Faculty of Science and Engineering
Pioneering mathematician Nalini Joshi awarded 2026 Moyal Medal
Macquarie University has awarded the 2026 Moyal Medal to University of Sydney Professor Nalini Joshi AO FAA FRSN in recognition of her outstanding contributions to mathematics.
Bees ‘facial expressions’ may be a sign of their inner lives
It’s easy for us to tell if someone is enjoying their meal or not. They lick their lips if they like it, grimace if they don’t.
El Niño is shaping up for a hot summer – could recycled water be part of the solution?
With El Niño officially declared for summer 2026, Dr Laura Fernandez and researchers at Macquarie University are testing the use of recycled water to irrigate trees, helping to cool Western Sydney.
Keeping the peace in the ocean: What science tells us about risk, deterrents and living with sharks
After every shark bite, the culling debate returns. But scientists say new technologies are offering safer ways for people and sharks to share the ocean.
This tiny Australian spider uses a high‑powered web catapult to trap and eat aggressive ants
There’s more than one way a spider can spin its web. Some construct large vertical orb webs, while others build horizontal sheet webs or tangled cobwebs that ensnare crawling insects.
Why some bees are more at risk from climate change than others
From ground burrows to thin plant stems, where native bees nest may determine how well they adapt to a warming climate, new research suggests.
Seahorses and shark fins are illegally trafficked. An AI tool could help stop this crime
Shark fins on a plane, seahorses in your bag and sea cucumbers in the post – these are just a few examples of illegal marine wildlife trafficking.
Student engineers ignite Macquarie’s first liquid rocket engine project
What began as a shared fascination with rockets has evolved into NERVA-ONE – an ambitious liquid rocket engine designed and built by Macquarie University students, helping lay the foundations for future aerospace and propulsion research on campus.
Timmy the stranded whale is dead. Please, let’s put animal welfare first and human emotion second
A humpback whale stranded for weeks in Germany became a global livestream spectacle – then a rescue moved him to sea, where he died days later. Timmy’s story is a sobering lesson in putting animal welfare ahead of the urge to play saviour.
How a collection of preserved animals is reconnecting us with life through death
Behind glass cabinets and beneath carefully preserved wings, Macquarie University’s Biology Discovery Centre invites visitors into the fragile interconnectedness of life and death.
Clear-eyed cosmos: MQ engineers focus new Gemini North view in Hawaii
Macquarie University engineers are helping one of the world’s most powerful telescopes view the universe more clearly, after reaching a major milestone that will see an upgrade to the Gemini North telescope.
Whale gaping: Citizen scientists key to discovering rare Humpback behaviour
A new paper co-authored by Macquarie University lecturer and renowned whale scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta highlights the importance of ‘citizen scientists’ who have been integral in exposing a newly observed Humpback whale behaviour.