Innehållsförteckning för Issue 182 från The Week Junior US

On September 27, a European court began hearing a climate lawsuit filed by six young people from Portugal against the governments of 32 countries. It is the world’s largest climate lawsuit ever. What happened? Six plaintiffs (people who initiate a legal action) brought the lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), an international court based in Strasbourg, France. They are arguing that the nations have inadequate policies for addressing climate change. The countries named in the lawsuit are the member nations of the European Union (EU, a group of 27 countries, mostly in Europe) plus Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Who filed the suit and why? The plaintiffs are between the ages of 11 and 24. They decided to file the lawsuit after two wildfires…

GROWING GIANT VEGETABLES There was heavy competition at an annual giant vegetable contest in the UK. Winners included a 1,403-pound pumpkin, a 29.5-pound cucumber, and a 1.4-foot-long fava bean. The eye-popping produce set eight world records. TWIN TIGER CUBS The Toledo Zoo in Ohio shared what it called “paw-sitively exciting news” as it announced the birth of twin Siberian tigers. There are fewer than 600 of the endangered species in the wild, and twins are rare. The cubs, both female, are doing well. “It’s really special for us,” zookeepers said. A CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP An exhibit created by the Japanese company Pokémon and the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands aims to introduce young people to the work of the famous Dutch artist. The three-month show features six paintings of Pokémon…

Last week, we asked if homework should be eliminated. Most of you voted against extra work after school: 58% said yes, while 42% said no. What do you think? 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 cats should be kept indoors at night 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.…

Gabriela Vega Marine biologist/senior aquarist, Dallas World Aquarium “Why are some fish blind when they should have good eyesight to see in the dark?”Max, 8, Massachusetts Fish living in dark environments have developed many different ways to “see.” Blind fish use other senses, such as extra taste cells or modified fins, to find food and avoid predators. One important sensory organ is the lateral line, whose cells have tiny hairs that can sense motion and pressure.…

For the first time, US scientists have collected samples from an asteroid (a rocky object that orbits the Sun) and brought them back to Earth. The small amounts of rock, dirt, and dust were taken from an asteroid called Bennu and carried to Earth in a capsule about the size of a car tire. Scientists expect the materials will provide a deeper understanding of the formation of our Sun and its planets and how life first formed on Earth. The mission to collect the materials, which are known as regolith, began in 2016 with the launch of a spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx. The spacecraft spent two years in space traveling to Bennu, which formed an estimated 4.5 billion years ago. It then orbited Bennu for another two years, mapping its surface…

Detective Pikachu Returns is a new Pokémon adventure game. It is out now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The new game is a sequel to the video game Detective Pikachu, which first came out in 2016. It inspired a hit 2019 movie of the same name. The story in the new game is similar to the plot of the movie, but it is not necessary to be familiar with the movie or the first game to enjoy Detective Pikachu Returns. In fact, you don’t even need to know much about Pokémon at all because this game is different from almost every other game in the long-running franchise. While the main Pokémon series challenges gamers to collect, evolve, and battle the colorful monsters in a turn-based role-playing style, the new game…

Born Behind Bars By Padma Venkatraman “Born Behind Bars is a book about a boy named Kabir who was born in jail because of a crime his mother didn’t commit. When he’s too old to stay in prison, the guards release him and he sets off into the streets of Chennai by himself. One day he stumbles upon a girl named Rani. Together they find a way to find Kabir’s family and get his mother out of jail.”Faith, 12, Florida Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Crown yourself Cut a one-inch strip of cardboard a little larger than the circumference of your head. Staple or glue it together so you have a circle. Glue leaves around the outside. Spray-paint them Make a spray-paint leaf pattern. Start by adding a few drops of paint to a spray bottle, then fill the bottle with water. Lay a big piece of paper on the ground outdoors and arrange leaves on top. Spray paint on and around the leaves. Let dry, then remove the leaves to reveal your design. Create prints Use your leaves like a stamp: Paint one side with a few colors, then push the painted side down on paper and remove it. Use a few different leaves to make prints all over your paper. Make people With…

