mushrooms.

greenhouse gases: Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing heat. Carbon dioxide and methane are two examples of such gases.

insect: A type of arthropod that as an adult will have six segmented legs and three body parts: a head, thorax and abdomen. There are hundreds of thousands of insects, which include bees, beetles, flies and moths.

internet: An electronic communications network. It allows computers anywhere in the world to link into other networks to find information, download files and share data (including pictures).

microbe: Short for microorganism. A living thing that is too small to see with the unaided eye, including bacteria, some fungi and many other organisms such as amoebas. Most consist of a single cell.

microbiology: The study of microorganisms, principally bacteria, fungi and viruses. Scientists who study microbes and the infections they can cause or ways that they can interact with their environment are known as microbiologists.

microscopic: An adjective for things too small to be seen by the unaided eye. It takes a microscope to view objects this small, such as bacteria or other one-celled organisms.

network: A group of interconnected people or things.

nitrogen: A colorless, odorless and nonreactive gaseous element that forms about 78 percent of Earth's atmosphere. Its scientific symbol is N. Nitrogen is released in the form of nitrogen oxides as fossil fuels burn. It comes in two stable forms. Both have 14 protons in the nucleus. But one has 14 neutrons in that nucleus; the other has 15. For that difference, they are known, respectively, as nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15 (or ¹⁴N and ¹⁵ N).

nutrient: A vitamin, mineral, fat, carbohydrate or protein that a plant, animal or other organism requires as part of its food in order to survive.

PhD: (also known as a doctorate) A type of advanced degree offered by universities - typically after five or six years of study - for work that creates new knowledge. People qualify to begin this type of graduate study only after having first completed a college degree (a program that typically takes four years of study).

photosynthesis: (verb: photosynthesize) The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to produce foods from carbon dioxide and water.

planet: A large celestial object that orbits a star but unlike a star does not generate any visible light.

range: The full extent or distribution of something. For instance, a plant or animal's range is the area over which it naturally exists. (in math or for measurements) The extent to which variation in values is possible. Also, the distance within which something can be reached or perceived.

seedling: The initial plant that sprouts leaves and roots after emerging from a seed.

species: A group of similar organisms capable of producing offspring that can survive and reproduce.

survey: To view, examine, measure or evaluate something, often land or broad aspects of a landscape.

system: A network of parts that together work to achieve some function. For instance, the blood, vessels and heart are primary components of the human body's circulatory system. Similarly, trains, platforms, tracks, roadway signals and overpasses are among the potential components of a nation's railway system. System can even be applied to the processes or ideas that are part of some method or ordered set of procedures for getting a task done.

tag: (in cell biology) The attachment of a chemical that stains a cell (or cell part) or that glows when a certain wavelength of light hits it.

taxonomy: (adj. taxonomic) The study of organisms and how they relate or have branched off (over evolutionary time) from earlier organisms. Often the classification of where plants, animals or other organisms fit within the Tree of Life will be based on such features as how their structures are formed, where they live (in air or soil or water) or where they get their nutrients. Scientists who work in this field are known as taxonomists.

trade: The buying, selling or swapping of goods or services - indeed, of anything that has value. Trade groups represent the makers or sellers of these goods and services. When nations talk about trade, they usually refer to the sale or purchasing of goods with one or more countries.

trillion: A number representing a million million - or 1,000,000,000,000 - of something.

ultraviolet light: A type of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength from 10 nanometers to 380 nanometers. The wavelengths are shorter than that of visible light but longer than X-rays.

United Kingdom: Land encompassing the four "countries" of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. More than 80 percent of the United Kingdom's inhabitants live in England. Many people - including U.K. residents - argue whether the United Kingdom is a country or instead a confederation of four separate countries. The United Nations and most foreign governments treat the United Kingdom as a single nation.

Kathryn Hulick is a freelance science writer and the author of Strange But True: 10 of the World's Greatest Mysteries Explained, a book about the science of ghosts, aliens and more. She loves hiking, gardening and robots.

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Secret forest fungi partner with plants - and help the climate

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E. Toby Kiers rarely wore shoes as a kid. She loved the feeling of soil between her toes. "I always felt like something was under there, something secret and hidden," she says. Now, as an adult, she's revealing that hidden world. It's a tangled network of fungus and plant roots.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are tired of wearing masks. But masks really do help slash the distance virus-carrying spit flies, a new study finds.

"Early in the pandemic, we were all advised to be six feet away from each other," says Kareem Ahmed. A mechanical and aerospace engineer, Ahmed studies how fluids such as air and water move. He works at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. "That was perplexing," he says. When Ahmed and his colleagues observed a few individuals in the lab, they hadn't seen saliva travel that far. And people vary in how far they send spit aerosols. These are the tiny droplets that move through the air when someone is coughing or talking.

The team set out to collect data that would suggest a safe distance for avoiding someone else's spittle. The researchers measured the spit spray from the mouths of 14 people. In one set of experiments, each person spoke the same phrase: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog into a field of pretty playful perpetually purple pandas." That phrase contains all letters of the alphabet. And those "puh", "ple" and "per" sounds make big droplets that tend to fly farther. In a second set of experiments, each person coughed. Study participants coughed or spoke with three masking conditions: no mask, a single-layer cloth mask or a disposable surgical mask.

The researchers shined a bright light where the people were speaking or coughing. That light bounced off the droplets, making their spread easier to see in video and images. The researchers also measured the size of the droplets. They compiled this data for all the participants and found that wearing a mask affected how far the droplets spread. Masks also reduced the total amount of aerosols that entered the air.

Speaking or coughing makes a jet of air come from a person's mouth, Ahmed says. A mask slows down that jet and those airborne spit drops. But how well masks worked depended on their quality.

"For the cloth mask, we did not expect it to be performing so poorly," Ahmed says. But the three-layer surgical masks performed surprisingly well. Still, both reduced the distance spit traveled by at least half, compared with no mask. Such data can help people decide what's a comfortable distance to put between themselves and others.

The researchers shared their findings January 12 in ​​ The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Data Dive:

1. Put your hand in front of your mouth so it's close but not touching. Say "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog into a field of pretty playful perpetually purple pandas." What does this feel like on your hand? On which words do you feel the most air hit your hand?

2. Now put on a mask. Say the same phrase. How does it feel different?

3. Make a table using data from the figure above. For each type of mask (or no mask), at what distance is the particle load 50 percent, 30 percent, 2.5 percent and 0 percent? How might you graph this data?

4. Compare these distances. Divide the distance for 50 percent without a mask by the distance for 30 percent with a cloth mask. Divide the distance for 50 percent without a mask by the distance for 30 percent with a surgical mask. What does this tell you about how well the cloth and surgical masks work?

5. Divide the distance for 0 percent particle load without a mask by the distance for 0 percent particle with a surgical mask. How much closer can someone be with a surgical mask and likely not be exposed to the other's spit?

6. Imagine that you are speaking with a classmate who has a cold. You don't want to get that cold and want to avoid coming into contact with their spit. How close should you stand to your classmate? How close would you stand if they were wearing a surgical mask?

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Power Words
More About Power Words

aerosol: (adj. aerosolized) A tiny solid or liquid particle suspended in air or as a gas. Aerosols can be natural, such as fog or gas from volcanic eruptions, or artificial, such as smoke from burning fossil fuels.

aerospace: A research field devoted to the study of Earth's atmosphere and the space beyond or to aircraft that travel in the atmosphere and space.

colleague: Someone who works with another; a co-worker or team member.

COVID-19: A name given to the disease that erupted into a massive global pandemic in 2020. It first emerged in 2019 and is caused by a new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms can include pneumonia, trouble breathing, feeling too tired to walk more than a few steps, fever, headaches, low blood-oxygen levels, blood clots and brain "fog."

data: Facts and/or statistics collected together for analysis but not necessarily organized in a way that gives them meaning. For digital information (the type stored by computers), those data typically are numbers stored in a binary code, portrayed as strings of zeros and ones.

engineer: A person who uses science to solve problems. As a verb, to engineer means to design a device, material or process that will solve some problem or unmet need. (v.) To perform these tasks, or the name for a person who performs such tasks.

infectious: An adjective that describes a type of microbe or virus that can be transmitted to people, animals or other living things.

mechanical: Having to do with the devices that move, including tools, engines and other machines (even, potentially, living machines); or something caused by the physical movement of another thing.

pandemic: An outbreak of disease that affects a large proportion of the population across much or most of the world.

particle: A minute amount of something.

surgical mask: A loose-fitting and disposable covering for the nose and mouth that is typically worn by medical personnel in surgery rooms or other hospital settings where risk of infection is a major concern. It consists of three layers of nonwoven fabric and comes in different thicknesses for different filtering abilities. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "a surgical mask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose." They also may limit exposure of others to your saliva and other secretions.

Carolyn Wilke is a former staff writer at Science News for Students. She has a Ph.D. in environmental engineering. Carolyn enjoys writing about chemistry, microbes and the environment. She also loves playing with her cat.

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Analyze This: Masks cut the distance that spit droplets fly

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At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are tired of wearing masks. But masks really do help slash the distance virus-carrying spit flies, a new study finds. "Early in the pandemic, we were all advised to be six feet away from each other," says Kareem Ahmed.

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Your presentation  date gets closer.
Let's watch this movie about how to start a presentation and get some new ideas.
Write your comments below about the movie and new ideas you got.

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action you can take?

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1. Who is the main person or group of people in this news article?

2. What was the key event from the news article?

3. Where did this event take place?

4. When did this event take place?

1. Find a quote from the main person in this news article?

2. In your own words describe what happened in this news article.

3. Find out where this event took place and include some information about this place.

4. Tell us when this event happened and explain what might happen in the future.

5. Explain in your own words why this event took place.

Current Events Web
Find the Who, What, Where, When, How and Why in the article to complete this worksheet.

I Think Because
Share what you think about the article and explain why.

My Questions
Write a question map about questions that you have after reading the article.

News Review
Give the news article you have read a review

KWL
Write what you KNOW about the topic in the article, what you would LIKE to find out and then what you have LEARNT.

Newspaper Bingo
Play newspaper bingo. Find a number of different articles to complete the grid.

Questions and Answers
Write a set of questions and then their answers after reading the article.

The Big Idea
Find the big idea by highlighting the 5 W's and 1 H. then select 25 of key words associated with the article.

Word Investigation
Vocabulary exercise where students find key words within the article.

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World's most valuable trainer auction breaks records - Kiwi Kids News

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Two hundred pairs of Louis Vuitton and Nike Air Force 1 shoes sold for over NZ$37 million at auction this week. The event, held in the USA, was the largest auctions of shoes that has ever taken place. The most expensive pair were a pair of Nike brown, white and...

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Which Global Goals are connected?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?
What action you can take?

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'It was like a work of art,' says lead diver

You asked for more good news on CBCKidsNews.ca and we delivered.
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It may be hard to believe, but we are still explorers when it comes to the ocean.

Most of the Earth is covered by water, and almost 80 per cent of our oceans are unmapped.

But recently, scientists made a pretty big discovery.

In November 2021, divers off the coast of Tahiti, in the South Pacific, found a new reef - one of the largest in the world.

What's more, this one hasn't been damaged by climate change, unlike many of the other reefs on the planet.

Reefs are large underwater structures made from the skeletons of marine creatures called corals.

Scientists hope there are more reefs like this one waiting to be discovered.

These untouched habitats may give experts clues that will help them understand how corals might adapt to climate change.

What does it look like?

Although no one knew this reef existed until recently, scientists say that it's actually been around for almost 25 years, as its corals grew and matured.

Some of those corals are now more than two metres in diameter, and the reef itself is more than three kilometres long.

"It was magical to witness giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch as far as the eye can see," said Alexis Rosenfield, lead diver and photographer.

The reef was "like a work of art."

Why are reefs so important?

Coral reefs such as this one are hubs of biodiversity, providing refuge for marine life such as sea turtles, fish, sea stars, eels and many others.

Reefs also serve as spawning grounds for many species, and act as natural storm surge barriers, buffering coastal communities against dangerous waves.

Basically, they're really important and help ocean life survive.

Climate change can hurt coral reefs

Many of the world's coral reefs suffer from something called bleaching, which is an effect of climate change.

Bleaching occurs when corals become overheated, triggering them to expel all the algae from their internal structures.

The loss of this algae causes corals to lose their bright colours, and makes them appear white and bleached.

Bleaching often kills corals, which can put entire ecosystems at risk.

Even the tiniest change in water temperature can cause coral bleaching, and with climate change rapidly warming the oceans, this kind of reef damage is becoming increasingly common.

According to a study from James Cook University, more than 80 per cent of the corals on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the largest reef in the world, have been bleached since 2016.

Between 2014 and 2017, more than 75 per cent of all reefs experienced bleaching due to heat stress.

How did this reef avoid getting damaged?

Unlike all of those other reefs, this newly-discovered one is in pristine condition.

"It's quite impressive to find such a system in a very good state of health," said Julian Barbiere, UNESCO's head of marine policy.

Why is it in such good shape? Well, scientists say it could have something to do with how far underwater it's located.

While most of the world's reefs are roughly 25 metres deep, this one sits in a part of the ocean called the twilight zone, roughly 30 metres under the surface.

