Innholdsfortegnelse for 165 i The Week Junior

A FANTASTIC DISCOVERY Seven 13th century fragments of parchment featuring the story of Merlin, the magician from the tales of legendary King Arthur, have been discovered at Bristol central library. Written in an early form of French, the handwritten texts were found bound inside the work of a 15th century French scholar. A STAR SHOOTER 16-year-old footballer Ruby Grant marked her first Women’s FA Cup game with a hat-trick – when a player scores three goals. Grant’s team, Arsenal, won 4-0 against Crawley Wasps. Grant made her debut for the club in December 2018. A HEROIC RESCUE A specially trained avalanche dog called Cluanie, from the Search and Rescue Dogs Association in Wales, helped rescue a climber who had fallen and broken his leg on Snowdon, the highest mountain in…

Lucy D’Orsi is one of the highest ranking officers in London’s Metropolitan Police, which is known as the Met for short. As the deputy assistant commissioner for special operations of the Met Police, she is involved with organising security for the royal family, politicians and airports, as well as for events such as New Year celebrations and visits of foreign leaders, such as US president Donald Trump, to London. “When I joined in 1992, I never thought I’d be where I am today,” D’Orsi tells The Week Junior. “It’s an amazing career and I’ve had huge opportunities to do so many different things.” D’Orsi applied to join the Met after she finished university and has never looked back. “You can make a real difference,” she says. “Sometimes you provide support…

On 31 January, an expedition set off to Antarctica to find out how quickly one of the world’s largest glaciers is melting. The Nathaniel B. Palmer, a 94-metre-long ocean research vessel, left Chile with 26 scientists on board. They will spend 52 days carrying out experiments on the Thwaites Glacier, in West Antarctica. The Thwaites Glacier is bigger than England, Wales and Northern Ireland put together, and scientists are worried about how fast it is melting. One of the reasons for the glacier melting is that the ocean is getting warmer (see box). The experiments the scientists will carry out in Antarctica will help them understand what could happen if the ice shelf (the bit that sticks out into the sea) collapses. The ice shelf acts like a cork in…

British veterans (people who have served in the armed forces) are helping to raise orphaned rhinos in South Africa as part of a charity project tackling wildlife crime. As well as benefiting the rhinos, the Footprints of Hope programme at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary – which is sponsored by a UK businessman and politician, Lord Ashcroft –helps veterans cope with physical and mental-health issues caused by the traumatic experiences they suffered while serving during war and conflict. Jennifer Yarwood was injured when she was in the Army and she now walks with crutches. She said that the programme had helped to give her a new outlook on life. “I have hidden behind my front door for many years, but just a week into the course I’m already a…

Paul Nelson Keeper, ZSL London Zoo At ZSL London Zoo we have a colony of beautiful Humboldt penguins. If you come to the zoo, you will hear their distinctive loud calls. We call this sound braying. Our penguins bray for many reasons, but mostly to warn other penguins to keep away from their nest sites. Humboldts will often start calling back when they hear another individual braying. Do you love animals? ZSL London Zoo’s Junior Zoo Academy is a great way to learn about creatures from all over the world. Find out more at zsl.org/experiences…

1997  Deep Blue, built by IBM, narrowly beat Russian world chess champion Garry Kasparov after an earlier defeat. Kasparov accused the IBM team of cheating but IBM refused a rematch and later dismantled the machine. 2011  IBM’s Watson beat champions on US quiz show Jeopardy!. Watson had stored 200 million pages of information, including all of Wikipedia – its main challenge was to understand the question and find the right answer in time. 2016  DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeated South Korean champion Lee Sedol in the Chinese strategy board game Go, generally considered to be far more complex and a bigger challenge than chess.…

Salford Red Devils The rugby league Super League season started and Salford Red Devils topped the table after a 34-14 win against Huddersfield Giants. Tom Daley The diver picked up two gold medals at the British National Diving Cup in Plymouth, England, his home city. New England Patriots They won the Super Bowl by beating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. Tom Brady, their star player, is the first ever to win six Super Bowls. British mixed relay skating team Jack Burrows, Elise Christie, Kathryn Thomson and Farrell Treacy won bronze at the Short Track World Cup in Dresden, Germany.…

