A scientist shares five reasons we might find alien life this century - and five we reasons we might not.

Aliens will be on the agenda when Great Barrier Island, population 939, brings the Pope's astronomer and other top scientists to a quirky public event.

Scientists have a few words of warning for Government attempts to clear our islands of pests.

High obesity rates among Samoans are partly caused by genetics, scientists have discovered.

COMMENT: There is no greater crime being perpetuated on future generations than that committed by those who deny climate change.

The hip, orange super food displacing French fries.

Findings held true even for people who already showed signs of brain damage, according to studies.

A cure for asthma is on the horizon after scientists discovered a genetic switch which prevents the condition.

COMMENT: This week I experienced 3 days at -70C and zero humidity while measuring stardust and witnessing southern lights all within one 10-hour flight.

A new Kiwi-led study has found a third of pups born to rats fed high doses of very rancid fish oil during pregnancy did not survive beyond two days.

Forty light years away in the constellation Aquarius, a trio of planets orbit a small, cool star. They are worlds quite unlike our

Could this breakthrough allow women to become mothers in their 50s or 60s?

New precision could immediately aid neurosurgeons in removal of tumours and epilepsy treatment.

Researchers got people drunk or high, then made a fascinating discovery about how we respond.

The collaborative Interact Centre of Technology Excellence is to be launched tonight by hosts Auckland University of Technology (AUT).

John Bray might have just solved a long-standing mystery about what happens when massive stars die.

Do we need to be worried about pieces of junk falling out of space and into our atmosphere?

"Entrepreneurial Universities" initiative is designed to attract world-leading entrepreneurial researchers to NZ.

A Kiwi scientist has helped develop artificial intelligence to highlight fresh potential hotspots for Ebola and other bat-borne filoviruses.

Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft has captured stunning images of the surface of Pluto, give a glimpse into what life may be like on the dwarf planet.

A US researcher has discovered how to control multiple robotic drones using the human brain.

Two pathfinding odysseys are circling the globe in unconventional carriers.

If you've been out in your local neighbourhood this week, you may have wondered if the zombie apocalypse was upon us.

Investigation by a team of Kiwi researchers has found solid evidence to back an intriguing approach used to alleviate phantom limb pain in amputees.

A leading New Zealand researcher may have found a powerful new weapon to combat deadly, drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis.

A record breeding season for New Zealand and the world's population of lovable but critically endangered kakapo has seen their numbers shoot up by an amazing 28 per cent to 157 individuals.

World-renowned Australian artist Stelarc -- perhaps best known for having an artificial ear construction inserted into his arm --

Reporter Kurt Bayer takes to the skies to witness science in action, even if it makes his head hurt a little.

In 2006 Stelarc, 70, had an artificial ear construction inserted into his arm as an art project.

Hollywood wants our dinosaurs to roar like elephants, but the truth may be more bird-like.