National Geographic Kids Australia-New Zealand - Issue 106 2024

Woohoo! I’m
making a
splash!
Happy New Year!
I hope you had a fun festive
break and are excited about
2024. To celebrate Chinese New
Year on 10 February – the Year
of the Dragon – we've scoured
Georgia
the planet in search of some
real-life 'dragons'. Turn to page 12 to meet them!
This month's cute cover star is a harp
seal pup – and on page 6, Nat Geo Explorer
Bertie Gregory watches one take its first
swim in the icy ocean! Also this issue, we
learn all about Artificial Intelligence,
discover the geology behind birthstones,
and check out the world's slimiest creature.
Enjoy the puzzles and posters, too.
See you next month!
Editor Georgia and the Nat Geo Kids team
6
HARP SEALS ON ICE!
12
SPECIES SHOWCASE!
Hanging out with fluffy pups
and their families
4 COOL POSTERS!
COOL QR CODES!
We’ve put some QR codes
in this month’s mag. If you
point a smart device at
them you’ll be taken to more
awesome stuff online. Try it here!
Meet seven remarkable
real-life ‘dragons’…
14
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Tech expert Mike Wooldridge tells
us all about Artificial Intelligence
SCAN
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Write to NG KiDS
Cover: All pictures © Getty Images UK.
This page: Seal © Bertie Gregory; Gem © Bildagentur-online / th-foto / Alamy;
Big Interview © Paul Wilkinson Photography; All other pictures © Getty Images UK.
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS is the world’s biggest-selling monthly
general-interest magazine for children, with a worldwide
circulation of 1.7 million in more than 20 countries.
22
GEMS THAT ROCK!
Which star shares your birthstone
– and what does it mean?
29
FUN STUFF
Exercise your brain
with our puzzle pages!
PLUS!
3 Wacky World The planet’s
4
21
strangest photos
Cool News Inspiring stories
from around the globe…
The Big Question What’s
the world’s slimiest creature?!
26 Junior Explorers’ Club
Your letters, pictures and crafts!
28 Weird But True Facts about super
squirrels, quirky comets and more!
33 Make It Weave a lucky Mexican
handicraft – a God’s Eye!
34 Puzzle Answers and Jokes
Oi, no cheating!
WORLD!
Check out
the planet’s
strangest
pictures…
Jungle giants
A dog’s life
Meet Toco, the collie. Or rather, ‘Toco’, the human who spends
his days dressed as a collie! The anonymous man, from Tokyo
in Japan, almost AU$20,000 on his fetch-ing canine costume,
realising his childhood dream of becoming a ‘dog’. People stop
him when he’s out and about to take photos or stroke him – and
he’s even been interviewed in, er, pawson on TV. Howl strange!
Until 21 January, visitors to the Jardin des Plantes in
Paris, France, can head off on a magical nighttime walk
around the 17th-century botanical garden, getting up
close to gigantic lanterns shaped like rainforest plants
and animals from around the world. Very cool!
Pebble Picasso
Justin Bateman makes portraits of
people and animals out of a very
unusual material – stones! The artist,
from Portsmouth in the UK, can take
up to a month to painstakingly position
pebbles of different sizes and colours
into these amazing mosaics, which
range from 1m to 8m in size. “Each
piece can contain between 2,000 and
30,000 stones,” Jason explains. Whoa!
Pebble Picasso © Justin Bateman; A dog’s life © Franck Robichon /
EPA-EFE / Shutterstock; ; All others © Getty Images UK.
WACKY
HAIRLARIOUS
ROOFTOP
RELAXATION
This ‘giant ‘ was spotted
hanging out on the roof of
a house in Shanghai, China,
recently. Turns out it was
just a sculpture, placed
there to promote a
clothing brand!
Check out this hairy pair!
The dad and son were two
of the competitors in the
Mulletfest 2023 Grand Final
in Australia’s Hunter Valley,
raising money for brain
cancer research.
Trim-endous!
WILD RIDE
Hundreds of people took to
the skies in November during the
21st International Hot Air Balloon
Festival in Leon, Mexico. This birdshaped balloon was our fave flyer!
COOL
It’s a De Winton’s
golden mole!
Inspiring
stories from
around the
globe…
Return of the golden mole!
Mole tracks in
their sandy habitat!
How cute is this De Winton’s golden mole?! The sweet
species was recently rediscovered in Port Nolloth,
South Africa, after being lost to science for 87 years!
Totally blind and relying on their sensitive hearing to navigate,
the moles ‘swim’ through sand dunes, leaving faint tracks
behind. The shy, speedy creatures are almost never seen –
which is why conservationists thought they’d gone extinct.
In 2021, researchers from the Endangered Wildlife Trust
spotted moles they suspected were De Winton’s – but they
needed DNA evidence to be sure. Two long years later, they
finally found it in fresh mole trails on the sand. Brilliant!
The scientists now plan to train a scent detection dog to
find more of the critically endangered moles, so they can
be documented and their habitat protected. Hooray!
Litter-Picking World Cup!
The first ever Litter-Picking World Cup took
place in Tokyo, Japan, last November, with
three-person teams competing to collect
and sort the most litter in just 90 minutes! The UK
took the top spot, clearing up a whopping 57kg of
rubbish to beat teams from 20 countries including
Australia, USA and Japan.
But the contest wasn’t just about winning…
Since 2008, local ‘SpoGomi’ contests have been
held all over Japan, encouraging communities to
work together to tidy public spaces. The name
‘SpoGomi’ is a combo of ‘sport’ and the Japanese
word ‘gomi-hiroi’, which means ‘trash-gathering’.
Organisers hope other countries will be inspired to
start their own eco-friendly events. Sign us up!
A member of the Australian
litter-picking team in
Shibuya, Tokyo
STUDIO GHIBLI
There’s now a UK stage version of Studio Ghibli’s
iconic animation My Neighbour Totoro! Let’s learn
about the Japanese animators behind the tale…
Known for their cute
The films’ iconic
1stories
2
characters and
hand-drawn art
of adventure,
style was created by
love and friendship,
Studio Ghibli’s
animated films have
captured the hearts of
kids (and adults!) since
1985. Each whimsical
tale transports viewers to
a magical fantasy world!
co-founder, animator
and director Hayao
Miyazaki. Also a manga
(Japanese comic) artist,
he included many
themes from his own
life in the films, such as
war and family illness.
Three cheers for the
UK’s rubbish winners!
Sisters Mei and
Satsuki in My
Neighbour
Totoro!
One of Studio Ghibli’s
3
best-loved films,
My Neighbour Totoro,
has been brought to
life on stage*! In the
heart-warming
production, cuddly
forest creature Totoro
and the enormous
Catbus are portrayed by
huge puppets. Wow!
*My Neighbour Totoro is on stage at London’s Barbican, UK until 23 March 2024.
The original animation can be seen on Netflix, along with many other Studio Ghibli movies.
Totoro and the girls in
the original animation
Sand rain on ‘Candyfloss’ planet!
Check out ‘Candyfloss’ planet – an exoplanet**
about 200 light-years away from Earth, where
sand falls like rain!
Nicknamed for its fluffy-looking atmosphere, the
planet was first detected in 2017. But thanks to images
from the powerful James Webb Space Telescope, which
was sent into space in December 2021, astronomers
have been able to learn more about it. They’ve found
clouds of sand in its atmosphere, as well as gases like
water vapour and toxic sulphur dioxide, which
smells like burnt matches!
Despite being bigger than 30 Earths, the planet –
scientific name WASP-107b – has very little mass because
it’s a ‘gas giant’, like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
We wonder what else will discovered on this fluffy
faraway world?!
et has
This weird plan
phere!
os
m
at
’
fy
uf
‘fl
a
Key events for
your diary!
FEB
2
World Wetlands Day
Say ‘yay’ for the planet’s precious
fens, swamps and marshes!
**An exoplanet is any planet that orbits a star beyond our solar system.
Teen saves grandad!
12
Darwin Day
Find out about the
great scientist by
scanning this code!
FEB
Henry was reunited with
the Fowey RNLI rescue crew
last month and they gave
him a certificate of thanks!
10
Chinese New Year
Head to page 12 to welcome
in the Year of the Dragon!
HAPPY WORD OF THE MONTH!
M EA N D
Mole and tracks © JP Le Roux / Re:wild; Henry lifeboat (both) © RNLI / Ian Foster; Planet © LUCA School of Arts, Belgium /
Klaas Verpoest; Studio Ghibli stage show, photograph by Manuel Harlan © RSC with Nippon TV; My Neighbour Totoro
art © Studio Ghibli / Tokuma-Shoten / Nibariki / Kobal / Shutterstock; All others © Getty Images UK.
Mayday, mayday! A quick-thinking UK teen
saved his grandad’s life last September after
he fell into the sea from their sailing boat.
