New Zealand is third in the world for the number of orbital rocket launches from our shores, sitting just behind the US and China. Phil Vine discovers some of the challenges raised by our push into the unknown and how it is changing the final frontier.

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• Through a science experiment on the ISS, New Zealand researchers have been taking advantage of the unique conditions in low earth orbit to investigate commercial opportunities.
• While New Zealand is well known as a place from which to launch rockets, we do not have a lot of our own hardware in space (the University of Auckland does have TPA-1 CubeSat). But that might be about to change.
• Tech bros turned space bros like Elon Musk are making big waves out in orbit. The latest news is that Musk is hoping to harness the sun through satellites to power AI data centres.
• The New Zealand government's biggest investment in an international space mission ended in failure last year after MethaneSAT, a satellite built to detect methane emissions around the world, lost contact.
• While there are challenges inherent in humans and their technology being in space, that’s not all that is going on. Scientists are keeping a close eye on an active black hole and bright lights have Northland locals turning their eyes to the skies.

Guests:

• Mark Rocket, CEO Kea Aerospace
• Dr Priyanka Dhopade, senior lecturer in mechanical and mechatronics engineering, University of Auckland
• Dr Tuana Yazici, space law expert

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We know there are issues with sustainability within the fashion industry - can science help create a better future? Claire Concannon visits the Bioeconomy Science Institute in Rotorua to learn how New Zealand scientists are contributing to a massive multi-national project aimed at shaping the textile industry of tomorrow.

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• UPWEARS has their own research project page if you want to learn more.
• Learn more about how the Bioeconomy Science Institute (formally Scion) is figuring out how to make new materials and products using bio-waste products rather than fossil fuels.
• The rise of synthetic fibres impacted the wool industry here in New Zealand, although some entrepreneurs and weavers are making it work for them.

Guests:

• Dr Yi Chen, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARS
• Dr Robert Abbel, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARS
• Sean Taylor, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARS
• Louise Le Gall, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARS
• Dr Kate Parker, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARS

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Since 2018 there's been a massive effort underway to clear over 110,000 hectares of South Westland of possums, rats and stoats. As the pest numbers have dropped the native flora and fauna seem to have flourished. The eradication stage is now nearing completion, and the focus is switching to maintenance. What will it take to keep the pests out long-term? And what can be learned from this large-scale project that could be used elsewhere in Aotearoa?

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• Read/Listen to the rest of the reports from Tess Brunton’s reporting trip to the West Coast, about the eradication project, the work of species dogs, the feedback from tour operators and how rowi, New Zealand’s rarest kiwi, has been helped come back from the brink.
• For more on the use of AI in pest management project, listen to how the Southern Lakes Sanctuary team have been making use of it at Wye Creek.

Guests:

• Chad Cottle, Predator Free South Westland
• Ethan Perry, Predator Free South Westland
• Nate St Hill, Predator Free South Westland
• Pouri Rakete-Stones, Predator Free South Westland
• Dion Arnold, White Heron Sanctuary Tours

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details