Squeeze Kids acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands on which we podcast the Turrbal and Combermerry people.
Squeeze Kids!
It's your daily news fix.
Fun.
Free.
Fresh.
Hello and welcome to Squeeze Kids Today, your fresh take on what's happening in the world around you.
I'm Christy Kidgerina.
It's Wednesday, March 25th.
In Squiz Kids today a global squeeze on oil.
Droids deliver fast food, Aussie athletic excellence and a do-it-yourself quantum computer.
That's what's making news, kids style.
The Lowdown.
Last week, Bryce broke down why tensions in the Middle East and a place called the Strait of Hormuz are sending fuel prices climbing.
Well, since then, things haven't exactly settled down.
US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Iran.
An ultimatum is kind of like a do this or else warning.
Like when mum says clean your room or there's no dessert.
In this case, it's telling Iran to reopen their key shipping route or face possible military action.
But then another twist.
He's extended that deadline, saying talks are now happening behind the scenes.
And Iran says not so fast, claiming that no talks are happening at all.
Confusing.
So right now the world is watching closely.
And it matters here in Australia because diesel fuel powers the trucks that deliver food, the machinery on farms and the transport of goods across the country.
The government says that there's enough fuel for now and is urging people not to panic buy, while also making plans to keep supplies steady.
And while this is serious, there's still a chance for talks.
Because, like when things get heated out on the playground, the best way forward is to stop, take a breath and talk it out.
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 China, where your next McDonald's order might be taken by a robot.
At a McDonald's restaurant in Shanghai, humanoid robots their machines designed to look and move a bit like humans have been trialled to greet customers, deliver food and even entertain diners.
And yes, they were dressed in full McDonald's uniforms.
Videos on social media show the robots working behind the counter and carrying trays, while other adorable robot helpers zip around the restaurant with kids chasing after them.
There's a link to video in the episode notes.
For now, the robots were only there for five days as part of a special opening at a science and technology museum.
But it's a glimpse into a future where your next meal might come with a side of technology.
What do you think it takes to run 1,500 metres in under four minutes?
Well, according to Aussie runner, Jessica Hull, it takes patience, belief and knowing that your moment is coming.
Hull has just stormed to silver at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland over the weekend, becoming the first Australian woman to break the four-minute barrier indoors with a time of 3 minutes and 59 seconds and 45 milliseconds.
And that's not all.
She was backing it up from a bronze medal in the 3,000 metres the day before.
Teammate Adam Spencer joined the podium party winning bronze in the 1500 metres after sticking to a clever race plan hugging the inside lane before sprinting through, and when the gap opened up, he just sent it.
And in the 800 metres Peter Boll just missed out on a medal, but set a new Australian record, finishing fourth in a super quick time.
All up.
Australia brought home five medals from the championships, a strong showing against athletes from more than 100 countries.
And, as Hull put it, she knows that her time is coming, which means that gold medal.
Well, it might not be far away.
Believe it or not.
What if building one of the world's most powerful computers was a bit like putting together IKEA flat pack furniture?
Except instead of a wobbly bookshelf, you end up with a machine that could change the future.
Believe it or not, you can now buy a DIY, do-it-yourself quantum computer kit.
Now, if you're a bit uncertain, quantum computers aren't like the ones you use at home now.
Normal computers use bits, that's ones and zeros, a bit like a light switch that's either off or on to do their computations.
Quantum computers use qubits. which are more like a spinning coin.
While it's spinning, it's kind of heads and tails at the same time.
Yep, brain officially doing cartwheels.
And that means that quantum computers can tackle problems that would take normal computers years, like designing new medicines or cracking super tricky codes.
Until now, these machines have cost hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars, and lived in high-tech labs.
This new kit still costs around 1.6 million Aussie dollars.
That's about 1.1 million US dollars.
So you still need a very generous piggy bank.
And you'll need around three months of training and close to a year to build it.
So not exactly a Sunday afternoon project.
Alan Key not included.
But it does mean something pretty amazing.
The future of computing is slowly moving out of giant labs and into the hands of people curious enough to build it.
Maybe that could be you.
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.
In which Chinese city have humanoid robots been serving up burgers and fries?
Well done if you said Shanghai.
Question number two.
Which two track events did Aussie runner Jess Hull win medals in over the weekend?
That's right.
It was the 1500 metres and the 3000 metres.
Question number three.
How much will a DIY quantum computer set you back?
It's quite a bit.
In Aussie dollars, it's $1.6 million or $1.1 million in US dollars.
Shout out.
It's Wednesday, March 25, World Maths Day, a day that celebrates all things numbers, from adding up your pocket money to solving tricky puzzles, to the kind of maths that helps to launch rockets into space.
Today is a great day to remember maths is everywhere and sometimes it can even be fun.
It's also a special day for these quiz kids celebrating a birthday today.
Daniel from Maitland, Marigold from Wollstonecraft, Isla from Albany Creek, Ellie from Innerloo and Franka listening all the way over there in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Belated birthday.
Shoutouts go to Ario from Melbourne, Harvey from Mount Riverview, Audrey from Beaumaris, Carson and Oscar from Canberra and Arjabdi from Ripley Valley.
Classroom shoutouts today go to Classes 3-4 Yarra and 3-4 Wirrigar with Mrs Willis and Mrs Owen at Glenbrook Public School.
Class 3-4B with Mrs Fatiri at Malabar Public School.
Classes P to 6 with Ms.
Shwee at Prairie State School.
Class 4W with Mrs. Weir at St.
Aidan's Anglican Girls School in Brisbane.
Class 6 Spirit with Mr. Shaw at Holy Spirit Catholic School in Bray Park.
And lastly but definitely not leastly, Class 5C with Mrs Tyers at the Willow State School in Townsville.
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 you can 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.
In the meantime, get out there and have a most excellent day.
Over and out.
Thank you.