Thirteen-year-old Henry and his grandad David
Richards, 70, were competing in a sailing race in
St. Austell Bay, Cornwall, when David tumbled
overboard. Left alone on the 5m-long boat, Henry
kept calm. He collapsed the spinnaker sail, slowing
the craft down, then radioed for urgent help.
Soon, the Fowey RNLI lifeboats arrived and their
volunteers scooped David from the waves before
helping Henry sail safely back to harbour.
Thanks to Henry’s swift actions, David was rescued
after just 20 minutes in the water. He was cold and
tired but otherwise unharmed. Well done, Henry!
FEB
Henry and his
grateful
grandad!
FEB
ER
In ancient times, a certain river,
named after the river god
Maeander, was celebrated for
its long and winding course.
It turned this way and that as it
flowed through a region called Ionia
until it reached the Aegean Sea. This river still flows today in southwestern Turkey, and is now called the Büyük Menderes River. The
Maeander River was so well known that ‘meandering’ became a word
in English for wandering aimlessly or following a winding course.
And the word can truly bring feelings of calm and serenity, as you
picture yourself meandering across a field on a lazy summer’s day.
This wonderful word is taken from Roots of Happiness: 100 Words for
Joy and Hope by Susie Dent, illustrated by Harriet Hobday.
Valentine’s Day
14
Send a card to someone you like!
FEB
17
World Pangolin Day
Celebrate the scaly mammals!
natgeokids.com
5
On the Ice
With
Filmmaker and National Geographic
Explorer Bertie Gregory spent ten
days filming harp seals in the wild.
Here he tells us how he became just
another pup in this seal family…
I’m watching a ten-day-old harp seal pup peer
off the edge of a piece of sea ice in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, off the coast of Canada. Its mum yelps at it
from the water, encouraging the pup to join her. The pup
looks at me with its big, black eyes as if to ask, ‘Should I do it?’
“I’ve been in Canada for ten days filming these newborns
during their first days of life. These pups are born into an
icy world where they must quickly learn how to survive –
and I want to show how tough these cute creatures are.
I also really want to film a pup diving into the ocean for
its first-ever swim.
“I’m shivering. I’ve been in the minus 1°C water for nearly half
an hour. But if I get out now, I might miss capturing the seal’s
first dive. My teeth chatter as I tighten my grip on my waterproof
camera. I’ve worked too hard to miss what happens next.
Bertie
observes a
harp seal pup
6
National Geographic Kids
PUPS ON ICE
S
I
A
R
A
U
O
GR
A harp seal dives
into the icy water
Turn over to get up close to
these amazing animals…
natgeokids.com
7
Main image and single pup © Bertie Gregory;
Bertie with pup © Spencer Millsap; Bertie headshot © Getty Images UK.
Where
harp seals
live
A
N
N O RT H
AMERICA
O
Gulf of St. Lawrence
TL
A
CE NTIC
AN
ND )
LA rk
N ma
n
(D EE
e
PE
ARCTIC
OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEA
“Flash back to nearly two weeks ago: I’m peering
out of a helicopter’s window, looking at
thousands of harp seals gathered on floating
chunks of sea ice called floes. The females
are caring for their pups, which are born
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence from late
February to early March.
“The helicopter lands on a floe
E
at the edge of the harp seal
colony. Under the whirring
propellers, I jump out. I’m
followed by filmmaker
Spencer Millsap and
Norman Gregoire, a local ice
expert who acts as our guide
and makes sure we don’t get
x
into any unsafe situations.
Madeleine Islands
(Canada)
“The ice is crowded with
hundreds of teeny-tiny pups
that have just been born. Some are
only 15 minutes old. The newborns
aren’t very cute – they’re pale yellow
and soggy. But in a few hours, their fur dries
out and puffs up, making them the cutest
animals on the planet!
“The pups are nervous. We hear their pitiful
squeaking, so we hang back. They’re also very
weak, not yet strong enough to lift their
heads. I think about how they’ll transform from
flabby little blobs to fluffy white sausages in
just a few days. Watching them drink their
mother’s milk, I know they’ll gain
blubber (fat) fast. They
have to. When they’re
about 12 days old, their
Each year,
mums will disappear
harp seals can
forever, migrating north
migrate about
towards Greenland and
5,000km.
their feeding grounds.
“After about ten hours,
the helicopter arrives to take us
back to the nearby Madeleine Islands, where
we’ll be sleeping. We leave a GPS beacon
behind to mark the position of the colony.
Since the seals live on top of floating ice,
the wind and currents will move their
home to a different location. Tomorrow,
the seals could be 30km away, so we’ll
need the GPS to find them.”
“But that’s when I spot a pup eyeing the
pool with its enormous eyes, like it’s thinking
about jumping into the water. I grab my
camera and gently enter the pool.
“At first, the pup’s mum is not happy to see
me. She circles me in the water, as if she’s
asking, ‘What are you?’ I know she’s just
protecting her baby. After watching me bob
in the water, she decides I’m a useless
creature, not a threat! She then ignores
Adult
me and starts swimming back and
harp seals can
forth along the ice’s edge, gently
dive as deep as
calling to her pup to encourage it
300m – that’s
to test out the water.
almost as deep
“Then, suddenly – splash! The pup
as Paris’ Eiffel
bellyflops into the pool. It’s freaking
Tower is tall!
out, thrashing all over the place and
calling for its mother like a little sheep.
Mum swims towards the pup, calling out as
if to say, ‘You’ve got this!’
Staying warm in his drysuit,
Bertie films in the freezing water
SHADOWING
SEALS
“Throughout our first week, we watch
the pups learn to move across the ice.
Unlike sea lions, which have longer
flippers and a strong upper body to help
them ‘walk,’ seals have short flippers that
can’t lift their bodies. So pups and adults
move on the ground like fluffy
caterpillars, flopping all over the place.
“The pups spend much of their first week
alone on the ice, waiting for their mums
to return from hunting. But during the
second week, the mums begin calling out
for the pups to join them in the water.
The mothers must now teach their pups
how to swim before all the adults head
north for good. My chance to see a pup’s
first swimming lesson is close.
“Between floating pieces of ice are pools
of water – some as small as a garden
paddling pool – that are perfect for a pup’s
first swim. So I look for babies hanging out
near the edges, hoping they’ll soon splash
into the ocean.
“Wearing my drysuit, I quietly slip into
a pool where some mums are calling out
to their babies. The icy water stings the
tiny bit of exposed skin on my upper lip,
but I focus on the seals and not the
temperature. Maybe the pups sense how
cold I am, because they don’t want to join
me. I don’t blame them!
INTO THE OCEAN
“By day ten, we still haven’t seen a pup
take its first swim. I’m starting to worry
that lugging our equipment around this
frozen habitat has all been for nothing.
PUP KISSES
“As the pup figures out how to stay afloat,
Mum zooms over to scare off some large
male harp seals trying to enter the pool.
She doesn’t want anything harming her baby.
“With Mum busy, it’s just me and the pup.
The baby blinks at me, like it’s trying to
figure out what I might be. Wiggling its
whiskers, it paddles forward. I stay still,
not sure what’s going to happen. The pup
sniffs my face – then it leans forward and
tries to give me a kiss!
A photo from a helicopter
shows two harp seals in a pool
Quickchange
artists
Fast-growing
harp seal pups
don’t look the
same for long.
These eight
names describe
the seal’s
different stages
of growth…
8
1 day old
Yellowcoat
A newborn
harp seal is pale
yellow because
its fur has been
stained by the
fluids in its
mother’s womb.
National Geographic Kids
3 days old
Whitecoat
Bleached by
the sun, the
seal’s soft fur
turns pure white
and stays that
way for nearly
two weeks.
12 days old »
Greycoat
Spots and
darker fur
start to show
through the
pup’s white
fur, giving it a
greyish look.
21 days old
Ragged jacket
As the pup sheds
its white coat, it
takes on a tattered
appearance. Some
pups swim and
dive on their
own at this stage.
Filming © Spencer Millsap; Seals in ice, mum and baby © Bertie Gregory; Yellowcoat © Jeff Foott /
Getty Images; Whitecoat © Werner Bollmann / Getty Images; Greycoat © Gary Cralle / Getty Images;
Beater © Jennifer Hayes / National Geographic Image Collection; Adult © T. Nakamura Volvox Inc. / Getty Images.
A mum and baby get close
for a ‘harp seal kiss’
“This behaviour, called a ‘harp seal
kiss,’ is usually between the mum and
the baby so they can get to know each
other’s scent. I don’t want this pup to
think I’m a relative, so I float away from
the baby, as if to say, ‘Nope, I’m not
your mum!’
