Wednesday, 22 July, 2020
COVID vaccine breakthrough; 3D printed chicken nuggets; cricket World Cup postponed; and the world’s fattest chipmunks.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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There was finally some good news on the coronavirus front yesterday after researchers at Oxford University in England announced they had developed a vaccine which appeared to trigger an immune response in people it was being tested on.
What’s an immune response? It means the vaccine prompted the body to produce those all important white blood cells to attack the virus and kill it AND it prompted the body to produce antibodies – which protect us from contracting the disease in the first place.
It’s a huge development in our battle with COVID, and it’s one of three vaccines that are showing promising results. But there’s still some testing that needs to be done before scientists can be 100% sure they’ve hit on the winning formula.
Once they’re certain a vaccine works, labs around the world will be working hard to put it into mass production so people everywhere can be immunised. And the hope is that will be able to happen early next year.
Fingers and toes and arms and legs and eyes crossed people! Ok, maybe not the eyes.
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While we wait for the COVID vaccine to be developed, we can all take comfort in the knowledge that fast food outlet KFC has been hard at work in its own labs developing 3D printed nuggets.
What the what? Pretty much any object can be printed with a 3D printer – houses have even been made from 3D printers. But using a 3D printer to make food is something else completely.
KFC has nevertheless worked out a way to combine chicken cells with plant cells grown in a lab, and then 3D print actual nuggets.
I think I’ll stick to the Zinger burger. Is that still a thing?
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 England – where Beefeaters are getting the axe from the Tower of London.
What’s a Beefeater? It’s the name given to the guards who protect the Tower of London – a former prison in medieval times, which today is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions and home to the Crown Jewels – a display of the most stunning diamond-studded crowns and jewel-encrusted sceptres.
Why are these guards called Beefeaters? Because a long time ago, part of their salary used to be paid in parcels of beef.
And why are they facing the axe? Because the coronavirus has reduced tourist numbers to London so much, the Tower of London cannot afford to pay them all.
Hurry up vaccine!
SPORTS TIME
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On the subject of that nasty COVID – no not again! – the T20 men’s cricket world cup, which was supposed to be held in Australia in October and November, has been postponed until next year.
Fingers crossed it will still take place here in Australia. Because if it does, it will mean we host a T20 World Cup AND and Ashes series on home soil. Which is a mouth watering prospect for any cricket fans out there.
ANIMAL KINGDOM
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It’s summertime in the United States and in the north eastern corner, called New England, the place is overrun with chipmunks. And not just any chipmunks … fat chipmunks.
The spring weather was so good and the acorns – the nut which is a chipmunk’s favourite food – were so plentiful this year that there are record numbers of the cute little critters. And local rangers say they are a little chunkier than usual.
Maybe they’ve been tucking into the 3D printed chicken nuggets?
ROSIE’S RECIPES
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It’s a Wednesday – and that means it’s time to stick our head into the Squiz Kids’ kitchen to see what Rosie has been cooking up this week.
And today’s offering comes to us from Squiz Kids listener Aarav – who has sent in his favourite recipe for brownies.
They’re called Aarav’s Whatever Floats Your Boat Brownies – and the thing that makes them super awesome is that you can throw into the mixture pretty much anything that floats your boat – marshmallows, choc chips, peanuts, Lego pieces … no actually, not Lego pieces – they’re awfully difficult to digest.
The recipe plus photos of the process and finished product are all on the Squiz Kids website.
Don’t forget: if you have a favourite recipe that YOU like to cook that you’d like Rosie to try… AND to feature in this segment – be sure to send it to: [email protected].
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 university in England which has just announced a promising potential COVID vaccine?
- What’s the funny name given to the men who guard the Tower of London?
- What sort of nut are chipmunks in New England pigging out on?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s July 22… World Brain Day … which is a day to raise awareness of brain health around the world … so stop today and give a moment’s thought to how remarkable is your brain.
Celebrating a birthday today are these Squiz Kids … Brody from Double Bay, Ava from Meadow Springs, Jasmine and Frankie from Brisbane, Trevor from Abbotsford, Julia from Ballarat, Stella from Newtown, Lucy from Vaucluse, Will from Orange, Riley from Lowood, Ryan from Port Kennedy, Lucas from Cairns, Mason from Boorowa and Mia and Jordi from Sheoak Grove.
And some belated birthday shoutouts… Lily from Chinchilla, Oscar from Orange, Lewis from Port Kennedy and Wyatt from Geelong.
Happy birthday to you all.
Classroom shoutouts… L8 and Year 4/5 at Stradbroke School, 5/6T from Merri Creek Primary School, F6 at Hammond Park Primary School and Classes 2/3W & 4D at Oakhill Drive Public School.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Oxford University
- Beefeaters
- Acorns