Latest Sci-Tech Headlines
Pounamu: exploring a science savvy New Zealand in 2023
Monday, 12 August 2013, 3:20 pm | The Macdiarmid Institute
Pounamu is a free, browser based, online game set in a future world where EVERYONE in New Zealand can use science as easily as they can use a computer now. Anyone can play: from primary school students to research scientists, from young entrepreneurs ... More >>
Leading polar expert visits Wellington
Monday, 12 August 2013, 3:19 pm | Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington is hosting one of the world’s leading polar scientists this week to give the 2013 S.T. Lee Lecture in Antarctic Studies. Professor Jane Francis is in Wellington to give the eleventh annual lecture. She is Professor of ... More >>
Unlocking the causes of autism spectrum disorder
Monday, 12 August 2013, 1:23 pm | University of Auckland
Leading scientists from The University of Auckland are working to unlock the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and they’re encouraging people who are affected to take part in their research. More >>
Researcher Looking to Better Understand Antarctic weather
Monday, 12 August 2013, 12:02 pm | University of Canterbury
To better predict future Antarctic weather trends, a University of Canterbury (UC) researcher is seeking to understand the polar region’s past icy conditions. The Antarctic is experiencing melting glaciers, break-up of ice shelves, warmer waters ... More >>
Cameras provide insight into changing fisheries
Monday, 12 August 2013, 11:28 am | NIWA
Cameras provide insight into changing fisheries Scientists are starting to get a better picture of how recreational fisheries change over time, thanks to a few web cameras and a bit of help from the public. NIWA scientists have installed eight web ... More >>
Stem cell therapy shows promise in repairing brain damage
Saturday, 10 August 2013, 1:55 pm | AlphaMed
Durham, NC – Stroke is a major health concern and is a leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. Despite significant research efforts, developing treatments that ensure complete recovery for stroke ... More >>
Questioning the Universe: NZ Skeptics Conference
Friday, 9 August 2013, 4:27 pm | NZ Skeptics Society
Learning more about the universe demonstrates just how much more we need to learn about life on planet Earth. That's something noted US astronomer, writer and podcaster, Dr Pamela Gay, will be talking about at this year's NZ Skeptics annual conference ... More >>
Canterbury Scientific Up For Top NZ Business Award
Friday, 9 August 2013, 4:10 pm | Canterbury Scientific
Press release, 9 August 2013, Canterbury Scientific, Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury Scientific is proud to announce that it is a finalist for the prestigious International Business Awards run by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. These awards ... More >>
SMC Heads-Up: Environmental monitoring, lost health, climate
Friday, 9 August 2013, 3:34 pm | Science Media Centre
Enviro-monitoring; Lost health; State of the Climate; Sci Comm Prof; New from the SMC; Sciblogs highlights; Research highlights; Policy News; Sci-tech events More >>
UC Receives US Patent Approval for Digital Technology
Friday, 9 August 2013, 12:18 pm | University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury (UC) has received a patent for a transistor technology for use in flat screen television sets, computer tablets and mobile phones. More >>
Global Climate Survey Shows Warming Evidence
Friday, 9 August 2013, 12:06 pm | US State Department
The year 2012 was among the 10 warmest on record, according to the 2012 State of the Climate report, compiled by almost 400 scientists from 52 nations. Based on data collected by scientific instruments monitoring land, sea, ice and atmosphere, the ... More >>
If We Landed on Europa, What Would We Want to Know?
Friday, 9 August 2013, 11:59 am | US State Department
Most of what scientists know of Jupiter’s moon Europa they have gleaned from a dozen or so close flybys from NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1979 and NASA’s Galileo spacecraft in the mid-to-late 1990s. In these fleeting, paparazzi-like encounters, ... More >>
Sun’s Magnetic Field About to Flip
Thursday, 8 August 2013, 5:24 pm | US State Department
Something big is about to happen on the sun (seen above in ultraviolet). According to measurements from NASA-supported observatories, the sun’s vast magnetic field is about to flip. More >>
Upheaval for staff at Callaghan Innovation
Thursday, 8 August 2013, 2:41 pm | Public Service Association
The Public Service Association says the potential loss of a multi-million dollar hi-tech business deal is part of a wider story about the reorganisation of science and technology capability within the new government science body Callaghan Innovation. More >>
Release of white admiral butterfly approved
Thursday, 8 August 2013, 2:06 pm | Environmental Protection Authority
The Environmental Protection Authority has approved the release white admiral butterflies. The Greater Wellington Regional Council applied to the EPA to release the butterflies in order to control Japanese honeysuckle, which it says is causing problems on public ... More >>
New Director for Bio-Protection Research Centre
Thursday, 8 August 2013, 1:16 pm | Lincoln University
The South Island’s only national Centre for Research Excellence – located at Lincoln University – has today announced the appointment of Professor Travis Glare to the position of Director. More >>
Kiwistar abandoned - for what?
