Romy News - 27 May 2024

Hey there! I’m Romy and welcome to my daily episode! I hope you had an amazing weekend. Today, it’s Monday, and we have lots of exciting things to discover together. Get ready, because you’re going to learn tons of cool stuff! We’re going to talk about Roland Garros, learn how the Northern Lights are formed, and find out more about crocodiles. Let’s get started!

Let’s start with Roland Garros, one of the most famous tennis tournaments in the world, which started on Sunday in Paris.

Roland Garros began in 1891 under the name “French Championship” and was only open to French club members. In 1925, it opened up to international players, marking the start of its global fame. In 1928, the tournament moved to the Roland Garros stadium, named after the French aviator Roland Garros. Fun fact: Roland Garros was famous for crossing the Mediterranean Sea by plane in 1913!

Some notable moments include the introduction of a retractable roof on the Suzanne Lenglen court in 2024, which has improved playing conditions. We also remember Rafael Nadal’s 14 singles titles, a record! In 1983, Yannick Noah was the last French player to win the singles title, a historic moment. And guess what? In 1989, Michael Chang won the tournament at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest winner in Roland Garros history!

What makes Roland Garros special is that it’s the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay courts. This unique surface slows down the balls and requires great endurance. There are also tournaments for juniors, wheelchair tennis players, and amateurs, making the event inclusive and open to all. And the atmosphere, with famous courts like Philippe-Chatrier and Suzanne-Lenglen, is truly unique.

I encourage you to follow the Roland Garros matches, maybe on TV or online with your parents, to discover high-level tennis and cheer on our French champions! Go, team France!

If Roland Garros is exciting, just wait for our next topic! Today, Aurélien asked me, “How are the Northern Lights formed?” Super question! These magnificent lights in the night sky of polar regions are really fascinating. Let’s explore what the Northern Lights are, how they’re formed, and some amazing facts. You won’t believe it!

The Northern Lights are a natural light phenomenon primarily visible in polar regions. These auroras can be green, red, yellow, blue, and violet. The color depends on the gases in the atmosphere. They’re mainly visible in Nordic countries like Norway, Canada, and Iceland. Fun fact: the Southern Lights, also known as aurora australis, occur around Antarctica.

The formation of the Northern Lights starts with solar eruptions that send charged particles, called solar wind, towards the Earth. These particles are attracted to the Earth’s magnetic poles. When they collide with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere, they release energy in the form of light. The colors vary depending on the altitude where the collisions occur. For example, oxygen produces green at around 100 km altitude and red at over 200 km.

The Northern Lights are surrounded by myths and legends. The Vikings believed that the Northern Lights were reflections of the shields of the Valkyries. Today, scientists use the Northern Lights to study the interactions between the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetosphere. Amazing fact: in 1859, a massive Northern Lights display was visible as far as the Caribbean!

To wrap up, why not draw your own Northern Lights with colored pencils or paint? The Northern Lights are important for understanding our planet and the Sun. And a question to discuss with your parents or teacher: why can’t we see the Northern Lights everywhere in the world?

After the Northern Lights, let’s move on to our animal discovery of the day: crocodiles! These fascinating creatures have been on our planet for millions of years.

Crocodiles have existed for around 200 million years, during the time of the dinosaurs. They survived the dinosaur extinction and evolved little over time. Modern crocodiles belong to the Crocodylidae family. Fun fact: the largest fossilized crocodile discovered was nearly 12 meters long and was called Sarcosuchus.

Crocodiles are semi-aquatic reptiles with thick, scaly skin. They have powerful jaws with dozens of sharp teeth. Their nighttime vision is excellent, helping them hunt at night. They can remain still for hours, waiting for prey to approach. Fun fact: crocodiles have the strongest bite force of any land animal.

Crocodiles live mainly in rivers, lakes, swamps, and deltas in tropical and subtropical regions. They can be found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. They build nests on riverbanks to lay their eggs. Fun fact: some crocodiles can swim in the ocean and travel long distances.

Crocodiles can live up to 70 years. They swallow stones to help digest their food. Mother crocodiles fiercely protect their eggs and young. Fun fact: in 2011, a crocodile named Lolong was caught in the Philippines, measuring 6.17 meters long.

To wrap up, why not draw your own crocodile and research its characteristics with your parents or teacher? Don’t forget that preserving crocodile habitats is crucial for their future survival.

I hope you learned many cool things today! Between Roland Garros, the Northern Lights, and crocodiles, there was plenty to marvel at. Don’t hesitate to share what you’ve discovered with your friends or family. If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, send me a message on Instagram! I’d be happy to read and respond to your questions. See you tomorrow for another dose of discoveries with Romy News!