BENEATH THE ICE
“For an hour and a half, I watch the
pup go from flopping around in a panic to
excitedly doggy-paddling around the pool.
Still filming, I capture the baby dipping its
entire body underwater. Above the surface,
these creatures sound like sheep, but
down below, their echoes off the ice
sound like an alien invasion. Listening to
this strange sci-fi soundtrack, I watch the
25 days old »
Beater
The young seal is
now silvery grey
with black spots.
The name ‘beater’
refers to its clumsy
early attempts to
swim and dive.
Harp
seals are known
as ‘earless’ seals
mum and pup swirl through
because they don’t a graceful underwater acrobat.
I feel especially grateful to have
the water like ballet dancers.
have external
“Soon the pup tires and is
been accepted into this harp
earflaps. (They
ready to get out. For the next
seal colony.
do have ears,
“Before I saw a pup in person,
ten minutes, it tries to pull itself
though!)
I couldn’t imagine how a twoout of the water, with the mum
nudging its backside with her nose.
week-old seal could survive on its
Eventually, back on the ice, the
own in such a harsh environment. But
after watching how quickly these animals
exhausted pup drinks more milk
adapt, I get it. They’re the ultimate
before falling asleep.
survivors. Hopefully when they’re
older, the pups we’ve seen will be
teaching their own babies how
to swim for the first time.
HARP SEALS
FOREVER
“I look at Spencer and Norman in
amazement: we’ve just seen a harp seal pup
swim for the first time! It’s been so incredible
seeing this wobbly blob on the ice turn into
14 months old
Bedlamer
Another moult
and the seal gets
a new name that
sounds like the
French phrase
‘bête de la mer,’ or
‘beast of the sea.’
4 years old
Spotted harp
A black pattern
begins to appear
on the coat as
the spots fade.
Some females
keep this
‘harp’ for life.
Flipper over the page to see
more pics of cute pups!
» 5–10 years old
Adult harp
Mature males
and many
females also
develop black
markings on
their faces
and backs.
natgeokids.com
9
SEAL TAKES
SEAL SNAPS! TOA BABY
THE WAVES…
A brave
pup goes
for its
first swim…
...while its mum looks
on with encouragement!
2
1
“GO FOR IT, KID!”
“I’M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS, MUM...”
Harp
seals have a seethrough eyelid
that protects
their eyes
underwater.
The seal pup checks
out Bertie during
its first swim
4
3
“I DID IT! I’M SWIMMING!”
“SO… WHAT ARE YOU?”
Pup looking down © Ingo Arndt / NPL / Minden Pictures; Mum, pup swimming and Bertie with pup ©
Bertie Gregory; Pup looking up © Fred Bruemmer / Getty Images; Pup resting © Mario Cyr / National
Geographic Image Collection.
5
“CAN I GO AGAIN?”
Shrinking
sea ice
In March 2021, harp seal
pups were photographed on
a snow-covered beach in
Canada (below). The problem?
Well, adult harp seals usually
give birth on the ice in the
middle of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence – not on land.
As the Earth’s temperature
rises, so does the temperature
of the ocean. And that means
there’s less pack ice for harp
seals to give birth on. Helpless
newborn pups need stable sea
ice to rest on – if they’re born
on the shore, they risk being
eaten by land-based predators
such as coyotes or crushed by
chunks of ice.
Experts are using drone
technology to study these
animals and their habitat to
come up with ways to fight
climate change in the region.
The scientists hope they
can learn from these ‘eyes
in the sky’ and better protect
the harp seal pups in their
icy environment.
A pup rests on
a snow-covered
beach in a town
near Canada’s
Gulf of St. Lawrence
ANIMALS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY IS STREAMING ON DISNEY+
natgeokids.com
11
SPECCIAESS
E!
SHOW
KOMODO
DRAGON
From: Komodo and other Lesser Sunda islands in
Indonesia, Southeast Asia
The largest lizards on Earth, these fearsome reptiles can measure
3m long – that’s way longer than your bed! – and weigh more
than an adult human! Powerful hunters, their bite
contains a deadly venom that stops
blood clotting. After an attack,
they calmly follow prey,
waiting for the toxins
to take effect
before tucking
in. Scary!
LEAFY
SEADRAGON
From: Rocky reefs off the south coast of Australia
Thanks to their amazing leaflike camouflage,
these fish are perfectly hidden in seaweed. They
slurp up thousands of tiny shrimps each day using
their straw-like mouths, eventually growing to about
30cm in length – that’s almost the height of this mag!
DRACO LIZARD
From: Tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia
Also known as ‘flying dragons,’ these lizards
have ‘wings’ and can glide over 50m between
trees! The teacup-sized reptiles catch the
‘Draco’ is
breeze using flaps of skin that unfold
Latin for
between their long ribs. Wow!
‘dragon’.
Flying draco lizard © Alamy; All others © Getty Images UK.
Male Komodo
dragons fight for a
mate by wrestling
on their hind legs.
Using their tails
to balance, they
try to throw their
opponent to the
ground. Eek!
Chinese New Year begins
on 10 February – and 2024
is the Year of the Dragon.
We celebrate by checking
out seven real-life ‘dragons’!
According to the
Chinese Zodiac, people
born in dragon years are
natural leaders who
don’t shy away from
challenges. The last
dragon year was 2012 –
do you know anyone
born then?
In Chinese
mythology, dragons
are wise, powerful
creatures that
symbolise good
fortune. They live in
water, and are thought
to have power over
the wind and rain.
The flying,
firebreathing,
people-chomping
monsters of myths,
films and novels don’t
really exist – but
there’s plenty of
inspiration to be
found in nature!
SPINY BUSH VIPER
From: Rainforests, woods and swamps in Central Africa
With their beady eyes and spiny scales, these scary
snakes might be mistaken for legless dragons (aka
‘wyrms‘ in mythology). They spend the day snoozing in
flowering bushes, waking up at night to ambush prey
with a fatal, venomous bite.
BLUE
DRAGON
From: Temperate and tropical
oceans worldwide
This ‘dragon’ is a toxic sea slug! Just 3cm long, it floats on
its back at the ocean’s surface, feeding on venomous
siphonophores (jellyfish-like creatures). It stores their stinging
cells inside its blue frills, making itself poisonous to predators.
SHOCKING PINK
DRAGON
MILLIPEDE
From: Limestone caves in Thailand, Southeast Asia
Discovered in 2007, these millipedes are named for
their pink spines, which reminded scientists of
dragon scales! If threatened, the 3cm-long bugs roll
up like hedgehogs with their spines facing out. They
secrete a poisonous chemical from defence glands
on the sides of their bodies. Yikes!
BEARDED
DRAGON
From: Deserts, savannahs and scrublands in Australia
These reptiles wave, bob their heads, and change the
colour of their spiny ‘beard’ to communicate with other
lizards. If their chin is puffed up and the spiky ‘beard’
scales are dark-coloured, steer clear – because it means
the beardy could be ready to attack!
THE
INTERVIEW
Artificial Intelligence
expert Professor Mike
Wooldridge explains the
tech everyone’s talking
about – and how it will
completely change the
world. But don’t panic!
ridge
Name: Mike Woold
at the
Job: Professor of AI ity
rs
ive
Un
rd
fo
UK’s Ox
s 14
Fun fact : Mike wa
t
rs
fi
s
hi
t
go
he
en
wh
ck
ba
y
wa
computer,
e
in 1980. He fell in lov use
ca
be
g
with computin
it was so creative – s
and spent long hour
programming late
into the night!
All images of Mike or Christmas Lectures © Paul Wilkinson Photography UK; All others © Getty Images UK.
AI technology –
known as neural
networks – was
inspired by looking at
animal brains under
a microscope!
14
Be careful
what you share
on social media!
Tech companies
use your info as
‘training data’.
WANT TO WORK IN AI?
Here’s Mike’s advice!
“If you want to be an AI researcher like me, don’t be afraid
of mathematics. Maths is the language of science and
so it helps with AI. But actually you don’t need to be an AI
researcher to do amazing things. Young people growing
up with this technology will do things old fogeys like me
can only dream of!”
Watch: Check out the 2023 Christmas Lectures from early
January on The Royal Institution YouTube channel.
Study: Maths! But also Science subjects and Psychology.
Read: Robots, Gadgets, and Artifical Intelligence from
Oxford University Press.
National Geographic Kids
Many AI
robots are based
on animals, not
humans! That’s
because they can move
and balance more
easily with four
or more legs.
Mike with a talking robot dog!
Hi Mike! First things
first: what exactly is
Artificial Intelligence?
AI – Artificial Intelligence
– is computer programs
Expand your mind at the
that can do things which
Ri Christmas Lectures!
previously only human brains,
bodies and nervous systems could do.
