Science Media Centre

CCTV video footage taken from a camera at the entrance to the Pike River mine was released last night and shows the impact of the pressure wave that resulted from the explosion deep within the mine. The 52-second piece of footage can be viewed on most news websites including TV3 and Stuff. The Science Media [...]

On Friday evening, the Pike River mine outside the South Island town of Greymouth experienced an explosion which trapped 29 miners below the surface. The explosion looks to have been due to a methane gas buildup, making rescue attempts difficult, both for fear of setting off a second explosion, and due to potentially high levels [...]

Some of the research into the development of genetically engineered (GE) clover which could reduce pastoral greenhouse gas emissions will be done overseas, says AgResearch. The aim of the research is to switch on a specific gene in white clover which would reduce methane emissions and nitrogen waste, provide livestock with extra protein, and improve [...]

Melissa Davies writes for 3 News about New Zealand’s methane emissions, which are fives times the global average per head of population, and why they are bad for the environment. An excerpt: (read in full here) ““In terms of a gas that can absorb heat, infrared radiation and be implicated in global warming – it [...]

Officials and scientists from 28 countries that have signed up to the Global Research Alliance will arrive in Wellington next week to hammer out a plan to “produce more food with fewer emissions”. A four day conference running from 7 – 10 April will include a morning of public sessions – speeches from Prime Minister [...]

CRI Taskforce set to give its verdict The CRI Taskforce, set up by the Government to review the structure of the country’s Crown Research Institutes, is set to release its recommendations after presenting them to the Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Dr Wayne Mapp on February 15. Taskforce chairman Neville Jordan said the review [...]

Today, the first map of a rumen methanogen DNA sequence was published in the journal PLoS One, giving scientists worldwide a major new opportunity to identify methods for cutting methane emissions from cows. There was much excitement in late 2008 when it was announced that a team of PGgRC/AgResearch scientists were the first in the [...]

Kathy Marks of the NZ Herald reports on an Australian project in which sheep are to have their burp outputs measured. The project, which is the first of its kind, aims to identify those animals which burp less, potentiallyallowing the breeding of ‘burpless’ sheep. An excerpt: (read in full here) “The world-first study is being [...]

Scientists all over the world are looking into strategies which would reduce the amount of methane produced by livestock. An excerpt: (read in full here) “Everything from changing the animal’s diets to breeding new sheep has been attempted, but researchers are becoming continually frustrated by livestock emission. Cocktails of clover, garlic, and cottonseed and doses [...]

Kiran Chug of the Dominion post reports new evidence which has shown that methane levels worldwide are on the rise again, following years of staying at the same level. The gas – a potent greenhouse gas – contributes to global warming, and there are concerns that climate change could, in turn, contribute to larger releases [...]