Science & Technology
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 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.
How did the earthquakes affect the mental health of the people of Canterbury?
How did the earthquakes affect the mental health of the people of Canterbury? Ben Beaglehole and Joseph Boden discuss their research.
Why is it so hard to find a cure for Alzheimer’s?
Norman A. Paradis investigate why it is so hard to find a cure for Alzheimer’s after a century of research into the brain disease.
Q+A: Is it time to stop using cars?
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. Is it time to give up our cars?
Q+A: How are our diets damaging the planet?
A rise in the global consumption of meat will have major consequences for the environment, according to a new paper published in Science.
Why is the first photo of a black hole so important?
With much excitement from the press, an international team of astronomers recently announced they had directly imaged the silhouette or shadow of a black hole for the first time. Chris Benton explains why this is important.
Has climate change led to an increase in mosquitoes?
Bugs like it hot and evolve faster when there’s lots of carbon dioxide, meaning more mosquitoes, according to Max Levy.
Q+A: How does climate change impact our mental health?
We all know climate change is a problem. It is generally portrayed as an exclusively bio-physical issue that will impact things like our weather and oceans, agriculture and water availability. But climate change also has an impact on mental health.
The opioid crisis: Fact vs. fiction
Eileen Reynolds investigates the opioid crisis that has gripped the United States over the last few years.
Q+A: Is New Zealand ready to go carbon zero?
In New Zealand, recent policy plans by the government show the first steps towards zero-carbon emissions.
Debunking the myth? New study confirms there is no link between MMR and autism
For years a myth has been propagated that the MMR vaccine causes autism. However, new research has confirmed the link does not exist.
How do microplastics interfere with our marine ecosystems?
Julie Anne Hope discusses how microplastics are interfering with our marine ecosystems.
Who is leading the way to zero carbon?
Eighteen countries from developed economies have had declining carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels for at least a decade. While every nation is unique, they share some common themes that can show Australia, and the world, a viable path to reducing emissions.
What is love? 🔊
Today is Valentine’s Day, but what exactly is love? How have notions of love changed over time? Can love be consciously developed? And how does love for partners, friends, children, and countries differ?
Q+A: How can our everyday decisions help alleviate the water crisis?
The world is fast running out of fresh water, and the results could be very grim.
How will climate change impact Aotearoa? ▶
How will climate change affect our natural world, our society, and our culture? What can we do to halt the looming catastrophe? A panel of experts discusses how climate change will impact New Zealand.
How does culture affect mental health? 🔊
How does culture shape our understanding and treatment of mental illness? Maria Armoudian speaks with Roberto Lewis-Fernandez, Tanya Marie Luhrmann, and Andrew G. Ryder about culture and its impact on mental health.
Is it time for a law change on cannabis use in New Zealand?
A medicinal cannabis bill has just past its third reading in the New Zealand parliament. But is it time to also look at recreational use in the country?
What is NASA’s new lander doing on Mars?
On 26 November 2018, NASA’s lander InSight successfully touched down on Mars. But what is it doing there?
How can ancient cultures help us survive the coming climate crisis?
Paleoclimatologists are digging into the connections between the collapse of Mayan Civilization and extreme droughts.
Q+A: How does our unconscious mind alter political outcomes?
Scientists are finding more and more evidence that human behaviour is not rational, not conscious, and maybe completely programmed without our rational thinking.
Does reduced agrobiodiversity threaten our food systems?
Fewer crops are feeding more people worldwide, and that is not good, according to Karl Zimmerer.
Why are we sending worms into space?
We are sending worms into space. But why?
Why aren’t there electric airplanes yet?
As electric cars and trucks appear increasingly on highways, it raises the question: When will commercially viable electric vehicles take to the skies?
Abortion law in New Zealand: How does research inform change?
Joseph M. Boden explores how research can inform change with regards to abortion law reform.
Does your phone light interfere with your internal clock?
It’s not just sleep: circadian rhythms influence your metabolism, circulation and psychology, too, according to Jackie Grimm.
Does screen violence make children more emotionally distressed?
Watching violence on screens makes children more emotionally distressed, according to new research.
Is it possible to eradicate malaria?
A vaccine that could block mosquitoes from transmitting malaria has emerged. Jonathan Lovell and Wei-Chiao Huang investigate.
