Innehållsförteckning för Issue 174 från The Week Junior US

On August 3, former President Donald Trump appeared in a courtroom to face criminal charges for the third time. Trump, who served in office from 2017 to 2021, is the only former or current President in US history to be charged with a crime. He is also a Republican candidate running for President in 2024. What happened? On August 1, Special Counsel Jack Smith announced his decision to indict (pronounced in-dite) Trump on new charges. A special counsel is a lawyer appointed by the Department of Justice (DOJ, the government’s law enforcement agency) to investigate a case without political bias. Indict means to charge with crimes. The new charges relate to what Smith said were Trump’s attempts to stay in power after losing the November 2020 Presidential election to Joe…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about this issue, visit kids.theweekjunior.com/polls so you can vote in our debate. Vote YES if you think a hot dog is actually a sandwich or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The goal of the big debate is to present two sides of an issue fairly in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on this page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties.…

The cuttlefish, cousin to the octopus and squid, has an unusual ability to blend into its underwater surroundings. It camouflages itself by changing the pattern and color of its skin. To figure out how these mollusks mimic their surroundings, scientists in Germany looked closely at the cuttlefish’s skin cells. Cuttlefish have a set of special skin cells filled with pigment (a substance that produces color) called chromatophores. They use tiny muscles to open and close the chromatophores, changing the color and pattern of their skin. The researchers recorded cuttlefish reacting to 30 different backgrounds on the floor of their tank. The cuttlefish made quick movements to change their own colors and patterns until they matched the backgrounds. Despite taking little pauses between movements—possibly to check their progress—most cuttlefish achieved their…

Cadence, 9, Texas Kerry Nicholson Wildlife biologist, Alaska Department of Fish and Game A black wolf is a color variant of the gray wolf. In Alaska, fur color ranges from black to nearly white, gray, and tan. In Yellowstone National Park, it was discovered that the black color comes from a mutation (change) in the genes (chemical instructions in the body) that determine fur color. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at adfg.alaska.gov.…

Kangaroos are known for their excellent hopping skills. However, a recent study has found that they didn’t always jump. They had other ways of getting around, including walking on two legs. Researchers from the University of Bristol, in the UK, and Uppsala University, in Sweden, studied evidence from fossils (traces of plants or animals preserved in rock) of macropodoids. This family of mammals includes kangaroos and wallabies. The scientists studied the shin and heel bones of these animals to learn how their way of moving has changed over 25 million years. Christine Janis, the study’s lead author, said that as recently as 50,000 years ago, there were many differences among the types of kangaroos living in Australia. Early macropodoids were very small, and some of them could definitely hop. Over…

Cellphone: Unseen Connections is a new exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. It takes a look at the ways cell phones have had an impact on people around the world and how the devices bring people together. The idea for the exhibition came from Josh Bell, the museum’s curator of globalization (the way people are interconnected around the world). He had been thinking about how cell phones allow people to speak to one another from nearly anywhere on the planet, as well as the fact that the devices are made of natural materials from different places. “The core mission of natural history is to understand nature and our place in it,” he said. “The cell phone allows us to have a really interesting discussion…

Manic Mechanics is a new co-op puzzle game for the Nintendo Switch. It was released last month. In the game, you play as a mechanic who has just arrived on Octane Isle. Your mission is to become the best and most famous mechanic on the island, which is filled with vehicles and body shops. The game allows for up to four players in co-op mode, and collaborating with a team of other mechanics makes the work more fun. The mechanics have to tackle chaos at five garages on the island. The main goal at each one is to fix as many broken vehicles as possible. The garages have their own styles, challenges, and vehicles, but they all contain five different levels with minigames and obstacles. The centerpiece of each level…

