Siouxsie Wiles

New Zealand

Microbiologist and Associate Professor, University of Auckland and Science Columnist at Stuff.co.nz

Articles

Dr Siouxsie Wiles’ Covid curse: ‘Abuse changed my world’

1 month ago | nzherald.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles |Elisabeth Easther

Siouxsie Wiles faced a lot of hate during the pandemic for being a science communicator. Photo / NZ Woman's WeeklyPandemic fallout turned her into a hermit, but her future’s looking brighter. Dr Siouxsie Wiles, in her own words, as told to Elisabeth Easther. I get my strong sense of social justice from my parents.
Science rises to the challenge of unscrolling the lost history of Vesuvius

Feb 11, 2024 | thepress.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

A Papyrus Herculaneum is seen in the National Library of Naples, part of a library of papyrus scrolls carbonised by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the first century AD. Researchers have turned to digital-imaging techniques to reveal the contents of the papyri. (File photo)Antonio Masiello / Getty ImagesOPINION: You might recall me getting very excited in this column last year when I wrote about the Vesuvius Challenge.
Siouxsie Wiles: The carnivorous fungus in our midst

Dec 3, 2023 | thepress.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

Forget flesh-eating plants like the pitcher plant, pictured; scientists have now discovered a fungus with an appetite for tiny morsels of wormy flesh. Stacy Squires / The PressDr Siouxsie Wiles MNZM is an award-winning microbiologist and science communicator at the University of Auckland. OPINION: Forget venus flytraps and pitcher plants. Did you know some fungi are carnivorous too?
Siouxsie Wiles: The precarious pathway for science's passion projects

Nov 5, 2023 | thepress.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

Scientists have just been through their annual round of Marsden Fund applications, and the outcomes highlight some shortcomings in our science funding, writes Siouxsie Wiles. (File photo)Jerome Delay / APDr Siouxsie Wiles MNZM is an award-winning microbiologist and science communicator at the University of Auckland. OPINION: Last week, 123 research groups around New Zealand were probably jumping for joy. I know I would have been if I was in their shoes. Why?
How science is unravelling the buried stories of ancient Rome

Oct 22, 2023 | thepress.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

The preserved remains of two of the victims of the Vesuvio eruption of 79AD in Pompeii, Italy. Advances in science and human ingenuity are revealing more insights into life at the time of the devastating eruption. Handout / Getty Images for Archaeological Park of PompeiiDr Siouxsie Wiles MNZM is an award-winning microbiologist and science communicator at the University of Auckland.
Casting your vote against disinformation

Oct 8, 2023 | thepress.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

A protest sign referencing the so-called “Nuremberg” trials, which disinformation advocates maintain will see various officials and public figures face retribution for supporting Covid policies. (File photo)CHRIS SKELTON / CHRIS SKELTONDr Siouxsie Wiles MNZM is an award-winning microbiologist and science communicator at the University of Auckland. OPINION: Ever since I can remember, come election time, my mum would remind me how important it was to vote.
The baffling and mind-boggling: death-grip spiders and dead-human nostril hairs

Sep 24, 2023 | thepress.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

How boring can a classroom be? There’s an Ig Nobel study for that. 123rfDr Siouxsie Wiles MNZM is an award-winning microbiologist and science communicator at the University of Auckland. OPINION: Ten research teams have just been awarded the 2023 Ig Nobel prize for their surprising, intriguing, or downright baffling studies that first make you laugh and then make you think, as founder Marc Abrahams puts it.
The baffling and mind-boggling: death-grip spiders and dead-human nostril hairs

Sep 24, 2023 | thepost.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

How boring can a classroom be? There’s an Ig Nobel study for that. 123rfDr Siouxsie Wiles MNZM is an award-winning microbiologist and science communicator at the University of Auckland. OPINION: Ten research teams have just been awarded the 2023 Ig Nobel prize for their surprising, intriguing, or downright baffling studies that first make you laugh and then make you think, as founder Marc Abrahams puts it.
Stop treating menopause like a disease, it’s just a part of life

Sep 10, 2023 | thepost.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

Of bothersome menopause symptoms, the only one we really hear much about is the hot flush, says Siouxsie Wiles. Getty Images / (no source)Dr Siouxsie Wiles MNZM is an award-winning microbiologist and science communicator at the University of Auckland. OPINION: I’m just going to be straight with you. This column is all about vaginas. I’m not going to apologise. A large portion of the world’s population have one and we need to be more open about how they work and what happens to them as we get older.
World goes on as new Covid variants arrive, and spread

Aug 27, 2023 | thepost.co.nz | Siouxsie Wiles

Just two days before, South Africa’s world-leading virus detection and sequencing efforts had picked up a variant unlike any they’d seen before. Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma differed from the original Covid virus by just a few mutations. Omicron had an unusual constellation of more than 50. Thirty of those mutations were in the gene that codes for the virus’ spike protein.