Researchers have found a way to transfer the incredible strength of the tiny fibres that make up plants and wood to a lightweight, biodegradable material that could eventually replace plastic and stee…
Wirelessly powered implants could fight illnesses in the body one day
Pacemakers and other implantable medical devices need on-board batteries, which limits their miniaturisation and lifespan. Devices powered and controlled by ultrasound or radio frequency waves could b…
Tasmania moves to be ‘battery of the nation’ with new pumped hydro sites
Tasmania has revealed the potential locations of 14 pumped hydro sites that together could generate up to 4800 MW and deliver energy to the national grid.…
The economic case for e-waste recycling is growing
New research shows extracting metals from e-waste is more cost effective than mining virgin ores, and Australian-developed microfactories are helping make this ‘urban mining’ a viable opti…
Robot baristas are a look into the automated future of the service industry
Robot baristas are on the job in Melbourne, San Francisco and Tokyo as automation gets a foothold in the service industry. But can they meet the high standards of coffee aficionados?…
One fusion startup hopes the pistol shrimp can unlock energy’s ‘holy grail’
Crustaceans have inspired innovative developments from eco-friendly marine antifouling to a camera for detecting cancer. Could they show us how to gain energy from fusion?…
Handheld tech ‘prints’ stem cells to help heal joint injuries
In future, surgeons could mend damaged bone and cartilage with the stroke of a BioPen and reduce the need for joint replacements.…
New battery tech helps the quest for better renewable energy storage
US researchers have made progress in the design of a safe, sustainable and economical alternative battery technology for renewable energy storage.…
More details revealed about Australia’s first space agency
It’s all systems go for the nation’s first space agency, with former CSIRO boss Dr Megan Clark at the helm and ongoing funding details announced.…
Awarded young engineer tapped to work on cutting-edge army drones
A blend of engineering expertise and military training has bagged aerospace engineer Stephen Bornstein a role in the race to design the next generation of army drones.…