Slithering into the start of our countdown, we'll hear about a mega den of rattlesnakes keeping scientists intrigued.

Our next few stories will take us to the ballet, to regional Western Australia, and to coral reefs in South Africa!

Then finally, we're headed far beyond the edge of our solar system for a slightly stinky… Wow of the Week!

Quiz Questions

1. 1.Roughly how many rattlesnakes are in the megaden?
2. 2.Evie is a ballet dancer, but what's her other job? Hint: she wears yellow!
3. 3.What does Jessica like to do when she's diving?
4. 4.How many people in Kathy's family are volunteers?
5. 5.What would it smell like on this distant planet?

Bonus Tricky Question

What is the rain made of on planet HD 189733b?

Answers

1. 1.2000
2. 2.She's a Wiggle
3. 3.Listen to the reef, feel weightless and relaxed
4. 4.Three
5. 5.Rotten eggs

Bonus Tricky Answer

Glass

Today's show starts underwater… dive into the deep end with us as we uncover the secret language of whales! We'll meet some nannas with know-how, giving new life to old clothes, and then pop on our best green and gold clothes because the Olympics have finally begun! After that, we'll meet some teens feeling brave enough to follow their dreams, then head back to a land before dinosaurs for a very ancient… Wow of the week!

Quiz Questions

1. 1.Scientists have figured out an alphabet for which kind of whale?
2. 2.How many toilet flushes worth of water does it take to make a T-shirt and jeans?
3. 3.Where are the Olympic Games being held this year?
4. 4.What's the name of the kind of school some people go to when they finish high school?
5. 5.What's older - the rock that Erica found, or plants?

Bonus Tricky Question

Where will the Olympics be held in 8 years? Hint: Somewhere in Australia!

Answers

1. 1.Sperm whales
2. 2.More than a thousand
3. 3.Paris, in France
4. 4.University
5. 5.The rock! It's a fossil, called black chert

Bonus Tricky Answer

Brisbane, in Queensland

Today's show starts on the planet Mars… sort of! We'll meet some scientists returning home from the red planet, without ever having left earth… We'll visit some strong structures saving powerful birds, and head deep into a cave to see the oldest storytelling art ever found.

After that, we'll meet a terrific tap dancer moving and grooving into old age, before we take it easy for our… Wow of the week!

Quiz Questions

1. 1.How long were the four scientists in the Mars simulator?
2. 2.What colour are the nesting platforms that have been built for the birds?
3. 3.What's special about the kind of art that the scientists found?
4. 4.How old is our terrific tap dancer, Lorraine?
5. 5.Which country was the 'do nothing' competition held in?

Bonus Tricky Question

What kind of job does Woopsyang, the person who invented the 'do nothing' competition, have?

Answers

1. 1.Over one year
2. 2.Green
3. 3.It's storytelling art
4. 4.99 years old
5. 5.South Korea

Bonus Tricky Answer

An artist

This week is NAIDOC week, a time for all Australians to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and Ruby has passed the News Time microphone over to Carli Willis - a journalist from the Torres Strait Islands.

Quiz Questions

1. 1.What's the theme for NAIDOC week this year?
2. 2.Can you name at least one of the colours on the Torres Strait Islands flag, and what it represents?
3. 3.Elsie Seriat recently became mayor of Torres Shire Council. What's special about her becoming mayor?
4. 4.Which animal are rangers in the Torres Strait trying to keep off the islands?
5. 5.What's the name of the football competition that people participated in?

Bonus Tricky Question

Can you name one of the winning teams at the footy competition?

Answers

1. 1.Keep the fire burning: Blak, loud and proud
2. 2.Green stripes at the top and bottom to represent the land, black lines next to them to represent the people, and a big blue part in the middle to represent the sea. In the middle is a white Dhari, a ceremonial headdress, and a five-pointed star, to represent the five major island groups.
3. 3.She's the first traditional owner to become mayor, and the second ever woman
4. 4.Cane toads
5. 5.Island of Origin

Bonus Tricky Answer

Paga Panthers or NQ United Sista

Today's show starts deep under the icy sea, exploring a rediscovered shipwreck. Then, an adventure of a different kind! At a game shop opening their doors to everyone. After that, we'll meet a bush nurse caring for their communities, and some school students who've send a special package to kids overseas. Finally, we're headed back to the ocean! But in much warmer climates for our… Wow of the Week.

Quiz Questions

1. 1.What area did Sir Ernest Shackleton like to explore?
2. 2.What kind of shop does Laura run?
3. 3.How many years have bush nurses been caring for their communities?
4. 4.In which country is the school that Belair Public sent their uniforms to?
5. 5.What nickname have scientists given the Australian Brook Lamprey?

