Before humans made their way to New Zealand, the critically endangered flightless parrot known as the kākāpō likely numbered in the hundreds of thousands. By 1995, their numbers had dwindled to just 51 birds, including ...
Plants & Animals
Sep 8, 2021
0
73
New Zealand may be relatively small, but its fossil record reveals a globally important ecological relationship between the number of species, their role in the ecosystem and ocean temperatures.
Earth Sciences
Aug 27, 2021
2
179
New University of Otago research has been examining how alpine-based hedgehogs hibernate from a different perspective—their backs.
Plants & Animals
Jul 22, 2021
0
44
Biodegradable plastics are supposed to be good for the environment. But because they are specifically made to degrade quickly, they cannot be recycled.
Condensed Matter
Jun 29, 2021
1
17
Our homes and offices are only as solid as the ground beneath them. When that solid ground turns to liquid—as sometimes happens during earthquakes—it can topple buildings and bridges. This phenomenon is known as liquefaction, ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 23, 2021
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13
Balanced rocks, poised in position for 24,000 years, have been used to assess the current seismic integrity of the Clyde Dam in a University of Otago-led study.
Earth Sciences
Jun 15, 2021
1
143
Polynesian seafarers likely reached Antarctica hundreds of years before the Western explorers usually credited with discovering the frozen continent, a new study has concluded.
Earth Sciences
Jun 14, 2021
5
2061
The first total lunar eclipse in more than two years coincides with a supermoon this week for quite a cosmic show.
Space Exploration
May 24, 2021
3
24176
The invasive fungus myrtle rust has been attacking native plants, driving some to the brink of extinction. Dr Peri Tobias and her team hope that sequencing the entire genome can help the plants fight back.
Biotechnology
May 4, 2021
0
22
What's in a name? The importance of accurate fungal taxonomy New Zealand's horticultural and agricultural economy relies on effective biosecurity. This requires keeping major pests and pathogens out of Aotearoa, as well as ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 4, 2021
1
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