Science

The City Nature science challenge can get everyone involved (Image: Christchurch City Council, with additional design by The Spinoff)

The global challenge making your backyard come alive

Even in suburbia, even on grey autumn long weekends, there is biodiversity. You just need to look for it.

By Shanti Mathias | 21st April, 2025

Contributing writer

No one can be cute forever. (Left: Te Papa. Right: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute).

Breaking news: the colossal squid is… beautiful?

The first verified sighting of a colossal squid alive in its habitat shows that it's not nearly as ugly as the one in Te Papa.

By Gabi Lardies | 16th April, 2025

A kea searches for food, finds none and knocks a plate off a table at Arthur’s Pass Cafe

Arthur’s Pass tourists love kea, but locals are desperately trying to keep them away

A campaign to discourage New Zealand’s charismatic mountain parrot, the kea, from hanging out at a tourist hotspot appears to be working.

By Venetia Sherson | 16th April, 2025

Contributing writer

Tonight (Friday March 14), approx 7.30-8pm (NZT): if you miss it, you’ll be filled with regret. (Image: The Spinoff)

Urgent PSA: there is a lunar eclipse tonight

Where, when and how to admire this evening’s celestial event.

By Shanti Mathias | 14th March, 2025

Contributing writer

Professional trappers do gruelling work, and find great views. (Image: supplied/Tina Tiller)

Getting rid of predators is one thing. Keeping them gone is another

On the frontlines of invasive species control, serious questions about funding and scalability linger.

By Shanti Mathias | 11th March, 2025

Contributing writer

The new bug in town. (Photos: left, Auckland Museum, right, Kate Mcalpine via iNaturalist).

What are ‘winged wētā’ and are they taking over?

An Australian wētā lookalike was first noticed in Pukekohe in 1990. Now the stroppy biting insects are common from Auckland up to Cape Reinga.

By Gabi Lardies | 31st January, 2025

Image: The Spinoff

The science sector shake-up, explained

The government wants to 'maximise the value' of its funding of scientific research. Here's what that means.

By Shanti Mathias | 24th January, 2025

Contributing writer

Just some of the common products that contain PFAS (Image: The Spinoff)

Are we doing enough about ‘forever chemicals’?

They're in stuff you use every day – and probably in your bloodstream, too.

By Shanti Mathias | 22nd January, 2025

Contributing writer

Microplastics found in organic waste across Aotearoa. (Image: Supplied)

Great, there are microplastics in our compost now too

It may look like a beautiful piece of abstract art, but the reality of what you're looking at 'raises a few scary questions'.

By Alex Casey | 21st January, 2025

Should I swim here? (Image: Tina Tiller)

A trip to the beach with the poo detectives

How a little jar of seawater ends up as a red cross that ruins your day-at-the-beach plans – but keeps you safe from swimming in sewage.

By Shanti Mathias | 26th December, 2024

Contributing writer

Mara Fischer, Ben Harris and Tara Williams prepare a sediment corer for its journey to the bottom of the sea (Image: Shanti Mathias)

Carbon credits, fish poo and the push to discover the secrets of the sea floor

As the ocean is transformed by global heating, pollution and trawling, could blue carbon be a reason to protect more of it?

By Shanti Mathias | 16th December, 2024

Contributing writer

Image: The Spinoff

The changes to research funding in Aotearoa, explained

What are Marsden grants, and why have this week's changes to them caused such a stir?

By Shanti Mathias | 5th December, 2024

Contributing writer

What happens to all that plastic when it leaves your possession? (Image: Getty/The Spinoff)

Is New Zealand – and the world – doing enough to tackle the plastic problem?

There’s plastic everywhere, and efforts to reduce it are limited by the power of big oil.

By Shanti Mathias | 5th December, 2024

Contributing writer

Image: Getty Images; additional design The Spinoff

The impact of long Covid will be huge. So why is New Zealand doing nothing about it?

'You think it won’t be you, then after your next inevitable Covid-19 reinfection, it is, and you’re left to wonder why nobody stepped up.'

By Rohan Botica | 30th October, 2024

Design: Liam Rātana

There’s a silent killer threatening the mauri of our moana

A new documentary explores the devastating impact of caulerpa, an invasive algae choking New Zealand's coastal ecosystems.

By Liam Rātana | 23rd October, 2024

The two camps are bitterly divided.

White-tailed spiders: Innocent scapegoat or dangerous super-pest?

Once and for all: are white-tailed spiders dangerous or not?

By Hera Lindsay Bird | 18th October, 2024

Contributing writer