Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

A new report from the US Department of Energy is challenging climate orthodoxy, drawing condemnation from activist scientists. · However, Professor John Raine argues it brings long-overdue balance to the debate. · According to Raine, the report “offers strong and reasoned counterfactuals to the climate catastrophising”, including IPCC assumptions regarding the extent of warming caused by human greenhouse gas emissions. “It is not possible to…

Another air record has been (unofficially) broken as a prop-driven solar/electric aircraft reached the highest altitude yet for its type. On August 12, 2025, a modified Elektra One reached 31,237 feet (9,521 m) in the skies over Switzerland. · Taking off from Sion Airport with SolarStratos founder Raphaël Domjan at the controls, the aircraft registered as HB-SXA conducted a five-hour, nine-minute flight completely under solar power, with a…

Another air record has been (unofficially) broken as a prop-driven solar/electric aircraft reached the highest altitude yet for its type. On August 12, 2025, a modified Elektra One reached 31,237 feet (9,521 m) in the skies over Switzerland. · Taking off from Sion Airport with SolarStratos founder Raphaël Domjan at the controls, the aircraft registered as HB-SXA conducted a five-hour, nine-minute flight completely under solar power, with a…

These bars are flavoured with rose water, cardamom and anise, and are bound to be popular with a crowd · The traditional rich dates and nut filling is complemented with a drizzle of dark chocolate  · Ingredients · - 250g walnuts - 60g date paste (or 60g pitted medjool dates, finely chopped, plus 1 tbsp sunflower oil) - 140g  chocolate digestive biscuits, broken into fine crumbs (about 9 biscuits) - 100g dark muscovado sugar - ¾ tsp…

Neither of New Zealand’s major party leaders is particularly popular, and that’s becoming a structural liability, argues former minister Peter Dunne in Newsroom. · Christopher Luxon’s support has fallen steadily since becoming Prime Minister and is now the lowest of any PM under MMP. · Since the election, Luxon has had only one brief improvement, now erased by ongoing dissatisfaction, including from Auckland business leaders who once backed…

Most 3D-printed houses we cover are either arranged on one floor or have an upper floor added later using a timber shell. However, this recent example, by Contec Australia, was entirely 3D-printed across both floors in just 18 hours. · The project is located in Tapping, Perth, and is the only 3D-printed house we've seen where both floors are actually printed, except for the experimental Kamp C project. This means that the build process is…

If you deal with waves of drowsiness during the day, you might be among the estimated 33% of the population who suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a common but often unrecognized condition that's linked to a host of increased health risks including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Now, researchers have identified the biological markers of it, bringing targeted treatment within reach. · Not surprisingly, EDS is often present in…

The Gene Technology Bill was meant to come back from the health select committee on 31 July. That got pushed to 22 August, and now again to 10 October. · Prime Minister Christopher Luxon insists the delay is not political, just about “getting it right.” But Winston Peters says the issue is “far too complicated for a ten second reply” and has confirmed NZ First is still working through its caveats. · The bill would create a new gene tech…

Federated Farmers and Beef + Lamb New Zealand say the Environment Select Committee has missed its chance to stop productive farmland being lost to carbon forestry. · A proposal to tighten exemptions allowing newly converted land to enter the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) after 4 December 2024 has not addressed the main problem, according to Richard Dawkins, chair of Federated Farmers’ meat and fibre section. · “The government had a chance to…