How do you get into character for Batman? I like to make it real moody and get the lights down low. When we were first coming up with the voice, we spent time looking at the different versions of Batman, and I liked how seriously he took himself. I wanted to give the most serious version I could. Tell us a bit about the music in the film. Music is one of the hallmarks of these movies. I love that the songs catch on. In this one I get to rap, which is not something the universe was looking for butt I did it anyway. It took a lot of musicall people having a lot of patience with me. Which of the Lego characters would you want to have round…

The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants: Season 2 On Netflix from 8 February The animated series, based on the books by Dav Pilkey, follows George and Harold as they work hard to get good enough grades to go to camp. However, with supervillains lurking around the corner, things are about to get serious. Teen Taxi On BBC iPlayer from 10 February This new series takes a look at conversations between teenagers and their parents as they travel in the family car. Topics including life and friendships are all covered, offering an insight into the issues facing young people today. The Kid Who Would Be King Opens in cinemas 15 February Alex (played by Louis Ashbourne Serkis) is your typical schoolboy. That’s until he finds Excalibur, the magical sword in the…

Names: Ben and Peter We were excited to be part of the Sussex Under-12 team that won the National Chess Finals in November. It was particularly special as the Under-16 team also won their competition. “I love playing chess because there are lots of things to learn, so it challenges your mind. It felt amazing to play for Sussex – it feels like my hard work has paid off! ” Peter “Chess is a bit like a battle. I like the game because it’s exciting to see if you can use your brain to beat your opponent. The best bit is winning, but you have to persevere if you want to do well – every move counts and if you make a mistake it can be game over! Ben What’s…

Follow The Week Junior on Popjam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the free Popjam app from the App Store or Google Play. Residents of Gattolino, Italy, have been invaded by hundred of rats that were acting “crazy”. You said... “That’s weird” “Oh no! They should get cats to get rid of them all” “I love rats. I have two pet ones!” On 18 January, contestants wearing crazy costumes gathered for a bathtub race in Switzerland. You said... “I did bath rowing once. It was hard” “I wish I took part in that. It looks so fun” “I am going to do that” “Omg, I bet that is fun” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here. The Week Junior is delivered in…

Drivers are being warned by police not to slow down to look at a dragon alongside the A5 road near Tregarth, Gwynedd, in Wales. The seven-metre-long wooden statue was carved into a fallen oak tree and is called Y Ddraig Derw, which means The Oak Dragon in Welsh. The figure has distracted motorists and there have been several accidents at the spot. Simon O’Rourke, who sculpted the dragon, asked motorists to pay attention to the road, not the statue.…

Yes. The seas are rising and the rate at which they are doing so is increasing. The two main causes are the warming of the oceans (water expands as it heats up, which means it takes up more space), and the faster melting of ice on land (such as ice sheets and glaciers) because of rising global temperatures. When ice on land melts, it changes sea levels because the water flows into rivers and into the sea. Both these processes are caused by global warming, which is the change in weather patterns mostly caused by harmful gases released by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.…

Gelligaer wild horses Up to 200 wild horses in Wales have been supported by volunteers as they battle for survival in icy conditions. Hungry Herds cares for the animals on Gelligaer Common, in Caerphilly, by checking on their health and providing food. Any ill horses are referred to the local rescue group. British hares Brown hares are facing a major new threat: a deadly rabbit virus, which has spread to the UK. Scientists have confirmed two cases of the virus in hares, which has already caused deaths among wild rabbits. Brown hare numbers have plummeted over the last century, even without illness.…

China is famous for many things, including its food, its pandas and its New Year celebrations (which happened on 5 February) but top of the list has to be the Great Wall of China. This treasured monument stretches nearly all the way across the enormous country, split into different sections. More than half of it no longer exists, yet the sections that still stand have told historians a lot about the country’s astonishing past. Watchtowers From the start of construction, thousands of beacon towers were built at regular intervals along the wall. Guards were stationed in these towers, and they sent smoke signals or raised flags to indicate attacks. These signals were seen up to nine miles away; word could spread quickly. How big is it? The wall as it…

All aboard At Up Helly Aa, a Viking festival held each year in Scotland. Weather fur-cast Phil the groundhog appears on Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, US. It’s slippy out there Thrills at the Ice Speedway Gladiators World Championship in Kazakhstan. Clowns in town People celebrate the life of British clown Joseph Grimaldi, in London. Animal tales A lion cub tests its mum’s patience in Kenya. Things are looking up A fork-tailed sunbird in south-east China.…

