New Zealand scientists have unearthed what may be a main reason nicotine replacement therapy is not a failsafe cure for tobacco addiction.

Scientists found that men with masculine, low-pitched voices are better at attracting women - at least those looking for short-term flings.

Brain expert Jenni Ogden was one of handful of specialists granted access to the most studied patient in medical history.

The brain is the most complicated object in the known universe, writes Fred Mendelsohn. Its 100 billion nerve cells (nearly 20 times the number of people on earth) are each connected to thousands of other nerve cells in a bewilderingly complex network.

One in six of us is genetically disposed to gain little or no benefit from exercise. Still waiting for his six-pack, Patrick Strudwick took a test to find out if he's among them.

A Chinese man has had a new nose grown on his forehead. The man, who has only been named as Xiaolian, had the treatment to create a replacement for his original nose which was infected and deformed.

New research suggests people sick of waiting to be served at a bar can speed things up with their body language and by looking directly at serving staff.

Human trials of a locally developed Parkinson's disease treatment have begun in New Zealand after the first round yielded promising results.

Kimberley Jane Dark has made it clear that she doesn't want to be kept alive with a feeding tube.

British business executives, sports stars, celebrities and anyone else with £38,400 ($75,300) to spare will be able to freeze a backup of their adult selves for potential use decades later.

Australian doctors have achieved a world first by helping a woman become pregnant from ovarian tissue grafted into her abdomen.

Genetic testing and a vitamin supplement helped dietitian Dr Sylvia Escott-Stump find a stable path for her son after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Chopping wood has always been seen as one of the more "manly"' endeavours, but now researchers may be able to prove it.

There's a saying in autism circles that a worried mother does better research than the FBI.

Science writer Matt Ridley once described the human mating system as "monogamy plagued by adultery," which sounds a little judgmental.

Kiwi scientists have proven there's a reason why some people enjoy the smell of things that others might retch at.

A New Zealand-born archaeologist involved in the discovery of a new species of people, known as "hobbits'', has died.

Judy-Anne Osborn asks "Could a dire new infection sweep the world in a matter of weeks? Might the disease be so strange it alters the behaviour of people beyond recognition, making them predatory and fearless?"

University of Otago microbiologist Prof Greg Cook and the university's new infectious disease containment laboratory have found themselves in the research front line in the international war against tuberculosis.

A pathology service has become the first in New Zealand to use a a high-tech barcode tracking system to help eliminate the risk of laboratory botch-ups.

Nasa's Mars rover Curiosity finally caused some real curiosity last week with a photo of what appeared to be a "rat" on Mars, writes Rhys Darby.

The use of twins to reveal the genetic roots of human attributes has had a mixed history, though the technique offers rich scientific pickings.

Barbara Oliver has had an intriguing relationship with her identical twin sister, Christine, over the decades. Throughout their childhoods they were treated as two versions of the one person: they were dressed the same and given the same hairstyles.

Well, it was only a matter of time ... but yes, I'm pleased to announce there's been another sighting of the Agogwe in Africa.

University of Otago researchers are pounding the pavement with dog-owners to discover how taking a walk with man's best friend affects a person's wellbeing.

Data from nuclear bomb testing helped New Zealand scientists pinpoint the age of a skeleton found in Australia, leading to a decades-old cold case being reopened.

A popular health supplement often promoted as an anti-ageing substance helps yeasts and worms live longer, but there is no evidence it does the same for humans.

Copper coins and a 70-year-old map with an "x" may lead to a discovery that could rewrite Australia's history.

Scientists have finally recovered stem cells from cloned human embryos, a longstanding goal that could lead to new treatments for such illnesses as Parkinson's disease and diabetes.

Many left-wing thinkers believe we have no "agency" or ability to make conscious choices, writes Deborah Hill Cone. Until we can work this one out we are not going to make much progress with rewiring criminals.