Just five metres can make a big difference.

In the deeper water, the corals are kept cooler, which prevents bleaching, but they still get enough sunlight for life to flourish.

Scientists hope this reef will allow them to learn more about the ocean's ecosystems as more of it gets mapped.

Have more questions? ﻿We'll do our best to look into it for you. Ask for permission from your parent or guardian, and email us at cbckidsnews@cbc.ca.

With files from Thompson Reuters, The Canadian Press, CBC News
TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Alexis Rosenfeld/Lacaz'a Productions/Reuters

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Newly discovered coral reef is undamaged by climate change | CBC Kids News

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You asked for more good news on CBCKidsNews.ca and we delivered. We hope this makes you smile today! Is there a #goodnews story you think we should be covering? Emailcbckidsnews@cbc.ca. It may be hard to believe, but we are still explorers when it comes to the ocean.

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What unit connection can you make?
Which Global Goals are connected?
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What action you can take?

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Lighting is a really important part of any environment - be it indoor, outdoor, home, or industrial. Good lighting plays as much a role in our ability to see what we're doing as it does with creating the overall atmosphere wherein activities take place. And lighting has come a long way since Edison's first lightbulb. The most recent advancements can be seen in the surge of LED lighting solutions currently on offer.

Gone are the days when LEDs were seen as over-priced or for commercial use only. Today, LEDs come in a variety of shapes, range the spectrum from warm to cool, and work wonderfully in both homes and businesses. Considering that LEDs tend to last around 3 times longer than traditional lightbulbs, can be formed into just about any design shape, and use a fraction of the energy of other options, it's no wonder that the interest in LED lighting in Christchurch has grown in recent years.

Not only are LEDs the ideal option for homeowners looking to update their décor through interesting design elements, but they offer cost-effective, eco-friendly solutions for even the most cash-strapped, environmentally savvy consumer. Indeed, using LEDs can significantly reduce landfills, since they need less replacing in a lifetime. They also promote lower energy consumption and can function well in both hot and cold climates. LEDs are also much safer in comparison to more traditional options, as they operate well at lower voltages. This makes them a firm favourite amongst Christchurch-based home- and businessowners whose properties are powered by off-grid solutions.

While the initial costs involved in replacing fixtures to LEDs can be high, their positive impact on the environment as well as their longer lifespans make these lighting solutions the ideal option for anyone looking to update their homes or businesses.

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The Rapid Growth Of Eco-friendly Lighting Solutions

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Lighting is a really important part of any environment - be it indoor, outdoor, home, or industrial. Good lighting plays as much a role in our ability to see what we're doing as it does with creating the overall atmosphere wherein activities ...

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AirCarbon x Nike: Newlight and Nike Partner to Reduce Carbon Footprint

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PRNewswire/ -- Newlight Technologies (www.newlight.com) announced today a partnership with Nike to explore the use of AirCarbon, a carbon-negative biomaterial...

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1. What is the estimated age of the ichthyosaur fossil?

2. What does the excavated skeleton’s skull weigh?

3. What is the ichthyosaur commonly known as and why?

4. How many Victorians cast a vote to decide the state’s official fossil emblem?

5. What are three other state emblems of Victoria?

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The fossilised remains of the UK's largest ichthyosaur have been discovered in England. Ichthyosaurs are often likened to "sea dragons" due to their large teeth and eyes. This specimen is the biggest and most complete skeleton of its kind ever found in Britain.

The remains were discovered by conservation team leader Joe Davis at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, which operates the nature reserve where the fossil was found.

"The find has been absolutely fascinating and a real career highlight," Mr Davis said. "It's great to learn so much from the discovery and to think that this amazing creature was once swimming in seas above us."

The delicate excavation* of the remains was led by palaeontologist* and Visiting Scientist at the University of Manchester, Dr Dean Lomax, who has studied thousands of ichthyosaurs and named five new species.

"It was an honour to lead the excavation and unearth this Jurassic giant from its ancient rocky tomb," Dr Lomax said. "Britain is the birthplace of ichthyosaurs - their fossils have been unearthed here for over 200 years ... dating back to Mary Anning and her discoveries along the Jurassic Coast.

"Not only is it the largest ichthyosaur skeleton ever found in Britain, but it is also the most complete skeleton of a large prehistoric reptile ever discovered in the UK. And yes, that includes dinosaurs."

The huge skeleton was carefully excavated in August and September 2021 by a team of experts from around the UK, including Dr Lomax, palaeontological conservator Nigel Larkin, marine reptile specialist Dr Mark Evans and vertebrate palaeontologist Dr Emma Nicholls. The leadership team was supported by volunteers with experience in excavating fossil marine reptiles, including members of a local geology and palaeontology group.

Often misnamed "swimming dinosaurs", ichthyosaurs were a highly successful group of marine reptiles that became extinct about 90 million years ago. This new specimen is around 180 million years old, with a skeleton measuring at least 10m in length and a skull weighing approximately a tonne.

Visiting Fellow at the University of Leicester, Dr Mark Evans has been studying the Jurassic fossil reptiles of the region for over 20 years and said he could tell that it was the largest in the region as soon as he saw the specimen's initial exposure*.

"However, it was only after our exploratory dig that we realised that it was practically complete to the tip of the tail," he said.

"The size of the new find was a total surprise. It's a highly significant discovery both nationally and internationally."

The landlocked* location also stoked the team's interest, with most ichthyosaur discovered along coastlines. Not only did the team excavate the giant fossil, they also unearthed an entire ecosystem* of Jurassic creatures trapped in time, which together provide an insight into the ancient life of the region.

"To put this find into context for the public, in the world of British palaeontology, the discovery is like finding a complete Tyrannosaurus rex out in the Badlands* of America," Dr Lomax said. "It is a truly unprecedented discovery and one of the greatest finds in British palaeontological history."
VICTORIA'S FAVOURITE FOSSIL NAMED NEW STATE EMBLEM
The Victorian government has meanwhile announced the 125-million-year-old extinct amphibian* Koolasuchus cleelandi as the official State Fossil Emblem of Victoria.

Following an August 2021 public vote, in which 11,563 Victorians cast a ballot, the "kool" Cretaceous creature won the title.

Koolasuchus cleelandi was a car-sized amphibian that lived alongside dinosaurs in Victoria during the Cretaceous period. Resembling something between a huge newt and a crocodile, Koolasuchus was adapted to life in the rushing rivers that once separated Australia and Antarctica. Fossils of the extinct amphibian have only been found at beaches and coves in South Gippsland in Bunurong Country.

Victorians and interstate visitors can see Koolasuchus cleelandi on display in the 600 Million Years exhibition at Melbourne Museum's science and Life Gallery. Victoria CEO and director Lynley Crosswell said state emblems recognise and celebrate the natural history of the region.

"Koolasuchus cleelandi is of global significance and it provides clues to the evolution of life on Earth and the past environments of Victoria," she said.

Koolasuchus cleelandi now joins other state emblems of Victoria: Leadbeater's possum, the helmeted honeyeater, the common seadragon, common heath, the state mineral gold and a state tartan.

Minister Creative Industries Danny Pearson MP said the government welcomed the fossil as an official state emblem.

"While it might not be a creature you'd want to come across in the wild, the Koolasuchus cleelandi tells a fascinating story about Victoria's history," he said.
GLOSSARY

excavation: unearthing, uncovering, revealing

palaeontologist: specialist who studies fossils to learn about ancient life

exposure: glimpse, reveal, showing, display, revelation

landlocked: region almost or entirely surrounded by land

ecosystem: community of living organisms in their physical environment

Badlands: a barren plateau region of the western United States

amphibian: cold-blooded vertebrate that live on land and in water

EXTRA READING Weird creatures that could be state's official fossil Giant marine fossil dubbed 'the mothership'Four-legged whale fossil found in Egypt QUICK QUIZ

1. What is the estimated age of the ichthyosaur fossil?

2. What does the excavated skeleton's skull weigh?

3. What is the ichthyosaur commonly known as and why?

4. How many Victorians cast a vote to decide the state's official fossil emblem?

5. What are three other state emblems of Victoria?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES 1. Write a job ad
A team of volunteers helped to unearth the ichthyosaur. What skills and abilities do you think a volunteer would need for this job? Write a job advertisement to get the best volunteers for the next amazing excavation.

Create a story inspired by this statement.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Science 2. Extension
Joe Davis said that the ichthyosaur " ... was once swimming in seas above us." What do you think he means? Write a description of what the site was like during the Jurassic period. Use the information or clues in the story to help you.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science VCOP ACTIVITY 1. Summarise the article
A summary is a brief statement of the main points of something. It does not usually include extra detail or elaborate on the main points.

Use the 5W & H model to help you find the key points of this article. Read the article carefully to locate who and what this article is about, and where, when, why and how this is happening. Once you have located this information in the article, use it to write a paragraph that summarises the article.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Science

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The fossilised remains of the UK's largest ichthyosaur have been discovered in England. Ichthyosaurs are often likened to "sea dragons" due to their large teeth and eyes. This specimen is the biggest and most complete skeleton of its kind ever found in Britain.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

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Climate change might make these weather events worse

⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️

Atmospheric rivers are also known as ARs.

They are narrow bands of water vapour in the atmosphere that usually start near the equator and travel across the world.

When the moisture heads north and makes landfall, it's often released as rain or snow.

Smaller ARs are beneficial for the ecosystem, but bigger ones can cause flooding and landslides.

On Dec. 1, British Columbia was hit with its third AR in less than three weeks.

Keep scrolling to learn more about ARs. ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

﻿British Columbians are picking up the pieces after yet another giant rainstorm lashed the province.

﻿On Wednesday, places like Hope, B.C., got more than 100 millimetres of rain, which is a third of what they usually get in the whole month of November.

﻿This kind of unique weather event has a name: ﻿It's called an atmospheric river, or AR for short.

﻿So far, there have been three ARs in B.C. since Nov. 13, contributing to widespread flooding and landslides.

﻿Keep reading to find out exactly what an atmospheric river is and why climate change could make them worse.

What's an atmospheric river?

An AR is a large, narrow band of water vapour in the atmosphere that's pushed away from the equator by currents - or concentrated areas of wind.

Picture a river in the sky.

That river can stretch as long as 1,600 kilometres. That's about the length of 11,678 football fields, or like driving from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Kelowna, B.C.

By the time that water vapour makes its way north, to a place like British Columbia, it has condensed into precipitation (rain or snow).

An AR can potentially dump a month's worth of rain or snow in a matter of days.

Where do they occur on the planet?

ARs typically form in eight oceanic regions across the world.

One of those regions is North America's West Coast, including B.C.

An average of 30 atmospheric rivers arrive in B.C. every year.

How dangerous are they?﻿

Smaller, less intense ARs are beneficial to the ecosystem because they can provide part of a region's annual water supply.

Unfortunately, bigger and more intense ARs can trigger damaging landslides and flooding.

Canada does not yet have an official rating system to measure how dangerous ARs are.

But in 2019, U.S. scientists developed a scale of categories for ARs, similar to the one used for hurricanes.

They are rated by intensity - from AR1 (the weakest) to AR5 (the strongest).

Using this scale, the recent storms in B.C. are estimated to be between AR4 and AR5, meaning they are dangerous and potentially deadly to humans.

﻿﻿Impact of climate change

Climate change is causing average temperatures on Earth to rise.

The warmer the air, the more water vapour there is in the atmosphere.

The more water vapour there is, the bigger the AR - and the more likely it is to cause damage.

As if that wasn't enough, there are also fewer trees in B.C. to absorb the rain, in part due to increasingly severe wildfires - also related to climate change.

What's being done to protect people from ARs?

On Nov. 20, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) announced the development of a new ranking system for ARs, similar to the one used in the U.S.

The system would help scientists identify and track ARs early enough to warn people when an AR is on the way, so they can prepare.

It would also allow officials to take steps to prevent flooding and other disasters.

ECCC said that this early warning system should be in place by the fall of 2022.

Have more questions? ﻿We'll do our best to look into it for you. Ask for permission from your parent or guardian and email us at cbckidsnews@cbc.ca.

With files from The Canadian Press, What On Earth/CBC Radio
TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press
CORRECTION: It is actually about the length of 11,768 football fields. The correction was made Dec. 21, 2021.

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What's an atmospheric river? Understanding B.C.'s floods | CBC Kids News

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⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️ Atmospheric rivers are also known as ARs. They are narrow bands of water vapour in the atmosphere that usually start near the equator and travel across the world. When the moisture heads north and makes landfall, it's often released as rain or snow.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

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The recent cold weather in the United States has had some unusual effects. In South Florida, temperatures dropped so low that iguanas began falling out of trees.

As temperatures began dropping in South Florida, the US National Weather Service began warning that iguanas might soon be falling from trees. It didn't take long for the prediction to come true. Several people posted pictures of the fallen iguanas on social media. As one person wrote, "It's true. It's raining iguanas in South Florida."

What happened? They were stunned by the cold. Iguanas are cold-blooded. That means they don't make their own body heat like humans. Instead, they get their warmth from their environment - the sun, the air, and warm objects around them.

