Mirjam Guesgen 
Nearly 42,000 years ago, the Earth got flipped turned upside down. It caused total chaos. And it might happen again soon. Mirjam Guesgen explains. Seemingly randomly throughout time, the Earth’s magnetic poles flip – magnetic north swaps places with the magnetic south. Up until now, scientists weren’t really sure what that meant for the planet’s … Read more
How much can you trust the information you’re pulling off a pad wrapper? Mirjam Guesgen finds out. Those with menstrual cycles may be familiar with Libra’s Odd Spots – mini-facts you can read while spending more than the reasonable amount of time on the loo during that time of the month. According to Libra’s marketing … Read more
Achieving our emission reduction obligations means changing the nature of our homes. Here’s how we can do that. New Zealand’s homes need a refresh. Mouldy, leaky, cold homes that leach any semblance of heat to the outside world won’t cut it any more – if they ever did. Aside from the health benefits, making homes … Read more
Covid-19 lockdowns created a never-before-seen scenario for the world’s wildlife – a break from us. But that wasn’t always a positive, as Mirjam Guesgen explains. With people staying home and travelling less, bird song crescendoed, wild cats suddenly started roaming the streets of Chile and Florida’s loggerhead turtles finally got a chance to lay their … Read more
A new study suggests that trees’ ability to soak up carbon could expire. Mirjam Guesgen explains. Trees have long been held as the saviour for climate change. Plant enough trees and we might be able to balance out some of that carbon-emmitting flying or driving. But a new scientific study says that trees only buy … Read more
The internet ain’t what it used to be, thanks to privacy issues, data leaks, censorship and hate speech. But a group of New Zealanders are working on a way to give power back to the people. A flood of headlines over the last week made it clear: the internet has become unhinged. A San Francisco … Read more
People aren’t the only ones who can partake in pot. Mirjam Guesgen delves into the world of weed for pets. What’s a weed pet product? Medicines, supplements and foods for pets (mostly dogs and cats) made from parts of the cannabis plant. What do they look like? There’s a veritable bounty of weed products for … Read more
The effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment and the Māori response to the pandemic are among the subjects of a slew of new NZ studies into Covid-19 and its impacts. Mirjam Guesgen reports. Studies designed to aid the national and global fight against coronavirus – including three clinical trials – are set to get … Read more
Bulk testing of samples could be the way forward for coronavirus surveillance in New Zealand, reports Mirjam Guesgen. With the number of completed coronavirus tests in New Zealand breaking 4,000 in a day on Tuesday, scientists are looking at more efficient tests to push that number even higher. By testing samples from multiple people all … Read more
Scientists hope to seek evidence of the coronavirus, or its absence, in wastewater. Mirjam Guesgen explains. The fight against Covid-19 is headed for the sewers, with New Zealand scientists hoping to analyse wastewater samples for signs of the coronavirus. Tests would allow health authorities to see whether New Zealand’s elimination strategy has worked, said Michael … Read more
Pre-clinical trials will assess how effective and safe the potential vaccines are using an animal model before human testing. Mirjam Guesgen reports. The Australian national science agency, CSIRO, has begun testing two potential vaccines for Covid-19, with results due by June, 2020. These pre-clinical trials will assess how effective and safe the potential vaccines are … Read more
A small Canadian town has the weirdest answer to its pest problem – a museum of stuffed and costumed animal dioramas that has become a cult tourist attraction. Possums, stoats and rats are giving our native birds grief, and the New Zealand government has outlined an ambitious plan to get rid of them. All of … Read more
Covering Climate Now: Just how much of an impact would a shift to vegetarian diets have on the battle to halt climate change, asks Mirjam Guesgen. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here! Kiwi cuisine is replete with meat: fish and chips, meat and three veg, steak … Read more
Covering Climate Now: Charging businesses for their greenhouse gas emissions seems simple enough, but in New Zealand, at least, emissions keep on rising. Is the system flawed, or is it how we’re implementing it? The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here! Economists believe they’ve figured … Read more
Covering Climate Now: Currently, more than a third of all of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions come from sheep and cattle. There’s no easy solution, but a variety of anti-methane methods are being developed to curb this gaseous issue. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us … Read more
Covering Climate Now: ‘Click here to offset your emissions.’ It’s an appealing, guilt-assuaging idea. But what does it really amount to, asks Mirjam Guesgen. New Zealanders travel overseas a lot, with trips totalling close to 3 million a year. And every time a Kiwi takes flight, tonnes of earth-heating gases spew into the atmosphere. One … Read more
Covering Climate Now: A changing climate means changing landscapes and changing lives. Mirjam Guesgen talks to the experts about the implications at two ends of New Zealand. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here! Auckland is known for its sandy, inviting coastlines and sprawling urban … Read more