Q+A: How do animals use magnetic fields to navigate?
Birds, bees, whales, and turtles all use the Earth’s magnetic field to guide their behaviour. Now scientists have learned much more about how. Maria Armoudian speaks with Andres Vidal-Gadea about what has been discovered.
Frequently asked questions about climate change and the IPCC special report
Last month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a special report on the impacts of 1.5°C global warming above pre-industrial levels. Tra Dinh explores some of the questions that arose out of this.
Do animals feel fear?
Afraid of lions by moonlight and raptors by day, animals will behave in dramatic ways, as Cassie Freund explains.
Climate catastrophe: What is happening to life on Earth? 🔊
With bird colony collapses and crop failures occurring more frequently, what is happening to life on Earth, and how can we address the changes for long-term sustainability?
Is our obsession with electric mobility driving an increase in lead poisoning?
The popularity of electric vehicles in New Zealand is increasing every year, but is our obsession with electric mobility driving an increase in lead poisoning?
Is climate change the cause of rising world hunger?
World hunger has risen for three straight years, and climate change is a cause, according to Jessica Eise and Kenneth Foster.
Could insects be the answer to food insecurity?
With more scientists saying we should give up meat for the sake of the environment, are insects the answer to food insecurity?
How much is your island holiday really costing?
2017 saw the highest international tourism numbers in seven years. However, there is a cost, as Archana Chand explains.
Q+A: How do we know the earth is warming?
All scientific indications suggest that the Earth is fast reaching a tipping point, a point of irreversible damage to life on the planet. Maria Armoudian spoke with world-renowned climate scientist James Hansen about the science and politics of climate change.
Is mind control possible?
With new technology, mind control is no longer just science fiction, as Lily Toomey explains.
What does The Goblin tell us about the outer reaches of our solar system?
What does the discovery of a new dwarf planet tell us about the outer parts of our Solar System?
Why don’t more women win science Nobels?
One of the 2018 Nobel Prizes in physics went to Donna Strickland, but why don’t more women win science Nobels?
A decade of commercial space travel – what’s next?
What next for space travel? Joel Wooten investigates.
Climate change: Do we need to start moving people away from coastal areas?
Luciana Esteves warns of the dangers of living near the coast and suggests it is time we moved people away from some areas.
Debate: Should we edit the genomes of human embryos?
The introduction of genome editing signals a dramatic departure from the usual pathway through reproductive care. However, the use of genetic technologies in reproduction is frequently criticised for harbouring eugenic undertones.
The world’s appetite for meat is growing. How will we satisfy it?
In the near future, “meat” could mean a lot more than it does now.
Flu plane: Are we really ready for a global pandemic?
Are we prepared for a global flu pandemic? Mark Ecclestone-Turner investigates.
Q+A: Who lives, who dies, and why? How we can stop the trade in endangered animals
Wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar industry that has reportedly helped fund Al-Qaeda-related groups. What is the scope of the problem? What should be done about it?
Why is synthetic marijuana so dangerous?
C. Michael White discusses why synthetic marijuana is so dangerous.
How to be a better tourist? Look to the Galápagos
Tourism accounts for 8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and Jenny Howard says we can do more to limit our carbon footprint.
Q+A: Toxic waters: How bad is pollution in our oceans?
The ocean is awash with plastic. Giant patches of discarded plastic items, bottles, bags are forming in oceans like the Pacific. Plastic pieces are killing off wildlife that swallow or get choked by them.
What is your first memory – and did it ever really happen?
Do you remember when you were a baby? What was your first memory?
Q+A: 100% global renewable energy: Is it possible?
Marc Jacobson has been working to take the world to 100% renewable energy by 2050, which he argues can slow down climate change and reverse some of the damage.
Born to different species? The ancient teenager with odd parents
Michelle Langley looks at new research which revealed information showing the first known person to have had parents of two different species.
How does climate change affect conception? 🔊
We know there are higher death rates because of climate change, but how is it affecting birth rates? Alan Barreca’s research has looked at the effects of climate on fertility rates. Maria Armoudian spoke with Barreca about his research.
Q+A: What are the hidden costs of civilisation?
