Hello and welcome to Squiz Kids Today, your fresh take on what's happening in the world around you.
I'm Bryce Corbett.
It's Wednesday, February 11.
In Squiz Kids Today call out for space cadets.
Roblox in trouble again, snow leopard patrol in the himalayas and k-pop demon hunters, new music that's what's making news.
Kid style, the lowdown calling all stargazers the australian defense force wants you, and this week it's put out a call for anyone dreaming of working in space command as it expands its operations out into the galaxy.
Up until now, most defence forces around the world so we're talking the Army, Navy and Air Force have had their sights set firmly on planet Earth.
But with the advance of new technologies and the increasing frequency with which humans are going up into space, it's been necessary for them to start to look up to the skies.
Think of it as a kind of Star Wars, but maybe with fewer Chewbaccas or Baby Yodas.
It's another example of us all looking up to space.
Two weeks ago, Australia's first astronaut, Catherine Ben-El-Peg, was named Australian of the Year, and the countdown continues for the Artemis moon mission, which is now being pushed to a March liftoff, as humans continue their quest to set up a permanent base on the surface of the moon.
Meanwhile Roblox, down here on Earth, has been called to the principal's office and asked to explain itself once again, as warnings come that the world's most popular online game can expose kids to inappropriate content and people.
Australia's communications minister, Annika Wells, has requested a meeting with the people that make Roblox, asking them to explain what they plan to do about stuff appearing on their platform that's not appropriate for kids to see, and also what they plan to do about the stranger danger that sometimes lurks there.
Now, kids, I know none of you will be on Roblox, because, you know, it has a minimum age of 13.
Or, if you are, you're only playing when supervised by an adult, of course.
Because that's practical.
But if you know someone who's a fan, remind them how important it is, if they're ever playing and they see something inappropriate, to talk to a trusted adult straight away.
You won't be in trouble.
You'll just be being safe.
Spin the globe.
Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a new story from wherever it stops.
And today we've landed in, ah, will you look at that, we've landed in India.
High in the Himalayan mountains, no less, where a crack team of local women are leading efforts to conserve the snow leopard.
Snow leopards are native to this part of the world, but their numbers have been shrinking.
That is until a group of women from a local village launched a conservation campaign, including tracking and recording snow leopard numbers.
The local population of the seriously cute leopard has leapt from 51 to 83 in recent years, thanks in no small part to the dedication of these women who regularly climb up into the snowy mountains to check cameras that record snow leopard movements.
And here's a fun fact.
Did you know that every snow leopard has a unique pattern of spots?
In the same way that every human has a unique fingerprint.
How cool is that?
Sport time!
Speaking of seriously cute furry creatures.
The Super Bowl might have attracted the most attention on Monday.
As the Seattle Hawks demolished the New England, Patriots and football fans all over the US lost their collective minds, but it was the Puppy Bowl that took out the prize for the cutest sporting event of the week.
Every year, puppies that are up for adoption take part in a televised canine mini version of the Super Bowl, running around a tiny football field hurling dog toys about the place.
In the end, Team Fluff took out the title this year, beating Team Ruff 73-69, after a last-minute touchdown by a puppy called Twilight Barkle.
More than 150 puppies from some 70 dog shelters took part in the Puppy Bowl, an event which always leads to a spike in puppy adoptions across the country.
And yes, I have stuck a link to video of the Puppy Bowl in today's episode notes.
You're very welcome.
Pop Culture Corner.
Speaking of the Super Bowl, The halftime entertainment, which these days is almost as big as the game itself, did not disappoint, as pop star Bad Bunny celebrated his Latino culture in a bold bright, all-dancing spectacular.
There were salsa dances aplenty, and a toe-tapping Latin band.
There were even references to the important role that Hispanic migrants have played shaping America.
Hispanic migrants are people who come from countries where Spanish is the native language, which is a huge swathe of both Latin and South America.
Meanwhile, there was also exciting news in the pop culture world too, from the man who wrote the K-pop Demon Hunters songs.
In an interview with the BBC, he's confirmed that work is now underway on new songs for a K-pop Demon Hunters sequel.
Because, my friends...
Too much Saja Boys is apparently never enough.
My little soda pop.
Time for the quiz.
This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you've been listening.
Question number one.
What's the name of the famous mountain range in India where snow leopards live?
Did you say the Himalayas?
Well done to you.
Question number two.
Name the US pop star who headlined the Super Bowl halftime show.
Yeah, that's right.
It's Bad Bunny.
Question number three.
Which team won the 2026 Puppy Bowl?
Was it Team Rough or Team Fluff?
Well done if you had your listening ears on and you said team fluff.
Shout out.
It's Wednesday, February 11.
Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrating the incredible jobs that girls can pursue in science.
Get your lab coats on, girls.
It's also a special day for these squiz kids celebrating a birthday today.
Charlie from Springfield and Oakley from Gladstone.
Only a couple of you today.
But belated birthday shoutouts today go to Alex from Ashgrove, Hunter from Rosewood, Eli from Curry Curry, Amity from Halliday's Point and Vinny Neva, Jack and Cooper, who all come from Yas.
And classroom shoutouts today go to Class 3-4M with Miss McFarlane and Class 5-6 Sea Dragons with Mr Voiles, both from Mount Riverview Public School.
Class 6RC with Mr Rawlings and Miss Choi from St Ives North Public School.
And Class 5-6 Seahorses with Ms Edwards from Bald Blair Public School.
Don't forget if you've got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out, or if you're after a classroom shout-out, drop us a line at squizkids at thesquizcomau, or fill out the form on our website.
Well, that's all we have time for.
Thanks for listening to Squiz Kids today.
We'll be back again tomorrow with another episode of your favourite kid-friendly news.
In the meantime, get out there and have a most excellent day.
Over and out.
Thank you.