When one of your possessions gets worn down or breaks, your first instinct might be to throw it away and buy a replacement. A more eco-friendly option is to repair the item if you can. Repairing—instead of replacing—an item keeps it out of the landfill and also saves the resources that would be used to produce a new one. There are many ways to make repairs. For example, you could add patches or embroidery over holes or stains in clothing or cut worn jeans into shorts. You might be able to save a broken plastic toy with clear craft glue. Even some electronics, like a speaker, can be fixed. Check tutorials on YouTube and ask for an adult’s help.…

At the age of 53, Sean Combs is a pop culture legend. Known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, and Diddy, he began as an R&B musician and helped pioneer the hip-hop genre. Now he is expanding his legacy by giving back to the music community and releasing new music. Growing up in New York City, Combs remembers watching MTV and dreaming of becoming a musician like the ones he saw on TV. He attended Howard University in Washington, DC, before leaving to work at a record label. In 1993, he launched his own label, Bad Boy Records, which continues to release albums by award-winning artists. He went on to win three Grammy awards (top music award), starting in 1997 with awards for the album No Way Out and the song…

From Black Beauty to The Chronicles of Narnia, many films and stories have shown the close bond that can develop between a human and a horse. However, no one knows how much horses actually understand about their human companions. Recently, researchers have been trying to determine whether horses understand human emotions, and they have found that horses can tell when someone feels happy or sad. To conduct the experiment, the researchers tried a technique that is often used to study how much babies understand about the world around them. It involves setting up a scenario that does not make sense. The researchers brought 28 horses into a room, one by one. They showed each horse a picture of a happy human and a sad human. At the same time, they…

The number of Atlantic puffin chicks growing up off the coast of Maine has increased for the second year in a row. In past years, a lack of small fish had made it difficult for these “clowns of the sea” to feed their young. ● LIFE SPAN: Up to 30 years ● HABITAT: The North Atlantic Ocean ● DIET: Fish, crustaceans, and mollusks ● SIZE: About 10 inches long and one pound in weight ● FUN FACT: A puffin’s beak is gray during the winter but turns bright orange in spring.…

Cricket is one of the most watched sports in the world. The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, held every four years, starts this month in India. What is cricket? Cricket is a bat and ball sport that began in England and has been played since at least 1611 and possibly centuries earlier. In the game, two teams of 11 players compete on an oval field to score the most runs. As with baseball, the teams take turns batting, with one team trying to score runs and the other trying to get the batters out. The batter stands in front of a stick structure called a wicket. The opposing pitcher bowls the ball toward the wicket, and the batter tries to hit it. Innings can end for various reasons, such as…

Two asteroids have been named in honor of groundbreaking female astronomers (scientists who study space). In the 1880s, Alice Everett and Annie Maunder studied math at Girton College, part of the University of Cambridge in the UK. At the time, women couldn’t receive degrees, but Everett and Maunder graduated and were among the first women to be paid for working in astronomy. They made major discoveries, but men got credit for them. The International Astronomical Union and the British Astronomical Association (BAA) said the honor recognizes the contributions Everett and Maunder made to science. “These were extraordinary women who did extraordinary things,” said Mike Frost, a BAA official. “They deserve their place up in the sky.”…

Used coffee grounds usually end up in the trash, but researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder turned them into a 3D printing material instead. They created a paste using coffee grounds and other ingredients. The paste was fed into a 3D printer to make items including small pots, jewelry, and coffee cups. Once the objects were dry, they were as strong as concrete. If they’re no longer needed, they can be turned back into a paste and used to print a new object or added to soil, where they break down naturally.…

Fans of the singer Taylor Swift who didn’t get to see her in concert this year—and those who want to see her show again—will now have the chance. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, a film of her concert performances, is coming to movie theaters. It opens on October 13 and will play through November 5. Swift has previously released other concert films, but not in theaters. She made a deal to have this one shown exclusively at the AMC chain in the US. The film was announced on August 31, and within 24 hours, $26 million worth of tickets were sold, breaking a record for AMC’s highest single-day advance ticket sales. In addition to playing in the US, the film will run in more than 100 countries worldwide. The Eras…

