Astronomy
Celebrating the night sky on Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island has become the world's third International Dark Sky Sanctuary, in recognition of its outstanding star-filled night skies.
Video, AudioSOFIA - a flying telescope with a unique view of space
NASA's SOFIA observatory is a 2.5m telescope mounted in the back of a plane. It observes the birth and death of stars and the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. Audio
SOFIA - a flying telescope with a unique view of space
NASA's SOFIA observatory is a 2.5m telescope mounted in the back of a plane. It observes the birth and death of stars and the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy.
AudioAdios, Cassini
It's time to farewell Cassini, the unmanned spacecraft that revealed so much about Saturn and her moons.Plus scientists discover another possible explanation for antibiotic resistance. Audio
Brian Cox: 'Mars will be an interesting place to be'
Humans are physically insignificant both individually and as a civilisation, but if we are very rare in the universe – as science suggests – we are also extremely valuable, says particle physicist… Audio
Nights' Science - Astronomy
Former University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore raises our gaze to the bodies floating in space. Audio
Māori astronomer Rangi Matamua on Matariki
The rising of the Matariki star constellation (aka Pleiades) announces Te Tau Hou, the Māori New Year. Dr Rangi Matamua, a leading expert in Māori astronomy, talks about its meaning. Audio
Womb with a view: when can a foetus see?
Science news – research suggests 34-week-old foetuses can see in the womb, plus the Zika virus could be used to treat brain cancer and measuring a white dwarf star with light. Audio
Nights Science - Astronomy
Former University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore raises our gaze to the bodies floating in space. Tonight, a habitable super-earth? and audible meteors explained, sort… Audio
A stunning sight: Aurora Australis seen from Auckland to Otago
Otago University astronomer Ian Griffin says Aurora hunters are being treated to an unusually intense and widespread display of the Southern Lights, and it's not over yet. Audio
Taking penicillin while pregnant could affect your baby's brain
Taking penicillin when pregnant could alter the brain chemistry of your offspring; and scientists have detected an atmosphere around an Earth-sized planet about 40 light years away. Audio
The 22 kilobyte galaxy
Scientists recently announced they'd discovered seven earth-sized planets orbiting a nearby star, but their discovery had been predicted already - by a computer game. Audio
Tech news: No fly drones and exoplanets
The problems of private drone use during an emergency; claims that half of the world's web traffic is encrypted; and gamers identify planets for scientists in a cool citizen science project. Audio
Hugh McCarroll: The Space Poop Challenge
Hugh McCarroll of Hamilton is one of the finalists in a global competition designed by NASA to crowdsource ideas for collecting waste from astronauts. Audio
Seven Earth-like planets found that could have life
The discovery in a nearby solar system has excited astronomers as it could lead to the discovery of extraterrestrial life. Video, Audio
Seven Earth-sized Planets Discovered
NASA has just announced the discovery of seven Earth-sized planets that orbit a star other than our sun. Three of them are in what is described as the "habitable zone" where scientists say liquid… Video, Audio, Gallery
Nights' Science
Former University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore raises our gaze to the bodies floating in space. Tonight, cosmic radiation. Audio
Dr Chris Acton: Hubble telescope
Dr Chris Acton will be talking the Hubble telescope. Audio
The women ‘computers’ who measured the stars
Dava Sobel tells Kim Hill about the ‘Harvard Computers’, the women who helped usher in modern astrophysics. Audio
Nights' Science - Astronomy
Imaging planets around other stars, a billion star positions measured by the GAIA satellite, and the reason why Venus is so bright at the moment - We're exploring celestial bodies with former Mt John… Audio
