Poet and scientist collaborates on book

A collaboration between award-winning scientist Paul Callaghan and poet Bill Manhire is among four new projects financed through the Government's $700,000 Smash Palace Fund.

Research, Science and Technology Minister Steve Maharey and Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Judith Tizard announced the move last week.

The collaboration - called "Are Angels Okay?" - will bring together 10 of New Zealand's best creative writers with leading physicists from six universities.

The result will be a book of imaginative writing about the rules, symmetries and quantum phenomena that define the universe.