A History of NZ Science in 25 Objects

Pinus radiata, New Zealand’s adopted icon

Jean Balchin • Jul 17, 2017

• forestry,
• genetic improvement schemes,
• New Zealand,
• pinus radiata,
• scion,
• wood

I used to be terrified of pine forests. The tall, dark trees seemed to quiver with menace, fringing the roads as we drove along in our little car. I’d peer out the window and dare myself to look into the forest, half expecting to see a wild thing lurking between the trees. Pinus radiata is New … Read More

5

Considering the Character of Galaxies

Jean Balchin • Jul 04, 2017

• age of universe,
• astronomy,
• Beatrice Tinsley,
• cosmology,
• expanding universe,
• galaxies,
• Milky Way,
• physics,
• stars

One day, when I was seven years old, I decided to camp out in the treehouse with my brother John. It was a poorly planned venture from the start; we misjudged the cold, the ferocity of the mosquitoes and our own temperaments. John got spooked looking at the gnarled bark of the tree, reading faces … Read More

Unravelling the twisted story of DNA

Jean Balchin • Jun 28, 2017

• DNA,
• DNA double helix,
• Francis Crick,
• James Watson,
• Maurice Wilkins,
• Rosalind Franklin

This grainy, black and white photograph is quite possibly the most important photograph in human history. Photograph 51, the unimaginatively-named X-ray diffraction image of DNA was taken by Raymond Gosling in May 1952, a PhD student under the supervision of Rosalind Franklin at King’s College London. Photograph 51 triggered the development … Read More

The Britten Motorcycle

Jean Balchin • Jun 23, 2017

• design,
• John Britten,
• Kiwi,
• motorbike,
• motorcycle,
• speed

Andrew Stroud on the Britten V1000 at Paeroa, Waikato, New Zealand in February, 2011.  My brother John loved motorbikes. As a child, he would fling aside his toy trains and model cars, and happily roll a mini motorbike along the terrain of his legs and arms for hours, muttering “vrmm-vrmm” under his breath. He was also … Read More

2

The Martin Jetpack

Jean Balchin • Jun 20, 2017

• aviation,
• first responders,
• jetpack,
• Martin,
• martin jetpack

His science faltered in the sun hot sun  he fell through  blazing like gold  at the end of a rainbow.  – Icarus, Michael Dransfield Last night, I dreamed I could fly. I took off running, leaping off a yellow cliff, and soaring over a technicoloured … Read More

Disposable syringes and drug addiction

Jean Balchin • Jun 16, 2017

• Colin Murdoch,
• disposable syringe,
• HIV/AIDS

The nurse steadied my arm as she gently positioned the syringe barrel in place. “You can look away if you need to,” she said, “it will soon be over.” I squirmed in my seat, but kept my eyes fixed on the needle as it gently slid beneath my skin. I was six years old, and photographs of children suffering from measles, … Read More

Plastic – It’s Electrifying!

Jean Balchin • Jun 13, 2017

• Alan MacDiarmid,
• LEDs,
• organic polymers

To this day, I vividly recall my tragic attempts in product design class at high school. Our teacher, underpaid and underprepared, threw caution to the wind and let us do as we pleased. The only instructions we were given was that we had to make something that could be used as a night light. To this end, I set about creating a … Read More

3

Decomposition and decapitated pig’s heads

Jean Balchin • May 31, 2017

• adicopere,
• bacteria,
• decomposition,
• pigs head

Decapitated pig’s heads floating in the moonlit water may sound like a scene from a B-grade horror movie, yet Gemma Dickson’s investigation into the microbial marine decomposition of human and animal remains has revolutionised forensic science. This may come as a surprise, but currently, if human remains wash up on shore, there is no established scientific method to conclude … Read More

Mordor, Massive software and Mount Doom

Jean Balchin • May 24, 2017

• Animation,
• Lord of the Rings,
• MASSIVE,
• software

“A last alliance of Men and Elves marched against the armies of Mordor. On the slopes of Mount Doom they fought for the freedom of Middle- Earth.” Galadriel’s thrilling, ethereal voice floated over the chaos and bloodshed of the battlefield. A wearied, battle-fatigued Elrond lead rank after rank of elf archers, and the seething mass of orcs retreated … Read More

Harold Gillies and Plastic Surgery

Jean Balchin • May 11, 2017

• art,
• harold gillies,
• Plastic Surgery

A pastel portrait of Gunner John Dyson by Henry Tonks in 1917, depicting the pioneering skill of Harold Gillies’s surgery. As an art history student, I am often asked to describe or praise artworks I’m not particularly fond of. This strangely captivating pastel portrait is not one of them. It reminds me of a softer Egon Schiele portrait, or deftly … Read More