The Wire with Nicholas

Our traditional model of the universe has always said that planets are formed with an accompanying solar system. That is, most stars have their own planets, and most planets have their own stars. However scientists have suggested that starless planets may exist. 

Now, a new telescope has taken images to prove that this is indeed the case. The James Webb Space Telescope has captured not one, but two planets orbiting each other, far away from the gravity of a sun. 

To find out more about this and what it means for us, Arno spoke to Dr Nick Rattenbury, a senior professor at the University of Auckland and the former president of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand. 

Arno started off our interview by asking how these planets formed.

Breast cancer affects thousands of Kiwis, particularly women, every year. This year, the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation raised funds to purchase a new campervan, which they painted pink and dubbed Pinkie. 

This campervan travels to more remote regions of the country with two nurses on board, helping to screen those for cancer and raise awareness of the importance of early detection. 

To find out more, Arno spoke to NZ Breast Cancer Foundation chief Ah-Leen Rayner. Arno started our interview by asking what the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation does.

The Tuesday Wire team is joined by Davide Mercadante for Dear Science. The team discusses honesty migration drain, the false probability of coin flips and a new enzyme that fights against viruses and mutations.

Nicholas catches up with the National Party's Dr Shane Reti about the election results, National’s healthcare priorities, the disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora (The Māori Health Authority) and their potential coalition partners, the ACT party.

Nicholas also spoke to Dr Carwyn Jones, an expert in Treaty of Waitangi law and legislation about the facts surrounding the legal obligations set out in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the referendum on Treaty principals that was proposed by the ACT Party. 

Lou spoke to Julie Douglas from the Tertiary Education Union about the state of University funding. 

They also spoke to Ananish Chaudhuri, Professor of Experimental Economics at the University of Auckland in regards to the ongoing Google Antitrust lawsuit.

Josh spoke to Timothy Welch about Nationals plan to scrap the clean car rebate scheme.

On the show today:

Last week, Caeden spoke to Tongan Psychiatrist Etuini Ma’u about a recent mental health survey launched in Tonga. 

Rosetta spoke to ​Anhar Khanbhai from Wise, about their research in young kiwis travelling overseas despite struggling with the cost of living crisis

She also spoke to Arthur Grimes, Professor of Wellbeing and Public Policy at Victoria University of Wellington's School of Government, about economic policy under a new National-ACT government.

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Rawan spoke with ACT MP Karen Chhour about election night, the results and next steps for ACT.

She also spoke with pro-palestine groups including John Minto from the Palestinian Solidarity Network and Layan Khalil from the University of Auckland Justice for Palestine group.