Latest Stories
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The smallest dinosaur that ever lived
A spectacular amber fossil holds the skull of the smallest dinosaur ever found: a bird-like creature that lived more than 99 million years ago and grew no bigger than a bee.
- Science
- Reading Band 8
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Summer holidays back on as lockdown lifts
Are foreign holidays really worth it? Many families are looking forward to heading off on summer trips after the government lifted travel restrictions for more than 50 countries on Friday.
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Lockdown brings no respite for rainforest
Is the coronavirus a threat to the rainforest? There may be fewer cars on the road and planes in the sky, but the Amazon is struggling as lockdown encourages increased illegal activity.
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The race to save the Great Barrier Reef
For the third time in a decade, the Great Barrier Reef has suffered mass coral bleaching. A recent survey found widespread damage as a result of a hot summer and rising sea temperatures.
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Polar ice sheets melting faster than ever
Are melting ice caps our most urgent problem? With ice in Antarctica and Greenland melting faster than ever before, scientists warn of catastrophic consequences if we do not act quickly.
- Climate
- Reading Band 11
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Zoo celebrates birth of rare baby elephant
Chester Zoo has been working in India on projects helping to protect wild elephants. Its latest arrival should help raise more awareness of the species – and the threats it is facing.
- Science
- Reading Band 8
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The koala bear hospital saving fire victims
Hot and dry weather in Australia has made its annual forest fires much worse this year. The country’s favourite animals, koala bears, are being rescued and looked after in special hospitals.
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Volcano risk fears rise after fatal eruption
Are deadly volcanos becoming more frequent? An active volcano on New Zealand’s White Island has exploded. Some scientists think this could be the first of many more terrible eruptions.
- Science
- Reading Band 11
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Anger and sadness over seal with coffee bottle
Is our sea life in danger? Baby porpoises are poisoned by chemicals. A whale washes up with 100kg of litter in its stomach. Now, a seal clutches a coffee cup in a viral photograph.
- Climate
- Reading Band 11
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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
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Plenty of food, but millions are starving
Can we feed everyone? World Food Day is this week. We already make enough for 10 billion people — and, yet, one in nine humans does not have enough food. How did that happen?
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Climate protests cause chaos in 60 cities
Are Extinction Rebellion protestors heroes? All week long, they have disrupted city centres around the world. They say it is the only way to save our future. But many disagree.
- Climate
- Reading Band 14+
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Happy birthday modern China, 70 this week!
Is China the world’s most important country? It certainly has the most people. And for most of history it has also been the richest — the inventor of paper, gunpowder and the compass…
- Society
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Nations get together to help save Earth
But will they make a real difference? This week, nations were all summoned to a great gathering in New York to present solid plans to speed up progress on reducing greenhouse gases.
- Climate
- Reading Band 11
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Seals, dolphins, porpoises thriving in Thames
Does nature always bounce back? The Thames was declared dead, without oxygen, in the 1950s. This summer, 138 seal pups were spotted basking on the banks, and swimming among new marine life.