What do a fish-hunting dinosaur, a record-breaking Winter Olympics, a carefully delayed Moon mission and giant tortoises have in common?

They’re all part of this week’s The Bright Bunch news round-up — real stories from our world that are curious, inspiring and full of hope.

In this episode:

🦖 Scientists reveal a brand-new species of Spinosaurus discovered in the Sahara Desert — complete with a sword-shaped head crest and crocodile-like teeth
❄️ The Winter Olympics wrap up with Norway topping the medal table, Team GB celebrating success, and the Winter Paralympics just around the corner
🚀 NASA announces a delay to Artemis II as astronauts prepare for humanity’s next journey around the Moon
🐢 Giant tortoises return to a Galápagos island of Floreana for the first time in over 180 years — helping ecosystems begin to heal

Curious news for bright young minds.

Hit follow, leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and share with a fellow curious mind.

Be curious. Be kind. Have a great day.

What if it rained molten glass...sideways?

What if a planet had two suns? ☀️☀️

In this episode of The Bright Bunch, we're counting down the Top 10 Strangest Planets Ever Discovered - real worlds beyond our solar system that are stranger than science fiction 🌕

These are exoplanets - planets that orbit stars far beyond our Sun. Scientists have already discovered more than 5,000 of them...and believe there could be billions more 🌑

From iron rain to diamond worlds, space is far weirder - and more wonderful - than we once imagined 🚀

Perfect for curious 7-12 year olds, families, home educators and classrooms exploring big questions about our universe.

Not a traditional lesson - just a spark to fuel curiosity.

Be curious. Be kind.

Planets featured in this episode:

Kepler-78b

OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb

WASP-12b

GJ 1214 b

KELT-9b

TrES-2b

Kepler-16b

55 Cancri e

HD 189733 b

WASP-76b

What causes a volcano to erupt?
How many active volcanoes are there on Earth?
And why do some people still choose to live near them?

In this episode of The Bright Bunch, we explore the powerful forces beneath our feet — from magma and lava to tectonic plates and the Ring of Fire.

You’ll discover:

🌍 What volcanoes are and how they form🌋 Why eruptions happen📊 How many active volcanoes there are worldwide🌱 How volcanoes can both destroy and create

Perfect for curious kids aged 7–12(ish), families, home educators and KS2 classrooms.

Be curious. Be kind. Have a great day.

History has been made at the Winter Olympics, new astronauts have arrived at the International Space Station, and 17th February marks several important celebrations across the world.

In this first Bright Bunch news episode, we explore:

🥇 Team GB’s record-breaking Winter Olympics (so far!)
🚀 What the International Space Station is — and why astronauts live there
🌍 Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Pancake Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day

Perfect for KS2 learners, home education and curious families who want to understand what’s happening in the world around them.

Be curious. Be kind. Have a great day.

In this episode of The Bright Bunch, we explore 10 of the fastest animals on Earth — incredible speed champions from land, sea and sky! 🐆🐟🦅

From sprinting mammals to record-breaking birds and lightning-fast ocean predators, these animals have evolved in extraordinary ways to move at astonishing speeds.

The speeds shared in this episode are based on widely reported figures from trusted scientific and educational sources, including National Geographic and Encyclopedia Britannica.

Perfect for:

• KS2 learners

• Primary school classrooms

• Home education

• Curious kids (and their adults!) who love animal facts

  
  

But which animal is the ultimate speed machine?

Listen now to find out!

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you getyour podcasts.

Be curious. Be kind. Have a great day.

Travel back over 400 years to meet William Shakespeare, one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived.

In this episode of The Bright Bunch, we explore who Shakespeare really was, why his stories still matter today, and the surprising number of words he invented that we still use every day. From love and jealousy to big choices and kindness, discover why Shakespeare’s work continues to shape books, films, and classrooms around the world.

A fun, friendly listen for curious kids and families — reminding us to be curious and be kind.

🎭 Suitable for ages 7–12 (and grown-ups too!)

The Winter Olympics are here! ❄️
In this episode of The Bright Bunch, we break down what the Winter Olympics are, where they’re happening, who’s competing, and the fun facts everyone’s talking about — from record-breaking ages to gender equality at the Games.

Perfect for curious kids (ages 7–12ish), families, and classrooms.
🎧 Follow The Bright Bunch on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for new episodes every week.

Welcome to The Bright Bunch — a podcast made especially for curious kids and bright young minds who want to understand the world.

In this short intro episode, you’ll meet the podcast, learn what kinds of stories we’ll explore, and discover how we make sense of the news, history, science, and big ideas in a calm, clear and hopeful way.

Some episodes will explain what’s happening in the world right now. Others will dive into amazing people, moments from history, and fascinating questions about how things work.

This podcast is designed for children aged around 7–12, but grown-ups, families and teachers are very welcome too!

New episodes coming soon.

Be curious. Be kind. And welcome to The Bright Bunch.

If you enjoy the show, please tap follow so you don’t miss future episodes. You can also find us on Instagram and YouTube at @TheBrightBunchHQ for extra bits and pieces.