Dr Claire Concannon follows scientists into the bush, over rivers, back to their labs and many places in-between to cover the most fascinating research being do...
Dive under the Antarctic sea ice near Scott Base into the weird world of cold-water life. Pink sea angels, worms that look like intestines, ocean creepy crawlies that get as big as your hand... and mysterious giant glass sponges. These sponges are one of the strangest, and oldest, animals on Earth: surviving without light, eating bacteria and viruses, and making themselves out of silica they absorb from the water. In most parts of the world, they live at depths too deep to dive, making them tricky to study. But in the cold waters of McMurdo Sound, they can be found in shallower waters. Now an international team of scientists are unlocking some of their secrets. Guests:Professor Ian Hawes, University of WaikatoDr Jürgen Laudien, Alfred Wegener Institute, GermanyKatherine Rowe, University of WaikatoDr Erik Wurz, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands,Andreas Schmmider-MartÍnez, Universidad Mayor, ChileLearn more:Read the article that accompanies this episodeListen to The secret life of sea spongesFind out what it takes to live and do science in Antarctica with the award-winning 2020 Voices from Antarctica series by Alison BallanceSign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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26:04
Pacific Scientific: Samoa's scientists unlocking the power of plants
For centuries Samoa's traditional healers have harnessed the power of the country's native plants as remedies for village ailments. Now scientists at the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa are putting those plants under the microscope to unlock and understand how this traditional knowledge works. In this episode of Pacific Scientific from the ABC, tour the labs and lush gardens filled with plants that could hold the secret to battling diabetes, HIV, and cancer. Guests:Annie Tuisuga, Scientific Research Organisation of SamoaMaserotaOfoia, Scientific Research Organisation of SamoaBenaiah Une, Scientific Research Organisation of SamoaSekotilani Aloi, University of Samoa LecturerPacific Scientific credits:Series Creator: Carl SmithReporter: Adel FrueanProducer: Shelby TraynorSeries Producer: Jordan FennellExecutive Producer: Will OckendenABC Science Editor: Jonathan WebbLearn more:Read the article that accompanies this episode.Listen to more Pacific Scientific episodes.Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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27:48
Bringing ngutukākā back from the brink
Ngutukākā, or kākābeak, is a popular garden plant in Aotearoa. But in the wild, it is now rarer than kākāpō, with only about 100 individual plants surviving on steep, inaccessible cliffs. The East Coast is one of its remaining strongholds and the Tairāwhiti Ngutukākā Trust is on a mission to bring the taonga back. Veronika Meduna joins the inaugural Tairāwhiti Ngutukākā Festival to find out more about the community’s efforts to turn State Highway 35 into a Crimson Highway by rewilding this iconic native. Guests:Graeme Atkins, Tairāwhiti Ngutukākā TrustMere Tamanui, Tairāwhiti Ngutukākā TrustHōhepa Waenga, East Coast Myrtle Rust Response TeamNatalie Robertson, artist and Associate Professor at Auckland University of TechnologyEmma Giesen, Trees That CountStephanie Gardner, Trees That CountTamariki from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o MangatunaLearn more:Read the article that accompanies this episode.Visit the Tairāwhiti Ngutukākā websiteGraeme Atkins featured in a recent episode of Country Life.For more on rare flora, Our Changing World has covered threatened limestone plants and explored what will happen to alpine plants in a warming world.Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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25:32
A tricky trap for redback spiders
Invasive redback spiders are highly venomous, threatening both people and New Zealand’s native species. A team of scientists is developing a cunning tool to trap male redbacks, by concocting an irresistible spiderweb perfume. We visit 800 captive redback spiders in the lab, learn about their wild mating habits, and check out the “spider arena” where the redbacks’ signature scent is put to the test. Guests:Dr Andrew Twidle, Plant & Food ResearchTom Sullivan, Plant & Food ResearchLearn more:Read the article that accompanies this episode.Redbacks aren’t the only spiders to engage in a spot of sexual cannibalism. Claire Concannon enters the weird world of spider reproduction on a spider hunt in this episode.Back in 2016, Alison Ballance reported on the threat to Cromwell chafer beetles posed by red4KU24B9_Female_Redback_Spider_PFR3471_jpgback spiders.Coming up with clever ways to lure pests is also a big focus of Predator Free 2050, as Katy Gosset finds out in this 2021 episode.Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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26:33
The advances in MRI coming out of Gisborne
The MRI technique advances coming out of the Mātai Medical Research Institute in Gisborne have been described as ‘pioneering’, ‘groundbreaking’ and ‘world leading’. Claire Concannon speaks to chief executive and research director Dr Samantha Holdsworth to learn why, and about their big plans for the future. Guests:Dr Samantha Holdsworth, research director and chief executive of Mātai Medical Research InstituteTaylor Emsden, MRI technologist at Mātai Medical Research InstituteLearn more:Read the article that accompanies this episode.One of the studies underway at Mātai looks at how brains and hearts are damaged by meth use, and also how they can recover.One of the pilot research projects that Mātai hosted involved investigating muscle development in children with cerebral palsy.The Mātai concussion study involves teen rugby players, learn more about other research on this issue from the University of Canterbury.Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Dr Claire Concannon follows scientists into the bush, over rivers, back to their labs and many places in-between to cover the most fascinating research being done in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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