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Hot news: Tongariro awakens
Volcanoes have dominated the headlines this week with not one, but two New Zealand eruptions - and there may be more coming.
 At approximately 11:50 pm on Monday Mt Tongoriro erupted, showering much of the local area in fine ash and sending a plume of steam and ash 12km up into the air. While the eruption only lasted for a minute or two, GNS warn that there might be ongoing volcanic activity, and recent reports indicate that there is magma below the surface of the mountain.
Meanwhile, increased activity on White Island has turned out to be another eruption, confirmed by GNS volanologists who visited the island on Thursday morning.
While it is tempting to think that two North Island eruptions are connected, researchers are inclined to believe it is mere chance. "Every volcano is an individual in terms of its volcanic system and it's coincidental that they are both active at the same time," Volcanologist Brad Scott told the Bay of Plenty Times.
The question now being asked is: 'what happens next?'
Earlier in the week Dr Thomas Wilson from the University of Canterbury told the SMC:
"We do know that there have been eruptions from this part of the [Tongoriro] volcano in the past, and these have typically been pretty small on a global scale. But we can't rule anything out at this stage.
"A steam-driven eruption like this could be a sign that there's magma moving into place under the volcano, and we might see a progression through to a magmatic eruption. Or it could just be that the volcanic hydrothermal system has been unsettled by these earthquakes, and we're seeing an eruption as a result of this." Preliminary reports now indicate that there is indeed magma rising under Tongariro with GNS head of volcanology, Gill Jolly, confirming to Radio New Zealand this morning that samples of gas from the eruption indicate the presence of magma below the surface.
Read further expert commentary on the Science Media Centre, website. |
Vaccine safety raised during inquest
Claims relating to vaccine safety are back in the media spotlight as an inquest into the unexplained death of Lower Hutt teenager Jasmine Renata continues.
 Ms Renata's family has told the coroner they believe the death is linked to the Gardasil vaccine for human papilloma virus (HPV) that Ms Renata received six months earlier, and this week testimony from overseas witnesses providing health-related information to support these claims has been heard via video link.
Dr San Hang Lee told the inquest that he had detected DNA fragments of HPV DNA in tissue samples sent to him by Ms Renata's parents. He confirmed that it was not known if it the DNA was linked to her death. The inquest also heard from Prof Christopher Shaw, of the University of British Columbia, who analysed post mortem brain tissue from Ms Renata, detecting traces of the virus and aluminium. Media coverage of the inquest so far has covered the testimony of the two overseas expert witnesses, though scientists told the SMC they wished to examine a transcript of the proceedings before commenting extensively on their claims.
Science blogger Orac has written up an extensive analysis of the inquest, critically examining the evidence and providing background on the case.
The Science Media Centre also contacted the Immunisation Advisory Centre for further comment on the safety of the Gardasil vaccine. Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, Academic Lead, Immunisation Research and Vaccinology, Immunisation Advisory Centre, comments: "Data on the safety of Gardasil vaccine continues to accumulate globally and supports the excellent safety profile of this vaccine. More than 40 million doses of this vaccine have been distributed globally. There are now a number of very large post licensure studies that compare vaccinated with unvaccinated people showing there is no increase in risk for unexpected adverse outcomes associated with the Gardasil vaccine. "I find the claims bizarre. Gardasil is certainly likely to have residual fragments of HPV DNA in it as the vaccine is manufactured using a gene form the HPV virus. This is the case for any medicinal product manufactured using recombinant technology. This is not considered contamination and not considered a risk to vaccine recipients." Further commentary and a round up of media coverage can be found on the Science Media centre website.
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On the science radar...
The sound of spiders, wet geckos, sleepless sandpiper sex, record entanglement, innovative hyenas and the look of sporting 'triumph'.
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| Olympics: Faster, Higher, Stronger
The Olympics is in its final stages, and the SMC is keeping pace with the media, ready to help journalists cover all the science angles of the world's greatest sporting event.
 The SMC has proactively contacted a number of scientists - including a few who have worked directly with Olympic teams- and they are ready and waiting on the sidelines to help with background and commentary on a wide range of issues, including:
- Drugs in sport
- Injuries and recovery
- Genetics
- Biomechanics
- Sports psychology
- Fairness and ethics
- Women in sport
- Diet and nutrition
- Olympics and politics
- Sports physiology
- The Paralympics
- ...and much more!
If you are a journalist seeking expert input on any of these issues, or just looking for story ideas, don't hesitate to give as a call ( 04 499 5476; smc@sciencemediacentre.com)
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| Sciblogs podcast: Curiosity thrills!
We missed a week of the Sciblogs podcast to do some extra interviews for the Sciblogs podcast special on the Curiosity Mars Rover landing - the biggest science news event since, well the discover of the Higgs Boson.
