Imagine biting into a tomato that smells like freshly buttered popcorn.

Research published in the journal KeAi showed the world’s first tomato plants with a popcorn-like aroma made using gene-editing technology. The goal is part of a much bigger effort to solve one of the biggest problems in modern agriculture: why tomatoes have lost so much of their flavour.

If you’ve ever eaten a tomato straight from a garden, you probably know the difference immediately.

Homegrown tomatoes are often sweet, fragrant, and intensely flavourful. Supermarket tomatoes, by comparison, can sometimes taste bland.

Once removed from the vine, the fruit begins to undergo metabolic changes that slowly reduce its aroma and flavour. Long transport times and storage conditions make this even worse. Over decades, breeding tomatoes for durability, size, and shelf life has also unintentionally reduced many of the compounds responsible for flavour.

Scientists around the world are now trying to bring that flavour back.

In the new study, researchers used the gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 to modify two specific genes in tomato plants.

These genes normally control how the plant processes certain chemical compounds.

By switching them off, the researchers triggered the buildup of a molecule called 2-AP.

This compound is famous in the food world. It’s responsible for the distinctive smell of:

• Buttered popcorn
• Fragrant rice varieties like basmati and jasmine
• Freshly baked bread

When the edited tomatoes started producing higher levels of this compound, the plants developed a distinct popcorn-like aroma.

One of the most important findings from the research is that the genetic change didn’t appear to harm the plant’s performance, so scientists managed to increase the tomato’s aroma without reducing yield or nutritional value.

The tomatoes used in the experiment were a research variety called Alisa Craig, commonly used in plant science studies.

The next step will be introducing the aroma trait into commercial tomato varieties that are grown at scale.

If successful, future supermarket tomatoes could have far richer aromas and more complex flavour, something that many people feel has been missing from modern produce.

This research is part of a growing trend in agriculture: using gene editing not just to make crops tougher or higher yielding, but to improve the eating experience itself.

Instead of choosing between flavour and productivity, scientists are increasingly finding ways to achieve both.

And if that future includes tomatoes that smell like buttered popcorn, it might make the produce aisle a lot more interesting.

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Netflix has recently confirmed it would release a sequel to Kpop Demon Hunters, its most popular film of all time and a two-time Oscar nominee.

The film's a big hit with fans all over the world, and it's nominated for two Academy Awards this Monday - Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.

Entertainment correspondent Steve Newall explained further, and discussed the other nominees ahead of tomorrow's Oscars.

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A Kiwi fashion stylist has turned personal loss into a new purpose.

Inspired by her auntie's cancer battle, Lulu Wilcox has created 'Loved by Lulu' a range of headwear for women struggling with hair loss from the likes of chemotherapy.

Wilcox says she wanted to create something that gives back, and offers people comfort during tough times.

"This has come about, Loved by Lulu, and I'm very, very passionate about it and I've been in the fashion industry for so long, I just felt that the need to give back and provide something for everybody navigating this journey."

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Building relationships is the focus for the Prime Minister, as he departs for Samoa and Tonga today.

Chris Luxon will visit the main islands of both countries this week to meet with the pair's new Governments.

Alongside him will be his Police and Pacific Peoples Ministers - as well as a business delegation and MPs from other parties.

Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths explained why Luxon is looking to strengthen the partnership between the regions.

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The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has sparked concerns about global oil shortages, domestic rising petrol and diesel costs, and it's got experts speculating.

The Government is working to find a solution, with Energy Minister Simon Watts meeting with his counterparts in Tokyo for the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Forum to discuss the issue.

Nathan Surendran is the chair of the Wise Response Society, and he says the conflict is causing oil refineries all over the world to slow down production.

"There is the National Fuel Plan - the Government has, effectively, a staged incremental rationing type process...it should signal that rationing is a potential possibility, because signalling it gives people time to adjust mentally."

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So, if you were hoping 2026 would be a simpler year than the previous few, you’re probably rethinking your expectations. There’s a bit going on. This week has been about leadership. Domestic and global. The Middle East. Oil prices. And reliving the past with the Covid Royal Commission Report.

Oil isn’t toilet paper, but there’s a weird familiarity between Covid and our oil supply concerns, isn’t there? There's the fear of what happens if we run out of…something.

And so, in these difficult and uncertain times it can be helpful to look for a distraction, and I can’t think of a better one than the 98th Academy Awards, which take place on Monday afternoon New Zealand time.

I know it sounds flippant. It’s easy to dismiss the Oscars as irrelevant during a tumultuous time. It’s all extravagant outfits, outrageous goodie bags, woke speeches - I can understand why some people think it’s an advertisement for Ozempic.

But, actually, there is a place for the Oscars. Beyond the distraction and entertainment, the craft and storytelling on show is incredible and those responsible - from the directors and actors to the costume designers and sound engineers - deserve to be respected and honoured.

When the news is all doom and gloom it’s easy to become cynical and negative about everything. So, it’s a choice to retain some positivity and remind ourselves of what’s possible and to celebrate talent and achievement - regardless of the industry it’s in.

As seems to be the case year after year, Kiwis are acknowledged for their incredible work at the Oscars. Costume designer Kate Hawley is nominated for Frankenstein - she is an inspiration for all young design students out there - and the incredible team at Wētā FX are nominated for Avatar: Fire and Ash. The studio have already won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects 7 times. 7 times!

I quite often hear people say how much New Zealanders punch above our weight - particularly in the creative industries. I don’t like the expression. It means performing or achieving results better than expected and beyond one's ability, skill and experience. This is absolutely not the case. Regardless of our nation’s size and where we live, Kiwis have the ability, skill and experience to be at the top of whatever game they’re in, if they’re prepared to work for it.

It’s easy to look at what’s going on in the world and say there are more important things to be thinking about than the Oscars. And that is true. But hey, throughout the award’s almost 100-year history there have always been more important things to think about.

So, if you happen to have access to Disney+ tomorrow, set yourself up in front of a screen, take pleasure in people doing well, enjoy the distraction and the celebration of this marvellous art form.

There are some exceptional films and Kiwis to cheer for.

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Award-winning journalist Charlotte Glennie's built up a memorable career over the years.

As a foreign correspondent, she reported from North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia, she covered monsoon rains in a Bangladesh refugee camp and she witnessed the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people.

But before all that, Glennie was in a life-changing accident while in Croatia and lost her footing and fell off a cliff onto rocks below, suffering life-threatening injuries.

She's written about all her experiences in a new memoir - Every Second Counts.

"There were two things I wanted to do, and for me, they were the pinnacle of a journalism career. One was to be a foreign correspondent and one was to be a political correspondent. And the political one came along very early on...and another theme of the book is just taking opportunities when they come along."

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Brothers Pene Pati and Amitai Pati began their music careers in South Auckland church halls, but now they've grown their international careers.

A new documentary Tenor: My Name Is Pati explored the duo's journey to the opera stages as Sol3 Mio stars - and how they got to train and work overseas.

Pene Pati says he was scared on the journey, but knew he would find his way.

"I often think about this - it's a bit of both. I was scared, I was fearful...but at the same time, I was confident that I could do it."

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