During World War II, sonar operators discovered a ‘false seabed’ that appeared to move upwards during the nighttime. In fact, the sound waves were bouncing off huge numbers of small critters. This daily movement is the largest animal migration on the planet, consisting of deep-water animals that hide in the ocean’s twilight then move to the surface after sunset to feed. By far the most abundant fish in this crowd are the lanternfishes. New Zealand researchers are investigating what impact lanternfish migration has on the life cycle of fish we like to eat, and how it may also play a huge role in the Earth’s carbon cycle. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Guests:Professor Jeff Shima, Victoria University of WellingtonAlisha Gill, Victoria University of WellingtonNiamh Smith, Victoria University of WellingtonLearn more:Read the article for this episode: Lanternfish: small fish, big impactBelow the twilight zone, in the deepest parts of the worlds’ oceans, including in New Zealand waters, scientists continue to discover new critters.The deep ocean makes up the majority of the living space on our planet, where life down there has evolved to cope with the pressure, cold and darkness.The Southern Ocean absorbs a huge amount of carbon, but scientists are concerned that may change as the planet warms.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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A New Zealand approach to nuclear fusion
For a long time, nuclear fusion was viewed as a powerful, but unachievable, energy source, because the technological challenges were just too great. But recent advances, particularly in the development of powerful magnets, have reignited the race to create the world’s first efficient nuclear fusion powerplant. Claire Concannon visits one private company just outside Wellington who have joined the nuclear fusion effort, with a unique approach they believe might be the key. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Guests:Dr Ratu Mataira, Founder and CEO of OpenStar TechnologiesEmily Hunter, Lead Engineer Cryogenics and Docking, OpenStarThomas Berry, Deputy Direct of Plasma Science, OpenStarLearn more:Read the article that accompanies this episode: Could a Kiwi company crack nuclear fusion?Kim Hill had a lengthy and fascinating interview with Dr Ratu Mataira in 2023 on RNZ’s Saturday Morning show. He also spoke with Alexa Cook on Morning Report in 2024 after OpenStar achieved ‘first plasma’. In 2023 Our Changing World played an episode of the ABC’s Strange Frontiers that went inside the nuclear fusion reactor ITER.Learn more about the simplest element, Hydrogen, from RNZ’s 2019 Elemental podcast.The Royal Society of New Zealand has a series of videos on Ernest Rutherford’s scientific discoveries including radioactive decay and half-life, and splitting the atom. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Tauranga's living sea wall
In May 2024, 100 strange rocky structures were installed along Tauranga's harbour shoreline. These flower-shaped artificial rockpools, nicknamed 'sea pods', provide prime waterfront real estate for marine life – from colourful sea slugs to sneezing sponges. Justine Murray finds out how 'living sea walls' are bringing back biodiversity to urban harbours around the world, and joins a marine scientist to check out what creatures have moved into Tauranga's sea pods.Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.In this episode:00:49 – What is a sea pod?06:27 – Living sea walls in Sydney with Dr Aria Lee10:25 – Sea pods around the world and in Tauranga13:06 – Monitoring marine life in the sea pods with David Culliford20:50 – Port of Tauranga21:48 – Looking for critters in the sea pods…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Protecting ‘Jaws’ – Aotearoa’s rarest freshwater fish
Speckled, pencil-thin and sporting an underbite: the lowland longjaw galaxias is New Zealand’s rarest freshwater fish species. With just seven known populations, this species is considered nationally endangered. Join producer Karthic SS at a spring-fed stream in the wild Mackenzie Basin to meet the tiny fish, hear from a researcher studying trout-proof barriers, and chat to a ranger who for 20 years has cared for the little fish he calls 'Jaws'. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Guests:Dean Nelson, Senior Ranger, Biodiversity, Department of ConservationMartha Jolly, PhD candidate, University of CanterburyLearn more:Read the article that accompanies this episode: Looking after New Zealand's rarest freshwater fish.Otago farmers are looking out for another species of rare non-migratory galaxiid.In Auckland’s Lake Rototoa, introduced perch are the problem for the native kākahi.Karthic produces the Tune Into Nature podcast about New Zealand’s unique wildlife.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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New insights from an old vaccine
Since the 1800s, tuberculosis (TB) has been responsible for an estimated 1 billion deaths. In New Zealand today, we don’t get many cases of TB, but worldwide it is the leading infectious disease killer. In the early 1900s a TB vaccine was developed. Called the BCG vaccine, it’s still used today. While it is the best TB vaccine we have, it’s not actually great at preventing TB infection, only providing some protection for the youngest of patients. However, scientists have discovered that the BCG vaccine can boost people’s immune systems in other ways. Now researchers at the Malaghan Institute in Wellington are investigating these findings further. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Guests:Dr Kerry Hilligan, Malaghan InstituteRebecca Palmer, Malaghan InstituteLearn more:In 2017, Alison Ballance reported on the looming antimicrobial resistance crisis, with drug-resistant TB part of the problem.Other Our Changing World episodes about research at the Malaghan Institute include this 2024 episode on a new way to target rising stomach cancer rates, and this 2022 episode on next-generation cancer therapies.In 2021, Claire Concannon covered mRNA vaccine technology.The What if...? Genomics in Aotearoa series explores the different ways genomics is transforming different sectors, including infectious disease medicine.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Dr Claire Concannon follows scientists into the bush, over rivers, back to their labs and many places in-between to cover the most fascinating research being done in Aotearoa New Zealand.
New Zealand