Science

Holmium has interesting magnetic properties and is an important part of precise surgical lasers known as the 'Swiss Army knife' of lasers, according to Prof Allan Backman from AUT, in ep 35 of… Audio

Nanogirl, Emma and her friends from Breens Intermediate visit ESR in Christchurch where they meet expert Olga Pantos and find out all about microplastics. Video, Audio

Kākāpō death toll from aspergillosis rises by one to seven, while nine birds have been given a clean bill of health. Sad and positive news from the frontline of the fight to save kākāpō, in ep 20 of… Video, Audio

Around three quarters of the world's food crops rely on pollinators like bees - but what happens if they can't actually get to the crop? That's been the subject of a recent study carried out by Plant… Audio, Gallery

Dunedin's Mayor Dave Cull is calling for the government to consider using legislation to protect the "globally significant" Foulden Maar. The move to further support the Maar's preservation and its… Audio

Scientists have confirmed the existence of a volcanic cone at Karaka in Auckland, following six months of investigation. Audio

5G is coming - what exactly is that, and will it be the revolution telcos would have you believe?  Audio

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe and possibly the most unreactive element on the periodic table, says Prof Allan Blackman from AUT, in ep 34 of Elemental. Audio

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, named by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's greatest living explorer, is in New Zealand next month to speak at the Himalayan Trust Gala dinner in Auckland. He talks to… Audio

A new study shows there is a need for care in the inappropriate use of commonly used medical terms like 'fat' and 'morbidly obese' in New Zealand. Senior lecturer at the University of Otago… Audio

Born out of a desire to publish scientific results that are not necessarily strong, attractive or catchy, Associate Professor Andrea Menclova from the University of Canterbury has created a new… Audio

Miniaturisation is at the heart of a breakthrough new innovation using 3D printing. The invention is called MicroMaker and it can print structures smaller than a human hair.  Audio

Hafnium is named after Copenhagen and as it has a very high melting point it was used in the thruster nozzles of the Apollo Lunar modules, according to Elemental's Allan Blackman from AUT. Audio