go to cdc.gov. learn how to make our next generation tobacco-free. >> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm siena. we'll start with our top story. the subject of bullying has been in the news a lot, but here's an angle you might not have considered -- bullying between people who supposedly like or even love each other. it's called relationship abuse. alexa reports on what's being done to prevent it. >> it can happen anywhere. the government says 1 in 10

teens has experienced relationship abuse. hurtful words, slapping and hitting, forced sexual contact -- anything that gives one person power over another is abusive and all too common. so it's good to know there are organizations around to help teens recognize and prevent relationship abuse. one of those organizations is rapp. that stands for relationship abuse prevention program. every year it helps thousands of new york city teens. >> there's a lot of things that i didn't understand that came to my attention that i just -- i never paid no mind to. >> tyriek has a new attitude about treating girlfriends with respect. he's now a rapp peer leader. >> you start dating when you're a teen, generally. so you need to start learning how to manage these relationships and understand what's healthy, what's not healthy. >> kids who join rapp learn

about relationship rights, including the right to have your own opinion, the right to say no to getting physical, the right to have other friends, and the right to end the relationship. just because some movies and music videos make it seem okay to dominate your girlfriend or boyfriend, it's not okay. >> a lot of times the kids romanticize the unhealthy. it's like the arguing means you love them, the jealousy is a sign of affection that it's like we're really giving a platform to educate them as to how these things are warning signs. >> like so many other good organizations, rapp has to deal with budget cuts. every year they need to convince local officials that it's vital to keep rapp funded. >> we are so happy to be here today in brooklyn. >> to help win support for the program, they recently held a contest called rap 4 rapp.eld >> now, rapp showed me as a man that i had a choice. i didn't need to use my fists. i could use my voice.

>> for teens like christopher, the message runs deep. >> i was going through a lot of, you know, personal stuff with the family and relationship problems, and rapp helped me out. >> rapp is important to me because it fills a void in my heart that i've had for years -- someone to vent out to, somebody to talk to. >> she raises an important point... experts say the best way to deal with abuse is to get help. >> [ rapping ] ♪ pick up your head ♪ ♪ and lead the spiritually wounded to rapp ♪ ♪ the program that gives your life back ♪ ♪ never takes away from your voice, just adds to that ♪ ♪ now my body's more intact ♪ so scars that was here, here, and here never came back ♪ >> oww! [ applause ] >> thank you. >> if you're a victim of relationship abuse, here's the first thing you need to understand. it's not your fault. and here's the second thing you need to understand. keeping quiet won't make things

better. speak up and get help. >> i'm going to shed some light on something that's easy to get and surprisingly harmful if misused.

>> modern technology has given us a lot of amazing devices, but some of them can be amazingly dangerous. in this report, scott points out why we need to be careful about certain kinds of pointers. >> lasers -- they're highly focused beams of light. since they were invented more than 50 years ago, lasers have become increasingly common. for example, lasers are used for all kinds of medical procedures, like eye surgery. dvd and cd players have tiny

lasers in them. that's a penny in the background. the light from the laser reads what's on the disk. lasers are also used in industry, as well as by the military, though many laser weapons are still experimental. in the world of entertainment, colorful lasers create brilliant light shows. we even see laser scanners at the local grocery checkout counter. and lasers are often used as pointers by people giving presentations. but just because lasers are common doesn't mean they're completely safe. >> any laser, if used in the wrong way, can be dangerous. >> dr. josephberg is from the westchester medical center. he explained to me that the light from lasers is different than the light from regular light bulbs. >> it's very strong. it's a straight line. >> what has the doctor most concerned are the handheld laser pointers. our government regulates how strong these lasers can be, so pointers sold in stores are limited to low-power lasers. however, powerful lasers from other countries can be bought online.

>> many children have been blinded permanently from these laser pointers that are easily purchasable over the internet. >> the doctor gave me a very simple demonstration of just how strong this type of laser can be. >> right now i'm shining on a light post about 50 feet away in very bright sun. you can still see how powerful this laser pointer is. a normal laser pointer that a teacher would use in an educational setting would never be able to do this. this light will blind you permanently for life. >> but even low-power laser pointers should be handled with care. never aim any laser at a person, animal, vehicle, or even a high-flying plane, and don't point a laser at a mirror. even just the reflection of the beam could harm you. so if you have a friend who has a laser pointer, make it a point to let your friend know it's not a toy. by the way, laser is an acronym. that's a good s.a.t. word to know. an acronym is a word made from

the first letters of other words. so laser stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." so, did i impress you? for "teen kids news," i'm scott. >> the next time you hear someone say that dogs can't see things in color, tell them they're wrong. according to researchers in russia, dogs can see in color, just not all the same colors we see. for example, we can see a full rainbow of color -- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. if you ever take physics, you'll learn there's an easy way to remember the color spectrum in its order -- roy g. bv. anyway, if a dog were looking at this color spectrum, here's what it would see -- not as colorful, but more than just black, white, and gray. so the claim that dogs don't see in color is just a dog's tale. in fact, it's one of my pet peeves. >> coming up... i'll tell you how this floating classroom is helping to save the planet.

