Romy News - 20 April 2024

Hi there! Welcome to a new episode of “Romy News”! Today is Saturday, the perfect day to discover incredible stories and learn lots of new things together. Are you ready to travel through time, explore the great rivers of our planet, and meet an extraordinary artist? Let’s go! …

Today, I’m going to tell you about an exceptional discovery that took place in England: the giant skeleton of a marine dinosaur called ichthyosaur was found. Just imagine, it lived around 202 million years ago, at the same time as land dinosaurs.

It was in 2020 that an 11-year-old girl, Ruby Reynolds, and her dad, Justin Reynolds, discovered a jaw bone of an ichthyosaur on a beach in England. This bone, called a “surangular”, allowed dinosaur specialists, paleontologists, to estimate that this ichthyosaur measured between 22 and 26 meters long, which is huge! It could even be the largest marine reptile ever discovered, as big as some blue whales. In 2016, another bone of this same species was found in the same place. Ruby’s story reminds us of Mary Anning, a famous fossil hunter from the 19th century who also found fossils of marine reptiles when she was a child.

These incredible creatures ruled the oceans 202 million years ago. They ate fish, squids, and even other marine reptiles, and had an astonishing feature: they gave birth to live babies, like mammals! Thanks to Ruby’s discovery, paleontologists were able to imagine what this giant marine reptile looked like, with a 2-meter-long jaw showing that it had a very powerful bite. And what’s even more fascinating is that this Ichthyotitan lived 13 million years later than the other known giant ichthyosaurs.

This discovery is really important because it shows us how the oceans were filled with gigantic creatures. It also reminds us why it’s essential to continue exploring and studying fossils to better understand the evolution of life on our planet.

Hey, it would be awesome if you could draw Ruby’s dinosaur and send it to me on Instagram! …

After exploring the depths of the oceans with a giant dinosaur, let’s now dive into the fascinating world of rivers and streams to answer a question from Maxence from CM1. You ask me, “What are the largest rivers in the world?”

These freshwater giants are super important for nature and the populations living alongside them. But first, do you know what distinguishes a river from other watercourses? A river is a large stream that flows into the sea or the ocean.

Let’s start our journey with the Amazon, the longest river in the world at 6,992 km! It’s a true giant that originates in the mountains of Peru and flows through 9 South American countries. The Amazon carries so much water that it could supply a city like New York for over a year! Amazing, right? Thanks to its generous flow, it houses the largest tropical forest in the world, with incredible biodiversity. Many communities live along its banks and depend on the river for food and livelihood.

Next, let’s head to Egypt to discover the Nile, the second longest river in the world at 6,852 km. Its two main branches, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, converge to form this mythical watercourse. Since ancient times, the Nile has allowed the Egyptians to thrive through irrigation and transport on its waters. Today, it still provides the necessary water for agriculture and the populations of 11 countries! The ancient Egyptians called it “the gift of the Nile” to show its vital importance.

Let’s continue our journey in China, along the Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world at around 6,300 km. Born in the mountains of Tibet, it crosses the country and sees its banks lined with many industrial cities. The Yangtze River is crucial for Chinese agriculture and economy, but faces issues like pollution.

These giant rivers are true treasures for humanity! They give us water to drink, help irrigate crops, facilitate transportation, and harbor abundant nature. As you’ve understood, it’s essential to protect them for future generations. Maybe one day, you’ll explore these legendary watercourses too! …

After our journey along the longest rivers in the world, let’s dive into the colorful and inspiring universe of a great artist for our art topic of the week. Today, we’re going to discover an extraordinary French artist, Niki de Saint Phalle, known for her playful and colorful sculptures that have left a mark on contemporary art.

Niki de Saint Phalle was born in 1930 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, into a wealthy family, but her childhood was not easy. Between family traumas and mental health issues, she found in art a means of expression and healing. From adolescence, she started painting and sculpting, and her encounter with Jean Tinguely, an artist who would become her husband and collaborator, helped her develop her unique style, characterized by vibrant colors, organic shapes, and feminist themes.

Among her iconic works is “Hon - en Katedral”, a gigantic sculpture of a reclining woman that the public can literally enter inside, or “Golem”, a monumental sculpture of a dragon breathing fire. Her “Stravinsky Fountain” in Paris is an explosion of colors and joy, just like her series of “Nanas” sculptures, round and joyful female figures that have become her most famous creations. Did you know that to paint her first “Nanas”, Niki de Saint Phalle used firearms, shooting at bags filled with paint?

Niki de Saint Phalle’s commitment didn’t stop at art; she also advocated for women’s place in art and society through a feminist and engaged vision. Her “Tarot Garden” in Italy is a striking example of this commitment, as well as her involvement in humanitarian causes, like the fight against AIDS. Despite the health challenges she had to face, Niki de Saint Phalle received international recognition for her innovative work.

Niki de Saint Phalle’s legacy continues to influence contemporary art, Pop Art, and feminist art, inspiring current artists to adopt her colorful and playful style. She created a foundation to preserve her work and promote art accessible to all.

So, why not draw inspiration from Niki de Saint Phalle to create your own colorful and engaging artworks? Imagine, create, and maybe one day, your art will inspire the world, just like Niki de Saint Phalle’s. …

And there we are, reaching the end of our adventure today in the world of curiosity! We explored the oceans to meet a giant marine dinosaur, sailed on the longest rivers on the planet, and delved into the colorful universe of artist Niki de Saint Phalle. I hope you were as captivated as I was!

Remember, curiosity is the key that opens the doors to knowledge. Every day is a new opportunity to learn amazing things! So stay wide awake, and who knows what new wonders await you around the next corner?

If you have curious questions to ask me or funny anecdotes to share, join us on Insta with your parents! I love chatting with you, the little explorers.

See you on Monday for a new adventure into the wild lands of knowledge with “Romy News”! Until then, stay curious!