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Timothy Winegard: How horses changed humanity and history  

1 Sep 2024

The Horse: The Galloping History of Humanity takes readers on a sprawling journey through the histories of technology, transport, agriculture, war and urbanisation.  Audio

Sunday 8 September 2024

On today’s show

8:10am Charlie Dreaver – UK Correspondent 

Sunday Morning's UK Correspondent, Charlie Dreaver joins us with the latest news. 

A view of the Palace of Westminster with Big Ben a day before General Election, in London, Great Britain on Jult 3, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto) (Photo by Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

Photo: JAKUB PORZYCKI

8:20 The Sunday Morning Quiz with Jack Waley-Cohen   

Our quiz master Jack Waley-Cohen is back for another Sunday Morning quiz.   

Jack is the mind behind the questions on BBC quiz show ‘Only Connect’ which is known for being both difficult to crack and totally obvious.     

It’s Sunday morning, so wake up your brain and have a go!       

Sunday Morning Quiz image

Photo: RNZ

8:30 Lucy Corry: Drying herbs in the microwave 

Award winning author, food blogger, Lucy Corry joins us for another foodie catch-up.  This morning everything from drying herbs in the microwave to smash burgers. 

Sriracha Double Smash Burger

Photo: JIP

9:10 Mediawatch 

Mediawatch looks at the epic multimedia coverage rolled out over five days to farewell one Māori monarch - and introduce a new one  . .  and the collective effort to make that happen. 

Also: as megabucks are rolled out for a new national transport 

Julian Wilcox hosting part of the live coverage from Turangawaewae marae on Thursday.

Julian Wilcox hosting part of the livestreamed coverage from Turangawaewae marae on Thursday. Photo: screenshot / YouTube

9:35 Can you be taken seriously if you laugh a lot? 

Science writer David Robson specialises in the brain, body and human behaviour.  In a recent article for New Scientist, he looked into the science of how we react to laughter 

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 9: Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visits a campaign office on August 9, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Kamala Harris and her newly selected running mate Tim Walz are campaigning across the country this week.   Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Andrew Harnik / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Photo: ANDREW HARNIK

10:10 Allan Lichtman: The 13 Keys to the White House 

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 07: A U.S. Marine stands watch outside the doors of the White House West Wing October 07, 2020 in Washington, DC. According to the White House, President Donald Trump was in the Oval Office Wednesday afternoon, three days after returning from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after tested positive and being treated for COVID-19.   Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Photo: CHIP SOMODEVILLA

American University’s distinguished professor of history, Alan Lichtman has accurately predicted the US presidential contest since 1982. 

He's made his prediction for the upcoming US Election and joins us to explain why. 

10:30 Argue with Science 

Mary Argue is back guiding us through the latest weird and wonderful headlines from the world of science.    

A glistening glass-like visualisation of a complex molecule. Text reads "Argue with Science, with Mary Argue"

Photo: RNZ / Robert Whitaker

10:40 My Latest Track: Julia Belle shares “Rockstar” 

Julia Belle is a rising indie pop/folk artist who was born in Petone, Wellington - grew up in Lismore/Northern Rivers of Australia and is now back based in Wellington,

Photo: Julia Belle

Julia Belle is a rising indie pop/folk artist who was born in Petone, Wellington - grew up in Lismore/Northern Rivers of Australia and is now back based in Wellington. She shares catchy new single 'Rockstar' 

10:50 All Blacks second test against the Springboks in Cape Town 

Rugby writer and columnist Gregor Paul joins us. 

Sam Cane of the All Blacks.

Sam Cane of the All Blacks. Photo: Nic Bothma/ActionPress

 11:10 Dr Alp Kantarci: Wisdom and your teeth 

We’re joined once again by Dr. Alpdoğan Kantarcı, a faculty member at the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine and senior member of staff at the Forsyth Institute, an independent research institute that on the connections between oral health and overall wellness. 

He answers your questions on everything from flossing and gargling to halitosis and mouth ulcers. 

Removing dental tartar. (Photo by MICROGEN IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LI / SMD / Science Photo Library via AFP)

Photo: MICROGEN IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LI

11:30 The myth of “fight or flight”  

Lisa Feldman Barrett is professor of psychology at Northeastern University and author of How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain.   

In a recent Scientific American article, she asked whether the brain’s much-touted “fight or flight” function is a myth. She decided, ultimately, that its primary job is to reduce uncertainty in an ever-changing world. 

Fight. Seagull (Larus sp) facing Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix). Slovakia (Photo by Ervin Horesnyik / Biosphoto / Biosphoto via AFP)

Photo: ERVIN HORESNYIK

Photo: Supplied

For those of you curious about the Sunday Morning show theme tune, it was written by Jim’s daughter, Rebecca Mora when she was 18 and studying music composition at Auckland University. 

‘Hatstand’ is the title and it was mastered by RNZ engineer Andre Upston.