Our Changing World

RNZ Originals
  • 4.7 (107)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Our Changing World Podcast

Stories of NZ science and nature from out in the field and inside the labs.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Some of the light we cannot see

    This week, we’re hanging out in the terahertz area of the light spectrum. Sandwiched between infrared light and microwaves, terahertz has been the long-forgotten cousin of the light family. But no longer! At the Australian Synchrotron, intense and focused beams of terahertz light are used to test new materials for carbon capture, clean energy applications, and the next generation of computing.

    26 min

  2. 4 SEPT

    The 'science shed' across the ditch

    Electrons! High speeds! Intense beams of light! Claire Concannon takes a tour of our nearest particle accelerator – the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne. Designed to create high-energy x-ray light useful for science, the synchrotron enables an incredible diversity of research. And, because of long-standing funding support, New Zealand scientists can also use it. Claire finds out what interesting research questions some visiting New Zealanders are shining a light on.

    29 min

  3. 28 AUG

    Genomics and the future of gene technology in Aotearoa

    Advances in the field of genomics (the study of DNA and genomes) have meant big leaps in our ability to sequence, understand and manipulate the genomes of living things. Damian Christie explores research happening now in New Zealand in this area. Plus, with a recent announcement that the government is introducing new legislation, what’s next for the regulation of gene technologies in Aotearoa?

    31 min

  4. 21 AUG

    What else can we learn from wastewater

    Wastewater testing became part of our daily lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, but what else can it tell us about what’s happening in our communities? From looking for illicit drugs, to monitoring alcohol consumption and health biomarkers, Claire Concannon meets scientists tapping into the rich research potential of what’s in our pee.

    28 min

  5. 14 AUG

    Imagining the next generation of robofish

    They will look like fish, swim like fish and even sense like fish. Liz Garton meets a research team designing robofish and smart wetsuits to monitor the state of our oceans.

    30 min

  6. 7 AUG

    Our musical minds

    Making and processing music is something unique to human brains, says Dr Sam Mehr. But why are we so attuned to rhythms, melodies and matching tones? Claire and Sam take a deep dive into the universal language of music, and how our minds make sense of it.

    34 min

  7. 31 JULY

    Bonus: Kākāpō update with Dr Andrew Digby

    Claire Concannon and Dr Andrew Digby talk about all things kākāpō: that habitat trial and where the birds are now, the next breeding season, and Andrew's hopes for the future of this iconic manu.

    41 min

  8. 31 JULY

    A year of mainland kākāpō

    In July 2023 four male kākāpō were released into the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari - part of a new habitat trial to investigate suitable locations for the growing kākāpō population. But after a further six were introduced, the kākāpō began to wander - beyond the fence. A year on, and several escapes later, what's been learned? And what's next for kākāpō in Maungatautari?

    29 min
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4.7
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107 Ratings

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Stories of NZ science and nature from out in the field and inside the labs.

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