Inside America's private nuclear energy effort
A Los Angeles-based company has built a small modular nuclear reactor prototype, in an effort to return the energy source to the grid globally.
'Nuclear was this incredible technology that we [America] created in the 1940s, scaled out in the 1950s, and unfortunately came to a halt,' Valar Atomics
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Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Government-backed Frankton film studio fizzles out
The plug has been pulled on a government-backed motion capture and production studio in Frankton's Remarkables Park. Target3D New Zealand was planning to open the studio as a key tenant of the Queenstown Research & Innovation Centre after getting approval for a $2 million loan from a government regional development fund. Announced by then-economic development minister Stuart Nash in 2022, the Queenstown Digital Studio was intended to support virtual production through motion capture technology, game-engine servers, lighting, production equipment and staging. However, Gisborne-based Target3D NZ director Shannon Dowsing said he had to pull the pin two months ago after concluding the business model for the studio — and the rationale for taking up the loan — no longer made sense. It had relied on commercial screen industry production, research and development funding and education partnerships to come together, but each has faced major challenges, Mr Dowsing said. Although Queenstown is still busy with internationally-funded productions, spending by NZ on Air and Te Māngai Pāho has "significantly reduced" in the past three years. "It's highly competitive and existing players are very likely to be getting that funding." The company also has a specific R&D programme in mind for the resort town, but the government's scrapping of Crown entity Callaghan Innovation has made funding support "questionable". Another important component of the studio had been education, but it has not made enough progress with education providers to get that under way. Screentime NZ's setting up of a full-time production facility, Remarkable Studios, in the former H&Js department store in Remarkables Park last year meant Target3D could not justify investing in the equipment for a second studio. Mr Dowsing said he was not a believer in the concept of "if you build it, they will come". "We've been trying to solve all these challenges but, ultimately, we didn't feel it was a great time to be borrowing a couple of million dollars to invest in Queenstown in such an unstable market." However, he thought it would only be a matter of time before Target3D had a presence in the resort. "We've decided to go into the region organically and make decisions based on what actually can be done. I think we can achieve the same results, but without starting with a risky investment."
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Hushtec Delivers Advanced Noise Control Solutions For New Zealand Industry
Hushtec, a New Zealand-based manufacturer with over five decades of experience in noise mitigation, is providing advanced solutions for noise management across construction, mining, demolition, and infrastructure sectors. The company's range of construction site noise barriers and portable mining noise walls is designed to help organisations meet regulatory requirements and maintain safer, quieter environments. Hushtec's offering includes portable mining noise walls that are engineered for rapid deployment and high performance in demanding environments. These barriers are tested to achieve up to 35dB of noise reduction and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The modular design allows for quick installation and relocation, with panels available in standard or fully customisable sizes, colours, and branding options. The company's solutions are used in a range of applications including construction sites, demolition projects, industrial facilities, and transportation corridors. Hushtec's noise barriers are constructed to withstand harsh weather conditions and frequent handling, making them suitable for repeat use on multiple projects. The barriers also contribute to dust and debris control, supporting health and safety compliance on worksites. Hushtec's products are manufactured at its New Zealand facility, providing end-to-end service from design and development through to production. The company's experience allows it to offer both off-the-shelf and bespoke solutions for clients with specific project requirements. All products are supported by documentation to assist with noise impact assessments and regulatory compliance. Hushtec's noise control solutions are trusted by leading contractors, project managers, and acoustic consultants throughout New Zealand and internationally. The company continues to focus on innovation and reliability in the delivery of noise reduction systems for commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Canine cancer detection forges ahead
A world-leading cancer detection programme based in Mosgiel could make the world of difference to the multitudes of New Zealand residents who are are diagnosed with cancer every day. K9 Medical Detection NZ (K9MD) research nurse and Southland Hospital colorectal nurse specialist Kim Snoep said cancer did not discriminate and the numbers told a sobering story. Early detection was key with silent-killer cancers like ovarian, she said. "By the time 85% of women are diagnosed there's limited treatment because it's quite advanced." Growing evidence suggested cancers had a scent which dogs could detect in urine samples. While the K9MD unit's achievements had shown promising results in non-invasive detection of ovarian, bowel, breast and prostate in early stages, she did not see dogs replacing current tests. "We are just giving another option and opportunity to give more information to the specialists. "We are committed to transforming medical diagnostics through an innovative science-backed approach involving the use of highly trained dogs to detect disease at the earliest stages. "So I call it another tool in the toolkit for early detection of cancer." Dogs were selected by their genetic heritage, either from a hunting line or a dog breed used for police or search and rescue. "They're not pets . . . so they have a very strong desire to work." "As they get older, they learn to find a signature smell of a particular odour or a cancer odour." Detection results were based on known positive or negative diagnosis. "That's how we know that the dogs are doing it correctly". While training was still in its trial stages, many dogs were showing 98%-100% correct detection rates. A dog had an average of 250 million receptors in their nose and mouth and a bloodhound had 300 million compared to a human that had six million receptors. Unique like a human fingerprint, their noses were able to detect a teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic sized swimming pools of water, she said. Dogs could isolate one odour or volatile organic compounds (VOC) among many others. "If we all walk into a kitchen and go, 'that's a nice casserole', a dog will walk into that kitchen and go, 'that's nice onions, that's nice carrots, that's nice peas'." The Mosgiel-based training unit had several dogs training since they they were 8 weeks old, starting with a personal rope toy, lots of organised puppy-play, lots of praise, and lots of food. At 10-12 months they advanced to searching for a single strand from their rope toy in a row of VOC scent canisters Each K9MD dog lived with a foster family or one of its trainers and had frequent community outings. "They enjoy family life, so they're not kept in kennels.' Pauline Blomfield started the medical detection unit in 2018, after envisioning dogs' micro-scent detecting abilities being used to detect cancer. It started in Dunedin and Invercargill and the team was now expanding to include medical staff in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton. Mrs Snoep said the K9 unit did not receive government funding but relied on public donations to meet its $1.5 million operational costs. "We need visionaries, advocates and investors who are willing to stand with us in redefining what is possible in early cancer detection." The unit were seeking women who had undergone a total hysterectomy or had both ovaries removed to provide guaranteed ovarian cancernegative samples for their trials.
