News

• Farts on a plane

  17/06/2013

  Gastroenterologists have published a ‘viewpoint’ research article highlighting the problem of flatulence on aeroplanes, including the health consequences of holding back flatus and possible solutions to this problem.

• Fiordland’s newly identified species

  10/06/2013

  Scientists exploring Fiordland waterways using an ROV found two species of sea pen that are completely new to science. They say this is an indication of the extraordinary diversity of life in the area.

• The smoking gene: bad news for teens

  04/06/2013

  Your genes play an influencing role in whether you become a heavy smoker in adulthood – but only if you start smoking in the first place as a teenager – according to a team of researchers.

• Heat foils frog fungus

  27/05/2013

  Australian scientists have found that disease caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus is less likely to kill frogs that can maintain higher body temperatures. These findings could help prevent some species from becoming extinct.

• Building a working cochlea

  20/05/2013

  A team of scientists that includes a New Zealander is working to build a model of the human cochlea. Dr Teal’s input allows electrical components to be added to the model.

• Evolution of fairytales

  13/05/2013

  Researchers used population genetics methods to investigate variations in a folktale that has about 700 versions across Europe. They found the movement of cultural information between groups is restricted even more than the movement of genes.

• Soil mapping uncovers medieval landscape

  06/05/2013

  Belgian scientists have unearthed a reclaimed medieval wetland using an electromagnetic induction sensor that is less invasive than other methods. The scans revealed the extent of the reclamation and the cultivation the land was used for.

• Meteoroid explodes over Russia

  30/04/2013

  The explosion of meteorite fragments near Chelyabinsk in Russia has raised awareness of the tonnes of space material that hit the Earth every day, though an impact as big as this is very rare.

• Weird and wonderful new deep-sea species found off NZ

  22/04/2013

  An international team of scientists has found new species in the Kermadec Trench using high-resolution cameras and baited fish traps.

• Scanning reveals prehistoric artwork on Stonehenge

  15/04/2013

  A high-resolution laser scan of Stonehenge has revealed previously unseen Bronze Age carvings as well as tool marks that may give new evidence for how Stonehenge was built.

• New weight-loss research

  09/04/2013

  Three different studies on aspects of eating focused on the role of sugar, the time of the day people ate their main meal and the role of smaller bite sizes in weight gain/loss.

• Life in the upper troposphere

  02/04/2013

  Scientists have used genomic techniques to document significant numbers of microorganisms in the troposphere. More research is needed to investigate the role these microorganisms may play in forming ice and whether they carry out metabolic functions.

• Life under ice

  25/03/2013

  Scientists have found microbial life in a lake 800 metres under the ice in Antarctica. These microbes don’t need sunlight and get energy from organic material or chemical reactions.

• Antarctica’s bedrock reached

  19/03/2013

  Scientists have drilled through more than 760 metres of ice on Roosevelt Island. They will use the resulting ice core to produce a detailed record of the Ross Sea’s climate history.

• Cat fight

  11/03/2013

  Economist Gareth Morgan has called for a cat-free New Zealand to protect native bird populations. Some scientists support Dr Morgan, but they also raise important cautions, including the need for more research.

• NZ peat bogs reveal climate history

  04/03/2013

  Scientists are examining oxygen and carbon isotopes from plant tissue samples taken from peat bogs in the Far North, Southland and the Hauraki Plains to investigate past changes in precipitation.

• Scientific expedition undiscovers island

  25/02/2013

  An unexpected outcome of an expedition to eastern Coral Sea was the ‘undiscovery’ of Sandy Island, which appears on Google Earth and other maps. Its appearance on maps from 2000 onwards is still a mystery.

• The myth of multitasking

  19/02/2013

  Research has shown that people who think they are good at multitasking are generally the least capable of doing so. People who think they can talk on a cell phone while driving probably shouldn’t.

• Rumbling volcanoes

  11/02/2013

  Three New Zealand volcanoes have been restless since late 2012 – Tongariro, Ruapehu and White Island. GNS volcanologists monitor their activity and issue alerts.

• Sydney Opera House in virtual 3D

  05/02/2013

  The Scottish Ten project is using cutting-edge documentation and visualisation technology to digitally record Scotland’s five world heritage sites and five international sites. The digital archive will help with maintenance and conservation.

Return to top