On January 20, Donald Trump was officially sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. He’s the first president to serve two nonconsecutive (not in a row) terms since the 1890s. 

On January 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president. He’s the first president since the 1890s to serve two nonconsecutive (not in a row) terms. 

This year, the world mourned Jane Goodall, who helped change our understanding of animals’ behavior. The legendary conservationist died at age 91 on October 1. Goodall began studying chimpanzees in 1960, in what is now Gombe National Park in Tanzania, a country in East Africa. One day, Goodall observed a chimp using a stick to catch termites. Before then, scientists had thought only humans made and used tools.

Over the next 65 years, Goodall devoted her life to protecting chimps—and to making the planet a better place for all living things. 

In 2021, Goodall spoke to Scholastic News about her work.

Scholastic News: What did you learn from all the years of living with chimpanzees?

Jane Goodall: All the chimps are different. They each have their own personality. So much of their behavior is like ours—like kissing, embracing, holding hands.

SN: What impact has your work had?

JG: [It taught us that] we’re not the only beings with personality, mind, and emotion. It was as though the chimps helped break down a barrier. That opened the door to looking at other animals in a different way. 

SN: How can kids help protect the environment?

JG: Every day you live on the planet, you make an impact, and you have a choice as to what sort of impact you make. There’s hope. But it depends on us taking action.

^{Note: The interview has been edited and condensed.}

This year, the world said goodbye to Jane Goodall. The famous conservationist died on October 1. She was 91. Goodall helped change our knowledge of animals’ behavior. She began studying chimpanzees in 1960, in what is now Gombe National Park. That’s in Tanzania, a country in East Africa. There, Goodall saw a chimp using a stick to catch termites. Before then, scientists had thought only humans made and used tools.

Over the next 65 years, Goodall devoted her life to protecting chimps. She worked to make the planet a better place for all living things.

In 2021, Goodall spoke to Scholastic News about her work.

Scholastic News: What did you learn from all the years of living with chimpanzees?

Jane Goodall: All the chimps are different. They each have their own personality. So much of their behavior is like ours—like kissing, embracing, holding hands.

SN: What impact has your work had?

JG: [It taught us that] we’re not the only beings with personality, mind, and emotion. It was as though the chimps helped break down a barrier. That opened the door to looking at other animals in a different way.

SN: How can kids help protect the environment?

JG: Every day you live on the planet, you make an impact, and you have a choice as to what sort of impact you make. There’s hope. But it depends on us taking action.

^{Note: The interview has been edited and condensed.}

On May 8, a white puff of smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. It was a signal that the Catholic Church had a new pope. Robert Francis Prevost, who grew up outside Chicago, Illinois, is the first pope from the U.S. Now known as Pope Leo XIV, he is the spiritual leader of the more than 1 billion Catholics around the world.

On May 8, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel. That’s in Vatican City. It was a sign that the Catholic Church had a new pope. Robert Francis Prevost is the first pope from the U.S. He grew up outside Chicago, Illinois. Now he is known as Pope Leo XIV. He is the leader of the more than 1 billion Catholics around the world.

How do you spell champion? This year, it was F-A-I-Z-A-N! Thirteen-year-old Faizan Zaki of Allen, Texas, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 29. He beat out about 240 other spellers. 

Faizan won in the 21st round by correctly spelling éclaircissement (AY-klehr-sees-mahn). The French word means “the clearing up of something that is uncertain.” As the nation’s top speller, Faizan took home a trophy and more than $50,000 in prizes.

His success was years in the making. He first entered the Bee in 2019, finishing 370th. 

“It really motivated me to keep going,” he says, “so I kept working harder and harder.”

How do you spell champion? This year, it was F-A-I-Z-A-N! Faizan Zaki won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 29. The 13-year-old is from Allen, Texas. He beat out about 240 other spellers.

Faizan won in the 21st round. He correctly spelled éclaircissement (ay-klehr-sees-mahn). The French word means “the clearing up of something that is uncertain.” Faizan took home a trophy and more than $50,000.

His success was years in the making. He first entered the Bee in 2019. That year, he finished 370th.

“It really motivated me to keep going,” he says, “so I kept working harder and harder.”

Gamers bought more than 10 million Nintendo Switch 2 systems in the four months after its release in June. It’s the fastest-selling game console ever. 

Gamers bought more than 10 million Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. That was just in the four months after its June release. It’s the fastest-selling game console ever.

On January 7, two huge wildfires ignited in and around Los Angeles, California. The Palisades and Eaton Fires were among the most destructive in the state’s history. The numbers below help tell the story of just how bad the blazes were. 

On January 7, two huge wildfires started in and near Los Angeles, California. The Palisades and Eaton Fires were among the most deadly in the state’s history. The numbers below help tell the story of how bad the fires were.

Sudden flooding caused widespread destruction across central Texas on July 4. Early in the morning, heavy rains fell on the region. The deluge caused a section of the Guadalupe River near San Antonio to rise about 26 feet in only 45 minutes. The flash floods wiped out homes and other buildings and swept away vehicles. More than 135 people were killed in the disaster. 

Sudden flooding caused destruction across central Texas on July 4. Early in the morning, heavy rains fell on the area. The deluge caused a part of the Guadalupe River to rise about 26 feet in only 45 minutes. The flash floods wiped out homes. It swept away vehicles. More than 135 people were killed. 

“Everybody’s roof is gone.”* 

—Marvin Edwards, after Hurricane Melissa swept through his hometown of Montego Bay, Jamaica, on October 28. The powerful storm slammed into the island nation with winds of up to 185 miles per hour. Melissa also flooded nearby islands, killing at least 75 people in all. 

^{*Source: CBS News Miami}

“Everybody’s roof is gone.”

—Marvin Edwards, after Hurricane Melissa swept through Montego Bay, Jamaica, on October 28. The powerful storm slammed into the island nation. Winds reached 185 miles per hour. Melissa also flooded nearby islands. It killed at least 75 people.

^{*Source: CBS News Miami}