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When the going gets tough for certain bacteria, they form into spores that can withstand the harshest of environments. Scientists have now utilized that fact to produce "living plastic" that biodegrades – but only under specific conditions. · Spores are a dormant form taken by some types of bacteria, typically when nutrients are in short supply. · They are protected by a tough outer coating that allows them to survive high temperatures, high…

Astronomers have watched a supermassive black hole take two bites of a star, and predicted when it might go back for a third. If it does, this should make for an intriguing stellar light show. · Black holes are notoriously messy eaters. When a hapless star wanders too close, the incredibly strong gravitational forces rip it to shreds and throw its guts everywhere, which produces a bright burst of light that telescopes can detect. Astronomers…

A “bananageddon” might be on the horizon, and not for the first time. But new research could help save our favorite fruit. · The bananas we chow down on nowadays mostly belong to the Cavendish variety, but they’re facing an existential threat. A fungus called Foc TR4 is infecting and killing off crops with a disease called fusarium wilt, and once it takes hold in a banana field it’s almost impossible to eradicate. Worse still, Cavendish bananas…

Several government agencies refused to disclose details about koha payments to iwi organisations. · Agencies often cited section 18(f) of the Official Information Act 1982, stating that the requests would require substantial manual collation or research. · This lack of oversight in government practices illustrates the need for greater transparency and adherence to guidelines set by the Auditor-General. · OIAs reveal lack of transparency · Koha…

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones referred to High Court judge Justice Cheryl Gwyn as a “Communist Judge” during a meeting with the seafood industry about Māori rights. · A spokesperson for the PM later noted that: “It is a matter of public record that the judge once belonged to the Socialist Action League during the 1970s and 1980s.” · The meeting, held in May, involved Jones, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith, and representatives from…

While Hilaire Belloc often describes the type of economy he is advocating as “distributist,” he also refers to it as “proprietary,” due to the idea that a truly free economy requires the widest distribution of private property as possible. · The recent esays on distributism and the many comments in response raised a number of interesting questions and also revealed that a number of readers, including myself, were to varying degrees perplexed as…

A severe brain injury can leave patients unresponsive to stimuli, but they may be more aware than we realize. A new study of brain activity has shown that up to a quarter of unresponsive patients may exhibit “hidden consciousness.” · After a severe brain injury, such as trauma or a stroke, patients can enter a state where they stop responding to stimuli in their environment, such as sound, light, pain and instructions. This can include a…

The word spring uses almost everything that the mouth can do, from front to back. It hisses the S, shuts it up with pursed lips and then explodes it with the P, releases the flowing RIN with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth, and closes the word from the top of the throat with the guttural G. It is fun to say, a roller coaster ride for the mouth, and it has been said almost unchanging for many thousand years. But not until the last few…

Manuka honey reduced breast cancer cell growth by 84% without harming healthy cells or causing major side effects, according to preliminary studies. The findings open the door to developing a natural, non-toxic supplementary, or potentially stand-alone, anticancer treatment. · Nutraceuticals – a combination of ‘nutrition’ and ‘pharmaceuticals’ that, let’s be honest, smacks of marketing speak – are products that, apart from providing nutritional…

One of the finest American teachers acquiesced a few years ago to be my mentor. I am a stranger to the good man, but he agreed to answer my questions because he is in possession of a proper understanding of the nature of a true teacher, a public figure whose work is ultimately for the benefit of the common good. I go to him every few months with my most pressing quandaries. A while back I asked him to teach me about the nature of ideology. He…