bCasts

We are now more than a year into Donald Trump’s second term as president. Over the past twelve months, we’ve seen the United States flex its military muscles both within the Western Hemisphere and beyond, launching a military operation in Venezuela and capturing president Nicolas Maduro, making further threats to take over Greenland, and provoking Iran by sending a fleet of warships to the Persian Gulf.

Last year, President Trump even signed an executive order, renaming the ‘Department of Defence’ to the ‘Department of War’ on the basis that the former name was too “woke.”

This morning, Producer Toby spoke with University of Auckland professor Chris Ogden about the assertion of hard power in American diplomacy, and how this can be understood through the theory of ‘political realism.

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin chats with us about how light could be used as a painkiller, research on early signs of dementia, and the ‘mental trap’ that leads to indecision.

Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!

House music, a bit of footwork, a little bit of rap. A real mixed bag. Opening and closing songs by Japanese ambient composer Yosi Horikawa. 

Senior lecturer in marine science Dr Jenny Hillman joins Rosetta and Milly for a kōrero about her research, testing whether artificial horse mussels made from shell waste can help restore New Zealand’s coasts. Whakarongo mai nei!

Thanks to the University of Auckland!