Hamish McKenzie on the Tesla Revolution
Elon Musk is unusual, difficult and vindictive - but he and his company Tesla have achieved amazing things, says former insider (and New Zealander) Hamish McKenzie.
Photo: AFP / David McNew
Dame Steve Shirley: 'Get yourself informed, and go for it'
Stephanie Shirley (who often goes by Steve) is an IT pioneer, a philanthropist involved in autism charities and a former refugee.
Dame Steve Shirley. Photo: Supplied
Mark Lynas: how we got it wrong on GMOs
In the 1990s, Mark Lynas and his fellow activists would descend on to fields of genetically modified crops in the dark of night and hack them to pieces. But since then his stance has changed – and radically.
Photo: PASCAL PAVANI / AFP
Sir Nigel Shadbolt: Don't fear robots, worry about big data
The English academic who says humans are genetically 70 percent identical to a packet of fish fingers is exploring our digital DNA and although he’s positive about our technological evolution, he has some cautions.
Photo: Pexels
The future is 4D
Imagine you are a swimmer who uses a prosthetic limb. How about a prosthetic foot that is stiff when you walk on it, but when you get in the swimming pool it softens up and becomes a flexible flipper? That is the kind of product that researchers in the Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge say will soon become possible with 4D printing using novel polymers.
Marc Gaugler and Florian Graichen in front of 3D printing machines in the lab at Scion. Florian is holding a roll of wood-based bioplastic that can be used in the printers. Photo: RNZ / Alison Ballance
'Are You Y2K OK?'
For those of us that remember it, Y2K is now looked back on as a bit of a laugh. It’s a funny story about the world dealing with technology, but at the time, it was serious business. So how did it become such a memorable moment in history?
Ken the Cockroach was created as part of an ad campaign to encourage preparation and appeared on TV’s across New Zealand, reminding people “Don’t panic, prepare” - Image sourced from Emergency Management Canterbury. Photo: Supplied
The delights and dangers of artificial affection
Social robots are charming humans, providing company to elderly people and giving joy to children. But is there a danger in letting data-collecting robots into our lives? Thomas Phillips reports.
Joy For All Companion Pets Photo: The Wireless/ Tom Phillips
Termite technology: robots, architecture, biofuels - Lisa Margonelli's 'Underbug'
Termites' abilities to turn timber into food and build towering mounds might help us develop biofuels, construction robots, housing design hacks and microbe technology, author Lisa Margonelli says.
Asian Subterranean Termites Photo: Facebook
From poo to plastic
Scientists at Scion are developing a revolutionary new toilet that will not only safely treat human waste using no water and very little energy but will also produce a useful product - bioplastic.
A biofermentation system housing bacteria that can take human waste treated by wet oxidation and convert it into bioplastic. Photo: Scion
E-scooters: genius idea or public nuisance?
"If you're riding on the road, 27 kilometres [per hour] feels slow. If you're riding on the footpath, it may be too fast."
Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monro