What are the hidden costs of civilisation? Could civilisation be behind disease, mental illness, climate change, and religious fundamentalism? Spencer Wells thinks it might just be. Maria Armoudian speaks to Wells about his book Pandora’s Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilisation.
Q+A: Humans: The most damaging predator on Earth?
Is humanity the most damaging predator on Earth? Many experts say yes and that its predatory practices are disrupting evolution.
Do dogs really, truly understand what we tell them?
Do dogs really, truly understand what we tell them? Scientists trained some pups to endure MRIs to help find out, as Lauren Makenzie Reynolds explains.
Is it safe to eat GMO foods?
Genomics expert Devang Mehta explores whether it is safe to eat genetically modified food.
Lord of the forest: Saving the Kauri tree from dieback
New Zealand’s most sacred tree is under threat from disease, but the response so far has been slow, as Matthew Hall explains.
We know how to fight wildfires effectively. Why don’t we do it?
We know how to fight wildfires effectively. Why don’t we do it? Microbial ecology expert Michael Graw discusses what we should be doing to combat wildfires.
Are hallucinations a disease?
Hallucinations may be a symptom of mental illness, but they are not necessarily harmful, as Yewande Pearse explains.
Water on Mars: Does this mean life existed?
After the recent discovery of a large liquid water lake on Mars, Jonti Horner explores what this means for the ongoing quest to find life on the red planet.
Pulling all-nighters may damage your brain
Doctoral candidate Hannah Thomasy discusses the impacts of all-nighters on the brain. Is staying up late a health-risk?
What is a hallucinogen? What these mind-altering drugs do in our brains
What is a hallucinogen? Benjamin Bell explores what these mind-altering drugs do in our brains.
Should you let your dog lick your face?
Dogs stick their noses in everything, but many people believe their saliva is beneficial. Jennifer Tsang from Massive Science explains.
Are we in the midst of a sixth mass extinction event?
Extinction is a natural process, but it’s happening at 1,000 times the normal speed. Does this mean we are experiencing a sixth mass extinction event?
CO₂ shortage: Why can’t we just pull carbon dioxide out of the air?
With the effects of climate change continuing to be widely felt around the world and the ongoing increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere, why can’t we just pull carbon dioxide out of the air?
How have Orangutans adapted to human behaviour?
New research has shown that Orangutans have been adapting to humans for 70,000 years.
Black cats and cracked mirrors: Why do we believe the unbelievable?
What is the science behind superstition, and why do we believe the unbelievable? Neil Dagnall and Ken Drinkwater investigate.
How rising seas are threatening our cultural heritage
As climate change encroaches, our heritage is drowning, according to Patty Hamrick.
Q+A: A silent epidemic: Why are suicide rates on the rise?
Suicide rates have been steadily rising in the United States. So what explains the increase in the numbers of people taking their own lives, and what can be done to solve what amounts to a crisis in public health? Maria Armoudian speaks with Mark S. Kaplan.
Q+A: How does trauma affect people and society?
Trauma has profound and lifelong physical and psychological effects on its survivors. It can damage the mind, the brain, and stunt development. What exactly is trauma? How does it affect us individually and as a society? And how can trauma survivors recover from these experiences?
Star Wars: Should we be worried about Trump’s space plans?
The militarization of outer space? Gbenga Oduntan looks into Donald Trump’s plan to create a space force.
Can MDMA help people with autism overcome social anxiety?
Benjamin Bell lays out a cautiously optimistic case for using the psychedelic in therapy for social anxiety.
Is inheritance about more than just genes?
Epigenetics has been hailed as the missing link between genes and environment. Nicola Shepheard explores this phenomenon in greater detail and seeks out whether inheritance is about more than just genes.
What happened to life on Mars?
Monica Grady looks at the recent detection of organic material on Mars and whether this means more evidence of past life on the red planet.
Q+A: The Golden State Killer case: Are our data rights slipping away?
Maria Armoudian speaks to Ellen Wright Clayton, Mark Rothstein, and Dennis McNevin about how DNA and other private data can be used and misused in law enforcement, healthcare and employment.
Q+A: Can we avoid the looming climate wars?
Our options as a humanity may be dwindling in the face of climate change. The coming changes may completely alter the world as we know it with collapsed ecosystems, mass immigration of climate refugees, and more devastating wars over basic necessities such as food and water. Maria Armoudian speaks to Gwynne Dyer about the scenarios we face with climate change.
