Saturday Morning for Saturday 3 December 2022

Kim Hill is on leave this week with Susie Ferguson presenting.

 

8.10 Vivian Wang: on the ground at China's zero-covid protests  

In response to the largest public protests since Tiananmen Square, Chinese government officials have signaled a shift away from 'Zero Covid' and eased some restrictions.

China's leader, Xi Jinping, has been firmly committed to eliminating coronavirus infections, with over 300 million citizens currently in lockdown, and mandatory quarantine and mass testing.

Frustration at the human toll of these restrictions has resulted in demonstrations in at least 18 cities.

Will this government back down be enough to quell the unrest, or does this protest movement signal a serious challenge to the world's most powerful authoritarian government? 

8.35 Brett Gartrell: New strain of bird flu may pose a threat to native species

One of the country's leading wildlife veterinary experts warns a heavy-handed response may be needed to limit damage if a particularly infectious strain of bird flu reaches our shores.

The strain of Avian Influenza A(H5N1) has been circulating throughout Asia since 2014 but has now spread to other parts of the world. In Europe 48 million birds have been culled in the last year in an effort to limit the spread, and in the US 50 million birds have died.

The disease has also recently been detected in Peru where nearly 14,000 pelicans and sea birds have died.
Massey University Professor Brett Gartrell says that, while Aotearoa's isolation provides some advantage, it's possible the disease could make it here through our migratory bird population. 

The public should notify any mass bird deaths or strange behaviour to MPI's Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline - 0800 80 99 66 

A Guillemot displaying the classic signs of a strain of Avian Influenza A(H5N1) in Northern England in 2022. Video / David Steel
 

9.05 Caroline Moorehead: Edda Mussolini and the rise and fall of fascism

Edda Mussolini was Benito's favourite daughter and his confidante during 20 years of fascist rule. She acted as envoy to both Germany and Britain, helping steer Italy to join forces with Hitler.

UK historian and biographer Caroline Moorehead's Edda Mussolini: The Most Dangerous Woman in Europe is an account of "the unravelling of the Fascist dream". Edda married Foreign Secretary Galeazzo Ciano, and they became a celebrated glamour couple in Roman society. Until, that is, Ciano became involved in a plot to bring Benito Mussolini down.

Caroline Moorehead's previous biographies include those of Bertrand Russell and Martha Gellhorn. Her most recent books have focussed on resistance to dictatorship and have been shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize, the Orwell Prize and the Costa Biography Award.

 

9.40 Jonathan Drori: photosynthesis and an underground pitcher plant

Author, plant lover and former BBC documentary maker Jonathan Drori joins the show for a chat about some of the latest botanical news.

Drori discusses the discovery that purslane, a common weed, creates a novel type of photosynthesis, providing important clues about how to create drought resistant crops.
Jonathan is also fascinated by the discovery of a carnivorous pitcher plant - the first known to grow traps for insects underground. 

Drori is the author of two acclaimed books, Around the World in 80 Plants and Around the World in 80 Trees.
 

10.05 Prof Mike Berridge: recognising vital work in cellular science

Renowned scientist Professor Mike Berridge is having his work in cell biology recognised with a doctorate this month. 

Career highlights have included research he led showing how tumours use mitochondria to grow, and work with blood-forming stem cells.  

After an initial focus studying plant cell biology at Auckland University, Berridge took on postdoctoral research in the US looking at developmental molecular biology. On his return to New Zealand in 1976 he became the second Malaghan Research Fellow and established the Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Research Group . 
 
Mike joins Susie to discuss his latest projects including cancer cell energy metabolism and mitochondrial gene transfer between cells in human disease.

10.40 Mike Hewson: the fine art of taking risks

NZ born civil engineer turned installation artist Mike Hewson thinks that safe playgrounds are dangerous for children.

A firm belief that risk and challenge are fundamental to human development has led him to create some extraordinary sculpture park playgrounds, including the recently opened 'Rocks on Wheels' in Melbourne. 

He also created a series of works on buildings and structures damaged by the Christchurch earthquakes, which he experienced first hand.

Hewson gained a Masters in Fine Arts from Columbia University in 2016. In Australia his awards have included two national Playspace Of The Year Awards, in 2020 and 2018 respectively.
 

11.05 Jude Rogers: how popular music gets woven into our lives

Be it ABBA's 'Super Trouper' or the Vandellas' 'Heat Wave', music considered frivolous to some can leave deep impressions in the lives of others. And it occurs across generations. Take the
extraordinary success this year, 30 years after first release, of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill'. 

All three songs feature in British music journalist Jude Rogers' book The Sound of Being Human, an exploration of how music gets woven into our lives. Structured around 12 songs, it's a personal journey inspired by the memory of the loss of her father when young, but also takes in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, fandom studies and anthropology. 

Known for her broadcasting with BBC Radio 4 and writing with The Guardian, Rogers has put
questions to some of the best earworm creators in the world: Paul McCartney, Adele, Dolly Parton, Billie Eilish and Elton John among them.

Books featured on this show:

Edda Mussolini - The Most Dangerous Woman in Europe
By Caroline Moorehead
Published by Chatto & Windus
ISBN: 9781784743246

The Sound of Being Human 
by Jude Rogers 
Published by White Rabbit
ISBN: 9781474622950

 

Songs featured on this show:

Edge of the Edge
Panda Bear and Sonic Boom
Played at 8.30am
 

Never Make Me Cry
Fleetwood Mac
Played at 9.30am

Freedom
Wham
Played at 11.05am
 

Buffalo Stance
Neneh Cherry
Played at 11.30am
 

Heatwave
Martha and the Vandellas
Played at 11.45am
 

Running up that hill
Kate Bush
Played at 11.58am