Innehållsförteckning för May 2025 från The Primary Planet

May greetings, TPPers! We hope you enjoyed last month’s edition of The Primary Planet as we ventured into space – past, present and future – all in honour of International Day of Human Spaceflight (on the 64th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s epic journey). This month, we return to solid ground – but questionable solid thinking. Of course, this applies to both this month’s Big Story – Trump, Tariffs and Trade Wars – and the main feature – The Crazy World of Art! Regarding Trump, Tariffs and Trade Wars, we thought we’d break down all that’s happening across the world right now in relation to President Trump’s new tariffs. The reporting on this can be rather dramatic at times, so it might be helpful to get a clearer understanding of what’s…

Soaring to Success A team of secondary school science students from Dublin and Clare have soared to success, beating 26,000 global competitors to win a space design competition founded by NASA. The boys from St Flannan’s College, Ennis, and the girls from St Dominic’s College, Cabra, won first place in the senior section of the National Space Society’s ‘Space Settlement’ contest in the United States. The team designed an orbital habitat that could support more than 10,000 people. They named it Inis Beatha – Irish for ‘Island of Life’. It would use artificial gravity and hydroponic plants to create a ‘closed-loop’ system, recycling food, water and oxygen to support life in space. Plants could also be used to produce biofuels, plastics and medicines. Inis Beatha would even serve as a…

This month in history 80 years ago On this day began Operation Chowhound in World War II, when the US Air Force dropped thousands of tons of food into German-occupied Netherlands to feed starving civilians. Operation Manna was a similar operation carried out by the British Royal Air Force and others, including Polish Air Force squadrons, beginning on April 29. Chowhound dropped 4,000 tons of supplies. In total, over 11,000 tons of food were dropped over the last 10 days of the war in Europe. Fighting ended with the surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8. 25 years ago On this day the ILOVEYOU computer virus infected millions of Windows personal computers around the world. At the time, it was the fastest and most widespread virus ever seen. Onel de…

Helping Hands Can you guess what the people in this picture are doing? There are a couple of clues. There were 300 of them in all – plus one dog – forming a human-plus-one-dog chain between one building and another. Their mission: to pass 9,100 items from one person to another, to move them to a new location. They were all volunteers and had one thing in common: the love of books! (Not sure about the dog.) This ‘Book Brigade’ came together to help Serendipity Books, their friendly local bookstore in Chelsea, Michigan, US, to move its books to a new place. Michelle Tuplin, the owner, put out a call for volunteers when she had to move her books to a larger store about 107 metres away. The operation took…

My name is Micheál Denieffe. I’m 10 years old and come from Bennettsbridge in Co. Kilkenny. To start my weekends, I wake up every day at 6.30 am. I get a nice cup of tea and a bowl of cereal. Then we hop into the jeep and head down the road to the farm. I put on my wellies, overalls and eye shields to protect my clothes and my eyes – safety is very important on a farm! We have a dairy farm, so it’s very busy. My dad and I go down to the ‘bog field’ to bring in the cows for milking. Most of the time, my cousins Abban, Fionn, Eoghan, Cathal and my brother Conor are there too. First, we check all the calving sheds to see…

The Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia are among the most beautiful and fascinating places on earth. They’re also among the most remote. They lie 1,370 km from the famous island of Tahiti and 4,800 km from Mexico, the nearest continental land. So, how do you get there? Most visitors arrive on the Aranui 5, which sails from Tahiti 15 times a year, carrying all sorts of cargo from cars to frozen chicken! It also has bunk dorms and luxury suites with private balconies, for up to 220 passengers. On its way, the ship collects copra (dried coconut) to be sent to France – the main source of income for the islanders. Origins of the people There are 12 islands, six of which are inhabited, with a population that’s now about…

A departing astronaut crew left a peanut-butter surprise on the International Space Station. Axiom 3 (Ax-3), a four-astronaut mission leaving the ISS, made a special call-out in the minutes after undocking to return to Earth. ‘There's some peanut butter waiting for you in the airlock entrance, on the forward side, enjoy!’ Ax-3 commander Michael López-Alegría told the astronauts who were taking over, while backing away from the ISS. Yes, humble peanut butter has played no small part in space. Axiom was far from the first to fly peanuts in space, as NASA astronauts have snacked on them for generations. In fact, cubes of peanut butter flew to the Moon with the Apollo 11 landing crew in 1969, as a picture from the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum shows.…

