NZ Cancer Society medical director Dr Christopher Jackson discusses urgent worries around New Zealand's systems for reviewing and funding ground-breaking new cancer drugs.

In this morning's Focus: Could aliens have sent a 'strong message' from space? And Apple gets a massive bill from Ireland.

Watch NZH Focus: Radio signals detected from deep space and kept secret by the Russians are now being investigated by international scientists.

A Nobel Prize-winning scientist visiting New Zealand says the things you learn in school aren't everything.

Dr Helen Taylor, a rising star in the world of science communication, explains why Kiwis need to hear more from our research community.

New Zealand's tuatara has proven itself a treasure trove of genetic surprises - among them its distant DNA link to humans.

The ocean between New Zealand and Australia is one of the fastest-warming ocean regions on the planet, heating up at four times the global average.

One of the most shocking exhibitions in the history of British art - featuring tissues soiled by Billy Apple ­­- is now the focus of a new Kiwi study.

Thousands of schoolchildren are set to take breath-tests in a study to reveal the role of fructose in New Zealand's childhood obesity epidemic.

High magnitude disasters are overdue along some of the planet's major fault lines and there's nothing we can do to stop them.

Professor Stephen McGarvey talks about his recent breakthrough establishing a link between Samoan populations and obesity.

A few words from Dr Ben Goldacre

Scientists have found something entirely new: a galaxy as huge as the Milky Way that is made up almost entirely of dark matter.

COMMENT: Our enthusiasm for everything digital makes us the perfect guinea pigs to test new systems and devices on.

Scientists have created an entirely soft robot, an edible battery, and a potential way to "jump-start" patients in comas using ultrasound.

Four alcoholic patients fitted with brain microchips as part of NZ research into addiction have seen their cravings for alcohol dramatically reduce.

One of the country's foremost concussion experts has called the publication of research linking rugby concussion and long-term difficulties a "game-changer".

Humans have been driving global warming for nearly two centuries, finds a new study showing climate change isn't just a 20th century phenomenon.

The European Southern Observatory's Director General on Wednesday announced the discovery of an Earth-like planet orbiting the Sun's closest stellar neighbor.

What we know about diseases as common as cancer, diabetes and dementia could be transformed in the wake of ground-breaking findings by a team of Kiwi researchers.

Experts answer questions around the aquifers that provide our drinking water and how they can become contaminated.

An intrepid Kiwi photojournalist has been given a rare glimpse inside the illegal world of mining and selling woolly mammoth tusks.

A calving event at the Larsen C ice shelf could create a giant floating ice island.

His science background could be helpful in communicating Horizons Regional Council's activities more clearly to voters, Allan Wrigglesworth

COMMENT: As the Olympics come to a close this weekend, you may be surprised to know that this year's gold medals actually contain very little gold.

What does the 1960s Beatles hit Girl have in common with Astor Piazolla's tango composition Libertango?

When Otzi the Iceman was discovered in 1991, his 5300-year-old body had been remarkably well preserved by his glacial tomb.

New theory explains how an asteroid wiped out most of life on earth.

A Kiwi scientist is just one small step away from becoming a Nasa astronaut after being invited for an interview.