Do you like the rain? I’ve always loved the rain. I find it very inspiring. What books did you enjoy growing up? I read The Chronicles of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland over and over again. What do you hope readers learn from Oscar? I think Oscar does a really good job of believing in himself, so I hope that readers realize they should trust their instincts. I also hope they take note of Oscar’s ability to take ownership of his actions. Did you have a best friend like Saige? Yes, I remember having that friend who was always by my side, and we might fight, but then we would always figure it out. What’s your favorite summertime activity? Swimming in rivers.…

Scent science Studies have shown that noise can wake us from slumber but smells won’t. This is one of the reasons fire alarms were invented. Colorful dreaming Most people experience dreams in color, research shows. However, about 12% of the population dreams in black and white. Staying still Your brain keeps most of your muscles from being able to move during the time period when you dream most. This prevents you from acting out what you’re dreaming. Eyes wide open The record for the longest time a human has stayed awake is 11 days and 25 minutes. Randy Gardner, age 17, set the record at the 10th Annual Great San Diego Science Fair in 1964. (He took a 14-hour nap afterward.)…

Conflict in the West African nation of Niger has escalated since July 26, when its military arrested President Mohamed Bazoum and took control under the command of General Abdourahmane Tchiani. Military officials said the move was driven by Niger’s weak economic conditions and poor security. Others said tensions between Bazoum and Tchiani led to the uprising. Niger has been a democracy (having a government elected by the people) since 2010 and is a key ally of the US, which has a military base there. Bazoum was elected in Niger’s first peaceful democratic transfer of power in 2021. Niger is one of several countries in West and Central Africa to experience military uprisings since 2020. In response to Bazoum’s arrest, the US joined European nations in evacuating its citizens from Niger.…

Seven major car companies have agreed to work together to nearly double the number of charging stations available for use by drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) in the US. Many people consider the agreement to be a step forward in encouraging consumers to replace vehicles that are powered by gas or diesel with cars that run on rechargeable batteries. What is happening? BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Stellantis (a company that includes Chrysler and Jeep) will pay for the installation of 30,000 high-powered EV chargers in cities and along major highways in the US. The new stations, known as “fast chargers,” will be able to power an empty EV battery to 80% within 20 to 60 minutes. Older chargers require four to 10 hours to…

Slovenia Heavy rains lead to extreme flooding Flooding has affected about two thirds of Slovenia after a month’s worth of rain fell in one day on August 4. Prime Minister Robert Golob said it is the worst natural disaster in the country’s history. Military troops and rescue workers evacuated thousands of people from their homes, many by helicopter or boat. At the time The Week Junior went to press, at least six people had died. Pienza, Italy Bell silenced at night after complaints A bell from a historic clock tower that has been ringing for about 560 years has been silenced at night due to noise complaints. Tourists said the bell was disturbing their sleep. Now the bell is silent between midnight and 7 am. However, locals who had grown…

Sam Ezersky developed a love for solving word puzzles after he tried his first one at around age 5. Now, at age 28, he has his dream job as digital puzzles editor for The New York Times, managing its popular daily word game Spelling Bee. Spelling Bee challenges players to make as many words as they can using a set of seven letters that change every day. It has appeared in The New York Times Magazine since 2014, and Ezersky helped adapt it into a digital version in 2018. Ezersky grew up in Virginia, where he drew crosswords with crayons in the backseat of the car during long rides. He had his first crossword puzzle published in the Los Angeles Times when he was 16 years old. A year later,…

Cat noses have a complicated bone structure that enhances their sense of smell, according to new research from Ohio State University. Although dogs are more famous for using their noses, cats also rely heavily on their sense of smell. They use it to find food and mates, identify one another, and mark territories. A cat’s nose is about as complex as a dog’s and more complex than a rat’s nose. To understand how feline noses work, a team of researchers led by professor Kai Zhao used detailed images from X-rays to create a 3D model of a cat’s nose. On a computer, they simulated how air carrying the scent of cat food would flow through the model nose. The model showed that as the cat breathes in, air goes into…

