A new NASA contract highlight’s Northern Australia’s space potential

With the support of state and national governments, northern Australians are well placed to reap commercial advantage from upstream and downstream opportunities in the rapidly growing global space industry.

Creatives in the country

Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics may make many urban jobs redundant but blockchain, agtech and other innovations are also set to create jobs in regional Australia.

Will space tourists launch from Australia?

The Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews wants passengers to experience zero-gravity from the convenience of a domestic airport in Australia, but how close is that vision to reality?

Fire in the sky

Over the past few days a pair of spectacular fireballs have graced Australia’s skies, but what’s the science behind them?

The US–China tech rivalry reflects contrasting cyber cultures

Whether technology has ‘good’ or ‘bad’ effects can depend on the social and political context it came from, and American and Chinese tech companies have very different roots in their societies.

The battlefield is no place for soldiers

Automation and artificial intelligence may replace humans in a host of current industries and perhaps in the oldest profession of all – the warrior on the battlefield.

Realising Australia’s potential as a rocket-launch hub

There’s a lot of scope for Australia and New Zealand to offer small-satellite launch services at very attractive prices to Asian countries as well as to our home markets.

The robot revolution is already here

The robot revolution is happening right so how much do you know about the impact of programmable machines in your everyday life?

Will 5G networks endanger public health?

Rather than rushing to implement metropolitan 5G networks, or focusing only on the technological, consumer and business opportunities they may provide, Australian policy makers must remember their first duty to protect the public and ensure the new system is safe to use.

Big tech is the real threat to online safety

Vague proposals to protect the public from online harm won’t win Scott Morrison the election, and don’t address the main threat to the public online – the predatory business models of Silicon Valley.

Artificial intelligence may take your job, so political leaders need to start doing theirs

There is little evidence of any strategic planning by Australia’s federal and state governments to deal with social dislocation caused by AI-driven automation.

Australia launches multi-billion smart satellite revolution

Australia has announced the biggest investment in space R&D in the country’s history, with the launch of a multi-billion smart satellite research hub led by the University of South Australia.