Latest Sci-Tech Headlines
GNS Science maps show risk levels at White Island still high
Thursday, 12 December 2019, 5:02 pm | GNS Science
Risk assessment maps released by GNS Science (dated 02 and 12 December 2019) show the crater floor of Whakaari/White Island is still a high-risk area, with a further eruption looking increasingly likely. The maps were released at a National Emergency ... More >>
Changeable weather continues into the weekend
Thursday, 12 December 2019, 1:18 pm | MetService
Changeable, Spring-like weather is forecast over the next week. Fast-moving weather features tracking up the country will bring showers to many, but rain to western areas of South Island, for the remainder of this week and into the weekend. More >>
‘Tis the season for a Christmas weather forecast…
Thursday, 12 December 2019, 12:07 pm | NIWA
If Santa is quick he can hop on a ridge of high pressure for his big trip to New Zealand very soon. More >>
Potential new cancer treatment a step closer
Thursday, 12 December 2019, 11:33 am | QIMR Berghofer
QIMR Berghofer researchers have discovered a potential new cancer immunotherapy target that involves switching off a regulatory cell to stop tumours growing and spreading. More >>
Risk of Whakaari/White Island eruption remains high
Thursday, 12 December 2019, 11:17 am | GNS Science
The risk of further eruptions at Whakaari/White Island is unchanged and remains high, GNS Science experts say. More >>
Southland greenhouse gas emission profile for 2018
Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 5:13 pm | Great South
Great South has today released a profile of Southland’s emission sources for the 2018 calendar year. More >>
Calculations show “medium likelihood” of Whakaari eruption
Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 4:57 pm | GNS Science
There is a “medium likelihood” of an eruption outside the vent area of Whakaari/White Island, with volcanic tremor increasing, GNS Science experts say. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 4:40 pm | NIWA
A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing these soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions ... More >>
Climate explained: 7 reasons to be wary of waste-to-energy
Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 9:26 am | The Conversation
Many developed countries already have significant waste-to-energy operations and therefore less material going to landfill. More >>
2019 NZMA's Robinson Award Manuscript Announced
Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 9:19 am | NZMA
The New Zealand Medical Association’s 2019 Richard Robinson Award is for the medical research manuscript Childhood predictors of adult adiposity: ¬ Findings from a longitudinal study - NZMJ 23 March 2018, Vol 131 No 1472 ISSN 1175-8716 The authors of the study, ... More >>
Unprecedented carbon monoxide readings in Central Otago
Wednesday, 11 December 2019, 9:07 am | NIWA
Researchers at NIWA’s Lauder atmospheric research station in Central Otago have measured prolonged carbon monoxide concentrations well above normal levels. More >>
When penguins ruled after dinosaurs died
Tuesday, 10 December 2019, 12:50 pm | Flinders University
What waddled on land but swam supremely in subtropical seas more than 60 million years ago, after the dinosaurs were wiped out on sea and land? More >>
White Island eruption – Expert Reaction Update
Tuesday, 10 December 2019, 12:04 pm | Science Media Centre
Steam and gas jets are still coming out of the active vent on Whakaari / White Island, following the eruption yesterday afternoon. More >>
Why White Island erupted and why there was no warning
Tuesday, 10 December 2019, 9:39 am | The Conversation
The sudden eruption at White Island was short-lived but produced an ash plume that rose several kilometres above the vent. GNZ Science , CC BY-ND More >>
Whakaari/White Island eruption – Update #1
Monday, 9 December 2019, 5:31 pm | GNS Science
Whakaari/White Island erupted today, in a short-lived event that generated an ash plume around 12,000 feet above the vent, GNS Science says. The eruption began at around 2.11pm NZST (0111 GMT). GeoNet’s webcam images show volcanic ash has covered ... More >>
White Island eruption – Expert Reaction
Monday, 9 December 2019, 5:27 pm | Science Media Centre
Tourists were present on Whakaari/White Island when its volcano erupted at 2.11pm today. More >>
Meet life-size models of Waipara’s giant penguins
Monday, 9 December 2019, 2:19 pm | Canterbury Museum
