Spiders need breaks, too
Focus on one task too long, and performance suffers. That so-called “vigilance decrement” occurs whether you’re writing a manuscript, doing your taxes—or hunting flies.
William Helton, PhD, at George Mason University, usually studies sustained attention in people. Recently, he teamed up with animal behavior researcher Ximena Nelson, PhD, at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, to investigate whether jumping spiders also experience a dip in performance when they work too long without a break.
Read the full article at American Psychological Association.
Into the ice world: Drilling into Antarctica’s Mt Erebus
Hidden within Antarctica’s most active volcano could be a key to understanding life on other planets – and now scientists plan to drill into it.
The geothermal features found on Mt Erebus, overlooking New Zealand’s Scott Base, are home to an abundance of micro-organisms with some extremely unusual features.
In a previous study, Waikato University microbiologist Professor Craig Cary and colleagues dug just 12cm into the soil on the mountain to find a remarkable variety of bacteria living just below the surface.
In a new three-year programme, just awarded a $935,000 grant from the Marsden Fund, a team led by Cary and Dr Matt Stott of the University of Canterbury will return to Erebus to investigate further.
Read the full article at New Zealand Herald.
NIWA scientist throws light on the Red Zone
Christchurch’s Red Zone is to be the focal point of a scientific experiment involving street lights and insects over summer.
NIWA freshwater ecologist Dr Michelle Greenwood* is trying to find out how a change in the colour spectrum of street lights is affecting the tiny insects that live in and near freshwater. Read the full story at Voxy.
* Dr Michelle Greenwood received her PhD in Ecology (2008) with Professor Angus McIntosh.
From climate delusion to Taylor Swift to Rocket Lab: NZ scientists’ 2018 revelations
We asked a bunch of smart people in NZ science and technology to tell us their revelation of 2018. Whether in the field of science or something else altogether, what blew them away?
Check out what blew Juliet Gerrard away. My personal favourite is that of James Renwick and the wisdom of Greta Thunberg (check out her video).
Read full article at The Spinoff.