Bonus Tricky Question

Which state was the Australian Brook Lamprey first seen in, and where has it been spotted now?

Answers

1. 1.Antarctica
2. 2.Board games/ games
3. 3.100
4. 4.Fiji
5. 5.Vegan Dracula

Bonus Tricky Answer

New South Wales, Queensland

Today's show starts on a special reserve in Queensland, where unique creatures have found a safe haven. Then, heading south, we'll visit the Australian Marbles Championship at Brunswick Heads. We'll zoom on over to the other side of the country, to hear about a flying school in Esperance, Western Australia, and then zip back to New South Wales to hear about a sacred site that's been saved. Finally, we're headed back in time to ancient Australia for a dinoriffic… Wow of the week!

Quiz Questions

1. 1.Can you name one of the things that have been banned at the reserve?
2. 2.How old was the winner of the marbles championship?
3. 3.In the past couple of years, have there been more flying schools closing, or opening?
4. 4.What's the name of the cave that has been saved?
5. 5.Which modern day bird did the ancient pterosaur remind scientists of?

Bonus Tricky Question

What's the name of the industry, starting with 'A', for jobs to do with flying planes?

Answers

1. 1.Mining, logging, building houses
2. 2.14
3. 3.Closing
4. 4.Butterfly Cave
5. 5.Pelican

Bonus Tricky Answer

Aviation

Pop on your protective gear, today's episode starts down at the racetrack with a Brisbane kid and her need for speed.

After that, we'll learn about a new app saving an Indigenous language, before grabbing a fossil brush to inspect a dinoriffic discovery.

We'll meet some top blokes teaching top ideas, and then hear about an unlikely hero for our… Wow of the week!

Quiz Questions

1. 1.What is Lana's dream/ goal?
2. 2.How many people are there that can speak the language Ngalia fluently?
3. 3.What kind of dinosaur is Teen Rex?
4. 4.What makes someone a good boy, or man?
5. 5.Which country do Brandon and Blue the dog live in?

Bonus Tricky Question

What is the name, starting with the letter R, of the sort of ditch that Brandon was stuck in?

Answers

1. 1.To win a Formula 1 championship, and be the first girl to do so
2. 2.Three
3. 3.Tyrannosaurus Rex
4. 4.This is a tricky question... there's no one right answer!
5. 5.The United States of America

Bonus Tricky Answer

Ravine

Join Ruby and ABC Sport reporter Liz Wright for a deep dive into the Paralympic Games.

We start today's show taking it slow out in nature for some journalling, before we bid farewell to a mighty Matilda. Then, we'll sit down for a meal designed for Autistic eaters, and head to the gallery to see the winners of this years Archibald Prize.

Finally, we're headed back in time for a prehistoric… Wow of the week! 

Quiz Questions

1. 1.Is nature journalling just for professionals, or can anyone do it?
2. 2.How long has Lydia Williams been a Matilda?
3. 3.Can you name one of the foods available at the sensory friendly dinners?
4. 4.Can you name one of the people that were painted for the Archibald Prize?
5. 5.What did the scientists nickname the animal that had some similarities to an echidna, and some similarities to a platypus?

Bonus Tricky Question

What is a monotreme?

Answers

1. 1.Anyone can give it a go!
2. 2.19 years
3. 3.Chicken nuggets and chips, plain pasta, fish fingers, mash potato and more
4. 4.Author Tim Winton, or rapper Baker Boy are the ones that we mentioned... but you might know another!
5. 5.Echidnapus

Bonus Tricky Answer

A mammal that lays eggs - and the only two around today are the platypus and the echidna.

On today's show, we'll take a peek at the new uniforms for our Australian Paralympic team. Then, we'll visit a retirement village that's home to some furry residents, before kicking the footy around with some sport-loving kids.

After that, it's time to navigate the noise of a busy playground with a special wagon helping people feel included, and then finally, we'll hear a delicious… Wow of the week!

Quiz Questions

1. 1.What's extra special about the new Paralympic uniforms?
2. 2.Which country is the cat retirement village in?
3. 3.How long had it been since the kids at Burringurrah played an organised game of footy?
4. 4.What name did Sarah give the wagon?
5. 5.Which country did Kristie visit to taste peach melon and matcha ice cream?

Bonus Tricky Question

How long was the drive from Burringurrah to Meekatharra and back?

Answers

1. 1.They're made to be universally accessible - everyone should be able to wear them
2. 2.England
3. 3.Two years 
4. 4.Wellbeing Wagon
5. 5.Japan

Bonus Tricky Answer

600km