[thunder] announcer: up to 40% of businesses never recover after experiencing a major disaster. make a plan at ready.gov/business. >> "teen kids news" starts right now, and we've got a lot to report. >> i'll show you why wikipedia may be a more reliable source than our teachers think. >> i'll tell you why maine is the main reason why history books may be wrong about columbus. >> is this a biker rally, a nascar race, or maybe a sports event? stick around. the answer may surprise you. >> we'll spend some time with the real objects that make the harry potter movies so magical. >> that and much more, so keep watching "teen kids news."

>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm livia. here's our top story for this week. >> the internet is a terrific tool, especially for schoolwork. but can you trust that the information you're finding is accurate? carina looks at how one popular but controversial website works. >> like most teens, roman comes home after school and heads straight for his computer. but unlike most teens, roman isn't checking out facebook or e-mail. his first stop online is wikipedia, the website where you can find information on just about anything. >> i believe i was about 13 or

14 years old when i first began editing wikipedia. >> that's right, roman is a contributor to wikipedia. and that's what's special about the website. it depends on volunteers to add or edit material. >> i first started out by editing a few articles randomly, making a few grammatical adjustments maybe a spelling change here or there. >> the word wikipedia is a blend of two other words. a "wiki" is a website where anyone can add and edit content, and "pedia" comes from "encyclopedia." that's why wikipedia calls itself "the free encyclopedia anyone can edit. >> you've heard of h.g. wells, the great science fiction author. he actually had an idea, back in the '30s, called the world brain, which was a worldwide encyclopedia organization whose whole purpose was to collect and classify and sort the information of the world, and wikipedia is sort of a realization of that on a volunteer, internet-distributed basis. >> richard knipel leads the

new york chapter of wikipedia editors. worldwide, there are nearly 100,000 editors who contribute to the site, and that brings up the controversy around wikipedia. traditional reference works use experts who are usually paid to contribute and edit content, but wikipedia depends on volunteers. and these can be ordinary people, even kids. so does that make it more likely that wikipedia will have wrong information? >> everything is based on other things that have been published -- that have been published in what we call "reliable sources." >> just like in any research paper you're writing -- in any high school research paper -- you have to include a reference to the source that you have, of the information that you're contributing. >> those sources are listed in the bibliography at the end of every article. in addition, the site uses computers to monitor each new edit. in fact, wikipedia says most errors are corrected within five seconds. >> wikipedia is generally reliable, but you have to keep

in mind that there are points at which people can mess up. >> that's why many teachers don't let their students cite wikipedia as a source for research papers. >> i know, when i do research papers, i'm not allowed to, because it has all different resources and stuff. so, like, it's a bunch of different people and it's not like a real source, i guess. that's what my teachers say. >> it's not legit. you can't really use it. anyone can go on and put [ chuckles] an article on wikipedia. >> but listen to this. according to a study published in the respected magazine "nature," wikipedia was almost as accurate as the prestigious "encyclopaedia britannica." of course, we're not saying to disregard your teachers. but if you are allowed to use wikipedia, here's an important tip. >> the idea is that use it as a first point of research, and always look at the articles, logs, and everything before you actually trust the information, which is what most people don't do. >> if you're interested in helping to improve wikipedia,

you might want to join the team. >> just get your hands dirty. start fixing spelling, start fixing grammar everywhere you see a mistake. there's a big "edit" button on the top of every page. and just click it and go for it. >> by the way, using volunteer contributors is not really new. in the late 1800s, thousands of volunteers contributed to a similar project -- the creation of the "oxford english dictionary" -- and look how well that turned out. >> don't go away. we've got lots more still to come, on "teen kids news." >> we'll be right back. .. soft.. and totally irresistible. your lip butter? likewise. new revlon® colorburst™ lip butter. a hydrating buttery balm for baby soft lips in 20 shiny colors.

>> now we're going to run a state flag up the pole. scott has the facts that make this one stand out.

