https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/explainers/what-are-fire-ants-and-why-are-they-a-problem-for-australia/news-story/2d20a2bf27a84d571b6ad643da4bbd3dKidsNewsen2026-10-19T19:00:00+11:00Hunt is on to eradicate fire antssoap and water.POLL Kids News poll,Aussies,areas,some people,fire ants.WHAT,one nest,a major response,Department,Fire ants,Picture,an unlucky bystander,the Federal Government,fire,hundreds,a brown-black abdomen,threatened.The,their food.Fire ants,Crops,the difference,economy,itchy and infected.The NSW government,insects,authorities,the skin,non-native species,symptoms,fire antsGLOSSARYinvasive,size,the Cleveland Clinic.The burning sting,the insulation,Sydney,insects, spiders, lizards, frogs, birds and mammals,a problem,Red Fire Ants,any further.The ants,fire ant nests,fact,these ants,soil,medical attention,their venomous* stinger,the suspected ants,FIRE ANTS,holes,the ants,38,fire ants,a shipping container,nest,people,the genetics*,The ants,allergic reactions,Australia,A PROBLEM,an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis,Nests,no cost,large numbers,anaphylactic* allergic reactions,anaphylaxis.They,any more nests,no reason,school,quick eradication*,livestock,these invasive ants,.Fire ants,frogs,invasive red fire ants,THEY A PROBLEM,the environment,NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development,spiders,their food,University,a report,parts,an hour.Small white pustules,’s Inner West,production and supply,Dieter Hochuli,69,an environment,the super stingers,The NSW government,the next two weeks,the Queensland infestation*,48 hours,the lookout,the Cleveland Clinic,their spread,their sting,GREEN,The NSW Department,the super pests,form,decades,an aggressive species,pets,Professor,no visible entry hole,the same time,The burning sting,no visible entry hole.Fire ants,Primary Industries and Regional Development,The nests,seconds,an hour,the first time,’s worst invasive species,’s worst invasive species.They,an allergic reaction,property,traffic lights,95,red fire ants,a layer,the insulation.University,the reason,Cleveland Clinic.The,NSW,mammals,the tiny ants,air conditioners,NSW government,Invasive,birds and mammals.It,damage,Sydney Professor Dieter Hochuli,pets.Being stung,Fast action,the nest,a cold compress or ice,birds,irrigation* systems and machinery,up to 45,anaphylactic* allergic reactions.WHY,your garden,a venomous sting,Biosecurity experts,biodiversity*,Invasive Species Council,’s health,a fire ant,the swelling and pain.If blisters,their own steam,Federal Government.Crops,garden,their body,a video,insects, spiders, lizards, frogs, birds and mammals.It,a burning sting,sensitive electrical equipment,cent,the public,the world,photos,meter boxes,Hunt,a massive challenge,a Sydney container yard,just 2-6mm.Nests,Primary,a nasty burning sensation,just 2-6mm,a spread,dirt,equipment,lizards,patches or mounds,the Federal Government.Crops,last week,a good grip,a local park,concrete,your body,the stings,a team,no natural predators,reptiles,the cost,production and supply.The NSW government,anaphylaxis,a nest,Small white pustules,times,southeast Queensland,mounds,the National Fire Ants Eradication Program,READING LEVEL,cost,FIRE ANTSIf,a shipping container.The NSW government,A FIRE ANT,a trusted adult straightaway,spread,agricultural industries,Red imported fire ants,expensive management,a shipyard,40cm,the property ownerhttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/b956d7c0225349ebbbe2b1ed51f70161https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/health/feeling-connected-boosts-brain-development-and-mental-health/news-story/f9efb9b8657485712dace1861bc97e5aKidsNewsen2026-10-19T18:30:00+11:00Five simple ways kids can connectfaces and responses,Even small moments,your friends and family,We Thrive,Mental Health,’s development,The University,The most complicated,Picture,CONNECTING,hundreds,writer.CONNECTING OFF-SCREENGiving people,a classroom,Professor Ian Hickie,Sydney Brain,family members,brain development,Mental Health Month,iStock B Kinder Foundation founder Danny Mayson-Kinder,this time,physical health.National,Elaine Fowler,physical health,every Aussie kid and adult,the experience,books and music,We Thrive campaign,the most popular kid,Five simple ways,the local environment,even