News and current affairs for students.

News and current affairs for students.

News and current affairs for students.

Iran Deal One of the biggest news stories of the week was US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of an international agreement with Iran. It was made back in 2015 because lots of countries were worried that Iran was trying to make nuclear weapons. While many world leaders said the deal was the best way to bring about peace, others said it didn't do enough to stop Iran making weapons. We find out why ditching the deal is a really big deal for the US and the world. Hawaii Volcano One of the world's most active volcanos has been causing havoc in Hawaii. Mt Kilauea has been spewing out ash and rivers of lava which has destroyed homes and property. We find out more about the volcano and meet some local kids who live in the shadow of the volcano. Aussie Space Agency This week's federal budget contained an exciting announcement for space enthusiasts. The government is planning to put $41 million into the space industry and, for the first time, the country will get its very own space agency! We find out what Australia's future role in space might look like and why so many countries put money into exploring the cosmos. Young Archies We meet nine-year-old James, who is one of the finalists of this year's Young Archie competition. It's the junior version of Australia's most famous portrait prize, the Archibald, and it asks kids to draw or paint someone who's important to them. We find out more about the Archibald and meet the art teacher who inspired James to paint his masterpiece. BTN Investigates: Toilet water BTN viewer Pollyanna asked us to find out where toilet water goes, so we decided to investigate! Amelia goes on a fascinating, but slightly smelly tour of a waste water treatment plant to find out what happens when we flush the loo.

Budget 2018 Next Tuesday is budget day - when the federal government outlines how it's planning to spend Australia's money. It's one of the biggest days of the year for Aussie politicians but it's also an important day for ordinary Aussies, because the budget affects us all. We find out what the budget is and why keeping everyone happy can be a difficult job. Korea Talks Over the past few weeks there's been some good news about North and South Korea. For the first time in a decade the leaders of the two countries have met and they say they're working towards a peace treaty. We find out why that's a big deal by having a look at the history of North Korea and South Korea. Free Range Eggs For a long time there's been debate in Australia about chickens and eggs - that is - how chickens are farmed and how eggs are labelled. Many customers are willing to pay more for eggs that are "free range", but there's been some confusion about exactly what free range means. Now some new laws have come in which aim to clear that up. We visit an egg farm to find out more about the news laws and how they could affect Aussie farmers and Aussie breakfasts! Bionic Builder We find out about a year 8 student from Melbourne who challenged herself with a Christmas holiday school assignment. She looked into bionic technology and 3D printing and managed to build a bionic arm from scratch! Ask a Reporter: Why Do We Listen to Music? BTN viewer Isabelle asks is the intriguing question; "Why do people like music so much?" Jack goes on a musical journey to find out more about the story of song and why the tunes that we love get our toes tapping.

Banks Behaving Badly A royal commission into Aussie banks has put some of our most powerful financial institutions under the spotlight and some seriously dodgy dealings are being uncovered. We'll look at the important role that banks play in the lives of Australians, why the royal commission came about and why its findings have made a lot of people angry. Villers-Bretonneux Centenary This Anzac Day marked 100 years since thousands of Australian soldiers fought to free a tiny French town from German occupation during World War I. Its name is Villers-Bretonneux and the battle that took place there is recognised as an important turning point in the war. We find out more about what happened in Villers-Bretonneux and why the town still has a special connection to Australia. BTN Kids Contribute Survey Results Recently we asked kids around Australia to tell us how they contribute at home, at school at in their communities. More than 11,000 took part in the survey and now the results are in. This week we'll tell you more about how kids are contributing and how it makes them feel. Composting Kids Did you know that next week is International Compost Awareness Week? It might not be on everyone's calendar but experts say composting is a process we should all know more about. We meet some school kids who explain how compost can scrap pollution and build healthier soils. Corny Business We meet Sam, a young entrepreneur, whose popcorn business has taken off since it launched late last year. Sam tells us what it's like to run a business and whether there's any such thing as too much popcorn!

Cricket Ball Tampering It's the controversy that's had the whole country talking. Some of our biggest Australian cricket players have now apologised after being caught breaking the rules during a test match in South Africa. Facebook Data The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has said sorry after more than 50 million of his social media site's users had their personal information taken. He's also announced changes to help better protect privacy. But that hasn't stopped some people from saying it's time we logged off Facebook for good. Aboriginal Flag History After a long fight, the Alice Springs Local Council has voted to fly the Aboriginal flag on Anzac Hill. It's actually the area that inspired the flag's design. Here's more on the decision and the history behind the flag itself. Viking Myths A new museum exhibition in Melbourne is hoping to debunk some of the myths surrounding Vikings, a group of people that lived in Northern Europe from the 8th to the 11th century. E-sports League Schools around the country have been asked to submit teams for the first ever National High School E-Sports league starting later this year. The competition will pit teams against each other in League of Legends.

