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Nic Rawlence

Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago
I have an undergraduate degree and Master of Science from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, and a PhD from the University of Adelaide (Australia). I worked as a postdoctoral fellow in Australia (University of Adelaide) and New Zealand (University of Waikato and University of Otago) before taking up a permanent position as a Lecturer in Ancient DNA in the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago in 2017. My research focuses on reconstructing past ecosystems and testing for the impact of climate change and humans on these ecosystems. I use ancient DNA, palaeontology and archaeology to address research questions.

Ancient DNA from an extinct native duck reveals how far birds flew to make New Zealand home

May 20, 2024 08:59 am UTC| Science Nature

Ask a bird lover if they have heard of the extinct giant moa or its ancient predator, Haasts eagle, and the answer will likely be yes. The same cant be said of New Zealands extinct, but equally unique, mergansers a group...

Humans, rats and dogs pushed the takahē into Fiordland – new genetic research maps its dramatic journey

Dec 05, 2023 05:36 am UTC| Nature

Takahē are a striking bird and a national treasure in Aotearoa New Zealand. But the history and origin story of this flightless swamp hen have become a point of scientific debate. Our latest research uncovered the...

The true origins of the world's smallest and weirdest whale

Jul 11, 2023 06:43 am UTC| Nature

The pygmy right whale, Caperea marginata, is the weirdest whale youve probably never heard of. It is the smallest of the living baleen whales and restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. Its tank-like skeleton is...

Taxonomy, the science of naming things, is under threat

Nov 14, 2018 11:52 am UTC| Science

Museums are cathedrals of science, but they are under threat worldwide as part of a malaise of undervaluing museum collections and the field of taxonomy, the science of naming biodiversity. The Museum of New Zealand Te...

Economy

Canada Stocks Gain as Clean Tech and Energy Lead S&P/TSX Composite to 0.40% Rise

Canadian stocks closed higher Wednesday as the SP/TSX Composite rose 0.40%, buoyed by strong performances in Clean Technology, IT, and Energy sectors. BlackBerry reached a 52-week high, while Telus fell to a five-year low....

Spanish Stocks Climb as IBEX 35 Sees Gains in Construction, Telecom, and Petrochemical Sectors

Spains IBEX 35 closed 0.33% higher on Wednesday, led by robust performances in construction and telecom stocks. Sacyr SA rose nearly 2%, while Solaria Energia hit its lowest in three years. Construction and Chemical...

China Approves New VAT Law Effective 2026 to Boost Key Sectors and Economic Recovery

China has passed a comprehensive value-added tax law, effective in January 2026, consolidating regulations and offering targeted exemptions for sectors like agriculture, research, and welfare institutions. The reform aims...

Sam Altman Says Superintelligence Will Ignite a 10X Boom in AI Breakthroughs Transforming the Future of Innovation

Sam Altman envisions a world where superintelligence propels AI innovation 10x faster than expected, transforming global progress and redefining humanitys future. Early Arrival of AGI Sparks Debate The most noteworthy is...

South Korea Eyes $13.9 Billion KSMC Project to Outpace TSMC and Reinvent Semiconductor Innovation

South Korea is developing KSMC with a $13.9 billion investment to challenge TSMC and foster innovation across its semiconductor ecosystem. KSMC Proposal Aims to Strengthen South Koreas Semiconductor Sector Korea...

Politics

How will Donald Trump manage the transition between administrations?

As Donald Trump prepares to take office as the 47th President of the United States, the transition between administrations is under intense scrutiny. Trumps team has promised a seamless handover, but the highly polarized...

What is Donald Trump’s approach to dealing with past political controversies during his presidency?

Donald Trumps strategy for tackling past political controversies as he steps into his second term has become a central topic of national discourse. The former president, known for his unconventional approach to politics,...

How will Donald Trump restore confidence in his leadership in 2025?

Donald Trumps return to the Oval Office in 2025 has sparked widespread discussion about his plans to restore confidence in his leadership after a contentious first term and a polarizing election victory. With promises of...

What are Donald Trump’s immediate executive actions planned for January 2025?

Donald Trump is poised to enact several immediate executive actions upon his return to the White House in January 2025. The president-elect has made clear his intentions to reverse key Biden administration policies while...

How is Donald Trump preparing for his 2025 inauguration ceremony?

Donald Trump is reportedly planning a grand and highly publicized inauguration ceremony as he prepares to take office as the 47th president of the United States. The event, scheduled for January 20, 2025, is expected to...

Science

Public Health Experts Warn of ‘Quad-Demic’ as Flu, COVID, RSV, and Norovirus Threaten Winter Surge

Public health experts are raising alarms over a potential quad-demic this winter, with flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus all expected to surge simultaneously. This unprecedented convergence of...

Philippines' 'Missile Acquisition' Plan Provokes China's 'Arms Race' Warning

The Philippines has announced plans to acquire the U.S.-developed Typhon missile system to bolster its maritime defense capabilities. This decision has elicited strong reactions from China, which warns that such a move...

Christmas Eve Asteroid' to Skim Past Earth at 14,743 mph Tonight, NASA Warns

NASA has announced that an asteroid, comparable in size to a 10-story building, will make a close approach to Earth on Christmas Eve. The space rock, designated 2003 SD220, is expected to pass by our planet at a speed of...

Emergency Declared as Bird Flu 'Spreads' to California Dairy Cows

California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially declared a state of emergency in response to the rapidly escalating bird flu outbreak. The declaration comes after avian influenza was detected in dairy cows, a rare and...

Missing Radioactive Material in New Jersey Sparks Panic — Are Drones ‘Hunting for It’?

A small amount of radioactive material went missing in New Jersey earlier this month, raising concerns over public safety and potential security risks. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) confirmed on December 2,...

Technology

Microsoft Steps Back from OpenAI Dependency in 365 Copilot with New AI Models Integration Strategy

Microsoft is reshaping its AI strategy for 365 Copilot by integrating in-house and third-party models, easing its reliance on OpenAI due to cost and speed concerns for enterprise users, according to sources. Microsoft...

BYD Factory in Brazil Faces Investigation as Chinese Workers Found in 'Slavery-like Conditions'

Brazilian officials discovered 163 Chinese workers in slavery-like conditions at a BYD factory construction site in Bahia. Workers faced withheld passports, long hours, and unsafe environments, sparking an ongoing...

Toyota Targets BYD and Chinese Rivals with Shanghai EV Factory for Lexus Production by 2027

Toyota is reportedly planning a new EV factory in Shanghai to independently produce Lexus models, starting in 2027. The move comes as the automaker faces stiff competition from Chinese rivals like BYD in the worlds largest...

Biden Hands China Chip Tariff Probe to Trump as Trade War Heats Up Over Semiconductor Dominance

The U.S. has opened a trade investigation into Chinese legacy semiconductors, aiming to curb Beijings state-driven chip buildup. The probe, announced just weeks before Donald Trumps inauguration, could lead to additional...

Musk’s X Raises Premium-Plus Plan to $22 With Creator Payouts and AI Features in Focus

X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, raised its premium-plus subscription to $22 in the U.S., emphasizing enhanced creator payouts and advanced AI-driven features like the Grok chatbot. The updated pricing takes effect for...