Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 110 i The Week Junior

A book has been published that suggests the US president, Donald Trump, should not be running the country. The book, called Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, is by a journalistt called Michael Wolff. It has made headlines all over the world because of its incredible claims. What is it about? People first heard about Fire and Fury just after the New Year, when some parts of it were printed in newspapers in the UK and the US. Wolff claims that his book is a true account of life inside the White House (the building where the US president lives and works). He says it is based on interviews with Donald Trump and some of his closest advisers over 18 months. He claims to have “dozens of hours”…

Social media apps are great for playing games and talking to friends and family. In fact, apps like Snapchat have more than 178 million daily users. However, the Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, whose job involves protecting the rights of children, says that social media is becoming less fun for children as they move from primary school into secondary school, based on the findings of a new report. Even though most social media websites have a minimum age limit of 13, Longfield said that three quarters of children between 10 and 12 already have accounts. The most popular websites and apps for children are Instagram, Snapchat, Musical.ly and WhatsApp, but how children use these websites and apps changes as they get older. The report, called Life in Likes, was…

A hundred years ago, in 1918, the First World War entered its final year. As British, Canadian, French and US soldiers huddled in muddy trenches and kept a wary watch on the German trenches opposite, both sides were struck by a new enemy. It attacked anyone and could leave a soldier who was healthy at breakfast lying in peril by nightfall. The foe was a microscopic virus that became known as Spanish flu, and it spread across the entire world. By the time that it finally fizzled out in 1920, it had made up to 40% of the world sick and 50 million people had died. What is flu? Flu is short for influenza. It is a common virus that affects around one in 10 of us every year. Viruses…

In 2016, Eva the dog was hit by a car and was left unable to walk. Doctors from the University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital tried to help Eva, but because of an infection, she had to have bone tissue removed. This left her with a two-centimetre gap in her leg, and doctors thought they might have to cut it off. Now, after ground-breaking treatment to grow new bone, Eva is able to run around like a normal pup. The treatment by scientists at the University of Glasgow involved placing a protein (an essential nutrient for the body) called BMP-2 in the gap. Scientists know that BMP-2 helps bone grow, but they didn’t know how to stick it to bones. Professor Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez decided to try using a household ingredient…

Let’s go fly a kite It might look like a fairground ride, but this is actually a gigantic kite, flown at a festival in India. Flame proof A fire-eater performs at Sikh religious celebrations in Kashmir, India. Scales and sequins This performer is one of 10,000 to take part in an annual carnival in Colombia. Frozen festival This magnificent sculpture was carved from ice and snow for a festival in China. Full speed ahead A daredevil driver plunges down a dune in Peru during the first stage of the Dakar Rally. Pole position Traditional firefighters show off their climbing skills in Tokyo, Japan. Make a splash Men in Bulgaria take part in a traditional Horo dance, to celebrate the last day of Christmas.…

What you need ● A large hardback book ● A pencil ● A piece of wall you’re allowed to draw on Instructions Take your shoes and socks off, then stand with your back straight against the wall. Put the hardback book, flat, on the top of your head. It needs to be completely parallel with the floor and at a right angle to the wall, to give an accurate measurement – you might need someone to help with this bit. Using the pencil, mark a little line along the bottom of the book, where it touches the wall. This will show you where the top of your head reaches on the wall. Next, in neat writing, write the date beside the mark, so you can find out how quickly you’re…

Rubik’s Cubes are tough puzzles to crack and can take hours to complete, but you’d have to be quick if you wanted to play with this version, which is made from ice. YouTuber and Rubik’s Cube enthusiast Tony Fisher decided to make his twisty frozen creation using perfectly shaped ice cubes and a mechanism that allowed the puzzle to turn, just like the real Rubik’s Cube. Fisher uploaded a video of himself using the icy puzzle, before it melted. This isn’t the first time that Fisher has created his own version of the famous multicoloured cube. He’s also responsible for making the tiniest Rubik’s Cube in the world, which is small enough to fit on a fingertip. DIDYOU KNOW? The Rubik’s Cube was invented in 1974 by a Hungarian professor,…

One of Scotland’s best-known galleries has attracted more than 100,000 visitors, despite the fact that the exhibition had been cancelled and the gallery was empty. Dutch artist Marlie Mul was set to exhibit artwork at Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art but owing to lack of funding, as well as health and safety issues, she was forced to cancel. Mul suggested that it should continue under the title This Exhibition Has Been Cancelled, and the empty gallery opened to curious visitors. But what do you think? Did a bare exhibition gallery really draw tourists through its doors or are we making it up?*…

