On this week’s news update …
Record Arctic Temperatures
Record temperatures recorded in the Arctic.
Satellite Tracks Lightning
New satellite launched to track lightning storms.
Clever Cockatoo
And a cockatoo learns new tool-making skills!
First up …
Scientists have reported very high temperatures in the Arctic.
Over the last month, it’s been as much as 20 degrees Celsius warmer than normal for this time of year.
Because of this, sea ice is forming at a much slower rate than usual.
There are now fears that the amount of ice in the Arctic sea could drop to its lowest ever level next year.
This will cause problems for the local environment, by making it harder for animals like polar bears to find food.
And because sea ice helps to keep the rest of the planet cool, its loss could add to climate change.
That makes this a problem for the whole planet, so scientists around the world are continuing to monitor changes closely.
Next up: the world’s first lightning-tracking satellite has been launched into space.
The satellite, named GOES-R, is the most advanced weather satellite in orbit.
GOES-R uses a special camera to detect lightning strikes and flashes.
It can scan storm areas every 30 seconds, and send information about lightning activity to scientists on the ground almost instantly.
Lightning tends to get worse when a big storm is on its way, so keeping an eye on these changes will help scientists provide advance warning of severe weather.
Wacky Science
And finally, it’s time for some wacky science!
Humans are pretty good at making and using tools.
Some animals aren’t too bad either!
Now, new research has shown that one type of bird is even better at it than we previously thought.
This is Figaro, a Goffin’s cockatoo.
Not only can he use a small stick to fetch a tasty treat, he’s learned to make his own tools out of things that are lying around.
He can strip the leaves off a branch, break up pieces of wood till they’re just the right size, and even use his beak to cut up cardboard!
Cockatoos like Figaro are so smart that scientists have compared their intelligence to that of a three-year-old human.
That’s all for this week’s update, we’ll see you next time.