Rugby is played between two teams of 15. Games are divided into two halves of 40 minutes each. The aim is to carry the ball past the other team’s goal line to score a try (five points) and then kick a conversion over the crossbar (two points). During a game, three points can also be scored by a drop goal or penalty kick between the posts. Players must pass the ball backwards with their hands or they can kick it forwards.…

Where is your favourite place to go swimming? I love going swimming outside! Sea swimming is my absolute favourite thing in the world, I love Brighton or Saltdean beach. Or Brockwell Lido in south London is a lovely big pool and if you swim there in the summer, bright green parakeets swoop over your head and it feels tropical. Or if I’m on a dream holiday, I would swim anywhere in the Caribbean. Where did you get the idea for this book? From my love of the sea. Mermaid fairytales and mythology, and fun, fabulous facts about sharks. What is your favourite film? I love The Princess Bride, The Moomins and How To Train Your Dragon. If you could live off one food for the rest of your life what…

Where can I collect rocks and fossils? Anywhere. You can dig in a garden, or if you live near a beach or quarry, visit them to look for rare rocks. Always go with an adult, and stay away from cliffs and quarry walls. What do I need? All you really need is a pen and a journal to make a note of where you found each rock, but it’s useful to have a geological hammer – which start at around £12 – goggles for when you are hammering, and perhaps a hard hat. Any top tips? “You always need to record where you found the rock,” says Brown. “Put it in a neat box with a piece of paper and catalogue it.” Once you have the rock, you can then…

Did you know that fizzy drinks are the largest single source of sugar for young people aged 11–18? To help people improve their health, chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and politician Tom Watson, are backing Southwark Council’s campaign to encourage people to cut out fizzy drinks to reduce the amount of sugar in their diet. Eating lots of sugar can lead to conditions such as obesity, tooth decay and type 2 diabetes. You can find free resources to help you get started, including calendars and posters at tinyurl.com/TWJ-fizzfree…

8 February 1952 Princess Elizabeth becomes Queen On 8 February 1952, 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth became Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her father, King George VI, had been seriously ill since the summer of 1951, and Elizabeth had taken on some of the royal duties on his behalf. On 6 February 1952, Elizabeth was in Kenya with her husband Prince Philip when news arrived that King George had died. She flew back to the UK and formally declared herself to be Queen, as is tradition. In 2016, she became the world’s longest-reigning monarch.…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting at theweekjunior.co.uk/polls . Vote YES if you think that schools should welcome parents for lunch, or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The aim of the Big debate page is to present two sides of an issue fairly and objectively, in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on the page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties. The page is created in association with the English-Speaking Union, an educational charity helping young people discover their voice and realise their full potential. For more information, please see esu.org…

St David’s Peninsula has some of the most beautiful coastline in the UK, as well as a range of wildlife. In the summer, many people go to watch dolphins and whales, or to visit the nature reserve on Ramsey Island to see nesting seabirds. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path can also be enjoyed on a day trip, starting and finishing at the National Park visitor centre. The more adventurous could have a go at the excellent sea kayaking, climbing and surfing. Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/st-davids-peninsula…

In another blow for humankind’s supposed superiority over machines, a computer program called AlphaStar has shown that it can beat the world’s top players at one of the toughest strategy games, StarCraft II. Using artificial intelligence (AI) – computer programs that learn from experience – machines have already beaten humans at complicated rules-based games, such as chess and Go, and at difficult general knowledge quizzes (see box). However, StarCraft II is a very different challenge. It is a computerised war game that involves positioning troops and supplies on a battlefield. AlphaStar, an AI “agent” created by British specialists DeepMind, thrashed two top-ranking human champions, beating both 5-0 in a best-of-five tournament. StarCraft players usually combine short-term tactics and long-term strategy, with a fair amount of guesswork – skills we think…

Forgotten Beasts by Matt Sewell (Pavilion Books) Delve into the pages of this large-format book to find out more about the awe-inspiring creatures that time forgot. It includes well-known animals like the sabre-toothed tiger and the woolly mammoth, as well as the megatherium – a giant sloth as large as an elephant – and the megalodon, a supersize shark. Dictionary of Dinosaurs by Dr Matthew G Baron. Illustrated by Dieter Braun (Wide Eyed Editions) This illustrated A to Z of every dinosaur ever discovered is a must for any dino enthusiast’s bookshelf. Featuring many different dinosaurs from the Aardonyx to the Zuniceratops, it contains information about when and where they lived and what they ate – plus lots of fascinating facts from experts. Mega Meltdown by Jack Tite (Templar Publishing)…

