SCIENCE with Ms Lun
Today in Science
May 1st: Sir Johann Franz Julius von HAAST. Born 1822. Died 16th August 1882, aged 65 years.
You've probably heard of Haast Pass (in the South Island). Well, it was named after a German born geologist, NZ explorer and founder of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch. Several other places are named after him (Haast River and town of Haast). He was also the first person to study the bones of the extinct Haast eagle.
von Haast was born in Bonn and studied geology and mineralogy at Bonn University. He was fluent in English and in 1858, came to NZ to see whether NZ would be suitable for German emigrants. On his second day in NZ, he met Ferdinand von Hochstetter and ended up accompanying him on his surveying trips around NZ.
von Haast married a Christchurch woman, had 5 children and died in Christchurch (where he is buried).
Christian Gottlieb Ferdinand Ritter von HOCHSTETTER. Born 30 April 1829. Died 18th July 1884, aged 55 years.
Hochstetter was a German-Austrian geologist. While in NZ in 1859, he was employed by the government to undertake the first geological study of NZ. His initial study of the Drury coalfields was so impressive, he was asked to stay on to do geological studies around Auckland and Nelson.
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Hochstetter's geological survey of Lake Rotomahana and the Pink and White terraces were the only evidence of their location. His notes were useful in pinpointing the silica terraces in 2011.
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Hochstetter also had fauna named after him: a frog, the takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) and a species of our giant carnivorous land snail, Powelliphanta hochstetteri.
Hochstetter's frog
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Haast's eagle had a wingspan of 2.6 m and weighed about 10-15 kg. Females were larger than males.
May
2nd: World Tuna Day (UN)
Did you know there are over 40 species of tuna or tuna-like species (in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and the Mediterranean sea) that are an important economic and food source for many countries? Unfortunately, if not managed properly, tuna face the risk of being over fished. 7 tonnes of these fish are harvested every year. The UN is committed to helping countries manage sustainable fish stocks.
4th: Sir Archie (Archibald) Hector McINDOE. Born 1900. Died 11 April, 1960 (aged 59).
Sir Archie McIndoe was a pioneering plastic surgeon. He studied medicine at Otago University. He gained the first New Zealand fellowship to study at the Mayo Clinic in 1924. His plastic surgery career began when he moved to London in 1930, when he went to work for a distant cousin (New Zealander Sir Harold Gillies) who was a plastic surgeon. In 1938, he became a consultant plastic surgeon to the Royal Air Force. His pioneering work included:
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bathing burns in saline rather than the painful treatment with tannic acid. McIndoe noticed that pilots that were bunrt and bailed out into the sea were less burned than pilots that bailed out over land.
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innovative burns treatments and surgical techniques
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improved efforts to rehabilitate "his boys" back into normal life. McIndoe himself often socialised with his former patients. The Guinea Pig club was established by burns survivors to help with their rehabilitation.
In 1961, the Blond McIndoe Research Foundation was established at Queen Victoria hospital, East Grinstead, Sussex which still continues to do research into burns treatment and wound healing.
Neville and Elaine Blond were friends of McIndoe. They opened up their home and helped the soldiers reintegrate into the local community
Sir Archie McIndoe with a former patient and his bride in 1947.
8th: World Migratory Bird Day
This day aims to raise awareness of the threats migratory birds face and to highlight the need for bird conservation. In 2022, the focus is on light pollution. Each year, artificial light on the Earth's surface increases by 2%. Light pollution is attributed to the deaths of millions of migratory birds each year. It also interferes with their behaviour (foraging, migrations), causes disorientation and unnecessary energy expenditure. One bird in particular, that can't afford to waste energy is the Eastern bar-tailed godwit. It makes an amazing non-stop journey from Alaska to New Zealand, flying 11,000km in 8-9 days! Due to the many locations migratory birds occupy at various times, conservation needs to be a multi-country effort. Please read the Godwit PDF for more information about this amazing bird.
16 - 20th: National Primary School Science Week
The theme for this year is celebrating Antarctica.
20th: World BeeDay
This day is not only about bees, but all other species, such as other insects (butterflies), birds (hummingbirds) and animals (bats) involved in plant pollination. 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land ​rely on pollinators. Human activities pose a threat to pollinators so today is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of protecting our pollinators.
27th : Sunscreen Day
This is an American national day but why not learn about the importance of sunscreen (to block those harmful UVA & UVB rays), the types of sunscreen (chemical and physical) and a bit about the history. Click on the button find out more..
31st : World No Tobacco Day (WHO)
Aim is to protect youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use