When the temperature gets too cold, the iguanas' bodies slow down and they fall into a kind of sleep. For iguanas in trees, that means they can lose their hold and fall to the ground.

That's what happened this last weekend, when South Florida had its coldest weather in over 10 years. In some places, it got down to 25º Fahrenheit (-4º Celsius).

If you think it doesn't seem natural for iguanas to have this problem, you're right. Green iguanas aren't actually supposed to be in Florida at all. They are originally from warmer places in Central and South America.

They were brought to Florida by accident. Some were carried on ships. Others came as pets and somehow got free. Green iguanas are considered an invasive species in Florida.

Even though the iguanas may look dead, they're usually not. This weekend, experts warned people in Florida not to bring the iguanas inside to warm up. Once they recover, they're not always friendly.

😕

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Florida's Cold Weather Brings Falling Iguanas

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The recent cold weather in the United States has had some unusual effects. In South Florida, temperatures dropped so low that iguanas began falling out of trees. As temperatures began dropping in South Florida, the US National Weather Service began warning that iguanas might soon be falling from trees.

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By Victoria Gill
Science reporter, BBC News

Animals around the world could be scared away from power cables because these give off UV flashes invisible to humans, scientists have said.

Several species' vision was studied by an international team to identify this ultra-violet (UV) sensitivity.

The findings, published in the journal Conservation Biology, claimed habitats and migration could be disrupted.

The flashes, or corona, occur when charge builds up in a cable and is released into the air.

The international team, including scientists from University College London and the Arctic University of Norway, measured the spectrum of light emitted by these bursts of charge.

They worked out that although the light was invisible to us, it contained wavelengths seen by many other mammals.

"Most mammals will let some [UV light] into their eye," explained UCL vision expert Prof Glen Jeffery, one of the lead researchers in this project.

"We're weird - us and monkeys - because we don't see UV. Most animals do."

'Previously a mystery'

The first animal to reveal its UV sensitivity was the reindeer. And, as the researchers explained, reindeers' avoidance of the power lines running across the Arctic tundra was part of the inspiration for this project.

Dr Nicholas Tyler, the other lead author, said it had been assumed that rather than avoiding the power cables themselves, animals steered clear of passages cut in forested areas before pylons were installed.

"Forest animals will not cross clear-cuts," he said.

"But for us in the Arctic, avoidance of power lines is difficult to explain - there are no trees, yet the reindeer still avoid the power lines."

The animals keep as much as 5km (3 miles) from either side of the cables.

"This has been a mystery," Dr Tyler added. "We have now come up with a mechanism [to explain it]."

This research required a detailed understanding of animal vision, which was where Prof Jeffery came in.

Having discovered in 2011 that reindeer eyes were sensitive to UV light, Prof Jeffery went on to study the eyes of almost 40 mammal species, revealing all were UV-sensitive.

Since, as the researchers added, coronas "happen on all power lines everywhere", the avoidance of the flashes could be having a global impact on wildlife.

"It has always been assumed that power lines - masts and the cables strung between them - were passive structures standing immobile in the terrain, and therefore inoffensive for animals," said Dr Tyler.

"As a result of this work, we now consider them as chains of flashing light stretching across the tundra in the winter darkness, and that's why the animals find them so offensive."

The random and unpredictable nature of these flashes were particularly problematic, he added, as the animals could not easily adapt to them.

Prof Jeffery said he hoped power companies would now consider ways to address the issue.

More on this story

Related Internet Links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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Animals 'scared' by bursts of light from power cables

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By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC News Animals around the world could be scared away from power cables because these give off UV flashes invisible to humans, scientists have said. Several species' vision was studied by an international team to identify this ultra-violet (UV) sensitivity.

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Due Guest Speaker-No Padlet

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global goals:life below water

İt should be banned to fish bevcause they are not deservinvg to die.
But sometimes we still need fish for our health.

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Over a thousand participants came to UNESCO on 19-20 January 2015 to learn about the many ways in which light is making a difference in our daily lives and exchange ideas on the solutions light-based technologies can provide to current global challenges. The 2-day opening ceremony of the International Year of Light (IYL2015) gathered leading scientists, including 5 Nobel Prize winners, as well as decision makers, NGO representatives and industry representatives to discuss all aspects of light, from the quantum to improved street lighting or affordable glasses.

The study of light has led to applications that have shaped our current information society. Fiber-optic communications enable the internet we use today. Lasers can encode hundreds of terabytes of data to store an ever growing knowledge base. Light-based technologies are helping us explore space with telescopes equipped with sensors that collect data from the ultraviolet to the infrared range of the spectrum, and even map our Universe in its infancy by capturing the cosmic microwave background - the relic radiation from the Big Bang. Remote sensing from satellites is also helping us to better understand our planet, predict the weather, and monitor and manage pollution.

Closer to home, the great strides made in medical imagery save lives: today diagnoses are made using non-intrusive, below the skin 3D imagery, and light-based therapies can target cancer cells selectively.

The retina of your eye consists of many interconnected layers of nerve cells, some of which are sensitive to light. © Wei Li, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health
Installation "Light is Here" by Finnish artist Kari Kola, intstalled by Valoparta Ltd.© UNESCO/Nora Houguenade
Practical applications that are available today can make the most difference in remote areas and developing countries, where millions live with no access to electricity. Something as simple as a source of light after dark can help a family out of poverty: children can study longer and learn more, parents can also remain active after dark. Sub-Saharan Africa, were 65% of the population is off the grid, also has the greatest exposure to sunlight in the world. Solar lighting (lamps that recharge during the day with solar energy) has proved to be a good alternative to kerosene lamps. Not only is kerosene more expensive in the long run and less efficient, as such lamps are too dim to read by, but it is also hazardous and the fumes are toxic. On a slightly larger scale, solar panels are providing power for community refrigerators to preserve medicine, for cellphones and other appliances, thus improving living conditions in villages.

One of the five Nobel Plenary Lecture that took place during the opening of the IYL2015.© UNESCO/Nora Houguenade
American violinist Joshua Bell performs "Einstein's Light" during the opening of the International Year of Light 2015. © UNESCO/Nora Houguenade
Light provides efficient, renewable alternatives that can help us mitigate climate change and meet energy demands, by both providing energy and diminishing energy consumption. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), improved, efficient lighting could cut energy consumption for lighting by 50% and CO2 emissions equivalent to that of Germany could be avoided each year. Should we fail the transition to efficient lighting, energy consumption would grow by one third.

Light has always powered us, by turning CO2 and water into sugar and oxygen through photosynthesis, thus creating the fuel and oxygen we need. Now, engineers are making progress on artificial photosynthesis to generate fuel from sunlight. New materials are being developed to harness solar energy on urban surfaces. Such innovations could change the energy game completely.

Only a century ago, we could not imagine how far light would take us: what applications could be developed by studying its properties. The 21st century will depend as much on photonics as the 20th century depended on electronics. Phototonics, the science of generating and controlling particles of light (photons) underpins technologies of daily life, from smartphones to the Internet, to medical instruments, to lighting technology. These technologies were developed through centuries of fundamental research on the properties of light - starting with Ibn Al-Haytham's seminal work, Kitab al-Manazir (Book of Optics), published in 1015 and including Einstein's work at the beginning of the 20th century, which changed the way we think about time and light.

Today the search continues, and new facilities are being built to expand our knowledge, such as the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME). Modelled institutionally on CERN - with different scientific goals - and set up under the auspices of UNESCO, SESAME is an intergovernmental facility built in Jordan. When it starts operations in 2016, SESAME will provide a vast scientific potential for scientists from the Middle East and neighbouring countries, enabling them to determine the structure of complex biologically active molecules and viruses in order to improve medical remedies; to get insight into the interior and the three-dimensional micro-structure of objects such as materials of primary importance for high technologies, cultural heritage and archaeology; or to investigate magnetisation processes, which are highly relevant for magnetic data storage, to cite just a few examples. Those we can imagine today.

About the Year
The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL2015) has been the initiative of a consortium of scientific bodies together with UNESCO's International Basic Sciences Programme. The Consortium brings together many different stakeholders including scientific societies and unions, educational institutions, technology platforms, non-profit organizations and partners form the private sector. The main objective of the Year, which is led by UNESCO, is to raise global awareness of how light-based technologies can provide solutions to the global challenges of sustainable development.

Related links:

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Light-based technologies: sustainable solutions for the future

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Over a thousand participants came to UNESCO on 19-20 January 2015 to learn about the many ways in which light is making a difference in our daily lives and exchange ideas on the solutions light-based technologies can provide to current global challenges.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

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Worldwide, many groups are pushing governments to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. Today, NFK looks at new marine reserves created by Ecuador and Bangladesh in an effort to protect large areas of the oceans near them.
Ecuador Creates Huge New Marine Reserve
Ecuador has officially created a massive new marine reserve called "Hermandad" (Brotherhood). The reserve adds to Ecuador's large marine reserve around the Galapagos Islands. It also provides a long "underwater highway" which will allow animals to travel in protected waters from Ecuador all the way up through waters controlled by Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.

Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso first announced the new reserve at the COP26 meeting in November. The next day, the presidents of Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama announced plans for a protected pathway connecting ocean areas belonging to the four countries. Colombian President Ivan Duque said that Colombia was also adding 62,776 square miles (160,000 square kilometers) to its "marine protected area" (MPA).

On January 14, Mr. Lasso celebrated the official opening of Hermandad in Galapagos. Mr. Duque and Ex-US President Bill Clinton were there for the event.

The Galapagos Marine Reserve
The special ocean conditions around the Galapagos attract many larger sea animals which travel through the area as an important part of their migration patterns. This includes groups of special sharks, such as endangered hammerhead sharks and whale sharks
Since 1998, the ocean area around the Galapagos has been protected by the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). At 51,000 square miles (133,000 square kilometers), the GMR was already one of the largest marine reserves in the world.

The Hermandad Marine Reserve adds another 23,000 square miles (66,000 square kilometers) to Ecuador's protected waters. Importantly, this reserve will stretch to Costa Rica's Cocos Island, providing a long, protected pathway for migrating sea creatures.

The new area of the reserve will be split into two sections. In one section no fishing will be allowed. Some fishing will be permitted in the other section. But "long line" fishing will be banned. In long line fishing, long lines with hundreds or thousands of hooks catch fish but also other animals like dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and sea birds.
Bangladesh Creates Large Marine Protected Area
The government of Bangladesh has created a new marine protected area which will protect roughly 673 square miles (1,743 square kilometers) around Saint Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal.

Saint Martin's Island is a coral island, and the new MPA will help protect the country's only coral reef. Coral reefs are hugely important, since they provide homes for all kinds of sea creatures. The new reserve will protect many threatened sea animals, including humpback dolphins, whale sharks, as well as several different kinds of rays and turtles.

Saint Martin's Island, which is home to about 7,000 people, is one of Bangladesh's more popular tourist spots. Though the visitors provide important money for the country, tourist businesses have also been hard on the sea around the island. Roughly 70% of Saint Martin's coral reef has been lost since 1980.

The new MPA will set up new rules for what kinds of fishing are permitted and where. The rules are also expected to set limits on boat traffic. The protected area is about 1.5% of all the ocean that is under Bangladesh's control. The country has a long-term goal of protecting at least 10% of its oceans.

Did You Know...?
Last June, Panama made its own marine protected area four times larger. It has already passed its goal of protecting 30% of its oceans.

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Countries Take Action to Protect the Ocean

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Worldwide, many groups are pushing governments to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. Today, NFK looks at new marine reserves created by Ecuador and Bangladesh in an effort to protect large areas of the oceans near them. Ecuador Creates Huge New Marine Reserve Ecuador has officially created a massive new marine reserve called "Hermandad" (Brotherhood).

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What action you can take?

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Organizers of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China, say only "selected" spectators will be allowed to attend the Games. No tickets will be sold to the general public. The announcement was made on January 17. It's the latest step China has taken to fight another coronavirus outbreak.

The Beijing Olympics are scheduled to begin on February 4. It could be the most restricted large-scale sporting event since the start of the pandemic. The committee had already barred fans from outside of China from attending.

Safety measures in China are becoming stricter with the spread of the Omicron variant. Omicron is more contagious than past strains of the coronavirus. Beijing confirmed its first case of Omicron just days before the committee's announcement. The variant was also identified in a recent wave of infections in Tianjin, about 70 miles from Beijing.

At the Games, spectators will be permitted to clap, but not to cheer, which can spread the virus. Robots will disinfect surfaces. Athletes and journalists will be tested daily for the virus. Organizers said these measures are intended to "create a pleasant environment for the holding of the Games."
Stop and Think! Why is this story being published now? How might the details of the story change in the coming weeks?

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Organizers of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China, say only "selected" spectators will be allowed to attend the Games. No tickets will be sold to the general public. The announcement was made on January 17. It's the latest step...

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Do you have similar issues?
What action you can take?

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Who will become Kid of the Year for 2021? The answer will be revealed on February 9 during a TV special on Nickelodeon. In the weeks leading up to the show, we'll be introducing the top five nominees. Read on!
"Music is where everything started," Samirah Horton says. She's 13 and from Brooklyn, New York. Samirah is known to the world as DJ Annie Red. She has been performing and rapping since she was 6. Through music, DJ Annie Red says, "I can express myself."