In 2014’s surprise smash-hit The Lego Movie, audiences were introduced to a colourful cast of mini-figures – including Emmet, Wyldstyle and Unikitty – as they battled Lord Business, who wants to ban creativity. Five years later, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part showss the team facing a new evil: Duplo aliens. After a close encounter with the invaders, Bricksburg gets destroyed and its residents are forced to rebuild it as a desert town named Apocalypseburg. The twist of the original film was that the characters were actually toys belonging to a boy called Finn and his dad, known as The Man Upstairs. This time around, the film takes a look at the relationship between Finn and his younger sister Bianca, whose Duplo is responsible for the first attack on…

Nanny McPhee(2005) DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes, Prime Video, Sky With Mary Poppins Returns due on DVD soon, it’s a good chance to check out a similar series of films, this time starring Emma Thompson in the lead. The two Nanny McPhee films feature an outsider coming into a household and bringing its young occupants into order – does that sound familiar? The films are based on the work of Christianna Brand and her Nurse Matilda series of novels. The second film, Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang arrived five years after the original, but plans for a third film were cancelled. The two that were made are firm favourites, however, and make an ideal companion to Mary Poppins. BUSY STAR Emma Thompson wrote the films, as well as starring in them.…

Angry Birds Dream Blast Android / iOS The first Angry Birds game came out nine years ago, but the furious avians are still going strong. This new game isn’t about slingshotting birds, though; instead, it’s about popping bubbles. Each level starts with a screen full of “dream bubbles” of different colours. Tapping on a group makes them all pop, and if you pop enough at once, an Angry Bird bubble appears. When two of the same birds are next to one another, they combine into a better bird. Tapping on them triggers blasts that pop more bubbles. Although in-app purchases can be used to give you boosts, it’s more fun to progress through your own wits.…

Every month we’ll feature a video created by primary school pupils for Pupil Parliament, as part of LitFilmFest. Pupil Parliament helps you and your school friends become news reporters and politicians. This month’s video looks at plastic waste in the ocean, and was created by pupils from Mr Ritson’s class at the Wroxham School. They produced a film about plastic pollution and its impact on the ocean’s animals. They explored different dangers, such as birds dying from swallowing tiny pieces of plastic. The video features interesting research about the extent of the problem: plastic pollution is expected to increase by 500% between now and 2020. “I loved doing it because now we know that plastic is killing millions of sea creatures. I’m sure you all care about them and I’m…

The Week Junior team gets pretty excited when it snows. An excited murmur ripples along the desks, heads dart up from behind computer screens like meerkats, and before long, there’s a small crowd with their noses glued up against the windows of  our London office, watching the white specks gently fall. In London, the snow was more like sleet, although it managed to settle in some places, providing endless joy for the dog I walk. It was nothing like what was experienced elsewhere in the country, however, and a world away from the incredible scenes witnessed in parts of the US – our main story on page 2. The photos Rachel, our picture editor found, were mind-boggling; Chicago’s Lake Michigan frozen over (our cover picture) and the normally…

Teacher’s name: Mr Tranter School: The Grantham Preparatory School, Lincolnshire “Mr Tranter is the best teacher EVER! He explains everything so well it’s so easy to understand, and he is a professional at being amazing fun.” Leah If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

Identical castles sit empty in Turkey Footage of hundreds of newly built identical castles lying abandoned has been filmed by a drone. Building work on the mini-palaces, which look like something from a Disney film, had been going on since 2014. They are near the holiday resort of the Black Sea in Turkey, and the plan was to sell them as holiday homes, but the company behind the development ran out of money last year and left many unfinished. They cost around £151 million to build, but it’s unclear what will happen to them now. All work and no play A man in Canada has been digging out his basement for 13 years without a shovel or heavy machinery. Instead, the man known as Joe from Saskatchewan, uses special remote-control…

1Which Chinese year began on 5 February? a) Year of the Dog b) Year of the Tiger c) Year of the Pig 2Which historical document is to go on display again in Salisbury Cathedral? 3What is being built in Denmark? a) A fence to keep out wild boar b) A moat to keep out ostriches c) A ditch to keep out foxes 4Which snack is found in more than 70% of lunchboxes? 5True or false? The Metropolitan Police force work mostly in Glasgow. 6What is a group of rhinos known as? a) A rush b) A crash c) A stampede 7True or false? The Great Wall of China can be seen from the Moon. 8What’s the name of the computer that beat a human at StarCraft II? 9What’s the name…