Lately, In Science

Yes, koalas are cute – but should we bring them to NZ? Errm, no

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Jan 14, 2020

• Australian bushfires,
• bushfires,
• conservation,
• koala,
• relocation

It’s been hard to miss the extreme fires raging across Australia and the tragic plight of the animals – human and otherwise – affected by the fires’ insatiable spread. I know I’ve been captivated and concerned by the tales of how Australia’s famous wildlife has been coping. Koalas approaching cyclists to beg a drink of water, kangaroos seeking … Read More

In science communication, words matter

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Jun 21, 2019

• 1080,
• aerial 1080,
• Environmental Protection Agency,
• EPA,
• grammar,
• science communication

Being a grammar nerd isn’t always the best way to win friends and influence people, but today I’m yet again reminded why it’s important to get our words right. Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Authority released its annual HSNO Monitoring report, which includes data on hazardous substances and new organisms managed under the HSNO Act. This year, they’ve expanded their … Read More

A new pre-print server and media access to research

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Jun 06, 2019

• Plan S,
• Plan U,
• pre-print,
• research publications,
• Science journalism

A few years ago I was talking to a physicist at a work function when he told me about arXiv (I made him spell it out for me so I could look it up the next day). You mean, people put their research papers up online for free, for people to read them before they’re peer reviewed and you don’t … Read More

Tracking CFC emissions: a scientific mystery story

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • May 23, 2019

• CFC-11,
• CFCs,
• China,
• Montreal Protocol,
• ozone damage,
• ozone hole,
• trichlorofluoromethane

Thirty years ago, in May 1989, global leaders gathered in Helsinki to sign into force the Montreal Protocol. You might not be familiar with it by name, but you certainly know its effects: the Montreal Protocol phased out the use of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, and other ozone-depleting substances in an effort to reverse the damage to the ozone layer. It’s … Read More

Improving health news through press releases

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • May 18, 2019

• health claims,
• hype,
• media,
• press releases,
• Science journalism

In 2014 a study was published that challenged an oft-cited criticism that journalists are to blame for hyped-up health stories. Sensational headlines, breathless reporting, caveats buried so far down the story that most readers never find them. We hear these complaints all the time about the media. But this study, published in The BMJ, turned the claims on their … Read More

Violence in the media and cycles of trauma

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Apr 26, 2019

• media,
• PTSD,
• terrorism,
• trauma

As governments consider tightening the reins on social media companies and the platforms’ use in terrorism, new research highlights the impact of being exposed to such violence. Following last month’s mosque shootings in Christchurch, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced plans to co-host a meeting in Paris called the “Christchurch Call”. The aim will be to have world leaders … Read More

A drug-resistant fungus shows the importance of the media

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Apr 10, 2019

• Candida auris,
• Fiji,
• media awards,
• New York Times,
• Newsroom,
• Voyagers

Last weekend a number of alarming headlines from the USA showed up in my social media feeds. They’ve continued over the past few days, from Forbes: To People.com: And ever the restraint from Jezebel: The stories stemmed from a New York Times investigation, by Matt Richtel and Andrew Jacobs, detailing … Read More

Where is the social responsibility among social media companies?

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Mar 19, 2019

• Facebook,
• livestream,
• mosque shooting

An 18-year-old has appeared in court on charges relating to sharing a video of a terrorist attack last week, but where is the accountability for the social media platforms that enabled it to be shared in the first place? Much of Friday afternoon was surreal: we went from celebrating the action of thousands of New Zealand teenagers protesting about the … Read More

The MMR Myth: How should we report it?

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Mar 08, 2019

• autism,
• immunisation,
• Lancet,
• MMR,
• vaccination,
• Wakefield

This week a new research paper concluded, again, that there is no link between the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine and autism. It almost seems mundane to report on, given we established many years ago that there was no such link and the persistent myth was based on fraudulent ‘research’. But as a friend and family member of people … Read More

Cold-store snails, data for sale and NZ’s lost birds – our favourite science journalism from October

Sarah-Jane O'Connor • Nov 01, 2018

• Aotearoa New Zealand Science Journalism Fund,
• bird of the year,
• climate change,
• DNA tests,
• IPCC,
• powelliphanta,
• taxonomy

Phew, it’s been a busy month in the news agenda: from the IPCC’s 1.5C report to turmoil in the National party and tragedy in Wanaka and Mt Cook. Through all of that, you’d be forgiven for missing some of the excellent science-related stories that have been published over the past month. But never fear, we’ve collated some of our favourites … Read More