Test your brains with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the morning quiz tomorrow. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.

A young Covid-infected person and a number of youth identified as close contacts have not been isolating in the King Country, prompting fears the virus could continue to spread in the small rural communities if people continue to…

Resource consent has been approved for the $280 million Silverlight Studios film studio development near Wanaka.An independent fast-track consenting panel issued its decision today, 96 days after Silverlight Studios Limited applied…

Travel and photography blog Capture The Atlas has published its annual Northern Lights Photographer of the Year for 2021, showcasing the top 25 photos of the Northern Lights taken around the world.

Scientists have discovered a five million-year-old pig-nosed turtle fossil in Melbourne, thousands of kilometres south of their typical home.

The fossil, housed in Melbourne Museum, was discovered in the bayside suburb of Beaumaris, about 20-kilometres from the CBD.

The finding, outlined in a study led by Monash University in collaboration with Museums Victoria, completely rewrites the evolution of pig-nosed turtles.

Pig-nosed turtles tend to be found in tropical freshwater ecosystems in northern Australia and New Guinea, only arriving here a few thousand years ago.

The creatures are endangered and the sole survivors of an extinct group of tropical turtles from the northern hemisphere.

However, it seems the creature once called Melbourne home millions of years ago.

"Almost the entire evolutionary history of pig-nosed turtles occurred in the northern hemisphere, with their present limited occurrence on the northern margin of Australia," said lead study author Dr James Rule, from the Monash University School of Biological Sciences.

"The discovery of a five million-year-old pig-nosed turtle fossil in Beaumaris changes this picture entirely."

It points to a broader pattern of turtles migrating across entire oceans in ancient history to reach the once tropical waters of southern Australia.

"This one fossil specimen reveals a previously unknown evolutionary history of tropical turtles in Australia, and suggests we still have much to learn about the endangered pig-nosed turtle," Dr Rule said.

READ MORE: New dinosaur species discovered decades after bones were excavated

Scientists say the climate in Melbourne was far warmer five million years ago, and was home to turtles only found in the tropics today.

"Climate change in the last few million years eliminated these tropical habitats, leaving the northern Australasian Pig-nosed turtles as sole survivors," Dr Rule said.

"Our discovery provides key insights into ancient climate change shaping modern species distribution."

READ MORE: Gems from plane crash returned to climber who discovered them

The fossil is the latest important discovery to come from the Beaumaris fossil site.

"We are so lucky in Melbourne to have such fossils right here in our own backyard," Dr Erich Fitzgerald, a senior curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria and co-author of the paper, said.

"The fossils at Beaumaris still have so much to teach us about our past, present and future."

Australia has recorded a new version of the Omicron variant that has a different genetic structure.

Queensland today reported two Omicron cases among previously detected COVID-19 transmissions.

One of them – in a traveller who recently arrived from South Africa – has been described as "Omicron-like" after research by international experts.

READ MORE: Omicron spread a 'wake up call' as Australia re-opens

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the case revealed a second "lineage" of the variant.

"That is the new lineage and name that will be given to this variant that has been identified and confirmed by the international committee," she said.

Acting Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken said the lineage has about half the genetic changes of the first Omicron variant.

"We now have Omicron and Omicron-like, it's a reminder to us all that as we open our borders this doesn't mean that the COVID journey has finished, in many ways the COVID journey is just starting."

Unlike the conventional Omicron variant, it doesn't have the "S-gene drop out" feature, he said.

READ MORE: The suburbs predicted to be underwater in 80 years

'Stealth' version of Omicron

Without the "S-gene drop out" feature, the new lineage of Omicron is harder to track with PCR testing, The Guardian reports.

This has earned it the label of the "stealth" version of the variant.

Professor Francois Balloux, from the University College London Genetics Institute, said that there are "two lineages within Omicron, BA.1 and BA.2, that are quite differentiated genetically".

She said that BA.2 may behave differently than the Omicron variant first detected.

The emergence of this new variant poses a threat to countries' COVID-19 testing networks.

It could spread undetected while public health authorities concentrate on identifying standard Omicron cases.

A Chinese space rover has spotted what is being referred to as a strange "mystery house" on the far side of the moon.

China's Yutu 2 rover discovered the curious cube on the horizon in the Von Kármán crater in November.

The solar-powered rover, which first landed on the moon almost three years ago, has now been tasked to spend the next two to three months investigating the object.

READ MORE: Planets and moon align as WA treated to spectacular night sight

https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1466677831929405443

The object was 80m from the rover when the first pictures of it were snapped.

Experts expect the object is likely just a large boulder, however, a website affiliated with China's space agency is referring to the object with a Chinese term that translates to "mystery house" or "mystery hut" in English.

The Yutu 2 has been traversing the 186km-wide Von Kármán crater since it landed on the moon with the Chang'e-4 spacecraft on January 3, 2019.

https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1466679530798596103

That side of the moon is never visible from Earth and had never been touched by a space mission prior to the Chang'e-4 expedition.