What are the causes of the current mental health crisis and what are the solutions? 🔊
In this special extended episode of the What If? podcast, Luke Goode talks about the future of mental health with a panel of international experts who were recently brought together as part of an Australia and New Zealand lecture tour entitled ‘Mental Health Crisis.’
How does income inequality affect obesity?
National income and income inequality impacts on body size of children and adolescents, according to new research from the University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.
How big is tourisms carbon footprint?
Arunima Malik & Ya-Yen Sun look into the carbon footprint of tourism and find out it is bigger than we thought.
Could bats guide humans to clean drinking water in places where it’s scarce?
Doctoral candidate Theresa Laverty looks at how bats could guide humans to clean drinking water in places where it is scarce.
How do predators help farmers?
Predators are helping farmers and reducing car crashes with surprising results.
Q+A: Are there secondhand consequences of new smoking policies?
Reuben McLaren speaks to Marewa Glover about whether the Government’s smokefree 2025 policy is indeed the least harmful way to reduce the harm that tobacco causes.
How do we restore marine ecosystems? ▶
Professor Simon Thrush from the Institute of Marine Science at the University of Auckland talks about his big question, “how do we restore marine ecosystems?”
How are illness and disease created in particular bodies? ▶
Professor Judith Littleton from the School of Social Sciences at the University of Auckland talks about her big question, “how are illness and disease created in particular bodies?”
Why are we killing our rivers? ▶
In the first video of our new “big question” series Daniel Hikuroa from Māori and Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland talks about his big question, “Why are we killing our rivers?”
How are robots changing human care?
Robots are not part of some science fiction future; they’re here now and being used in ever more interesting and adventurous ways.
Q+A: How did Stephen Hawking change physics?
After the recent passing of world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, Maria Armoudian talked with Peter Galison and Priya Natarajan about the work and legacy of Hawking within the context of physics.
How bad is oxygen depletion for our oceans?
A major University of Otago-led study into an ancient climate change event that impacted a significant percentage of Earth’s oceans has brought into sharp focus a lesser-known villain in global warming: oxygen depletion.
How do parasites choose their hosts?
Shalene Singh-Shepherd outlines new research that looks into how parasites choose their hosts.
Q+A: What’s the cost of dissing science?
Science is no longer cool, according to Chris Mooney. This could have huge consequences for the world, which needs science to help resolve many crises facing us today. But people are paying less attention and giving less credence to science and scientists due in part to politics, mainstream media, religion, and anti-intellectualism.
Q+A: Do we need to radically change our lives to stop climate change?
Scientists say we still have time to address climate change, and we have made headway, but we still have a long way to go. What do we need to do to combat climate change, and how worried should we be about global warming?
Where on the continuum does “normal” turn into “problematic” internet usage?
The last two decades have seen the Internet become an essential medium for occupational, academic, and personal purposes. As our culture becomes more dependent on the Internet, it is no surprise that we are starting to hear reports of people displaying problematic behaviour in relation to compulsive use of such technology.
What do changes in the environment mean for humanity? 🔊
With climate change upon us, the Earth is changing the way it functions. What exactly is occurring and where are we headed?
How is trauma, addiction and depression passed down through the generations? 🔊
For many years geneticists and psychologists have worked in separate labs on factors such as our genetic codes and our experiences that they each thought were affecting our physical and mental health, respectively. But it may be that our experiences are affecting our epigenetics, which can then get handed down for generations to come, contributing to diseases and behaviours such as cancer and depression.
What can we expect from the coming wave of “dexterous robots”? 🔊
In this episode of What IF? Professor Jeremy Wyatt talks about the new frontier of “third wave” dexterous robots that combine the intelligence and unstructured mobility of second wave robotics with capacities for sophisticated manipulation and fine motor skills in unfamiliar situations.
What is the science behind sleep? 🔊
Scientists are still trying to understand the mysteries of our slumber. Why do we sleep? What is its purpose? And what actually happens during sleep?
What are the ethics of modern medicine and healthcare? 🔊
Many observers argue that economic forces are corrupting medical care and eroding the trust between patients and their doctors.
