Science and Technology
Advancing our world with audacious ideas
Science and Technology
Advancing our world with audacious ideas
Could Australia be left behind in the AI revolution?
Australia is at risk of being left behind in AI development without urgent investment, warns Macquarie University Professor of Data Science, Amin Beheshti.
Tiny Australian Peacock Spiders break records in speed-jumping
Video: New research has tracked Australia’s peacock spiders making the fastest-known jumps in a spider, experiencing forces higher than fighter pilots while leaping distances 15 times their body length.
Siamese fighting fish need more space in pet shops: new behaviour data
Scientists have found prized Siamese fighting fish are typically being kept in conditions a quarter of the size they need to thrive, challenging decades of retail practice in the multi-million dollar ornamental fish industry worldwide.
Scientists engineer fish and flies to clean up toxic mercury
Using genes borrowed from bacteria, Macquarie University-led research has demonstrated fish and flies can be engineered to break down methylmercury and remove it from their bodies as a less harmful gas, offering new ways to tackle persistent mercury pollution in the environment.
Follow the leader: How the science of migrating fish can build better communities
In the tropical waters around Fiji, Macquarie University scientists are collaborating with local communities to implement marine connectivity science strategies to improve the resilience of small-scale fisheries in the region.
Why some birds divorce and others partner for life
Relationship dynamics among birds can be just as complex as they are in humans. While some bird species stick with one partner for life, new research has shown others might switch partners after just one breeding season.
Why do some mammals have short pregnancies while others take years? Wallaby study sparks new insights
Macquarie University scientists compared placental mammals with wallabies, opossums and dunnarts to show how mammals evolved to manage inflammation during pregnancy, allowing them to extend their gestation from days to months.
Mind the gap: How maths is taught may be failing girls
Opinion: Australian boys are dramatically ahead of girls in maths at both primary and high school level, an international test has revealed. But mathematician Associate Professor Richard Garner warns the gender gap is more complex than it appears.
Sewage Signals: How DNA detection is revolutionising water quality monitoring
Scientists have used bacterial DNA to track sewage pollution in 18 global harbours, revealing widespread contamination that current testing methods fail to detect.
How will AI impact your next job?
Artificial intelligence threatens to dramatically change the work we do and how our workplaces operate. Macquarie University researchers examine some vital ethical questions raised by this new technology.
Lights deter Great White sharks: new research
VIDEO: What if surfers could be protected from shark attacks with something like an invisibility cloak? That’s what Professor Nathan Hart says is close to happening following discoveries he and colleague Dr Laura Ryan have made about how to trick sharks’ visual systems.
New genetic discovery reveals how birds get their coloured bills
Macquarie University researchers have uncovered a genetic reason for the distinctive red, yellow and orange bills of Australian finches, finding a link with how they process the pigments they get from seeds.