Wednesday, 7 August 2013, 4:22 pm | New Zealand Association of Scientists
The New Zealand Association of Scientists is disappointed that Callaghan Innovation has pulled the plug on a promising high value manufacturing venture, Kiwistar Optics. More >>
UC study finds way to reduce children’s fear of dogs
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 3:12 pm | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) postgraduate student has found a way to reduce children’s fear of dogs. Nearly 12,000 people suffered dog bite injuries in 2011 and the number of attacks requiring medical attention has increased since 2003, according to ACC ... More >>
A warm early spring on the cards
Monday, 5 August 2013, 3:57 pm | NIWA
Temperatures over the August to October period as a whole are very likely to be above average in the North Island regions as well as in the north of the South Island, and likely to be average or above average in the east and west of the South Island. More >>
No evidence that antioxidants help women conceive
Monday, 5 August 2013, 3:17 pm | University of Auckland
There is no high quality evidence that antioxidant supplements help to increase a woman’s chances of having a baby, according to the results of a new systematic review. More >>
Whey protein and C. botulinum - experts respond
Monday, 5 August 2013, 2:35 pm | Science Media Centre
Over the weekend, Fonterra confirmed Clostridium botulinum contamination of milk whey protein from the milk giant's Hautapu manufacturing facility, prompting the Ministry for Primary Industries to issue a warning not to use certain brands of infant ... More >>
Increased Sil-Ace Use Driving Commercial Ram Performance
Monday, 5 August 2013, 11:59 am | NZ Beef and Lamb
The annual Beef + Lamb New Zealand Central Progeny Test results have been released and they show a significant growth in flocks using the powerful SIL-ACE evaluation. More >>
Bacterial toxins harnessed for bioinsecticides and medicine
Monday, 5 August 2013, 11:39 am | University of Auckland
New Zealand and Australian scientists have found a new way in which bacteria store and release toxins, and their discovery may be harnessed to develop new bioinsecticides for crop pests and even new medicines. The team, led by Dr Shaun Lott from The University ... More >>
No evidence that antioxidants help women conceive
Monday, 5 August 2013, 11:37 am | University of Auckland
There is no high quality evidence that antioxidant supplements help to increase a woman’s chances of having a baby, according to the results of a new systematic review. The review, published in The Cochrane Library, found women were no more likely ... More >>
SMC Heads-Up: Climate impacts for NZ outlined
Friday, 2 August 2013, 3:49 pm | Science Media Centre
SMC Heads-Up: Climate impacts explained, good and bad fats and balance in science reporting More >>
Victoria researchers change the face of computer networking
Friday, 2 August 2013, 3:15 pm | Victoria University of Wellington
A team of computer scientists at Victoria University is taking part in ground-breaking research to develop software-defined networking, a new approach to computer networking which experts say has the potential to revolutionise the technology industry. More >>
Montreal Scientists scanning the entire genome
Friday, 2 August 2013, 12:03 pm | McGill University Health Centre
Recent technological developments in genomics have revealed a large number of genetic influences on common complex diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, cancer or schizophrenia. However, discovering a genetic variant predisposing to a disease is only a first ... More >>
Auckland leads major international study into heart disease
Friday, 2 August 2013, 12:01 pm | University of Auckland
2nd August 2013 Auckland leads major international collaboration into heart disease The causes of abnormal heart rhythms will come under scrutiny by scientists in a major new investigation led by researchers from The University of Auckland. The study, ... More >>
Pond borders can benefit bees
Thursday, 1 August 2013, 2:30 pm | Landcare Research
Irrigation pond borders offer a great opportunity to increase biodiversity on farms without impacting on productive land, according to researchers. Landcare Research scientists have used remote sensing – computer analysis of satellite images – ... More >>
New Zealand’s changing climate and oceans
Thursday, 1 August 2013, 10:07 am | Prime Ministers Science Advisory Committee
A new report released today by this office is intended to update the public on current scientific understandings of climate change and ocean acidification. In particular, it focuses on how these changes are likely to affect New Zealand’s climate and ... More >>
