Sciences & Technology

Barley varieties collage

New genomic toolkit set to boost Australian crop industry

Scientists are in a battle to keep the world’s food supply dependable, and new research into crop genomes is helping to lead the way

Shiny beetle

A bit of bling helps insects dazzle their predators

Beyond just looking stunning, shininess may help insects confuse predators to avoid being eaten

Two people making adjustments to a console

Opinion

We don’t just need more engineers, we need next-gen engineers

Our profession’s future is not just about training more and more recruits to fill the shortage, we also need to focus on the qualities of our next-gen engineers

Tech farming

On the Road to Gundag(AI): Ensuring rural communities benefit from the AI revolution

AI is already used throughout rural communities from precision agriculture to self-driving trucks. But we need to help regional small businesses benefit from AI while avoiding the harmful aspects

Ethics, privacy and the perils of 'deepfake geography' thumbnail image

Ethics, privacy and the perils of 'deepfake geography'

Geospatial AI could transform healthcare and disaster management, but we need comprehensive guidelines and laws to mitigate misinformation and safeguard users

An adult takes a smart device from an angry child

Analysis

Banning kids from social media? There’s a better way

The Australian government’s plan to ban kids from social media overestimates the tech available to limit access and overlooks the benefits

Hand adjusting lab equipment under blue and green lights

How science is making the sci-fi ‘tractor beam’ a reality

A new way of pulling particles with light may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but it’s real and has the potential to make biopsies less invasive

A woman stretching back in pain next to her colleague

Women living with chronic pain aren’t getting enough support at work

New research shows how medical gender bias affects Australian women’s experiences at work, particularly when it comes to managing chronic pain

Brain scan and blood test

Space research helps find targets for early Alzheimer’s test

Methods used to study asteroids and planets could be used in a new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease – potentially before clinical symptoms develop

Close up of an electronic diamond semi-conductor under green, red and orange lights

Lightning in a diamond to power the quantum revolution

A new way to measure the flow of electricity in a diamond electrical device reveals an unexpected phenomenon reminiscent of lightning in slow motion

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