Four Stories
FirstNews
Issue 520 3rd - 9th June 2016
10. science news
FirstNews
Even though it’s only 2%
of your mass, it uses 20% of
your energy, making complex
decisions, forming memories
and making you, you. Even
when you are asleep, your
brain is hard at work.
However, with its jelly-like
consistency and because your
brain is surrounded by a liquid,
it can move. If your brain hits
the inside of your skull, it can
be seriously damaged. Contact
sports and accidents can cause
these injuries, so researchers
are exploring ways to better
protect the brain.
Inspired by the way
woodpeckers and bighorn
sheep survive repeated blows
to the head, US researchers
at Q30 Innovations have
designed the Q-collar, a
collar that slightly increases
the amount of blood in your
head. This extra blood acts as
a cushion, which may reduce
damage to the brain. The
Q-collar will be on display at
the Science Museum from 17
May in the Antenna gallery.
3 – 9 June 2016
DID YOU
KNOW?
DO trees sleep like a log?
According to New Scientist,
researchers in Finland have
noticed that birch trees droop
their branches at night, as if they
are having a rest. During the day,
branches are angled higher so
their leaves catch more sunlight.
protecting
the brain
THE human brain is
pretty amazing.
SCIENCE NEWS
Issue 520
Dishing out some serious science:
the world’s biggest radio telescope
This report is from
our friends at the
Science Museum,
part of the Science
Museum Group.
sUpersizing
science
by Ian Prince
THE world’s biggest radio telescope – as large as 30 football
pitches – is almost ready to be switched on in China.
Radio telescopes have to be on the larger side because they are basically
giant ears! Whereas optical telescopes use light to view the universe, radio
telescopes pick up radio waves, a different form of electromagnetic radiation.
These radio signals have travelled huge distances across the universe and
are very weak, which is another reason why bigger is better. Cup your hands
behind your ears to listen to a sound and you will hear it better; it’s the same
principle. Chinese astronomers will use the dish to listen to radio waves from
deep space to give clues about the early stages of the universe. The dish will
also be looking out for, or rather listening for, new planets as well as joining
the search for extraterrestrial life.
Meanwhile the European Space Agency
has released designs for its planned extralarge telescope to be built in Chile. This
artist’s impression shows the size of the
telescope if it was placed next to the
Elizabeth Tower, home to Big Ben.
taj mahal
attacked by
insect poo
IT’S one of the most famous
and beautiful buildings in
the world, but it’s under
threat from insects.
The Taj Mahal in India was
built with white marble by the
17th century Mughal ruler of
India, Shah Jahan, to show how
much he loved his favourite
wife, Mumtaz, after she died.
The Taj Mahal is a giant tomb
and has survived invading
armies, but now is under threat
from invading insects. They are
breeding in a nearby polluted
river and are attracted by the
building’s colour. Their poo
cannot be scrubbed off, as it
spoils the intricate carvings
as well as the marble’s
amazing shine.
MARS MOVES CLOSER TO EARTH
THIS week will be the best chance to see Mars for the next 300 years.
The Q-collar can help ‘mend’
the brain
DID YOU
KNOW?
GREEK astronomers used
to believe that the planets
were kept in formation by
heavenly music known as
‘The Music of the Spheres.’
The red planet will be closer to Earth due to the relative orbits of the two planets
around the sun. During the first half of June, Mars will be 75.6 million km (47 million
miles) from Earth. It sounds like a long way, but
it can reach distances of up to 402 million km
(250 million miles) away.
If skies are clear, you’ll be able to see Mars
at night without a telescope. It will appear red
and low in the sky opposite where the sun set.
Saturn will appear close by and look yellowish,
although they may be more difficult to see in a
built-up area with lots of street lights.
Remember it’s dangerous to look up to
the sky when the sun is out and never use
Mars will be coming
a telescope or binoculars to look at the sky
closer to Earth in June
during the day.
For more pictures and videos, go to firstnews.co.uk
Under threat: the Taj Mahal
So conservationists are turning
to nature for a solution. They
are giving the building a series
of ‘face masks,’ just like the
ones people use as a beauty
treatment. Clay is smothered
over the green parts and
washed off, taking the poo with
it. Environmentalists are also
calling for the river to be cleaned
up as a way of tackling the
plague of insects. The Taj Mahal
took 20,000 master craftsmen 20
years to build.
One of the world’s most beautiful buildings is under
threat from insects.
The Taj Mahal in India is made from white marble. It was built
almost four hundred years ago by Shah Jahan, one of India’s
emperors. He built it to show how much he loved his wife, Mumtaz,
after she died.