>> maine stretches further east than any other u.s. state. it's also our least densely populated eastern state. almost 90% of maine is covered by forest, which is why it's called the pine tree state. but maine is also known for its long, rugged coastline. in fact, it competes with florida for having the most shoreline along the atlantic ocean. maine's first state flag appeared in 1901. it was a very simple design. then, in 1909, a new flag was created. it was much more complex, but not everybody saw it as an improvement. >> maine is an interesting flag in that, in recent years, there have been two attempts to return it to its former, simpler design, which was just a pine tree and the north star. pine what they have now is the state coat of arms, which features still the pine tree, still the north star, but also a moose

resting beneath the pine tree. to the left of this image, you have a farmer, and that's in reference to all the agriculture in maine. maine is known for its blueberries and potatoes. to the right, you see a sailor. >> the sailor symbolizes maine's connection to the sea, including its fishing and shipbuilding industries. the north star has served as a guiding light for sailors since ancient times. just below the star is the state motto, "dirigo" -- latin for "i lead." a knotted fringe of yellow silk gently surrounds the state seal. unlike other states, maine's first european explorers were probably not british, spanish, french, or italian. it's believed that nordic sailors arrived here almost 600 years before columbus. we know these seafaring adventurers by a more familiar name -- vikings. with "flag facts," i'm scott. >> you may not be able to change the time you need to wake up for school, but you can change how

you wake up. instead of a jarring noise, there's now a clock that gently rouses you with the aroma of sizzling bacon. the wake n' bacon alarm clock was created by art and technology major matty sallin. the pig-shaped clock uses halogen bulbs to safely cook the bacon. then, a fan blows the aroma in the sleeper's direction. talk about breakfast in bed. the. [announcer:] new revlon® photoready 3d volume™ mascara the round tip brush coats even the tiniest lash. the innovative formula reflects every lash... for a 100% more magnified look.

>> large stadiums filled with fans usually go hand in hand with sports. but erika takes us to an event where the fans are loyal, the competition is fierce, however, the sport is a bit unusual. >> these are not attendees at a royal wedding.

they're participants in a jam-packed, regional f.i.r.s.t. competition. >> 3, 2, 1, go! >> you need brains, creativity, and discipline to compete here. and, oh, yeah, you also need a robot. >> f.i.r.s.t. stands for "inspiration and recognition of science and technology," and it is a robotics competition for high school students where they're encouraged to team up with either a university or an engineering firm. and they work with professional engineers and teachers to design and build a robot during a 6-week build period and compete in a game that they create. and the competition has something on the order of 4,000 teams nationwide. some of the teams are even from around the world. there are teams from england, brazil, and a few other countries, as well. >> what i love about f.i.r.s.t. is that it brings that competitive sports edge into something involving science and technology. i mean, how often do you get to see thousands of people sitting in a sports arena cheering at robots? you know what i mean?

>> gabe is in college now, but not so long ago, he was part of a west coast robotics team. that team caught the eye of a big-time author. >> my nephew participated in this competition when he was in high school, and it basically changed his life, to a great deal. and so i went to f.i.r.s.t. and talked about writing an article about their story. and i went to the kickoff and saw all the kids and the enthusiasm, and i just knew that it was a book, not just an article. >> to get kids interested in science and technology -- and that's the future -- you've got to make it exciting for the kids, and these kinds of programs where the kids get to compete sort of like a sports activity. >> you have high school students working in teams, meeting deadlines, learning the limited resources that they have, especially time, in terms of building the robot and getting it out. >> that's what surprised me probably the most. i thought this was simply an after-school activity, a couple hours. these kids are spending 60, 70 hours a week, at one point,

building these robots, 7 days a week. they're falling asleep at their desks, on the floor, while the robot goes up about them. i mean, so it is very, very intense, and they take it very seriously. >> about 5 1/2 weeks ago, we received a kit of parts that consisted of about two crates filled with all sorts of devices -- motors, gears, sprockets, wheels, metal, all kinds of high-technology equipment. and from that kit of parts, you must devise a robot that will compete in this year's game. >> once the competition begins, the robot's mission is to retrieve, transport, and hang colorful inflatables on goalposts. students direct the robots using video-game type controllers. >> the robot can also run autonomously, where a program can be preset into the robot, and it can work completely on its own. >> it's great for young people because it encourages people to go into science and technology.