Can you give us some examples of
poachers. In the
AI that we’re already using?
decades ahead, I think
Voice assistant devices like Alexa and
‘Environmental Monitoring’
Siri are very much AI. And those apps on
Mike high-fives
will be one of the big and cool
smartphones that can turn you into an
an AI robot!
uses – it could also help us
old person, or make you look like an
understand and prevent climate change.
alien, they’re all Artificial Intelligence!
Will AI ever be used to help us
If you’ve ever used Google Translate,
Fun! Can AI robots experience feelings
communicate
that’s AI, too. And you may
or emotions?
with animals?
open your smartphone with
They can already pretend that they have
“Artificial
Oh yes. We’re going to
facial recognition – also AI.
emotions, but they don’t experience
Intelligence
see a super-cool
Wow, so it’s everywhere
anything. AI might make you think
is already
example of
already! How does AI
it’s happy or sad, but it really,
this in the
learn to do things – like
really isn’t.
saving lives!”
Royal
recognise faces in photos,
Will that ever happen?
Institution Christmas
for example?
The truth is, most
Lectures (see bottom
Every time you upload a picture of
people working in AI
left). But I’m not
yourself onto social media and tag it
don’t find the idea
allowed to tell you
with your name, you’re providing what
of machines with
any more about
we call ‘training data’ for the AI to use.
emotions very
it, I’m afraid!
Got it. What’s the most incredible
interesting. I mean,
You tease! You’re
thing that AI can already do?
why would I build
also going to
It’s transforming healthcare right now!
an AI toaster that
conduct a ‘Turing
There are computer programs that
hated itself because
Test’ to see if people
can analyse X-rays or scans taken
it burnt my toast?
can tell the difference
at the hospital and recognise when
It’s pointless!
British mathematician Alan
between a human and
something’s wrong. That’s life-saving!
Haha! Should we
Turing, 1912 –1954
an AI response. Please
In the future, AI could improve our health
worry about AI taking
tell
us
more!
on a massive scale.
over the world?
Well, this test was invented by Alan
Can AI help wildlife, too?
There’s an ‘extinction scenario’
Turing, who was one of the first serious
AI drones with cameras are already being
theory that AI is going to take over from
thinkers about AI. He was fed up with
used to monitor some national parks.
the human race and get rid of us all –
people saying, “Oh, machines will never
They can check the vegetation to ensure
because why would intelligent machines
be able to understand or think.” So he
that animals have enough to eat and
need us? But I don’t believe that.
invented the Turing Test as a way of
are healthy. They can also patrol parks,
Phew!
shutting them up!
looking for
Another scenario is that we will have
Ha! How does it work?
robot servants doing everything
You have a human ‘judge’ who doesn’t
for us and so we’ll never have to
know if they’re having a conversation
work again. I don’t believe that either.
(via a computer screen) with a human
There’s no doubt that AI will replace
or AI. Alan Turing said that if, after a
some jobs, though! What kind of
short period of time asking them
jobs do you think will be left when
questions, the judge can’t tell
our readers grow up?
who’s who, then we should
I’m an optimist about this. If we do it
just accept that AI has humanright then AI will take the jobs that we
like intelligence.
really don’t want to do; the dangerous,
Has AI ever passed the test?
boring jobs which don’t require much
There have been many attempts imagination. But most people will
since Turing invented it 70
encounter AI as just another tool that
years ago. But no computer
they use like a computer. It won’t
programmers have got close
replace them.
until recently. So we’re going
to try this out at the Christmas
Turn the page
Lectures with some special
to learn more…
guest judges.
AiDa Robot – the world’s first ultra-realistic
robot artist – will join Mike on stage during the
Christmas Lectures, and paint his portrait!
natgeokids.com
15
EXPERIMENTING WITH AI
A great way to figure out what AI can do is
to grab a grown-up and have a play around
with ChatGPT – a free ChatBot from OpenAI.
But you MUST do this WITH a responsible
adult, because it is not meant for kids under
13, and kids over 13 must have permission
from a parent. You can use Chat GPT as a
Chatbot, or you can give it prompts to
create poems, stories, letters and images.
IMPORTANT: Anything you type will be
remembered, so NEVER reveal any
personal information!
AI created this super-realistic
harp seal image!
ASK AN
ADULT!
Mike © Paul Wilkinson Photography; All others © Getty Images UK.
That is optimistic. But it
turns out that AI is very
The UK
good at creative things,
Government hosted
too. It can write songs,
a recent AI Safety
plays and poems, and
Summit to talk about
British PM Rishi Sunak
produce artwork…
the risks of Artificial
and tech boss Elon Musk
Yes, over the last couple of years,
Intelligence and
discuss AI safety
AI has turned out to be surprisingly
how AI could be
creative. I don’t think J.K. Rowling or
regulated.
Taylor Swift need to be worried – but
The only thing we can do is go to
some kinds of creative jobs are a bit
trusted media sources where we can
under threat.
have confidence that what we’re reading
So what jobs can’t AI do?
is accurate and has been fact-checked.
Work that involves manual dexterity
Do you think there should be more
What do you
– using your hands. There’s no AI
rules around AI?
think about kids using AI programs
technology on the horizon that’s going
I do. Some companies use AI programs to
like Chat GPT to help with homework?
to replace physical jobs like plumbers,
It can be a useful research tool – but
carpenters or electricians. And we’re not call you up on your telephone and let you
believe that it’s a human being that you’re it’s not perfect. So always double check
remotely near to having AI that could go
talking to! Do you think that’s acceptable?
that what it’s telling you is true. The
in and tidy up a scruffy bedroom.
I don’t. You should never be fooled into
golden rule is to never pass off
Oh, that’s a shame!
thinking that you’re talking
something that AI
Some of the things that humans find
to another human being.
produced as your
easy, like riding a bicycle, are actually
“AI can’t tidy
That’s weird! We agree.
own work.
tremendously difficult for AI.
up a scruffy
It’s also sensible to have
We think this would be
That’s interesting to know. Are there
regulation around how
bedroom yet –
a good time to mention
any other worries about AI?
data about you is used by
we brainstormed
A risk that already concerns us is Artificial
unfortunately!” that
AI algorithms and tech
some of these questions
Intelligence spreading deepfakes* or
companies. If you care
using ChatGPT!
misinformation on social media.
about your privacy – and you should –
Did you really?! I’m shocked and stunned.
Can you give us an example?
then you need to think about what
I feel cheated!
Well, during elections, AI can be used
AI does with your data.
Haha! Sorry, Mike. We wanted to try
to produce fake stories about
Why should we care
it out as a research tool! For our final
politicians doing or saying
*Deepfakes
about privacy?
question – what do you think the
something horrible. It can then
are AI-generated
future of AI will look like?
target people who it knows
videos or images that Unfortunately, once data
about you is out there on
In the best-case scenario, it’s going to
are likely to believe these fake
make it look like the
the internet it’s virtually
free us from an awful lot of drudgery
stories based on views they
people in them are
and enrich our lives. And your readers
have shared on social media.
doing or saying things impossible to get rid of it.
So you might film yourself
are going to be the ones that use this
By being fed disinformation
they never actually
doing something which you
technology in ways we can’t even begin
in their ‘news feed’, people
did or said!
think is funny at the age of
to imagine right now. It’s going to be
may be persuaded to vote in a
nine and upload it on social
weird, but it’s going to be wonderful!
way that they wouldn’t have
media. But in ten years’ time you
Let’s hope so! Thanks, Mike.
otherwise. And that would be worrying.
might not think it’s funny at all. And it
Yikes! So how can we make sure
might come back to haunt you when
NGK used ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas
that stories we’re hearing on social
for some of these questions.
media are true? you’re applying for a job!
© Getty Images UK.
MOUNTAiN LiON
© Getty Images UK.
SiLVEREYE
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How will you re
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wildlife shots? W
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w
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a ‘Whoa’ or an
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a
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k
o
v
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guarantee
Aww!
Fan
Cub
Hey there, brown bear!
Both adult bears and cubs,
like this one in Finland,
can stand on their hind
legs to get a better view.
(Sometimes of you!)
Big
Smile
Photos to give you
warm fuzzies…
Native to Australia, a baby quokka
lives in its mother’s pouch for its first
six months. Once out, the joey spends
another few months keeping close to
Mum for protection, milk and snuggles!
The cute ‘grin’ on a web-footed gecko is just
extra mouth space to gulp up crickets,
grasshoppers and spiders in southern Africa.
For these African fliers, love really is in the air.
Rosy-faced lovebirds form partnerships that
can last their whole 15 to 25 years of life. Aww!
2
Animal Moments
Quick
Cuddle
Brown bear © Wouter Pattyn / Buiten Beeld / Minden Pictures; Quokkas © Jean-Paul Ferrero / Auscape / Minden Pictures;
Web-footed gecko © Vincent Grafhorst / Minden Pictures; Rosy-faced lovebirds © Ward Poppe / Shutterstock.