DC League of Super-Pets PG (Max, Prime Video, Hulu, or rent on demand) “Krypto is a superdog who fights crime with Superman. When Superman is kidnapped by a guinea pig who got powers from orange kryptonite, Krypto can’t save him because he lost his powers from eating green kryptonite. Luckily, a group of shelter animals also got powers from the orange kryptonite and they have become a strong dog, a size-changing pig, an electricity-generating squirrel, and a fast turtle. Krypto works with them to save the day. This movie is funny and has great voice acting.”Michael, 10, New Jersey Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Roz, a robot, is enjoying life on a beautiful island at the start of the third book in this popular series. Brightbill, the goose she raised, returns from migration and introduces Roz to his mate. The geese are even going to be parents soon! But danger is on the horizon: Sea creatures warn that a “poison tide” may soon reach the island and harm the wildlife and plants. Roz rallies the island’s animals to prepare. Once the pollution reaches the island, she instructs beavers to build dams so their fresh drinking water doesn’t get contaminated with ocean water. After discovering that the contamination won’t harm her robot body, Roz sets out on a months-long, harrowing underwater journey to find a wise shark who might…

Halloween Ball By Perdita Cargill and Honor Cargill, illustrated by Katie Saunders (Tiger Tales) In this new Diary of an Accidental Witch series, Bea is on the planning committee for her school’s Halloween Ball. She’s excited and a little scared too. Bea wants to come up with good ideas, but she’s nervous her dad will find out about her magic powers. Ages 9 and under Lumber-Jackula By Mat Heagerty, illustrated by Sam Owen (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) Jack’s mom is a lumberjack, and his dad is a vampire. But Jack doesn’t want to follow in their footsteps. He loves to dance more than anything and will have to muster up a lot of courage to follow his dreams. The art in this graphic novel has many fun…

Word search Can you find all these words associated with time in the grid? They are hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and can be forward or backward. When you’re done, read the remaining letters to get a bonus message. AGES CENTURY CHIME CLOCK DATE DECADE EON EPOCH HOUR LEAP YEAR METRONOME MIDNIGHT MILLENNIUM MINUTE MONTH NOON PAST SECOND SPRING FORWARD SUNDIAL TICKTOCK TIME ZONE TODAY TOMORROW WEEK YESTERDAY FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with words that are anagrams of each other, like BOWL and BLOW. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 29. FOUR IN A ROW Place four of the letters below to complete the first pair of words, in the same order in both…

I didn’t know much about the sport of cricket before I read our special report in this week’s issue about the upcoming World Cup tournament (p12). Now I feel better informed and ready for the action. We hope the same thing happens for you when you read The Week Junior. We pack each issue with articles to help you feel more knowledgeable about what’s happening in the world, whether that’s the budget showdown in the US Congress (p3), Frank Rubio’s record-breaking achievement in space (p5), the dog that helped save sea turtles (p11), or Taylor Swift’s new concert movie (p20). We also hope the stories you read will help you participate in conversations about current events and develop your own point of view. What’s your favorite article in this week’s…

The Week Junior is conducting a national search for 12 students, ages 8 to 14, who want to have their voices heard about the issues and causes that matter to them. This will be our fifth session of Junior Council, and council members will meet directly with The Week Junior editors and mentors. There will be about six virtual workshops held from January through May 2024. A project created by council members may appear in a future issue of the magazine. To apply, go to juniorcouncil.theweekjunior.com to download the application. The deadline to enter is October 23. 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…

Indoor cats are cute and cuddly, but if they go outdoors, they’re likely to hunt and kill wildlife, like birds and mice. Hunting is a basic survival instinct in cats, even if they’re well fed and spend most of their time curled up on their owner’s lap or computer keyboard. Cats are known to hunt more at night, especially just after sunset and before sunrise. This has led many people to say cats should be kept indoors overnight to help protect wildlife. But others say it’s unfair to force cats to stay inside, away from their natural environment. The indoor life can make them restless and stressed. What do you think? Should cats be kept indoors at night? Yes—cats kill too many birds Many species of birds in the US…

