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4 days ago | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
Other Pacific nations including Sāmoa, Tonga, and Fiji are also experiencing outbreaks. The SMC asked experts about the current situation in the Pacific. Dr Gregor Devine, Senior Director, Field Entomology at the World Mosquito Program, comments:What is the immediate threat posed by dengue in the wider Pacific region, and how is this changing? “Dengue fever is the world’s most prevalent disease spread by mosquitoes.
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1 month ago | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
The Science Media Centre regularly asks both scientists and journalists for feedback on our mahi. The evaluation project is part of a wider research collaboration with the School of Science in Society at Victoria University of Wellington.
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1 month ago | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
Members of the newly established Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Advisory Council have also been revealed, with a mandate to advise the government on science and innovation funding priorities, focusing on economic benefits. The SMC asked experts to comment. Dr Lucy Stewart, Co-President, New Zealand Association of Scientists, comments:“I congratulate Dr John Roche and the new members of the Prime Minister’s Science and Technology Advisory Council.
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1 month ago | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
Oceans are absorbing increasing amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere, which is making them more acidic. In theory, increasing the alkalinity of treated wastewater that’s discharged into the sea would expand the ocean’s capacity to store CO₂. Chinese research published in Science Advances uses lab experiments to test how effective this could be.
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1 month ago | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
Most seasonal influenza vaccines are made using chicken eggs. The SMC asked experts for background on seasonal flu vaccine manufacture and alternatives to the standard jab. Dr Mary Nowlan, Senior Advisor, Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC), comments:Where do the eggs come from to make the seasonal influenza vaccine? “Egg-based influenza vaccine manufacture is a well-established process, with chicken eggs being the preferred medium to grow viruses since the 1950s.
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1 month ago | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
Research published in Science Advances looked at whole-genome sequences of 12 herding breeds, such as border collies and German shepherds, and compared them to those of 91 non-herding breeds. In border collies, the authors identified adaptations in eight genes tied to memory retention, motor learning, social interaction, and spatial memory.
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Mar 9, 2025 | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
The research team looked at 376 studies comprising almost 350,000 people with chronic pain around the world. Those most likely to have depression and anxiety are women, younger people, and people with a certain kind of chronic pain where there is no tissue damage, such as fibromyalgia. The team says systematically screening for these mental health conditions is critical when someone is seeking treatment for chronic pain, as is equitable access to care and innovative treatments.
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Mar 6, 2025 | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
Over 320,000 litres of diesel fuel mixed with seawater have been removed and from this, just over 300,000 litres of usable diesel fuel have been extracted. Another 45,000 litres of liquid including waste oils and diesel fuel/seawater have also been removed and will be returned to New Zealand and processed for safe disposal. Final amounts can be confirmed once assessments are complete. The SMC asked experts to comment.
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Mar 3, 2025 | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
Researchers studied fires and monthly maximum air temperatures from over 2800 cities in 20 countries, covering over 20% of the world’s population. With unmitigated warming of over 4°C, the researchers estimate this would lead to a third of a million more fire deaths globally and over a million more injuries from 2020 to 2100—but if warming is kept below 1.5°C, those deaths could be halved. The SMC asked third-party New Zealand-based experts to comment.
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Feb 27, 2025 | 
sciencemediacentre.co.nz | Claire Kaplan
According to the framework, businesses that capture and store carbon dioxide will be rewarded through the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Legislation is expected to be introduced later this year. The SMC asked local experts to provide background information on the research behind carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS).
