Afternoons for Thursday 15 June 2023

1:15 New invention in Aotearoa could change medical imaging around the world

A Kiwi invention could be the next big thing in medical imaging.

Following in the footsteps of CT scanning and X Ray before that, the MARS scanner is the world's first 3D photon scanner.

It was devised by father and son team Phil and Anthony Butler, and they've just signed a major deal to collaborate with the world's leading academic medical center for musculoskeletal health.

MARS Bioimaging co-founder and chief medical officer Professor Anthony Butler talks to Jesse.

1:25 Taxidermized huia up for auction in the UK

The last confirmed sighting of the native huia was in 1907.

Next to the moa it's perhaps our most iconic extinct bird.

So how is it that two taxidermy huias are currently up for auction in the UK?

The pair of stuffed birds are set to go under the hammer in September through Tennants Auctioneers, and are expected to go for between 15 and 25 thousand pounds.

Zoologist and museum Mike Dickison talks to Jesse.

1:35 Looking at how to make batteries last longer and more organic.

There are only two types of batteries in the world, and they have pretty limited life cycles.

A long-lasting alternative could be made from room temperature molten salts, currently being tested by scientists at the University of Canterbury.

Associate Professor of Physical and Chemical Sciences at University, Deborah Crittenden speaks to Jesse.

1:45 Great album: The Thrill of It All

Today's link 3 winner will get a copy of the second studio album from Sam Smith released in 2017, The Thrill of It All.

2:10 Music Critic: Colin Morris

Today Colin talks to Jesse about music from The Cash Box Kings and Boz Scaggs.

2:25 NZ Sporting History: The 1981 Springbok Tour

For NZ Sporting history today we look back at the 1981 Springbok Tour to Aotearoa.

New Zealand continued to play rugby against South Africa through the years of apartheid, and toured over there with a 'white only team'.  

Then in 1981 the Springbok team were welcomed onto our shores.

Keith Quinn was a TVNZ Rugby commentator for the tour, who put aside his anti-tour political views in order to do his job first and foremost as a commentator.

Keith joins Jesse to remember this significant piece of New Zealand Sporting History.

3:10 Link 3

3:15 Solving the World's Problems with Dave Armstrong

Today writer and playwright, screenwriter, and columnist for The Post Dave Armstrong talks to Jesse about some pressing issues in the capital.

He discusses the loss of confidence in Let's Get Wellington Moving, the move to get rid of library fines and the end of Summer Shakespeare, a regular and popular fixture on the Wellington arts calendar that's closing down.

3:20 History with Dr Grant Morris

Today Grant Morris reviews a recent NZ history publication: “Empire City: Wellington becomes the capital of NZ” by John Martin (Te Herenga Waka University Press, 2022).

He looks at the importance of this kind of local/regional history and why every Wellingtonian should read this book.

3:35 Spoken Feature BBC Witness

Vogue's war correspondent Lee Miller found herself in Adolf Hitler's Munich apartment when the news broke that he was dead.

Earlier that day, she and fellow photographer David Scherman had witnessed the harrowing scenes at the liberated Dachau concentration camp.

Lee Miller's son and biographer, Antony Penrose, explains to Josephine McDermott the significance of the photograph taken in the final days of World War II in Europe.

3:45 The Panel with Ali Mau and Scott Campbell