Dino Mix-Ups, Digital Doubles & Gas Station Grumbles! (4.17.26)

0:00Yo yo, hey, it's time to dash. Welcome to Kids News Flash. News for Kids. We keep it cool. Stay in the know is the golden rule. Hey there, and welcome to Kids News Flash. The news show made just for curious kids like you. I'm Katie, here to help you stay up to date on what's happening around the world. Stay in the know is the golden rule. Happy Friday, everyone. Today is April 17th, 2026, and we've got some really good stories. Happy Haiku Day, a Haiku has three lines. Five syllables, then seven, then five. Can you write one? Happy! Here are today's top stories. Scientists thought they'd solved a dinosaur mystery years ago, but they were wrong. That skull they said belonged to a young T-Rex? Turns out it's actually a completely different species called nanotirannis. Researchers at the University of Nebraska

1:01examined a tiny throat bone from the original fossil and found growth patterns showing this wasn't a teenager still growing. It was already fully mature. That means nanotirannis was its own fierce predator, about half the size of T-Rex, roaming around 66 million years ago alongside its giant cousin. Also making headlines, Iranian soccer players find refuge in Australia. Two Iranian soccer players who asked for asylum in Australia say the country has given them hope for a future where we can live and compete in safety. Atefe, Ramazzanisade, and Fatime Pasandide were part of Iran's women's team that competed in the Women's Asian Cup. They didn't sink Iran's national anthem during their opening match. Five other teammates who also got humanitarian visas decided to go back to Iran, but these two stayed. From the world of technology, Richard Skelet, a tech consultant, created an AI version of himself called Digital Richard.

2:01This digital twin knows everything Skelet knows and helps him with business decisions and personal life. His company, Bloor Research, has rolled out digital twins for all 50 employees, helping with tasks like phased retirements and maternity leave coverage. Plus, 20 other companies have tested this tech, and it's now widely available, boosting productivity without needing more hires. Let's do a quick check-in. Here's a question for you. How long ago did nanotiranis live? A, 45 million years ago? B, 100 million years ago? C, 66 million years ago? Or D, back when dinosaurs had to walk uphill both ways to school? Five seconds on the clock? What do you think? Let's see, the answer is C, 66 million years ago?

3:08Nanotiranis lived during the very end of the age of dinosaurs, right before they all went extinct. Hope you nailed that one. Okay, history time. On this day, April 17th, in 1970, the crew of Apollo 13 returned safely to Earth. After an explosion crippled their spacecraft, the three astronauts used creative problem-solving to survive and splash down safely. Wow. We've got more stories. Let's keep going. On the business front, gas prices are really squeezing while it's right now. Since the U.S. and Israel's conflict with Iran started seven weeks ago, prices have jumped about $1.50 per gallon. In central Utah, gas went from $2.70 to $4.19 a gallon. Mandy, a mom there, says it's now too expensive

4:08to visit her disabled child in a group home. She says, a dollar or two increase is devastating. This war is messing with oil supplies worldwide, pushing up fuel costs everywhere. Over in Washington, Australia's facing some big energy challenges because of a conflict in the Middle East. Since March, fighting has basically shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20 percent of the world's oil. Australia gets around 80 percent of its fuel from countries like Singapore and Malaysia, which rely on that route. So, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting nearby countries to secure backup fuel supplies. Plus, the government's running ads asking Aussies to save gas and cutting fuel taxes to keep prices stable. Some technology news now. AI security worries for banks. Finance experts are seriously worried about a new AI called Claude Mythos. That's really good at finding security holes in computer systems.

5:08The AI found weaknesses in every major operating system and web browser it tested. Canada's Finance Minister, Francois Philippe Champagne, said it was discussed at this week's International Monetary Fund Meeting in Washington. The issue we're facing is that it's an unknown, unknown. He told the BBC, banks are getting early access to test their systems before it goes public. All right, another question for you from those last few stories. What is the name of the AI model that finance experts are worried about? Is it A, ChatGPT Security? Maybe B, Bankbot Pro? How about C, Claude Mythos? Or D, Hal9000's Little Brother? Think it over, you've got five seconds.

6:11Let's see, the answer is C, Claude Mythos. Claude Mythos is so good at finding computer security weaknesses that it discovered flaws in every major operating system and web browser it tested. If you got it, nice. Time for our discussion question. If you discovered a dinosaur skeleton that scientists got completely wrong, would you want to be the one to solve the mystery? Talk it over with a friend or family member. We'd love to know what you think. We're giving a shout out today to Isaac Dixon Elementary School in Asheville, North Carolina. We appreciate you tuning in. If you want your school featured, leave us a review. We'd love to give you a shout out. Ready for a new word? Here it is. Today's word is inaugural. Marking the beginning of a new venture or era.

7:11Here it is in a sentence. The inaugural flight of the new airplane set a speed record. Now you've got a new word in your vocabulary. Nice. Time for a fun fact. The first email was sent in 1971. Think about that for a second. Wow. All right, here's a joke for you. Why did the banana go to the doctor? It wasn't peeling well. You're welcome. Today, we covered a dinosaur mystery that scientists got wrong. Iranian soccer players finding safety in Australia, a guy who made an AI version of himself, rising gas prices hurting families, Australia's energy worries, and banks concerned about new AI security risks. That's all for today's kids news flash. If you love today's stories, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Keep being curious, and I'll see you tomorrow with more amazing stories.

8:11Special thanks to our co-producers Tyler and Katie. This podcast was brought to you by Kids News Flash Universe. Be sure to check out our other podcasts, Science Kids News Flash, AI Kids News Flash, Launch Kids News Flash, and more. For daily news for kids in five minutes or less.