Can we save the planet from a sixth mass extinction? 🔊
Planet Earth has faced five mass extinctions in its lifetime. Now we may be facing the sixth. What have we learned from the previous mass extinctions that can help us avoid a total collapse? Can humanity rescue the planet that it has imperiled?
What technological changes are needed to power the renewable revolution? 🔊
What technological changes will be needed to power the renewable revolution? Sung-Young Kim has been studying the political economy of the new clean energy revolution. Maria Armoudian sat down with him to discuss his research and what needs to happen as we move towards renewables.
Are antibiotics to blame for some modern diseases? 🔊
Sanitation and antibiotics have saved the lives of many, but are they also the culprits behind some modern diseases? Martin Blaser argues we might have gone overboard in killing our microbes, and that may be causing some of today’s epidemics.
What is the future of cities? 🔊
What will the cities of the future look like? Steve Matthewman and Stephen Knight-Lenihan discuss the urban future, looking at ecological resilience, biodiversity, living buildings, and floating suburbs.
Can we learn to stop worrying and love the machine? 🔊
What do we have to fear from the rise of robots, automation and artificial intelligence? Darl Kolb, a pioneering theorist on social and technical connectivity, argues that we should rethink the relationship between humans and machines as one of co-evolution and interdependence, rather than one of contest and competition.
How has water shaped our past and how will It shape our future? 🔊
Although it is the most important substance in our lives, many people hardly ever think about water, where it comes from, how it is used and its precarious future. Charles Fishman talks to Maria Armoudian about how water has shaped our past and how it will shape our future.
What is neuroscience and how far can it take us? 🔊
Neuroscience has uncovered so many clues about human attitudes and behaviours that have far-reaching consequences. But scholars and doctors disagree about what it does and does not tell us about what it means to be human.
What are tipping points and what do they mean for our ecosystems? 🔊
What causes these sudden changes, and how can society be better prepared for such events?
Does the US Department of State promote GMOs in Mexico?
Yadira Ixchel Martínez Pantoja looks into whether the US Department of State promotes GMOs in Mexico.
What are the energy consequences of the rise in climate disasters? 🔊
Scientists have made fascinating discoveries about animals and how they communicate. For instance, bird songs are more than music to the ears of the forest; it turns out they are speaking a language understood by many species.
How do animals communicate? 🔊
Scientists have made fascinating discoveries about animals and how they communicate. For instance, bird songs are more than music to the ears of the forest; it turns out they are speaking a language understood by many species.
How have our relationships with animals changed humans? 🔊
Human history has been drastically changed by our relationship with animals. Brian Fagan contends that it would be a different world if not for our intimate bonds with animals. How have they changed us and the world we live in?
Is big money influencing science? 🔊
Raising big money is a relatively new phenomenon in academia. How did science, government, and industry become so entwined with one another, and what has it meant for scholarly research?
Can the bee colony collapse be stopped? 🔊
Throughout much of the world, bee populations have been declining, threatening food supplies that rely on pollinators to reproduce. What is the latest research on the global health of bees, and what are ways to prevent further collapses?
Are our oceans under threat? 🔊
In this roundtable discussion, top scholars reveal and explain the realities facing our seas and the strides we are making to protect, restore and recover our oceans.
Q+A: What does ancient history tell us about the nature of humanity?
Anthropology Professor Simon Holdaway talks to Maria Armoudian about how we’ve changed and how our ancestors have dealt with past disasters and changes in the climate.
Q+A: Back from the dead? The science and ethics of bringing species back from extinction
With mass extinction upon us, some scientists are working on bringing certain species back from the dead. However, their ability to do so raises ethical and practical issues.
Why is distinguishing native from alien species important?
James Russell looks at the issue of introduced species in New Zealand and why distinguishing them from native species is important.
Q+A: What do atoms reveal about human behaviour? Can we end the silence on science?
Shaun Hendy, Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland, discusses his nano-technology research and the complications in science communication and science funding with Maria Armoudian.
How do new discoveries about X and Y chromosomes challenge what we know? 🔊
New scientific discoveries about x and y chromosomes are challenging what we know about what makes us male or female.
Why are melting glaciers a problem? 🔊
What does the melting of glaciers and ice sheets due to climate change mean for the world’s coastal cities? Will this ongoing issue cause problems in the future for urban populations?