Summer Series 2014

Forecasting whether we're in for a hot, dry holiday or wet, humid conditions this summer can be a complex and tricky business - Mother Nature can tell us about the weather ahead, just by observing patterns and sequences.

Science experiments can be fun, messy, done in the dark or even while you're asleep. Here are some holiday ideas children – and their parents – can do over the summer break.

Read about how beaches are Nature's way of protecting sea front real estate and infrastructure against high winds and waves.

Your favourite lake may look picturesque, calm and inviting but beware what lurks beneath – aliens are on the attack.

Next time you head down to the beach for a swim scientist Els Maas would be delighted if you spare a thought for the invisible workhorses of the ocean.

Freshly caught scallops sizzling on the barbeque are a Kiwi summer treat – but their annual abundance can be a changing feast.

In summer, extreme humidity – high and low – can send us round the bend. So what is it, why does it make us feel so bad, and how can we beat it?