it presents it to them in a more interesting way, in a hands-on way, other than sitting in a desk in a classroom, having a teacher talk to you. >> you have the teamwork, you have the building, you have the learning, and then you add all that together and it's, you know, the greatest. >> each year, major corporations and universities offer f.i.r.s.t. participants almost $15 million in college scholarships. last year, 25% of those scholarship winners were girls. >> we do have a great robot, and yesterday we won the award for the rookie inspiration and we were so happy. >> and i got to prove that girls are just as good as boys and we can do just as much stuff as them. so i'm really happy i did it, because i learned so much. >> what's great about being on a robotics team is you have some students that are good at programming, so they'll do the autonomous. some kids are very good at electrical, so they'll do the electrical. some are mechanical, so they'll put the robot together. and then you have some students

that are not involved in those three things, but they're involved with making posters and banners and buttons, and so they're involved with the team spirit award. so it gets everybody from the school to get involved. >> it just feels fun to be on a team. i mean, they make you happy. they're like my second family. >> this east coast team calls themselves 2train robotics. at the end of today's competition, they'll be taking home more than just their robot. >> i'm feeling pretty great. we're doing pretty good today, we're in first place, and we're really excited about that. >> we also won the xerox creativity award, which is given to the robot that's the most creative. that's quite an honor. >> the first robotics competition has been called a varsity sport for the mind. as you can se, it affects the emotions, as well. for information on how you can get involved in f.i.r.s.t., competitions, speak with your guidance counselor or visit our website. for "teen kids news," i'm erika.

[thunder] did you buy the flashlight and the batteries? yes. did you make sure we're not missing anything in the first aid kit? yup. did you go through the plan with the kids again? yes. announcer: the more you prepare today, the more you'll be able to reduce the devastating effects of a tornado, an earthquake, a power outage, or any other disaster. get a kit, make a plan, be informed. visit ready.gov. learning how to kick flip 6 stairs takes determination.

so will getting into college. i've got what it takes. so do you. >> this report is brought to you by the new york international auto show. >> well, here in new york this year, there are a wealth of cars -- some fast, some family friendly, but all cool. so, let me show you, and we'll start out with one that i know all of you at home are gonna love. take a look at what is really a racecar, but you can get it in your family's garage if you want. it's the 2013 srt viper -- 8.4-liter, 10-cylinder engine, 640 horsepower. the cool thing about this car -- not just the looks and that it goes fast, but it's built in detroit by u.s. auto workers. the back end, also really gorgeous, and inside -- well, there may be not a lot of room for the whole family, but for two people, they're gonna enjoy

the experience. the viper goes on sale as a 2013 model. well, pick-up trucks are always popular, and this is from ram, the 1500, 8-speed automatic transmission, a v-6 that gets surprisingly good fuel economy, so mom and dad probably are gonna really appreciate the savings. it'll be a 2013 -- the ram 1500. well, chevrolet has a car that families are gonna love. in fact, the company says it'll pass the parent test. it's the 2013 chevy traverse. 8-passenger seating and -- check this out -- 12 cup holders. every single kid in the family can have their own cup holder. it'll go on sale in late 2012. it's the chevy traverse. nissan's unveiled the 2013 nissan altima. it's all new, and it's got what's called zero-gravity seating. nissan used nasa engineers to help them design seating that will leave you feeling refreshed, even after a long drive. from audi, take a look at the allroad. the 211-horsepower, 2-liter

engine will give you good power but still save on gas, and that display will tell you where the closest gas station is and even how much gas costs, live, right inside the car. it'll go on sale june of 2012. well, here's a concept from mazda that you ought to like. it's called the takeri, and it uses what's called the soul of motion design. it has a full suite of mazda's skyactiv technologies -- in this case, a clean diesel engine, a gorgeous car from mazda, and who knows? they could be building that in the near future. well, acura took the blanket off of this car here in new york. it's the rlx concept. it's a sport hybrid all-wheel drive, 30 miles to the gallon, 370 horsepower, and it has a voice-to-text feature. you can even post on your facebook page by just speaking aloud. and from infiniti, this is a fully electric car and full of luxury on the inside, something that mom and dad are gonna love, but you don't have to plug it in. you just roll it over that mat,