Moment of
Love
Peck
Moment of
Huh?
These pics will make you
wonder what’s up…
Scientists aren’t sure why the Cocos
batfish has bright red lips, but they
do know that the fish’s four leglike
fins help it walk along the seafloor.
Carry
On
Batfish © Birgitte Wilms / Minden Pictures; Alligators © Lockwood, C.C. / Animals Animals; Butterfly and
turtle © Nick Hawkins / Nature Picture Library; Mantis © Konrad Wothe / Minden Pictures.
No need to call a taxi – this
American alligator hatchling
can hitch a ride inside its mum’s mouth!
A sweet moment? Try salty instead. This
Julia butterfly is drinking the salt-filled
tears of a black wood turtle, lapping up a
mineral the insect can’t get from flowers.
This Mediterranean mantis isn’t doing a fancy
dance! By stretching and flashing its bluish
wing spots, the flamboyant insect startles
predators so it can make an escape. Smart move!
Pucker
Up!
Big
Surprise
Butterfly
Kiss
Animal Moments
3
Whee!
Bumpy
Flight
Sun
‘n’
Surf
All aboard for these
pics of wild rides…
A weasel got more than it bargained for
when it tried to gobble up a European
green woodpecker in the UK! This
startled bird took off with the predator
still attached, and managed to escape
the 15cm mammal when it landed. Epic!
Hang tight! Baby sloth bears
climb onto their mother’s
back for rides, which keeps
them safe from tigers and
leopards in South Asia. No
one messes with Mummy bear!
Like all reptiles, serrated hinged terrapins sunbathe
to raise their internal body temperature. Usually,
they catch rays on rocks or logs, but for this turtle in
South Africa, a hippopotamus’s head works, too!
As capybaras walk through grass, birds
like this cattle tyrant in Brazil feast on the
insects trying to get out of the way. Handy!
4
Animal Moments
Safe
Spot
Weasel and woodpecker © Martin Le-May; Sloth bears © Axel Gomille / Minden Pictures; Turtle and hippopotamus © Jon
Kerrin / Caters News; Capybara and cattle tyrant © Mary Ann McDonald / Getty Images.
Moment of
Free
Meal
Moment of
Yum!
Snaps to make your
tummy rumble…
Plant
Power
American
pikas love
their greens!
The rodentlike mammals
gather mouthfuls
of shrubs, clovers
and other plants
to add to their hay
pile. They’ll munch
on this mound of
vegetation all
winter long. One
large salad, please!
American pika © Jeff Foott / NPL / Minden Pictures; Meerkat © Klein & Hubert / Nature Picture Library;
Brown pelican © Kathleen Dennehey; Bornean orangutan © Jami Tarris / Minden Pictures.
Extra
Spicy
Check
out
these
table
manners!
When a meerkat
finds a scorpion, it
grabs the arachnid
with its forepaws,
bites off and spits
out the deadly
stinger, removes
the venom by
dragging the
squirming critter
through the sand,
then finally chows
down. Crunch!
Go
Bananas!
Bornean
orangutans
spend about
three hours
each morning
gathering their
fave food – fruit like
bananas, durians
and mangoes. Looks
like this youngster’s
work is already done!
Gulp!
The throat
pouch of
a brown
pelican makes
a great fishing net!
It expands to help
the bird scoop up
fish and, once they’re
trapped inside, the
pouch shrinks to
empty the water.
Then the pelican
swallows the fish
whole. Gulp!
Animal Moments
5
Moment of
Ick!
Prepare to get
grossed out…
This python takes the prize for being a big
mouth! The snake can open its jaws four times
wider than the size of its head to swallow
huge prey, whole – like this unfortunate deer!
No, this barn owl isn’t pooping out of
its mouth! It’s coughing up a pellet –
a collection of undigested bones and
fur from the prey that it’s swallowed
whole. Many birds of prey produce
pellets – they’re a bit like the furballs
that cats bring up!
Bird
Barf
This Caledonian giant gecko has a cool party trick
– it can lick its own eyeballs! Most geckos lack
eyelids, but luckily, they can use their tongues
to keep their peepers moist and clean.
All images © Getty Images UK.
Slurp!
Super
Swallow
Nope, it’s not an alien – this cool critter is a
star-nosed mole! Its unique nose is made up
of 22 finger-like tentacles that help it sniff
out worms underground. It can even find
food underwater. What a super star!
6
Animal Moments
Freaky
Face
Moment of
Brr!
Cold
Feet
Take a peek at
these cool shots…
For its first 50 days of life, a newly hatched emperor
penguin chick hangs out on a parent’s feet to stay
safe from the freezing ice. Best snowshoes ever?!
A rodent can’t
hide from a
red fox – not
even under a
metre of snow!
The hunter listens
for rustling, then…
kapow! The fox
leaps up and dives
straight into the
snow, pinning a
meal with its paws.
Talk about diving
into your dinner!
A thick layer of fat and a woolly fur
coat keep giant pandas comfortable in
the chilly mountains of central China.
So when it snows, it’s panda playtime!
Emperor penguins © Greg Dimijian / Science Source; Red fox © Donald M.
Jones / Minden Pictures; Wood frog © J.M. Storey; Giant panda ©
Katherine Feng / Minden Pictures.
Frog-cicle
Snow
Way
Out
Ice
Games
Here’s a very ‘cool’ way to survive frigid Arctic
temperatures – freeze yourself solid! For up to
eight months, wood frogs don’t have a heartbeat,
breathe or move a muscle. Then, in spring, they
thaw from the inside out, and hop ‘back to life’!
FROZEN EYE
Animal Moments
7
Moment of
Whoa!
Surprising shots to make
you do a double take…
Extra
Feet?
How many
legs does
this piping
plover have?
Just two – plus
a lot of chicks! For
the first few weeks
of their lives, the
baby birds hide
under Mum or
Dad for warmth
and protection.
Snake
Fake
Lizard
Wizard
8
Is this lizard really levitating?! Sadly not!
Kenyan rock agamas are masterful
jumpers, who can use their tails to balance
their body weight as they prep for a
perfect landing. Still looks magic to us!
Animal Moments
Look
at this
creature
— if you
can! The
glasswing
butterfly has
transparent wing
membranes that
allow the insect to
almost disappear
while in flight –
great for avoiding
hungry birds!
Clear for
Landing
Hawk-moth caterpillar © Mark Bowler / Nature Picture Library; Piping plovers © Michael Milicia / BIA / Minden Pictures;
Glasswing butterfly © Ayub Khan; Kenyan rock agama © ZSSD / Minden Pictures.
Birds and frogs
are in for a BIG
surprise! When
this species of
hawk-moth caterpillar
is disturbed, it hangs
off a twig to reveal a
snakelike belly. Then
it puffs up to create a
triangle-shaped ‘face’
and sways like a real
serpent. That’s one
sss -cary caterpillar!
© Getty Images UK.
NUDiBRANCH
© Getty Images UK.
QUOKKA
THE
QUESTION
What’s the slimiest animal?
The hagfish
easily takes
the ooeygooey top spot for
slimiest animal. It can
fill an entire bucket with
slime in less than a second!
Turns out, slime is a hagfish’s
‘superpower’. When threatened, the
eel-like, 45cm-long fish releases
sticky mucus (slime), which is filled
with tiny fibres that sting and clog a
predator’s gills. And if that doesn’t
work, the hagfish has a back-up move
– it can squirm out of its attacker’s
grasp by tying itself into a knot!
How? The hagfish has no bones.
This fish might be the planet’s
slimiest critter, but it could
also compete in the ‘strangest’
category, too. It’s the only
creature with a skull but no true
spinal column, and its skull is
made of cartilage, the same
flexible tissue in your nose and
ears. It has at least three hearts
and, even though it has eyes,
it cannot see.
Stay weird, hagfish!
Hagfish sneeze
if their nostrils
fill with slime.
Hag-tishoo!
Never shake
hands with a
slime-making
hagfish!
SLIME!
Full body © Blickwinkel / Alamy; Slime © Ron Newsome, NSWC PCD /
PJF Military Collection / Alamy; Knot © Gina Kelly / Alamy.
Scientists have
found about
80 species of
hagfish around
the world.
Hagfish have
peculiar tastes,
too – they eat
dead fish from
the seafloor!
The hagfish is a spineless creature –
literally. It can tie itself up in knots!
natgeokids.com
21
WHAT YOUR BIRTHSTONE MIGHT SAYABOUT YOU…
These
descriptio
are just fo ns
r
so don’t w fun,
orr
if they don y
match you ’t
personailtyr
!