>> the aussies should be happy about the results of a recent survey of 34 countries. australia was found to be the happiest country in the world. the united states came in sixth place. come on, folks. we can do better. we just need to think more happy thoughts. i'll start. ice cream... chocolate... summer vacation... i'm happier already. >> in atlanta, georgia, these kids are getting on board an unusual classroom -- one that floats. today's project -- to learn more about lake lanier. this lake was created many years ago when the chattahoochee river was dammed up. >> it was for flood control in atlanta. >> the man-made lake is an excellent laboratory to check on the health of the environment. >> so, why is it important for the water to be healthy? >> because all the fish inside of it. there's life that is there.

>> the kids get busy with experiments. they start with adding different chemicals to samples of the lake water. >> the magic number today is 8. you'll always be doing 8 drops. >> each test shows something different, like how clear the water is or how much oxygen is in it. >> and what do you want the students to learn from this experience? >> what we're looking for is, first of all, for the kids to understand what a scientist actually does so they get some hands-on experience being a scientist, and beyond that, we want them to have an appreciation of water. >> students also take a close look at tiny life-forms called plankton, or what the fish might call lunch. >> well, i learned that lake lanier has very safe water for fish currently 'cause we tested that, and it seems very safe. >> they're also learning about future career opportunities. >> did the floating classroom give you any ideas of what you want to be when you grow up? >> sort of. i would maybe have a job and then just take care of a river just, like, for fun. >> that's why an organization

called the captain planet foundation helps pay for this program. >> instead of trying to learn it in a classroom, we get butts out of the seats, out in nature, and research has proven that kids learn best that way, and they're really excited about learning. >> you might say that one of the goals of captain planet is to whet the appetite of students about subjects like science and math. how can kids across the country get involved in captain planet? >> well, the best way is to invite everyone to go online -- so parents, teachers, youth -- and investigate and see how they can get their school to apply for a captain planet grant. >> we have a link on our "teen kids news" website. >> all right, you guys. was this hard work or fun today? >> all: fun! >> a class trip like this is certainly fun, but it can also be the beginning of a journey to find the scientist of the future. for "teen kids news," i'm carly.

>> okay, everyone. it's time to find out what teens think. here's "speak of the week." >> of all the subjects you take in school, which do you think is the most useful? >> i say u.s. history because you get to learn about the past, and you're ready to set for the future. >> as much as i hate it, i think math is because you really use it for everything that you even come across. >> i feel that biology and the sciences are most important to learn because i believe that one should have an understanding of themselves and how things work in our world. so i think it's really important. >> i believe mathematics is the most useful because it could be applied to many different fields as towards a career, such as engineering, even sciences and other stuff like that. >> i am recently taking a humanities class, and it is awesome because it's something you usually can't learn in

school, and i think that we kind of need to change the curriculum a little bit because it's more human-friendly. >> according to the merriam-webster dictionary, humanities are defined as... just in case you didn't know. anyway, the most common answer we got was... >> um, probably math 'cause you use it every day and in a lot of different jobs. >> that figures, because math is definitely a subject you'll be able to count on for the rest of your life. with "speak of the week," i'm maaz. >> the elephant bird has been extinct for more than 300 years. while it lived, it was the biggest bird in the world, easily twice the size of an ostrich, and like the ostrich, the elephant bird couldn't fly, but it did lay a very big egg more than

100 times larger than a chicken egg. there are still a few fossilized elephant bird eggs around. if you find one, handle it carefully. it's worth about $45,000. >> coming up... i'll tell you how color can help you eat healthier. ♪ america's service members and veterans are strong.

forged out of bravery, sacrifice, and duty. ♪ sometimes reaching out for help can be the most challenging and worthwhile mission of all. ♪ when you recognize something isn't right, make the call to the veterans crisis line or military crisis line. dial 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.

>> we all know what the american flag looks like, but every state has a flag, too, and every one of them tells a story. here's our "flag facts" report.

>> "remember the alamo" -- those words honor the outnumbered defenders who died fighting the mexican army in 1836. but from that defeat came the birth of texas, first as an independent republic, then as our 28th state. >> what's unique about the flag of texas is how much texans love their state and their flag. but they have reason to feel proud of that flag. >> the star symbolizes unity. it's also why texas is nicknamed the lone star state. the five points are said to represent the ideal characteristics of a texan... texas values are also embodied in the flag's bold colors -- red for courage, white for purity and liberty, and blue for loyalty. >> i think they're happy to be americans, but there's that whole texas pride, and what

you see in that flag is the independence of texas. >> tipping my hat to texas, i'm brandon with "flag facts." >> a lot of us may never circle the globe, visit the jungle, or climb the alps, but this site can get you pretty close. kids national geographic is a great place for animal lovers and young explorers to learn about our planet. you can check out amazing photos and videos of almost any animal you can think of and even some you may have never heard of. click on the "people and places" link to learn about different cultures from around the world. there are also links to tons of games, activities, and stories. you can travel to distant countries and go on a safari without ever leaving your house. with "click this," i'm isabel. >> "teen kids news" is helping you get healthy one bite at a time. here's another serving of good