After months of weapon tests, threats and arguments, the countries of North Korea and South Korea finally sat down for talks on 9 January, thanks to the reopening of a special phone line between the two nations on 3 January. The reconnection has led to a meeting attended by top politicians from both countries. It is the first time representatives for the two nations have met since 2015. They might share a border, but North Korea and South Korea were at war between 1950 and 1953. The two sides agreed to stop fighting but the war has never been declared officially over. The two countries have not been friends since then and have threatened to attack each other several times. North Korea closed its end of the phone line in…

With a general election and ongoing discussions about the UK’s departure from the European Union (called Brexit) to deal with, 2017 was a challenging year for the Prime Minister, Theresa May. Early in the new year, on 8 January, May decided to reshuffle her Cabinet, which is the group of senior politicians who make up her Government. What is the Cabinet? The Cabinet is a team made up of around 20 of the most important members of parliament (MPs), from the political party in power. The party currently in charge of the country is the Conservatives. MPs who are appointed to the Cabinet by the Prime Minister are called ministers, and are given the most senior jobs. For example, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is a member of the Cabinet…

At the beginning of January, Storm Eleanor brought winds gusting up to 96mph to parts of the UK, bringing down trees and causing minor flooding in some parts of the country. The sheer power of the storm also resulted in the shift of millions of tonnes of sand, which created dramatic new coastlines. In Cornwall, nine-metre-high sand cliffs appeared. It wasn’t only the UK that felt the wrath of Storm Eleanor. It travelled towards Europe, covering shorelines in thick blankets of sea foam, to the delight of many dogs.…

New York, US Ferocious snowstorm hits New York Record-breaking low temperatures have hit the east coast of North America, with snowstorms causing major damage and disruption. The bad weather has been blamed for at least 22 deaths. On 4 and 5 January, New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport temporarily closed due to snow, ice and harsh winds, and schools and government offices also shut. In the southeast of the US, Tallahassee in Florida experienced its first measurable snow since 1989. Mexico City, Mexico Christians celebrate Epiphany On 6 January, Christians around the world celebrated Epiphany – the day when, according to the Bible, the three kings, also known as the three wise men, were led to baby Jesus. In the Mexican capital Mexico City, people feasted on rosca de reyes,…

Six-year-old Maisie Sly might just be one of the stars of the future. Although young, it looks as if she’s headed to Hollywood. The short film in which she stars has been shortlisted for an Academy Award – awards that are also known as the Oscars. Maisie, from Swindon, is deaf and uses her real-life experience to fantastic effect in The Silent Child. She plays a little girl who struggles to communicate with people until she learns sign language. The film has already won several awards, but Maisie has taken it in her stride. After wowing the filmmakers at her audition, she’s keen to spread the message that deafness doesn’t prevent a normal, or, for that matter, exceptional life. Maisie “simply says, ‘Of course I can do anything,’” says her…

Buttermere Valley in the Lake District is one of Cumbria’s most picturesque valleys. Among the mountains lies a 1.5-mile long lake called Buttermere, which in Old English means “the lake by the dairy pastures”. The area attracts both anglers and walkers. The lakes are home to a cold-water fish, known as the arctic char. It is one of the few places in England where these fish can be found. Over the years, otters have also been seen making their home in the valley and around the shores. Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/buttermere-valley…

Thousands of tiny olive ridley turtles have been released to the sea from a beach at Concepción Bamba, Mexico. This species of sea turtle is endangered on the Pacific coast. Authorities hope the event will raise awareness of the need to protect turtles. ● LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: Around 50 years. ● HABITAT: These turtles can be found nesting on beaches in many parts of the world and live in the warmer waters of the open oceans. ● DIET: Adults eat crabs, fish, jellyfish and shrimp. ● FUN FACT: Females lay between 110 to 120 eggs in a nest at a time. TURTLES GATHERTOGETHER Every year, thousands of olive ridley turtles gather at beaches to lay their eggs in mass nestings known as arribadas – a…

Have you ever wondered what life was like in ancient Egypt? Archaeologists are a step closer to finding out more, thanks to a new technique by scientists at University College London that allows them to read writing on mummy coverings. Sometimes when an important person died in ancient Egypt, they were put through a process called mummification to preserve their body. Once mummified, the body was wrapped in a kind of papier-mâché made of waste papyrus (a type of plant used to make paper) mixed with plaster and paint. The painstaking process has kept the mummies, and their coverings, safe. “Because the waste papyrus was used to make prestige objects, they have been preserved for 2,000 years,” said Professor Adam Gibson. The waste papyrus used was like scrap paper, on…