Peregrine falcons In an exciting first, all three peregrine falcon chicks born this year at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia have taken flight. The birds vanished from the area in the 1950s. Wildlife experts have helped them make a comeback. American lobsters Lobsters in North America could be harmed by warming ocean temperatures, experts say. Lobsters are cold-blooded, meaning they cannot control their own body temperature. Traveling in search of cooler waters could disturb their lives.…

Every year, an estimated 3 million people visit the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. It began with one man’s vision. What is the Appalachian Trail? Stretching for more than 2,190 miles, the Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. The trail follows the ridge line of the Appalachian Mountains, spanning 14 states from Georgia to Maine, eight national forests, and six national parks. The trail is a protected part of the National Park System (NPS), which refers to the trail as the “footpath for the people.” The Appalachian Trail, which today is also known to hikers by its nickname, “the AT,” was founded 100 years ago. How it began The idea for the trail came from Benton MacKaye, a land-use planner from Massachusetts who became known as “the…

Virtual reality (VR) refers to a computer-generated world. People wear special headsets that let them see, hear, and feel like they’re in the VR realm. They can “pick up” a virtual object, but since it’s not real, they can’t usually feel it in their hand. A new VR glove is changing that. The Nova 2 glove, designed by a Dutch company, gives users the sensation of holding, touching, and squeezing a real object. It does this by applying pressure and resistance to the fingers and palm, giving users a sense of the item’s weight, size, shape, and stiffness.…

After taking a two-year break from competing, American gymnastics star Simone Biles has made a thrilling return to her sport. On August 5, she competed against other top gymnasts at the 2023 US Classic in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. She won the all-around competition with first-place finishes in vault, floor exercise, and balance beam, plus a third-place finish on the uneven bars. Biles’s total score was five points higher than the second place all-around finisher, Leanne Wong. Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, last competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). She withdrew from several events to focus on her mental health. At the time, she was overwhelmed by pressure and had “the twisties,” a term gymnasts use to describe the feeling of not knowing where their bodies are…

The new film Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story is an action-filled drama about pro race car driver Jann Mardenborough. He got into racing because he was one of the world’s best players of the PlayStation simulated racing game Gran Turismo. The film arrives in theaters on August 25, but there will be sneak previews in select locations on August 11 and August 18. It is rated PG-13. The popularity of Gran Turismo and its accurate simulations led to a partnership between auto manufacturer Nissan and Sony, which releases the game. They created the GT Academy, where sim racers learn to race in real life. Mardenborough, who is from Wales, in the UK, won a spot at the Academy in 2011, and the film is about his experience there…

Freaky Friday (2003) PG (Disney+ or rent on demand) “Anna and her mom, Tess, don’t get along very well and they fight a lot. One day, the pair get into an argument at a Chinese restaurant. After they each say that it would be very easy to be the other person, a worker comes up to them and gives them each a fortune cookie. After they open them up and read the messages, there is an earthquake that only the pair can feel. The next morning, they wake up in each other’s bodies! Anna has to deal with her mom’s life and her mom has to deal with hers. I love this movie so, so much.” Della, 11, Utah Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other…

By Katrina Leno, illustrated by Davide Ortu (Little, Brown and Company) Even though it’s almost always raining in the town where Oscar lives, his dad’s umbrella-making business has hit a dry spell. He’s losing customers to a factory that sells less expensive, lower-quality umbrellas. Once Oscar finishes middle school in a few weeks, his dad insists that he’ll have to help him at the store. He won’t be able to attend school anymore or have time for his hobby of carving animals out of wood. Oscar is also crushed that his best friend Saige, who uses a wheelchair, is moving to another city for her dad’s job. Oscar and Saige plan to meet at the Night Market, a carnival-like event that takes place every couple of years. That’s where Oscar…

