Short & Curly

Right this very moment, are you awake or are you dreaming? You're awake, right? But are you sure? Maybe you're just in the middle of a very realistic dream? Philosophers have been debating this question for centuries. And we are going to solve it today! Or are we?

Brains Trust – Linden Park Primary School, Adelaide – Genevieve, Grace, Alexa, Poppy, Chelsea, Sophie

Molly and Carl have just found out that some people earn a lot more money than they do, and this just makes no cents (pun intended). So how do we decide what different types of jobs should be paid? What about if those jobs are dangerous? If they take many years of training and study? Or if they will make the world a better place?

Brains Trust – Linden Park Primary School, Adelaide – Genevieve, Grace, Alexa, Poppy, Chelsea, Sophie

Would you like to learn to speak whale language at school instead of Italian or Mandarin? Molly and Carl go on a deep-sea mission to test a new translation device that will let them talk to whales. But even if they manage to make the technology work, will they be able to truly understand each other? Come dive with us and find out.

Brains Trust – Linden Park Primary School, Adelaide – Ivy, Finn, Oliver, Ken, Aaron, Nicholas 

Did you know rats are very smart and curious creatures? They laugh when they are tickled, they can take care of each other, and they are actually quite clean. Millions of them are also used in painful scientific experiments to test new drugs and medical theories. Researchers do all this to help humans. But some say these animals deserve a better life. So, what should we do?

• Brains Trust – Linden Park Primary School, Adelaide – Linda, Elina, Jescinta, Dhyana, Siera, Justine

Our parents have their own beliefs, and they'll often try to teach us to have the same.

Must we believe what our parents believe? Is it disrespectful to question it?

A big thank you to Hazel for this curly question!

You get an award at school, your dog learns a new trick, or your mum lands a great job – they're all moments we can be proud of.

When that pride swells inside, it makes us want to tell the whole world!

But is it being proud of yourself or just showing off? What's the difference?

There's nothing like munching on your favourite snacks and watching all your favourite shows and movies. You're not making lots of noise or bothering anyone too.

So, why can't you watch TV all day?

Thank you to Amelia and Evie for the great question!

We see advertisements all the time. There are companies that say their yoghurt can make us smarter or their pillows will help us sleep better. Some even say their clothes or cars will help the environment!

They may not be lying, but they're also not telling the whole truth.

So, is it okay to advertise things that aren't true?

Thank you to Ahuva for this colourful question! We also love 'Who wants a virtual life?' too!

It's always different when you visit or go past another school.

They have different teachers, buildings, books, and activities. Sometimes they even have private football fields and really fancy computers!

So, is it okay for some schools to have more money than others? What about those of us who can't attend those fancy, rich schools?

Molly is a superfan of the singer Jackfruit Jones (don't try Googling him, we made him up). But she's in for a shock when Carl tells her what Jackfruit is like in real life. Jackfruit Jones has done some bad stuff! So should she keep listening to his music? And can you dislike the artist and still love the art?

Brains Trust – Westmead Public School, Sydney: Swetha, Reyansh, Anirudh, Reya, Kushagra, Ashvita