Global Climate Meeting Takes Place

On this week’s news update:

Climate Change Meeting

An international meeting on climate change.

Virtual Reality

Using virtual reality to build confidence.

Spider Milk

And the spiders that make milk!

First up, government representatives from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Poland to try to agree how to tackle climate change.

The meeting has a very long name:

The 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP24 for short!

COP24

There’s a lot to agree on—for example, how to reduce the pollution produced by burning fossil fuels and how to increase countries’ use of renewable energy sources, like wind and solar.

But it's not just adults at COP24.

Greta Thunberg
Activist

Greta Thunberg is a 15-year-old activist from Sweden, and she has a message about climate change for the grown-ups.

It’s the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced, and we need to do something now, because tomorrow it might be too late.

Next up, virtual reality can allow us to explore amazing imaginary worlds, but it could also help people to feel more comfortable in the real world.

For some people, visiting busy public places – like cafes or supermarkets – can be scary and stressful.

So scientists are recreating these situations in virtual reality.

This gives people a chance to practice everyday activities, like a shopping trip, in a safe, virtual space.

So they can build their confidence before trying it for real.

Other scientists are using virtual reality to help people overcome their fear of heights, flying, and even dogs.

Animal Watch

And finally, it’s Animal Watch.

Mammals, like sheep, meerkats, and humans produce milk to feed their young.

Milk contains nutrients, such as protein and fat, that help babies to grow and stay healthy.

Now, scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have discovered that a type of spider also feeds its babies with a liquid that’s a bit like milk!

Toxeus magnus

This is a female Toxeus magnus—a type of jumping spider.

And these are baby spiders, drinking the milky liquid produced by their mother.

It contains four times as much protein as cow’s milk!

So, these eight-legged parents have more in common with mammals than we thought – even if they don’t look too cuddly!

That’s all for this year. We’ll see you after the holidays!