The Taj Mahal has survived invading armies, but now it is
under threat from invading insects! They are breeding in a nearby
polluted river and their poo is staining the white marble. The poo
cannot be scrubbed off as this spoils the marble’s amazing shine.
TAJ MAHAL
ATTACKED BY
INSECT POO
So the experts are turning to nature to solve the problem. They
are using clay which some people put on their faces to look after
their skin. The clay is spread over the green stains and left to dry.
When it is washed off, it takes the poo away with it.
The Taj Mahal is often called one the wonders of the world. It
took thousands of craftsmen 20 years to build.
Four Stories
FirstNews
Issue 520 3rd - 9th June 2016
10. science news
FirstNews
Dishing out some serious science:
the world’s biggest radio telescope
This report is from
our friends at the
Science Museum,
part of the Science
Museum Group.
THE human brain is
pretty amazing.
SCIENCE NEWS - THE SCIENCE OF BEING CLUMSY
Even though it’s only 2%
of your mass, it uses 20% of
your energy, making complex
decisions, forming memories
and making you, you. Even
when you are asleep, your
brain is hard at work.
However, with its jelly-like
consistency and because your
brain is surrounded by a liquid,
it can move. If your brain hits
the inside of your skull, it can
be seriously damaged. Contact
sports and accidents can cause
these injuries, so researchers
are exploring ways to better
protect the brain.
Inspired by the way
woodpeckers and bighorn
sheep survive repeated blows
to the head, US researchers
at Q30 Innovations have
designed the Q-collar, a
collar that slightly increases
the amount of blood in your
head. This extra blood acts as
a cushion, which may reduce
damage to the brain. The
Q-collar will be on display at
the Science Museum from 17
May in the Antenna gallery.
sUpersizing
science
by Ian Prince
THE world’s biggest radio telescope – as large as 30 football
pitches – is almost ready to be switched on in China.
Radio telescopes have to be on the larger side because they are basically
giant ears! Whereas optical telescopes use light to view the universe, radio
telescopes pick up radio waves, a different form of electromagnetic radiation.
These radio signals have travelled huge distances across the universe and
are very weak, which is another reason why bigger is better. Cup your hands
behind your ears to listen to a sound and you will hear it better; it’s the same
principle. Chinese astronomers will use the dish to listen to radio waves from
deep space to give clues about the early stages of the universe. The dish will
also be looking out for, or rather listening for, new planets as well as joining
the search for extraterrestrial life.
Meanwhile the European Space Agency
has released designs for its planned extralarge telescope to be built in Chile. This
artist’s impression shows the size of the
telescope if it was placed next to the
Elizabeth Tower, home to Big Ben.
The red planet will be closer to Earth due to the relative orbits of the two planets
around the sun. During the first half of June, Mars will be 75.6 million km (47 million
miles) from Earth. It sounds like a long way, but
it can reach distances of up to 402 million km
(250 million miles) away.
If skies are clear, you’ll be able to see Mars
at night without a telescope. It will appear red
and low in the sky opposite where the sun set.
Saturn will appear close by and look yellowish,
although they may be more difficult to see in a
built-up area with lots of street lights.
Remember it’s dangerous to look up to
the sky when the sun is out and never use
Mars will be coming
a telescope or binoculars to look at the sky
closer to Earth in June
during the day.
For more pictures and videos, go to firstnews.co.uk
5) Why do you think people are very unhappy about this
insect poo?
white marble
6) Why can’t the building be scrubbed to remove the stains?
2) Why did Shah Jahan have the Taj Mahal built?
4) What has the building survived in the past and what is
now threatening it?
It has survived:____________________________
It is threatened by: ________________________
The marble is fragile and it will crumble
adults
away.
children who grow steadily
Scrubbing will ruin the beautiful shine of the marble. children who have growth spurts
The building is too big – this would take ages.
3) Which descriptions tell you that the building is admired
around the world?
DID YOU
KNOW?
taj mahal
attacked by
insect poo
IT’S one of the most famous
and beautiful buildings in
the world, but it’s under
threat from insects.
The Taj Mahal in India was
built with white marble by the
17th century Mughal ruler of
India, Shah Jahan, to show how
much he loved his favourite
wife, Mumtaz, after she died.
The Taj Mahal is a giant tomb
and has survived invading
armies, but now is under threat
from invading insects. They are
breeding in a nearby polluted
river and are attracted by the
building’s colour. Their poo
cannot be scrubbed off, as it
spoils the intricate carvings
as well as the marble’s
amazing shine.