NORTH
AMERICA
Turquoise
UNITED
STATES
Peridot
Amethyst
BRAZIL
Topaz
Aquamarine
EUROPE
Emerald
COLOMBIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
22
ASIA
AFRICA
KENYA
Garnet
TANZANIA
Some places
where gems
are mined…
National Geographic Kids
PAKISTAN
SOUTH AFRICA
Diamond
ANTARCTICA
SRI LANKA
Sapphire
AUSTRALIA
Opal
JAPAN
Pearl
THAILAND
Ruby
JANUARY
GARNET
FEBRUARY
AMETHYST
REPRESENTS LOYALTY
REPRESENTS SINCERITY
No one would describe you as a flaky friend. You stick
up for your BFFs if others put them down, and you’re
always ready to listen when a pal has a problem.
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
Some people believe that garnets
offer protection from poisons,
injuries and even scary dreams.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
You can find garnets in streams
where water has worn away
rock, exposing the gems.
Before they’re polished,
garnets look like small
pebbles. They come in
shades of red, black and
green (the rarest). Some
are even colourless.
Star with this stone:
Greta Thunberg
3 January 2003
Being two-faced or half-hearted isn’t your thing.
What you say to your friends and family is
genuine and honest.
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
Amethysts supposedly have good
powers. It was believed that they
helped people stay awake and think
clearly, protected against evil spells,
and brought victory in battle.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Amethysts are found in geodes, which look
like ugly rocks on the outside. But cracked
open, a geode reveals sparkling raw
amethyst crystals that range in colour
from light mauve to deep purple.
At one time, you could only wear
amethyst jewellery if you were royalty.
Star with this stone:
Harry Styles
1 February 1994
MARCH
AQUAMARINE
APRIL
DIAMOND
REPRESENTS COURAGE
REPRESENTS ENDURING LOVE
You stand up to bullies whether they’re bothering
you, your family or your friends. You’re never a coward.
You don’t carry grudges and are quick to
make up after arguing with someone in
your family or group of friends.
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
People used to believe that aquamarines could
protect sailors and their ships from disasters at
sea. The aquamarine was also thought to heal
illnesses that affected the stomach, liver,
jaws and throat, and was supposedly an
antidote to poison.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Aquamarines, which are a form of the
mineral beryl, range from blue-green
to deep blue. Naturally occurring
deep-blue aquamarines are the rarest
and most valuable. Some of these
crystals weigh more than 100kg!
Star with this
stone:
Halle Bailey
27 March 2000
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
People associated the sparkle of diamonds with
romance, mystery, power, greed and magic.
Many once believed that they were made by
bolts of lightning.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Diamonds develop deep in the ground under great
pressure. The gems are the crystalline form of
carbon. (Another form of carbon is graphite,
the lead in pencils.) Diamonds are the hardest
naturally occurring substance on Earth.
Star with this stone:
Melanie Martinez
28 April 1995
Picture credits on page 34.
natgeokids.com
23
MAY
EMERALD
JUNE
PEARL
REPRESENTS PURE LOVE
REPRESENTS INNOCENCE
Your affection for those you love is clear. You’re not
embarrassed by hugs – even from your parents in
front of your friends!
To you, nothing’s better than being a kid and
having fun. You aren’t in any hurry to grow up.
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
An emerald can melt a snake’s eyes!
Well, that’s what people used to believe.
They also thought these gems would
relax your eyes if you looked through
them. Emeralds were believed to
stop bleeding, cure fevers and keep
the wearer calm. They even supposedly
held powers for predicting the future!
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Emeralds are sometimes found inside shale,
a rock with a very fine grain. Like aquamarines,
they’re a form of the mineral beryl. These gems
are light to deep green.
Star with this stone:
JoJo Siwa
19 May 2003
Pearls were thought to possess magical
qualities. By law, only powerful, rich people
could own and wear the gemstones. According
to legend, wealthy Roman women wore pearls to
bed so that when they woke in the morning, they
instantly remembered how rich they were!
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
This is the only birthstone made by living
creatures – oysters and other shellfish.
If a grain of sand finds its way into an
oyster’s shell, the oyster covers the irritating
grit with layers of a shiny substance its body
produces over many years. Eventually the
grain is encased, becoming a pearl.
Star with this stone:
Anh Do
2 June 1977
JULY
RUBY
AUGUST
PERIDOT
REPRESENTS CONTENTMENT
REPRESENTS HAPPINESS
You’re happy with yourself and your life. You don’t
feel the need to make changes.
You’re cheery aren’t you?! You never get up on the wrong
side of the bed. ‘Grumpy’ definitely doesn’t describe you.
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
Some people thought that rubies contained the
spark of life. Many believed that the gems
glowed from within and that royalty
and gods used rubies to light their
homes. That also meant that the stones
couldn’t be stolen, because they’d
shine through the thieves’ clothing. A
ruby supposedly brought good health,
cured bleeding, guarded against
wickedness and foretold bad luck.
Peridots were once thought to glow in the dark.
People felt that they could ward off anxiety,
help one speak better and improve relationships.
Some believed that peridots protected anyone
wearing them from evil and enchantment.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Rubies are a red form of the mineral corundum.
All other colours of corundum are sapphires (see the
September section). Large gem-quality diamonds,
emeralds and sapphires are scarce, but rubies
are the rarest of all.
Star with this stone:
Selena Gomez
22 July 1992
24
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
National Geographic Kids
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Peridot is the gem-quality crystal of the olivine rock. It’s
one of the few gems found in meteorites from outer space!
Star with this stone: Jason Momoa
1 August 1979
SEPTEMBER
SAPPHIRE
OCTOBER
OPAL
REPRESENTS CLEAR THINKING
REPRESENTS HOPE
OLD-SCHOOL
MYTHS
Once upon a time, many people
believed that a huge blue
sapphire held up the Earth
and gave the sky its colour.
Sapphires were a source of
protection for travellers and
brought peace and wisdom.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Some sapphires are pale, while others are
brilliant blue. They also come in orange,
green, yellow and pink. (Take a look at July
to see how sapphires are related to rubies.)
You’re never a pessimist and always look at
the bright side of things, seeing something
good in every situation.
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
Wearing an opal will make you invisible –
according to legend. An opal was also
believed to bring beauty, success and
happiness, as well as medicinal powers
to ward off heart and kidney failure.
It was once said that the opal could
protect a person from lightning.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Opals form over millions of years where hot,
mineral-rich ooze – including the mineral silica
– seeps into rock cracks. Tiny spheres of silica stack up
and harden to become opals. The way light bounces
off the silica creates an opal’s colourful shimmer.
Star with this stone:
Jenna Ortega
27 September 2002
Star with this stone:
Ncuti Gatwa
15 October 1992
NOVEMBER
TOPAZ
DECEMBER
TURQUOISE
REPRESENTS FAITHFULNESS
REPRESENTS SUCCESS
You’re devoted to those you care about.
Friends and family can always count on you.
Anything you put your mind to works out well,
including moneymaking projects. ‘Defeat’ is not
in your vocabulary.
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
In Ancient Egypt the topaz’s golden glow was
said to come from the sun god Ra, and the stone
was supposedly a powerful amulet against
harm. Other legends proclaimed that a
topaz cleared people’s thinking, increased
strength, and warned of poisoned food
or drink. It supposedly cured insomnia
and asthma, and stopped bleeding.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Topazes come in a range of colours.
Many of them are golden, but some
are pink, green or colourless.
Star with this stone: Ryan Gosling
12 November 1980
OLD-SCHOOL MYTHS
Some people believed turquoise was a love charm.
If a man gave a woman turquoise jewellery, he was
pledging his love for her. Many Native Americans
thought turquoise could bring rain and ensured
accurate aim while hunting. Even today in certain
Native American cultures, the blue of turquoise
symbolises the sky and the green symbolises Earth.
ROCK-SOLID FACTS
Turquoise forms where mineral-rich water seeps
into rocky gaps. Over time only the minerals remain –
as turquoise. The copper in turquoise gives the gem
its shades of blue and green.
Star with this stone: Billie Eilish
18 December 2001
Picture credits on page 34.
When you know what you want, nothing gets
in your way. You are goal-oriented and
strive to achieve your dreams.
JUNIOR
EXPLORERS’
Kia ora, NG KiDS!
I’m from NZ and I’ve been
inspired to draw these
pictures. I love your
magazines (and so does my
dad) and I can’t wait for the
next one to come in the mail!
Caedence, 8
OKia ora, Caedence! Your
birds look so tweet!
Hi NGK,
I love the optical
illusions pullouts, so I
decided to make one
of my own! Does the
handprint look 3D?
Jonathan, 7
OIt really pops out,
Jonathan – you’re
clearly very handy
when it comes to
drawing in 3D!