COURTESY THE HORTON FAMILY

The rising hip-hop star uses music to talk about bullying. "I was bullied a lot," she says. "I still am bullied now, especially because of my voice." DJ Annie Red has a deep voice. She says people have told her she sounds like a boy.

But she rises above their insults. DJ Annie Red doesn't think of her voice as a weakness. She uses it to spread a message far and wide. She encourages × encourage DANN TARDIF-LWA/BLEND IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES to inspire someone to do something (verb) My teacher encouraged me to work harder in class. kids of all ages, everywhere, to stand up to bullying. "You're never too young to make a change," she says.

Sharing Songs

DJ Annie Red has performed at events and festivals. She is the "kid resident DJ" for Brooklyn's pro-basketball team. And she posts her music online.

COURTESY THE HORTON FAMILY

DJ Annie Red also performs at schools. She likes to give students "a catchy, rhythmic, interactive show" while teaching them how to overcome bullying. She says she wants to help kids who are suffering "feel like they're not alone."

At school shows, DJ Annie Red mixes music. She has held dance contests. She has asked students to make an antibullying pledge × pledge ATLANTIDE PHOTOTRAVEL-GETTY IMAGES a promise (noun) The mayor kept his pledge to build more parks in the city. . And she has read from The Bully Stop. It's a book based on her song "No You Won't Bully Me."

COURTESY THE HORTON FAMILY

Inspiring Change

DJ Annie Red says that standing up to bullying is more important than ever. That's partly because people can bully others on social media while hiding behind a username. "You don't have to show your face at all," she says.

But she sees a brighter future ahead. DJ Annie Red believes that kids can use their passions to inspire change, as she has. "That's something I really enjoy seeing," she says. "Kids being more confident in themselves and wanting to do something that they really enjoy doing is something that motivates me."

COURTESY THE HORTON FAMILY

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Who will become Kid of the Year for 2021? The answer will be revealed on February 9 during a TV special on Nickelodeon. In the weeks leading up to the show, we'll be introducing the top five nominees. Read on!...

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

What action you can take?

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Who will become Kid of the Year for 2021? The answer will be revealed on February 9 during a TV special on Nickelodeon. In the weeks leading up to the show, we've been introducing the top five nominees. Read on!
A few years ago, Cash Daniels was walking on a beach when he found some plastic. He started thinking about the impact plastic pollution has on the environment, especially on rivers and oceans. That's when he got interested in environmental issues.

Cash, now 12, found that rivers are at the heart of the problem. A 2021 report in Science Advances said that far more rivers are carrying large amounts of plastic into our oceans than was once thought. This news hit close to home for Cash. He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The city sits on the Tennessee River. It's one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

This information led Cash to take action. He made it his mission to clear trash from public spaces and waterways.

River Rescue

At first, Cash and his parents worked to pick up garbage near the Tennessee River. But Cash soon realized he would need more help. So he organized community cleanup outings. Eventually, he and other volunteers removed more than 11,000 pounds of garbage from the river.

Cash has also partnered with businesses to recycle aluminum cans. He has recycled more than 2,000 pounds of them. The money he earns from that supports river conservation efforts.

COURTESY ERIN DANIELS

Cash loves marine animals. By cleaning waterways, he helps protect these creatures. He set up fishing-line recycling containers along the Tennessee River. People can discard × discard KONSTANTYNOV-GETTY IMAGES to throw away (verb) Instead of discarding my old books, I donated them to a book drive. fishing line in these instead of in the water, where it entangles wildlife.

Kids' Impact

Cash enjoys getting other kids involved in activism. He wrote a children's book called One Small Piece.

COURTESY ERIN DANIELS

It's about pollution in waterways and oceans. Cash also cofounded the Cleanup Kids. The group encourages children to recycle litter. "Kids may be a small percentage of the population," Cash says. "But they are 100% of the future."

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Who will become Kid of the Year for 2021? The answer will be revealed on February 9 during a TV special on Nickelodeon. In the weeks leading up to the show, we've been introducing the top five nominees. Read on!...

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Photo: Climeworks.com

A new machine that can pull carbon dioxide out of the air could help in the fight against global warming.

The "carbon capturing" device, called Orca, began operating in Iceland in September. The name comes from the Icelandic word orka which means energy.

Carbon dioxide (also known as CO2) is a greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels like oil and gas.

CO2 is one of the main causes of global warming. Orca can take CO2 out of the air and send it deep into the ground, where it is turned into stone.

The machine was invented and made by a Swiss company called Climeworks.

Orca is made up of four sections which look like giant air conditioners stacked together. Each section contains 12 large fans that suck air from outside into steel compartments.

Inside, the air passes through a filter which gathers the carbon dioxide. It is then heated to a high temperature so the CO2 can be collected from the filter.

Then, the CO2 is mixed with water and put deep in the ground into a type of rock called basalt. Basalt causes the CO2 mixture to turn into stone after two or three years.

Orca is an experimental device. It was built to demonstrate that it is possible to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Orca can remove 4,000 metric tons of CO2 from the air each year. That's about the same amount as the emissions produced by 850 cars in a year.

In order to remove enough CO2 to make a big difference to global warming, much larger devices like Orca would have to be built in many countries around the world.

Some environmental activists say governments should spend more time and money on reducing the amount of greenhouse gas we produce each year, instead of investing in carbon capture methods.

But others say that, in order for countries to meet their goal of net zero emissions by 2050, they will need to do both: reduce new emissions and remove the carbon dioxide already in the air.
THINK & DISCUSS
The article mentions that burning fossil fuels produces the greenhouse gas CO2. What are "fossil fuels" and where do we obtain them? Why do we burn them? Could we do without them-are there alternatives?

Why is carbon dioxide known as CO2?

The article says that in order to clean up the air around the world, many Orca-type machines would have to be built. Who do you think should build and pay for them? Why?

Research other inventions that are helping to clean up the earth and air. Which ones do you think may be most effective?
LINKS
How Orca Works (3-minute video by Al Jazeera news agency): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbXpUaZYnlA

Article about Orca in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/09/worlds-biggest-plant-to-turn-carbon-dioxide-into-rock-opens-in-iceland-orca

How is Carbon Dioxide Removed from the Atmosphere? (This site is a bit more advanced but has excellent photos): https://climeworks.com/co2-removal

Orca on the Climeworks website: https://climeworks.com/news/climeworks-launches-orca

Four Places to Cut Your Carbon Emissions, from the DavidSuzuki.org website: https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/four-places-cut-carbon/

Article about Orca in The Economist: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/09/18/the-worlds-biggest-carbon-removal-plant-switches-on

Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/worlds-largest-plant-capturing-carbon-air-starts-iceland-2021-09-08/

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"Orca" Removes Greenhouse Gas from the Air

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A new machine that can pull carbon dioxide out of the air could help in the fight against global warming. The "carbon capturing" device, called Orca, began operating in Iceland in September. The name comes from the Icelandic word orka which means energy.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

What action you can take?

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Amazon's delivery drones were supposed to be in full flight by now. In 2013, the online retailer announced a new drone delivery service. Packages containing anything from toothpaste to a smartphone would arrive at your home by drone. The drone would land. It would drop your package. Then it would fly away.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said at the time that the service would take four or five years to develop. But it's been a little more than eight years. The company is struggling to make progress. What happened?

JOHANNES SCHMITT-TEGGE-PICTURE ALLIANCE/GETTY IMAGES

Amazon "is committed to making our goal of delivering packages by drones a reality," the company said last year. But, Amazon added, "it will continue to take time."

Drone delivery could have a huge impact. Drones may be even more efficient × efficient PETER DAZELEY-GETTY IMAGES effective by the simplest means (adjective) Over the years, I've learned tips for efficient cleaning. and environmentally friendly than electric delivery vans. But there are challenges. These include the need for more warehouses and concerns about airspace safety.

ELIJAH NOUVELAGE-BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

Taking Wing

Amazon isn't the only company working on drone delivery. Alphabet is the parent company of Google. Its drone delivery service is called Wing. In Logan, Australia, Wing's drone deliveries have already taken off. Last August, the service announced its hundred-thousandth delivery.

James Ryan Burgess is Wing's CEO. "You can imagine a future where there are delivery drone aircraft scattered throughout a city," he says. "Those aircraft can serve the community."

Wing's drones can wirelessly charge at a landing pad. Deliveries are monitored by pilots. Routes are determined based on distance, weather conditions, and airspace regulations. Packages are dropped in front of homes using a device called a winch. This means no human interaction is needed.

Good for the Planet?

Costa Samaras is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. That's in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2018, Samaras coauthored a report. It found drone delivery to be more eco-friendly than ground delivery, over certain distances. This is especially true when drones are traveling at higher speeds.

SEM VAN DER WAL-ANP/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

But Samaras says drone delivery could impact wildlife (see "Drones and Wildlife"). And if it increases, providers will need space to maintain drones. That means more warehouses. And warehouses need "heat, light, and power," Samaras says. "That amount of energy degrades × degrade JOE DANIEL PRICE-GETTY IMAGES to lower the quality of (verb) Over time, rust will degrade the strength of iron. the benefits."

Plus, drone delivery could be noisy. Samaras asks, "Do we want hundreds or thousands of drones over all of our cities?"

Drones and Wildlife

AFRICAN WAY/GETTY IMAGES

The effect drones have on wildlife is still being researched. But videos (shot using drones) show that animals don't love the buzzing machines. There's a European Environment Agency report about this. It points out the tension between drones and birds. "Bird species . . . were found to be more sensitive to disturbances relating to the presence of drones," it says. It gives an example: In Austria, a pair of eagles went after a drone. They thought it was food.

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Amazon's delivery drones were supposed to be in full flight by now. In 2013, the online retailer announced a new drone delivery service. Packages containing anything from toothpaste to a smartphone would arrive at your home by drone. The drone...

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

What action you can take?

Do you have similar laws in your local environment?

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New rules in California put limits on outdoor water usage. They are meant to combat drought. The State Water Resources Control Board voted for the restrictions. The votes were cast on January 4. The rules include no lawn-watering for 48 hours after rain. They could take effect by the end of the month.

Dry conditions from early 2021 affected California's water supply. Governor Gavin Newsom had previously asked people to voluntarily cut water use by 15%. But between July and November, water usage went down just 6%.

Eric Oppenheimer is the chief deputy director for the state water board. "Conserving water and reducing water waste are critical and necessary habits for everyone to adopt," he says. "We need to be prepared for continued drought."

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New rules in California put limits on outdoor water usage. They are meant to combat drought. The State Water Resources Control Board voted for the restrictions. The votes were cast on January 4. The rules include no lawn-watering for 48...

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we need to not waste paper because trees are dying so oxygen is dying!

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the goals are life on land and climate action my high ladder question is why and how did all this start?

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What action you can take?

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Greenhouse gas hot topic for climate conference

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What is the unit 3 connection?

What action you can take?

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Australians have been good "early adopters" of technology. We took up home computers with enthusiasm back in the 1980s, mobile phones and Wi-Fi have spread like wildfire and solar panels cover our roofs these days like beach towels on a hot summer's day at Bondi Beach.

It will be the same with electric cars. Eventually they will become the norm. When technology improves and the prices start to come down, Aussies will take to electric cars like Kevins to Commodores.

Even blokes like Prime Minister Scott Morrison seem to be jumping on the EV* bandwagon*, after he performed an amazing U-turn last week by announcing his government will fund an increase in electric vehicle charging stations around the country.

At the last federal election he opposed electric cars as being unfit for Australians who like to get out and travel around this wide brown land in their utes and SUVs*.

He said battery powered cars would "destroy the weekend"! He was probably right in that most of the EVs we have in Australia at the moment can't tow your caravan across the Nullarbor or pull your boat across the beach at Mallacoota, but they are coming.

They are already in the US and it's just a matter of time before they get here. And they will help us achieve our target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

This called for a cartoon to illustrate the PM's change of mind. I thought the cartoon should be a comparison on where his mindset was three years ago and where it is now. That would be achieved by drawing what car he was in then and what he might be driving now after his conversion to EVs.

I'm amazed by the number of chunky looking SUV utes you see on the roads. These are more than just a tradie's work vehicle on steroids*, people are spending serious money on tricking them up*: huge wheels and tyres, fancy bull bars, suspension upgrades and spotlights that would melt a deer crossing the road at 400m. And all this just to drive the family around the suburbs.

If you place one of these testosterone* injected SUVs next to an inner-city purposed EV, the comparison is quite hilarious. So that's what I did of course!

In the cartoon, ScoMo has driven his fire-breathing Godzilla series diesel ute up onto the footpath of the EV dealership which is offering trade-ins.

Such is the PM's haste to do a deal on a new car, the driver's door on the ute is left swung open. Before you can say "Fill 'er up" he is cheerfully motoring out of the dealership in his new little EV, past his old carbon-belching diesel SUV with a car salesman happily waving goodbye. It is the easiest deal he has ever done.

The cartoon is a clear "compare and contrast" between the old government policy and the new, with the policies symbolised by the two vehicles.

