Scientists have finally come up with an explanation for a visual illusion that was first identified in the 16th century by Galileo Galilei.

Mark Orams will research mammals on the Blake expedition to the Auckland Islands.

The "pause" in global warming since 2001 can be explained by the discovery of unusually strong winds in the Pacific, climatologists have found.

This week we profile five of the expedition's members, starting with Shelley Campbell, CEO of the Sir Peter Blake Trust.

The final portion has been raised to build oceanographer Jacques Rougerie's gigantic, solar-powered, floating aquatic observation vessel.

Field trials have demonstrated for the first time how the threat of invasive tropical weeds is likely to increase as our climate warms.

Motorists and beach-goers are again being urged to keep an eye on a king tide that has caused issues in recent days.

It's taken more than 50 years but the deepest cave system in the Southern Hemisphere has been found - in New Zealand.

Last year was New Zealand's second warmest on record and more above-average temperatures are in store this year, says climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger.

Scientists say lights from electrical discharges are a sign of stress at faultlines and can give warning of big shakes

Kiwi ornithologist Kerry-Jayne Wilson's fourth day stranded on a ship trapped by pack ice in Antarctica started with news that rescue could still be days away.

The oldest known stone javelins have been discovered in Africa, predating humans by 80,000 years.

One of the world's leading earthquake scientists has called on New Zealand to adopt cutting-edge technology that could give people as much as 25 seconds' warning.

Kiwis are being encouraged to become citizen scientists to check the health of their own lakes, rivers and streams.

For years, scientists have been dogged by this evolution question: Just where did man's best friend first appear?

Scientists studying North Island robins, bowel bacteria and condensed matter physics are among the winners of prestigious research fellowships announced this morning.

One of the strongest storms on record slammed into the central Philippines, killing at least four people, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.

A recent discovery that agricultural practices help form clouds could change the way we see New Zealand's environmental performance.

New report which rewrites danger level across the country requires big changes to civil defence readiness.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released the most comprehensive ever study on global warming, prepared by more than 200 scientists over two years.

A large tsunami generated very close to the coast of New Zealand would arrive before warning sirens could be activated, a new report has found.

Two of Britain's leading scientists have urged the setting up of a world programme to generate solar electricity that is cheaper than fossil fuel power by 2025.

Gales of up to 100km/h are set to lash the North Island this weekend after a brief respite from this week's heavy rain and gales.

The threat of a huge, landslide-triggered tsunami to Wellington lurks below the water only 10km off the city's coast - but the region's quakes haven't come near what it would take to trigger one.

The Cook Strait Canyon isn't the only underwater chasm that scientists worry could pose a serious threat to the country.

Life on Earth will continue for at least another 1.75 billion years ... but human life could die out long before.