DARLING
DUSTY
Name: Dusty
Breed: Mini lop rabbit
Age: 1 year
Likes: Parsley, corn and pats
Dislikes: Being held and going to sleep
Owners: Sunny, 11, Poppy, 7, and Tilly,13
Hi Nat Geo Kids,
I love otters and I couldn’t
stop myself from drawing
the mag’s front cover.
Eve, 8
OThat’s ott-erly great, Eve!
OUR
Y
FUN STUFF
MAKE ITS
Hi Nat Geo Kids!
This is my picture of
a barn owl from
issue 96. I love owls
because they are
nocturnal and their
heads can turn the
furthest of any
living animal.
I hope you like it!
Teddy, 8
OWe really like your
owl, Teddy!
Dear NGK,
I had fun making
the Christmas
countdown from
issue 104!
Penny, 11
OThat looks
awesome, Penny!
We want to hear from you! Send in your artwork,
jokes, craft pics and pet photos, and tell us about
your wildlife sightings, hobbies, interests and
opinions. A selection of our faves will be printed on
this page! Email us at editorial@ngkids.com.au
Each reader on these pages will win the
Amazing Ancient World Atlas from
Lonely Planet Kids. Explore over 40
historical cultures, societies and
civilisations from across the planet!
WILDLIFE WATCH
Hi NG KiDS,
A branch fell off a tree 200m from
our house and it left a hole. Inside,
a kookaburra laid three eggs
but only two survived. Here are
photos of the chicks at one day
old and two weeks old.
Georgie,12
OThanks for the cute photos,
Georgie – looks like they’ll soon
be big enough to fly the nest!
TOP TREK
Hi Nat Geo Kids,
I love reading
your magazines
and learning
about animals,
the environment
and countries I
want to travel to
one day! Here’s a
pic of me doing
the Northern
Circuit tramp
(this includes
the Tongariro
Crossing). The
highest peak of
the tramp was
1,886m.
George, 10
O Wowee,
George – great
adventuring!
The day-old chicks
looked at home in
Georgie’s tree
POETRY
CORNER
Here’s what they looked
like two weeks later. Wo
w!
Hey NGK,
We saw a jellyfish at
Mitchies Beach, Merimbula.
We weren’t sure if it was dead
or alive because it didn’t have
tentacles like in pictures.
We also found a crab – we
named him Doug. We found
both creatures very strange,
beautiful and cool!
Lizzie, 9, and Penny, 9
OTop wildlife spotting! Not
all jellyfish have tentacles,
but watch out for those that
do, as they can still sting even
after they’ve died.
live
fish don’t
Sadly, jelly ut of water…
o
n
long whe
Top trekker
George and
the amazing
Emerald Lake!
Lizzie and
Penny found
a beached
jellyfish
… Unlike ‘Dou
g the crab’, w
hang out on
the beach an ho can
d in the sea!
National Geograph
ic Ki
Educational and fu ds,
National Geograph n.
It’s a magazine, a ic Kids,
great one.
National Geog
Helping save ecos raphic Kids,
ystems on
National Geograph e at a time.
ic Ki
Environmentally kin ds,
National Geograph d.
ic Kids,
Helping us act.
National Geograph
ic Kids,
Filled with fact!
Kia ora, Nat Geo Kids!
I’ve been re-reading
all of my NG KiDS
magazines. Me and
my sister have been
collecting them
for about ten years
(before I was born)!
They inspired me
to write a poem. I
hope you like it. We
are always so excited to open the mag.
Charlotte, 10
OWe love your poem, Charlotte – thanks so much!
natgeokids.com
27
Check out these
outrageous facts…
My memory
is snow
amazing!
There’s
a comet
shaped
like a
rubber duck.
PATO,
mbburied
e
m
re they nder
POLO AND
BASKETBALL.
re n u
whe ts, eve w.
nu
no
s
The Argentine
horned frog can
lift 3 times its
own weight
with its
TONGUE.
CHECK OUT
THE BOOK!
28
National Geographic Kids
HONEYPOT
WORKER ANTS,
WHICH STORE NECTAR IN
THEIR BODIES, CAN SWELL
TO THE SIZE OF A
GRAPE.
LISTENING TO CLASSICAL
MUSIC CAN HELP DOGS
RELAX,A STUDY FOUND.
Comet © ESA / Rosetta / Navcam – Cc By-Sa Igo 3.0; Squirrel © Irinak / Shutterstock, Acorn © Dionisvera /
Shutterstock, image digitally composed; Frog © Blickwinkel / Alamy; Dog © Adogslifephoto / Dreamstime.
els
r
r
i
Squcan er
THE
NATIONAL SPORT
OF ARGENTINA,
IS A MIX OF
STUFF
GAMES, LAUGHS, AND LOTS TO DO!
Answers
on page
34
NEW YEAR
CROSSWORD
Have you made any resolutions this year? Check out
our good-habits crossword for inspiration!
ACROSS
4 Drink this to stay
24 Brush these twice a day (5)
25 Switch electrical items off
DOWN
1 Mind your manners and
hydrated! (5)
6 Do this after going to the
loo or before eating (4, 4, 5)
8 The ‘three Rs’ of looking
after the planet (6, 5, 7)
12 Natural, healthy sweet
snack, e.g. an orange (5)
13 Jobs around the house (6)
14 Climb these instead of
taking a lift (6)
17 Healthy, eco-friendly
vehicle (4)
18 Try to avoid veg packed
in this material (7)
19 Don’t be mean, be ____ (4)
22 Turn these off when you
leave a room! (6)
23 A special diary to write down
things you’re grateful for (9, 7)
at the ____ point (5)
26 Your teacher will be happy
if you finish this on time! (8)
27 A place to store the money
you save (5, 4)
remember to say these
words! (6, 3, 5, 3)
2 The parts of electronic
devices that emit blue
light. (So don’t look at
them before bed!) (7)
3 Sort your space out before
a parent yells this! (4, 4, 4)
5 Take turns (5)
7 Eat plenty of these to
stay healthy (10)
9 If you’re looking at NGK
you’re already doing it! (7)
10 Apply this when Earth’s
star is shining (9)
11 If you avoid palm oil you’ll
2
1
help this orange animal (9)
3
15 Place to donate old
toys and clothes (7, 4)
4
16 Physical activity that
improves your fitness (8)
20 Environmentally-friendly
5
way of getting somewhere (7)
21 Aim to get 10–11 hours of
this per night! (5)
6
7
8
9
10
12
11
13
14
16
15
19
17
20
18
21
22
23
25
With thanks to Stephanie Jones-Berry.
24
26
27
TOP TIP!
If you get stuck
on one of the
clues, move on to
some others. You
can go back to it
when you’ve got
extra letters!
natgeokids.com
29
2
STAR LINKS
BUG SAFARI
Draw lines to connect
each pair of stars, so every
square is filled. Only one
line is allowed in each
grid square, and you
can’t use diagonal lines.
Plus, the lines mustn’t
cross or touch each other.
Find the bugs listed below hidden in this grid.
Then see if you can spot which one is hidden twice!
W
A
G
G
S
L
H
X
C
E
H
L
S
V
U
O
D
L
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F
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J
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W
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T
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L
J
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Q
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P
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A
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G
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X
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C
Here’s
example toan
you how it show
works!
1
OANT OBEE OBEETLE OCATERPILLAR OCENTIPEDE
OCOCKROACH OCRICKET OEARWIG OFLEA
OGRASSHOPPER OLADYBIRD OMILLIPEDE
10
7
NUMBER GRID
2
Can you fit these figures into this grid? We’ve added a few numbers to help!
7663910
4629855
2240716
3552618
0076847
5685398
5793851
7600172
8110447
4008691
9
3
4
5
3
8
0
All images © Adobe Stock.
9
30
National Geographic Kids
3
BIRD
WATCH!
1
Boost your brain
cells with these
mind-boggling
tests and
challenges!
Answers
on page
34
Which two birds only
appear once on
these pages?
5
MEGA SUDOKU
COLOUR QUEST
Complete this sudoku by filling all the empty squares
so every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1–9.
Fill in the squares so that a four-letter word is formed either
side. Get it right and you’ll reveal something colourful.
9
4
7
8
2
3
1
5
3 8
6 2
5
9
2
8
9 7 1
5 6
4
1 7
8
6
3
3
7 9
4
7
8
9
6
1 3 5
2
4
8 9
5 1 3
6
ROBO RUMBLE
H
A
T
M
C
Z
D
A
R
A
O
L
E
R
I
E
X
O
U
R
A
A
C
N
E
I
V
O
C
I
K
C
R
E
L
OUT OF THIS
WORLD!
6
Fill in the missing letters to reveal
the names of some planets.
4
E
D
Y
K
D
N
F
CLUE!
The missin
g
letters are
vowels –
A, E, I, O, an
d U.