Fly Geyser is a geographical wonder that was accidentally created by humans. In the 20th century, workers dug wells in Black Rock Desert. The water they found was boiling hot, though, so they abandoned them. The wells became geysers (holes in the ground that shoot out hot water and steam). Over time, the water left behind mineral deposits, which grew upward into rainbow-colored mounds. Many sheep, deer, rabbits, big cats, and foxes live in Black Rock Desert. During the colder seasons, wild horses and burros can often be seen on low mountain slopes.…

Koalas Australia has banned logging (cutting down trees) in an important koala habitat, protecting 21,000 acres of forest in New South Wales. The area, which is home to 106 “koala hubs,” will become part of a new national park. Mexican flamingos Hurricane Idalia, in August, was so strong that it seems to have blown some of Mexico’s native flamingos to the US. The birds have been seen as far north as Wisconsin. Experts say they are stressed from the winds and being in a new environment.…

In a cricket match, two wickets are placed facing each other on the field. Here are more details about the equipment cricket players use. Wicket A wicket is made up of three upright stumps with two pieces of wood, called bails, lying between the tops of them. Bowlers can get batters out by hitting the wicket with the ball and Bat Early cricket bats were made from modified tree branches. Today, the bats have two parts. One, at the bottom, is the handle. The wider wooden part with a flat surface above it is called a blade. Ball Cricket balls, usually red or white, are smaller yet heavier than baseballs. They are made of cork, with a leather covering and a seam running in a straight line around the ball.…

In humans, mucus serves many purposes. It blocks germs from our noses, lets our eyelids open and close smoothly, and helps with gut health. The substance helps other species, too. In a new study, scientists found that common garden snails release three kinds of mucus, each with a different purpose. The research also found that the mucus contains previously unknown proteins (basic structures found in all living things). The study, which was conducted by a team at the City University of New York, focused on the Cornu aspersum snail. This species is eaten as escargot. Its mucus is a common ingredient in beauty products and skin treatments and can help wound healing. The team found that one type of mucus keeps the snail’s skin healthy and hydrated. Another works as…

The last regular season Major League Baseball (MLB) games were played on October 1. Although some teams had made the playoffs before the final weekend of games, five of the 12 spots were still open. On September 30the Houston Astros, who are the defending World Series champions, Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays filled those remaining spots. For the MLB postseason, the winners of the East, Central, and West divisions of the National League (NL) and American League (AL) automatically make the playoffs. The team with the most wins overall this year was the Atlanta Braves, who finished with a 104–58 record and won the NL East for the sixth year in a row. The top AL team was the Baltimore Orioles of the AL East,…

Coach’s Name: Reak Kueth Team: Minneapolis United 12u Girls Copa (soccer) “Coach Reak has helped us from our little kid years in 7v7 to us now playing 11v11. He doesn’t smile a lot, but he pushes us to play really well and work hard so we will get better. He’s made us the best we can be. One time he wore a suit to a game because he wanted to distract us from a girl on the other team that we all knew. His plan worked because we won, 1–0. Fun fact: Coach Reak likes ribs.”Lucy, 12, Minnesota 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.…

Valentine’s Day The singer’s first feature film role was in this 2010 romantic comedy (rated PG-13). It tells stories about interconnected people who are celebrating the title’s holiday. The Lorax Taylor Swift became a voice actor for this 2012 animated film, which was an adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book of the same name. She played an optimistic teen named Audrey, one of the main characters. Cats The 2019 live-action musical was based on playwright Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit show. Swift portrayed the cat Bombalurina. Cats featured many big stars but was not a success.…

Launchpad (Disney+) This series showcases short films from writers and directors representing different cultural backgrounds. Topics covered in the new second set of fictional stories include sisters bonding over science, a boy training to be a martial arts champion, and a family trying to stop a ghost. A Really Haunted Loud House (Paramount+) The Nickelodeon series The Loud House gets in the Halloween spirit with this new live-action movie. When Lincoln Loud and his best friend Clyde go to a Halloween party thrown by a cool kid, Lincoln leaves it up to his sisters to wow the neighborhood with their annual Spooktacular. Lotería Loca (CBS) Mexican actor-singer Jaime Camil (the voice of Papá in Coco) hosts this new game show based on a traditional Mexican card game similar to Bingo.…

