Tuesday, 1 September, 2020
COVID’s silver lining; new app reveals ancient world; Massive croc caught in Northern Territory; and Lady Gaga owns the MTV Awards.
LINKS
Ancient Earth: https://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#240
BTS: VMA performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJCdkOpU90g
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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There’s a saying that goes ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ — which means that situations that seem to be bad at first glance, can sometimes bring benefits too.
In the case of coronavirus, those silver linings have been sometimes hard to see. But yesterday we received news that there is likely to have been a massive drop in carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Why is that? According to forecasters, it’s a drop that’s largely down to the fact we’re staying at home – not flying in jet planes and doing far less car travel than we used to.
The fact there are fewer planes in the air and cars on the road means that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere – which scientists believe contributes to global warming – is expected to have dropped to levels not seen for over 20 years.
SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops. And today, we’ve landed in the Triassic Period – 240 million years ago.
And thanks to a clever professor in the United States, who has created a online interactive map of the world, we can see exactly what the Earth looked like back then – including where the continents sat in relation to one another, and get a fascinating look at how the movement of tectonic plates over millions and millions of years has created the world map as we know it today.
Ninety-million years ago, for example, Paris was underwater, the Himalayas were under the sea too, Australia was connected to New Guinea, and half of America and Canada was submerged under the ocean.
You can enter the name of your town and see where it sat in the world up to 750 million years ago – with captions explaining what sorts of dinosaurs roamed the Earth at that time. The online interactive map is about the coolest thing we have seen for a long time – and it’s super easy to get lost in it. There’s a link in today’s episode notes. Did I mention it is super cool?
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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Holy monster croc! Bushwalking around the Flora River south of Katherine in the Northern Territory just got a little bit safer after park rangers trapped and caught the biggest saltwater croc they have come across for at least the last five years.
Measuring 4.4 metres and weighing an astonishing 350 kilograms, the big male croc was transported to a crocodile farm, where he will be introduced to some of the resident female crocs and hopefully go on to be a daddy to loads of baby crocs.
Rangers have warned locals and visitors to the area to be extra ‘croc-wise’ at this time of year, as the warmer weather sees crocs become more active – and hungry.
No advice was given by the rangers on whether or not it’s sensible to smile at a crocodile – but I think we all know the answer to that …
POP CULTURE CORNER
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It was a big night for Lady Gaga at yesterday’s MTV Music Video awards, with the singer/songwriter taking out a swag of major awards and turning in a powerhouse performance that left the several million-strong TV audience screaming for more.
Taking to the stage in a series of COVID-appropriate face masks, Gaga teamed up with Ariana Grande to perform their hit song ‘Rain On Me’ – and then later returned to accept the award for song of the year and artist of the year.
The Weeknd won big too, accepting the award for best video for his number one hit, Blinding Lights, while Taylor Swift’s video The Man took out the gong for best direction.
Doja Cat was awarded best new artist. And what pop music awards show would be complete without Korean supergroup, BTS? The boy band won the award for best pop video, for their song, ‘On’ – and turned in a typically polished performance – in a bunch of costumes which just might bring back the bell-bottomed suit as a fashion trend. Ask a grandparent. Or watch the performance via the link in today’s episode.
THE S’QUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …
- What’s the name of the gas whose emissions in Australia are projected to have dropped because we’re flying and driving less?
- What sort of massive reptile has been captured and relocated to a farm by Northern Territory wildlife rangers?
- Name the Korean boy band that performed in bell-bottom pants at the MTV Music Video Awards?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s September 1 ….. Pinch and a punch for the first day of the month … do people still do that? It’s also National Wattle Day – where we’re encourage to wear yellow and celebrate our national floral emblem. Loads of public buildings in Canberra will be lit up in yellow this week and Brisbane’s Story Bridge will be bathed tonight in a yellow hue.
Happy birthday to these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today… Kirra from Wellington Point, Chase from Madora Bay, Zara from Woodend, Juwairiyah from Dubbo, Maiya from Monash, Lena from Sydney, Ricky from Murwillumbah, Meena from Blacktown, Allam from Murarrie, Caleb and Karen from Orange, Lachie from Bendigo, Ava from Blackburn North , Ella from Nunawading, Amber from Aspley, Jessica from Bungendore, Sam from Drummoyne, and Dylan from ?
And a belated birthday shoutout… Oliver from Sheoak Grove
Happy birthday one and all!
Classroom shoutouts… A big shoutout today to all the kids in Victoria who are working so hard from home right now, including 5/6 CL at Our Lady’s Primary School in Surrey Hills, Grade 1 at Bialik College, Coburg North Primary School, and the Justin Homeschool Tribe in Ballarat.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Carbon dioxide
- Crocodile
- BTS