One wonders what the folk at the Deniliquin Ute Muster will make of it when ScoMo's turns up in his new ride!
GLOSSARY

EV: stands for 'electric vehicles'

bandwagon: an activity or cause that is currently fashionable or popular

SUVs: stands for 'sport utility vehicles'

tricking them up: adding fancy accessories to them

steroids: chemicals that are naturally in the body but can also be artificially introduced to the body to improve strength and muscle development

testosterone: a hormone in humans, particularly men

EXTRA READING Towards net zero 2050 Australia's climate plans and promises Greens want only electric cars by 2030 QUICK QUIZ

1. Why does Mark Knight believe electric vehicles will become the norm?

2. What did Scott Morrison say electric vehicles would do to the weekend ahead of the last federal election?

3. What target will electric vehicles help Australia achieve?

4. What did Mark want this cartoon to illustrate?

5. What do the two vehicles in the carton symbolise?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What Happens Next?
Imagine this cartoon is part of a story that is made up of three cartoons. The three cartoons tell a complete story, and Mark's cartoon is the start of the story. Think about what the story could be and draw the next two cartoons that tell the story.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Visual Communication Design, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Being able to draw is only one of the skills needed to be a great cartoonist. Write a list of all of the other skills that you think cartoonists like Mark need to do their job.

Next to each skill, write a sentence that explains why that skill is important or helps them to do a great job.

Time: allow at least 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social Capability, Media Arts, Visual Communication Design

VCOP ACTIVITY
Describe It
Look at the cartoon and make a list of five nouns that you see. Then describe those five nouns with five adjectives. Add a preposition to those five nouns and adjectives.

Now choose your favourite bundle and put all the words together to make one descriptive sentence.

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It's out with the old, in with the new as PM charges into electric vehicle era

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Australians have been good "early adopters" of technology. We took up home computers with enthusiasm back in the 1980s, mobile phones and Wi-Fi have spread like wildfire and solar panels cover our roofs these days like beach towels on a hot summer's day at Bondi Beach. It will be the same with electric cars.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Which learner profile attributes do you observe in this article?
What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Korona ve Etkilerini Dört başlık halinde resimleyen ve tanımlayan 3. Sınıf Öğrencisi Derin Balcı'nın görüşleri bu resim ve alt yazılarda ifadesini bulmuştur.

1. Bölüm: Corona insanda nasıl bulunur?

Corona'nın insana bulaşmasını; Mikroskop, Ateş ölçer (derece), Akciğer ve Nabız yoluyla tespit ederiz.

2. Bölüm: Corona'dan nasıl korunuruz?

Corona'dan maske takarak, mesafemizi koruyarak, su, sabun ve kolonya kullanarak korunabiliriz.

3. Bölüm: Corona'yı nasıl kovarız?

Corona'yı kovabilmemiz için aşı olmalıyız, ilaç ve su kullanmalıyız, spor yapmalıyız, sağlıklı beslenmeliyi, mendil kullanarak temizlik yapmalıyız.

4. Bölüm: Corana'nın yaşattığı zorluklar?

Corona nedeniyle okullar, işyerleri, eğlence yerleri kapandı. İnsanlar evde kaldılar ve evden çalıştılar
Yazan ve Çizen Derin Balcı, 3. Sınıf Öğrencisi, 8 yaşında, Ankara, 31 Mart 2021

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Korona ve Etkilerini Dört başlık halinde resimleyen ve tanımlayan 3. Sınıf Öğrencisi Derin Balcı'nın görüşleri bu resim ve alt yazılarda ifadesini bulmuştur. 1. Bölüm: Corona insanda nasıl bulunur? Corona'nın insana bulaşmasını; Mikroskop, Ateş ölçer (derece), Akciğer ve Nabız yoluyla tespit ederiz. 2. Bölüm: Corona'dan nasıl korunuruz?

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What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Toronto to Turn Food Scraps into Biofuel - Teaching Kids News

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Ada:The global goals are life on land i don't have a  question.

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Ada:The global goals are life on land i don't have a  question.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

What action we can take?

Do you have similar issues in your local environment?

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

What is the unit 3 connection?

What action you can take?

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Adults aren't all listening to kids, but they should be

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Océanne Kahanyshyn-Fontaine, 17, is from Edmonton, Alberta, and is part of a youth climate action group called Decarbonize: Decolonize. She recently returned from COP26, a major climate conference that took place in Glasgow, Scotland, in early November. There, she presented ideas to world leaders on how to stop climate change. The ideas came from 35,000 youth in 54 countries.

When I went to COP26 as a youth representative, I discovered that young people are often ignored when adults are discussing climate change.

I realized this my first few days there, when I was riding the train back to my hotel.

I was going up to people in the same train car as me, introducing myself and my goals for COP26. I stopped to talk to one adult who also had a COP26 pass.

She asked me how long I was going to take. I reassured her that I wouldn't take long. I then proceeded to present myself and everything I was there to fight for.

I quickly realized she was not looking at me and was continuing to tap away at her computer.

I felt ignored and insignificant.

If this person wouldn't listen to me, why would a politician or global leader?

She was supposed to be fighting for the planet - and for me. But she wasn't interested in what I had to say.

Despite moments like this, I still believe I am powerful and have the ability to make a positive impact.

Kids need to be part of the solution. We are the ones who are inheriting this Earth.

Our futures are the ones at risk, and we have the responsibility to fight for ourselves and each other.

Here are some of the ways I'm fighting for a better planet and some tips for you to do as well.

1. Avoid fast fashion

I absolutely love fashion, and it can be tempting to want to have the latest and greatest things, especially with holiday shopping and Christmas approaching.

Fast fashion is when companies mass-produce cheap clothes and we continuously buy them, wanting to keep up with the latest trends.

It's harmful to the environment, though, because cheap clothes wear out quickly and are thrown into landfills.

Also, the mass production of these cheap clothes results in a lot of greenhouse gas emissions, which are bad for the environment and destroy the ozone layer.

That's why I try to get my clothing from older siblings and cousins. I even sometimes wear my parents' clothing from time to time.

Going thrift shopping and buying second-hand clothing are also fun, cheap options.

Don't be afraid to be creative with your clothing choices.

Remember, even if you end up buying something a little more expensive because it's locally made or environmentally friendly, it's worth it, as long as you cherish it!

2. Make sustainable purchases

There are companies in Canada working hard to make decisions that are better for the environment.

For example, Rocky Mountain Soap Company, from Canmore, Alberta, uses leftover soap shavings to make more soap, with minimal packaging, which reduces their waste.

For those of you who like to wear makeup, try to find companies that source their ingredients sustainably and limit their use of non-natural ingredients, like Cheekbone Beauty, an Indigenous-owned business in Canada.

I make a point to buy from local businesses that I know care about the Earth as much as I do.

3. Plant a garden

Recently, I made a small garden in my backyard where I plant vegetables. That way, I don't have to go buy things that are imported from other countries.

Transporting goods over long distances produces a lot of emissions.

Also, by growing food in my own garden, I can make sure that what I'm eating is organic, since I never use pesticides, which damage the environment.

I also plant flowers and shrubs for bees, which are essential to our ecosystems.

4. Avoid taking the car

I also try to walk or bike as much as possible, instead of using cars.

By decreasing the amount of vehicles used, we can decrease the amount of greenhouse gases emitted.

Just like me, you can encourage your family to use public transit, like trains and buses.

5. Keep trying to learn more

Another thing I'm doing to help solve climate change is to educate myself, my family and my friends about it.

Once we understand what causes climate change, we can adapt our habits and beliefs in order to help save our Earth.

By doing research on the Government of Canada website, I discovered that the biggest contributors to climate change are the burning of fossil fuels - like coal and oil - and deforestation.

In Canada, the combustion of fossil fuels for energy produces most of our greenhouse gas emissions.

Basically, things like the production of oil and gas, transportation (including trucks, cars and planes) and electricity to power businesses, factories and homes are a big part of the problem.

This year, a town in B.C. named Lytton and several Indigenous reserves nearby were destroyed by a wildfire during a massive heat wave.

When I went to COP26, I met youth from Argentina, India and Kenya who told me stories about what they're experiencing at home. They are just as bad, if not worse, than what we're seeing in Canada.

Climate change is a problem that affects everyone, no matter which country you live in or how old you are.

Do you have a personal story or opinion piece you'd like to share with the CBC Kids News audience? Here's what we're looking for:

The article has to have a clear focus, be backed up by personal experiences and facts, be tied to something happening in the news and be of interest to other kids in Canada.

Want to know more? Ask for permission from your parent or guardian, email us your idea at cbckidsnews@cbc.ca and we'll get in touch!

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FIRST PERSON - They say kids can't save the planet. Here are 5 things I'm doing | CBC Kids News

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Océanne Kahanyshyn-Fontaine, 17, is from Edmonton, Alberta, and is part of a youth climate action group called Decarbonize: Decolonize. She recently returned from COP26, a major climate conference that took place in Glasgow, Scotland, in early November. There, she presented ideas to world leaders on how to stop climate change.

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1.What landmark are the dogs patrolling around?
2.Which Global Goals are connected? 3.What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Man's best friend has a new role: banisher* of seagulls and protector of chips.

Muffin and Tauzer are part of a pooch patrol recruited to shoo marauding* seagulls away from diners at the Sydney Opera House.

A dog training company has been handed a two-year NSW government contract worth $376,380 after a successful trial to keep the feathered pests away from the popular spot on Sydney Harbour.

"They'd been having this problem ever since the Opera House was built and nothing has ever worked," said Mad Dogs And Englishmen owner James Webb.

"They reached out to me in 2018 to see if this was something the dogs could do."

It was a unique request for the longtime dog trainer but the experiment paid off, with the pooches now proven to deter* the birds.

"We started out training the dogs how we thought best and it's turned into a bit of a fine art over the years," Mr Webb said.

"We give them a command and they run, jump up on the wall and bark at the seagulls and the seagulls fly away."

The work is now rotated between 13 dogs, a mix of kelpies and border collies, including two of Mr Webb's own pooches.

It's busy work and socially demanding, with the canines becoming an attraction all of their own.

"It's a thing now, people want to see the Opera House dogs, pet them and take photos," he said.

"So they have to be really good around people. That's a key part of the assessment that we do."

The trial to deter the seagulls included other less-successful measures, including mechanical hawks and food covers.

A Sydney Opera House spokeswoman said the dogs had been "a resounding* success", with the seagulls - a protected species - finally learning to keep their distance.

"The results have been incredibly positive, with the seagulls keeping their distance when the dogs are present," the spokeswoman said.

"This has significantly reduced the number of meal replacements and improved the experience and safety of our patrons*."

The seagull patrol is on duty daily, with each dog working as long as four hours at a time.

The cost is split evenly between the government funded Opera House and a bar and restaurant in the precinct*.
GLOSSARY

banisher: someone or something that gets rid of another thing or person, sends them away

marauding: going about in search of things to steal

deter: discourage from doing something

resounding: complete, great, unmistakeable

patrons: customers

precinct: area, district

EXTRA READING Aussie dogs to train as pandemic sniffer force Farewell to penguin protector Tula How the Opera House could have looked QUICK QUIZ

1. What is the name of the dog training company that was hired to keep away the seagulls?

2. What landmark are the dogs patrolling around?

3. How many dogs share the patrols?

4. How often do the dogs patrol?

5. How many hours does each dog work for?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Design a logo
Design a logo for the pooch patrol at the Opera House. Your logo should highlight the importance of the dogs and the job they do.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Visual Communication Design

2. Extension
What do you think happened when they used mechanical hawks to try to stop the seagulls? Imagine that you are a reporter for Kids News and you saw what happened. Write the Kids News story.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

VCOP ACTIVITY
Nouns are places, names (of people and objects) and time (months or days of the week).

How many nouns can you find in the article? Can you sort them into places, names and time?

Pick three nouns and add an adjective (describing word) to the nouns.

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Pooch patrol solution to Opera House seagull woes

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Man's best friend has a new role: banisher* of seagulls and protector of chips. Muffin and Tauzer are part of a pooch patrol recruited to shoo marauding* seagulls away from diners at the Sydney Opera House.

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Can you tell real news from fake news?
Which resources we can use to find true knowledge?
What action we can take to prevent this issue?

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The Associated Press and other news outlets fell for it

⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️

The story about a millionaire dog selling a $41-million mansion turned out to be a publicity stunt.

A man named Maurizio Mian came up with it more than 20 years ago to promote real estate sales and other projects.

Reporters at The Associated Press immediately published a correction after falling for the fake story.

This is an example of misinformation that can spread easily without checking the facts first.

Keep scrolling to see if you can spot more fake news. ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Would you be interested in a story about a millionaire dog selling a mansion? Who wouldn't!

Unfortunately, it was fake news and reporters at The Associated Press fell for it.

In early November, the non-profit news agency based in New York published a story about a dog named Gunther VI who was selling a mansion in Miami, Florida, for millions of dollars.

Too bad it was all part of a publicity stunt.

Aside from it being an outrageous myth, it's also an example of how disinformation (when false information is created on purpose to trick people) gets spread as misinformation (when information is shared by people who don't realize it's fake).

The story of the millionaire dog

The tale starts more than 20 years ago with a line of German shepherds that have all been named Gunther.

