In today's news roundup, deadly flooding and landslides in Kinshasa kill over 140 people, South Koreans will become younger next year, and members of Parliament in the United Kingdom take a test meant for 11-year-olds - and do far worse than the students.
Published in “News Bag”
Last Sunday was the official birthday of the world's oldest land animal. Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise living on the island of Saint Helena, turned 190 years old. The event was celebrated with a big party, which included a special "salad cake".
In 1547, the King of Spain sent a coded letter to his ambassador in France. Now, after nearly 500 years, researchers have finally cracked the code and can read the letter. It turns out that the king was worried someone might be trying to kill him.
Scientists in Israel have discovered the earliest writing ever found that uses the letters of an alphabet. The writing, which talks about getting rid of lice, was carved on the side of a 3,700-year-old comb.
In today's news roundup, four ships carrying migrants rescued at sea are finally allowed to land in Italy and France, a new law in France requires solar panels on large parking lots, and Switzerland sets a record for the world's longest train.
Kids everywhere love to play. And they know that a ball is a perfect thing to play with. Now scientists at London's Queen Mary University report that bumblebees seem to know the same thing, making bumblebees the first insects known to play.
In today's news roundup, candy prices take a scary rise before Halloween, a teenager wins Florida's python-hunting contest, and over a thousand sheep cross through downtown Madrid.
Most mosquitoes are annoying, and a serious health risk. But some aren't. A few even help get rid of other mosquitoes. Now, scientists have discovered the head-popping secret that turns the larvae of some mosquitoes into deadly hunters of other mosquitoes.
In today's news roundup, Liz Truss resigns as the prime minister of the United Kingdom after just 45 days, California approves digital license plates, and a bakery in California recreates a life-size scene from Star Wars - out of bread dough.
Researchers in Australia have shown that human nerve cells in a dish can form a "brain" that can learn to play a simple video game. The research could help scientists understand the brain better. It could also lead to new kinds of computers.
In today's news roundup, protests continue across Iran despite a harsh crackdown from the government, NASA reports that its effort to change the path of an asteroid was successful, and a Minnesota man grows a pumpkin that weighs as much as a small car.