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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Tori. Today is Tuesday, September 24th, 2024.
And we begin with music to the ears of picky eaters everywhere.
There's now proof that food fussiness is not your fault and not your parents fault either.
Scientists in England recently analyzed trends between identical twins who share all their genes with non -identical twins who share half their genes and found that non -identical twins often have different eating habits whereas identicals are more likely to share them.
Genetics they determined caused 74 % of food fussiness until the age 13 with peak pickiness hitting at seven years old.
Family life and friends food preferences were not major factors.
Researchers concluded there's no point in fighting biology.
They instead suggest parents make meal times relaxed, model healthy eating habits, and avoid rewarding kids for eating foods they don't want.
The study can be found in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
Astronauts are notoriously picky eaters but their genes may have nothing to do with it.
Many space travelers have reported that food tastes different in the final frontier, so much so they don't enjoy eating.
At first it was thought that weightlessness and what it does to the body was the cause.
But now Australian scientists are looking at factors such as surroundings and mental state.
Those surroundings may make aromas of foods less appealing.
They include things you wouldn't think would affect appetite such as floating clutter inside the messy International Space Station and loud noises that come from some of the equipment on board.
This chaotic atmosphere they believe upsets some appetites.
Researchers are now working to see how they can improve the eating experience for those orbiting 250 miles above Earth.
A previously unknown musical composition by a very young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been discovered in Germany.
It lasts about 12 minutes and was written for a trio of stringed instruments.
Experts date the piece to around 1769 when Mozart was a young teenager.
It was found by a team making a new catalog of the composer's works.
The rediscovered piece was premiered just last week in Austria and was then played in Germany this past Saturday.
A martial arts icon has received an honor in Oakland, California.
Bruce Lee Way was unveiled by city officials on Monday.
The renamed street is close to where Lee once ran a martial arts studio he co -founded back in 1965.
It's where Lee began pioneering his distinct signature style of martial arts called Jeet Khandu.
One of Lee's notable students was NBA icon Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Lee was born across the Bay from Oakland in San Francisco.
He began his training in martial arts in Hong Kong before returning to the United States and teaching in Oakland and San Francisco.
Then he traveled to Los Angeles where his astonishing abilities caught the attention of Hollywood producers and the rest, as film buffs know, is history.
He's more than a custodian.
He's a friend and his kindness is contagious.
Indeed, it is. High school students at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia stunned their janitor, Francis Apraku, with a four -wheeled gift from the heart.
Francis left his family behind in Ghana, Africa a decade ago to work here and send money there.
Last year, a group of football players casually asked the kind custodian if he could have any splurge, what would it be?
His answer, a Jeep Wrangler, but he couldn't possibly afford one.
With that, the students secretly started a GoFundMe and raised $22 ,000, enough to purchase a candy Apple Red 2015 Wrangler and surprise their friend.
He was so stunned when he saw the vehicle, he fell to the ground.
I will never, ever forget today, Francis said, not because of the car, but because of the kids.
Car company Jeep was also moved by the story and told CBS News it would cover his oil changes and tire rotations for the next six years.
Still to come, how strong are the bonds between one cat and his family?
At least 800 miles.
That's how strong. We'll explain.
But first, today's kid news quiz.
What is the quality many kids have that scientists now think is mostly genetic?
Picky eating. Oakland, California has a new street named after which martial arts icon?
Bruce Lee. Newly discovered music is the work of a famous composer when he was a teenager.
Who was that composer?
Mozart. A group of high school students surprise their janitor with what?
A Jeep Wrangler. In today's kid news kicker, they say dogs are loyal companions, but one feline in California -proof cats are no slouches either.
A Siamese named Rainbow traveled 800 miles on his own to reunite with his owners.
The family was vacationing in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park in June when a noise startled Rainbow and he ran off.
His humans searched frantically, but eventually had to give up and return home to California.
Two months later, an animal shelter close to home informed them that Rainbow had been found.
Apparently, the kitty had managed to get from Wyoming all the way to Roseville, California, 800 miles on his own.
He was dehydrated and tired, but after being nursed back to health, he's now fine and enjoying life again with his twin sister, Star Jasmine, back home.
Before we go, shout outs for our Kid News Classrooms, Mrs.
Lenderman and her Lions at George Washington in Durant, Oklahoma, Mrs.
McCabe and her fifth grade Bulldogs at Bell in Papillion, Nebraska, and Ms.
Wurma and her Jaguars at Pearl's Anchor in Milpitas, California.
Thanks for listening.
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And we'll see you back here for more Kid News tomorrow morning.