Fiction has it that a multi-million-dollar inheritance to the Gunther-named dogs was set up by their owner, a German countess named Karlotta Liebenstein, because she wanted her dog and its next generation of pups to be taken care of.

Last November, ﻿The Associated Press reported that a Miami mansion worth about $41 million and owned by Gunther VI was up for sale - a luxurious home once owned by Madonna that the dog allegedly bought off her for $9.7 million back in 2000.

Turns out, the whole thing was a decades-long scheme created by Maurizio Mian, the heir to an Italian pharmaceutical company, who made it up to promote real estate sales and other projects.

How the story got picked up

﻿The Associated Press heard about it from a press release they received from publicists representing the real estate agents in charge of selling the mansion.

According to Miami-Dade County property records, the mansion is in fact owned and being sold by the Gunther Corp., but the dog's role is nothing more than the publicity stunt that it is.

In 1995 and 1999, Mian admitted to two different newspapers that Gunther was fake.

And ﻿The Associated Press found no evidence that the German countess ever existed.

The news agency pulled down the story as soon as it realized the mistake.

In a statement, ﻿The Associated Press spokeswoman Lauren Easton said, "The AP published a story that did not meet our standards and should not have been published. We did not do our due diligence in the reporting process. We have corrected the story, and we apologize."

Other news outlets, like the Toronto Sun and ABC News, also fell for the long-standing publicity stunt.

Even Madonna posted a disappointed look on her Instagram story with a caption that said, "When you find out a dog is selling your old house for 3 times the amount you sold it for!"

Fixing their mistake

Reporters make mistakes, but professional journalists are bound by rules that require them to be upfront about it as soon as it happens and correct it.

To check the facts, The Associated Press tried to call Mian, but no one answered the number listed as his Italian cellphone number.

They also reached out to Monica Tirado, president of Gunther Corp., and Carla Riccitelli, Mian's ex who described herself to ﻿The Associated Press as Gunther's handler.

Tirado said she couldn't answer further questions about the dog or the German countess because of an "exclusive contract with a Netflix production."

﻿The Associated Press did not receive a comment from Netflix for details about any production.

Test your skills

﻿The Associated Press does make an effort to identify and flag fake news on a regular basis.

In fact, their staff compile a list of fake news stories every week in a feature called Not Real News.

CBC Kids News used some of those stories to build a fake news quiz. ﻿Try it yourself!

Have more questions? ﻿We'll do our best to look into it for you. Ask for permission from your parent or guardian and email us at cbckidsnews@cbc.ca.

With files from The Associated Press
TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Lynne Sladky/The Associated Press, graphic design by Allison Cake

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Dog sells his mansion for $41-million. But was it fake news? | CBC Kids News

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⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️ The story about a millionaire dog selling a $41-million mansion turned out to be a publicity stunt. A man named Maurizio Mian came up with it more than 20 years ago to promote real estate sales and other projects.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

What is the unit 3 connection?

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Thomas Built Buses is a company in High Point, North Carolina. Workers at its school-bus factory are thrilled about a new government law. It's the infrastructure × infrastructure RICHARD BAILEY-GETTY IMAGES relating to the basic structures, like roads and electrical systems, needed for a society (adjective) The mayor spoke about the city's infrastructure problems. bill. President Joe Biden signed it into law on November 15. Among other things, it sets aside money to help communities buy battery-powered school buses.

That's good news for Thomas Built. And it's good news for Chris Pratt. He's president of a local union. He has also worked as a welder at the Thomas Built plant for 22 years. To him, the new law means one thing: more jobs. "This is something huge for us," Pratt says.

COURTESY THOMAS BUILT

The infrastructure law sets aside $2½ billion for electric school buses. That's a tiny chunk of the more than $1 trillion it will invest to build or improve things like roads and bridges. But for workers like those in High Point, this money is a very big deal. It's also important for people trying to get rid of diesel × diesel GREMLIN-GETTY IMAGES relating to a type of fuel used to power certain engines (adjective) Eric's looking for a car that doesn't run on diesel fuel. fumes on children's bus rides.

Charging Ahead

There are about 500,000 school buses in the United States. They move 26 million kids every day. About 95% of those buses run on diesel fuel. This adds up to more than 5 million tons of pollution from greenhouse gases a year.

COURTESY THOMAS BUILT

Inhaling fumes from diesel-powered buses is bad for kids. It has been linked to lower test scores. It can also cause breathing problems. When sitting inside those buses, kids often breathe the most polluted air they're exposed to all day.

It's hard to produce electric versions of some vehicles. Big trucks are an example. They need huge batteries. And these batteries require long charging times. Making electric school buses would be easier. They don't usually travel long distances. And there's plenty of time to charge them during the school day or at night. Making school buses electric would help the environment. It would be better for kids' health, too.

FREDERIC J. BROWN-AFP/GETTY IMAGES

There are only about 1,200 electric school buses in the U.S. The new government money could bump that number to about 10,000. This could happen within five years.

Jobs on the Way

Kevin Bangston is CEO of Thomas Built. He says the company will soon be hiring a "pretty significant" number of workers. Pratt says the new positions can't come soon enough. "People come from hours away for these jobs," he says.

More jobs could be coming at other factories, too. Sanford Bishop is a congressman in Georgia. He represents a district that's home to a Blue Bird bus factory. Bishop expects there to be more bus-building jobs soon. That would help his community financially. "It makes good environmental sense" too, Bishop says.

A Clean and Green Future

There's a bill called the Clean Commute × commute RICHARD NEWSTEAD-GETTY IMAGES a trip you make regularly, such as between home and school or work (noun) My daily commute to work involves a bus and a train. for Kids Act of 2021. It's making its way through Congress. It will make a big impact if it becomes law. The bill was introduced by Alex Padilla. He's a senator from California. The bill would set aside $25 billion. That would pay for pollution-free school buses. It's enough to replace nearly half of the diesel-burning school buses (pictured below) on U.S. roads. Padilla called the bill "a wise investment in our children, our environment, and our future."

JAMIE RECTOR-BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES

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Thomas Built Buses is a company in High Point, North Carolina. Workers at its school-bus factory are thrilled about a new government law. It's the infrastructure bill. President Joe Biden signed it into law on November 15. Among other things,...

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1. Why might restaurants and cafes embrace the new technology?

2. What else might be printed out by the 3D printer in food industry?

3. Why might restaurants and cafes embrace the new technology?

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

What action we can take as individuals to help this issue?

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Meet the female inventor behind mass-market paper bags

What connection we can make trough unit?

Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Meet the female inventor behind mass-market paper bags

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It’s natural to think about what goes into making the food in your daily sack lunch. But have you ever stopped to think about how the bag itself? We see ...

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What was the point of the project?

Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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A fishing boat found the camera on the ocean floor near Nova Scotia

⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️

Scientists strapped an underwater camera to a grey seal.

The camera eventually fell off and the footage was lost.

A fishing boat recovered the camera from the ocean floor years later.

Keep scrolling to see some of the recovered footage. ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Imagine losing something worth $10,000. Now imagine finding it again.

That's what happened to scientists in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after they attached a camera to a grey seal off the shores of Sable Island in 2017.

The camera fell off the animal and was gone for 3½ years.

Then, this summer, that same camera was scooped up from the ocean floor by a fishing boat.

How did the scientists react when they learned that the camera had been found - and that it still worked?

"I was shocked, absolutely shocked," said Department of Fisheries and Oceans biologist Damian Lidgard.

Click play to see some of the footage from that seal cam!

What was the point of the project?

The camera was part of an Ocean Tracking Network research project, aimed at following the movements of grey seals from the seal colony on Sable Island.

Sable Island is a small island located southeast of Halifax, which is known for its shipwrecks and wild horses.

The scientists hoped the camera would give them an accurate picture of where the seal went and what it ate.

"With the video camera, I can sit at my desk and actually watch this animal out at sea, behaving, diving deep, foraging, chasing females," said Lidgard. "I don't have to make assumptions about what the seal is doing."

What did the camera capture?

Once the camera was retrieved by the Clearwater Seafoods vessel, Arctic Endurance, the camera was sent to Australia, where the original manufacturer downloaded data from its memory storage card.

"I didn't really have much hope that there's going to be anything on there, but I had a full set of data," said Lidgard.

There were more than 19 hours of videos saved on the storage card.

What happens next?

The camera still works, so it will be attached to a female seal and redeployed the first week of November.

The female will have to return to shore to give birth so it should be easier to retrieve the camera this time, Lidgard said.

In the meantime, Lidgard is still going through the footage.

He said one of his hopes is to discover footage of seals sleeping on the ocean floor.

Turns out, seals can slow down their heart rates and take naps on the bottom.

Without video, Lidgard said, it's hard to tell if a seal is actually sleeping or if it's just foraging for food down there.

Have more questions? ﻿We'll do our best to look into it for you. Email us at cbckidsnews@cbc.ca.

With files from Paul Withers/CBC
TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Damian Lidgard/Department of Fisheries and Oceans/Ocean Tracking Network

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WATCH - Lost footage of grey seal camera recovered | CBC Kids News

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⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️ Scientists strapped an underwater camera to a grey seal. The camera eventually fell off and the footage was lost. A fishing boat recovered the camera from the ocean floor years later. Keep scrolling to see some of the recovered footage. ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ Imagine losing something worth $10,000.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Kids share rescue stories after getting stranded by B.C. mudslides | CBC Kids News

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Two kids from British Columbia share stories about getting stuck on a highway after mudslides, how they survived and how they got out.

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Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Why a tree won’t be planted when you post a pet picture on Instagram | CBC Kids News

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An Instagram trend encouraging people to post a pet picture in exchange for a tree being planted is debunked as an example of “clicktivism.”

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Please read the document and share your thoughts.
How can you add this new perspective to your practices?
Do not forget to mention your name.

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Please check the inventions 1-5.

What connection we can make through unit?

What invention you like most?

Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Each year, TIME for Kids picks the coolest and most helpful new inventions. Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao, 15, is an inventor. This year, we let her take the lead. Gitanjali selected these items from TIME's list of the 100 Best Inventions of 2020. Read what she has to say below.
SHARIF HAMZA FOR TIME

Our generation is seeing problems that have never existed before, in addition to serious long-standing issues. We need to innovate, generate new ideas, and build on them in order to have a meaningful impact on the future. We want a world. Young people will play a significant role in getting us there. So let's change the old ways. I hope the inventions on this list will inspire you to come up with solutions of your own. -By Gitanjali Rao

Ultimate Indoor Garden

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

Eating a salad is more satisfying when you harvest the greens yourself. Want to grow a garden but don't have a backyard? Consider a Gardyn. This vertical indoor-growing system is powered by . It lets you choose from 32 plants, including fruits, vegetables, greens, herbs, and flowers that will appear right in your home. Load the seedpods into Gardyn. Then an app monitors variables. These include light and humidity. Cameras let you know when your crops are ready to harvest. -By Marjorie Korn

Following the Conversation

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

Robotics might be the answer to making virtual classes feel more human. The Meeting Owl Pro is a 360° tabletop camera. It shifts its lens and microphone to whoever is speaking. In "hybrid" classes and meetings, virtual participants will have a better feel for what's happening in the room. "It's able to follow the conversation," says Owl Labs cofounder Max Makeev. To date, Owl Labs products are used by more than 50,000 companies and universities, as well as K-12 schools across the United States. -By Jesse Will

Portable Purifier

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

"When people want clean water, they reach for plastic bottles," says CrazyCap CEO Rakesh Guduru. For those who want a more sustainable way to hydrate on the go, Guduru created a bottle cap. It uses cleansing UVC light to sanitize water in just 60 seconds. The device has two settings. One purifies water from taps or public fountains. The other purifies water from streams and ponds-perfect for hikers and campers. The cap is rechargeable and compatible with many reusable bottles. -By Simmone Shah

High-Tech Tutor

JESSICA PETTWAY FOR TIME

Robots have always fascinated Van Robotics CEO Laura Boccanfuso. But she felt most were too expensive and technical for real-life use. So she developed ABii. It's a robot tutor that helps kids learn math and reading. Many students are learning from home because of the coronavirus pandemic. "Schools more than ever need individualized learning help," Boccanfuso says. ABii comes with lessons created by teachers. It uses a camera to detect changes in a student's attention. Then it adjusts its approach for individual learners. -By Nadia Suleman

Taking Notes

JESSICA PETTWAY FOR TIME

In 2013, Magnus Wanberg noticed his colleagues taking notes on paper instead of on laptops and phones. "Why hasn't anyone replaced paper with technology?" he wondered. This led him to make the reMarkable paper tablet. The note-taking device converts handwriting into digital text. Released in 2016, its thin design mimics paper. Now, Wanberg has made the reMarkable 2. At less than a quarter-inch thick, the device is 30% skinnier than the original. Its battery can go two weeks per charge. -By Mariah Espada

Robofriend

JESSICA PETTWAY FOR TIME

This friendly robot is designed to boost and social skills. It's for kids ages 5 to 10. Moxie was created by experts in education and child development. Between them, they have worked on the TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, for Pixar, and for the Jim Henson Company. In Moxie, you'll find a compassionate pal who encourages reading and drawing. The robot sends kids on missions, such as writing kind notes to family members or talking about feelings with a friend. -By Marjorie Korn