THIS week will be the best chance to see Mars for the next 300 years.
DID YOU
KNOW?
GREEK astronomers used
to believe that the planets
were kept in formation by
heavenly music known as
‘The Music of the Spheres.’
white granite
3 – 9 June 2016
MARS MOVES CLOSER TO EARTH
The Q-collar can help ‘mend’
the brain
1) What material is the Taj Mahal made from?
white clay
Issue 520
DO trees sleep like a log?
According to New Scientist,
researchers in Finland have
noticed that birch trees droop
their branches at night, as if they
are having a rest. During the day,
branches are angled higher so
their leaves catch more sunlight.
protecting
the brain
7) What natural material is being used to remove the poo
and how does it work?
8) Do you like the look of this building? Are there any other
buildings that you like? Why do you like them?
Under threat: the Taj Mahal
So conservationists are turning
to nature for a solution. They
are giving the building a series
of ‘face masks,’ just like the
ones people use as a beauty
treatment. Clay is smothered
over the green parts and
washed off, taking the poo with
it. Environmentalists are also
calling for the river to be cleaned
up as a way of tackling the
plague of insects. The Taj Mahal
took 20,000 master craftsmen 20
years to build.
Four Stories
FirstNews
Issue 520 3rd - 9th June 2016
3. big news
BIG NEWS
FirstNews
Issue 520
COULD THE OLYMPICS
BE CANCELLED?
MORE than 100 scientists have called for the Olympics to be cancelled this summer.
They are due to take place in Brazil’s capital, Rio.
The scientists are worried about the Games spreading a virus
called Zika, which is linked to babies born with serious problems.
The Zika outbreak began in Brazil a year ago, but now it has
reached more than 60 countries and territories.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) say they don’t think the Olympics
should be moved or postponed because it wouldn’t make much
difference to the spread of the illness.
But the scientists, from places such as Oxford University in the
UK and Harvard and Yale universities in the US, think it is wrong
for the Games to go ahead. They say a plan has failed to get rid
of the mosquitoes that spread the disease.
Between February and April 2016, Brazilian authorities said
there were 91,387 likely cases of the Zika virus. The number
of babies born with Zika-linked
problems had reached 4,908
in April.
The experts say Zika causes
babies to be born with small heads and may also cause a rare
and sometimes deadly brain problem in adults.
They are worried that athletes and visitors might catch Zika
and return home to spread it to
their countries.
The Olympics have never been
moved before for health reasons.
Should the Olympics be
cancelled this summer?
Use Blippar or go to firstnews.
Head to firstnews.co.uk
co.uk to watch First News’ Zika
/polls to cast your vote.
virus “I Don’t Get It” video.
POLL OF
THE WEEK:
LIGHTNING STRIKES EUROPE
by editor-in-chief Nicky Cox
LIGHTNING
SAFETY TIPS
LIGHTNING strikes across Europe
killed a man and caused serious
injuries as summer storms gathered.
The man was killed coming down a
mountain in Poland when he was hit
by lightning.
A birthday party was struck in Paris,
injuring 11 people, eight of them children.
Several, aged around nine years old, are
badly hurt in hospital.
Another three people were injured
when lightning struck at a youth football
match in Germany.
The party was happening in a park
and the children were struck after
sheltering under a tree, police
said. That’s about the worst
thing you can do in a storm
because, if the tree gets
struck by lightning, you get
struck too.
In the UK, up to 60 people
every year get struck by
lightning and survive but, on
average, three die.
• Seek shelter inside a large
building or a car
• Get out of wide, open
spaces and exposed hilltops
• If you have nowhere to
shelter, make yourself as
small a target as possible
by crouching down with
your feet together, hands on
knees and head tucked in
• Do not shelter beneath
tall or isolated trees
• If you are on water, get
to the shore and off wide,
open beaches as quickly
as possible
Royal Society for the
Prevention of Accidents
3 – 9 June 2016
Editor’s
comment
Nicky Cox MBE
I’VE done a lot of TV and radio
interviews this week with
readers talking about the EU.
Turn to page 14 and 15 to read
some of their views. I know we can
all feel a bit fed up that the EU seems
to be talked about on the news ALL
the time. But it’s because it is a really
big decision.
Watch our video, find out more
about it and make sure you vote in our
poll at firstnews.co.uk/eu-debate/kids.
NEW plaSTIC
BANKNOTES
THE final designs of the UK’s new
plastic banknotes were revealed
yesterday (Thursday).