advice. [ apple crunches ] >> the term "a balanced meal" is tossed around a lot, but what does that really mean? jax hubbard is a nutritionist at downstate long island college hospital. jax, how do we know if our meal is balanced or not? >> that's an excellent question. you want to make sure you're balancing your meal by including foods from all the food groups. when you look at your plate, you want half of the plate to be vegetables and a quarter of the plate protein, which would be your meats or chicken, and the other quarter to be starch -- so your pastas or rice. you also want to make sure you're color-coding your diet. colors mean nutrients, and nature gives us endless options. >> gives a whole new meaning to "palatable." thanks, jax. we'll see you soon with another question.

at 12, i smoked my first cigarette. at 15, i was addicted. by 40, i'll have lung disease. at 50, i'll die of a heart attack. dr. regina benjamin: cigarette smoke causes immediate damage that leads to health problems, even death. those who quit or die are being replaced by a new generation of smokers. i'm dr. regina benjamin, united states surgeon general. go to cdc.gov.

learn how to make our next generation tobacco-free. >> henry hudson was an english explorer who discovered one of america's most treasured islands. now a replica of his ship serves as a floating museum. i got to take a tour. >> in april 1609, henry hudson set sail from europe. he was looking for a shortcut to the orient and found new york city instead. to honor the explorer, a replica of his famous ship, the half moon, was built. let's take a look inside. captain reynolds, tell me what is so special about the half moon. >> well, this is the first european ship that documented entry into and exploration of the hudson river, and it sailed here in 1609, and within a handful of years, you had dutch beaver traders here

and the development of new netherland, which was the dutch colony based on commerce and trade that extended from central connecticut all the way to delaware. >> captain reynolds not only navigates the half moon, he's also the director of the new netherland museum. >> what sort of artifacts are on the ship? >> oh, you'll find everything aboard here from navigational tools to the foods that were eaten to native artifacts and european artifacts. >> a common misconception is that hudson was lost when he found what's now new york city. >> people tend to think that these explorers just blundered around and accidentally stumbled upon their discoveries, but they didn't. they sailed very precisely everywhere they were going. they knew where they were going, they documented where they were and what they were finding. >> at the time hudson sailed, life aboard ship wasn't glamorous. >> split peas formed one of the basic staples for shipboard life, as well as white peas and wheat. you'd cook this up, more or less, like oatmeal, and that

would form the basis of what they ate, and then every two or three days, they'd get a ration of beef, or every two or three days, they'd get a ration of dried fish. >> the crew also ate something called hardtack, a bread-like substance that wouldn't rot on long voyages. >> hardtack is nothing more than wheat flour and water and a little salt that's been baked until the water is driven out of it, and it makes it very hard, but it also makes it less susceptible to mold. >> if the diet aboard ship sounds meager, wait until you see where the crew slept. >> you are now in the orlop deck. the sailors would actually sleep down on this level. they would have, perhaps, a woolen blanket or something of that nature that they would lay on the deck and sleep right on these wooden decks. >> not exactly comfortable accommodations, and the crew were practically strangers since hudson acted fast to pull together his team. >> he signed a contract with the dutch east india company

in january of 1609, and by april, they were at sea. so in four months, before the advent of telephones and e-mail and the easy ability to communicate and travel, he had to pull in the crew that was going to be sailing on this very challenging voyage. he had to grab whomever he could, so harmony in the crew was a very important challenge to explorers, not just hudson. >> despite the rough conditions, the half moon was on an important mission, not only to open new trade routes, but to open up a greater understanding of the world. >> these were people who really were on the cutting edge of a new scientific view of the world, and at the turn of the 1600s, you had explorers on ships like this traveling all over the world, taking measurements, documenting the world around them and sharing that information back with people in europe. >> what do you think is the coolest part of the ship? >> well, really, the coolest part of the ship is our crew, because we sail with a crew

of seventh-grade students on board this ship when we re-create henry hudson's voyage up the hudson river or through new netherland. when these students are on here, they do everything from handling sail, to standing lookout, steering the ship, navigating, and also taking all these measurements of the world around them that henry hudson did 400 years ago. >> i think it's really interesting to see what life was like back then when henry hudson was sailing. >> would you want to sail on the half moon? >> i would, but not quite for eight months. >> not exactly. i don't think i'd really fit well on the cramped conditions and low ceilings. >> okay, so it's not an exact replica. this half moon has a diesel engine and gps navigation equipment -- things that may have come in handy for henry hudson. for "teen kids news," i'm siena. that's our show for this week. thanks for watching "teen kids news." we'll see you next time.

>> here's a pr newswire for including "teen kids news" on their big screen in times square, new york city. >> here's a shout-out to all our troops serving all around the world. by sea world and busch gardens. the world we share. right there. look at 'em! (music)