Helpful Headset

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

AlterEgo, designed by researchers at the MIT Media Lab, seems to read your mind! The headset lets you communicate with a computer without touching a keyboard or speaking. To do a task, such as search for a weather forecast, ask the question to yourself, silently. The headset's sensors read signals from your face. Then, using a web connection, the device does the task on your laptop. Researchers found that a could understand its user 92% of the time. -By Jason Cipriani

Smaller Compact Car

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

Do your parents get frustrated looking for a parking spot in a busy area? City Transformer's electric vehicle could be the solution. The Israeli company's two-seater car is tiny. But it can reach 55 miles per hour. Even better? When traveling at slower speeds, the vehicle can pull its wheels in closer for a one-meter (about one yard) width. This helps it fit into narrow streets and snug spots. City Transformer expects the first vehicles to be on the road in Tel Aviv, Israel, by 2022. -By Patrick Lucas Austin

Handwashing Station

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of viruses. But about 40% of the world's population lacks running water and soap at home. That's why Japan's LIXIL has created the SATO Tap. It's a , refillable handwashing station with a soap holder. The gadget is expected to go on sale in early 2021, for between $3 and $6. LIXIL is working to get 500,000 units to households around the world in the next year. -By Ciara Nugent

More-Inclusive Gaming

JESSICA PETTWAY FOR TIME

About 46 million gamers in the U.S. live with a disability. For some, standard controllers, mouses, and keyboards are challenging to use. In 2018, Microsoft introduced its Xbox Adaptive Controller. It has ports where you can plug in aids, such as a foot pedal. Now Microsoft has partnered with Logitech to make the Adaptive Gaming Kit. For $99, players get 10 buttons, two triggers, hooks, pads, loops, and other gear to customize their controllers. One reviewer described the kit as "honestly revolutionary." -By Matthew Gault

Better Smartphone

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

More than 50 million tons of electronic waste is created each year. Much of it includes materials that were unethically sourced. (For example, the gold found in circuit boards is often mined under dangerous conditions.) But Fairphone makes phones using responsibly sourced materials. And they're built to last. Made of up to 40% recycled plastic, the new Fairphone 3+ has an expected life span of five years. It also has replaceable parts. You can swap your battery, screen, or camera with a screwdriver. This encourages users to keep their devices longer. -By Patrick Lucas Austin

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Each year, TIME for Kids picks the coolest and most helpful new inventions. Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao, 15, is an inventor. This year, we let her take the lead. Gitanjali selected these items from TIME's list of the...

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We will read together and discuss:

Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Climate change: What is it and why is everyone talking about it?

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What is climate change, why is it happening and what can we do about it? Newsround answers your questions.

# data[].attributes.body
Best Inventions of 2020

Which Global Goals are connected to the inventions?

What kind of inventions would you make, to help the Global Goals?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Each year, TIME for Kids picks the coolest and most helpful new inventions. Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao, 15, is an inventor. Gitanjali selected these items from TIME's list of the 100 Best Inventions of 2020. Read what she has to say below.
SHARIF HAMZA FOR TIME

Our generation is seeing problems that have never existed before, in addition to serious long-standing issues. We need to innovate. We need to generate new ideas and build on them to have a meaningful impact on the future. We want a world. Young people will play a significant role in getting us there. So let's change the old ways. I hope the inventions on this list will inspire you to come up with solutions of your own. -By Gitanjali Rao

Ultimate Indoor Garden

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

Eating a salad is more satisfying when you harvest the greens yourself. Want to grow a garden but don't have a yard? Consider a Gardyn. This is a vertical indoor-growing system. It's powered by . You can choose from 32 plants. They include fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They'll grow right in your home. Load in the seedpods. An app monitors light and humidity. Then it lets you know when your crops are ready to harvest. -By Marjorie Korn

Following the Conversation

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

Robotics might help virtual classes feel more human. The Meeting Owl Pro is a 360° tabletop camera. It shifts its lens and microphone to whoever is speaking. In hybrid classes, virtual participants will have a better feel for what's happening in the room. "It's able to follow the conversation," Max Makeev says. He's a cofounder of Owl Labs. To date, Owl Labs products are used by more than 50,000 companies and universities. They're also used by K-12 schools. -By Jesse Will

Portable Purifier

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

"When people want clean water, they reach for plastic bottles," Rakesh Guduru says. He's the CEO of CrazyCap. But many people want a more sustainable way to hydrate on the go. So Guduru created a bottle cap. It uses cleansing UVC light. It sanitizes water in 60 seconds. The device has two settings. One purifies water from taps and fountains. The other purifies water from streams and ponds. The cap is rechargeable. It works with many reusable bottles. -By Simmone Shah

High-Tech Tutor

JESSICA PETTWAY FOR TIME

Robots have always fascinated Van Robotics CEO Laura Boccanfuso. But she felt most were too expensive. They were too technical for real-life use. So she developed ABii. It's a robot tutor. It helps kids learn math and reading. Many students are learning from home. That's because of the pandemic. "Schools more than ever need individualized learning help," Boccanfuso says. ABii comes with lessons created by teachers. It uses a camera to detect changes in a student's attention. Then it adjusts its approach. This helps individual learners. -By Nadia Suleman

Taking Notes

JESSICA PETTWAY FOR TIME

In 2013, Magnus Wanberg saw his colleagues taking notes on paper instead of on their laptops and phones. "Why hasn't anyone replaced paper with technology?" he wondered. This led him to create the reMarkable paper tablet. It converts handwriting into digital text. It was released in 2016. Its thin design mimics paper. Now Wanberg has made the reMarkable 2. It's less than a quarter inch thick: 30% skinnier than the original. And its battery can go two weeks per charge. -By Mariah Espada

Robofriend

JESSICA PETTWAY FOR TIME

This robot is friendly. It's designed to boost and social skills. It's for kids ages 5 to 10. Moxie was created by experts in education and child development. Between them, they have worked on the TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, for Pixar, and for the Jim Henson Company. Moxie is a compassionate pal. It encourages reading and drawing. The robot sends kids on missions. These include writing kind notes to family members and talking about feelings with a friend. -By Marjorie Korn

Helpful Headset

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

AlterEgo was designed by researchers at the MIT Media Lab. This headset lets you communicate with a computer without touching a keyboard or speaking. Want to do a task, such as search for a weather forecast? Ask the question to yourself, silently. Sensors read signals from your face. Then the device uses a web connection to complete the task on your laptop. Researchers found that a understood its user 92% of the time. -By Jason Cipriani

Smaller Compact Car

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

Do your parents get frustrated looking for a parking spot in a busy area? City Transformer's electric vehicle could be the solution. The Israeli company's two-seat car is tiny. But it's fast. It can reach 55 miles per hour. At slower speeds, the vehicle can pull its wheels in closer for a one-meter (about one yard) width. This helps it fit on narrow streets and into snug spots. City Transformer expects the first vehicles to be on the road in Tel Aviv, Israel, by 2022. -By Patrick Lucas Austin

Handwashing Station

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

Handwashing is one of the best ways to stop the spread of viruses. But about 40% of the world's population lacks running water and soap at home. That's why Japan's LIXIL has created the SATO Tap. It's a handwashing station. It has a soap holder. The gadget is expected to go on sale in early 2021. It will cost between $3 and $6. LIXIL is working to get 500,000 units to households around the world. The company plans to do this in the next year. -By Ciara Nugent

More-Inclusive Gaming

JESSICA PETTWAY FOR TIME

About 46 million gamers in the U.S. have a disability. For some, standard controllers are hard to use. In 2018, Microsoft introduced its Xbox Adaptive Controller. It has ports. You can plug in aids, such as a foot pedal. Now Microsoft and Logitech have made the Adaptive Gaming Kit. It costs $99. Players get 10 buttons, two triggers, hooks, pads, loops, and other gear to customize their controllers. One reviewer described the kit as "honestly revolutionary." -By Matthew Gault

Better Smartphone

IMAGES OF PRODUCTS COURTESY BEST INVENTIONS COMPANIES

More than 50 million tons of electronic waste is created each year. It includes materials that were unethically sourced. (For example, the gold in circuit boards is often mined under dangerous conditions.) But Fairphone makes phones from responsibly sourced materials. And they're built to last. Made of up to 40% recycled plastic, the new Fairphone 3+ has an expected life span of five years. It has replaceable parts. You can change your battery, screen, or camera with a screwdriver. This will encourage users to keep the device longer. -By Patrick Lucas Austin

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Each year, TIME for Kids picks the coolest and most helpful new inventions. Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao, 15, is an inventor. Gitanjali selected these items from TIME's list of the 100 Best Inventions of 2020. Read what she...

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Sustainable!
1.What was the key event from the news article?
2. Which global goals are connected to this story?

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Current Events Web Find the Who, What, Where, When, How and Why in the article to complete this worksheet. I Think Because Share what you think about the article and explain why. My Questions Write a question map about questions that you have after reading the article.

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Why today’s ‘fast fashions’ can be bad for the planet

How does this story connect with our unit of inquiry ideas about resources and consuming?

Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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algae: Single-celled organisms, once considered plants (they aren't). As aquatic organisms, they grow in water. Like green plants, they depend on sunlight to make their food.

atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding Earth or another planet.

average: (in science) A term for the arithmetic mean, which is the sum of a group of numbers that is then divided by the size of the group.

biodiversity: (short for biological diversity) The number and variety of species found within a localized geographic region.

bond: (in chemistry) A semi-permanent attachment between atoms - or groups of atoms - in a molecule. It's formed by an attractive force between the participating atoms. Once bonded, the atoms will work as a unit. To separate the component atoms, energy must be supplied to the molecule as heat or some other type of radiation.

carbon: The chemical element having the atomic number 6. It is the physical basis of all life on Earth. Carbon exists freely as graphite and diamond. It is an important part of coal, limestone and petroleum, and is capable of self-bonding, chemically, to form an enormous number of chemically, biologically and commercially important molecules.

carbon dioxide: (or CO ₂) A colorless, odorless gas produced by all animals when the oxygen they inhale reacts with the carbon-rich foods that they've eaten. Carbon dioxide also is released when organic matter burns (including fossil fuels like oil or gas). Carbon dioxide acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere. Plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen during photosynthesis, the process they use to make their own food.

cellulose: A type of fiber found in plant cell walls. It is formed by chains of glucose molecules.

chemical: A substance formed from two or more atoms that unite (bond) in a fixed proportion and structure. For example, water is a chemical made when two hydrogen atoms bond to one oxygen atom. Its chemical formula is H ₂ O. Chemical also can be an adjective to describe properties of materials that are the result of various reactions between different compounds.

chemical engineer: A researcher who uses chemistry to solve problems related to the production of food, fuel, medicines and many other products.

chemical reaction: A process that involves the rearrangement of the molecules or structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form (as from a solid to a gas).

climate change: Long-term, significant change in the climate of Earth. It can happen naturally or in response to human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests.

consumer: (n.) Term for someone who buys something or uses something. (adj.) A person who uses goods and services that must be paid for.

COVID-19: A name given to the disease that caused a massive global outbreak. It first emerged in December 2019 and is caused by a new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms include pneumonia, fever, headaches, blood clots and trouble breathing.

database: An organized collection of related data.

development: (in biology) The growth of an organism from conception through adulthood, often undergoing changes in chemistry, size and sometimes even shape. another so that it can be used for housing, agriculture, or resource development. (in engineering) The growth or change of something from an idea to a prototype.

dissolve: To turn a solid into a liquid and disperse it into that starting liquid. (For instance, sugar or salt crystals, which are solids, will dissolve into water. Now the crystals are gone and the solution is a fully dispersed mix of the liquid form of the sugar or salt in water.)

economy: Term for the combined wealth and resources (people, jobs, land, forests and minerals, for instance) of a nation or region. It is often measured in terms of jobs and income or in terms of the production and use of goods (such as products) and services (for instance, nursing or internet access).

engineer: A person who uses science to solve problems. As a verb, to engineer means to design a device, material or process that will solve some problem or unmet need. (v.) To perform these tasks, or the name for a person who performs such tasks.

environment: The sum of all of the things that exist around some organism or the process and the condition those things create. Environment may refer to the weather and ecosystem in which some animal lives, or, perhaps, the temperature and humidity (or even the placement of things in the vicinity of an item of interest).

erosion: (v. erode) The process that removes rock and soil from one spot on Earth's surface, depositing it elsewhere. Erosion can be exceptionally fast or exceedingly slow. Causes of erosion include wind, water (including rainfall and floods), the scouring action of glaciers and the repeated cycles of freezing and thawing that occur in many areas of the world.

fabric: Any flexible material that is woven, knitted or can be fused into a sheet by heat.

fiber: Something whose shape resembles a thread or filament. (in nutrition) Components of many fibrous plant-based foods. These so-called non-digestible fibers tend to come from cellulose, lignin, and pectin - all plant constituents that resist breakdown by the body's digestive enzymes.

field: An area of study, as in: Her field of research was biology. Also a term to describe a real-world environment in which some research is conducted, such as at sea, in a forest, on a mountaintop or on a city street. It is the opposite of an artificial setting, such as a research laboratory.

