Science

Are humans really the smartest animal? Animal cognition expert Dr Justin Gregg thinks maybe not. In his new book If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal, he examines our exceptional brain power and finds it… Audio

Last month it was reported that children in the UK had been born using mitochondrial donation, eight years after the technique was regulated. The IVF procedure uses genetic material from a mother and… Audio

In 1935, a series of extraordinary newspaper articles claimed a backyard inventor called Victor Penny was trying to build a Death Ray for the New Zealand government. But were these claims true? RNZ’s… Audio

There are only two types of batteries in the world, and they have pretty limited life cycles. Audio

A Kiwi invention could be the next big thing in medical imaging. Audio

Rats giggle. Dogs wag their tail. How do other animals express joy? You can't ask them, so researchers have to find other sneaky ways of figuring out animal emotions. Professor Ximena Nelson is… Audio

Kea are renowned for their intelligence and playfulness – but how do they express joy? Studying animal emotions can be tricky – you can't just ask them how they're feeling – but Professor Ximena… Audio

Taking care of a family member with dementia is not only hard on the heart – it's also hard to get our heads around, says clinical psychologist Dasha Kiper. She explores the "neurological obstacles"… Audio

A study is underway at Massey University to find the best way to integrate solar farming with livestock farming. The challenge here is to incorporate solar panels without disturbing the growth or… Audio

New research on the South Island's Alpine Fault is helping communities prepare for the next big quake. Audio

This week's expert is all about fungi! Dr Mahajabeen Padamsee from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research joins Anna to talk about all things mushrooms. From foraging to the role they play in the ecosystem… Audio

 There have been various studies about whether it's best to exercise early or late in the day. Now there's new research. Audio

Matt Baker returns for a chat about some of the latest science news. This week: why a single shot of gene therapy may replace surgical sterilisation for cats. Audio

It's generally true that the ability to get good sleep declines as we get older, says world-leading chronobiologist Philippa Gander. One of the best-known ways to increase the amount of slow-wave… Audio

New treatments for pancreatic cancer are urgently needed. Yet, results from a small study published recently suggest that bespoke messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines that prime a patient's immune system to… Audio

We often hear about tree planting to draw down carbon from the atmosphere, but could blue carbon sinks be a solution for removing CO2? Audio