NSW and Victoria Bushfires A closer look at the bushfires that hit Victoria and New South Wales last weekend. Here's an update on where things are at now and what help is still needed. What is the Commonwealth? The Commonwealth Games are just around the corner and this time the Gold Coast is hosting right here in Aus! Athletes will soon be arriving from around the world. But who decides which countries are actually invited? Voting Age Experiment Results As voters around South Australia went to the polls for the 2018 state election, hundreds of 16- and 17-year-olds were having their say as well. We told you all about it a few weeks back. But now, the results of this unique experiment are in. Mars Class Have you ever wanted to go to Mars? Well one group of high school kids get to go there every Thursday morning. Well, kind of. Easter Bilbies You probably remember seeing a lot of chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and tasty bunnies in shops leading up to Easter. But did you know, there's an Easter symbol that's a little more local - the bilby. I went to meet this threatened creature and found out how buying the chocolate version can help the real thing.

Tariffs US President Donald Trump got the whole world talking about tariffs last week, after announcing a new one on steel and aluminium imports. It got many countries around the world fired up, so we're going to take a closer look at what tariffs are and why the US introduced this one. Hawking's Life World-famous scientist Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76. He was a pioneer in cosmology and theoretical physics. We'll find out how he made such a big impact on scientific thinking around the world. Australia's Population: A BTN two-part special Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic In part 2 of BTN's special look at Australia's population, we'll investigate where our population is headed and take a look at both sides of the growth debate. Then on Friday following the show, join us live for Ask a Reporter, where Jack and Amelia will answer all of your population questions. Amelia Earhart New research has concluded that that bones discovered on an island in the Pacific in 1940 are likely those of Amelia Earhart. She was a legendary aviator that disappeared on an around-the-world flight attempt. We'll take a look back at her life to find out why she's still an inspiration today. BTN Investigates: How do planes fly? Following on from Amelia Earhart's story, one of our viewers wants to know "How do planes fly?" We sent Matt out on a wing and a hunt for the answer.

Voting Age Experiment Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic In Australia, no one can vote in an election until they turn 18. But what would happen if that age was lowered? That's something that South Australia's Commissioner for Children and Young People is aiming to test during the upcoming state election there. The group are asking school students aged 16 and 17 to vote, before adding those unofficial results to real ones to see what effect it would have had. Australia's Population - a BTN two part special Over the next two weeks, BTN will join the rest of the ABC in taking a special look at Australia's population. In the first of our two part special, we're going to take a look back at our long journey to 24 million people. We'll follow that with an investigation into where our population is headed and the debate around whether that growth is good. BTN's Kids Contribute Survey How much good do Australian kids do in their homes, schools and communities? That's exactly what we want to find out with the first ever BTN Kids Contribute Survey. Watch our story all about a young volunteer - and then jump online to fill in our short survey about all the things you do for others. Plastic Campaign Meet a 12-year old on a mission to reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans. Arlian has been dubbed the 'plastic-free boy' and he hopes to inspire kids around the country with his own documentary, 'Plastic Alarm'. Record Message The world's oldest message in a bottle has been discovered in Western Australia, 132 years after it was dropped in the ocean. It's an incredible find - and it's telling historians a more than you might expect.

The Coalition Our next 'Ask a Reporter" topic Recently the federal National party elected a new leader, named Michael McCormack. Soon after, the Australian Government swore in a new Deputy Prime Minister, also named Michael McCormack. That important role is always given to the leader of the Nationals as part of its agreement with the Liberal party. But when did this agreement start? And what's in it for both sides? International Women's Day The 8th of March is International Women's Day, when we're encouraged to learn more about the inequality faced by women and girls everywhere. But it's also a time to celebrate some of the amazing contributions women have made. To get you started, we'll run through some of the major milestones in the fight for women's rights and find out about a new ABC kids podcast that highlights the inspiring stories behind some of Australia's most inspiring women. Mardi Gras History It's a celebration attended by hundreds of thousands of people every year and this year it turns 40. But how did Sydney's Mardi Gras festival actually begin? We'll take you back in history to find out. Dingo Heroes A new study has found that sometimes dingoes can become unlikely heroes to small native animals. The wild dogs hunt feral predators like foxes and cats and, in the process, protect smaller native mammals that would usually be their dinner. Racing Class This weekend Australia's best V8 Supercar drivers will take part in the Adelaide 500. But before they hit the track, they'll be grilled by a group of school kids as part of a junior press conference. We tagged along to find out how these rookie reporters go - and discover what other lessons these kids can be taught in pit lane.

Gun Campaign Tragedy has inspired a group of young people in America to campaign for stricter gun control. The leaders of this movement were caught up in last week's school shooting in Florida. And now they're taking their message right to the President's door. Recycling Issues Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic We're previewing Clean Up Australia Day on the 2nd of March with a special look at recycling. Last year, we revealed that some of it is being stored in warehouses and some is being shipped overseas for processing. But now, China has announced that it's banning these imports, leaving Australian recycling companies worried about the future of the scheme. Aussie Seeds Australia will soon make its biggest deposit of seeds into the doomsday vault. We'll find out what that is and why locally-grown seeds could one day help save the world. BTN Investigates: How do eyes work? One of our viewers has asked us to find out how our eyes work. We will give you some insight! Poetry Prodigy Last year, 13-year old Solli Raphael became the youngest ever Australian Slam Poetry Champion. But what is slam poetry and how is it different to the forms of poetry you'd be more used to? We've asked Solli to explain.

Cape Town Drought After a long-running drought, the capital of South Africa is now just weeks away from running out of water. We'll take you there to find out how the residents of Cape Town are responding. Mungo Man: Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic The oldest skeleton ever found in Australia, known as Mungo Man, has been returned to his home 40,000 years after his death. He spent the past 40 of those years being studied by scientists. But while he's now been laid to rest, the fight over his remains isn't finished yet. Heatwaves Queensland is suffering through a massive heatwave this week, with record temperatures predicted. It left us we wondering - how do heatwaves like this actually happen? We asked ABC's weather experts to give us the down low. BTN Investigates: How does gravity work? This week, BTN viewer Zia asked us how Gravity works. It's a pretty heavy question Zia, but we're going to throw our weight into finding the answer. Harley Windsor 21-year old Harley Windsor has made history as the first Indigenous Australian to compete at the Winter Olympics. He put in an impressive performance in pairs figure skating. So we're going to introduce you to him and let him tell you how he got into this unique sport.

The Cabinet Files There's been a lot of discussion over the past week about some top secret documents called the Cabinet Files. They were found in two filing cabinets sold in a second-hand furniture store. We'll find out why the release of these documents is such a big deal. We'll also reveal how it could be illegal to do so in the future. Apology 10th Anniversary Today marks 10 years since Kevin Rudd said sorry to the stolen generations. We'll take a look back at the big moment and the reasons why it happened. Cryptocurrencies: Our next 'Ask a Reporter' Topic Cryptocurrencies have hit the mainstream following the sudden rise, then fall, of the value of bitcoin. But what actually is a cryptocurrency and how are they different to regular currencies? Chinese New Year Friday, February 16, marks the beginning of Chinese New Year. But you might be wondering why it's celebrated a month after the official change of year in Australia. Tune in for the answer. Surf Classes Recently some kids with a vision impairment in New South Wales got an awesome surfing masterclass from a record breaking Paralympian. Matt Formston wants to inspire others in a similar position - and the results speak for themselves.

Winter Olympics - Our next 'Ask a Reporter' topic Next week the Winter Olympic Games will begin. But while athletes around the world are gearing up for the competition, a lot of the focus has actually been on host country South Korea and its relationship with its neighbour, North Korea. Both countries have agreed to march under one flag at the opening ceremony and compete together in some sports. We'll find out why this small act of unity is actually a big deal. Safer Internet Day Have you ever wondered why many internet sites and services are banned for kids under 13-years old? To mark Safer Internet Day on the 6th of February, we're going to investigate. We'll also learn about other rules designed to keep you safe online. Greenland Warming Most of us have heard about the threat of global warming. But its effects can already be seen in the cold northern country of Greenland, where more and more ice is melting into the ocean each year. Though as Ruby found out, the warmer temperatures are also providing some positive opportunities for the people here, too. Super Blue Blood Moon This week, kids and adults all over Australia stayed up late to check out a very special moon. It was called a super blue blood moon and it looked pretty spectacular. But why did it look so different? We'll find out. T-Shirt Business Opening a business sounds like a pretty adult thing to do. But two 12-year old kids are proving that not only can you do it before hitting your teens - you can also be really successful! We'll hear from them to find out how they managed to do it.

The Year in Review This is our final episode for 2017, so to celebrate, we're taking a look back at some of the biggest stories we covered this year. We'll run you through all of the good, bad and the downright fascinating things that happened, plus we'll have a special 15 question super quiz to test your memory on too. And if that wasn't enough, we'll also reveal the winner of the first BTN Teacher awards. Join us for all the fun on BTN next week! Ask a Reporter Join Nathan as he answers all of your questions about how BTN is made. Head to our website to find out more and to send him all of your special BTN-related questions. Teaching Resources Included Learning areas: English / Literacy / Interpreting, analysing, evaluating: Use comprehension strategies to interpret and analyse information and ideas, comparing content from a variety of textual sources including media and digital texts (Year 6) English / Literacy / Texts in context: Compare texts including media texts that represent ideas and events in different ways, explaining the effects of the different approaches (Year 6) Media Arts: Plan, create and present media artworks for specific purposes with awareness of responsible media practice (Years 3 and 4) Plan, produce and present media artworks for specific audiences and purposes using responsible media practice (Years 5 and 6)

Zimbabwe The controversial President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has resigned. Mugabe was under pressure from the country's military to step aside to make way for a new leader. The news triggered mass celebrations on the streets. We'll find out why. UN Kids Study A recent United Nations study has shown almost half of children feel their views go unheard by adults. It's just one of the statistics contained in the report, which surveyed children from 14 countries around the world. We'll dive into the data to find out what else has kids concerned overseas. Beach Safety App A nine-year old girl in Sydney has created an app to help save lives this summer. Sarah's app contains three mini games that teach people about sun protection, water safety and CPR. Teaching Resources Included Learning Areas - Health and PE / Personal, Social and Community Health: Plan and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (Years 5 and 6) Investigate community resources and ways to seek help about health, safety and wellbeing (Years 5 and 6) Health and PE / Personal, Social and Community Health / Contributing to healthy and active communities: Investigate the role of preventive health in promoting and maintaining health, safety and wellbeing for individuals and their communities (Years 5 and 6) The Sailing Kangaroo You might've met a kangaroo or two in your time, but you've probably never met one like Edward. He's a red kangaroo who's been blind since birth and currently, he lives on a boat floating along the Murray River. But Eddie's getting too big for life on the water so his owner Lee is trying to find him a new home. BTN Investigates - Christmas Traditions Christmas decorations are up and school is only a few weeks away from wrapping up. So one member of our audience asked us to find out where all of our beloved Christmas traditions came from. We'll deck the halls with loads of answers next week. Teaching Resources Included Learning Areas - HASS / History / Knowledge and Understanding: Celebrations and commemorations in places around the world (for example, Chinese New Year in countries of the Asia region, Bastille Day in France, Independence Day in the USA), including those that are observed in Australia (for example, Christmas Day, Diwali, Easter, Hanukkah, the Moon Festival and Ramadan) (Year 3) HASS / Inquiry and skills / Questioning: Pose questions to investigate people, events, places and issues (Years 3 and 4) HASS / Inquiry and skills / Researching: Locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations (Years 3 and 4)

Marriage Survey Results 61.6 percent of Australians have voted to allow same-sex marriage to be legalised. We'll take a closer look at the result and find out what's now required to make it official. Driverless Cars This week, Australia is hosting the International Driverless Car Summit. Experts from around the world will gather to talk about the benefits and challenges facing this new technology. Tune in for a full wrap of the pros and cons. Coral Spawning A special annual event has just got underway off the coast of Queensland. It's the time each year when coral right across the Great Barrier Reef reproduce. But experts are paying particularly close attention this year so they can measure how much the reef has suffered because of things like cyclones and bleaching. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Science / Science Understanding / Biological sciences: Living things have life cycles (Year 4) Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive (Year 4) Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (Year 5) The growth and survival of living things are affected by physical conditions of their environment (Year 6) Interactions between organisms, including the effects of human activities can be represented by food chains and food webs (Year 7) Pet Bushfire Safety As bushfire season begins for many Australians, fire services and the RSPCA are teaming up to remind people not to leave their pets out of their family action plan. We'll run you through the best ways to make sure your four-legged friend stays safe this summer. Big Idea Winner We'll introduce you to a kid who's come up with a great way to make life easier for carers around Australia. Eight-year old Amelia has designed a special hoist to help lift her brother out of his wheelchair. And now the invention has won her a trip to NASA! Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) Solutions to contemporary issues that are found using science and technology, may impact on other areas of society and may involve ethical considerations (Year 7) People use science understanding and skills in their occupations and these have influenced the development of practices in areas of human activity (Year 7) Science / Science Inquiry Skills / Questioning and predicting: With guidance, pose clarifying questions and make predictions about scientific investigations (Years 5 and 6) Science / Science Inquiry Skills / Evaluating: Reflect on and suggest improvements to scientific investigations (Years 5 and 6)

Paradise Papers Last week, millions of leaked documents, dubbed 'the Paradise Papers', were released by news outlets around the world. Among other things, they detail the processes that some people and companies use to move their money in an effort to pay much less tax. Nike was one of the companies contained in the release. So next week, we'll reveal exactly how much money from each pair of their shoes you buy in Australia stays here as tax. Ozone Improvement NASA has revealed some good environment news! It says the ozone hole over Antarctica is the smallest it's been for three decades. That's a pretty big deal, because in the 90s, things were looking really bad. So to celebrate, we'll find out exactly what the ozone layer actually is and why things are improving. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (Year 4) Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) History of Toilets On November 19, we all mark World Toilet Day. The aim is to spread word that toilets save lives by doing a messy, but vital job. Plus, it's an excellent opportunity to tell your toilet how much you appreciate it! Awkwardly, we'll do just that next week. Indigenous Seasons We all know the traditional European seasons; summer, autumn, winter and spring. But did you know Australia's Indigenous cultures had different seasons that better fit local weather conditions, plants and animals? Next week, we'll join a class as they learn more about these seasons and how they vary across the continent. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Geography / Knowledge and Understanding: The custodial responsibility Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have for Country/Place, and how this influences views about sustainability (Year 4) Science / Science Understanding / Earth and space sciences: Predictable phenomena on Earth, including seasons and eclipses, are caused by the relative positions of the sun, Earth and the moon (Year 7) Gaelic Covers Finally we'll travel to Ireland, where some kids are using famous songs to keep their culture alive. They've made music videos covering famous songs in their traditional language, Irish Gaelic. Not many people are speaking it anymore, so they hope these covers will help revive this ancient language.

Adani Mine You might have heard about a big project that's been proposed for Queensland's Galilee Basin. An Indian company called Adani wants to create one of the biggest coal mines in the world there but it's really controversial. In fact it's one of the biggest issues being talked about in the lead-up to the Queensland State election. We find out more about the mine and why it's been causing so much debate. Flu Season If you came down with the flu this year, you're not alone! This season has been the worst in years, with around 220,000 people coming down with the Influenza Virus. It's got some calling for a stronger flu vaccine and even suggesting it should be available for free to everyone. We look at what the flu is, how a vaccine can help and why this year was such a bad one. Extended teaching resources Learning Areas - Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) Solutions to contemporary issues that are found using science and technology, may impact on other areas of society and may involve ethical considerations (Year 7) Science / Science Inquiry Skills / Communicating: Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts (Years 5 and 6) Uluru Climbing Ban Uluru is one of Australia's biggest tourist attractions but, from 2019, visitors will no longer be able to climb the famous rock. It's something traditional owners have been fighting for for many years because, to them, Uluru is a sacred site. We look at the debate that led up to this historic decision. Recycling Week Next week is National Recycling Week, when Australians are encouraged to think a bit more about what they throw away. We take a closer look at the recycling process, find out what we can put in our recycling bins, and what we can do to reduce waste. Extended teaching resources Learning areas - Geography / Knowledge and Understanding: The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (Year 4) Science / Science Understanding / Chemical sciences: Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use (Year 4) Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (Year 4) Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) HASS / Inquiry and skills / Evaluating and reflecting: Reflect on learning to propose actions in response to an issue or challenge and consider possible effects of proposed actions (Year 4) BTN Investigates - History of Electricity Friday the 10th of November is World Science Day, so we thought this week would be a good time to answer a question one of our viewers has about an important scientific discovery - electricity. Ethan asks when electricity was first discovered, and we've done our best to find out!

NBN Problems This week there's been a lot of talk about Australia's National Broadband Network. It's the biggest infrastructure project in Australia's history , which aims to upgrade internet speeds right around the country. But it's copped a lot of criticism lately for being too expensive, too slow, and not as good as many had hoped. We take a look at exactly what the NBN is and why it's controversial. Kokoda Anniversary Next Thursday marks the 75 anniversary of a big moment in Australia's military history. On the 2nd of November Australian soldiers recaptured Kokoda after long and difficult campaign to stop Japanese invasion of Papua. We look at the history and significance of the Kokoda campaign. Kokoda Virtual Reality Experience To mark the anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign BTN has been working to produce an educational experience of the Kokoda track. It's called Kokoda VR and it transports you to real life locations where you'll hear and take part in the story. Before the release of Kokoda VR on Thursday we'll give you a look at how it all came together. Extended teaching resources Learning Areas - Heath and Physical Education / Personal, Social and Community Health / Being healthy, safe and active: Identify and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (Years 3 and 4) Plan and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (Years 5 and 6) Heath and Physical Education / Personal, Social and Community Health / Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing: Discuss and interpret health information and messages in the media and internet (Years 3 and 4) Heath and Physical Education / Personal, Social and Community Health / Contributing to healthy and active communities: Investigate the role of preventive health in promoting and maintaining health, safety and wellbeing for individuals and their communities (Years 5 and 6) Mountain School Imagine having to trek for days through some of the world's most dangerous terrain just to get to school. That's what some kids in a remote part of the Himalayas face at the moment. An Australian charity is trying to help by building a boarding house where the children can safely get an education. BTN Investigates - Halloween BTN viewer Shelby has sent us a question just in time for October 31. She wants to know why people celebrate Halloween. We take a look at the origins of this spooky tradition.

The inaugural BTN Teacher Awards! Is your teacher something special? Do they go above and beyond to make your learning fun? Well BTN would like to hear from you! This week we're launching a new national competition to find Australia's most special teacher. All it takes to nominate them is a short video telling (and showing) us why you think they are the best. Tune in next week for all the details! Holden Closure This week marks the end of an era, as Holden's car manufacturing plant in South Australia closes its doors for good. It's a huge moment for workers and for the whole country, as we see the end of car manufacturing in Australia. We'll take a look at the history of this industry and find out what the future might hold for those affected. Space Discovery For the first time ever, scientists have traced gravitational waves through outer space to their source. That sounds exciting - but what does it mean? We'll find out how the discovery was made and why astronomers say it will change the way we look at the universe. Quoll Return It's been more than 50 years since Eastern Quolls became extinct on mainland Australia. But now the little marsupials are set for a comeback. Conservationists are taking quolls from a sanctuary in Tasmania and releasing them into a national park in New South Wales. We find out a bit more about the project and why it's good news for both quolls and the environment. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Science / Science Understanding / Biological sciences: Living things have life cycles Year 4 Living things, including plants and animals, depend on each other and the environment to survive. (Year 4) Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment. (Year 5) The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (Year 6) Teaching Australia Teaching is one of the most important jobs out there. So to celebrate all of the amazing work that teachers do each and every year, we're is launching a new competition - the BTN Teacher Awards! But first, we're going to find out a little more about what this job actually involves and how it's changed over the past hundred years. BTN Investigates - the History of Video Games BTN viewer Mini has asked us to find out what the first ever game was, who made it and why? Well Mini, you've come to the right place. We've put avid gamer Ruby on the case - tune in next week for her answer. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Digital Technologies / Knowledge and Understanding: Examine how whole numbers are used to represent all data in digital systems (Years 5 and 6) Digital Technologies / Processes and Production Skills: Implement digital solutions as simple visual programs involving branching, iteration (repetition), and user input (Years 5 and 6) Implement and modify programs with user interfaces involving branching, iteration and functions in a general-purpose programming language (Years 7 and 8) Design and Technologies / Processes and Production Skills: Generate, develop and communicate design ideas and processes for audiences using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques (Years 5 and 6)

Spain Protests Recently, big protests and even violence hit the European country of Spain. It's all because one region, Catalonia, is seriously considering breaking away from the rest of the country. Next week we'll find out why some Catalonians want to stay and others want to leave. BTN's Happiness Survey - What makes you happy and sad? Last term, we asked you to tell us when you're at your happiest and when you're not in the 2nd ever BTN Happiness Survey. And we were blown away with how many of you did just that! 46,974 of you responded, easily making it the biggest survey of youth health and wellbeing in Australian history. But what did you tell us? In part one of our two part special feature, we'll take a look at what areas of life that worry you most, along with the parts that put a smile on your dial. BTN's Happiness Survey - What's keeping you up? Sleep was also revealed as one of the factors affecting kids' happiness in the BTN Happiness Survey. But as you told us in the data, there are a lot of different factors stopping you from getting enough. We'll take a look at some of them in the second part of our special survey feature. Teaching resources included: Learning Areas - Heath and Physical Education / Personal, Social and Community Health / Being healthy, safe and active: Identify and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (Years 3 and 4) Plan and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (Years 5 and 6) Heath and Physical Education / Personal, Social and Community Health / Communicating and interacting for health and wellbeing: Discuss and interpret health information and messages in the media and internet (Years 3 and 4) Heath and Physical Education / Personal, Social and Community Health / Contributing to healthy and active communities: Investigate the role of preventive health in promoting and maintaining health, safety and wellbeing for individuals and their communities (Years 5 and 6) Space Conference Over the holidays, Adelaide hosted the International Astronautical Congress, a meeting of the world's top minds in the field of space. And during the week, some big announcements were made, like the creation of a new Australian space agency and details on how a private space company intends to send people to Mars within the next 7 years. We sent Rookie Reporter Ness along to the conference to give you a taste of the action. Bush Detectives Australia has a lot of awesome native wildlife that we want to protect. But to do that effectively, researchers need to keep track of how many there actually are in the wild. Recently, some distance education students tried to hold their own population count. But as they found out, it can be trickier than it looks. Teaching resources included: Learning Areas - Science / Science Understanding / Biological sciences: Living things have life cycles (Year 4) Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive (Year 4) Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment (Year 5) The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (Year 6) Interactions between organisms, including the effects of human activities can be represented by food chains and food webs (Year 7)

Irma recovery The clean-up has started in parts of Florida and the Caribbean that were devastated by Hurricane Irma. We find out what's being done to help people affected and speak to two sisters from Florida who had to evacuate from their home because of the hurricane. Uniform Debate There's been a lot of talk recently about school uniforms, and whether girls and boys should be forced to dress differently. Recently the Western Australian government made it compulsory for schools to give girls a choice of pants or dresses and last week Victoria decided to bring in similar rules. Some reckon forcing girls to wear skirts makes them less likely to get active at school, but others reckon it should be up to schools to decide what their uniforms look like. We take a look at the uniform debate. Kangaroo Control Kangaroos might be one of Australia's national emblems, but some reckon these much-loved native critters are becoming a problem for the environment. They say in some areas the kangaroo population is just too big, and they're eating too much. One expert says the solution is to cull kangaroos encourage people to eat more roo meat. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and influence of science: Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions (Years 5 and 6) Solutions to contemporary issues that are found using science and technology, may impact on other areas of society and may involve ethical considerations (Year 7) Science / Science Understanding / Biological Sciences: Interactions between organisms, including the effects of human activities can be represented by food chains and food webs English / Literacy / Interacting with others: Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive print and multimodal texts, choosing text structures, language features, images and sound appropriate to purpose and audience (Year 5) Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, choosing and experimenting with text structures, language features, images and digital resources appropriate to purpose and audience (Year 6) Ten Dollar Stars Next week the Reserve Bank of Australia will release the brand-new ten dollar note! It features a whole bunch of new security features, as well as some familiar faces. We take a look at the new note and learn more about the famous Aussies who feature on it. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - HASS / Inquiry and skills / Questioning: Develop appropriate questions to guide an inquiry about people, events, developments, places, systems and challenges (Years 5 and 6) HASS / Inquiry and skills / Researching: Sequence information about people's lives, events, developments and phenomena using a variety of methods including timelines (Years 5 and 6) HASS / History: The role that a significant individual or group played in shaping a colony (Year 5) The contribution of individuals and groups to the development of Australian society since Federation (Year 6) Minecraft Park Back in 2015 we met some school students who were taking part in a competition run by the South Australian Government asking kids to design a real-life park using Minecraft. Now they've been able to see their design come to life! We catch up with the designers and find out how they feel about the finished product.

North Korea Sanctions After last week's nuclear weapons test by North Korea, you might have heard a lot of leaders and commentators talk about sanctions. But what is a sanction? How do countries use trade and the economy to try to get leaders to do what they want? And would it help to stop North Korea from developing and testing nuclear weapons? Cassini Spacecraft On September 15th, NASA's Cassini spacecraft will nose-dive into Saturn and burn up in the planet's atmosphere, ending it's 13-year mission of discovery. Cassini has revolutionised our understanding of Saturn and it's many moons, providing enough information to fill thousands of scientific papers. It's final dance though the planet's rings will give us an unprecedented view of the sixth planet from the sun. Syrian Refugee Family Two years ago the government promised to resettle 12000 Syrian Refugees in Australia. Among those are 4350 children who are now getting used to their new life in Australia. We meet a family and find out more about their experience. Teaching resources included Learning Areas - Civics and Citizenship Knowledge and Understanding / Citizenship, diversity and identity: The obligations citizens may consider they have beyond their own national borders as active and informed global citizens (Year 6) Civics and Citizenship Skills / Analysis, synthesis and interpretation: Identify over-generalised statements in relation to civics and citizenship topics and issues (Years 5 and 6) HASS / Inquiry and skills: Develop appropriate questions to guide an inquiry about people, events, developments, places, systems and challenges (Years 5 and 6) Sleek Geeks 2017 The winner of this year's Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize have been announced. The competition asks primary and high school students to make a short film that communicates a scientific concept. We take a look at this year's winning entries. BTN Investigates - History of the alphabet. BTN viewer Lara wants to know the A to Z of the Alphabet! She's asked us why there are 26 letters in it and why it starts with A and ends with Z. Jack's on the case! Teaching resources included Learning Areas - History / Historical Knowledge and Understanding / The Mediterranean world Egypt: Roles of key groups in ancient Egyptian society (such as the nobility, bureaucracy, women, slaves), including the influence of law and religion (Year 7) History / Historical Knowledge and Understanding / Overview of the ancient world: The evidence for the emergence and establishment of ancient societies (including art, iconography, writing tools and pottery) (Year 7) History / Historical Skills / Chronology, terms and concepts: Sequence historical events, developments and periods (Year 7)

Australia is a land of diverse and often extreme habitats, with vast expanses of wetlands, dense forests and arid plains. It's populated by an immense array of birdlife. There are more than 800 species of birds here and the country's isolation from the rest of the world for millennia means that many of its birds are unique.

A look at the challenges young animals face, from their first steps through to leaving home.

Dr Mae Jemison and her fellow astronauts explore how life on Earth evolved from single cell bacteria to now and what it means for our chances of finding life elsewhere in the universe.

Islands built entirely on shifting sands or carved from rock, where moon-dancing red crabs and strange marsupials make their homes - these are the extraordinary isles that thrive in splendid isolation in Australia's hidden islands.

Old Future Residents of the tiny town of Enngonia in far-west NSW are part of a project growing native bush foods. Natural Fizz It’s been around for thousands of years, but ‘kombucha’ is a relative newcomer to Australian consumers. The fermented beverage is billed as having detoxifying and energising properties and providing a healthier alternative to sugary drinks. Lure of the Line The male dominated sport of fly fishing is being challenged by a handful of fishers lobbying for Australia to send a women’s team to the Commonwealth championships. Rural News A look at rural and regional issues making the news this week. Markets Report Market activity and analysis with Kerry Lonergan.

David Attenborough examines how fleas jump, and tracks the true speed of a cheetah. Plus, David examines the progress into IQ research concerning some highly intelligent, long underestimated species.

Steve and his intrepid crew hit Hawaii, to encounter three giants of nature. Heading out on the open ocean, Steve seeks out a true Goliath battle: duelling male humpback whales.

The team take on one of the most feared forces on the planet - the volcano. Dougal explores the secret lava tubes of Etna, and climbs Stromboli for a face-to-face encounter with an erupting volcano.

David Attenborough reveals how the Galapagos Islands are adapting to a human revolution.

Jamie goes to Croatia to see how animals there have adapted to survive on in the mountains and on the remote islands.

David Attenborough narrates this astonishing story of a wild cheetah family.

Giant pandas were on the brink of extinction but now they are coming back. The Chengdu Research Base in China is at the heart of a project to breed 300 pandas and introduce them back to the wild.

Islands built entirely on shifting sands or carved from rock, where moon-dancing red crabs and strange marsupials make their homes - these are the extraordinary isles that thrive in splendid isolation in Australia's hidden islands.

This program takes an up close look at the secret lives of Australia's most notorious, and sometimes little known, killers, including the world's most venomous snakes, deadly jellyfish, monster crocs and venom-laden spiders.

At Ngurgdu in the Northern Territory, an area soon to be irrevocably disturbed by uranium mining, 80-year-old William Alderson, known as Yorky Billy, reflects on his life in the outback.

Growing crops without the sun Disease free, unaffected by weather and grown completely indoors. Modern methods of growing greens turning horticulture upside-down. Wild and Woolly A shortage of suitable goats has led one farming family to go wild ... transforming hairy feral goats into high class mohair producers. Forgotten Fish Changing consumer perceptions of our undervalued and under-utilised fish species. Markets Report: Market activity and analysis with Kerry Lonergan Market activity and analysis with Kerry Lonergan. Rural News A look at rural and regional issues making the news this week.

This time Steve Backshall travels to the tropical islands of the Bahamas for an underwater mission like no other. Using the latest deadly time-slice technology Steve reveals the science of a shark bite.

Jamie travels to Scotland to see how animals survive in the barren landscape of the highlands.

Jamie heads to the island of Madagascar. The unique environment means many of the animals there are found nowhere else on earth.

Jamie heads to Alaska one of the coldest places on earth. Jamie looks at how the animals here have adapted to survive in the freezing and testing Alaskan tundra.

Ever since life emerged, microbes, plants and animals have sculpted the planet in the strangest of ways. But as Will Smith along with current and former astronauts explain, life doesn't just create. It also destroys.

At any one time it is estimated that 2000 thunderstorms are happening across the world. The team investigate what makes the thundercloud so feared, and Leo faces some giant hailstones.

Jamie heads to the everglades in Florida, one of the harshest environments on earth, to find out what adaptations enable animals to make this swamp land their home.

This program takes an up close look at the secret lives of Australia's most notorious, and sometimes little known, killers, including the world's most venomous snakes, deadly jellyfish, monster crocs and venom-laden spiders.

Islands built entirely on shifting sands or carved from rock, where moon-dancing red crabs and strange marsupials make their homes - these are the extraordinary isles that thrive in splendid isolation in Australia's hidden islands.