Behind the News

Gun Control Debate The gun debate is big news again in the US after two deadly shootings in early August. The US has the highest rate of gun ownership in the world and the right to bear arms is guaranteed in its constitution. Some say that's contributing to gun violence and that the US should bring in tighter controls on guns. We look at the debate in the US and the history of gun control here in Australia. Supermarket Collectable Controversy Supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths recently started new collectable campaigns and many kids around Australia are searching for the ultimate Ooshie or Little Shop toy. But not everyone is a fan of the promotions. We meet some young people who say the toys are giving kids the wrong message about plastic pollution. Science Lessons This week is Science Week and the theme is Destination Moon, to coincide with last month's 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. It got us thinking about all the other scientific breakthroughs that've been made since 1969 and the things kids were taught at school back then that are no longer true. We look at some of the big science lessons we've learned since 1969 and how they've changed the world. Braille Books A school for kids who are blind or vision impaired in Adelaide was frustrated with the lack of braille books for students, so it's started making its own! Volunteers help to emboss the books and add tactile pictures. We meet some of the students who are enjoying the books and find out more about braille. Koala Carer We meet a young Aussie who spends her spare time caring for her favourite animal - koalas! Libby is worried that the iconic native animals are at risk of disappearing and she didn't want to wait until she was older to do something about it.

Garma Festival 2019 Last weekend thousands of Aussies headed to North East Arnhem Land for the Garma festival. It's an annual celebration of Yolngu and other Indigenous cultures and an important forum for talking about the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As usual, there were plenty of young Australians at Garma and we asked some of them to show us around and tell us why the festival is important to them. Constitutional Recognition At this year's Garma Festival there was a lot of talk about constitutional recognition. For a long time, many Indigenous and non-Indigenous Aussies have been calling for some changes to the constitution and now the prime minister has promised it'll soon be taken to a vote. We find out more about what constitutional recognition means and how it could be achieved. Sports Supplements Warning Last week some experts warned athletes about the risk of sports supplements after swimmer Shayna Jack tested positive to a banned substance. She says she doesn't know how a banned drug got into her system, but she suggested it might have been a contaminated batch of supplement. We look at why sports people take supplements, how they're different to banned drugs and why they can be risky. Fatbergs This week Olivia takes a closer look at what we flush down the loo! While that might seem obvious (and unpleasant) the organisation in charge of South Australia's sewerage system says a lot of people aren't getting the message. It says things like "flushable" wipes (which aren't actually flushable!) are creating big, gross blockages known as "fatbergs" in sewerage pipes. It's even released a jingle to remind people of what should and shouldn't go down the toilet. Radiated Tortoises We go to the zoo to meet some very cute tortoises which had a lucky escape from poachers. Their species is targeted by animal traffickers who sell them for their shells, their meat or as pets. We find out more about animal trafficking and what's being done to stop it.

UK Prime Minister Last week people all around the world were talking about the UK's new PM. His name is Boris Johnson and while he's been in politics for a long time he's known as an unconventional leader with a big personality and an unusual hairdo! We find out more about who Boris Johnson is and why his leadership could have a big impact on the UK and other countries. FaceApp and Privacy You might have seen a lot of pictures passed around recently of your friends or celebrities looking much older than they are. They come from a popular app called FaceApp which lets users change their appearance. But it's caused controversy because of terms and conditions which allow FaceApp to store and sell your photos. We find out more about data collection, why companies do it and how you can protect your privacy online. Uluru Tourists One of Australia's most famous natural wonders has been busier than usual lately. Heaps of tourists have been travelling to Uluru, with many hoping to climb the famous rock before a ban comes in in October. Some locals say it's led to an increase in rubbish and illegal camping in the area. We look at what's been happening and why the climbing ban has been put in place. MS Readathon This month primary school kids across Australia will be sticking their noses in as many books as possible for the MS Readathon. They'll be raising money to help people who live with a condition called multiple sclerosis or MS. We meet some kids who'll be doing the readathon and find out why it means a lot to them. Girls Rock We meet some kids who've spent part of their school holidays learning how to be rock stars! They took part in a program called Girls Rock which is designed to show kids that music is for everyone.