Science Digest

• Recycling: The popular brands that aren't as recyclable as you'd think

  So many things are made from plastic these days, and while plastics are cheap and can make life convenient, they have been getting some pretty bad publicity recently as we come to terms not only with how they are made, but what happens to them afterwards. Luckily we are living in a world where recycling bins are easy to find, and many of us now consciously wash and sort our plastic waste, but where does it go from here and how much of this plastic actually gets recycled? Today, Michelle is joined by Rachel Barker, CEO of Plastics NZ, and Damien Venuto, host of The Front Page and a new dad, to discuss the realities of recycling plastics in New Zealand.  Read more on the subject here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Genetic modification: Does New Zealand need to rethink its stance?

  Genetic modification is a scientific term that can conjure up fear as scientists are let loose tampering with nature.   But putting genetic engineering is actively being used all over the world today, most commonly in crops to help them to become more resilient to a changing climate, but also in clinical trials and medical treatment to help cure human diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis and diabetes. While the world moves forwards with genetic modification, it is heavily regulated in New Zealand, and has been since the passing of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act in 1996.  So what exactly is genetic modification, what are the positives and negatives of it, and should New Zealand be reconsidering its current laws to help more scientists here to carry out cutting edge research? For today’s episode, Michelle is joined by New Zealand Herald science reporter Jamie Morton, to discuss his recent reporting in this area, and University of Otago Geneticist and Director of Genomics Aotearoa Professor Peter Dearden to discuss the science. Read more on Jamie's reporting hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Vaping: Is it really any healthier than smoking?

  Over the last decade, we’ve seen a number of policies put in place in New Zealand that have made smoking a very expensive habit, while more and more evidence-based data has confirmed the health risks of the practice. However, as smoking has declined, e-cigarettes or vaping has drastically risen in popularity marketed as a supposedly healthier alternative to tobacco-based products.  Initially e-cigarettes were seen as a way to help current smokers quit their habit, but instead what we’ve seen is more and more people - particularly teenagers who never were tobacco smokers - take up the vaping habit. So is it safe for teenagers to vape, are e-cigarettes a healthier alternative and how much research has been done in this space to date? For today’s episode, Michelle is joined by Dr Kelly Burrowes, an associate professor at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, and current vaper Will Toogood, a digital producer at NZME who will talk to his experiences with vaping. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Conversion practices: Exploring the science of sexuality

  After a long-fought battle from LGBT+ campaigners, this week New Zealand criminalised practices such as conversion therapy that aim to try and alter or suppress someone's sexuality or gender identity. But was there ever any scientific basis for these practices in the first place? What exactly is the science behind sexuality, and is it something that can ever be changed? For this episode of Science Digest, Dr Michelle Dickinson is joined by clinical psychologist, university lecturer and sexuality expert Dr Rita Csako to discuss the science behind sexuality, and conversion therapy survivor and teacher Paul Stevens to share his experiences with the practice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Covid-19: What do we know about the Omicron variant?

  After months of lockdown and two years of closed borders, New Zealand is preparing to open up and live with Covid-19 - but, just as the Government announced plans for the future, a new variant called Omicron has emerged, and appears to be the most infectious yet. What does this variant mean for the future of the pandemic and New Zealand's fight against Covid? In this episode of Science Digest, Dr Michelle Dickinson talks to Cambridge University clinical virologist Dr Chris Smith about what the UK is seeing from their Omicron outbreak, and to Otago University's Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu about what New Zealanders can do to stay safe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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