Yutu 2, which moves on six wheels, had explored 700m of the moon by May.

Facebook Gaming streamers are some of the highest paid content creators in the world, according to Facebook.

Australia's Facebook Gaming community is growing rapidly, with over 4000 creators signing on across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific.

With an industry larger than the movie and music industries combined, it's no surprise to hear people can earn big money from producing gaming content.

READ MORE: Aussie gaming studio director wants 'more female voices' in industry

While it's not a new concept to earn money creating content online, with thousands already streaming on Twitch, Facebook says their platform is bringing more to the table than other services.

In a recent media briefing by Facebook featuring streamers from Australia and New Zealand, streamers were asked how much they earn on the platform. Each chose the modest answer that they are "comfortable and happy" and "living the dream", thanks to their newfound career.

Brisbane's Chopstix is now one of Australia's largest streamers, only joining the Facebook Gaming platform last year.

READ MORE: The seven topics Aussies Googled more than COVID-19 this year

The 25-year-old said this new path has helped her overcome a rough period in her life, quitting her job in the dental industry to pursue streaming full time. She now streams to over 100,000 followers.

The way Facebook Gaming works for creators is set across three tiers:

• Beginner
Beginners can start streaming at any time, no matter how many viewers.

• Level Up
The Level Up program is reached after a creator on Facebook proves they're capable of producing high quality content and has a steady viewer base. This will also open up monetisation features.

• Partner
Partners are the top level of creators on Facebook. Facebook Gaming works with these streamers directly to help shape an audience and produce quality content full time.

Once streamers start racking up the views, the Facebook Gaming team reaches out and asks if they're ready to start earning cash from their hard work.

Viewers who take part in watching and interacting with these streams can donate "stars", which is essentially a digital currency, to their streamer of choice to show their appreciation.

READ MORE: Omicron spread a 'wake up call' as Australia re-opens

For the streamer, these stars translate to dollars. Eventually, viewers will be able to subscribe to their favourite streamer's profile for a monthly fee, all while accessing exclusive subscriber content from the creator.

In October this year, Australians sent over 13 million stars to streamers around the world.

Facebook says over 700 million people interact with gaming streams on their platform each month.

The five most streamed games from Facebook Gaming creators are:

• Call of Duty: Warzone
• PUBG Mobile
• Fortnite
• Minecraft
• Call of Duty: Mobile

If you want to check out Facebook Gaming but don't know where to start, simply search Facebook for the dedicated gaming tab.

Alternatively, there's a dedicated app from Facebook specifically for gaming.

READ MORE: The suburbs predicted to be underwater in 80 years

To help boost Facebook's gaming venture, they've partnered with developers Genvid and Bandai Namco to produce an exclusive Pac-Man experience.

It's a hint of what's to come for the Metaverse, with gamers seemingly experiencing a new blend of playing video games and social interaction.

Pac-Man is one of the most iconic video games ever made, taking the world by storm over 40 years ago.

Now Facebook is bringing Pac-Man back to life with a new experience exclusively for its users.

From this week, users from the social media platform can jump online and join the Pac-Man Community.

Gamers can play Pac-Man solo or through co-op multiplayer, which will see groups of up to four people playing in real-time. Players will need to complete mazes together all while competing for the high score.

Gamers can also load up the maze creator tool, which allows players to make their own levels.

It's no secret Aussies love their sport, and that goes double in lockdown, as proven by Google's data from the last year.

The first seven of the country's top Google Search trends for 2021 were claimed by the NBA, AFL, cricket, NRL, football, tennis and Olympics. 

COVID NSW, Coinspot and Prince Philip rounded out the top 10 overall most popular searches on the 2021 list released today.

READ MORE: Brave family help save teen shark attack victims

By comparison, last year only the NBA and Kobe Bryant — who died in a helicopter crash in January 2020 — featured among Australia's top searches in a year that was dominated by the arrival of COVID-19 and a blockbuster US election.

Coronavirus continued to trend in 2021, especially with significant outbreaks in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

"We looked to book our vaccines, get our vaccination certificates — and find the meaning of Omicron," wrote Google Australia's Camilla Ibrahim.

"We also showed our savvy and scientific curiosities, searching 'how to make a facemask' and interestingly, 'how to make oxygen'.

READ MORE: Aussie Bitcoin pioneer wins battle for $71 billion fortune

While COVID-19 continues to feature in Australia's most searched news events, there was also major interest in names like Cleo Smith, Alec Baldwin, William Tyrell, Bert Newton and Christian Porter.

"Through search, we showed our care and concern for Cleo Smith — and kept looking for William Tyrrell," Ms Ibrahim wrote.

"We were shaken by the earthquake in Melbourne, the crisis in Afghanistan — and were curious about crypto.

"And as we wrapped our heads around complex issues and events, we looked up the meanings of terms like emancipated, insurrection and gaslighting." 