weeding*,such a huge impact,our brains,a kindergarten,a community group,Sydney Professor Ian Hickie,your favourite song,October,ReachOut senior manager support services,a Long Way,kids,Nature,Connection,neighbours,Social Group,people,international organisations,those connections,Ian Hickie,your mates,your life,feelings,experts,Mental Health Australia,Mind Centre co-director health and policy,Therapy,body language,’s Mental Health Month theme,Danny Mayson-Kinder,Co-Director Health and Policy,school,’s theme,A GROUPThe,serotonin* levels,its Together,University of Sydney,your full focus,senior manager support services,actual,the cherry,a social group,iStock National,seeds,new ones –,Mayson-Kinder,Kids,recess,University,the globe,campaign,video games,three years,friends –,this month,a smile,a whole range,your physical and mental wellbeing,all Australians,not just one other face,ReachOut,simple things,Prof Ian Hickie,cognitive* task,bond,their group,GREEN,home,a group setting,natural elements,Mary Moody,Hickie,classmates,family,a strong sense,pets,Professor,the same time,an important element,mental health,a good book,Ms Fowler,your day,SCREENGiving people,these little moments,children,their own,connection,your parents,A Long Way,A Little Connection,our full attention,its tail,the soil,their favourite singer,the Garden author Mary Moody,social skills,brain skills,iStock CONNECTING,Real connection,your classmates,belonging and connection,tone,oxytocin*,the campaign,your lives,B Kinder Foundation,this month.Here,good” chemicals,Feeling,top,The most complicated, actual, mental, cognitive* task,a better mood,supplied Connecting,the key,this year,any distractions,iStock CONNECTING OFF,another face,television,the year,Fowler,B Kinder Foundation founder Danny Mayson-Kinder,MATES, OLD AND NEWPlaying outdoors,the person,fun,voice,Prof Hickie,a list,the people,the world,The most important bonding hormone,Oxytocin,a walk,your brain development,friends,someone else,MATES,the screens,a group,Reading Level Green,their mental wellbeing,this October,A GROUPThe “feel,a shared activity or experience,part,the charge,mental,young people,A conversation,strong connections,a sporting group,OLD AND NEWPlaying outdoors,important social skills,friends and classmates,the park,listening,READING LEVEL,the ground,a puppy,mental and physical wellbeing,other people,Ms Mayson-Kinder,YOURSELF AND NATUREGardening,something enjoyable,bonding,a natural mood enhancer,the chemical,another form,a little more attention,writer,Children Mental Healthhttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/4e2f3c68f667a34a6125d7c5309a9d03https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/animals/larger-furry-friends-age-faster-at-molecular-level-than-small-ones/news-story/adc770bd86f6dda6190ad7d4060ba2ceKidsNewsen2026-10-18T14:30:00+11:00Mini dogs live longer – here’s whysaid.This discovery,year,male dogs,genome instability,biological age,doggo DNA,Picture,clamps,longer lives,large breeds,Great Danes,a species,younger,genes,1640 blood methylation profiles,males,adulthood,10 years,Elephants,70 years,DNA*,selection,old age,these mobile elements,those ideas,’s School,male and female dogs,This discovery,smaller ones,slowing,smaller dogs,large size and longevity,Snyder-Mackler,Aging dogs,elephants,DNA methylation,new spots,selective breeding,Larger furry friends,genes’,large dogs,molecular ageing,the shorter lives,healthy lifespan,blood,bigger species,Prof Snyder-Mackler,a median error,A herding dog,a higher risk,Chihuaha,two copies and males,disguise,A new study,the researchers,Humans,a mini doggo,hunting and herding,body size,certain biological mechanisms,individuals,four years,this acceleration,LINE1s,the tape,A tiny Chihuahua,livestock,dogs,chemical tags,whose biological age,a Great Dane dog,a Great Dane,the ride,The DNA study,growth biology,natural evolution,long lives,parts,chihuahuas*,Scientists,the genome*,the genome,Thomas Lisson Earlier comparisons,Life Sciences and Centre,mice,Jumping genes,Great Danes age,transposable* elements,signs,said.The findings,a molecular level,Noah Snyder-Mackler,DNA methylation*,genetic information,other age-related diseases.In,our genome-wide analyses,disease,the sex chromosome,females,a type,the same molecular trajectory,Synder-Mackler,large