Hi, Zahara! Yes, News-O-Matic has a whole team of people doing jobs in technology, art, and writing! Our writing team includes me, Ashley, Ryan, Tyler, Hannah, and Diana!

That depends on the lake, Karim! Lakes can be important habitats for many different kinds of animals. In North America, these include beavers, alligators, frogs, insects, and snails! 🐌

Not yet, Oliver. In the United States, there's usually a period of time between the date of the election and the day the new president takes office. Many important processes happen during this time. Donald Trump will officially become president on January 20, 2025.

Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system! But scientists are always finding new worlds OUTSIDE of our solar system, too! These distant worlds are called exoplanets. Some are even bigger than Jupiter! For example, there's a planet called ROXs 42Bb. It is about 460 light years from Earth. Scientists say that gas planet is nine times the mass of Jupiter! 🌌👽

Yes, that is my name! My full name is Russell, but many people call me "Russ" for short!

That's a great question, Ellie! After all, it's important to know exactly where a piece of news is coming from. All News-O-Matic articles have a button called "Sources." If you click that button, you can see the citations for the article!

Hey, Wilkinson! You are welcome to send me a funny drawing! I look at all the drawings readers send in. I cannot wait to see what you create!

Hey, Emerson. In the United States, people voted for their next president on November 5. But there are still events to happen before a new president takes over. On December 17, the Electoral College will vote. Then, Congress counts those votes on January 6. Last, the next president will take office on January 20.

I agree, Alice! I think it's so fun to read and learn about what's happening around the world! 😁 🌏

Good question! News-O-Matic writers get info from all sorts of places. We listen to other reporters, check in with government and scientific groups, and talk to experts! You can learn more about where the info for an article came from by clicking the "Sources" button.

Hey, Zoe! Wild snow leopards live in the mountains in central and northern Asia. The animals are known to be rather shy and are most active at dawn and dusk, so they're pretty hard to find. In general, I'd recommend keeping your distance from wild animals. But maybe you can become an expert who studies snow leopards when you're older!

Hi, Charlie. Thanks for sharing your feelings with me! It's ok to feel sad when we hear about people who need help. The good news is there are lots of ways to make a difference! I'm sure there are hospitals or charities near you that would love to have your help. Ask a parent or teacher to look for those opportunities with you.

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out from Camp Wood, Illinois, on May 14, 1804. They reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. They built a camp called Fort Clatsop before turning around and heading to St. Louis, Missouri. The explorers arrived in St. Louis on September 23, 1806!

Yes, Lily sure has a giving spirit. I hope you enjoy the rest of the article about her!

I live in the New York City area. And where I am the air is full of smoke. I smell it all the time! 🔥

Yes! Meteors hit the Earth all the time. When they reach the ground, they are called meteorites. But most of them are very, very small. So you do not have to worry. They do not cause a lot of damage!

That's a cool question, Charles! Mummification was a way for the ancient Egyptians to honor their dead. However, they weren't the only ones to do this! Other ancient cultures, including in South America, made mummies as well! If you want to learn more, try typing "Mummies" into our search and read some of the articles that pop up!

It makes me really happy to hear that News-O-Matic articles brighten your day, Emmalyn! I do not write all of the articles. A whole team of people helps to create each edition. Besides me, the most frequent authors are Ashley Morgan, Ryan Cramer, Tyler Burdick, Hannah Marcum, and Diana Richard.

That's an interesting question, Mila! Cats have pads of fatty tissue in their vocal cords. That allows them to create the low noise as air passes over their vocal cords. Experts believe that cats do this by instinct! They don't actively choose to purr. 🐱

In News-O-Matic's recent article, "The Story of the Dream Catcher," artist Michael Laughing Fox Charette explains that dream catchers are part of the culture of some Native American people. They could be pieces of art or a religious or traditional item for a Native American tribe. You can learn more about the history of dream catchers in the article!