Genetic testing issues examined at Trans-Tasman roundtable
Wednesday, 31 July 2013, 3:08 pm | University of Otago
Ethical, legal and social aspects of the rapidly developing field of genetic testing will be the focus of discussion for top minds from both sides of the Tasman, gathering in Queenstown on Sunday (4 August) for the 4th Australia-New Zealand Roundtable on ... More >>
GNS Science Names New Chief Executive
Wednesday, 31 July 2013, 1:06 pm | GNS Science
Professor Michael McWilliams, Chief of CSIRO's Earth Science and Resource Engineering Division, has been named as the new Chief Executive of GNS Science. More >>
Time running out to enter Value of Medicines Award
Tuesday, 30 July 2013, 2:24 pm | Medicines New Zealand
Time is running out to get your entry in for the Medicines New Zealand, Value of Medicines Award. More >>
Marine scientists gather at University of Waikato
Monday, 29 July 2013, 11:54 am | University of Waikato
Around 500 experts in aquatic sciences will gather in Hamilton in August for one of the biggest conferences of its type to be held in the region. The conference – Aquatic Science at the Interface - will bring together members of the New Zealand ... More >>
Otago study shows legacy of pesticides difficult to avoid
Monday, 29 July 2013, 10:02 am | University of Otago
A University of Otago study shows that the tell-tale legacy in rural South Island areas of pesticides banned many years ago remains, regardless of the type of sheep and beef farming now taking place on the land. The research, led by Department of ... More >>
Research Could Eliminate Need for Kiwi Organ Donors
Monday, 29 July 2013, 9:43 am | Dr. Klaus Platz
Hamilton transplant surgery expert Klaus Platz says new ground-breaking medical research could eventually eliminate the need for organ donors, helping desperate Kiwis avoid an agonising wait for a transplant. More >>
White Island Resumes Pattern of Minor Activity
Saturday, 27 July 2013, 2:01 pm | GNS Science
GNS Science says that minor activity has become re-established at White Island over the last 24 hours. The Volcano Alert Level remains at Level 1 and Aviation Colour Code has been raised to Yellow. More >>
GNS's week of quake communication
Saturday, 27 July 2013, 1:05 pm | Science Media Centre
The birth of newest Royal, Prince George, may have swept earthquake coverage off the front page on Wednesday, but scientists have been busy throughout the week explaining via the media what they've learned about the quakes. More >>
A fine end to the school holidays
Friday, 26 July 2013, 10:36 am | MetService
The weather for the final weekend of the school holidays looks set to be dominated by high pressure, resulting in dry settled conditions over much of the country. More >>
Psa family tree gives new tools to breed for resistance
Friday, 26 July 2013, 10:12 am | Plant and Food Research
A team of researchers from four countries have analysed the DNA of the kiwifruit disease Psa to identify its origins and develop new ways of breeding for resistance against it. More >>
Moa: the life and death of New Zealand's legendary bird
Friday, 26 July 2013, 10:10 am | Craig Potton Publishing
The life and death of the world's tallest species of bird is the focus of a new book being published by Craig Potton Publishing this month. More >>
Micronutrients could help people quit smoking
Thursday, 25 July 2013, 11:04 am | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury masters student is hoping to demonstrate that micronutrients help with withdrawal symptoms for people quitting smoking. More >>
Quake Pushes Blenheim to the East
Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 6:40 pm | GNS Science
GPS observations have shown that parts of Marlborough moved up to 5cm to the east during last Sunday's magnitude 6.5 earthquake. More >>
UC searching for viral link to breast cancer
Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 11:40 am | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) led research team wants to find the link between breast cancer and a virus, to help reduce the number of New Zealanders who die of breast cancer each year. More >>
Osteoarthritis improved by extra physiotherapy programmes
Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 11:37 am | University of Otago
Manual physiotherapy or regular exercise programmes make a significant difference for people with painful osteoarthritis in the knee and hip joints, and are cost-effective, new research from the University of Otago shows. More >>
UC studying use of hypothermia to treat cardiac arrest
Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 11:34 am | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) PhD student is studying the use of hypothermia, or lowering body temperature below 35C degrees, to treat cardiac arrest patients and its impact on metabolism in these patients. More >>
Apple Developer Website Update
Tuesday, 23 July 2013, 4:16 pm | Apple
Last Thursday, an intruder attempted to secure personal information of our registered developers from our developer website. Sensitive personal information was encrypted and cannot be accessed, however, we have not been able to rule out the possibility ... More >>
Eikon Becomes First Native Market Data App for BlackBerry 10
Tuesday, 23 July 2013, 3:13 pm | Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters works with BlackBerry to take advantage of full privacy and enterprise security features of the BlackBerry 10 platform More >>
New anti-addiction compound shows promise for drug addicts
Tuesday, 23 July 2013, 11:44 am | Health Research Council
A new class of compound that acts on the kappa opioid receptors in the brain is offering hope as Wellington researchers look for anti-addiction drugs with fewer side effects. More >>
Extra Instruments Deployed to Capture Aftershock Data
Monday, 22 July 2013, 6:38 pm | GNS Science
Scientists are deploying extra seismic instruments in Marlborough to enable more accurate measurement of the aftershocks off the coast of Seddon. More >>
Distinguished Research Medal awarded to Otago parasitologist
Monday, 22 July 2013, 2:48 pm | University of Otago
A world leader in the study of parasite ecology and evolution, Professor Robert Poulin, is this year’s recipient of the University of Otago’s highest research honour, the Distinguished Research Medal. More >>
Bio-film to protect the dairy industry’s stainless steel
Monday, 22 July 2013, 12:47 pm | University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury (UC) researchers are developing a bio-film that could be used to coat stainless steel surfaces which could save the New Zealand's food production sector a significant fraction of the NZ$300 million a year it spends in cleaning ... More >>
UC to help people with critical breathing difficulties
Monday, 22 July 2013, 12:41 pm | University of Canterbury
UC mechanical engineering expert Dr Mark Jermy has been collaborating on the company’s Optiflow high-flow humidified nasal cannula (device). Optiflow is used to support premature new-born babies, children and adults with long-term breathing difficulties ... More >>
Can probiotics help fight depression?
Saturday, 20 July 2013, 1:36 pm | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) PhD student is carrying out the first trial in New Zealand to see if probiotics, friendly bacteria which are naturally found in the gut, can help fight depression. More >>
IK Multimedia releases new AmpliTube Fender® App
Friday, 19 July 2013, 4:55 pm | IK Multimedia
Use authentic Fender amp-and-effects sounds along with your favourite compatible audio apps, and get full support for iPhone 5 graphics More >>
Turning off Down's Syndrome genes
Friday, 19 July 2013, 3:05 pm | Science Media Centre
In This Issue: Down's syndrome; Science Literacy; Natural medicine; New from the SMC; Sciblogs highlights; Research highlights; Policy News; Sci-tech events More >>
African fever patients commonly over-diagnosed with malaria
Friday, 19 July 2013, 1:15 pm | University of Otago
People hospitalised with fever in Africa are most likely to be treated for malaria but, in some areas, nearly all of these patients are ill from a different infection, a new collaborative study led by a University of Otago researcher suggests. More >>
Decent weekend but a wet spell next week
Friday, 19 July 2013, 12:20 pm | MetService
A lingering anticyclone will help bring a mostly dry weekend for much of the country, but a spell of wet weather is likely in the second week of the school holidays. More >>
Geonet Earthquake Report Severe M5.7 30km East Of Seddon
Friday, 19 July 2013, 9:20 am | GeoNet
Quake Details Information about this earthquake and historical location data . Public ID 2013p537512 Universal Time July 18 2013 at 21:06:39 NZ Standard Time Friday, July 19 2013 at 9:06:39 am Latitude, Longitude -41.55, 174.41 Intensity ? severe Focal ... More >>
All-New Adobe Social
Thursday, 18 July 2013, 4:55 pm | Adobe
Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the availability of the all-new Adobe Social, which now features integration with Flickr, Foursquare, Instagram and LinkedIn, in addition to social predictive publishing capabilities, a mobile ... More >>
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