Sunday Morning for Sunday 9 July 2023

8:10 Professor Barbara Sahakian: Reading for pleasure, the younger the better

The earlier that children start reading for enjoyment, the better it is for their verbal learning, memory, and speech development. A Cambridge University study has found a strong link between reading for pleasure at a young age and school performance later.

They're also less stressed, they behave better, they spend less time on screens, and they sleep more soundly. The research used a large database of young people in the United States.

One of the report’s authors, neuropsychologist Dr Barbara Sahakian is a professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge.

8:25 Dr Craig Rodger: What to expect from Solar Maximum

Solar Maximum may be on its way sooner than we thought. The Sun is quickly approaching a major peak in solar activity, and some scientists think that peak could be early by as much as 2 years bringing the timeline towards the end of this year.

One of the tell-tale signs is X-class solar flares being on the rise, and one of them has apparently already scored a direct hit on Earth and this past week another one caused a radio blackout for 30 minutes in the Pacific Ocean and the western United States, according to NASA.

Otago University's Professor of Physics, Dr Craig Rodger joins us with the details.

8:40 Daniel Hillier: What I’m listening to

Who is Daniel Hillier? A question being asked by much of the international sports media this past week? The 24 year old from Porirua is now the new British Masters golf champion. He won at The Belfry, one of the world's most challenging golf courses.

Daniel had an impressive amateur career here in NZ, before he turned professional on the 'DP World Tour', aka the European tour.

He joins us from Edinburgh ahead of the Scottish Open next weekend.

9:10 Mediawatch

Mediawatch looks at how the media marked 100 days to the election - and the political reporters’ persistent claims the National Party’s leader needs the public to know him better. 

Mediawatch also looks at confusing accounts of how the economy is doing - and talks to New Zealand’s longest-serving columnist Ana Samways. 

9:30 Calling Home: Meg Prendergast from all over Europe

Often our guests calling home have moved between countries, but this week we’re talking to a New Zealander with no fixed abode.

Meg Prendergast is a tour manager with Contiki Tours and travels all over Europe.  She’s currently in the United Kingdom.

10:10 Rosie Grant: Baking recipes from gravestone epitaphs

It’s not often we highlight a Tiktok account on the Sunday Morning show, but this one's different. Rosie Grant is a university researcher based in Los Angeles who has a couple of hundred thousand followers on the platform. 

She makes and bakes recipes that she finds on gravestones in cemeteries and graveyards. Most of the recipes are by women and almost all of them are deserts and sweet treats. Rosie joins us to talk about how she got started and why she loves this particular form of remembrance.

10:30 Dr. Alan Blackman: Can science do the ironing?

Two pretty ubiquitous tasks in modern life haven't changed much with the advent of technology – ironing clothes and making a cup of tea. Are there ways to speed up these processes?

An Australian cleaning expert has claimed that they have a simple hack which means you’ll never have to iron again.

Chemistry Professor Dr Allan Blackman from Auckland University of Technology s been experimenting in the lab. (Actually, his home!)

10:40 Dr Marc Wilson: Psychology 

Victoria University Professor of Psychology, Dr Marc Wilson is back to guide us though the psychology that’s been making the headlines lately

From Lotto Wins to loneliness and if your grip strength is indicative of anxiety or depression.

11:10 Mary Jane Copps: Fixing our telephone hang-ups

A recent survey of UK office workers found 76% of millennials and 40% of baby boomers have anxious thoughts when their phone rings. 61% of millennials would like to completely avoid calls, compared with 42% of baby boomers.

Telephone anxiety is a real thing, its technical name is telephonophobia. Physical symptoms include nausea, increase in heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, and muscular tension. This means phone-anxious people avoid conversations over the phone.

Mary Jane Copps is The Phone Lady. She understands that many people don't know how to talk on the phone and is in high demand, teaching them how to do just that.

11:30 Karen Kasler: Update from the USA

Karen Kasler is the Statehouse News Bureau Chief for public radio and television in Ohio.  She joins us with the latest news and views from The United States.