Wednesday, 28 October, 2020
Water on the moon; Trick or treat Melbourne!; Pokemon’s China name change; and The Weeknd goes for gold.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
THE LOWDOWN
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A flying telescope has detected water on the Moon and it has scientists super excited about what it might mean for future space missions to establish a long-term human presence on our lunar companion.
NASA – the American Space Agency – has its very own Boeing 747 airplane called SOFIA, equipped with a super-strong telescope. The plane flies up to altitudes of 45,000 feet – high above the Earth – so that the telescope can have a clear view of the Moon.
On one of these flights, SOFIA’s telescope found the unmistakable signs of water on the moon’s surface. We don’t know how it got there, we’re not sure if it’s water you can drink and it’s not entirely clear how much is there – but as countries around the world make plans to send humans up to Moon and possibly stay there for long periods of time – it’s a good sign that there might be water for astronauts already up there. Mind. Blown.
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Speaking of water, Queensland copped plenty of it yesterday afternoon when the widely predicted mega-storm made its presence felt – causing flash floods in the south-eastern corner of the state.
Suburbs of Brisbane were smashed, a mysterious funnel cloud appeared in the skies above Warwick and more than 5000 homes in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brissie, lost power. Oh – and there are more storms forecast for this afternoon…
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 China … where the gaming company Nintendo has changed the names of some of its most popular Pokemon characters to ensure the game doesn’t get banned by China’s sensitive government censors.
For Chinese players of Pokemon, Hooligan Panda will be known as Domineering Panda – because hooligan was thought to be a bit too rebellious for China’s famously strict government. Thief Fox will become Cunning Little Fox and Bandit Fox will be renamed Cunning Big Fox.
All video games that go into China from other countries have to pass through censors – who are people whose job it is to decide whether or not something is appropriate for Chinese people to see, read or – in this case – play.
It’s estimated there are 620 million gamers in China … that’s a lot of Poke balls being thrown around…
SPORTS TIME
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As Melbourne yesterday celebrated a second day of zero new cases of coronavirus … woot! …. prompting the Premier Daniel Andrews to announce trick or treating was allowed this weekend – as long as it was socially distanced – the city was also digesting the equally happy prospect of a Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a real life crowd of real life people!
Oh happy day.
The Boxing Day Test is a cricket game that starts on Boxing Day between the Aussies and whichever country is touring for the summer, which in this year’s case will be India.
The news will make up a teensy bit for the fact that next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup – the biggest horse race in the country – will be run without any crowds at the racetrack to cheer the horses on. Because .. COVID.
POP CULTURE CORNER
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Chart topping singer The Weeknd and the rapper, Roddy Richh are the clear favourites going into next month’s American Music Awards, having both snared eight nominations each.
Hot on their heels is female rapper, Megan Thee Stallion with five nominations … and if these names are as foreign to you as they are to me, then we’re both in the same boat.
Squiz Kids ambassador, Flynn – of What’s Up Fox fame – tells me Roddy and Megan are hugely popular.
Names you might otherwise know nominated for an AMA or four include Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Aussie group Tame Impala – go you good thing – the Jonas Brothers, Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift.
Tay Tay is aiming to break her own record for the most number of AMAs – she currently the proud owner of 29.
The winners will be announced at a socially-distanced awards ceremony on November 22.
ROSIE’S RECIPES
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Every second Wednesday we stick our head into the Squiz Kids kitchen to see what Rosie’s been cooking up – and today, in honour of all our friends in Melbourne, it’s Rosie’s ‘No Restrictions’ Jam and Cream Donuts.
As Melburnians ran out this week to buy up all the donuts in town to celebrate the ‘zero’ new cases of coronavirus – Rosie thought it would be a great idea to dedicate this week’s Rosie’s Recipes to the wondrous donut – and to all you amazing Melburnians for being so strong and patient. Because who doesn’t love a donut?
The recipe plus photos of the process are all on the Squiz Kids websites. And remember: if you have a recipe you love to cook and you’d like Rosie to feature in this segment, 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 was found on the Moon that has scientists very excited?
- What popular video game has changed the names of some of its characters for the Chinese version?
- At which famous Australian sports stadium is the Boxing Day Test played every year?
SHOUT OUTS
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It’s October 28 … in America, it’s National Chocolate Day – where the magical brown material is celebrated and consumed in all its many forms. I’d like to formally propose we adopt this national day here too …
It’s also 58 sleeps til Christmas … yes …
Plus it’s a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today … Jack from Inverell, Emily from Madora Bay, Gavin from Shoal Bay, Zoe from the Sunshine Coast, Cam from Coonamble, Chelsea from Kempsey, Sienna from Wellington Point, Bridgette from Ashtonfield, and Malcolm who is currently living on a boat and has been travelling up the QLD coast.
Today’s belated birthday shoutout goes to… Olivia from Mereweather
Happy birthday one and all!
Classroom shoutouts… to Grace, Miss Porter-Shaw and all of Year 4 at Tudor House in Moss Vale, Stage 2 at Alexandria Park Community School, Class 3/4 Brown at Tenison Woods Catholic School , 4 Blue, 4Gold and 6Blue from St. Joseph’s Moorebank and class 3/4W at Oak Flats Public School.
The S’Quiz Answers:
- Water
- Pokemon
- Melbourne Cricket Ground