Ellen Rykers
Stories from Our Changing World
Ellen Rykers finds out what data a satellite uncovered about methane emissions, before it was lost in space. Audio
Our Changing World Detecting cow burps from space
In March 2024, a satellite built to detect the potent greenhouse gas methane launched into orbit â€" backed by New Zealand to the tune of $30 million. MethaneSAT aimed to pinpoint large leaks from oil… Audio
OCW Detecting cow burps from space - MethaneSAT
In March 2024, a satellite built to detect the potent greenhouse gas methane launched into orbit â€" backed by New Zealand to the tune of $32 million. MethaneSAT aimed to pinpoint large leaks from oil… Audio
Ellen Rykers - Bird of the Year
Bird of the Year swoops into the competition's backstory while showcasing incredible illustrations from more than a dozen top wildlife artists. Audio
Our Changing World Tauranga living sea walls
One hundred new ‘sea pods’ have been installed along the sea wall in Tauranga's Te Awanui harbour. Justine Murray joins a marine scientist to check out the rocky shoreline, and find out how these… Audio
Our Changing World – Wildfire science heats up
Smoke explosions. Fire tornadoes. Burning couches. It all happens in the fire lab: a purpose-built facility where researchers can set safely stuff on fire and study how it burns, for science. New… Audio
Our Changing World: Inside a fire lab
New Zealand experiences more than 4,500 wildfires every year – and the risk of big, destructive wildfires is increasing with climate change.
Ellen Rykers visits the fire lab at the University of… Audio
Our Changing World Keeping up with kakahi
KÄkahi are a keystone species in lake and river ecosystems, keeping the water clean by filtering one litre of water every hour. These native mussels once blanketed lakebeds across Auckland â€" but… Audio
Our Changing World: Mussel mania
New Zealand’s native freshwater mussels, or kākahi, are a keystone species for healthy lake and river ecosystems.
But in many lakes across Auckland, kākahi have disappeared.
Lake Rototoa near the… Audio
Critter of the Week: Tofu of the woods | Giant puffball
You could mistake this week's critter, the giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea), for a soccer ball. The giant fungus can grow into a puffy white ball up to 50 cm in diameter! Giant puffballs are also… Audio
SS1 - OCW 26 December 2024 - Mice in PF2050 and Kai Ika
Our Changing World is kicking off the summer science series this week with two stories from local podcast producers. First up, Victoria University of Wellington student Dan Moskovitz explores a curly… Audio
Our Changing World – A tricky trap for redback spiders
Invasive redback spiders are highly venomous, threatening both people and New Zealand’s native species. A team of scientists is developing a cunning tool to trap male redbacks, by concocting an… Audio
Our Changing World – Redback spider trap
Australian redback spiders found their way to New Zealand in the 1980s.
These dangerously venomous spiders are now found in Central Otago and New Plymouth, where they pose a risk to both people and… Audio
Tawaki piki toka | Eastern rockhopper penguin
Tawaki piki toka (eastern rockhopper penguins, Eudyptes filholi) are total rock stars. Audio
Critter of the Week: Manawatawhi paua
Paua are a national treasure, as iconically Aotearoa as pineapple lumps and kiwi. Paua have a long history as a source of meaty protein and decoration. This week's critter is the Manawatawhi paua… Audio
Morning Report Essentials for Monday 16 September
On today's episode, the government has released a draft list of 35 minerals it considers essential to the economy, the Police Minister is hailing a 22 percent drop in serious assaults in the Auckland… Audio
Bird of the Year winner announced
Forest and Bird spokesperson Ellen Rykers joins Ingrid Hipkiss to announce the Bird of the Year winner. Audio
Critter of the week
If you have trypophobia (fear of closely packed holes like honeycomb), then it is best not to look at photos of this lichen. Jesse talks to RNZ 's Ellen Rykers about lace lichen or coral lichen. Audio
Critter of the Week
Patangaroa or sun stars are a species of starfish found in the intertidal zones of Te Ika-a-Maui and the West Coast of the Te Waipounamu. Audio
Inside Auckland's lava caves
Caves created by rivers of lava underlie New Zealand’s biggest city. A new research project is documenting Auckland's lava caves, hoping to protect this hidden geological heritage and understand what… Audio