The new
£5 and £10
banknotes
are being
printed on
polymer, a
thin, bendy
plastic film, rather than on the cotton
paper used for previous notes.
The new notes will be a bit smaller
but will still have the portrait of Her
Majesty the Queen on one side and a
historical character on the other.
The £5 note will be the first plastic
banknote we get. It features WWII
Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill
and will come out in September
2016. It will be followed around a
year later by a polymer £10 note
featuring author Jane Austen.
A £20 note will follow later.
The Bank of England, which has been
issuing banknotes for more than 300
years, says the plastic notes will be
cleaner, last longer and it will be more
difficult for criminals to make fake ones.
More than 25 countries already use
plastic banknotes.
SUBSCRIBE for home
Good week for
BAD week for
bristol old vic
“Flop gear”
The historic theatre in Bristol has
been celebrating its 250th anniversary this week. It is also
celebrating its new title as the oldest continuously-working
theatre in the English-speaking world. Lots of famous stage
actors have been paying tribute to the theatre this week.
Well, Top Gear, but that’s what the
internet decided to call the show following its return to telly
on Sunday night. The new series stars DJ Chris Evans and actor
Matt LeBlanc and, as with many rebooted series, faced a bit of
criticism on social media after its debut. What did you think?
Get 3 ISSUES for £1*
Call 01795 592946
subscribe.firstnews.co.uk
Quote: FNM16
*followed by £16.49 every
3 months by Direct Debit
The new look of the UK’s first ever plastic banknotes
was revealed last week.
The new £5 and £10 banknotes will be printed on a thin, bendy
plastic film called polymer. For the last 300 years they have been
printed on cotton paper.
The new notes will be a bit smaller but will still have the Queen
on one side and a historical character on the other.
The £5 note will be the first plastic banknote we get to use. It
will come out in September. Sir Winston Churchill will appear on
the back (the famous Prime Minister from the Second World War).
It will be followed around a year later by the new £10.
The Bank of England, which makes the money, says the plastic
notes will be cleaner, last longer and it will be more difficult for
criminals to make fake ones.
More than 25 countries already use plastic banknotes.
NEW PLASTIC
BANK NOTES
Four Stories
FirstNews
Issue 520 3rd - 9th June 2016
BIG NEWS
3. big news
FirstNews
COULD THE OLYMPICS
BE CANCELLED?
MORE than 100 scientists have called for the Olympics to be cancelled this summer.
They are due to take place in Brazil’s capital, Rio.
The scientists are worried about the Games spreading a virus
called Zika, which is linked to babies born with serious problems.
The Zika outbreak began in Brazil a year ago, but now it has
reached more than 60 countries and territories.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) say they don’t think the Olympics
should be moved or postponed because it wouldn’t make much
difference to the spread of the illness.
But the scientists, from places such as Oxford University in the
UK and Harvard and Yale universities in the US, think it is wrong
for the Games to go ahead. They say a plan has failed to get rid
of the mosquitoes that spread the disease.
Between February and April 2016, Brazilian authorities said
there were 91,387 likely cases of the Zika virus. The number
of babies born with Zika-linked
problems had reached 4,908
in April.
The experts say Zika causes
babies to be born with small heads and may also cause a rare
and sometimes deadly brain problem in adults.
They are worried that athletes and visitors might catch Zika
and return home to spread it to
their countries.
The Olympics have never been
moved before for health reasons.
Should the Olympics be
cancelled this summer?
Use Blippar or go to firstnews.
Head to firstnews.co.uk
co.uk to watch First News’ Zika
/polls to cast your vote.
virus “I Don’t Get It” video.
POLL OF
THE WEEK:
LIGHTNING STRIKES EUROPE
by editor-in-chief Nicky Cox
LIGHTNING
SAFETY TIPS
LIGHTNING strikes across Europe
killed a man and caused serious
injuries as summer storms gathered.
The man was killed coming down a
mountain in Poland when he was hit
by lightning.
A birthday party was struck in Paris,
injuring 11 people, eight of them children.
Several, aged around nine years old, are
badly hurt in hospital.
Another three people were injured
when lightning struck at a youth football
match in Germany.
The party was happening in a park
and the children were struck after
sheltering under a tree, police
said. That’s about the worst
thing you can do in a storm
because, if the tree gets
struck by lightning, you get
struck too.
In the UK, up to 60 people
every year get struck by
lightning and survive but, on
average, three die.
• Seek shelter inside a large
building or a car
• Get out of wide, open
spaces and exposed hilltops
• If you have nowhere to
shelter, make yourself as
small a target as possible
by crouching down with
your feet together, hands on
knees and head tucked in
• Do not shelter beneath
tall or isolated trees
• If you are on water, get
to the shore and off wide,
open beaches as quickly
as possible
Royal Society for the
Prevention of Accidents
Issue 520
3 – 9 June 2016
Editor’s
comment
Nicky Cox MBE
I’VE done a lot of TV and radio
interviews this week with
readers talking about the EU.
Turn to page 14 and 15 to read
some of their views. I know we can
all feel a bit fed up that the EU seems
to be talked about on the news ALL
the time. But it’s because it is a really
big decision.
Watch our video, find out more
about it and make sure you vote in our
poll at firstnews.co.uk/eu-debate/kids.
NEW plaSTIC
BANKNOTES
THE final designs of the UK’s new
plastic banknotes were revealed
yesterday (Thursday).
The new
£5 and £10
banknotes
are being
printed on
polymer, a
thin, bendy
plastic film, rather than on the cotton
paper used for previous notes.
The new notes will be a bit smaller
but will still have the portrait of Her
Majesty the Queen on one side and a
historical character on the other.
The £5 note will be the first plastic
banknote we get. It features WWII
Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill
and will come out in September
2016. It will be followed around a
year later by a polymer £10 note
featuring author Jane Austen.
A £20 note will follow later.
The Bank of England, which has been
issuing banknotes for more than 300
years, says the plastic notes will be
cleaner, last longer and it will be more
difficult for criminals to make fake ones.
More than 25 countries already use
plastic banknotes.
SUBSCRIBE for home
Good week for
1) What is special about the new bank notes coming out soon?
2) Which of these adjectives correctly describe the new material?
bendy
soft
fragile
thin
plastic
3) In what other way will the notes be different?
4) Who will appear on the back of the new £5 note?
the Queen
Sir Winston Churchill
BAD week for
bristol old vic
“Flop gear”
The historic theatre in Bristol has
been celebrating its 250th anniversary this week. It is also
celebrating its new title as the oldest continuously-working
theatre in the English-speaking world. Lots of famous stage
actors have been paying tribute to the theatre this week.
Well, Top Gear, but that’s what the
internet decided to call the show following its return to telly
on Sunday night. The new series stars DJ Chris Evans and actor
Matt LeBlanc and, as with many rebooted series, faced a bit of
criticism on social media after its debut. What did you think?
Get 3 ISSUES for £1*
Call 01795 592946
subscribe.firstnews.co.uk
Quote: FNM16
*followed by £16.49 every
3 months by Direct Debit
6) When will we get be able to get our hands on this £5 note?
in one year
right now - they came out
last week
September 2016
7) Can you find three benefits of making bank notes with this new plastic material?
1.________________________________________
2.________________________________________
David Cameron
3.________________________________________
5) Why is this person famous?
8) Criminals will always attempt to make fake money if they can. What clever features have you seen on bank notes which make them hard to fake?
Four Stories
ANIMAL NEWS
FirstNews
Issue 520 3rd - 9th June 2016
12. animal news
FirstNews
Issue 520
3 – 9 June 2016
DE-stress WITH PETS
SPRING is a stressful time of year for many young people, especially if they're taking
exams at school. But did you know that pets can help you relax?
Research from aquatics company Tetra has found that around 58% of children aged 3-14 worry
about going to school, whether it's because of exams or other issues like homework or school
bullies. Research shows that having a pet can help children relax and also have fun. A third of
parents questioned by Tetra believe that spending time with pets helps their children to relax.
Child psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin says: "Introducing a pet to the family helps development
in young children and creates a calming atmosphere in the home, benefiting the entire family."
Not everyone has the space for a large pet like a cat or dog, so fish are a great pet for the whole
family to enjoy. They're easy to keep, great for learning about responsibility and are well known
for helping people to feel calm when they're watching them!
Does your pet help you relax? Tell us how at firstnews.co.uk.
BOOST FOR SPECIES
THE birth of a rare Malayan tapir at RZSS Edinburgh in Scotland is great
news for the endangered species.
CELEBRATE the sea
The male striped calf will play a hugely important role one day in the European
Endangered Species Breeding Programme. The programme is designed as a safety
net to help stop the species from becoming extinct, which is a real danger for the
animals living in the wild. Malayan tapirs are the largest of the tapir species and
come from the forests of Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra and Thailand. Their numbers
are falling quickly because their forest homes are being destroyed and turned into
palm oil plantations.