1 V___N___S
5 J___P___T___R
2 M___RS
6 ___R___N___S
3 N___PT___N___
7 M___RC___RY
4 S___T___RN
8 ___ ___ RTH
Can you find the right route to reunite these robots?
MATHS MUDDLE
9
Which six sums have the same answer?
A
B
C
D
E
F
8
4 × 12 =
22 + 22 =
66 – 23 =
100 – 56 =
11 + 33 =
28 + 13 =
G
H
I
J
K
L
60 – 17 =
88 – 44 =
24 + 22 =
122 – 78 =
92 ÷ 2 =
4 × 11 =
natgeokids.com
31
SPOT THE
Answers
on page
34
Illustration © Getty Images.
DIFFERENCE
Can you find the
TEN differences
between these
two beach scenes?
32
National Geographic Kids
GOD’S
EYE
FUN STUFF
MAKE IT
Here’s how to weave an Ojo de Dios
– a lucky Mexican handicraft…
What
you’ll
need
O Two small straight-ish twigs
or a bamboo skewer cut in half
O PVA glue O Scissors
O Different coloured yarns
Start
here!
Now you can start to weave!
Bring the yarn under one of
the sticks, then loop it around
and continue to the next stick along.
Carry on in the same direction, pulling
firmly on the thread. Always bring
the yarn under the stick before
wrapping it around.
1
Glue two sticks into a
cross shape and leave
them to dry.
Tie the end of a yarn to the
centre of the cross. Crisscross
the yarn around the centre a
few times to cover up the middle.
2
3
To change colours, tie the new
shade of yarn to the previous
one, trim the ends and
continue wrapping.
4
ALL ABOUT GOD’S EYES
Craft © Valerie Rowles. All other pictures © Getty Images UK.
This colourful craft has a long and spiritual history…
It’s thought that the
Ojo de Dios or God’s Eye
was first created by
the Huichol people of
western central Mexico.
This Indigenous group
has lived in the area
around the Sierra
Nevada Occidental
mountain range for over
15,000 years. Many of
their unique traditions
continue today.
When you’ve finished, tie the
end of the yarn onto one of
the sticks. Leave some yarn
to hang it up by, if you like. Tuck
all the tied ends to the back.
5
The God’s Eye was made as a protective talisman to
watch over its owner. The four points represented
the elements – fire, water, earth and air, as well
as the directions – north, south, east and west.
When a Huichol child
was born, the parents
would tie two sticks
into a cross. Then, each
year, until the child was
five, they would weave
another colour onto the
God’s Eye. It was said that
the item would protect
and watch over the child
during its lifetime.
natgeokids.com
33
FUN STUFF
ANSWERS
NEW YEAR CROSSWORD (page 29)
1
2
P
3
L
4
W
A
T
E
6
R
S
Y
E
Y
W
A
E
D
S
H
Y
U
C
E
O
14
S
T
A
I
R
K
I
N
15
19
R
G
A
T
I
T
U
I
24
T
E
E
T
D
E
J
H
16
H
H
O
E
X
Y
E
U
S
R
R
W
N
A
K
I
I
N
E
G
W
O
R
K
I
G
G
Y
B
A
N
B
21
S
L
L
S
E
E
S
22
A
A
M
A
17
20
N
O
E
M
C
S
26
H
U
N
O
U
T
Y
C
K
O
R
E
H
R
13
N
D
G
A
U
E
N
D
S
R
E
C
7
R
R
A
A
C
H
23
E
S
U
H
S
R
5
O
T
11
C
D
N
8
T
I
R
A
S
9
Y
C
V
10
E
12
F
R
S
U
G
A
E
N
D
T
S
I
K
E
H
T
18
P
G
L
A
S
T
I
E
E
E
E
E
S
N
25
P
O
W
E
T
R
L
S
I
C
B
N
I
L
E
R
O
27
P
K
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN (page 30–31)
4
BIRD WATCH!
4 and 10 only
appear once.
10
D
L
K
I
P
F
F
U
A
D
R
P
M
T
J
C
M
S
M
W
V
L
O
K
T
E
L
J
K
G
N
X
T
H
Q
R
O
Q
B
K
E
P
J
F
L
R
T
A
G
I
G
A
E
J
G
L
R
I
M
J
Q
A
D
F
T
V
C
E
W
W
T
L
P
L
I
F
T
S
N
R
C
H
R
E
Q
E
E
D
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M
E
O
E
N
A
K
K
A
F
L
I
X
X
B
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C
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E
E
B
L
M
K
E
V
O
V
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A
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L
T
D
A
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E
M
U
P
P
I
P
R
D
S
I
C
F
V
R
T
H
G
M
P
M
B
C
G
Q
Y
N
P
I
L
L
L
C
I
W
E
Z
Y
D
E
V
I
B
S
E
E
A
E
L
F
Q
R
Q
D
N
F
Z
J
Z
K
S
D
V
V
H
D
B
P
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A
R
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O
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F
G
B
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I
A
F
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B
L
2
9
8
5
4
0
0
5
6
3
3
0
8
5
9
0
5
1
1
0
7
3
7
6
9
6
6
8
8
0
1
4
2
8
1
2
6
4
9
0
1
3
9
8
4
5
7
2
6
1
5
2
1
9
6
3
4
7
8
6
4
7
8
2
1
3
9
5
7
3
6
1
9
4
8
5
2
2
8
5
3
7
6
9
1
4
4
1
9
5
8
2
7
3
6
COLOUR QUEST
RAINBOW.
6
5
1
5
3
2
4
9
6
8
7
7
1
5
7
4
4
7
3
8
5
OUT OF THIS WORLD!
1-VENUS; 2-MARS; 3-NEPTUNE; 4-SATURN;
5-JUPITER; 6-URANUS; 7-MERCURY; 8-EARTH.
MATHS MUDDLE
B, D, E, H, J and L have the same answer – 44.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE (page 32)
0
9
THE LAST
LAUGH
Q. Why are dragons
great musicians?
A. They really know
their scales!
Q. How do dragons
make plans?
A. They don't. They
just wing it!
Q. Did you hear about
the angry dragon?
A. It got all fired up!
7
6
8
7
2
6
3
5
1
4
9
C
O
C
K
R
O
A
C
H
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ROBO RUMBLE
BUG SAFARI
FLEA is hidden twice.
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MEGA SUDOKU
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Q. Why do dragons hate
birthday cakes?
A. They can't blow out
their candles!
Q. What do you call
a famous seal?
A. A sealebrity!
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STAR LINKS
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National Geographic Kids
2
Q. What's a harp seal's
favourite colour?
A. Sealver!
Gems picture credits, page 22: Diamond © LifetimeStock / Shutterstock; Garnet © PjrStudio / Alamy; Turquoise © Antony Souter / Alamy; Ruby © Corbis; Topaz © The
Natural History Museum / Alamy; Opal (both) © Peter Harholdt / SuperStock; Sapphire © Edward Karaa / Dreamstime; Emerald © Greg C Grace / Alamy; P Aquamarine
(both) © Pillyphotos / Alamy; Peridot (both) © photo33mm / Shutterstock; Pearl © Visage / Stockbyte / Getty Images; All others © Getty Images UK.
Page 23: Raw garnet © rep0rter / Alamy; Polished garnet, raw aquamarine © PjrStudio / Alamy; Raw amethyst © RF Company / Alamy; Polished amethyst © Greg C
Grace / Alamy; Amethyst ring © sommaiphoto / Getty Images; Polished aquamarine © Pillyphotos / Alamy; Raw diamonds © Eric Nathan / Alamy; Diamond necklace ©
Vstock LLC / Tetra Images / Corbis / Getty Images.
Page 24: Polished emerald © Greg C Grace / Alamy; Raw emerald © Jan Sochor / Alamy; Emerald jewellery © Bridgeman Images; Pearl in oyster © The Natural History
Museum / Alamy; Pearl jewellery © Christie’s Images / Bridgeman Images; Single pearl © Visage / Stockbyte / Getty Images; Raw ruby © Bildagentur-online / th-foto /
Alamy; Ruby rings © Borislav Marinic / Alamy; Raw peridot © Epitavi / Shutterstock; Polished peridot © photo33mm / Shutterstock; All others © Getty Images UK.
Page 25: Raw sapphires © Bigjo5 / iStockphoto / Getty Images; Polished sapphire © Edward Karaa / Dreamstime; Polished opal © Peter Harholdt / SuperStock; Raw opal
© John Cancalosi / Alamy; Opal necklace © Peter Harholdt / SuperStock; Topaz ring © Phil Degginger / Jack Clark / Alamy; Polished topaz © The Natural History Museum
/ Alamy; Raw turquoise © Shawn Hempel / Alamy; Turquoise jewellery © AR Images / Alamy; All others © Getty Images UK.
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