What on Earth! Magazine

What on Earth! Magazine, published in partnership with Encyclopaedia Britannica, is the UK’s fastest-growing children’s magazine, helping curious kids fall in love with reading, knowledge and learning. Covering all their favourite topics – from space, animals and the natural world, to history, machines and inventions – each issue is bursting with amazing facts, photos, quizzes, puzzles, jokes and more!

ZANY FACTS FACTopia! • Follow the trail of crazily connected facts all the way from an adventurous teenage explorer to… hunting on skis!

SNAP IT! • Astonishing photos from around the world

Eureka! • The latest astonishing discoveries, inventions and scientific breakthroughs.

HOW LONG DO ANIMALS SLEEP? • All humans need to sleep - and it’s an important part of the lives of many other animals, too. However, as you can see here, some animals sleep very little, and others are champion snoozers!

ANIMAL SYMMETRY!

MAP IT

LISTIFIED! • Prepare to be amazed (and amused!) by the unusual facts crammed into these irresistible lists.

What Goes Around • The 10 biggest moons in our solar system

WORD UP! • IT’S SNOWING WORDS! Let’s look at why many words can refer to the same thing.

HIDDEN PHRASES! • Each of these pictures represents a common expression. Can you work out what each visual clue is trying to say? Don’t worry if you get stuck, the answers are at the bottom of the page.

The story of Chocolate • Welcome to the amazing What on Earth! Chocolate Factory! Let’s take a look at the history of chocolate from ancient times until today, and maybe learn a sweet thing or two…

CHRISTMAS IN NUMBERS

PUZZLES & GAMES! • Inside this 12-page activity section, you will find quizzes to do, puzzles to solve and fun activities to try. And don’t worry if you get stuck - all the answers are on page 40.

TREASURE HUNT! • Can you spot these 27 things hidden in the picture below? Plus, figure out what the 5 hidden letters spell. Clue: you find it in outer space. Don’t worry if you get stuck - all the answers are revealed on page 40.

Ask the experts

How to chat… HUMPBACK WHALE • Baleen whales are the pop stars of the ocean. Several kinds are known to sing to each other: minke whales, fin whales, blue whales and - most famously - humpback whales.

How to chat… ELEPHANT SEAL • Near the oceans of Antarctica live the gigantic southern elephant seals. Don’t let their peculiar noses fool you - these are some of the most dangerous and aggressive mammals on Earth. And that nose is a pretty incredible instrument for making some fascinating noises!

DRAW YOUR OWN MANGA! • Manga are comics and graphic novels that come from Japan. While there are many similarities between manga and Western comics such as Marvel superhero stories, there are some differences, too. Read on to find out about manga’s unique characteristics - then learn how to draw some manga of your own!

ICEBERG AHEAD! • Icebergs are chunks of ice that break off from glaciers or ice shelves and float in the ocean. They’re found in oceans around Antarctica, in the Arctic and near lakes fed by glaciers. Icebergs are made of solid freshwater ice, and they are mostly hidden underwater, making them dangerous to ships. They can drift on the ocean for thousands of kilometres, but when they reach warm waters they melt away.

EYE DON’T BELIEVE IT! • Amazing optical illusions that trick your brain…

AROUND THE WORLD WEDDINGS

SEND IT IN!

What on Earth! Magazine

WELCOME TO THE… GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS • From giant tortoises to green sea turtles, the Galápagos are full of natural wonders. This article, adapted from a brilliant new book, explores what makes the islands so special.

FACTFILE: ABOUT THE...