Eastern North American monarch butterflies undertake an amazing migratory journey. They travel up to 4500 km from the northeast of the United States and southeast of Canada to the mountain forests of Mexico, or to Florida, to find the right climate to hibernate for the winter. But now the monarch is under threat – and that is a disaster for the whole ecosystem, because this tiny creature is a powerful pollinator – moving pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower, bringing about fertilisation. The Western North American population, west of the Rocky Mountains, has a much shorter migratory journey, heading to southern California for the winter. Non-migratory populations are found further south in the Americas, and in parts of Europe, Oceania and…

Munster Rivals Collide Save the Date: May 25Limerick vs ClareMunster SHC Round 5 Gaelic Grounds, 4pm Clare and Limerick have served up some thrilling contests in recent years, and their Munster Championship meeting on May 25 is not to be missed. The last three Munster finals have all been contested by these counties, with Limerick victorious on each occasion. The Treaty County are chasing a seventh provincial title in a row, while you have to go to back to 1998 for the last time their neighbours were champions. Clare, of course, recovered from last year’s Munster final loss to win the All-Ireland, but how they would also love to taste provincial success. These close rivals have been well acquainted in recent years and those championship meetings have been dominated by…

Ask your teacher for the answer! Age: 21County: DublinSport: Soccer Midfield has long been a problem area for the Republic of Ireland – but in Andrew Moran they may finally have the answer. A standout at underage level, Moran has already earned two senior caps, and many believe it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a regular in the Boys in Green’s starting XI. His leadership qualities were clear throughout his rise through the underage ranks. He captained Ireland at several age levels, including the U21 side that narrowly missed out on qualifying for Euro 2025. An attacking midfielder with flair, Moran is known for his dribbling, creativity and sharp eye for a pass. Despite only turning 21 last October, he’s already into his fifth season in English…

Well, I’m not sure what Norah Patten would say – or the European Space Agency for that matter – if they knew Seamie was trying to hitch a lift to the Moon and back. Of course, he had little chance of making it anywhere with all you crafty eagle-eyed readers on his tail. Yip, he was found by thousands of you. I’m pretty sure he has something really big (make that ‘really small’) planned for this last issue of the year. You’ve been warned! As always, if (when) you manage to find him, log on to www.theprimaryplanet. ie/competitions (or scan the QR code) and leave the location, along with your name and school details, in the comment box provided. If you are correct, you will get entered into a draw…

Titanic’s Hidden Secrets The sinking of the Titanic is a tragic event that has fascinated people for generations. Now, with new technology, more information about that fateful night in April 1912 – and the bravery of those on board – has come to light. A new full-sized digital 3D scan – an exact replica of the doomed ocean liner – has revealed more about what happened during the Titanic’s final hours. Underwater robots took over 700,000 images of the wreck, revealing further clues about the cause of the tragedy and incredible evidence of the engineers’ bravery. The scans show that the punctures caused by the iceberg were only about the size of a sheet of A4 paper – but were spread along the hull, flooding six compartments. Had only four…

Title: Lady with a Fan (1917–18) Artist: Gustav Klimt Nationality: Austrian Born: 1862, Austria Died: 1918, Austria Style: Symbolism, Art Nouveau Medium: Oil on canvas On Display: Private collection Gustav Klimt was an adventurous and ground-breaking painter who was influenced by styles such as symbolism, which was a reflection of emotions and ideas. His Lady with a Fan, however, is a perfect example of another trend: ‘Japonism’ – a wave of enthusiasm for Asian art that influenced European ‘Art Nouveau’ (‘new art’) graphics, porcelain, jewellery and furniture. This was Klimt’s final portrait. It was still on an easel in his studio when he had a stroke and died in 1918. The Chinese motifs include a flying phoenix (symbol of immortality, rebirth and good fortune) and pink lotus blossoms (symbols of love…