This Boy: The Early Lives of John Lennon & Paul McCartney By Ilene Cooper (Viking Books for Young Readers) This biography focuses on the childhood and teen years of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, two of the musicians who formed the famous band The Beatles. Photographs from their early life are included. Ages 10–14 Music: A Fold-Out Graphic History By Nicholas O’Neill and Susan Hayes, illustrated by Ruby Taylor (What on Earth Books) When you open this oversize book, you’ll find an 8-foot timeline of the history of music, with profiles of musicians ranging from composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) to superstar Beyoncé. Ages 10–14 Rebel Girls Rock By Rebel Girls (Rebel Girls) Rock music icon Joan Jett wrote the foreword (introduction) to this book, which features the stories of…

What you need • Felt• Scissors• Hot glue (with an adult’s help)• Notebook or journal• Eraser clay• Toothpick• Pencil• Washi tape• Fabric glue• Yarn Instructions 1. To make the apple notebook: Cut an apple shape from a piece of felt. (Make sure it’s long enough to hold a pencil.) With an adult’s help, adhere apple to the notebook with hot glue. Let dry. 2. Leaf pencil topper: Using your fingers, shape a ball of eraser clay into a leaf. Press toothpick into center. Gently push the pencil end into the leaf to make a hole, then remove. Bake the eraser according to package directions. Let it cool, then add it to the top of a green pencil (or wrap a pencil with green washi tape). 3. Milkshake notebook: Cut a…

Word ladder To change the word BLUE into the word MOON, use each clue to fill in a word that is only one letter different from the word before it. If you get stuck, try solving from the bottom up. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides the name of a seven-letter dog breed. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. Spot the difference These two pictures of a family on a hike appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you see them? DO NOT ENTER Draw one continuous path from START to END that goes through every box except the ones containing obstacles. Your path…

The US team gave it their all in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer tournament (p18). They were eliminated in their Round of 16 match against Sweden, due in large part to a superb performance by that team’s goalkeeper, Zecira Musovic. I congratulate both teams for their strength, skill, and sportsmanship and look forward to watching the remainder of the tournament to see the action and find out who wins. Which team will you be cheering for? In other major sports news this week, Simone Biles made a triumphant return to gymnastics after taking a break in 2021 to focus on her mental health (p19). “I feel really good about where I am right now,” she said after winning the all-around competition in the US Classic. Congratulations to her—not…

Maggie, who is 10 years old and in fifth grade, told us that a fun activity at her school is when the fifth graders create an obstacle course for other kids to run through. Maggie also said her school has a great afterschool program. If you’d like to share what’s great about your school, go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to print out a form. Fill it out, then have an adult email it to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We’ll feature some of the submissions on this page in future issues of The Week Junior. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to hear from you! To have your letters, photos, nominations, recommendations, or ideas considered for inclusion in the magazine, please include your full name, age, and…

Teacher’s Name: Gabriel Mantilla School: Cerritos Elementary “Mr. Mantilla is such an excellent teacher! After the pandemic hit, we were nervous, but Mr. Mantilla coaxed us not to be worried. He taught us to be great math thinkers and encouraged us to become Math Bee champions. He also inspired us to be very good writers. Overall, he is smart, kind, helpful, and fair.” Jayden, 10, California Nominate your teacher for Teacher of the Week! Send your reason for the nomination, a photo of your teacher, and your school’s name and address to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

How much of this week’s news can you remember? 1 Ancient wall art recently discovered in Pompeii, Italy, appears to depict what kind of food? 2 Who is considered the “father of the Appalachian Trail”? a) Benton MacKaye b) Bill Irwin c) Earl Shaffer a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? A Bornean orangutan was recently born at the Bournemouth Zoo for the first time in 20 years. True □ False □ 4 NASA has announced a plan to send how many rovers to the Moon in 2024? 5 Nine cyclists are riding about 1,200 miles in honor of which historical figure? a) Harriet Tubman b) Frederick Douglass c) Sojourner Truth a □ b □ c □ 6 True or false? Simone Biles was the first female…

