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Kids in the Garden, Ep 12: Trees: a vital part of our lives

Have you ever heard of the 'sausage tree' or the 'dragon blood tree'? Watch this clip to find out about these and many other types of trees. Explore how they grow and why they are important. Presenter Nick Hardcastle will also show you how to plant a tree and grow a bonsai tree.

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BTN: South Australia's ancient sea fossils

Come on a palaeontologist's dig at Emu Bay, South Australia, and discover some weird-looking creatures frozen in stone. Find out what these fossils tell scientists about life on the ancient sea floor. There is a demonstration of how a fossil is formed, and you'll be surprised by the types of materials that have been preserved.

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Sam the Lamb: needs of sheep

This short entertaining video, narrated by ‘Sam the Lamb’ and a wool-growing family show where their sheep live, what they eat and drink and how they ‘chew their cud’. Viewers will discover what a herbivore is, and how many stomachs sheep have. The video introduces rotational grazing and how farmers look after their sheep ...

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Pet Superstars: This cocky rocks

Meet Max and Cocky, his pet sulphur-crested cockatoo. Discover how Max handles his cheeky pet. Find out what body part he uses that has earned him the title 'the destroyer'.

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Catalyst: Sending seeds into space

Why might we need to keep a collection of seeds from all over the world? Where would we keep a collection like that? Should we send some of them into space? Watch this clip to reveal answers to all these questions and more.

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What are microbes?

What are microbes? What are the four major groups that most microbes belong to? Listen as Dr Taghrid Istivan explains where microbes are found. What is the name of the group of microbes she describes as beneficial to our health? Can you explain what happens when people get food poisoning?

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Day in the life of a wombat

Wombats have lovely large noses like dogs, but they're different from dogs' noses. How are they different? They also have hard heads and sharps nails to dig their homes with. What are their homes called? What do they do with most of their day?

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Testing the 5-second rule

When it comes to dropping food, have you heard of the 5-second rule? Or the 3-second rule? Watch this video to learn what really happens when you drop food. In order to cause disease, what must bacteria do? What circumstances allow bacteria and viruses to contaminate food more successfully?

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Marla Spivak: Why bees are disappearing

This is a video of a TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) talk by Professor Marla Spivak about the dramatic decline in the number of bees. The 16-minute video begins with a discussion of why humans should care about bees, including their critical importance for the world's food supply. Professor Spivak explains that ...

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What have we got here: the Darling catchment

This six and a half minute video provides an overview of the Darling River catchment. The overview covers the hydrology, ancient and recent history, communities, environment and industry along the river. The video also looks at the role local land authorities play in natural resource management. The video is one of ten ...

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What have we got here: emus

This three minute snapshot video briefly looks at the iconic Australian native animal, the emu or Ngurri. The video highlights some key points related to the biology of the world’s third largest bird, including their breeding habits and a novel way to attract them. The video is one of ten in the series 'What have we got ...

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Kids in the Garden, Ep 2: How seeds become plants

Did you know that a coconut and a walnut are actually seeds? Tiny or huge, prickly or smooth, seeds contain everything a plant needs to start a new life. Watch this clip and find out how seeds get around, and what they need to start growing. Presenter Nick Hardcastle will even show you how to grow your own plants from seed.

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Feathers, Fur and Fins: Observing an echidna

Join Don Spencer as he looks closely at an echidna. Observe the body parts and covering of this unique Australian mammal. Find out what the echidna eats. Watch it move around in its natural habitat.

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Pet Superstars: Alpacas: No hump but spits like a camel

Meet Kai the alpaca, an animal that is a bit like a camel. Listen as Cassandra talks about the alpaca's fleece (body covering), how it lives in herds and what it eats. See the two types of alpaca breed: Huacaya and Suri. How are they different? The clue is in their fleece.

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Magical Land of Oz: Koalas and climate change

The koala population in rural NSW has been declining over the years due to drought and heatwaves. What causes some of the temperature extremes experienced in this region? Dr Mella believes koalas normally get most of the moisture they need to stay hydrated from eucalyptus leaves. What has changed in recent years that means ...

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For the Juniors: Growing apples

Do you like eating apples? This clip shows where apples are grown. Learn how the apple farmer (orchardist) looks after the apple trees so they can grow lots of healthy fruit.

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What have we got here: yabbies

This four and a half minute snapshot video looks at Yingka or outback yabbies. The video explores the feeding requirements and biology of the yabby including its anatomy, colouring, preferred habitat and role in the ecosystem. It also explains how to catch yabbies. The video is one of ten in the series 'What have we got ...

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What have we got here: Darling River song

This five minute video is a performance of a song inspired by the Darling River: the history of the river as well as the personal reflections of the singer. The lyrics of the song take the listener on a journey through concepts relevant to the river and its catchment such as human impacts, development by the Europeans, ...

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What have we got here: woodland birds

This three and a half minute snapshot explores the reasons for declining bird populations in the impacted woodlands of the southern Murray-Darling Basin. In contrast, the intact woodlands of the north-western Murray-Darling Basin have healthy populations of birds including the crested bellbird, Australian ringneck, varied ...

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What have we got here: mistletoe

This five minute snapshot video about the Australian native parasitic mistletoe debunks some myths associated with mistletoe. It explains the role that mistletoe plays in the ecosystem such as attracting birds, providing food for animals, protecting them from predators. The video also covers seed dispersal, germination ...