 You'll enjoy the insights New Zealand scientists provide in the podcast on the Curiosity mission. Professor Craig Cary, a microbial ecologist and extremophile expert from Waikato University checks in to explain how NASA has been using Antarctica'a Dry Valley's as a test bed to prepare to search for life on Mars.
Dr Allan McInnes, an engineering lecturer at the University of Canterbury worked on the Opportunity and Spirit mars Rovers from 2000 - 2003 so knows a thing or two about what's involved in these highly complex and expensive missions - we ask him what's changed after a decade of rover innovation at NASA.
Turning to the big local story of the week, the eruption of Tongariro, we talk to University of Canterbury natural hazards expert, Dr Thomas Wilson, about this week's eruption and some of the potential future sceanrios for activity at Tongariro.
And we round out the podcast with John Kerr from the Science Media Centre taking us through three interesting science papers from New Zealand authors that were published this week
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Quoted: Otago Daily Times
"They really haven't lost the ability to dream but they bring those dreams to reality."
Prof Craig Rodger, Dept of Physics, University of Otago, on the NASA team and the Mars Rover
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New from the SMC
Experts respond:
Tongariro eruption: Read expert commentary on the Tongariro eruption and aftermath.
Climate dice loaded: A group of climate experts, including Prof James Hansen, claim recent heat waves and extreme summers can be attributed to global warming and not random chance.
Curiosity: Read expert reaction and commentary from UK and New Zealand researchers regarding the Mars Science Laboratory.
HPV vaccine: Claims relating to vaccine safety are back in the media spotlight as an inquest into the unexplained death of teenager continues.
In the News: Moa populations: Researchers have analysed DNA from bones of a number of giant extinct moa and used the data to make inferences about the size of the ancient moa population in New Zealand.Txts hrdr 2 read: New research from University of Canterbury researchers has shown that reading text-speak - the abbreviated writing many of us use in text messages - is harder on the brain than reading plain English.
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Sciblogs highlights
Some of the highlights from this week's posts:
Infectious jubilation - Curiosity get the better of Ken Perrott with his round up on the Mar Science Laboratory.
Open Parachute
Mount Tongariro eruption - sleeping giant awakens - Jesse Dykstra gives the low-down on the latest eruption in the Pacific's Ring of Fire.
Shaken not stirred
New nutrition guidelines for children out today - Amanda Johnson takes a look at the Ministry of Health's latest recommendation on child nutrition
Food Stuff
Favourite worst nightmare - Less white and more green for Greenland doesn't bode well, writes Gareth Renowden as he reflects on current ice loss trends.
Hot Topic
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Research highlights
Please note: hyperlinks point, where possible, to the relevant abstract or paper.
Friendships make Kiwis happy: A big study of New Zealand children shows their "social connection" while growing up is a more important route to adult well-being than academic ability. Australian researchers looking at Dunedin children over 32 years say positive social relationships in childhood and adolescence are key to adult well-being: a sense of coherence, positive coping strategies, social engagement and self-perceived strengths.
Journal of Happiness Studies
Implants may prevent seizures: A self-adjusting brain implant can electrically stimulate the brain to reduce "petit mal" epileptic episodes in rats, cutting the duration of seizures by 60 percent. Researchers say the electrodes could be implanted in a human skull in a cosmetically-acceptable way to help some epileptics control their seizures. Science
Stress makes men appreciate heavier women: Increased stress in men is associated with a preference for heavier women, according to a new study. Researcher sfound that stressed participants (who had to give a mock job interview) gave significantly higher ratings to images of normal weight and overweight female figures than those in a control group. These results, the authors write, are consistent with the idea that people idealise traits like heavier body size when they experience an environmental threat such as stress.
Early birds don't just get worms: Pectoral sandpipers - a bird species which migrates to New Zealand and other southern hemisphere wetlands - spend the Arctic summer feeding and mating. Contrary to a common view that sleep deprivation always leads to decreased performance, male birds which sleep regularly mate with fewer females than those which go without sleep for days. Some birds may have evolved the ability to sleep less and get a genetic edge. Pictures, video available.
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Policy updates
Some of the policy highlights from this week:
MOH Measels focus: Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew launched two Ministry of Health measles-related publications at Starship Hospital this week, and highlighted the impact of last year's measles outbreaks.
Animal tracing regulations: The Ministry for Primary Industries are calling for submissions on a new discussion paper on proposed regulations governing the National Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme which aims to track livestock nationwide.
Consultation on gambling: Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne today announced the release of a Ministry of Health consultation document on services it proposes to purchase to prevent and minimise gambling harm over the next few years.
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Upcoming sci-tech events
- Our Far South National Tour- Dr Gareth Morgan and others discuss their trip to the Southern Ocean - 14 August, Christchurch; 15. Dunedin; 16, Invercargill.
For these and more upcoming events, and more details about them, visit the SMC's Events Calendar. |
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