Episode Playlist
Let's Talk Science - Deep Sea Mining part 2( 0:29:16)
Episode Information
We continue our "deep dive" into the secrets that the deep sea is starting to reveal to science and what damage is caused by mining on the ocean floor. New science is revealed and discussed in this episode. Listen in to find out about Manganese nodules, sea marine communities we would be destroying, and we introduce the listener to bizarre, strange and thriving eco systems surviving thousands of meters deep.
Published: 11/06/2025 12:00:00 p.m.
Let's Talk Science - Deep Sea-Mining( 0:32:5)
Episode Information
In this episode we hear how carbon energy and digital technology demands are increasing which in turn means we need more green energy storage/batteries our green energy. However, it means an increase demand for rare earth elements - these elements are mined on land but with increasing demand attention has become focussed on sea floor deposits.
This has implications that we may not be aware of such as causing more harm to the environment with the way these minerals are sourced, and release the co2 that are being stored in these nodules. The nodules have taken millions of years to be produced and they have the potential to be mined while other alternative to battery storage components are on the way. This episode exposes some of the results of our deep sea mining of these minerals. A very sobering episode.
Published: 16/04/2025 12:00:00 p.m.
Let's Talk Science-Nuclear Testing fallout in the Pacific Part 2( 0:27:58)
Episode Information
This episode reminds us of the fallout of nuclear testing in the Pacific since the 1940's and subsequent problems experienced and what problems could occur in the future. It is a sobering discussion. Warning, some information contained in this interview may be distressing.
Published: 19/03/2025 12:00:00 p.m.
Let's Talk Science - Marine Life and noise pollution( 0:29:52)
Episode Information
A subject not often thought of but once come to light gives us a new appreciation of our marine life. Dr Sherley discusses the impact of deep sea fishing, ship sounds, dredging, bottom floor trawling and sonic booms on marine life. Marine mammals are having to modify the sounds and can be so disturbed by sound pollution this can cause mass stranding of whales.
Published: 27/11/2024 12:00:00 p.m.
Let's Talk Science - PILN - Pacific Invasive Species Learning Network( 0:30:35)
Episode Information
In the last week of August the Pacific Invasive Species Learning Network (PILN) had a regional meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands and Greg explains what PILN is, how it is set up, why have it, what topics are covered, what new innovative methods were discussed and general observations from the meeting.
Published: 30/10/2024 12:00:00 p.m.
Let's Talk Science - Plastics! Maybe some positive news?!( 0:24:18)
Episode Information
With Dr Greg Sherley - Greg and Catherine talk plastic.
Japanese scientists discovered bacteria which could break down bacteria in 2016 – bacteria’s name is Ideonella sakaiensis – named after the recycling plant in Japan Ideonella sakaiensis thought to have evolved to use a certain type of plastic for food called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – commonly used to make water bottles and food packages But what is meant by “break down”? We discuss the plastic problem, the possible solution and problems to overcome...
Published: 2/10/2024 12:00:00 p.m.
Let's Talk Science - Let's talk gas in this episode( 0:33:43)
Episode Information
Today Dr Greg Sherley takes us through the losing battle of controlling emissions of carbon dioxide.
About one third of global warming is due to man’s methane emission. Methane is produced by : emissions by man-kind (increased by at least 160% since pre industrial times 150 years ago); tundra bacteria; ocean floor releasing gas
Mankind sources of methane – about half from agriculture (stock, rice growing etc); one third from petro-chemical production/processing and about 15% from landfill/waste
We also talk about what we can do – chemical scrubbers; stock which don’t produce as much methane in their digestion and reduced petro-chemical production.
Published: 7/08/2024 12:00:00 p.m.
Let's Talk Science - Let's talk plastic! We discuss the UN Plastics Treaty and discover how there has been an estimated 9 billion tonnes of plastic produced globally since 1950 plus some horrifying facts about plastic waste( 0:30:28)
Episode Information
Some unfortunate truths about the production of plastic, learn more about plastic in this episode including;
• Oil producing countries and companies have vested interest in keeping us in last
• Each human may have about one heaped teaspoon of microplastic distributed in their bodies
• Recycling only removes a minor proportion of the problem
• Ocean gyre – rotating ocean currents – gather floating plastic waste in large aggregations – five globally including the North and South Pacific subtropical gyres.
• Plastic comes from land and sea sources: land – dumping in / near water ways which drain into the sea delivers a lot of plastic; plastic used in the ocean (e.g. floats etc)
• Plastic is particulated – even as small as 5mm or less – more like a thick soup of particles of plastic
• Albatross Chicks choking on marine plastic debris – atoll is 2000 miles away from any mainland. Hence far reach of plastic pollution
• Plastic problems for the marine environment – entanglement of birds and mammals and ingestion
• Henderson Island in the Pitcairn Group is a remote and uninhabited island, yet the beach is full of plastic refuse
Published: 10/07/2024 12:00:00 p.m.
Let's Talk Science - Albatrosses are on the decline potentially due to fishing lines with thousands of squid baited hooks, bird flu arrives in Antartica and has the potential to spread to Seals and Penguin colonies.( 0:23:36)
Episode Information
Albatrosses like the Gibsons and Antipodean albatrosses (Adams Island and Antipodes Islands) have been declining – probably a result of tuna fishing where surface tuna fishing long-lines up to 100km long with thousands of squid baited hooks – these overlap with the foraging distribution of especially females which take the bait, get hooked, and then drown. So now the populations have declined with proportionately more and more males returning to the islands and even forming male/male pairs which of course don’t breed. Delayed maturation of 8 years also slows things along with breeding perhaps every two years even when things are normal. These factors combine to tip the breeding effort seriously down.
Bird flu has arrived in Antarctica probably from South America / Argentina. Southern Elephant Seals and Fur Seals probably also affected and Penguin colonies in Antarctica will probably be affected. Bird flu is also found on bird islands like Falklands and South Georgia.
Climate change with warming waters may change the distribution of food species in the water column or latitude so making the species unavailable to seabirds causing further stress on the birds.
Species are adaptable but it is a question of timing and rate of change which may determine whether a species may survive changes.
Published: 12/06/2024 12:00:00 p.m.
Eradicating species on Pitcairn Island( 0:27:4)
Episode Information
How do you get rid of invasive species on a remote island in the pacific ocean? Dr Greg Sherley continues his investigation on how to plan work to help identify and eliminate species on Pitcairn Island as well as ensuring the administration, technical support and funding required for the project.
Dr Sherley is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation and has a Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Zoology/Animal behavioural ecology. He has worked in the general environment sector for all his career in New Zealand and the Pacific. If you have any science questions you want to put to Dr Greg Sherley, please send them to admin@coastaccessradio.org.nz
Published: 21/12/2023 5:45:47 p.m.