In this episode, Bill takes us behind the scenes of New Zealand’s only ion beam facility — a powerhouse of science and innovation with roots stretching back to the legacy of Ernest Rutherford, the father of nuclear physics. While it might sound like science fiction, this particle accelerator is a hidden force shaping our future.

From developing new materials and improving hydrogen catalysts to solving crime scenes and advancing 5G technology, ion beam science is quietly shaping the world around us. Our researchers can engineer new materials at the atomic level in ways that aren’t possible in many other places in the world. At the moment, we’re advancing innovations like hydrogen energy generation, magnetic semiconductors, and energy-efficient coatings. They’re also creating magnetic structures to manipulate magnetic fields — think glow-beam technology depositing silver on hip implants!

Our ‘land of the shaky isles’ – is subject to the whims of tectonic plates and volcanoes, oceans, and geological processes. Using leading tech, the RiskScape powered supercomputer is humming away, crunching data and scenarios every second. It can tell us which roads would close following an Alpine Fault earthquake, whether volcanic ash will land on your roof and even whether a sea wall would protect your community from both tsunami and erosion. Dr. Nick Horspool discuss the science behind the endless possibilities to reduce our exposure to risk.