Lilo & Stitch Where: In cinemas from May 23 Cert: PG Starring: Maia Kealoha as Lilo, Zach Galifianakis as Pleakley and Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch Directed by: Dean Fleischer Camp On May 23, mayhem gets unleashed Disney’s much-anticipated remake of Lilo & Stitch – eh, 23 years we’ve waited – brings the 2002 animated favourite to life with real actors, stunning island scenery and a Stitch even more fluffy and chaotic than before. Set in Hawaii, this heartwarming story follows a lonely young girl named Lilo who adopts what she thinks is a dog, but turns out to be a misbehaving alien experiment. What follows is a wild ride packed with adventure, space chases, the true meaning of friendship and what it means to belong. As…

Maker: Maserati SpACountry: ItalyModel Year: 2023Fuel Type: Electric Top Speed: 325 km/hHorsepower: 751 hpTransmission: AutomaticWeight: 2,260 kg Materials Used: Lightweight aluminium and magnesium, plus high-performance steel Behind the Badge Maserati is famous for building fast, stylish sports cars that turn heads wherever they go. The company was founded in Bologna, Italy, way back in 1914 by five brothers – Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore and Ernesto Maserati – who all shared a passion for speed and engineering. Over the years, Maserati has become known for combining Italian flair with high performance. Today, the company produces around 75,000 cars a year. 5 Fast Facts 1 The GranTurismo Folgore is Maserati’s first all-electric model. It’s a big step towards the brand’s plan to stop making petrol cars by 2028. A huge 92.5kW battery…

TPP's Book of the Month Check out The Case of the Secret Signal by Brian Gallagher, our book of the month for May. Title: The Case of the Secret SignalAuthor: Brian GallagherPublisher: O’BrienYear: 2024 Set in the lead up to Christmas in 1911, The Case of the Secret Signal is the latest book in Brian Gallagher’s new mystery series. Following the adventures of twins Deirdre and Tim, and their friend Joe, The Case of the Secret Signal picks up where the first book in the series – The Case of the Vanishing Painting – left off, with the trio looking forward to a trip to stay with Deirdre and Tim’s Aunt Helen in Carlingford. One night, Tim spots a series of flashing light signals coming from the hillside near Aunt…

Sport Not to Be Missed This Month Highlighting the best sporting action taking place this month Leinster vs Northampton Saints These sides served up a Croke Park classic in last season’s Champions Cup semi-final and another epic is expected as the teams lock horns again at Aviva Stadium. A fourth final in a row beckons for Leo Cullen’s side – if they can maintain their current form. PGA Championship Irish golf is on a high following Rory McIlroy’s Masters success. Could he back it up with a third PGA Championship success? Shane Lowry also has a point to prove after a disastrous final day at Augusta. Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1’s stars descend on the Mediterranean microstate to tackle one of the most testing tracks in the sport. The narrow…

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced big changes to the way America trades with other countries. He introduced new tariffs – extra taxes on goods coming into the country – targeting imports from places like Canada, China, Mexico and Europe. This move sparked global concern about a possible trade war. But before you panic at the word war, let’s break it down. Trump’s Plan On April 2, 2025, President Trump declared it ‘Liberation Day’ and launched a new tariff system. It includes a universal 10% tariff on all imports into the United States. On top of that, he introduced ‘reciprocal’ tariffs aimed at countries the U.S. claims are trading unfairly. For example (at time of print), goods from the European Union now face a 20% tariff, while imports from…

Sponsored By By the middle of the 1840s, Ireland’s population had risen steadily to about 8.5 million people. However, things changed dramatically during that decade when the single most important event in Irish history occurred. The Potato At that time, most of the population were poor impoverished people who lived and worked on land that they did not own. They rented small plots of land from wealthy landlords and struggled to make enough money to pay their rent and avoid eviction. They did not have the variety of food that we have now and the crop they depended on most was the potato, because it grew easily in Irish soil and produced a great yield. Blight The potato was the staple diet of the Irish population and they ate it…

