Archived News for Research Sector Professionals - September, 2013
The issue of how to provide a comfortable retirement for Australia’s aging population will be tackled by a $9 million collaborative effort between top scientific agencies.
Sonar sweeps for swift fish survey
Fish living in a certain lagoon near Sydney are ready for their high-definition close-up, with UNSW teams monitoring entrants to the Narrabeen Lagoon in an Australian-first project.
New milestone in robotic arms race
A team of research engineers have achieved the highest strength ever recorded for robotic muscles.
Race to relegate drivers to back seat
In a race that hopefully will not lead to cut-corners, car manufacturers are rushing to bring self-driving vehicles to the market with German maker Daimler leading the charge.
Aroma shown as sign of good guy
According to a new report by the University of Stirling, some female brains can recognise a good genetic match just by copping a whiff.
Coding the approach to next-gen transistors
Research published in the new Nature Communications journal proposes building the next generation of transistors and computer chips out of graphene assembled by strands of DNA.
Gaming for life takes serious turn
One of the most common interactions from modern parents to their kids’ involves the amount of time they spend staring at a screen, but new research suggests in the future that may be the way to stay on the ball.
NICTA nervous on future funding
There will be some worried exchanges at one of Australia’s top technology research groups today, with word the new federal government may look to slash funding in the future.
Novel model shows real taste for resources
A study by the University of New South Wales, CSIRO, the University of Sydney, and the University of California has tallied the true material footprint of several nations, revealing that some are considerably more resource-hungry than previously reported.
Sniffing out sepsis with a nose in a bottle
Germs stink. Normally a source of annoyance and distaste, the pungency of bacteria is now being used as a diagnostic tool.
Technological bounds of design redrawn
Billionaire Elon Musk has again given the world a glimpse of impending technological possibilities.
Uni helps build fire safe future
The University of Queensland is brokering exchanges between fire-fighters and engineers to make sure buildings in the future are designed with fire safety as a top priority.
Pest spread enlivened by climate
A new study has shown the spread of crop pests towards the North and South Poles is increasing as the planet warms, leading to more concerns over the future of global food security.
Study counts the cost of not knowing
A study has taken a guess at the amount of mammal diseases that we do not yet know about, landing on a figure of about 320,000.
Curtin studies trials of driving tired
A Curtin University study has polled truck drivers who were involved in accidents over a single year, finding those who did not complete fatigue management training were six times more likely to crash.
Engineering the future of safe water supplies
Environmental engineers have created a substance which can make safe, drinkable water by swiftly and easily killing off bacteria in seconds.
Heads-up for new poison monitor
Wearable safety computers attached to hard-hats may be the next big life-saver in poisonous work environments.
Robots to the rescue for on-field collisions
A study has kicked-off at an American football game on the weekend which has seen injured players assessed for concussions by a sideline robot.
Australian parents take flight for choice
Data presented at the Fertility Society of Australia's annual meeting suggests hundreds of Australian couples are taking flight to choose the gender of their baby.
Austrian scientists grow a brain
Austrian scientists have developed a mind-boggling technique to grow small brains from cells in the lab.
Coal-power fish-mercury link claimed
Researchers from universities in the US say they have found a link showing coal-fired power stations are responsible for high levels of mercury in some ocean fish.