11 Mar 2026

 Science: Malaria development, fluid physics and fighting cockroaches

From Nine To Noon, 11:45 am on 11 March 2026
Mosquito on human skin, computer illustration.

Photo: AFP / Sebastian Kaulitzki / Science Photo Library

Science commentator Allan Blackman joins Kathryn with some new science studies.

One that's found a protein that malaria parasites need that has the potential to be switched off.

Can't get the last drop of a fluid out of a container? Physicists have run the math on fluid flows and one that's a bit icky mating cockroaches chew off each other's wings to signal they're ready to settle down.

Allan Blackman is a Professor of Chemistry, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology