Innehållsförteckning för Issue 262 från The Week Junior US

Countries around the world are using more clean energy than they have in about 80 years, according to a new report released on April 8. And, the report found, clean energy will be able to keep up with the growing demand for electricity. What is clean energy? Clean energy is a source of electricity that does not release harmful greenhouse gases (gases that trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere and warm the planet). Traditional sources of energy, including fossil fuels like oil and coal, do emit greenhouse gases. There are many types of clean energy, including hydropower, which uses water to generate electricity, and solar, which harnesses the Sun’s heat to do so. Other sources include wind and a new technology that uses ocean waves. Nuclear power is also considered clean.…

ADDING EMOJIS There’s a new batch of emojis on some smartphones, including a tired-looking face, a purple splotch, a fingerprint, a root vegetable, and a tree without leaves. With the eight added symbols, there are 3,790 emojis overall. PULLING FOR CHARITY At the first annual Duck Boat Pull competition in Boston, Massachusetts, teams hauled the 21,000-pound vehicles across a public plaza to raise money for youth sports. The event brought the community together and was “so uniquely Boston,” said the city’s mayor, Michelle Wu. A BIG CELEBRATION Cadbury Creme Eggs are a beloved Easter treat, and now the UK candy company has hatched its biggest one yet. The world’s largest creme egg weighs 99.2 pounds and stands 3 feet high, which is as tall as an emperor penguin, according to…

Young people everywhere are taking action against climate change, whether that’s by reducing plastic use, planting trees, cleaning up beaches, or attending protests and contacting their elected officials. There’s no doubt that kids are passionate about protecting the planet and want to learn how to help. Many schools include the topic in science, social studies, and other classes, and about 80% of adults feel kids should be taught about the environment in school. Others, however, think lessons about climate change take time away from subjects like math, reading, and writing. What do you think? Should schools require climate lessons? Yes—knowledge will only help The younger kids are when they learn about climate change, the sooner they can develop planet-friendly habits. Scientists say those habits add up and over time could…

Humans aren’t the only animals that perform first aid for a friend in need, new research has found. In an experiment, researchers put one mouse to sleep and observed how another mouse reacted. They found that the conscious (awake) mouse often became a “helper” and tried to revive its unconscious companion. The helper usually started by sniffing or grooming the unconscious mouse. In many cases, the helper would then open its companion’s mouth and pull on its tongue to try to clear its airways. Actions like these seemed to aid the sleeping mouse’s recovery. Researchers even tried placing a plastic ball in the sleeper’s mouth and found that the helper mouse usually managed to get the ball out. Mice were more likely to provide care to a companion they were…

This spring the best teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) will compete until one is crowned champion and wins the sport’s most coveted honor, the Stanley Cup. What is the Stanley Cup? The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs is the annual elimination tournament that takes place at the end of the regular season and determines the league champion. There are 32 teams in the NHL, with 25 in the US and 7 in Canada. The playoffs consist of four rounds of best-of-seven games. (The first team to win four games advances to the next round.) At the end of the tournament, the winner receives the Stanley Cup trophy. It is the oldest trophy that can be won by professional athletes in North America. The original Stanley Cup trophy was donated…

Dancing is fun and, a new study confirmed, can also reduce stress levels and improve overall health. Many studies have been done on the positive effects of dancing. It has even been called a“stress vaccine,” and a team of researchers wanted to figure out why. To do so, they reviewed studies of dancing conducted by scientists in different fields, including psychology (study of the mind and behavior), neurobiology (study of the nervous system), and anthropology (study of human history and culture). The team determined that dancing has a positive effect because it includes rhythm, music, movement, and social bonding. The combination of music, rhythm, and dancing is better at calming people’s nerves than music alone, because they are more actively engaged in the activity. Dancing along with a partner or…

The 2024–2025 NBA (National Basketball Association) regular season ended on April 13. Several teams in the Western Conference entered the last day of games with equal or very close records, making their final games important in determining their playoff seeding (ranking). Out of the 20 teams that made the postseason this year, five have never won a championship. In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the top seed after finishing the season with a 64–18 record. It is the first time the Cavs earned the number one spot since 2016. The Boston Celtics, who are the reigning NBA champions, finished with 61 wins and will be the number two seed in the East. They will be trying to become the first back-to-back NBA champions since 2018. The New York…

Coach’s Name: Tarek Ayad Team: Elite Fencing Club “Coach Tarek is the best coach I could hope for! He is highly positive, funny, and enthusiastic. If kids don’t hear the drill, he always patiently explains it again. If we can’t get it right, he tells us to keep trying and makes funny faces. When we get hurt, he makes us laugh and want to keep fencing! He is such a supportive coach and has been making a big impact in my life, not just in fencing. I feel so lucky to have him.” Ellie, 10, California 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.…

Jane (Apple TV+) The series inspired by famous conservationist Jane Goodall is back for season three. Young environmentalist Jane and her friends David and Greybeard the chimp go on more imaginary quests to save endangered animals, and Goodall herself even makes a special appearance. Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight (Netflix) This French animated series (dubbed in English) is based on popular comics and set in 50 BCE. The Roman emperor wants to conquer Asterix and Obelix’s village, so they take a magic potion for strength. When the potion master loses his memory, the villagers must fend for themselves. Night of the Zoopocalypse (Rent or buy on all major platforms) In this new animated horror-comedy, a meteor crashes into Colepepper Zoo and releases a virus that turns the animals into…

A Rover’s Story By Jasmine Warga “This book is about a rover named Resilience who feels human emotions. He goes to Mars with his drone, Fly, who likes to sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.’ A sixth-grade girl named Sophie writes letters to Resilience after her teacher tells her to write one. She continues writing to Resilience into adulthood. The end of the book almost made me cry.” Caroline, 8, Nebraska Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Earth Day, on April 22, is an opportunity to appreciate our natural world—and to bring attention to major challenges facing the planet. This year the theme is“Our Power, Our Planet.” It is intended to raise awareness of sources of renewable energy (energy created by nature that does not run out), like solar and wind power. Here are simple ways you can get involved in Earth Day and encourage others to do the same. Attend an event On Earth Day, and in the days leading up to it, people will gather worldwide at special events. Options in your area may include a march or rally to raise awareness of climate change, attending a fashion show that features clothes made of recycled materials, or taking a nature walk. You can visit earthday.org/earth-day-2025…

I have two plants on my desk, and sometimes I read sentences out loud to them while I’m editing a story. If they could talk back, I think they’d be delighted with this week’s issue, which is full of content for Earth Day on April 22. Everyone on staff pitched in to create the stories—from good news about clean energy (p2) to a debate about whether or not schools should require climate lessons (p8) to books about the environment (p23). Our cover story is about the new series The Secret Lives of Penguins (p20), which will be released in time for Earth Day. Even our puzzles (p26) have an Earth Day theme! Finally, check out some ways you can celebrate Earth Day and fill out a form about helping the…

Ashley, a 12-year-old from Iowa, said she likes helping others because it can make their day better. Some good deeds Ashley has done include helping her grandma solve puzzles and cheering people up when they are sad. To mark The Week Junior’s fifth anniversary this year, we’re asking readers to share five good deeds they’ve done. Have you helped a neighbor or a friend or performed a kind act? Go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities. to download a form like the one shown at right. 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. 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,…

Teacher’s Name: Jasmyn Jordan School: School of Arts and Sciences at The Centre “Ms. Jasmyn always helps me with my math and plays football with us during recess. She takes care of me and my classmates and goes out of her way to help people when they’re sad. During our morning meetings, she sometimes lets us play games. She does everything she can to make fourth grade fun. Ms. Jasmyn is the best!” Stella, 10, 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 A male narwhal’s tusk can grow up to how many feet long? a) 5 b) 10 c) 20 a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 2 True or false? In the video game Nif Nif, players collect coins. True ☐ False ☐ 3 Lt. Commander Monica Borza is a former flight surgeon for what elite squad of fighter pilots? 4 What was the world’s largest source of clean energy in 2024? a) Solar power b) Wind power c) Hydropower a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 5 True or false? Lego manufactures about 4 million tiny tires each year. True ☐ False ☐ 6 What is the name of the fictional island where the new film The Legend of Ochi is set? 7 Which state was the first to require that public…

A highly detailed digital model has helped experts reconstruct the final hours of the Titanic, a luxury passenger ship that sank 113 years ago in the Atlantic Ocean. The 883-foot-long ship was on its first voyage, from England to the US, when it struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912, and sank 12,500 feet to the seafloor. The 3D computer model of the ship was put together using 715,000 photos and millions of laser measurements of the wreckage taken by remotely operated underwater vehicles in 2022. National Geographic called it “the most precise model of the Titanic ever created: a full-scale… digital twin, accurate down to the rivet.” Previously unseen details are visible on the model. These include an open steam valve—which experts said indicates that the ship’s engineers tried…

Lieutenant Commander Monica Borza, a former flight surgeon for the elite Blue Angels squadron, appeared in the 2024 documentary The Blue Angels. A shortened version is now playing in IMAX theaters nationwide. Borza spoke to The Week Junior about her experience. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Virginia Beach, a big Navy town. My dad was a naval flight officer, so the military has always been close to my heart and a big part of my decision to join. When did you first learn about the Blue Angels? Every summer, the Blue Angels would perform an air show in Virginia Beach. As a kid, I would watch in awe of everything they were doing up there. What is a flight surgeon? As a flight surgeon, I ensure…

Narwhals are often called the unicorns of the sea because of the single tusk that sticks out from their heads. But since few people have been able to observe these animals’ behavior in the wild, experts have never been sure what the tusk’s function is. Now a new study out of Northern Canada has revealed that narwhals may use their tusks in an unusual and playful way. Narwhals are related to beluga whales and are considered toothed whales, but they have only two teeth—one of which is their famous tusk. In males, the tusk can grow up to 10 feet long. In females, the tooth usually grows into a spiral, not a tusk. Until now, scientists believed narwhals used their tusks mostly for hunting prey and sensing temperature changes in…

About 34 million years ago, a group of iguanas made the longest-known ocean journey of any land animal, according to a new study. Researchers said the creatures traveled nearly 5,000 miles from the western coast of North America and across the Pacific Ocean. They landed on an isolated group of islands in the South Pacific ocean called Fiji. The study’s findings solve the mystery of how the lizards got to this remote location, where they still live today. The iguanas that currently live in Fiji are the only ones that exist outside of North or South America or the Caribbean. Scientists have known for many years that the iguanas had to have come from somewhere else, but they have been puzzled over where. One common theory was that iguanas that…

Nif Nif is a new, colorful, family-friendly deck-building game. It was recently released for the PC, and a Nintendo Switch version is expected soon. In a deck-building video game, players collect cards that represent powers and properties. They use them to fight, gain skills, and advance in the adventure. Nif Nif is also a roguelike game, which means the way things unfold changes each time you play. The idea to create Nif Nif came from its game director, Masha Mallett. She has a son with autism (a developmental disorder often characterized by challenges with social skills and communication), and wanted to create a game that he—and everyone else—could enjoy that emphasized kindness and wasn’t violent or overstimulating. In the game, Nif Nif is a cheerful pig who discovers his forest…

What inspired this series? School was difficult for me, and I was a reluctant reader, so I wanted to write a series that was engaging and would convince any child that reading can be fun. Who inspired Jack and Weatherby? I grew up near a boarding school, and Jack was inspired by the intrigue I felt about the students who lived there. He is the ultimate insider, and Weatherby is the outsider. Why do you like writing middle-grade books? Middle-grade readers are smart and notice everything. What do you hope readers take away from the story? I want them to think about what their truth is and find someone who listens to them. Did you grow up with cousins? Yes, it’s a special relationship. I wanted to write about the…

Word search Can you find all these words associated with Earth Day? 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. BINS CARBON FOOTPRINT CLEAN AIR CLIMATE COAL COMPOST CONSERVE ECO-FRIENDLY ENERGY FLOOD FUEL GASES HABITAT LITTER MOTHER EARTH NATURE OCEAN PLANET RECYCLE REDUCE REUSE SMOG SOIL  SOLAR SUSTAINABLE TIDE TRASH  TREE WATER WETLAND FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with two words that are the same except for different last letters, like CHAIR and CHAIN. 1. The new restaurant may be fancy and have a famous————, but my father said his steak was so tough he could barely———— it. 2. We just got new carpeting, so we aren’t…

April 25, 1901 Car license plates first required On April 25, 1901, New York became the first state to require that vehicles in the state be registered and display a license plate. These early plates didn’t use numbers. Instead, they listed the initials of the car owner. Car owners also had to supply their own plates. They could purchase a license plate kit or make their own, often using metal or leather. By 1910, at least 20 states required license plates.…

Hallerbos, Belgium Hallerbos, or the “Blue Forest,” is famous for its purple carpet of bluebells that bloom in April and May. Visitors can enjoy the flowers among giant sequoia trees on five walking routes. Despite suffering damage during World War I (1914–18), the forest has regrown and now spreads across more than 1,300 acres. Black woodpeckers carve out hollows in the trees, providing shelter for rare bats. Red foxes, rabbits, pine martens, and badgers also live there, along with a large population of fire salamanders. Curious visitors can spend time at the Forest Museum to learn more.…

“How do wolves communicate with each other?”Sophia, 11, Maryland Mark Wanner Animal care expert, Brookfield Zoo Chicago Wolves communicate through smell, sound, and body language. Scent marks their territory and creates a “road map” for pack members to follow. Wolves also bark, whine, growl, and howl, but body language, such as ear and tail positions, is most important to help the pack get along. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Brookfield Zoo Chicago at brookfieldzoo.org.…

