You can learn about that on News-O-Matic! Check out the article "Nothing But Net!" to learn about Dr. James Naismith, the man who invented the game. And read "Women’s Hoops: A Bold History" to find out about the development of the sport for women. 🏀

Welcome, Harper! I'm so glad you're here reading on News-O-Matic!

Hey, Gracelyn. The hottest it's been in the United States was 134°F (56.7°C). That was in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913.

Hi, Abi! The team at News-O-Matic is so glad to know you're enjoying our stories. Keep reading to learn more about animals, science, sports, and world news throughout 2026!

I grew up rooting for the New York Yankees, Charles. And they are still my favorite team today! ⚾️

Nice to meet you, Siya. There's no reason to be scared of a Star test! It's just a way for your teachers to learn about your skills so they can better support your learning. And as long as you're reading News-O-Matic, your reading skills will keep getting better! 😀

Hi again, Cecilia. I'm glad some of our articles make you laugh. A lot of people enjoyed the story with the picture of the dancing gorilla. If you haven't seen it, check out "'High-Five' for Funny Wildlife Photos!"

Hi, Shepard! The Eiffel Tower is 1,083 feet (330 m) tall! You can read about that in Ashley's story, "Eiffel Tower Gets Taller." You can find that and "Climbing the Eiffel Tower" by typing "Eiffel Tower" into the Search bar!

That is so awesome, Sara! I am very happy to hear that News-O-Matic inspired you to read! Reading is amazing, and it's wonderful when we can be inspired from the news. You keep positive too!

Hi there! I'm glad your year is off to a good start. Mine is also going well. News stories are keeping the News-O-Matic team busy. What kind of stories would you like to see in 2026?

Hi, Fiona. News-O-Matic just ran a story called "The First Barbie With Autism." The story included some information about autism, like headphones people may wear and the loose dress on the doll. You can also read about autism in "Surviving With Autism!" and "Autism Month: Celebrating Differences." Type "autism" in the Search bar to find these and other stories!

I'm so glad you love News-O-Matic, Violet! That makes me so happy. What do you like to read the most?

Hi, Abby! It is a myth that camels have water in their humps! They actually store fat in their humps. They can use that as energy to fuel them when food and water are scarce. 🐫

Hi, Haylee! We have done a few articles about softball. I'll look out for more stories about the sport. Do you play softball? 🥎

Hi, Wendy. The coldest place on Earth is Antarctica. Temperatures there can get below -128.2°F (-89°C). You should check out News-O-Matic's recent article "Saving Earth's Ice Memories!" It talks about an important project there!

Hey, Adriana! A lot of people reallly enjoy the Warrior Cats books. I'm glad that a News-O-Matic article got you interested in reading! Many libraries have some of the Warrior Cats books. You should ask a parent, teacher, or librarian to help you find one! 📖🐱

Hey, Cici! Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you like our news articles. What kind of stories do you like most?

Hi, Mila! It's normal to feel nervous about tests. You may also want to talk to your teachers. Them may have good tips to make you feel ready for testing! One way to do well on the ELA test is to keep reading: books, directions, song lyrics... and the articles on News-O-Matic!

Sure thing, Courtney! Some scientists group wolves into three main species. The most common wolf is the gray wolf, which lives across North America, Europe, and Asia. Gray wolf pups stay with their packs until they are about three years old. Young wolves may then start their own packs and have their own pups. In the United States, many wildlife experts are working to track gray wolf populations and even bring the animals back to old habitats where the creatures once lived! 🐺

Hey, Cora! Many countries, including the United States, use a calendar called the Gregorian calendar. In that calendar, a year is 365 days long. That’s 8,760 hours or 525,600 minutes! 🕙 However, every four years is a Leap Year. That means it has 366 days!