Check out our Blippar video of the gorgeous new calf!
WORLD Oceans Day takes place this week (8 June) and events are
being held all around the world to celebrate the sea and help it!
The theme for this year's World Oceans Day is 'healthy oceans, healthy
planet'. Oceans are hugely important and cover nearly three quarters of our
planet. They generate most of the oxygen we breathe (from marine plants),
they help feed us (fish and seafood), they regulate our climate, they clean
the water we drink, they're home to some amazing wildlife and they help
contribute ingredients to many medicines! All of these are reasons why it is
so important to look after them. One of the easiest ways you can help our
oceans is to put your rubbish in a bin and recycle plastics. Litter is one of the
biggest threats to the ocean and its wildlife. You can even start today!
Find out about World Oceans Day events near you at worldoceansday.org
– you could even sign up to host your own event!
CELEBRATE
THE SEA
World Oceans Day takes place this week on 8th June.
Events are being held all around the world to celebrate the
sea and help it!
The theme for this year’s World Oceans Day is ‘Healthy Oceans,
Healthy Planet’.
Did you know that three quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered
by the sea? When you think about that awesome fact, it’s easy to
understand why oceans are hugely important to the health of the
planet.
But what do the world’s oceans actually do for us – other than
give us a fun place to splash around in? Let’s just look at one other
astonishing fact: our oceans make most of the planet’s oxygen (the gas
we have to breathe to stay alive). You may know that trees also make
oxygen: the world’s rainforests make about a third of it. But the oceans
make around three-quarters of all the planet’s oxygen! It is made by
plants in the sea water – most of them so tiny you can’t even see them.
Oxygen – one good reason to support World Oceans Day. And we
haven’t even mentioned the oceans’ wildlife, the way they drive the
planet’s weather patterns, the food they give us, or their beauty! To
find out more about World Oceans Day, and to find events taking
place near you, go to www.worldoceansday.org.
Our blue planet
Four Stories
FirstNews
Issue 520 3rd - 9th June 2016
12. animal news
SPRING is a stressful time of year for many young people, especially if they're taking
exams at school. But did you know that pets can help you relax?
Does your pet help you relax? Tell us how at firstnews.co.uk.
BOOST FOR SPECIES
THE birth of a rare Malayan tapir at RZSS Edinburgh in Scotland is great
news for the endangered species.
WORLD Oceans Day takes place this week (8 June) and events are
being held all around the world to celebrate the sea and help it!
The theme for this year's World Oceans Day is 'healthy oceans, healthy
planet'. Oceans are hugely important and cover nearly three quarters of our
planet. They generate most of the oxygen we breathe (from marine plants),
they help feed us (fish and seafood), they regulate our climate, they clean
the water we drink, they're home to some amazing wildlife and they help
contribute ingredients to many medicines! All of these are reasons why it is
so important to look after them. One of the easiest ways you can help our
oceans is to put your rubbish in a bin and recycle plastics. Litter is one of the
biggest threats to the ocean and its wildlife. You can even start today!
Find out about World Oceans Day events near you at worldoceansday.org
– you could even sign up to host your own event!
5) What fact does the writer describe as ‘astonishing’?
18th June
2) What is the theme this year?
6) Why is oxygen a very important gas?
The oceans need oxygen or they would
become polluted.
We have to breathe oxygen to stay alive.
3) How much of the planet is covered by sea?
one quarter
a half
three quarters
4) What adjective does the writer use to describe this fact?
3 – 9 June 2016
Research from aquatics company Tetra has found that around 58% of children aged 3-14 worry
about going to school, whether it's because of exams or other issues like homework or school
bullies. Research shows that having a pet can help children relax and also have fun. A third of
parents questioned by Tetra believe that spending time with pets helps their children to relax.
Child psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin says: "Introducing a pet to the family helps development
in young children and creates a calming atmosphere in the home, benefiting the entire family."
Not everyone has the space for a large pet like a cat or dog, so fish are a great pet for the whole
family to enjoy. They're easy to keep, great for learning about responsibility and are well known
for helping people to feel calm when they're watching them!
CELEBRATE the sea
28th July
Issue 520
DE-stress WITH PETS
ANIMAL NEWS - CELEBRATE THE SEA
1) When is World Ocean’s Day?
8th June
FirstNews
It is running out.
7) How does the sea produce oxygen?
8) What other reasons are there to love and care for the
world’s oceans? Do you have any reasons why you love the
sea?