People working outdoors in hot weather can face serious medical issues, including heat exhaustion. Two architecture students in Hong Kong—where summers are hot and very humid—designed the Air Ring 48 to attach to construction helmets to keep workers cool. Two fans sit behind the wearer’s ears and blow air on their head and neck. This reduces skin temperature by up to 5.76° F and body temperature by 1.21° F. Air Ring 48, which is still being tested, is whisper-quiet, weighs about 5 ounces, and runs for 17 hours.…

new three-part documentary series is shining A a spotlight on some of the world’s most incredible animals. Secrets of the Penguins follows several species of the flightless birds and reveals how they live and interact. The series arrives on Disney+ and Hulu on April 21. The first part will also air on Disney Channel on Earth Day, April 22, at 8 p.m. ET. The series was filmed over two years by a team that had more than 70 scientists and filmmakers. They visited places such as Namibia, the Galápagos Islands, and Antarctica. One expert was National Geographic Explorer and penguin scientist Dr. Pablo Borboroglu. He told The Week Junior that penguins are “funny,” “charismatic,” and“mysterious,” and he thinks humans love them because they are relatable. “They walk upright, look well-dressed,…

Find Me in Paris (Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu) “This show follows Lena Grisky, a Russian princess and ballerina from 1905. After her boyfriend, Henri, gives her a magical timepiece, she accidentally time-travels to 2018. She ends up in France at the modern version of the school she attended in the past, the Paris Opera Ballet School. She befriends several fellow students and must keep her identity a secret while trying to fit in and figure out how to return to her own time. She also has to escape the dangerous Time Collectors who are after her. This is my absolute favorite show!” Zoe, 11, Arkansas. Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By Alyson Gerber (Scholastic Press) Weatherby and Jack are cousins who are chosen to compete for membership in The Last Heir, a secret club at their prep school in Boston. They both want to win because they have family secrets they’re trying to protect. On their first challenge, Weatherby and Jack decode a message that directs them to go to the boathouse. Next, they receive a poem that instructs them to enter a hidden room inside a phone booth. The room has a latch on the floor, which opens up to a tomb. They each have to enter and exit the tomb to solve a puzzle. Weatherby gets temporarily stuck inside the tomb, but she is still able to figure out the puzzle. As another challenge takes them to a…

Climate Is Just the Start By Mikaela Loach (Bright Matter Books) Before the author’s family moved to the UK, Loach lived in Jamaica and had a favorite beach. When she returned to Jamaica during the pandemic, she saw the beach had almost disappeared. In the book, Loach explains climate change and offers solutions for helping the Earth. Ages 8 and up History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment By Kate Messner (Random House Books for Young Readers) This History Smashers book traces the origin of Earth Day. The first Earth Day took place in 1970, but people have been working to protect the planet for hundreds of years. For example, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was interested in conservation. Ages 8–12 A Kid’s Guide to Backyard Trees By Felicia Brower, illustrated…

The dessert lover’s picnic Tickets sold out in less than a minute when bakers and dessert enthusiasts from across the US got together for the annual Cake Picnic in San Francisco, California. The event had one rule: “No cake, no entry.” Attendees brought a total of 1,387 treats, including sponge cakes, Jell-O cake, savory cakes, and even a dinosaur-shaped cake. Once all the treats had been set out on tables, people walked around and chose pieces to taste. One participant said it felt “like a big picnic with a bunch of friends you just don’t know yet.” Model-making master retires A 92-year-old great-grandfather is selling his collection of model vehicles made from recycled objects. For his creations, which include copies of Thomas the Tank Engine and the flying car from…

“My friends and I heard about the wildfires in Los Angeles, California, and wanted to do something about it. We thought of holding a bake sale. First, we planned it out and decided what each person would bring or bake. Then, we set up on our street corner and began selling. Our goal was $100 to start, but we raised over $400 in two hours! I am so glad we created awareness about this important cause. We donated all the money to World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides fresh meals to communities going through a crisis.” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to, we want to hear about it at hello@theweekjunior.com. RIDDLE OFTHE WEEK What begins and ends…

We’d love to see pictures you’ve taken or pictures with you in them! Have an adult email them to us at hello@theweekjunior.com, along with anything you would like us to know about what’s happening in the photo. “I was so excited to celebrate The Week Junior’s fifth birthday! I sang and had a cupcake for the special occasion.” Genevieve, 10, New Jersey “We went to a Place of the Week, White Sands National Park, and brought The Week Junior.”Teddy, 8, and Esme, 5, New Mexico “The Week Junior inspires me to keep learning and be curious. Thank you for featuring Amy from Jeopardy!”Nivaan, 9, Washington…