Kids News - Articles for Grade 9

Caterpillars are usually seen as harmless, plant-munching larvae. But a newly identified species discovered on the Hawaiian island of Oahu challenges that reputation. Measuring just 5 mm long, the "bone collector" caterpillar feeds on dead insects found in spider webs. It then repurposes the remains, wearing body parts like beetle shells and weevil heads as camouflage....

Every June, thousands of cyclists gather in Motala, Sweden, to participate in one of the world's longest and most iconic bike races — the Vätternrundan. This event, held on June 13 and 14 in 2025, requires riders to complete a staggering 196-mile (315 km) loop around Lake Vättern, Sweden's second-largest lake....

Each summer, the Northern Hemisphere night sky comes alive with one of the year's most dazzling celestial events: the Perseid meteor shower. Known for its bright, fast-moving meteors, the Perseids are a favorite of both casual stargazers and serious astronomers....

Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the Hill Country region in Central Texas experienced intense rainfall. This caused the Guadalupe River, which runs through much of the area, to surge over 26 feet (7.9 m) in about 45 minutes. The rapid rise triggered one of the worst flash floods in US history. The water swept through entire communities with little warning, engulfing land and washing away vehicles, buildings, and bridges. Thousands of residents lost their homes and businesses. As of July 25, 2025, 138 people have died — the 10th-highest toll on record for a US flash flood. Three are still missing....

Every July, ice cream lovers across the US come together to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. This sweet tradition began in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan officially designated July as National Ice Cream Month. He also declared the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day....

The SS United States was a marvel of speed, style, and American ambition. Built entirely in the US, the 990-foot (308 m) liner was designed to achieve unprecedented speeds. On its maiden voyage in 1952, the ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes. To this day, no passenger ship has beaten this record. Though long retired from service, the storied vessel is now set to break a different kind of record — that of the world's largest artificial reef....

Astronomers and skywatchers around the world are celebrating the release of the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Unveiled on June 23, 2025, they mark a major milestone in the observatory's mission — to capture cosmic events as they unfold over the next ten years....

On May 13, 2025, Christopher Thuss headed out for an evening on Lake Michigan, hoping to catch a fish or two. Instead, he discovered the wreck of a storied tugboat that had remained hidden beneath the surface for over a century....

Each year on the first Saturday of June, thousands of people flock to a scenic Minneapolis neighborhood to witness a pencil being sharpened. As strange as it may sound, this is no ordinary pencil. It stands an impressive 20 feet (60 m) tall and boasts a diameter of 32 inches (81 cm)....