TWICE THE EXCITEMENT Twin red pandas were born at Whipsnade Zoo in London. The cubs’ mom, Ruby, is caring for them in a nest until they are ready to venture out. A zookeeper said the twins “give us double hope” for the endangered species. A GLORIOUS GIFT A floral bouquet is a common gift for a wedding anniversary. Lee Wilson of Kansas had a bigger idea. To celebrate 50 years of marriage to his wife, Renee, he planted seeds to grow 1.2 million sunflowers—her favorite blooms. It “couldn’t have been more perfect,” Renee said. A SUPER-LONG SANDWICH “The World’s Largest Lebanon Bologna Sandwich” was unveiled at a fair in central Pennsylvania. Volunteers filled the 150-foot sub with 1,200 slices of Lebanon bologna, a smoked meat that is popular in the…

August 18, 1963 James Meredith is historic graduate On August 18, 1963, James Meredith became the first Black person to graduate from the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Meredith faced racism when he enrolled. The state’s governor tried to keep him from attending, and President John F. Kennedy had to order federal troops to protect Meredith from rioters so he could attend classes. He later received a law degree and became active in politics.…

The question has divided Americans for many years. Can a hot dog in a bun be considered a type of sandwich? In 2015, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council declared that the hot dog is not a sandwich but “a category unto its own.” The following year, however, experts from the Merriam-Webster dictionary tweeted, “The hot dog is a sandwich.” The Oscar Mayer meat company, which is known for its hot dogs, agreed. If that’s the case, hot dogs belong in the same category as other classic sandwiches, like the turkey club and the PB&J. What do you think? Is a hot dog actually a sandwich? Yes—let’s be frank about it Hot dogs were once known as “frankfurter sandwiches” because that’s exactly what they are. According to most definitions,…

Although this park is located in and around the bustling urban area of San Francisco, it was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1988 because of its abundance of plant and animal life. The area hosts about 19 ecosystems (groups of living things that affect one another) and more than 3,900 animal and plant species, including more than 30 that are endangered or threatened. Birds may be the easiest animals to spot, but southern sea otters and California red-legged frogs are visible as well. The park is also an excellent place to watch wildflowers bloom.…

A Bornean orangutan was born at Blackpool Zoo in the UK for the first time in 20 years. This large tree-dwelling mammal is critically endangered, with about 100,000 remaining in the wild. The baby, a male, was part of a breeding program. • LIFE SPAN: 25 to 40 years in the wild • HABITAT: Tropical forests in Borneo • SIZE: 80 to 250 pounds, 45 to 54 inches tall • DIET: Fruits, leaves, bark, nuts, and flowers • FUN FACT: These primates’ arms are twice as long as their legs, spanning up to 9 feet.…

Emma Gatewood In 1955, at the age of 67, Emma Gatewood became the first woman to thru-hike the AT solo. She later hiked the entire length twice more. William O. Douglas Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas was a staunch environmental advocate. In 1967, he led a protest hike to save a pond on the AT in New Jersey from destruction. The Douglas Trail nearby is named for him. Bill Irwin Without maps or a compass, Bill Irwin became the first blind hiker to complete the AT, in 1990, led only by his guide dog Orient. The two of them famously became known as “The Orient Express.” Daniel White In 2017, Daniel White, known by his trail name “The Blackalachian,” conquered the AT. He has since worked with Great Smoky…

Humans pumping water out of the ground and moving it around has changed how Earth rotates. From 1993 to 2010, about 2,100 gigatons of water were pumped from the ground, mostly to drink or water crops. A gigaton is one billion tons—that’s the weight of 100,000 Eiffel Towers. After it was used, the water eventually ended up in the sea, and it seems to have made the planet wobble. Earth spins around an axis (an invisible line through its middle from the north pole to the south pole). Imagine spinning a ball on your finger. When it is balanced, it twirls evenly on its axis. But if you add more weight to one part of the ball, it will become unbalanced and start to wobble. The study shows that moving…