What makes Roz wild? Roz the Robot is wild in the sense that she lives in the wilderness. She learns to survive by studying the wild animals. She learns how to think and speak like a wild animal. What makes you appreciate the ocean? At a time when we know so much about our planet, I love that the ocean is still full of mystery. Its immense size reminds me that I’m just one small part of a big world. Did you always enjoy drawing? Yes, ever since I could pick up a crayon. Drawing is magic. What message does this book convey? I hope it gives readers a greater appreciation for how we are all connected. What happens on the other side of the planet can have a direct…

Autumn can be a great season to experience the outdoors with your friends and family. One popular activity is leaf peeping—spending time outdoors admiring the changing colors of the leaves. Here’s some advice for getting started. Understand the science Trees with leaves that change colors in the fall are deciduous species, like oaks, maples, and birches. These types of trees have green leaves most of the year due to the chlorophyll they use to absorb energy from the Sun. As the days get colder and shorter in the fall, the leaves get less sunlight, which causes the green to fade and reveal other colors, like red, orange, and gold. After the leaves change color, they eventually fall to the ground. In the spring, the tree grows new leaves. Pick a…

Ingredients • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil• 1 pound package extra firm tofu, diced• 1 Salt and freshly ground black pepper• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped• ½ cup frozen edamame, shelled• 13.6-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk• 1½ tablespoon red curry paste (such as Thai Kitchen brand)• 8-ounce can sliced water chestnuts, drained• One package (12 to 14 ounces) heat and serve Thai-style noodles (such as Ka-Me brand)• Juice of 1 lime, plus wedges for serving• Thinly sliced green onion (optional) Instructions 1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add the tofu and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, turning the tofu cubes occasionally, until they are lightly golden, about 8 minutes. 2. Stir in the red bell pepper and edamame and cook…

An adorable groundhog family in Delaware went viral over vegetables. Jeff Permar set up a camera to find out who was damaging his garden and saw a groundhog “staring into the camera like, ‘Yeah, I’m eating your vegetables. What are you going to do about it?’” Permar said. “He instantly won my heart.” Permar now shares his garden with Chunk, as Permar calls him, and his growing family of pups, who have gained a following of more than 700,000 people on social media. He says helping the groundhogs fill their bellies is “rewarding.”…

“When I heard about the Maui wildfires, I knew I wanted to help the people of Hawaii. My best friends, Avani and Aanya, and I came up with the idea of a bake sale. Both friends and strangers were quick to place orders. We spent three days making more than 60 muffins, hundreds of cookies, and 50 pieces of fudge. We then hand-delivered the packed boxes to everyone. We decided to donate the $439 we raised to the Maui Strong Fund. That amazing feeling when we donated the money to the right place made us realize that this is just the beginning. We plan to contribute to many more causes in the future!” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to,…

“We just had to make the seasoned after-school snack mix from the Back to School issue! It was delicious!”Jasper, 10, Massachusetts “I read The Week Junior every week during my infusion. I love to save it when it comes in the maiI and enjoy it while I have my medical treatment at home.”Ella, 9, Washington “I love to read The Week Junior to my cat, Mouse. He likes the stories about animals the best.” Duncan, 12, California…

Teacher’s Name: Michaela Shannon School: Westchase Elementary School “Ms. Shannon is the most awesome teacher ever! She once solved two Rubik’s Cubes and then juggled some glue sticks. She is so cool. She teaches us in both Spanish and English and comes up with really fun and interesting projects for us to do. I’m so lucky to have her as my teacher!”Annika, 9, Florida 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.…

1 Which famous US building was lit up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? a) Willis Tower b) Empire State Building c) The White House 2 True or false? Breanna Stewart won the 2023 WNBA Most Valuable Player award. 3 The number of Atlantic puffin chicks living off the coast of which state has increased for the second straight year? a) Massachusetts b) Rhode Island c) Maine 4 In the book The Wild Robot Protects, what is the name of the goose raised by Roz? 5 True or false? Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour broke an advance ticket sales record at AMC movie theaters. 6 The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft gathered material from what asteroid? 7 Which country has won five ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup…