Hi, Russ. I was just going to say that Falcons Flight looks super cool. One day hopefully I can go and ride it.
Alexander
Hi, Alexander. I agree, Falcons Flight looks cool. Let us know if you ride it! What do you think the ride would be like?
Russ

Hello, Russ. Do you have any articles about black holes?
Teagan
News-O-Matic has MANY articles about black holes! You can find them by typing "black hole" into our search bar. Enjoy exploring!
Russ

What is the biggest mammal in the world?
Dawson
Hi, Dawson! Did you know that whales and dolphins are mammals? The blue whale is the biggest mammal. These animals can be as long as five pick-up trucks lined up end-to-end!
Russ

Hey, Russ. When was the very first World Cup in soccer? I am going to guess 1929.
Nathan
Hey, Nathan. Your guess is really close! The very first FIFA soccer World Cup was in 1930. It took place in Uruguay. ⚽️
Russ

Hi Russ, how is it when you're answering questions from other people?
Ty
It's a lot of fun! I enjoy hearing from students like you each day. And it's so important for me to learn about the interests of News-O-Matic readers!
Russ

What is the biggest sea animal in the world?
Sosad2394
The biggest creature in the sea is the blue whale. In fact, it is the largest animal EVER on planet Earth! Yes, it's bigger than any of the dinosaurs! 🐋
Russ

Oh, Russ. What should I read? I'm thinking of reading about animals.
Cam
I think that's a cool idea, Cam! What are some of your favorite animals? You can try and type their names into the Search bar. We've got articles on many different kinds of creatures, from axolotls to zebras! 🦓
Russ

Do you think the great meme reset worked or not? And did 6-7 fall off?
Merrick
At least for now, 6-7 still seems to be a pretty popular saying, Merrick! But the year 2026 has just begun! There's no telling what new wacky jokes and memes will pop up in the year ahead! 😄
Russ

Hi! I was wondering are your responses to people AI? Because they seem so complete and organized...
Clara
That's a great question, Clara! The answer is no — all of the responses you read in the News Room come from a real person! Still, I take it as a compliment that you think the writing is complete and organized. Also, I'm really happy to hear that you're asking questions about who (or what) is writing the messages you see online!
Russ

Hi, Russ! Can you make a article about arts and crafts? That's my favorite hobby.
Harper
Hi, Harper! What kind of arts and crafts do you like? News-O-Matic has articles about making a lanterns, a snowman, a calendar, and more! Type "craft" in the Search bar to find these and more!
Russ

Hi Russ. How many people got the flu?
Calvin
Hi, Calvin. That's a good question. The latest report from the CDC says that around 11 million Americans have gotten the flu so far this season. That is an estimate, since not everyone who gets sick goes to the doctor or gets treatment. You can read about that in "Five Tips to Fight the Flu" from January 6!
Russ

Hey, Russ. Just wanted to tell you that I love the "Nurse Invents Video Game!" article! Thanks,
Emma
Hey, Emma. I'm glad you enjoyed that article so much! Are you interested in topics like nursing, video games, or inventions?
Russ

Hi! Eliana here! I think worst should be a banished word.
Eliana
Eliana, hi! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I'm curious, why do you think "worst" should be banished? It's cool that you're think more about News-O-Matic's article about banished words.
Russ

Happy New Year Russ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2026, here we come!
Justin
Happy New Year, Justin!! What are you excited for in 2026? 😁
Russ

Hey, Russ. I was wondering why some of the words people don't want to use in 2026 are "Gift," "My bad," and "Perfect." I was wondering this because those three words sound good to me.
Georgia
Hey, Georgia. I think that's a great question. People gave different reasons why they want those words gone. Char said people don't use "perfect" correctly. "How do they know it’s perfect… what does that mean?" Andrea said "my bad" aren't bad words, but they make a bad apology. And James thinks the word "gift" should only be a noun, not a verb. But you can have a different opinion — and you can keep using these words as much as you want!
Russ

Hi, Russ. What you do is so cool. Could you make a story about behind the scenes of News-O-Matic? Behind the scenes I think it would be cool. From,
Lila
Hi, Lila. I like your idea! I think it's cool that you're interested in how News-O-Matic works behind the scenes!
Russ

Hi, Russ. I wanted to know if I could write my own article. If so, how can I do that?
Haarif
Hi, Haarif. It's a great idea for you to write your own article! First, you need to choose your topic. Then, you need to do research. Be careful that you trust your sources! Next you can write your article and have someone else read it to over. Make your edits, and now you're finished! If you'd like, have a teacher or parent email your article to us at ask@newsomatic.org.
Russ

Hey, Russ! I'm just wondering why sometimes there is a dog at the bottom right of the article page. Why?
Aliya
Hey, Aliya! The dog at the bottom right of each edition is named Newsie! He's our mascot. Newsie is there to make readers like you smile.
Russ

Hey, Russ! I'm very interested in robotaxis, like Tesla or Zoox, and I know you created some articles previously, but it has been a long time. Can you create some more? Thanks,
William
Hey, William! News-O-Matic has an article about the company Tesla coming very soon. But, I'll keep an eye out for more news about robotaxis in particular. I'm glad you like the other articles about the topic. What about robotaxis is so interesting to you?
Russ

Dear, Russ. Hi, my name is Pauline. I would like you and the News-O-Matic team to do a piece on toy history. That would really interest me. Keep writing! I love your articles.
Pauline
Thanks for reading, Pauline! And thank you for your suggestion. You might be interested to learn more about the toys that are added to The Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, each year. That museum celebrates popular toys and games that have made an impact on the world. Some articles include "Popular Toys Join Hall of Fame!" and "New Fame for Old Toys!" What are some toys you'd like to learn more about? 🧸
Russ

I want to be in the pictures of the day pleaseeeeeeee!
Arin N
Keep sending in your drawings, Arin. I will try to add one of your pictures to the News Room one day soon! 🖼️
Russ

Happy New Year!!! I really liked the story about the ball that drops when it is the New Year. I heard that people line up for a long time to get a good spot to watch the ball drop!
Zoey
Happy New Year to you too, Zoey! I'm glad you liked that article. Yes, people line up for hours to see the ball drop in Times Square. I don't think I would do that. It's too cold outside on December 31! ❄️
Russ

Hi Russ! Can you make a article on the speed of light and its concept? I don't think there is one in the space section in the units. Thanks!!!!!
Shreeda
Great idea, Shreeda! We will do a story about the speed of light later in 2026. There is going to be a big event coming up. A spacecraft will reach one light day from Earth! 🌍
Russ

I really like your stories. They are always so interesting. Keep up the good work!
William
Thank you, William! It means so much to me to know you're enjoying our articles and find them interesting. I promise to keep up the good work in 2026!
Russ

Hello, Russ. Just call me Irene. Nice to meet you. I just wanted to say hi to you...
Irene
Nice to meet you too, Irene! I hope you enjoy the new stories we have in News-O-Matic for 2026. What do you want to read about this year? Bye!
Russ

Hey, Russ! How many facts are there on News-O-Matic?
Kristian
Hi, Kristian! There are A LOT of facts on News-O-Matic. Each story has a "Fact" section... but that's not all. There are also facts in the stories, so there are just too many to count. Keep reading every day to learn more of them!
Russ

Is Australia west of the equator?
Ada
The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of Earth. It divides the "top" half (the north) of the Earth from the "bottom" half (the south). Australia is in the bottom half. This means it is south of the equator. 🇦🇺
Russ

Hello, Russ. Why is red a Christmas color if it's also a Halloween color? And why is green a Christmas color if it's a St. Patrick's Day color?
Lilliana
Hello, Lilliana. Those are great questions! Keep an eye out in News-O-Matic for an article that will answer your questions. It's called "Why Those Christmas Colors?" The article is coming soon, so check back soon. I'll give you a hint though — the history of Christmas colors involves nature and a drink company!
Russ

HEY, RUSS! How can I get on the picture of the day?
Matias
HEY, MATIAS! Readers send so many drawings every day that I can't show all of them. Still, I enjoy looking at each one! Drawings that connect to News-O-Matic's most recent articles are most likely to be shown in the News Room. Keep sending in your artwork! 🖼️
Russ

Hi, Russ! I like space a lot. Can you make an article on black holes? PLEASE??????????
PSJAISD_student
Hi there! Some of the writers on the News-O-Matic team also love astronomy. You might like "Fireworks From a Black Hole" or "One Big Black Hole" by Ryan. Type "space," "astronomy," or "black hole" into the Search bar to find more stories like these!
Russ

Hi, Russ. I have a question why do farts happen. I know its a weird question, but why?
Charlotte
Hi, Charlotte. It is a little bit of a funny question, but I think it's also a great question! Farts come from gas in your digestive system. That gas is created by swallowing air or by food getting broken down in your gut. That process creates gases that are released by farting! 💨
Russ

Hi, Russ. What's the world's most precious gem?
Precious
Hi, Precious. The many of the world's most expensive gemstones are colored diamonds. Those include a pink, blue, and orange diamond. They are worth millions of dollars!
Russ

Are there any stories about AI?
Eliam
Hi, Eliam! News-O-Matic has done several stories on AI lately. I suggest checking out Monday's story "Big News in the AI World." You may also like "AI: Safe for Teens?" and "Media Literacy Week: Minds Over AI." Enter "AI" in the Search box to find even more stories on this topic!
Russ

Hi Russ, what is your favorite NHL team?
Zachary F.
I grew up in New York City, Zachary. So I became a fan of the New York Rangers! 🏒
Russ

Hey Russ! Do you know how many baseball books you can find on News-O-Matic?
Abel
We have more than 500 articles about baseball on News-O-Matic! ⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️ You can find those stories by typing "baseball" in our search feature.
Russ