The Week Junior US

On September 15, a private space mission named Polaris Dawn successfully came to an end after achieving several important milestones. One of them was the first spacewalk ever conducted by crew members who are not professional astronauts. What is the Polaris Dawn mission? Polaris Dawn is part of the Polaris Program, which is a collaboration between the aerospace company SpaceX and billionaire business executive Jared Isaacman, who is paying for the program. Polaris Dawn, which launched on September 10, is the first of three planned test flights. Its four-member crew traveled in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Isaacman was the mission’s commander, and the pilot was Scott Poteet, a retired US Air Force officer who has flown military jets. The other crew members were…

The UK government announced a plan on September 12 to restrict junk food advertisements in order to reduce children’s exposure to them. The ads will not be allowed on television before 9 p.m. and will be banned entirely online. The move is part of a larger effort to reduce preventable illnesses and improve children’s health. Studies have shown that junk food ads influence children’s food choices. Junk foods are highly processed foods and drinks that are high in salt, fat, and sugar. Consumption of them has been shown to lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and other health problems. The restrictions are set to go into effect on October 1, 2025. In the meantime, the government will establish clearer guidelines on which foods and drinks fall…

The 2024 winners of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes were announced on September 17. Each year, the awards honor 15 winners and 10 finalists between ages 8 and 18 who have made a positive difference in their communities. The 15 winners receive a $10,000 prize to be used for their service work or education. The awards were created in 2001 by children’s author T.A. Barron in honor of his mother, Gloria Barron. She was a teacher and also worked at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, where she developed a nature center where everything can be touched. Many of this year’s winners were recognized for their environmental work. Arya Gurumukhi, age 15, invented a solar-powered device that uses a process like photosynthesis (when plants turn sunlight…

A SUPER STONE FRUIT Two farmers in South Africa set a new record for the world’s heaviest plum, which weighed just over a pound. Dean and Deon Barnard said they didn’t do anything special to grow the Autumn Treat variety of the fruit. “I’m so proud and excited,” said Dean. SAYING THANKS The US Postal Service (USPS) is releasing a stamp thanking healthcare workers, including hospital staff, home health aides, lab technicians, scientists, nurses, doctors, and surgeons. The USPS said these workers “dedicate their lives to protect our health, safety, and well-being.” A LEGO LAP When Formula 1 race car driver Lando Norris took a new vehicle out for a spin, he drove a little slower than usual—because the car is made of 342,817 Lego pieces. The full-size, fully functional…

From September 22 to 28, the US will observe Banned Books Week, sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA). The observance takes place as the ALA released a new report showing that attempts to ban books reached an all-time high in 2023, increasing by 65%. What is Banned Books Week? The week promotes the right to choose what to read, and this year’s theme is “Freed Between the Lines.” The event highlights the benefits of allowing children to have access to a wide range of information to help them form their own opinions. This year’s honorary chair is filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who has directed movies based on frequently banned books, including the award-winning children’s book A Wrinkle in Time. Why are books banned? When people object to a book being…

September 22, 1888 National Geographic is published On September 22, 1888, the first issue of National Geographic was published by the National Geographic Society, a group of explorers and scientists who wanted to share knowledge. The first issue published science papers and a report on a historic snowstorm. Although today the magazine, which has about 1.8 million subscribers, is famous for its photography, the first issue had no photos.…