The male striped calf will play a hugely important role one day in the European
Endangered Species Breeding Programme. The programme is designed as a safety
net to help stop the species from becoming extinct, which is a real danger for the
animals living in the wild. Malayan tapirs are the largest of the tapir species and
come from the forests of Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra and Thailand. Their numbers
are falling quickly because their forest homes are being destroyed and turned into
palm oil plantations.
Check out our Blippar video of the gorgeous new calf!
FirstNews
Four Stories
Issue 520 3rd - 9th June 2016
7. home news
Gloucestershire
Cheese rolling
The annual cheese rolling contest
has taken place at Cooper’s Hill in
Gloucestershire. It was won for the
17th time by soldier Chris Anderson,
who actually hates cheese!
The official contest has taken place
since the 1950s and draws huge
crowds and
competitors from
across the world,
although it is
believed to be a
tradition that dates
back centuries.
FirstNews
Twenty migrants, including two
children, have been rescued from
a boat off the coast of Kent.
The migrants are believed to be
from Albania and were travelling
to reach family in Calais when
their boat started sinking.
They’re now being questioned
by immigration officials.
UK
Painting appeal
Southampton
Biggest bouncy
castle
News in
numbers
Dogs have become the UK’s first canine
fundraisers by collecting donations as they walk.
The Blue Cross Tap Dogs can collect charity
donations using contactless bank cards. Special
technology built into their jackets means they can
raise money on the go. The Blue Cross cares for
thousands of unwanted pets every year.
1,938,700 people
are predicted to live in
Northern Ireland by 2024.
2
People can now view miles
of footpaths around the
Belfast Hills – from their
computer! People at the
national park borrowed
a special backpack from
Google and walked
around ten miles of trails.
15 high-tech cameras in
the backpack took 24
photographs per minute.
The pictures have been
stitched together so you
can experience the trails
from home. You can try
it out for yourself at the
Belfast Hills website or
Google Maps.
Cheese rolling
The annual cheese rolling contest has taken place at
Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire. In this very unusual
competition, people race down an extremely steep
hill after a huge round cheese. The winner of the race
wins the cheese! The contest has taken place since
the 1950s, although the tradition is thought to go
back hundreds of years. This year’s race was won by
soldier Chris Anderson. It’s the 17th time he’s won
and he doesn’t even like cheese!
Reddit/absolutecorey
Hello hills!
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
uk
Donate by dog
An animal charity has come
up with an unusual way to
collect donations – by dog! The Blue Cross
‘Tap Dogs’ can collect money as they
walk around the streets. All people have
to do is tap their bank card against the
dog’s special jacket and £2 will be given
to the charity. The money automatically
comes out of the person’s bank account.
The Blue Cross cares for thousands of
unwanted pets every year.
An appeal has
been launched to
save a painting of
Elizabeth I. A total
of £10 million
needs to be raised in order to save
the 16th century artwork, which
was commissioned (ordered) by Sir
Francis Drake and commemorates
the Queen’s victory over the
Spanish Armada (the failed
invasion of England by the Spanish
king, Philip II, in 1588). If the target
amount is met, the painting will be
owned by the public and become
part of the UK’s national collection.
UK
Contactless collections
baby red squirrels
have been rescued by the
Scottish SPCA after being
found alone on the ground
in Dundee.
BELFAST
A new report has found that a
quarter of children in England who
needed to see specialists because
of mental health problems, didn’t
get the help they needed. NHS
England has said that mental
health services for young people in
England need to be expanded.
Kent
Migrants rescued
A pair of beavers has been released
into the River Otter as part of a fiveyear trial. Wild beavers have been
living on the river for around ten years
and scientists hope the new additions
will mix well with the resident beavers.
The trial is to monitor the impact
of the Eurasian beaver on the local
wildlife and landscape. Beavers were
once native in the UK but were hunted
to extinction hundreds of years ago.
Some people want the beavers that
live on the River Otter to be relocated.
The world’s largest bouncy castle
made its first appearance this week
at the Common People festival in
Southampton. The castle is 23.8m
tall and 20.7m long. It will appear at
other festivals this summer.
3 – 9 June 2016
England
More help needed
For the first time ever, people can view
miles of pathways around the Belfast
Hills. A backpack camera was used to
film ten miles (16km) of trails around
the national park. The Belfast Hills
Partnership hope that it will encourage more people to explore the area.
Devon
New beavers
UK NEWS
Issue 520
Belfast
Hello hills!
400 skeletons found under
51 stretches of roads in the UK are
1
children were saved by a bus
driver in Worcestershire this week
when he noticed a bridge he was
about to drive over was crumbling.
