-
Avoiding the technology trap
Lesley Seebeck | December 9, 2020At a recent Australian e-commerce summit, Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised technology adoption – rather than domestic innovation – as a means of driving economic returns.
-
STEM superstars call for more gender and cultural diversity
Open Forum | December 8, 2020Australia’s official Superstars of STEM have backed the campaign to increase the number of women and ethnic minorities in science and technology.
-
Blockchain and mangos
Open Forum | December 5, 2020A new blockchain platform has proven to be a game-changer for one of Australia’s largest mango producers, providing real-time, secure information from the tree to the supermarket.
-
Negotiating the morality of human-robot relations
Rachel Gray | November 17, 2020Designers who use ethics to shape better companion robots will end up making better humans too.
-
How Australia can reap the benefits and dodge the dangers of the Internet of Things
Peter Leonard | November 9, 2020The IoT presents great opportunities, but it brings many risks too. Problems include excessive surveillance, loss of privacy, transparency and control, and reliance on unsafe or unsuitable services or devices.
-
The future of drones
Ben Knight | October 13, 2020Drones have entered the mainstream but while there have been welcome advances in agriculture, aerial photography and product deliveries, it’s hard to ignore their less welcome applications.
-
Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey
Sherry Landow | October 11, 2020It’s not rocket science – or is it? A UNSW Sydney astronomer explains how the right sci-fi watchlist can make physics easier to understand.
-
Counterpoint by Mark Nicol – When is a science not a science?
Mark Nicol | September 23, 2020The scientific method has allowed mankind to understand and conquer the world around him, but even science may have its limits in dealing with complex human and moral issues.
-
Is there life on… Venus?
Laura McKemmish | September 16, 2020The discovery of phosphine in the balmy upper clouds of Venus may be a sign of anaerobic life floating high above its hellish surface.
-
Australia can lead a biotechnology revolution
John S. Mattick | September 4, 2020The Australian government needs to develop a bold vision and strategic plan to create the data-driven healthcare system and bioeconomy of the future.
-
Robot wars
Ben Knight | August 13, 2020An armed weapons system capable of making decisions sounds like it’s straight out of a Terminator movie. But once lethal autonomous weapons are out in the world, there could be no turning back.
-
Internet of junk
Ben Knight | August 5, 20205G could force greater product obsolescence as non-compatible devices get left behind, but there are ways to stem the e-waste avalanche.