The now world-famous giant parrot, Squawkzilla, and the monster penguins of Waipara are the stars of Canterbury Museum’s new exhibition Ancient New Zealand: Squawkzilla and the Giants, which opens Friday 13 December. More >>
EQC funds $1 million of research to reduce disaster risk
Monday, 9 December 2019, 2:01 pm | Earthquake Commission
EQC has announced $1 million of funding for 16 research projects to help reduce the impact of natural hazards on New Zealanders’ homes, towns and cities. More >>
Good window of fine weather this week
Monday, 9 December 2019, 12:27 pm | MetService
MetService have observed a shift in the weather. The northwesterlies which brought severe weather last week and during the weekend are gone. New Zealand is under a southwest wind flow bringing cooler air and clearer skies. This marks the beginning ... More >>
NZ supporting future agriculture emission science leaders
Monday, 9 December 2019, 11:21 am | Ministry For Primary Industries
Thirty-one early-career scientists from 14 developing countries will each receive research scholarships to boost their scientific capability, with help from a New Zealand government-supported international PhD programme, the Ministry for Primary ... More >>
Discovery may open door to new medicines
Monday, 9 December 2019, 10:18 am | Bio-Protection Research Centre
Bio-Protection Research Centre scientists and collaborators have made a discovery that potentially opens the door to new medicines and biological pesticides. In work that began with a PhD thesis, and continued through postdoctoral work, they have ... More >>
CEAC – How to stop destructive loss of ocean oxygen?
Monday, 9 December 2019, 9:03 am | Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre
Consider; The shock of an alarming release of the report at the Climate Change conference in Madrid COPs 25 yesterday on the discovery loss of widespread ocean oxygen is another watershed moment that must be recognised as dire for our future survival. Quote; ... More >>
EPA releases findings on Mapara 1080
Friday, 6 December 2019, 3:57 pm | Environmental Protection Authority
An aerial 1080 operation that was linked to the deaths of eight cattle in the King Country substantially complied with the relevant controls and procedures, an enquiry has found More >>
Centre for Brain Research launches Brain Bank Initiative
Friday, 6 December 2019, 8:50 am | University of Auckland
(Headline abbreviated, original headline: Centre for Brain Research launches New Zealand’s first Sports Human Brain Bank Initiative) More >>
How does CO2 cause global warming?
Thursday, 5 December 2019, 4:05 pm | Shopless
Shopless is a NZ free marketplace, we are also a social enterprise, donating half of our revenue to NGOs who are fighting against global warming and/or helping refugees. More >>
NIWA's Hotspot Watch
Thursday, 5 December 2019, 3:03 pm | NIWA
A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing these soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions ... More >>
Rain and wind continue
Thursday, 5 December 2019, 2:08 pm | MetService
MetService is forecasting more rain and gales for central and southern parts of New Zealand through to the end of the weekend, while eastern regions will be fine and warm. More >>
Native species protection at heart of project
Thursday, 5 December 2019, 2:03 pm | Environmental Protection Authority
A collaborative project has concluded that the assessment processes for the approval of new hazardous substances are sufficient to protect most of New Zealand’s native species. More >>
The Tree of Life
Thursday, 5 December 2019, 12:35 pm | Marco Fantham
Revelations 22:2 ...On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. More >>
Tsunami report for Scott Base
Thursday, 5 December 2019, 11:27 am | Antarctica New Zealand
An earthquake originating in Mexico could be the most likely cause of a tsunami that would impact New Zealand’s presence in Antarctica, a study shows. More >>
Less weight can mean more muscle
Wednesday, 4 December 2019, 2:17 pm | Lincoln University
New research shows training with less weight, but with lower oxygen, can be as effective as heavy lifting at the gym. More >>
Hottest November on record: NIWA climate scientists
Wednesday, 4 December 2019, 2:14 pm | NIWA
New Zealand has just experienced its hottest November on record, according to NIWA climate scientists. Data from NIWA’s Seven-Station Series, which began in 1909, shows that last month’s temperature was 1.55C above the 30-year average. The ... More >>
Dunedin schools, clubs, and associations – anyone – ahoy!
