Alison Ballance
Voices from Antarctica 3: Flags to physics
Keeping Scott Base warm and well-lit no matter the weather outside, and a physics experiment that eavesdrops on messages to submarines. Audio
Voices from Antarctica 2: Scott Base
Alison Ballance has her first day at New Zealand's Antarctic station, Scott Base, and visits the historic Hillary's Hut. Video, Audio
Voices from Antarctica 1: Ice Flight
Alison Ballance dons her extreme cold weather clothing for a trip to Antarctica - but getting to the frozen continent can take time. Audio
Our Changing World for 21 May 2020
Two gems from Our Changing World's Antarctic archive - restoring Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds and hunting for extremophile microbes high on Mt Erebus. Audio
Little bit of sea-level rise = lots more coastal flooding
Scientists warn that a small amount of sea-level rise could have big consequences for some low-lying parts of New Zealand. Audio
Our Changing World for 14 May 2020
Experts discuss the findings from a recent NIWA report that shows a small amount of sea-level rise will cause more coastal flooding. Audio
Probing the hidden continent of Zealandia
Ocean floor rock cores drilled into the sunken continent of Zealandia are revolutionising our understanding of Earth's history and how continents form. Audio
Our Changing World for 7 May 2020
Geologists are probing the secrets of the hidden continent of Zealandia, and ants and viruses from the archives. Audio
Aussie bushfire smoke goes stratospheric
More than four months after it formed, a large blob of sooty dust from Australia's massive bushfires is still circling the southern hemisphere. Audio
On yer bike – how cyclists, pedestrians & cars share city streets
There is a fine art to how pedestrians, cyclists, and cars and buses navigate the shared thoroughfares of our towns and cities. Audio
Our Changing World for 30 April 2020
Dust from Australia's bush fires is still circling the globe in the stratosphere, and studies into cyclists and their use of city streets. Audio
100-year moth project – in the footsteps of George Vernon Hudson
Modern-day citizen scientists are following in the footsteps of a well-known Wellington naturalist, collecting moths to document a century of change. Audio
Our Changing World for 23 April 2020
Wellington naturalist George Vernon Hudson collected thousands of moths and a century later a group of citizen scientists are following in his footsteps in Zealandia sanctuary. Audio
Maths, models & insights into the coronavirus pandemic
Mathematician Alex James, from Te Pūnaha Matatini & the University of Canterbury, explains the art and science of modelling the coronavirus pandemic. Audio
Our Changing World for 16 April 2020
Alison Ballance chats with mathematician Alex James, who has been helping model the coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand. Audio
Our immune system vs coronavirus: ‘I think of it as an orchestra'
The human immune system is a complex system where T cells, B cells and antibodies battle invaders such as bacteria and viruses such as the one that causes COVID-19. Audio
Our Changing World for 9 April 2020
Immunologist Jo Kirman introduces us to our immune system and how it fights viruses such as the one that causes COVID-19. Audio
Virus 101 - the science of viruses
Virus expert Kurt Krause, from the University of Otago, gives us the lowdown on viruses, and on coronaviruses in particular. Audio
Our Changing World for 2 April 2020
Virus expert Kurt Krause, from the University of Otago, gives us the lowdown on viruses, and we hear about a rare plant and the viruses that are killing it. Audio
Air pollution - the invisible killer
GNS Science monitors levels of air pollution around New Zealand, especially small particles that can have severe health effects. Audio