Science & Technology

Space
A 'city-killer' asteroid might hit Earth

Asteroid watch begins for rare find

As the touring asteroid first spotted after Boxing Day safely zooms away from Earth on the next leg of its four-year orbit, the global agency that assesses asteroid risk will keep monitoring its travels

Geography
SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 28: In this photo illustration, the Gulf of Mexico is displayed on the Google Maps app on January 28, 2025 in San Anselmo, California. Google announced plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” on Google Maps for United States users once the change formally goes into effect. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to change the name. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Google to rename Gulf of Mexico

Executive orders signed by American President Donald Trump hours after his Jan 20 inauguration include changing place names to more US-centric options – with Google Maps already on board

VIDEOJunior Journo
MELBOURNE, DECEMBER 17, 2024: Junior Journalist of the Year (Secondary), Madison Riquelme. Madison presents to camera. Picture: Mark Stewart

Junior Journo winners revealed

Two budding newshounds have been named Junior Journalists of the Year after Kids News judges were wowed by thought-provoking submissions on AI and robotics plus domestic violence

Kids news HP promo
VIDEOAnimals
An emperor penguin has been found in Denmark, Western Australia, the furthest north the species has ever been recorded. Picture: Miles Brotherson/DBCA, (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions)

Emperor penguin’s epic Oz swim

Beachgoers got the surprise of their lives when an adventurous emperor penguin waddled from the water to explore a WA beach, possibly the first time one has swum from Antarctica to Australia

Environment
The footage has shocked the world. Picture: China News Service

Solar power’s moment in the sun

A massive offshore solar farm has been unveiled in China as Elon Musk celebrated an Australian solar milestone, saying the renewable source was key for the world’s future power supply

Environment
TOPSHOT - This aerial handout picture taken on November 9, 2024 and released on November 10, 2024 by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency shows the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki as seen from the Eputobi rest area in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. (Photo by Handout / National Disaster Mitigation Agency / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / National Disaster Mitigation Agency - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Bali volcano grounds Aussie flights

Travellers were left stranded after multiple airlines cancelled flights to and from Australia to holiday hotspot Bali due to the giant ash cloud caused by Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupting

VIDEOEnvironment
Soft coral spawning Moore Reef.

Full moon to trigger coral spawn

As the reef gets ready for its yearly ‘date night’, scientists say it’s not just coral that will be busy during November’s spawning season. Here’s what to expect and why it’s critical for our oceans

Space
KIDS NEWS 2024: students watch the launch at the Powerhouse Future Space Launch of their algae experiment for the International Space Station. Picture: Powerhouse Future Space Launch/Maja Baska.

Student experiment goes to space

Australian students are celebrating the successful lift off of their history-making space mission, as their algae experiment heads to the International Space Station in a bid to grow a greener future

VIDEOAnimals
KIDS NEWS. Taronga Zoo 9-week-old Fiordland Penguin chick with mother penguin Dusky. Picture: Taronga Zoo

Meet Australia’s precious penguins

Not only are these recent hatchlings flippin’ cute, they could prove crucial to the survival of their species thanks to a world-first breeding program that is revealing new insights into how they live

History
Mystery of human bones found in castle well is finally solved as DNA matches skeleton with 800-year-old saga figure

800-year-old castle saga solved

A mystery man mentioned in a passage of medieval Norwegian history written over 800 years ago has been connected by DNA testing to remains first recovered from a castle well in 1938

Health
The artifical tissue mimics the top crucial layers of skin and comes after years of work at The Alfred and Monash University. Picture: supplied

Grow your own ‘skin’ for burns

In a world-first medical trial, an Australian patient has received human-like skin grown in a lab to treat severe burns – a major breakthrough doctors say could improve healing and save lives

Health
Jaxon Pambid, Riley Gillece, Ewan Wood, George Philp and James Johnston for News Corp UNPLUGGED 24 PROJECT, Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - Picture: Richard Walker

23,000 Aussie kids turn off socials

More than 20,000 Aussie schoolchildren have given up social media for 24 hours, as part of a national campaign to highlight the dangers – WARNING: RED LEVEL (SECONDARY ONLY)

Health
A study from Murdoch Childrens which identified a key change in the immune system that underpins peanut allergy remission, enabling them to develop a targeted treatment. Stella 9 years old was diagnosed with a peanut allergy at 18 months of age. But after taking part in a Murdoch ChildrenÕs allergy trial, she has had been in clinical remission for almost four years and now eats peanut regularly. At her home in Carnegie. Picture Rebecca Michael.

Peanut allergies linked to pollution

What raises the risk of developing peanut allergies – and what changes could “help turn the tide” on the rise in food sensitivities – has been revealed for the first time by an Australian team

Environment
Fish captured near the Turners Beach artificial reef using a baited remote underwater video (BRUV). Picture: Sarah Ugalde

Fake reef reels in catch of the day

Artificial reefs in Australia are being studied for their effect on fish numbers, with researchers and fishing enthusiasts hopeful the structures will encourage larger species to stick around longer