The bridge collapsed as they watched.
Cambridge University could help
researchers learn more about the Black
Death plague in medieval times.
school in County Kerry had a surprise
visit from Chewbacca this week. The
star dropped in because the next Star
Wars movie is being filmed in the area.
watched by average-speed cameras –
which has doubled since 2013.
11
Four Stories
FirstNews
7. home news
Issue 520 3rd - 9th June 2016
Gloucestershire
Cheese rolling
The annual cheese rolling contest
has taken place at Cooper’s Hill in
Gloucestershire. It was won for the
17th time by soldier Chris Anderson,
who actually hates cheese!
The official contest has taken place
since the 1950s and draws huge
crowds and
competitors from
across the world,
although it is
believed to be a
tradition that dates
back centuries.
Kent
Migrants rescued
A pair of beavers has been released
into the River Otter as part of a fiveyear trial. Wild beavers have been
living on the river for around ten years
and scientists hope the new additions
will mix well with the resident beavers.
The trial is to monitor the impact
of the Eurasian beaver on the local
wildlife and landscape. Beavers were
once native in the UK but were hunted
to extinction hundreds of years ago.
Some people want the beavers that
live on the River Otter to be relocated.
Twenty migrants, including two
children, have been rescued from
a boat off the coast of Kent.
The migrants are believed to be
from Albania and were travelling
to reach family in Calais when
their boat started sinking.
They’re now being questioned
by immigration officials.
UK
Painting appeal
Southampton
Biggest bouncy
castle
The world’s largest bouncy castle
made its first appearance this week
at the Common People festival in
Southampton. The castle is 23.8m
tall and 20.7m long. It will appear at
other festivals this summer.
News in
numbers
are predicted to live in
Northern Ireland by 2024.
2 baby red squirrels
have been rescued by the
Scottish SPCA after being
found alone on the ground
in Dundee.
Gloucestershire
Charity donations
Belfast
An unusual competition
UK
Online footprints
Northern
Ireland
Scotland
3) These sentences explain how the footpaths were mapped. Can you put the events in order?
You can now view the paths on the internet.
A special backpack was borrowed from Google.
All the pictures were stitched together.
The backpack was walked around the
footpaths to take pictures.
400 skeletons found under
51 stretches of roads in the UK are
1
children were saved by a bus
driver in Worcestershire this week
when he noticed a bridge he was
about to drive over was crumbling.
The bridge collapsed as they watched.
Cambridge University could help
researchers learn more about the Black
Death plague in medieval times.
school in County Kerry had a surprise
visit from Chewbacca this week. The
star dropped in because the next Star
Wars movie is being filmed in the area.
watched by average-speed cameras –
which has doubled since 2013.
11
Look at the news from Gloucestershire.
4) Describe the competition that has just taken place at
Cooper’s Hill.
5) Why do you think this competition is quite dangerous?
Look at the news from Belfast.
2) Which part of the UK does this story come from?
England
An appeal has
been launched to
save a painting of
Elizabeth I. A total
of £10 million
needs to be raised in order to save
the 16th century artwork, which
was commissioned (ordered) by Sir
Francis Drake and commemorates
the Queen’s victory over the
Spanish Armada (the failed
invasion of England by the Spanish
king, Philip II, in 1588). If the target
amount is met, the painting will be
owned by the public and become
part of the UK’s national collection.
UK
Contactless collections
Dogs have become the UK’s first canine
fundraisers by collecting donations as they walk.
The Blue Cross Tap Dogs can collect charity
donations using contactless bank cards. Special
technology built into their jackets means they can
raise money on the go. The Blue Cross cares for
thousands of unwanted pets every year.
1,938,700 people
1) Match the topic of the news story to the correct place
3 – 9 June 2016
England
More help needed
A new report has found that a
quarter of children in England who
needed to see specialists because
of mental health problems, didn’t
get the help they needed. NHS
England has said that mental
health services for young people in
England need to be expanded.
Devon
New beavers
UK NEWS
Wales
Issue 520
FirstNews
Belfast
Hello hills!
For the first time ever, people can view
miles of pathways around the Belfast
Hills. A backpack camera was used to
film ten miles (16km) of trails around
the national park. The Belfast Hills
Partnership hope that it will encourage more people to explore the area.
6) Why is it funny that Chris Anderson has won the contest 17
times?
Look at the news from the UK.
7) What does the charity The Blue Cross do?
8) Why is this a clever way for the charity to collect money?
What do you think will make people want to donate?