Last year's severe drought caused big problems for Kiwi farmers, and this year extreme dry conditions have been causing concern in parts of the North Island.
Some scientists say climate change means the drought situation will only get worse around the world, but new research could help us predict where droughts will occur and what impact they'll have.
AUT science professor Steve Pointing says droughts are difficult to predict, which is why it hasn't been the focus of serious climate change research until research.
The Middle East, West Australia and the US are likely to be the worst-affected, but New Zealand doesn't get off scot-free – there's a 90 percent chance we'll experience greater droughts in the next 50 years.
Elsewhere in science news, it seems humans aren't the top of the food chain – we actually occupy the same spot as the anchovy.
And for the first time, scientists in Sweden have found a link between memory and body experience.
Watch the video for the full interview with Steve Pointing.
source: newshub archive