The Round of 16 matches at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup were held from August 5–8 in Australia and New Zealand. Unlike in the initial Group Stage, teams that lose in the Round of 16 exit the competition. One team that will not advance is the US. The two-time defending champions, who were number one in the world before the tournament, lost to third-ranked Sweden on August 6. It was a scoreless match that went to two overtimes and was decided on penalty kicks. This is the first time the US has not made it to the World Cup semifinals. During the Group Stage, the US had one win and two draws (ties), and many observers said they were not playing their best. The team had a stronger performance…

Coach’s Name: Jon Diamond Sport: Baseball “Coach Diamond is an awesome coach who pushes us to our limits. Practice drills are usually boring, but he keeps them fun and engaging. He looks out for us and helps us be our best selves, too. He also helped bring the Little League Challenger program to our town so children with disabilities can learn how to play baseball. I appreciate how much time and effort he puts into making us have the best time playing the sport we love.” Jesse, 12, New Jersey To nominate a Coach of the Week, send your coach’s name, photo, sport, and team to hello@theweekjunior.com. Include your name, age, state, and a few reasons why your coach is great.…

The Big Nailed It! Baking Challenge (Netflix) The fun of the hit competition series Nailed It! is watching inexperienced bakers try to re-create fancy desserts. In this spin-off, unskilled bakers receive guidance from top pastry chefs who are there to help them avoid elimination. The winner takes home a cash prize. My Dad the Bounty Hunter (Netflix) In the first season of this series, siblings Lisa and Sean learned that their father’s job is to chase down alien criminals in space. In the new second season, their dad has been kidnapped, so the kids, their mom, and alien scammer Blobby (above) head to space to try to rescue him. Surf Girls Hawai’i (Amazon Prime) Meet the next generation of native Hawaiian female surfers in this new four-part documentary series. It…

Mango in the City By Fracaswell Hyman “The book Mango in the City is about a girl named Mango. She has no plans for the summer when suddenly she’s asked to be in a play way off-Broadway. She had performed in a play at her school. This step into her life as an actress brings many challenges and many unforgettable memories, and she has no idea what is going to happen later on in her life.” Aanya, 10, Texas Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Summer is wrapping up, and you’re checking off all the supplies you need for an awesome school year. But there’s something else you should think about when preparing for school: making sure you’re sleeping enough. Getting nine to 12 hours of sleep per night can help kids your age feel their best and do better in school. If you’ve been staying up later over the summer, here are some smart steps you can take now to get your sleep back on track. Stick to a bedtime Going to bed at about the same time every night helps your body get used to a schedule and fall asleep more easily. One way to pinpoint your ideal bedtime is to think about what time you need to wake up in the morning…

One way to make your family’s kitchen more eco-friendly is to try to use fewer paper towels. Using paper towels can be harmful to the environment because they are produced using trees and other natural resources and also end up taking up space in landfills after they’re thrown away. Instead, talk to your family about cleaning up messes in the kitchen with reusable products when you can. For example, keep a basket of clean cloth kitchen towels or dish rags in the kitchen and a small basket under the sink for dirty ones. When the basket is full, put them in the washing machine and use them again.…

Candy for condiment lovers A popular candy brand has “mustard” the courage to develop a controversial new flavor. For National Mustard Day on August 5, Skittles worked with the French’s condiment company to create mustard-flavored Skittles. They said the “unique summer treat” combines the candy’s chewy texture with French’s “tangy” taste. The limited-edition flavor will appear at pop-up events in at least three US cities. It has already sparked some strong reactions. “I’d love to try these!” said one mustard lover on social media. Another person wrote, “This is absolutely disgusting, rancid, and wrong. Hey @Skittles, how can I get them?” Juggling many amazing talents For the second time, a young man in China has cracked the world record for solving three rotating puzzle cubes while juggling. Last year, Li…

“We made the mini berry galettes from your July 21 issue. We used berries from our own backyard!”Grace, 12, Virginia “I loved reading the articles in The Week Junior and finishing the puzzles while waiting for the storms to pass.”Patrick, 9, Florida “I made a collage using only two magazines. I tried to focus on a theme of climate change because I have a deep care for the planet.”Liberty, 13, Illinois…