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Science Media Centre NZ
Our aim is to promote accurate, evidence-based reporting on science and technology by helping the media work more closely with the scientific community.
The Science Media Centre is New Zealand's only trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to science. Thousands of news stories providing context from and quoting New Zealand researchers have been published as a direct result of our work.
Science Media Centre NZ - Latest News [Page 15]
James Webb Telescope’s First Pictures – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 14 July 2022, 2:34 pm | Science Media Centre
NASA has released some of the deepest and highest-resolution images of the universe to date. The images have been captured by the James Webb Space Telescope , which launched late last year. View all the high-resolution images from the JWST here . ... More >>
NZ’s First Case Of Monkeypox – Expert Reaction
Sunday, 10 July 2022, 5:27 am | Science Media Centre
Health authorities have confirmed the first case of monkeypox in New Zealand, calling its arrival on our shores “not unexpected” given the increase in global cases. The person, who is in isolation, is in their thirties, lives in ... More >>
Around 2pm Witnesses Reported Seeing A Bright Flash Of Light In Sky Above Wellington And Wairarapa
Thursday, 7 July 2022, 6:27 pm | Science Media Centre
Experts say the flash was likely caused by a meteoroid or a satellite entering the atmosphere. The SMC asked experts to comment. Dr Ian Griffin, Director, Otago Museum, comments: "It sounds like there has been a really interesting event somewhere ... More >>
The Climate Commission’s Take On Farm Emissions Pricing – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 6 July 2022, 5:36 pm | Science Media Centre
The Climate Change Commission says farmers are on track to start paying for their greenhouse gas emissions through a farm-level pricing system by 2025. The Commission has released its advice on the He Waka Eke Noa plan put forward by farmers on how ... More >>
RATs And Self-isolation – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 6 July 2022, 4:45 pm | Science Media Centre
Evidence shows some Covid-19 cases can remain infectious after seven days, meaning they may continue to spread the virus after leaving isolation. New Zealand’s current self-isolation rules state that positive Covid-19 cases must isolate for seven days, ... More >>
Covid-19 Vaccines For Kids Under 5 – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 21 June 2022, 1:24 pm | Science Media Centre
US health authorities have given the green light to mRNA Covid-19 vaccines for children under five and will be made available there, starting this week. The paediatric versions of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines for Covid-19 use the same technology as their ... More >>
Pre-departure Covid Test Dropped For Incoming Travellers – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 16 June 2022, 4:41 pm | Science Media Centre
From Monday night, people travelling into New Zealand will no longer be required to test before leaving. The Covid-19 Response Minister has confirmed the measure will be ditched earlier than planned because cases have continued to decline despite ... More >>
Could Eating More Fish Raise Your Melanoma Risk? – Expert Reaction
Friday, 10 June 2022, 2:52 pm | Science Media Centre
People who ate higher amounts of fish – similar to half a can of tuna a day – had a 22% higher risk of melanoma than people who ate much less fish, in a surprise result from a large US study. The research team speculates that contaminants in fish ... More >>
He Waka Eke Noa Pricing Proposal For Farm Emissions – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 8 June 2022, 11:16 am | Science Media Centre
Primary sector climate action partnership He Waka Eke Noa has put forward its preferred system for how farmers will pay for their agricultural emissions instead of using the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The Partners recommend a “farm-level split-gas” ... More >>
First Microplastics Found In Antarctic Snow – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 8 June 2022, 11:08 am | Science Media Centre
In a world-first, a New Zealand study has confirmed microplastics are present in Antarctica’s Ross Island region. Kiwi researchers analysed fresh snow from 19 sites, finding an average concentration of 29 microplastic particles per litre of melted ... More >>
Modelling NZ’s Next Omicron Wave – Expert Reaction
Friday, 3 June 2022, 11:56 am | Science Media Centre
How might waning immunity and reinfection affect our next wave of COVID-19? Researchers have modelled different scenarios to predict what the coming months might look like. The researchers found that a second COVID wave arose in the latter half of 2022 in ... More >>
Taxing Sugary Drinks Packs A Punch On Sales – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 2 June 2022, 10:32 am | Science Media Centre
A new research review finds “conclusive evidence” that a sugary beverage tax is linked with a 15% sales drop on average. More than 45 countries have taxed sugary drinks but New Zealand has not. Researchers analysed dozens of studies on sugary ... More >>
Second Covid-19 Booster Approved For Vulnerable Groups - Expert Reaction
Friday, 27 May 2022, 1:39 pm | Science Media Centre
A second booster shot will be available from mid-June for people who are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. The final decision on who is eligible will be made in the coming fortnight, but it will include the older population, residents ... More >>
Wild Animals May Adapt Faster Than Thought, But Bad News For Hihi – Expert Reaction
Friday, 27 May 2022, 12:29 pm | Science Media Centre
Wild animals may be better at adapting to new conditions than scientists previously thought – but there’s an exception for New Zealand’s hihi/stitchbird. A research team including Aotearoa scientists looked at 15 species worldwide , finding their ... More >>
Science's Slice Of Budget 2022 - Expert Reaction
Friday, 20 May 2022, 1:48 pm | Science Media Centre
Budget 2022 has a relatively small amount of new cash allocated to science, research and innovation. This budget comes ahead of what could become a major overhaul of the research, science, and innovation sector in the coming years, with MBIE now ... More >>
Monkeypox Cases Spreading Overseas - Expert Reaction
Friday, 20 May 2022, 1:46 pm | Science Media Centre
The monkeypox virus, which causes fever symptoms and rashes, has been detected in countries across Europe and North America. The virus occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa - but now dozens of confirmed ... More >>
Emissions Reduction Plan – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 17 May 2022, 12:51 pm | Science Media Centre
The government has released its first plan on how to get to zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Emissions Reduction Plan proposes economy-wide changes to drive down New Zealand’s emissions. The SMC asked experts to comment on: An overview of the ... More >>
Forecasting The Next Five Years Of The COVID-19 Crisis – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 17 May 2022, 12:51 pm | Science Media Centre
An international report predicts the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to be a society-wide crisis of growing inequalities that span far beyond the health sector. The International Science Council report (to which Sir Peter Gluckman and Sir David Skegg contributed) ... More >>
Catching Covid-19 More Than Once – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 5 May 2022, 12:14 pm | Science Media Centre
New Covid-19 variants and waning immunity could see more New Zealanders catching the virus for a second time. As we head further from the peak of the vaccine campaign and the Omicron outbreak, people’s immunity will eventually start to wane . The ... More >>
Mycoplasma Bovis Nearly Eradicated - Expert Reaction
Thursday, 5 May 2022, 12:13 pm | Science Media Centre
The cattle disease which arrived in New Zealand nearly five years ago has been reduced down to a single farm. It comes after a world-first eradication campaign involving the culling of thousands of cattle, which MPI has described as one of its biggest-ever ... More >>
