Nine To Noon

New research reveals the role everyday items such milk cartons and painkillers play in declining sperm health. Infertility is a global health problem. It's estimated one in six couples have difficulties conceiving, with male fertility problems accounting for almost half of all cases. Sperm counts are reported to be falling by around 1.1% per year, with an overall decline of 51.6% in 45 years. And, the rate of decline has doubled since 2000. Kathryn is joined by leading British expert in the field Professor Andreas Kortenkamp to explain the possible causes for semen quality decline, and the latest research into exposure to chemicals. Until now, studies into male infertility and chemical exposures have focused on phthalates. Latest research reveals bisphenols, polychlorinated dioxins and paracetamol affect infertility more.

New research conducted for the Ministry of Health estimates around 300 thousand New Zealanders may have Long Covid, and reccomends the establishment of dedicated long Covid clinics around the country. The survey of nearly 1000 people was conducted for the Ministry by Victoria University epidemologist Dr Mona Jeffreys and Senior Maori Researcher Dr Lynn Russell. It found 22 per cent of participants had symptoms of long covid, and that Maori, Pasifika and people with disabilities in particular experienced barriers to primary healthcare. Their report also calls for long Covid to be recognised as a disability and for employers to provide sick leave that enables people to stay at home while they are unwell. Kathryn speaks with co-lead investigator and epidemiologist Dr Mona Jeffreys.

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to talk about The Whale starring Brendan Fraser, which is about to hit cinemas. He'll also talk about the successful jump The Last of Us appears to have made from video game to TV series and new documentary The Territory.

US psychologist, Dr Becky Kennedy and author of Good Inside trouble shoots a range of scenarios facing parents, including sibling rivalry, separation anxiety and tantrums. She has 1.6 million followers on Instagram @drbeckyatgoodinside

Technology correspondent Paul Matthews looks at what caused an outage overnight for Microsoft 365 users, ChatGPT, the new AI "language model" is taking the world by storm but it's also causing concern over whether it'll fuel a rise of cheating and fake news - are we right to be worried? More big tech companies lay off staff and Ukraine is winning the cyber-war - Paul tells Kathryn how.

RNZ reporter Jimmy Ellingham joins Kathryn to talk about concerns over a delay to the opening of Palmerston North's Hospital mental health ward - there could be a two year wait. Residents in Fielding are taking to installing their own flood barriers amid concerns of a repeat of devastating flash floods a year ago. And Palmerston North's library has been taking books to immobile readers for 50 years.

Cynthia Morahan reviews three of her favourite books from last year: A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm, published by Simon and Schuster, The Myth of Normal by Gabor Mate, published by Penguin Random House and Jumping Sundays - The Rise and Fall of the Counterculture in Aotearoa New Zealand by Nick Bollinger, published by Auckland University Press

If you feel like your attention span has reduced in recent years, you're not alone. Cognitive psychologist and professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, Dr Gloria Mark has been studying human to computer interaction since the mid-1990s, and the field of distraction since 2004. She's found that we spend an average of just 47 seconds on any screen before shifting our attention, that it takes 25 minutes to bring our attention back to a task after an interruption and that we interrupt ourselves more than we're interrupted by others. But Dr Mark is optimistic about our chances of taking back control of our devices and our attention. She speaks to Kathryn about how our brains function in the digital world and has tips for how we can find focus and fight distraction, from her new book Attention Span: Finding Focus for a Fulfilling Life.

UK correspondent Matt Dathan joins Kathryn to talk about the pressure PM Rishi Sunak is under over the tax affairs of Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi.

Forest and Bird wants Auckland's Muriwai Beach to close to vehicles to protect precious native species and fragile ecosystems. The organisation would also like to see the Land Transport Act's definition of a road be amended, so that beaches are longer designated as roads. Muriwai is one of two Auckland beaches where driving is allowed, but Forest and Bird says vehicles are causing harm to some of the country's most vulnerable and at-risk species and damaging delicate sand dunes. The beach is home to species such as korora / little blue penguins, fur seals, and the Muriwai gecko, and is a nesting site for shorebirds like Caspian terns, white-fronted terns and variable oyster catchers. Last year, data from January to November shows more than 54,000 vehicles were recorded driving along Muriwai Beach - but Forest and Bird says that only measures vehicles at one of the beach's entry points and the number could be much higher. Kathryn speaks with Forest & Bird's Auckland regional conservation manager Carl Morgan.