Good morning and welcome to KID News.
I'm Kim.
Today is Wednesday, January 14th, 2026.
And we begin with Crew 11 astronauts now just hours from undocking at the International Space Station for an unprecedented early return.
As we reported earlier this week, one of the four space flyers has an issue that can't be properly diagnosed or treated on the floating lab, which means the team has to end its mission a month sooner than expected and jettison back to Earth.
Barring any weather or technical issues, their 11-hour journey will begin this afternoon at 5 p.m.
East Coast time with splashdown in the Pacific Ocean before dawn tomorrow morning.
On Monday night, the outgoing astronauts took care of protocol.
Which meant handing over control of the lab to a Russian crewmate, gifting him a symbolic golden key to the station and sharing a group hug.
Commander Mike Finke called the moment bittersweet.
For privacy reasons, neither the astronaut's name nor his or her condition is being publicly released.
But space travel isn't easy on the body and apparently isn't easy on the brain either.
A new study has found that the brains of astronauts not only change shape while they're living amongst the stars, but also move to a different position in the skull.
The longer the time in space, the bigger the change, with the impacts most felt in regions linked to motion sickness, disorientation and loss of balance.
The research into space's impact is considered critical, as NASA plans to build a base on the moon and send astronauts deeper into the solar system.
We all know the pandemic changed life as we know it, but it may also have changed the animal kingdom in some pretty remarkable ways.
Case in point, the dark eyed junco songbird, which has been serenading students at UCLA and Los Angeles for decades.
These city loving sparrows have beaks that are shorter and stubbier than their forest dwelling relatives.
Most likely, researchers say, to help them eat the junk that college kids drop.
But when COVID hit and the kids went home, the juncos' UCLA food source changed from human leftovers to a more natural diet.
And the baby birds that hatched near campus were born with the longer, narrower beaks of juncos that forage in the wild.
Fast forward to 2023 and 2024.
The students and their snacks came back, and now the birds are being born with the shorter beaks again.
Researchers say the study highlights the effects humans have on wildlife and how fast evolution can occur for animals needing to adapt to their surroundings.
And then there were eight.
After wildcard weekend, there are now just eight teams vying for a shot at the Super Bowl.
In the AFC, it's the Broncos, Bills, Texans and Patriots.
And in the NFC, the Seahawks, Niners, Bears and Rams.
All will play next weekend in the divisional round.
And for those who like trivia, take note.
This is the first playoff season in more than two decades that someone by the name of Manning, Brady or Mahomes is not in the mix.
A lot of coaches aren't in the mix either.
The latest to step down Mike Tomlin, who had a historic 19-year run with the Steelers but lost to the Texans Monday night.
Is Barry back?
Maybe.
A second Altadena California home, this one less than a half mile from the first, is now dealing with a remarkably similar and similarly uninvited 500-pound guest.
Wildlife experts haven't gotten close enough to determine if the new tenant is the old squatter, but former bear landlord Ken Johnson thinks it is.
I'm pretty sure it's the same one, he told the Post.
I saw him run off that way.
His advice for the new family dealing with the unwelcome visitor?
Remain calm, get an air horn in case it comes at you, and get in touch with the Bear League.
They know what they're doing.
As we reported on Monday, that organization, based in Lake Tahoe, flew down to Ken's house and within 20 minutes got Barry out from under it with a few well-placed shots to the rump from a paintball gun.
Still to come, Guinness dangles a few world records it would like someone to set.
But first a thank you to our loyal listeners and generous donors Bob Adams of Knoxville Tennessee, the Ho family of Hillsborough California, and Arun Simha of Los Gatos, California.
Now, today's Kid News quiz.
What time today is the medical evacuation from the International Space Station?
5 p.m.
Eastern weather permitting.
According to a new study, what impact does space have on astronauts?
It changes the shape and position of their brains.
What world event seems to have sped up the evolution of bird beaks near UCLA?
The pandemic.
How many teams are left in the Super Bowl hunt?
Eight.
In today's Kid News.
Kicker, if you'd like to start 2026 off by doing something no one else has, the Guinness Book of World Records has your back.
To celebrate 70 years of record-breaking, the book has released 70 records just waiting to be set.
From Roblox marathons and Minecraft buildings to 400-meter potato sack races and the fastest time to push oranges with your nose, there's something for everyone.
Fancy yourself a musician minus the instrument?
The book is looking for someone to play the air guitar the longest.
Prefer the kitchen?
Become the first to set a world record for most potatoes peeled in one minute.
All you need is a stopwatch, a potato peeler, and potatoes.
Lots of potatoes.
Sounds fun, but not sure where to begin?
There's a quiz for that.
If you're intrigued, we put a link to Guinness' Try the 70 Challenge on our resource page.
Now it's shout out time for our terrific teachers.
Mrs. Elton and her Roaring Tigers at Park in Hutchinson, Minnesota.
Mrs. Walsh and her Walshy Bears at Garnett Valley in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.
Ms.
Senesac and her Bears at Montague Township School in Montague, New Jersey, and Mrs Wright and her Rams at Hedlund Middle School in Hedlund, Alabama.
Thanks for listening, and thank you for your patience as we work through all our teacher shout-outs.
There are thousands on the list and we're trying to get in as many as we can, always in the order submitted.
Have a great day, and we'll see you back here for more kid news tomorrow morning.