filter: (n.) Something that allows some materials to pass through but not others, based on their size or some other feature. (v.) The process of screening some things out on the basis of traits such as size, density, electric charge.

focus: (in behavior) To look or concentrate intently on some particular point or thing.

fossil fuel: Any fuel - such as coal, petroleum (crude oil) or natural gas - that has developed within the Earth over millions of years from the decayed remains of bacteria, plants or animals.

gel: A gooey or viscous material that can flow like a thick liquid.

graduate student: Someone working toward an advanced degree by taking classes and performing research. This work is done after the student has already graduated from college (usually with a four-year degree).

greenhouse gas: A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing heat. Carbon dioxide is one example of a greenhouse gas.

habitat: The area or natural environment in which an animal or plant normally lives, such as a desert, coral reef or freshwater lake. A habitat can be home to thousands of different species.

life cycle: The succession of stages that occur as an organism grows, develops, reproduces - and then eventually ages and dies. The succession of stages that occur as an organism grows, develops, reproduces - and then eventually ages and dies. Or the sum of all processes involved in creating a product, starting with the extraction of raw materials and ending with the disposal of the product when it's no longer useful. Indeed, engineers describe this as the cradle-to-grave life of a product.

manufacturing: The making of things, usually on a large scale.

materials scientist: A researcher who studies how the atomic and molecular structure of a material is related to its overall properties. Materials scientists can design new materials or analyze existing ones. Their analyses of a material's overall properties (such as density, strength and melting point) can help engineers and other researchers select materials that are best suited to a new application.

metal: Something that conducts electricity well, tends to be shiny (reflective) and malleable (meaning it can be reshaped with heat and not too much force or pressure).

microplastic: A small piece of plastic, 5 millimeters (0.2 inch) or smaller in size. Microplastics may have been produced at that small size, or their size may be the result of the breakdown of water bottles, plastic bags or other things that started out larger.

microscope: An instrument used to view objects, like bacteria, or the single cells of plants or animals, that are too small to be visible to the unaided eye.

molecule: An electrically neutral group of atoms that represents the smallest possible amount of a chemical compound. Molecules can be made of single types of atoms or of different types. For example, the oxygen in the air is made of two oxygen atoms (O ₂), but water is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H ₂ O).

organic: (in chemistry) An adjective that indicates something is carbon-containing; also a term that relates to the basic chemicals that make up living organisms. (in agriculture) Farm products grown without the use of non-natural and potentially toxic chemicals, such as pesticides.

palladium: A soft, ductile, steel-white, tarnish-resistant, metallic element occurring naturally with platinum, especially in gold, nickel, and copper ores.

pandemic: An epidemic that affects a large proportion of the population across a country or the world.

petroleum: A thick flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons. Petroleum is a fossil fuel mainly found beneath the Earth's surface. It is the source of the chemicals used to make gasoline, lubricating oils, plastics and many other products.

pigment: A material, like the natural colorings in skin, that alter the light reflected off of an object or transmitted through it. The overall color of a pigment typically depends on which wavelengths of visible light it absorbs and which ones it reflects. For example, a red pigment tends to reflect red wavelengths of light very well and typically absorbs other colors. Pigment also is the term for chemicals that manufacturers use to tint paint.

plastic: Any of a series of materials that are easily deformable; or synthetic materials that have been made from polymers (long strings of some building-block molecule) that tend to be lightweight, inexpensive and resistant to degradation.

pore: A tiny hole in a surface. On the skin, substances such as oil, water and sweat pass through these openings.

pulp: The fibrous inner part of a vegetable or fruit (such as an orange).

range: The full extent or distribution of something. For instance, a plant or animal's range is the area over which it naturally exists.

risk: The chance or mathematical likelihood that some bad thing might happen. For instance, exposure to radiation poses a risk of cancer. Or the hazard - or peril - itself. (For instance: Among cancer risks that the people faced were radiation and drinking water tainted with arsenic.)

sanitation: The protection of human health by preventing human contact with our own bodily wastes, through hand washing, use of things like use of toilets or latrines, separation of disposal of wastes from drinking-water sources and water, and cleaning water to rid of disease causing agents disinfecting foods and materials that may be ingested or otherwise enter the body.

society: An integrated group of people or animals that generally cooperate and support one another for the greater good of them all.

species: A group of similar organisms capable of producing offspring that can survive and reproduce.

sponge: Something that sops up liquids or other materials and holds them until squeezed out or removed in some other way. (in biology) A primitive aquatic animal with a soft, porous body.

surface area: The area of some material's surface. In general, smaller materials and ones with rougher or more convoluted surfaces have a greater exterior surface area - per unit mass - than larger items or ones with smoother exteriors. That becomes important when chemical, biological or physical processes occur on a surface.

sustainability: (adj: sustainable) To use resources in a way that they will continue to be available in the future.

synthetic: An adjective that describes something that did not arise naturally, but was instead created by people. Many synthetic materials have been developed to stand in for natural materials, such as synthetic rubber, synthetic diamond or a synthetic hormone. Some may even have a chemical makeup and structure identical to the original.

textile: Cloth or fabric that can be woven of nonwoven (such as when fibers are pressed and bonded together).

toxic: Poisonous or able to harm or kill cells, tissues or whole organisms. The measure of risk posed by such a poison is its toxicity.

variety: (in agriculture) The term that plant scientists give to a distinct breed (subspecies) of plant with desirable traits. If the plants were bred intentionally, they are referred to as cultivated varieties, or cultivars.

waste: Any materials that are left over from biological or other systems that have no value, so they can be disposed of as trash or recycled for some new use.

World Health Organization: An agency of the United Nations, established in 1948, to promote health and to control communicable diseases. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The United Nations relies on the WHO for providing international leadership on global health matters. This organization also helps shape the research agenda for health issues and sets standards for pollutants and other things that could pose a risk to health. WHO also regularly reviews data to set policies for maintaining health and a healthy environment.

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Why today's 'fast fashions' can be bad for the planet

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algae: Single-celled organisms, once considered plants (they aren't). As aquatic organisms, they grow in water. Like green plants, they depend on sunlight to make their food. atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding Earth or another planet. average: (in science) A term for the arithmetic mean, which is the sum of a group of numbers that is then divided by the size of the group.

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Do you have similar situation in your country?

Which Global Goals are connected?

What high ladder questions can you think of when you read this story?

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Cost of meat and vegetables is expected to rise the most

Karema Alarabi's family usually makes bread from scratch.

But the 13-year-old expects that to change this year, as food prices are predicted to increase.

"We would probably have to start buying more bread," Karema told CBC Kids News from her home in Halifax.

For Karema's family, store-bought bread is cheaper than making homemade bread when you factor in the cost of electricity to use the oven.

Karema said she is concerned about rising food costs. (Image submitted by Saida Gazie)

Prices to go up 3 to 5 per cent

This cost forecast comes from Canada's Food Price Report, published by authors at Dalhousie University, the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of British Columbia.

It says Canadians should expect a total food price increase of three to five per cent compared to last year.

"Probably in a week or in a month, it won't affect that much, but if it's like a year, then [my family is] going to be paying more money and it's going to be harder for them," Karema said.

Increases different in each province

The report collected data on trends in farming and retail to estimate how much different types of food will cost over the next year.

It predicts the average family would spend roughly $695 more on groceries this year.

That kind of change is going to lead to adjustments in the shopping habits of families like Karema's.

"If you want to treat yourself with a little treat or these things, you would not be able to do it," Karema told CBC Kids News.

Nova Scotia, where Karema lives, is one of the provinces that is expected to see "above-average" price increases this year, according to the report.

Some of the common groceries bought by Karema's family. (Image submitted by Saida Gazie)

Karema said her family's weekly grocery bill usually works out to around $110.

The expected cost increase would mean an extra $3.30 to $5.50 every week, or about $15 to $25 a month.

Karema is also aware that some families may have even more trouble dealing with the price hikes.

She worries about families who aren't employed or have low incomes.

"Some people are also really struggling with paying for basic needs, like rent and transportation," she said.

More people may need help

Many families, like Mohamed Ahmed's, already rely on food banks such as the Mississauga Food Bank.

According to the report, Canadian food banks saw a 20 to 50 per cent increase in visits in some parts of Canada very early on in the pandemic.

From left: Brothers Mohamed and Mohab Ahmed come from a large family that needs lots of groceries. (Image submitted by Heba Ahmed)

Mohamed, 12, and his brother Mohab, 10, from Mississauga, Ontario, come from a family of nine.

They are being raised by a single mom.

Ontario already had the second highest price increase, after Prince Edward Island, in Canada in 2020, the report says, and is expected to see more price increases this year.

Mohamed's family has already felt the strain of current food prices.

According to his older sister Heba, their mother has calculated that they need about $30 worth of groceries every day.

What are some of the groceries they often get?

Some of the common grocery items the Ahmed family purchases. (Image submitted by Heba Ahmed)

"Cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes," Mohamed told CBC Kids News. "Less fruits."

Both meat and vegetables are expected to go up in price the most, around 4.5 to 6.5 per cent.

Why the increase?

COVID-19 protocols and climate change are the main reasons food prices are going up this year, the report says.

It says border closures and changes to procedures in production and distribution due to the pandemic have affected food costs.

On top of that, COVID-19 safety measures have forced meat processing plants to produce less or close altogether, to allow for measures like physical distancing.

Climate change is also expected to continue to affect food costs as 2020 had "record and worsening heat, ice loss, wildfires, floods and droughts."

Climate events like the California wildfires affect the supply of foods that are normally imported, which make them more expensive.

All that means there will be a steep increase in food prices.

That 4.5 to 6.5 per cent rise for meat and vegetables may not seem like much, but that would mean Mohamed's family is predicted to spend somewhere between $40 to 60 more a month if they don't make changes to their shopping list.

Some families might have to cut back on some fruits and vegetables as prices continue to rise. (Image credit: Kate Dubinski/CBC News)

And many Canadians are making less money than they did a year ago.

A Statistics Canada report said 5.5 million Canadians worked fewer hours or lost their jobs in the early part of 2020.

With incomes being insecure for many families, the rise in prices can mean difficult choices.

"We bought less [groceries]," Mohamed said about how his family has already coped with food costs.

While he doesn't mind cutting back on groceries, he does miss having more fruits.

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Rising food prices? These kids share how it will affect their families | CBC Kids News

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Karema Alarabi's family usually makes bread from scratch. But the 13-year-old expects that to change this year, as food prices are predicted to increase. "We would probably have to start buying more bread," Karema told CBC Kids News from her home in Halifax.

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A forest that grew from an idea

Which one of our unit is this connected to?

Which Global Goals are connected?

What action could YOU take to help with this issue

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Samarrth Khanna was 16 years old and studying in Class 11 at the Delhi Public School, Faridabad when he noticed the patch of land near the Lal Bahadur Shastri Chowk in Faridabad city near Delhi. He passed by it every day on the way to and from school and he saw how people were treating it like a garbage dump. Over time the land had become choked with polybags, packets and other rubbish.

By then Samarrth was already interested in environmental issues and had been looking for vacant places in his neighbourhood where he could plant trees to fight pollution. This patch of land near the busy traffic junction seemed the perfect place to start.
The project begins
Samarrth and his friends started visiting the spot on weekends to clear out the garbage. They continue to do so even today (as people keep dumping rubbish) and have so far removed 4000 kilograms of waste from the spot.

The problem didn't end with the clean-up. The land had become barren and soil infertile. So, the group used earthworms (these are great for loosening the soil) and bio enzymes to bring the soil back to life. After a year, the land began to show signs of healing and plants started growing better. They also planted native grasses that helped revive the soil even more.

To make these decisions, Samarrth took the help of his Residents Welfare Association (RWA) as well as experts from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and those who were behind the Aravalli Biodiversity Park in Gurgaon.
What to plant?
Samarrth and his team turned to native plants and trees of the Yamuna flood plains and Aravallis, the two habitats that are seen in the Faridabad area. And the result? As Samarrth says, "Our efforts soon bore fruits, and leaves and branches and roots! And we were finally successful to transform the site adopted by us into a healthy and functional Mini Forest!"

Samaarth's remarkable project has inspired many people and he is already working on two more mini-forests in Faridabad. That's the power of a brilliant idea.
A mini-forest of multiple habitats
Three different micro-habitats have been created within the mini-forest.

Home to aquatic plants, fish, dragonflies, damselflies and frogs

Collects rainwater and recharges ground water

Aquatic insects check mosquitoes by eating them up in different stages of their lifecycle.

Home to native grasses

Habitat for many grassland birds like Prinias and Indian Robin

Tree and shrubs

Provide ground cover and prevent erosion

As the trees become taller, they absorb pollution from the nearby chowk and replace it with oxygen we can breathe.

The mini-forest is home to many different plants and animals including 112 species of plants, 37 species of birds and 22 species of butterflies
Paintings by Vibhav Peri

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Samarrth Khanna was 16 years old and studying in Class 11 at the Delhi Public School, Faridabad when he noticed the patch of land near the Lal Bahadur Shastri Chowk in Faridabad city near Delhi. He passed by it every day on the way to and from school and he saw how people were treating it like a garbage dump.