READ MORE: US announce diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

Below are Australia's top trends in Google Search for 2021.

Overall searches

1. NBA
2. AFL
3. Australia vs India
4. NRL
5. Euro 2021
6. Wimbledon
7. Olympic medal tally
8. COVID NSW
9. Coinspot
10. Prince Philip

News events

1. COVID NSW
2. Cleo Smith
3. QLD COVID update
4. Alec Baldwin
5. Coronavirus Victoria
6. William Tyrrell
7. Bert Newton
8. Christian Porter
9. Afghanistan
10. Melbourne earthquake

Aussies

1. Cleo Smith
2. Ash Barty
3. William Tyrell
4. Christian Porter
5. Nadia Bartel
6. Dominic Perrottet
7. Nick Kyrgios
8. Ariarne Titmus
9. Peter Bol
10. Melissa Caddick

Global figures

1. Alec Baldwin
2. Rita Ora
3. Travis Scott
4. Kyle Rittenhouse
5. Adele
6. Naomi Osaka
7. Pete Davidson
8. Simone Biles
9. Tiger Woods
10. Emma Raducanu

Loss

1. Prince Philip
2. Gabby Petito
3. Bert Newton
4. Brian Laundrie
5. Sean Lock
6. Michael Gudinski
7. Sarah Everard
8. Carla Zampatti
9. Helen McCrory
10. Larry King

Sport

1. NBA
2. AFL
3. Australia vs India
4. NRL
5. Euro 2021
6. Wimbledon
7. Olympics
8. Australian Open
9. EPL
10. French Open

Recipes

1. Gnocchi recipes
2. Guacamole recipe
3. Curried sausages recipe
4. Anzac biscuits recipe
5. Negroni recipe
6. Lamb shank recipe
7. Brussels sprouts recipes
8. Minestrone soup recipe
9. Rocky road recipe
10. Tzatziki recipe

'How to…?'

1. How to get vaccination certificate
2. How to tie a tie
3. How to deliver uber eats
4. How to buy dogecoin
5. How to watch olympics australia
6. How to book COVID vaccine
7. How to watch euro 2021 in australia
8. How to link medicare to mygov
9. How to book pfizer vaccine
10. Million dollar vax how to enter

'How to make…?' DIY queries

1. How to make a face mask
2. How to make candles
3. How to make playdough
4. How to make a paper plane
5. How to make a chatterbox
6. How to make a website
7. How to make slime without glue
8. How to make a paper boat
9. How to make fake blood
10. How to make oxygen

Classes and lessons

1. Dance classes near me
2. Swimming lessons near me
3. Driving lessons
4. Pottery classes
5. Swimming classes for kids near me
6. Art classes near me
7. Guitar lessons near me
8. Piano lessons near me
9. Zumba classes near me
10. Glass blowing classes

Meanings and definitions

1. Emancipated meaning
2. Insurrection meaning
3. Gaslighting meaning
4. NAIDOC meaning
5. NFT meaning
6. Omicron meaning
7. Frigid meaning
8. Narcissist meaning
9. ROC meaning
10. Sedition meaning

New South Wales SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan has said it was "miraculous" nobody was injured in yesterday's sudden Sydney storm, as she warned of more rain to come.

There was hail in the Blue Mountains and damaging winds on the Central Coast, while heavy rain drenched Sydney yesterday afternoon.

Some areas received 15mm in just 30 minutes with the roof of a Penrith shopping centre collapsing in the deluge.

READ MORE: Dozens must isolate as two party boat guests thought to have Omicron

The SES received 450 calls for assistance across the state.

Ms Hogan said 190 of those calls were related to the Sydney storm.

"It certainly is miraculous no-one was injured in the incident," she said.

"Most of those requests have now been closed out, but as you can imagine, thunderstorms are likely to continue today, so we need people could be aware of their surroundings and vigilant in regards to the weather that may be experienced."

Ms Hogan said widespread rainfall was also expected on the NSW South Coast and in the state's south-east, in the next 48 hours.

"Probably the area of concern is really around the flash flooding risk, people driving through floodwaters or being caught in floodwaters," she said.

Strong winds are today forecast for the Sydney and Illawarra coasts this morning, while numerous flood warnings remain in place across NSW.

Sydney is set to reach a top of 22C, with showers increasing.

READ MORE: Perth experiences one of the hottest early summer weeks in 90 years

Melbourne and Brisbane are also facing showers, with Brisbane also set for a possible storm.

Melbourne will reach a top of 18C, and Brisbane a top of 30C.

Fire warnings have been issued for much of Western Australia, with people advised to activate their bushfire survival plans and watch for updates.

READ MORE: Victorian teen returns to school day after being attacked by shark

Perth is set to hit 40C.

Adelaide and Hobart will be cloudy, with tops of 20C and 16C respectively.

There will be some showers in Canberra, with a top of 19C.

And a possible storm is brewing for Darwin, which will reach 34C today.