#1 A Ruff Morning’s Traffic Drivers on one of Scotland's busiest roads had to endure serious delays after a dog drove a tractor onto the motorway. Honestly! Border Collie Don took control of a mini tractor after farmer Tom Hamilton left the vehicle alone – for what he said was a matter of seconds. Don made straight for the nearby M74, which was busy with morning traffic. ‘I hadn’t put on the brake on the tractor,’ explained Tom afterwards. ‘And when I turned around I got a fright as the vehicle was careering down the hill, through a gate onto the M74.’ Don's joyride ended when he found himself stranded on the motorway's central reservation, but not before the road was temporarily closed. He was eventually coaxed from the vehicle…

How’s she goin’, Planet readers – and welcome to this month’s farming section. Last month, I told you all about Panda Bear and her E. coli mastitis. After an outrageous battle with her, we managed to get her to turn a corner. While this was significant progress, she was far from safe. With some serious help from the team at Ashwood Veterinary Clinic – and a whole pile of TLC – Panda Bear was back eating and drinking. However, the hind right quarter of her udder was dead, and this was causing me great concern. It was badly infected and I was worried it would burst. Cutting part of it to let the infection out could cause other issues. In the end, we decided to gamble and let Mother Nature…

May 18 is International Museum Day – the perfect excuse to celebrate amazing museums and the wonderful treasures they hold. From ancient fossils to futuristic robots, there’s no end to the fascinating stuff you can find behind those glass cases and gallery ropes. But step into an art museum and you’ll quickly realise that surprises lurk around every corner. Sure, some works are breathtaking and brilliant – think of Michelangelo’s David or Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Others are deep and emotional – like Edvard Munch’s The Scream. And then ... well, then there are the ones that make you say: Have these people lost their mind?! So, to celebrate International Museum Day with us here at TPP, let us take you on a tour of artworks that people have paid…

Zombie Spiders! For years, explorers noticed strange fuzzy white blobs growing on the walls of Irish caves. Nobody thought much of them – until one day, an explorer spotted something unsettling: spider legs sticking out of the blobs. Scientists were called in to investigate and made a creepy discovery. A newly identified fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii – named after Sir David Attenborough – was attacking and killing the spiders. When a tiny fungal spore lands on a spider, it sticks to its body and sends fine threads inside. These threads spread through the spider’s body, eating its internal organs and eventually killing it. Before the spider dies, the fungus takes control of its movements, making it climb higher up the cave walls. Once the spider reaches a good height, the fungus…

Fostering Friendships Friendship is a close relationship between two or more people who care for and support each other. It’s built on trust, honesty and respect. Friends enjoy spending time together and often share common interests. But making new friends isn’t always easy – and that’s perfectly normal. Some people struggle with it. Others simply prefer their own company, and that’s okay too. Our first lessons in friendship usually come from home. It’s where we learn how to share – not just our things, but also our time. We learn to respect other people’s belongings and opinions, to listen, to be kind and to understand how others feel. This is called empathy – and it’s a superpower when it comes to making and keeping friends. Let’s take a closer look…

Volleyball is a dynamic team sport that demands agility, strategy, teamwork and the ability to jump high. What makes it a little unusual is that it can be played on both courts and sandy beaches. Whichever version you watch, you can expect an exciting display of skill. Here it is in a nutshell. Serve It Up: Like many court sports, volleyball begins with a 'serve'. Here, a player hits the ball over the net, aiming to land it in their opponents’ court. The game continues until the ball touches the ground, goes out of bounds or hits the net. Six-Player Sport: Each team has six players on the court. They must work in perfect harmony, using a combination of bumps, sets and spikes to win the point against their opponents.…

Another topsy-turvy Premier League season reaches its conclusion on May 25. Liverpool are champions, the three promoted clubs are heading straight back down, and Manchester United lurch from one crisis to another. Here are our end-of-season awards for the 2024/25 season ... Player of the season Mohamed Salah Salah’s eighth season at Liverpool has been one of his best. At time of writing he tops the goals and assists charts, his inspirational performances ensuring the Premier League trophy returns to Anfield. And in even better news for Reds fans, he’s staying for another two years! Team of the season Liverpool It has not been a vintage English football season with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea all failing to mount a serious title challenge. That’s of no concern to Liverpool, however,…