Wednesday, 4 December 2019, 11:47 am | Otago Museum
Otago Museum’s Dr Claire Concannon is going to the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, and Dunedin is invited along for the ride! More >>
European experts share BMSB tracking app success with NZ
Wednesday, 4 December 2019, 9:26 am | Plant and Food Research
Two European brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) experts will share the success story of a BMSB tracking mobile app and experience in trying to gain sustainable control of the invasive pest with New Zealand biosecurity experts and stakeholders working ... More >>
Climate explained: how climate change will affect food
Wednesday, 4 December 2019, 9:21 am | The Conversation
Many temperate crops require winter chilling to initiate flowering or fruit ripening, and orchards may need to shift to colder areas. from www.shutterstock.com , CC BY-ND More >>
World-first artificial neurons create potential
Wednesday, 4 December 2019, 8:17 am | University of Auckland
World-first artificial neurons create potential for bionic medicine Artificial neurons on silicon chips that behave just like the real thing have been invented by a team of international scientists, including University of Auckland’s Professor Julian ... More >>
Permission granted for release of wasp biocontrol agent
Tuesday, 3 December 2019, 1:27 pm | Environmental Protection Authority
An application to release a small parasitic wasp to control and eradicate the giant willow aphid has been approved. More >>
International postharvest symposium comes to New Zealand
Tuesday, 3 December 2019, 9:03 am | Plant and Food Research
Anyone with an interest in the postharvest treatment of fruits, vegetables and other horticultural crops needs to arrange a trip to New Zealand next November. More >>
Summer Starts With Severe Weather
Monday, 2 December 2019, 2:17 pm | MetService
Metservice has issued a number of Severe Weather Warnings and Watches for Monday and Tuesday as a strong, moist northwest flow sets up over the country for the week. More >>
Wet and Windy Week Awaits
Monday, 2 December 2019, 10:42 am | MetService
Following a calm week of weather that ended a turbulent spring, windy and wet weather is once again the topic of the week’s weather conversation. More >>
Antarctica to London
Saturday, 30 November 2019, 6:43 pm | Victoria University of Wellington
“One of the biggest, most urgent questions is how Antarctica is responding to climate change, and what are its impacts on humanity”. More >>
Paparoa National Park – new weather forecasts
Friday, 29 November 2019, 11:26 am | MetService
Critical safety decisions in New Zealand’s high country will soon be made easier by important changes to MetService mountain forecasts. More >>
Seeds of New Zealand – a life’s work bears fruit
Thursday, 28 November 2019, 4:38 pm | Landcare Research
A seed atlas that can help researchers identify what ancient animals ate or lead forensic investigators to crime scenes was released this week. Seeds of New Zealand: Monocotyledons , by Colin Webb and published by Manuka Press, is the second (and ... More >>
A sunny end to spring this weekend
Thursday, 28 November 2019, 12:44 pm | MetService
MetService follows the meteorological seasons, so our summer begins 1 December. This weekend marks the transition between these seasons, but perhaps not in the way you would expect. More >>
Black hole swallowing star from inside-out baffles science
Thursday, 28 November 2019, 10:23 am | The Conversation
A surprisingly big black hole might have swallowed a star from the inside out, and scientists are baffled More >>
Soil and Water Scientist elected as Academician
Thursday, 28 November 2019, 8:59 am | Plant and Food Research
Leading Plant & Food Research soil and water scientist Dr Brent Clothier has recently been elected as an Academician in the Division of Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) in its latest biennial election round. He is one of ... More >>
Rat toxicology reports – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 27 November 2019, 5:17 pm | Science Media Centre
1.1.1 A report has emerged from an unnamed lab that claims to have detected 1080 in the dead rats collected on the West Coast. More >>
Bee-threatening soil residue up to 14x ‘safe’ levels
Wednesday, 27 November 2019, 10:18 am | Liggins Institute
Traces of a class of insecticides known to pose a risk to honeybees and other ‘friendly’ insects have been found in the soil across nine North Island sites a year or more after the insecticide was applied. More >>
Climate explained: how much does flying contribute?