and it wirelessly recharges. how cool is that? the infiniti l.e., luxury and electric. 2014 will be the model year. and from volkswagen, they're showing off the alltrack. this is a concept for now, but volkswagen says they could build it. it uses a 2-liter turbo tdi engine -- that's a diesel -- and the car will also be ready to drive off-road if you want it to. volkswagen right now checking out whether there's enough interest on the part of the public to actually build that car. and check this cool ride out from lincoln. it's the mkz, all new for 2013. it's got one of the world's largest sunroof, 15 square feet of glass, push-button gear-shift selector, 10-inch lcd screen, 33 miles to the gallon, and inflatable seat belts for safety for the family in the back. hyundai rolling out the 2013 hyundai santa fe. all new, designed in california, seven airbags, all-wheel drive, heated rear seats, panoramic sunroof, and you can press a button and have

driver-selectable settings. if you want, you can now take the santa fe off the road, and it'll also be available soon with a third row. so many family-friendly rides. in new york city, i'm doug brauner for "teen kids news." man on tv: two outs with a runner on first base. now the big guy comes up to bat, hitting .342 with 92 rbis and 36 homers. [fans whirring] [ding] announcer: chill raw and prepared foods promptly.

one in 6 americans will get sick from food poisoning this year. keep your family safer. check your steps at foodsafety.gov. [laughing] [tires screeching]

>> if you're a fan of the harry potter books and movies, you'll love this report. accinicole, >> author j.k. rowling conjured up an entire world for harry potter, filled with amazing details. but to bring that world onto the screen required a different kind of magic. now harry potter fans can take a close look at the costumes, gadgets, scenery, and even the creatures from the movies. the harry potter exhibition is touring the world. we caught up with it in new york city's times square. >> it's an absolutely amazing experience where we have props and artifacts and costumes from

the entire film series. [ soft dramatic music plays ] >> welcome, welcome, welcome to harry potter, the exhibition. >> from the beloved portraits in the gallery to costumes and potion books, the exhibition has a lot of what we love about the harry potter books and movies. >> the horcrux, the goblet of fire. >> the fat lady in the portrait. >> harry's wand. >> the invisibility cloak. >> do you have a favorite hogwarts house? >> i think maybe hufflepuff. >> hufflepuff? interesting. i would think maybe you're a ravenclaw. >> maybe. i don't know. let's see what the sorting hat has to say. >> there's nothing hidden in your head the sorting hate can't see, so try me on, and i will tell you where you ought to be. just and loyal. true, yes, clearly hufflepuff.

>> let's give her a round of applause. fantastic. >> i thought it was really cool that they did that. i think it was the real sorting hat and that's why they didn't let you touch your head. but i liked how when you said what your favorite house was, that's where they put you. >> even if you've seen the film many times, like someone i know, you might not realize how much work went into creating each frame of film. >> they get to really understand and appreciate some of the things that go by so fast in the film, so it's really an opportunity to appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that go into making a series like this. >> it's so cool that, like, the actors actually wore those costumes and we're able to be so close to them. and it's just, like, unbelievable that they actually wore it on the set, so that was pretty cool. >> the exhibit lets you wander through re-creations of the great hall, hagrid's hut, and the gryffindor common room. you even get to toss a quidditch quaffle. score! so, what is it about the

harry potter stories that makes it so popular? >> well, i think one of the most things that makes it so appealing is that the children go through the same problems that we do and yet they're in this whole nother magical world and it's really great. they combine humor and friendship and adventure, and i just think it's such a wonderful series. >> the characters are so unforgettable. you fall in love with them while you're reading the books. i've read through them, like, multiple times. >> the special effects and how everything seems real. >> i think it really just changed my life. it gave me something to aspire to and to read. i'm a writer, and i've always wanted to just be any little bit close to what j.k. rowling is. and i think she's amazing. >> harry, ron and hermione spent a lot of time looking for horcruxes. at the exhibit, you don't have to look far at all. for "teen kids news," i'm nicole. >> we'll see you next time on "teen kids news." >> thanks for watching. have a great week.

>> on behalf of everyone here at "teen kids news," we want to give a special thanks to all of our military overseas.

a team that shares my drive and commitment. that's why i serve in the united states coast guard. maybe you were born ready. find out at gocoastguard.com. turning a 20-foot wall into a canvas takes vision. so will getting into college. i've got what it takes. so do you. [siren] announcer: preparing today reduces the consequences of a disaster tomorrow.