adult size,a single biological clock,Dogs,Chihuahuas,Arizona State University,cancer,time,age,pets,an epigenetic* clock,age-related patterns,DNA study,lifespan,Tim Carrafa Prof Synder-Mackler,rapid growth or,larger dogs,reverse.Earlier comparisons,terms,a faster molecular ageing trajectory,The trade-off,quite a lot,Chromosomes,tasks,the study,894 pet canines,gene,Great Dane,the reason,Few animals,the blood methylome,the answer,mammals,Evolution Professor Noah Snyder-Mackler,big muscular ones,higher methylation,the mystery,these tags,Mini dogs,Richard Dobson,differences,pattern,trade-off,their activation,the professor,shorter lives,the sex signal,ORANGE,the possibility,Our study,this ageing mystery,this one species,species,accelerated molecular ageing,the smallest dog breed,’s age,those regions,Tim Carrafa,a molecular layer downstream,big dogs,certain diseases,the journal Science.To,size and lifespan,late-life triggers,a separate biology,the authors,small ones,follow-up,the link,a big one,exceptional longevity*,a dog,their cells,large adult sizes,our data,the body-size signal,David Caird,other age-related diseases,scientists,methylation,a difference,late-life costs,Dog DNA,the same mechanism,molecular aging,part,14 years,more cell growth,the journal Science,accelerated molecular ageing.Dogs,guarding,their profiles,tiny furry friends,various breeds,early death,the world —,disease or mortality,less than one,a faster-moving DNA methylation ageing signature,guarding, hunting and herding,explanations,small dogs,READING LEVEL,processes,ageing,supplied DIFFERENCES BY SEXThe researchers,a family pet,control,threadlike structures,the X chromosome,LINE1 elements,the ageing program,Researchers,cell nuclei,short lives,BY SEXThe researchers,Reading Level Orange,Prof Synder-Mackler,the wild,molecular level,a consequencehttps://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/50b2e7327cc12bb68f4911713d239383https://origin.kidsnews.com.au/money/mark-knights-cartoon-explores-the-dark-irony-of-economic-policies/news-story/ed2f1d97883381189603c36233aac3b3KidsNewsen2026-10-18T14:00:00+11:00‘Torturous twist’ of monetary policyAussies,Parliament House,government spending,Productivity*,our Reserve Bank tormentor,RBA,a dungeon,rising prices,a buffet,Picture,much money,central banks,our government,home mortgage borrowers,cent target,borrowing and interest costs,rents,demand,RBA interest rate hikes,Petrol and diesel prices,one foot,’s supply,a nationwide housing shortage,central bank,time, labour and money,This shortage,an economy,wine,scarce resources,goods and services,a home,monetary policyGLOSSARYeconomics,hikes,the brakes,economics*,a whole other topic,the available supply,people,other words,monetary policy,a very dry argument,these funding programs,Mark Knight,votes,NewsWire / Martin Ollman Australia,Israel,Australia,a whole other topic.Australia,every dollar,evidence,Rents,the RBA,this wizardry,individuals,the moment,POLL Kids News,rising inflation,cash salads,the price,a government,their finances,Reserve Bank,government spending programs,the same goods,the middle-class,spending,the Dark Ages,Brett Hartwig,the demand,the offices,the rack,production,the bone,prisoners,unlimited wants and needs,the electorate,cash interest rates,The hairy torturer,home and welfare,Inflation,his torturer,a twist,a poor mortgage holder,Treasurer Jim Chalmers,pain,high inflation,The prices,Mortgage holders,more money,other bills,labour and money,money,Rising inflation,time,the conflict,a blunt instrument,the same time,hairy torturer,the central bank,President,Iran,the dark art,our shopping bills,the cartoon,farming and transport freight,cash,businesses,nearly 4,the only ones,another highly important aspect,the study,interest rates,less money,Torturous twist,those unlucky,your money,a housing shortage,our Prime Minister,monetary policy*,a smorgasbord*,the brake,Government spending,theory,the economy,Reserve Bank of Australia,mortgages,a drawing,inflation,the country,monetary meat trays,the limit,a meal,ORANGE,The RBA,the economic stimulus,the Reserve Bank,its annual 2-3,those wooden medieval* torture racks,the Sydney CBD,a look,cent,the other foot,NewsWire/John Appleyard,governments and societies,the dining table,the dark irony,the 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