How many times have your parents had to replace your shoes because you’ve grown out of them? Probably quite a lot. Some children in countries such as Kenya can’t afford to replace their shoes, so they often walk around barefoot. Walking around with no shoes means they get pricked with thorns or stand on sharp objects. Now, a charity called The Shoe That Grows has created expandable sandals that grow with the child. The sandals are made from rubber and have an adjustable strap on the front, so you can make the shoes bigger or smaller. Each shoe can grow up to five times and they cost less than £15 to make. They are being given out for free all over Kenya.…

Coventry City, Fleetwood Town, Newport County, Nottingham Forest, Shrewsbury Town and Wigan Athletic were some of the clubs to get surprise results in the English FA Cup on 6 and 7 January. They all beat or drew against teams from a higher league in the third round of the famous football competition. Current FA Cup holders Arsenal, who play in the Premier League, were beaten 4-2 by Nottingham Forest. Forest play in the Championship, which is the division below the Premier League. Jack Grimmer was the hero for League Two team Coventry. He scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Stoke City, who play three divisions higher in the Premier League. Fleetwood and Shrewsbury, both from League One, secured 0-0 draws with Premier League sides Leicester City and West…

A total of almost £1.4 billion was spent on cinema tickets in the UK last year, the most money ever. It is 3.6% higher than the total for 2016. Star Wars: The Last Jedi earned more money than any other film last year, despite being released in the middle of December. The film brought in £73.1 million, just ahead of Beauty and The Beast’s £72.4 million. Other films that finished in the top 10 include Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Despicable Me 3, Paddington 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Dunkirk and Thor: Ragnarok. Comscore, a company that tracks audiences, says the top spot for 2018 will probably be between, Avengers: Infinity War, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Coco. GALACTIC HIT…

Marcus Jorgensen is Manchester City’s latest big football signing, but he won’t be playing with Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Agüero in real-life matches. Instead, 18-year-old Jorgensen is an expert Fifa gamer, and will be representing City in digital eSports tournaments around the world. Jorgensen comes from Denmark and, like the established stars at his new club, has already tasted glory, winning the Fifa Interactive Club World Cup last August. “I’m very proud and honoured to represent Manchester City and I can’t wait to start. Hopefully, I can qualify for the World Cup and also win it,” he said, after his signing was announced. Jorgensen joins British player Kieran Brown, the club’s first eSports signing in July 2016. Both hope to play against other gamers as successfully as City has…

What you need ● A few drops of sunflower oil ● 300g of your favourite chocolate ● A packet of M&Ms ● A pastry brush ● 6 clean, empty yoghurt pots ● A small bowl ● A saucepan ● 6 wooden lolly sticks Method Use the pastry brush to lightly grease the inside of the yoghurt pots with the vegetable oil. Melt the chocolate in a bowl that you’ve balanced over a pan of very gently simmering water (this is called a bain marie), and give it a stir every now and then to make sure it melts evenly. When it’s nice and runny, pour it into the greased pots, put a lolly stick in the middle and scatter the M&Ms round the edge as decoration. Place them in the…

Carrie Gracie has worked for more than 30 years at the BBC, most recently as the China editor, which means she reported on news from China. She’s fluent in Chinese, but it is still a tough job; she often faces opposition from the Chinese police as she tries to uncover important stories. However, this week, she resigned, because she’s not being paid the same amount as BBC male journalists doing the same job. As a result of this unfairness, she says there is a“crisis of trust” at the corporation. Gracie first made a complaint about her pay last August, after the BBC was forced to reveal which of its broadcasters were paid more than £150,000 each year. While Gracie was earning £135,000 a year, two male international editors, who do…

15 January 1759 The British Museum opens to the public London’s British Museum was the world’s first national public museum when it opened its doors almost 260 years ago. Its origins lie with Sir Hans Sloane – a physician, naturalist and collector who gathered more than 71,000 items during his lifetime. He gave his entire collection, including books, natural specimens and medals, to King George II before he died in 1753. The museum still contains thousands of Sloane’s objects, and now it welcomes around six million visitors every year.…

Did you know that standing at a desk five days a week for just three hours a day, uses roughly as much energy over a year as running in 10 marathons? Many adults and children spend most of their week sitting at a desk, which is bad for their backs as well as their weight. That’s why a group of health campaigners, including the celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, are calling on the Government to introduce standing desks in schools, in a bid to improve children’s health.…

Children’s books are big business: in 2016, books worth a whopping £365 million were sold. Unfortunately, being an author today is harder than it has been for years. The pay for most writers in the UK is less than the minimum wage – the least money companies are allowed to pay their employees per hour. The minimum wage is £7.50 for people aged over 25. Meanwhile, more celebrities than ever are getting publishing deals. From the television presenter Fearne Cotton to cycle star Sir Chris Hoy, celebrities are bringing out children’s books left, right and centre. All these people have successful careers already, so should they really be turning their hand to writing children’s books when ordinary authors are finding it harder to make a living from writing? Yes –…

As the petrolheads among you will know, Formula 4 is a gateway for young racing drivers to a career in Formula 1. Now, a bright young Scottish racer might just be gearing up to join the UK’s elite. Logan Hannah is the first girl to ever compete in the Formula 4 UAE event, held in the United Arab Emirates. At 16, she’s already a force to be reckoned with, but she’s not interested in being considered “good, for a girl”. “I hope to get to a certain level so that I am viewed as not only a female driver, but a driver itself,” she says. She hopes a pro racing career will prove that girls race as well as boys. In the meantime, she’ll be practising on the track –…

It has been revealed that 2017 was the UK’s greenest year in terms of how much electricity was generated without burning fossil fuels, such as coal and gas. The National Grid is a company that supplies and distributes electricity from power stations to homes and businesses across the UK. According to its report, in June 2017, for the first time, more power was created in the UK from nuclear, solar power and wind than was generated by burning coal and gas. The rise in renewable energy (a source of energy able to replenish itself, such as wind, solar and tidal) also led to 13 clean-energy records being broken. This included, in April, the first 24-hour period since the Industrial Revolution in which no coal-generated power was used. The Industrial Revolution…

An estimated 253 million people worldwide are blind or visually impaired. More than half of these people could see if they had glasses. However, there aren’t enough doctors in developing countries, such as in parts of Africa, to diagnose eye problems properly so that they can be treated or the patient given glasses. Andrew Bastawrous founded a company that wants to help. He came up with a simple app that uses a smartphone instead of bulky, complicated, expensive equipment to test people’s sight. The app, called Peek Acuity, displays a letter that changes direction. The patient points in the same direction as the letter, to show how well they can see it. Anyone can learn to carry out the test in just a few minutes. In Kenya, 25 teachers were…

Name: Oliver Year: 7 Game developers want people to buy and play their games, so they design them in a way that makes you come back for more. They do this by making the games challenging enough to hold your interest, while also making them not so hard that you give up. An addiction is when something, such as gaming, affects basic things like sleeping, eating, education and socialising. It is important to take regular breaks from playing computer games and to make sure that you spend your spare time doing other things, too. If you are worried about the amount of time you spend gaming, speak to an adult. Do you have a burning science question? Email us at hello@theweekjunior.co.ukand we might just answer it in a future issue.…

In Mexico, family is important – very important. For many, especially in rural towns and villages, big families are the norm. Family relationships are celebrated, and not just in life. Every year, on 1-2 November, Mexicans celebrate a holiday called Día de los Muertos, which means day of the dead, when they gather to remember and honour their deceased loved ones and ancestors. Although it may sound sad, it’s actually anything but. Parties, music and festivities are the order of the day, as families dance in the street and enjoy elegant sweeties shaped into deathly symbols, like skulls. Music is always a large part of Mexican life, but on Día de los Muertos, it’s more important than ever: traditional music, known as mariachi, is played by roving bands of musicians,…

If you’ve got lots of pent-up energy, kickboxing could be the perfect release. It is perhaps the toughest, most exciting sport in the world, where participants use karate and Thai-boxing moves in a one-to-one fight. It’s about delivering powerful kicking and punching moves, which makes it great for balance, fitness, self-defence and strength. A well-known move is the roundhouse kick, where you swing your leg around in a semicircle and strike with your foot. Then there’s the sweep, where you kick at your opponent’s feet to knock them off balance. Many clubs will offer a taster class you can try for free. There’s a class for any age and skill level. It’s not a boys’ sport, either. Welsh schoolgirl Victoria Perkins started at the age of six when she saw…

If you’re going into secondary school in September you might already be walking to school on your own. Sooner or later you might want a little more freedom. If you want to make that trip into town on a Saturday you need to reassure your parents of two things: that you can be trusted, and that you’ll return home exactly when you say you will. Start by clearly laying out your plans. Tell your parents what time you’re leaving and who you’re going with, and make sure that everyone involved has each other’s mobile numbers. Let your parents know which shops or places you plan to visit and promise you’ll stick with your friends at all times. Know your route home, and the buses or trains that can take you…

“Weenjoy The Week Junior…andgymnastics.” Molly and Ella, Year 5 “I thought this tree at Glenveagh National Park, in Ireland, was in the shape of a 100, so my mum photographed me with the 100th edition of The Week Junior.” Conn, P6 “I made a scrapbook with my favourite photos and bits of information from The Week Junior. ” Amber, Year 5…