Latest Stories
-
The world’s favourite street turns 50
Is it the most important TV show of the last 50 years? Sesame Street has not only taught a generation of children to read and count, it teaches us to see the beauty of diversity in the world.
- Culture
- Reading Band 14+
-
Photo project inspires 76,000 young artists
Can anyone be an artist? Famous film-maker Steve McQueen has photographed 76,000 Year 3 children across London. He hopes the project will inspire them to become the artists of the future.
- Culture
- Reading Band 11
-
Be nicer to wasps, say scientists
Are we too harsh on wasps? The stinging insects are probably the most unpopular species on Earth, but scientists say that they have lots of important jobs in the natural world.
- Climate
- Reading Band 5
-
Kaboom! Calls for a ban on noisy fireworks
Should fireworks be silent? You may have heard lots of noisy explosions this week. They can be scary for animals. Luckily, we have invented fireworks that do not make any noise at all.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
-
Amazing plant burger spells end for meat
Should we celebrate the end of meat? Beyond Burger sizzles and bleeds, but it is made from plants. Its popularity is soaring as people turn away from meat altogether.
- Health
- Reading Band 11
-
Toxic air pollution chokes Delhi
Is this a glimpse of the future? Delhi in India is covered in a toxic fog. Schools are shut and people are staying indoors. In cities across the world, air pollution is a growing problem.
- Health
- Reading Band 14+
-
Alarm over microchip injections for UK workers
Is this exciting or a nightmare? Hundreds of workers across the world have been fitted with chips that can store personal data. Some fear a new era of surveillance.
- Science
- Reading Band 14+
-
Grub’s up! Restaurant puts bugs on the menu
Is eating insects a good idea? A restaurant in New York is serving grasshoppers, worms and scorpions to hungry customers. Some people think, soon, we will all eat insects.
-
Meet the woman who might be Shakespeare
Was Shakespeare a woman? For centuries, scholars have puzzled over Shakespeare’s true identity. Now, there is a new contender: Emilia Bassano, England’s first-published, female poet.
- Culture
- Reading Band 11
-
Magic and daemons in Philip Pullman TV series
Do we all have animal spirits? His Dark Materials, a popular book series adapted for TV, is set in a parallel world where everyone’s spirit lives inside an animal companion called a daemon.
- Culture
- Reading Band 8
-
Why driverless cars will be the end of an era
Has your family bought its last car? According to BBC journalist Justin Rowlatt, the answer maybe yes. He argues that electric, self-driving vehicles will soon make owning cars pointless.
- Technology
- Science
- Reading Band 14+
-
We have more than five senses, say scientists
Everyone knows that humans have five senses that let us experience the world around us. What if we had even more? Scientists now think that humans have a secret magnetic sense.
- Science
- Reading Band 8
-
Great news! Old people really are good for us
Should kids spend more time with older people? An important study says that it helps to boost reading and social skills. Some think that schools should be linked up with old people’s homes.
- Health
- Reading Band 5
-
Animal rights victory as fur bans sweep USA
Should fur products be banned? After California became the first US state to ban the sales of fur, US department store Macy’s has announced it will no longer sell fur clothing.
- Society
- Reading Band 11
-
Elephants try to help each other like humans
Do elephants have the same feelings as humans? Scientists now believe that elephants will do anything to help each other — even if it means putting themselves in danger.
- Science
- Reading Band 5