While we warm up the News Time machine for 2026, we've been looking back at some favourite stories from 2025. This News Time episode is all about amazing animals.

You’ll hear about a groovy seal, some helpful hounds, and a law-breaking duck!

Plus, keep an eye on your News Time feed for a very special episode next week! You won't want to miss it.

As we begin a brand new year, our intrepid host Ruby takes a look back at her favourite stories of 2025.

It's getting very close to the end of the year, so we're looking back at five of our favourite good news stories from 2025.

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

Nas Campanella, the ABC's National Disability Affairs Reporter, is picking up the News Time microphone this week for International Day of People with Disability.

You'll hear about a show where everyone can experience ballet, even if they can't see! You'll meet a teenager whose idea to share expensive equipment is making a real difference. Then we'll head to a huge sporting event for deaf athletes in our Wow of the Week!

Quiz Questions

1. How many times has Leo's speech been viewed on social media?

2. What technology is Kaitie using to gain the confidence to drive?

3. What is the name Ava has given to the online community she created?

4. What word does Devon use to describe the type of accessibility in her show?

5. What anniversary did the Deaflympics celebrate this year?

Bonus Tricky Question

In track events at the Deaflympics, what is used instead of a starting pistol?

Answers

1. More than 2.5 million times!

2. A driving simulator

3. The Sharing Shed

4. Radical

5. 100th!

Bonus Tricky Answer

Lights

On this week’s News Time, you’ll hear about a family who’s received a message from 100 years in the past, and we’ll go on a quest to identify a mysterious animal prowling around a forest. Then we’ll put on our dancing shoes for a very wild Wow of the Week!

Quiz Questions

1. Where has the mango been grown and developed?

2. Who won the 2025 NSW Premier's Spelling Bee?

3. What was inside the glass bottle?

4. What breed of dog (not lion!) is Mouse?

5. How long did GrassHopper dance for?

Bonus Tricky Question

How many songs did GrassHopper dance to?

Answers

1. Far North Queensland

2. Finn

3. Two letters

4. Newfoundland

5. 144 hours (or six days!)

Bonus Tricky Answer

More than 3,000 songs!