Science & Technology
Why is cannabis use declining among young people? 🔊
New research from the University of Otago has revealed that cannabis use is in decline among young people in New Zealand. The research showed that between 2001 and 2012 lifetime use of the drug among teenagers dropped from 38% to 23%.
Q+A: Eating the Past: What are the biophysical limits to New Zealand’s future?
What are the biophysical limits to New Zealand’s food and energy future? Mike Joy says people need to do a lot less of what they are doing now if New Zealand is to have a sustainable future.
Q+A: Are we living in a climate of ignorance?
Are we living in a climate of ignorance when it comes to discussing climate change? Joel Rindelaub seems to think so.
Sink or swim: How are low-lying Pacific islands adapting to climate change?
Low-lying Pacific islands in atoll archipelagos such as Tuvalu, Tokelau and Kiribati are likely to adapt to the effects of climate change rather than simply sink beneath the waves.
How do we measure pain, anyway?
How do we measure pain, anyway? Jeremy Delahanty investigates.
Q+A: Do gender categories in elite sport need changing?
New research has been undertaken by a group of Otago University professors who suggest that it is time that existing gender categories in sport be abandoned in favour of a more ‘nuanced’ approach when it comes to the inclusion of transgender athletes.
Space Junk: can we clean up earth’s orbit before it’s too late?
Brettina Mrusek asks if we can we clean up earth’s orbit before it’s too late.
Q+A: How can kelp DNA help us detect earthquakes?
New research involving kelp DNA has suggested a novel way to measure and potentially predict previously unknown locations that may be prone to earthquakes.
Q+A: What alternatives do we have to counter plastic waste?
As the quest to combat plastic pollution continues, new research has explored the potential for developing environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic, like sulphur polymers. Olivia Holdsworth spoke to scientist Dr. Justin Chalker about his latest research and the options being explored. Â
Are we on the verge of a revolution in cancer research?
In the past decade, cancer research undertaken at the University of Auckland has changed lives. Our top scientists say it has now entered the next frontier and there’s hope that cancer could eventually be brought under control.
You’re eating, drinking, and breathing microplastics. Now what?
A new study led by Kieran D. Cox and researchers at the University of Victoria in British Columbia confirms a logical but cringe-worthy conclusion: humans are consuming plastic.
Can the media influence the side effects of medication?
Kate Mackrill explores what is known as the nocebo effect and whether the media can in fact influence the side effects of medication.
Can reforestation help reverse the extinction crisis?
Reforestation can help reverse not one but two planetary crises according to new research from the Earth Innovation Research.
Q+A: Why are the numbers of insects in fast decline?
Why are the numbers of insects in fast decline? What does it mean for our food supply and our long term survival? Scientists say climate change is not the only reason. Maria Armoudian speaks with Andrew Dopheide about the current plight of our insect population.
Caster Semenya: Is bogus science being used to stifle the vulnerable?
In the ruling against Caster Semenya, bogus science is being used to stifle the vulnerable according to Sarah Laframboise.
Q+A: How is trauma passed on through generations?
Is the transmission of trauma multi-generational? Do children of survivors of mass atrocities have a higher risk of developing psychological disorders? To understand the process of multi-generational legacies of trauma, Maria Armoudian speaks with Andrei Novac and Yael Danieli about the impact of survivors’ post-trauma adaptational style in their children’s eyes.Â
Is El Niño becoming stronger?
El Niño has rapidly become stronger and stranger, according to new research involving coral records.
Are we equipped to protect our ecosystems in an age of global species extinction?
The recently released Global Assessment from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is a wake-up call to all of us when it comes to species extinction according to Wendy Nelson.
Q+A: What are the flaws in New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis scheme?
In December 2018, the New Zealand parliament passed a bill to create a regulated market for medicinal cannabis and a legal defence for users who take the drug for palliative reasons. But what are the flaws, if any in New Zealand’s new medicinal cannabis scheme?
Q+A: Could ditching cars make us healthier?
A recent report from a team of researchers based at the University of Otago has found that our use of cars is harming both our health and our environment. The report, titled Turning the Tide, claims that urgent steps are needed to encourage New Zealanders to walk, cycle, or use public transport. Oscar Perress spoke with Melody Smith about changing the way we think about cars, and how we can lead healthier lives.