Alison Ballance
Successful new seabird colony on Matiu Somes Island
Eight years ago volunteers began translocating fluttering shearwater chicks to Wellington's Matiu Somes Island to establish what is now a growing seabird colony.
AudioOur Changing World for 6 June 2019
The NZ Bird Atlas is launched, a successful effort to create a new fluttering shearwater colony, Fiordland's tawaki penguins go for record-breaking long swims, and the chemical element gallium. Audio
Gold - a most desirable noble metal
Gold is highly valued for its colour as well as for being malleable and ductile, and as a noble metal it is unreactive and doesn't rust, says Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 32 of Elemental. Audio
Gold - a most desirable noble metal
Gold is highly valued for its colour as well as for being malleable and ductile, and as a noble metal it is unreactive and doesn't rust, says Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 32 of Elemental.
AudioGermanium - important in the first transistors
Germanium is a metalloid that was a key element in early transistors and is now used in optical fibres and infrared night vision scopes, says Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 31 of Elemental. Audio
Germanium - important in the first transistors
Germanium is a metalloid that was a key element in early transistors and is now used in optical fibres and infrared night vision scopes, says Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 31 of Elemental.
AudioThe streams beneath the streets
New research shows Wellington's underground streams are important homes and highways for freshwater fish. Audio
The streams beneath the streets
New research shows Wellington's underground streams are important homes and highways for freshwater fish.
AudioOur Changing World for 30 May 2019
Many of Wellington's streams now run in pipes under the roads, and the aspergillosis crisis in the kakapo population grows. Audio
Kākāpō health concerns continue
The number of cases of aspergillosis in the kākāpō population continues to rise, with 30 birds on the mainland for testing & treatment. The deaths of Huhana and Merty drop the adult population to 142… Audio
Kākāpō health concerns continue
The number of cases of aspergillosis in the kākāpō population continues to rise, with 30 birds on the mainland for testing & treatment. The deaths of Huhana and Merty drop the adult population to 142…
AudioGallium - mysterious case of the disappearing spoon
Gallium is the second element named after France, is a key element in mobile phones & Blu-ray players & melts at body temperature, says Prof Allan Blackman in ep 30 of Elemental. Audio
Gallium - mysterious case of the disappearing spoon
Gallium is the second element named after France, is a key element in mobile phones & Blu-ray players & melts at body temperature, says Prof Allan Blackman in ep 30 of Elemental.
AudioGadolinium - plays a key role in MRI scans
Gadolinium has interesting magnetic properties and is used as a contrast agent in MRI scans, according to AUT's Prof Allan Blackman in ep 29 of Elemental. Audio
Gadolinium - plays a key role in MRI scans
Gadolinium has interesting magnetic properties and is used as a contrast agent in MRI scans, according to AUT's Prof Allan Blackman in ep 29 of Elemental.
AudioFrancium - final naturally-occurring element to be discovered
Francium was the last naturally-occurring element to be discovered and has never been seen, says Prof Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 28 Elemental. Audio
Francium - final naturally-occurring element to be discovered
Francium was the last naturally-occurring element to be discovered and has never been seen, says Prof Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 28 Elemental.
AudioThe Southland accent - a rolling change
The Southland accent has a distinctive burr, and new research is revealing how those 'rolled Rs' have changed over time. Audio
The Southland accent - a rolling change
The Southland accent has a distinctive burr, and new research is revealing how those 'rolled Rs' have changed over time.
AudioOur Changing World for 23 May 2019
Southlanders are rolling their Rs more - and less - than 100 years ago, and the chemical element fluorine. Audio