Wednesday, 27 November 2019, 9:29 am | The Conversation
Planes can create clouds of tiny ice crystals, called contrails, and some studies suggest they could have an a significant effect on climate. from www.shutterstock.com , CC BY-ND More >>
Assisted dying in NZ – Expert Q&A
Tuesday, 26 November 2019, 10:14 pm | Science Media Centre
A referendum next year will decide whether New Zealanders should be allowed to request assisted dying. More >>
Taking full advantage of space
Tuesday, 26 November 2019, 4:05 pm | SpaceBase
Eric Dahlstrom and Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom came to New Zealand to try something new. They had worked decades on space projects for NASA and commercial companies, and they wanted to help New Zealand take full advantage of space to solve NZ problems. ... More >>
Endangered Mudfish Move to Orana Wildlife Park
Tuesday, 26 November 2019, 2:09 pm | Orana Wildlife Park
Tomorrow, Department of Conservation (DOC) biodiversity rangers will transfer 100 endangered kōwaro/Canterbury mudfish from The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust into a waterway at Orana Wildlife Park - alongside the cheetah habitat! These native ... More >>
Scientist pieces together details of underwater landslides
Tuesday, 26 November 2019, 2:04 pm | NIWA
New information about landslides that occur on the seafloor off New Zealand’s east coast will help scientists better understand why and where they happen, and the types of threats they pose. More >>
EDS welcomes Discussion Document on Biodiversity
Tuesday, 26 November 2019, 12:25 pm | Environmental Defence Society
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) welcomes the release of He Kura Koiora I hokia: A discussion document on a proposed National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPS-IB). More >>
As emissions rise, carbon fingerprint points to fossil fuels
Tuesday, 26 November 2019, 11:24 am | GNS Science
As greenhouse gas emissions rise, carbon “fingerprint” points to fossil fuels Greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to rise, and combustion of fossil fuels is the only explanation for the changing makeup of atmospheric CO2, according to the ... More >>
ESR Scientist Awarded Prestigious Fellowship
Tuesday, 26 November 2019, 11:22 am | ESR
ESR Senior Forensic Scientist, Cameron Johnson has been named as one of the recipients of the prestigious 2020 Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowships. More >>
Warm and settled weather to end spring
Monday, 25 November 2019, 1:38 pm | MetService
MetService says that the weather for the final week of spring will be mostly settled, though a front mid-week will bring rain to the south and west. Warm temperatures are also expected for most places this week, particularly for the North Island, where ... More >>
What are lost continents and why are we discovering so many?
Monday, 25 November 2019, 10:10 am | The Conversation
Lord Howe Island is one of the few places where the lost continent of Zealandia is exposed above sea level. SHUTTERSTOCK More >>
The dead rats mystery
Friday, 22 November 2019, 3:19 pm | Science Media Centre
Toxicology testing has ruled out 1080 as a possible cause of death after about 680 rats washed up near Westport recently. More >>
Understanding and sharing the science of sugar
Thursday, 21 November 2019, 2:18 pm | Pacific Health Plus
For the first time ever in Wellington, research among high school age Pacific students will be done to understand absorption rates of sugar. The research is being done in Porirua and surrounding areas through a partnership between the Maurice Wilkins ... More >>
