If you’ve listened to News Time before, you’ll know that we end each week’s countdown with our Wow of the Week.

Today’s episode is 100% Wow. It’s WowFest 2025! A countdown of five amazing stories this year that made you go... 'wow!'

On this week’s News Time, we’ll head to the desert to dig up a haul of significant artefacts. Then, we’ll hear from a News Time listener with a truly life-saving message.

And, in our Wow of the Week, we’ll blast off to Mars for some rather shocking space news.

Quiz Questions

1. How old do Australians now need to be to open a social media account?

2. What is Rosie asking grown-ups of News Time listeners to do?

3. What is the name given to the tools the archaeologists found?

4. Who is the last dog on Christmas Island?

5. What is the name of the rover on Mars?

Bonus Tricky Question

Why are dogs not allowed on Christmas Island?

Answers

1. 16

2. Donate blood, platelets or bone marrow

3. Tulas

4. Shiloh the chocolate labrador

5. Perseverance

Bonus Tricky Answer

To protect Christmas Island's threatened species

On this week’s News Time, we’ll play a game that’s saving a language from extinction, and we’ll journey deep into the jungle searching for something that humans haven’t seen for ten years! Then, we’ll blast off into space with some very green passengers in our Wow of the Week.

Quiz Questions

1. How long does a Test Match of cricket usually go for?

2. What did Macquarie Dictionary name as its "Word of the Year" for 2025? (Hint: it's actually two words!)

3. What did the Elders create to save their language from extinction?

4. How many hours did Deki trek, to find the rare flower?

5. What green plant was placed outside the International Space Station for nine months?

Bonus Tricky Question

What was the name of the charity that received all the leftover food?

Answers

1. Up to five days

2. AI slop

3. A smartphone game

4. 23 hours

5. Moss

Bonus Tricky Answer

OzHarvest