Latest fromScience

Microscopic beings could prove colossal to science
Scientists are searching in an unlikely place for the next big breakthrough - New Zealand's postcard hot springs.

Surprise at rare frog number
The discovery of 44 critically endangered Archey's frogs just a few kilometres from Whangamata has heartened an amphibian expert.

Simon Sutcliffe: Resources must be focused on cancer control
Cancer was the leading cause of death in New Zealand in 2010, accounting for nearly a third of all deaths, writes Simon Sutcliffe. That's an increase of nearly 13 per cent between 2000 and 2010.

Genes may link cannabis, schizophrenia
Genes associated with schizophrenia may also make people more likely to use cannabis, a new study has shown.

Disco clam's groovy moves
A sea floor diva known as the “disco clam”, which earned its name from vivid displays of flashing light, has revealed the secrets of its dazzling moves.

Researchers to bore major fault
The world is turning to New Zealand's most threatening fault to better understand the levers that cause catastrophic earthquakes.

Earth smashes record for heat
Driven by exceptionally warm ocean waters, Earth smashed a record for heat in May and is likely to keep on breaking high temperature marks, experts have said.

Whaling's 30 year impact on Humpback
It will take another three decades for the Southern Hemisphere's humpback whale population to recover from the slaughter of the whaling era, scientists say.

Pride of NZ: Plant expert with growing reputation
Environment category: Colin Ogle is Wanganui's go-to man on all things botanical and has dedicated years to the area's parks and bush.

Stag party finds 3m-year-old 'elephant'
It's The Hangover-meets-Jurassic Park. While most stag parties involve paintballing, the pub or a strip club, one group of friends spent did some impromptu palaeontology.

Eerie spiderweb photo goes viral
An eerie photo of millions of spiders fleeing flooded farmland in Hikurangi last week has gone viral, after it was posted by a popular science Facebook page.

Is this the end for the dentist's drill?
Fillings and the dentist's drill could soon become just an unpleasant memory thanks to a new technique aimed at rebuilding damaged teeth.

Bob Forlong: Responsible GM approach will remain
The regime governing genetic modification in New Zealand is one of the strictest in the world, writes Bob Forlong.

Einstein vs quantum theory
Albert Einstein may be most famous for his mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc2, but his work also laid down the foundation for modern quantum mechanics.

Battery invention may save kids' lives
A ground-breaking development by a Kiwi is expected to reduce death and injury from dangerous button batteries worldwide.

Art used in battle to curb climate change
Scientists are being told to use art and poetry to win public support in the battle to curb climate change.

Dinosaur-era fossil found in streambed
The fossil of a squid-like creature wiped out with the dinosaurs has been discovered in a Hawkes Bay streambed. What makes it such a 'significant' find for NZ?

How science helped win D-Day
"Sea," said King Canute, the 11th-century Danish King of England, "I command you to come no further!"

Bio-pesticide could stem catastrophic decline in honeybee numbers
A pesticide made from spider venom has been found to kill insects without harming honeybees.

Trip to Mars via Big Brother
The creator of 'Big Brother' is to turn the "world's toughest job interview" - for a one-way ticket to Mars - into the ultimate reality show.

Scholar hits on recipe to train robots
An endless video loop of cooking shows could hold the key to robots that can unstack a dishwasher and play Lego with the kids, a New Zealand student of robotics says.

Scientists 'reactivate' lost memories
Scientists in America are hopeful of a breakthrough in curing Alzheimer's, following a study that shows a way of bringing back the lost memories of dementia patients.

Students get once-in-a-lifetime research opportunity
Six University of Canterbury students are taking part in what has been called a once-in-a-lifetime research opportunity.

Groundbreaking study could change future farming in warmer world
Australian and Kiwi researchers have edged closer to the "holy grail" of plant science with a groundbreaking study that could change the way farmers irrigate and fertilise their land as the world warms.

GM rules go back under microscope
Debate over New Zealand's stance on genetic engineering is set to reignite with a review of the rules defining what is - and what isn't - GM research.