Disease
Why life may indeed really begin at 40
You might be at the stage of your life where you think you peaked in your 20's and are now enduring a decline, but science journalist David Robson explains the Seven Primes of Life and why turning 40… Audio
Professor Gary McLean: 'Annual Covid-19 boosters likely'
Joining us again on Sunday morning is New Zealander Dr Gary McLean. He discusses the Delta variant, what type of masks we should be wearing, and why annual Covid-19 booster shots are going to be… Audio
M.bovis: inhumane and traumatising - new study
A study of the psycho-social impact of M.bovis on Southland's rural communities had found the Government's response was bureaucratic, inhumane and traumatising to farmers. The University of Otago… Audio
How exercising your muscles can combat chronic inflammation
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have shown exercise has an innate ability to ward off the damaging effects of chronic inflammation. Nenad Bursac, professor of biomedical engineering at Duke… Audio
Why the next pandemic could be a potentially deadly fungus
While the world continues to struggle to contain Covid-19, scientists are warning of another coronavirus pandemic on the horizon -- one which is likely to come from a yeast-like fungus. Dr Tom Chiller… Audio
Vegetarians have healthier biomarker profiles than meat-eaters
New research suggests people on a vegetarian diet have healthier levels of disease markers than people who eat meat. Otago University's Dr Ali Hill joins the show to explain what biomarkers are, and… Audio
Covid-19 in Peru: 'vaccine' made from guinea pig poop
Kiwi Patrick Emanuel is a pathologist who is based in Lima. We've spoken to him before about the situation with Covid-19 in Peru, and now things are looking bad there with next door neighbours Brazil… Audio
Our Changing World for 29 April 2021
Alison Ballance revisits a 2013 story about kauri dieback disease and gets an update of the disease's impact in 2021. Audio
Covid-19 update with Professor Gary McLean
New Zealander Gary McLean is a professor in molecular immunology at London Metropolitan University and also a researcher with Imperial College. He's an international authority on coronaviruses. Audio
Kate Mosse: 'Historical fiction lets us deal with the big issues'
Book reading has been on a high during the pandemic, with sales of historical fiction in particular soaring. Novelist Kate Mosse's new book, The City of Tears, has been gaining rave reviews. Kate… Audio
The secret to living to well into your 90s (or older)
Dr Claudia Kawas is searching for the secrets to living a longer and healthier life. Kawas and her team have been running a major study of ageing California residents for more than two decades. She… Audio
Is running or walking better for you?
We all know the benefits of exercise — but do we need to run to get the best returns, or can we get a sufficient dose just from walking? Sports engineer Steve Haake pits running against walking and… Audio
Siblings develop Covid-19 immunity after parents infected
An Australian study is investigating why three siblings did not get seriously ill with Covid-19 after their parents contracted the illness. Dr Melanie Neeland from the Murdoch Children's Research… Audio
Sir Paul Nurse: What Is Life?
Nobel prize-winning geneticist Sir Paul Nurse's latest book, What Is Life?, explores the question of what we as humans share with all other living things on this planet. Audio
Cats costing billions each year by spreading diseases
Diseases transmitted by cats costs the Australian economy more than A$6 billion annually. This news is bad for New Zealand, too, with 45% of Kiwi households having at least one cat. Professor Sarah… Audio
Covid-19 update with Professor Gary McLean
New research suggests that people with blood type O could be less likely to get sick with Covid-19. New Zealand professor Gary McLean joins the show to discuss the topic of blood group susceptibility.
…Petra Straight: Pharmacist on the frontline
Working as a pharmacist in some of the worst conflict zones in the world has given Petra Straight a new perspective on risk.
She was part of the response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, and… Audio, Gallery
How the next pandemic could be engineered by terrorists
The next major pandemic could be inflicted by terrorists unleashing a bio-engineered virus on to the world, according to distinguished fellow at Harvard Law School, Vivek Wadwha. He joins the show to… Audio
From DNA to RNA: Science's unhealthy obsession with acronyms
The use of acronyms in scientific publications has spread life wildfire over the last 70 years, according to a study just published in the scientific journal eLife. Study co-author Professor Adrian… Audio
The Weekend Panel with Jane Clifton & Richard Harman
Our Sunday Morning panellists offer their thoughts on the past week's news. They'll be discussing Covid-19 testing, the latest political polls and rumblings, personal photos being made public, and… Audio