Digging it: the dopamine hit hiding beneath our feet
Soil influences what we eat, what we wear and maybe even what we feel, with one Australian scientist on a mission to help us all dig a little deeper.
science and technology
Not a real doctor: AI struggles to treat human patients
Tasked with identifying common medical conditions and recommending treatment, artificial intelligence can deliver deadly advice.
Tech companies campaign to bring SXSW back to Australia
Brisbane might have secured the Olympic Games but a grassroots campaign is asking the state government to consider adopting another big event.
Australia’s quantum leap: $20m boost for homegrown firm
Quantum technology that promises to outsmart artificial intelligence could be made in Australia after an investment in a Sydney company.
Taking a swing: Aussie Open serves AI insights to fans
Tennis-talking robots, virtual reality matches and an innovation to let visually impaired fans follow the action are being tested at the Australian Open.
It’s not just you: fake videos look more real than ever
Artificially intelligent image creation tools are becoming more sophisticated and easier to use but that is making it harder to tell what is real online.
The chatbot will see you now: why AI is tackling health
After being swamped with medical questions, one AI firm is trialling a dedicated health service. Experts say more are coming and their prognosis is unclear.
What’s for dinner? Aussies cook up fresh uses for AI
Australians are turning to artificial intelligence tools in the kitchen as well as the office, as use of the technology weighs in on more activities.
Stacking solar cells could deliver cheaper power
A material touted as a candidate for next-generation solar technology is showing more promise, with Australian scientists behind its success.
AI is boosting scientific careers but shrinking studies
Artificial intelligence could be good for scientists but bad for science as a whole, a study has found, as it narrows the scope of research.
Unions reach deal with tech giant on AI and workers
Workers will have a say in the rollout of AI through an agreement between a tech giant and unions that has been welcomed by industry and government.
Aussies are using AI at home but want rules at work
Most workers in fields such as finance, technology and law are using artificial intelligence at home but want changes to make it safer to use on the job.
Quietly dying: few forests spared from tree losses
Australian forests are thinning in a worrying finding for a world relying on plants to help soak up excess atmospheric carbon.
Aussie spider venom spawns heart attack and stroke drug
Venom from a spider found on K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, has been used to develop a drug that prevents damage during heart attacks and strokes.
Robots, smart Lego and AI everything: CES 2026 delivers
The annual Consumer Electronics Show indicates we could be headed into a future with cleaning robots, noisy Lego and bathroom mirrors that assess health.
Clicking and streaming: Australian online habits evolve
Australians are hooking up to faster broadband connections by the thousands and the technology is changing the way they consume entertainment.
Early warnings not heeded in deadly triple-zero outage
A host of mistakes were made during an Optus triple-zero outage linked to two deaths, including a failure to escalate initial concerns up the chain.
Cheapest path to energy and climate goals locked in
Solar and wind firmed by storage and backed by gas remains the cheapest pathway to meet Australia's growing demand for electricity while reaching climate goals
Nvidia chip sales to China sparks US security concerns
Critics fear Donald Trump's decision to upend US policy by allowing Nvidia to sell its advanced AI chips to China will boost Beijing's military capabilities.
Thirsty AI technology could strain Aussie water supply
Data centres supporting artificial intelligence technology could use as much as 20 per cent of the water supply in some cities unless policies change.
Nowhere left to hide for troops with sex convictions
Sexual violence in the Australian Defence Force is under the microscope, with a fresh batch of measures announced in a government crackdown.
Invest or lose: Australia’s billion-dollar AI warning
Australia could squander billions of dollars in growth over the next decade if it fails to invest in homegrown artificial intelligence technology and talent.
Class action, Meta buried evidence of social media harm
A class action by US school districts against Meta and other social media platforms accuses the technology behemoth of burying evidence of social media harm.
National AI safety hub to manage risks, deliver rewards
An institute will advise the government on how to shut down risks from artificial intelligence and ensure companies follow the rules.
Indigenous students construct new paths in engineering
Indigenous students with a passion for STEM are being introduced to the world of engineering, with hands-on workshops, site visits and cultural activities.
The premier, the poet and the fight to save a frog
As amphibian enthusiasts get ready to hop into FrogID Week, hope persists that one of Australia's most bizarre creatures may survive.
Quiet-quitting conservation undermines green goals
Deserted conservation promises are a blind spot for global negotiations on climate and biodiversity, researchers say, and are devilishly hard to track.
No rules, no use: Aussie firms may miss AI opportunity
More Australian businesses are investing in artificial intelligence technology but many are still waiting for clear rules about its use.
From chaos to code: why AI is boosting developer ranks
Artificial intelligence tools are inspiring more people to create their own software and could help to address Australia's skills gap.
Record loss of outdoor work hours due to heat: report
Heat exposure, drought and natural disasters are causing deaths and economic havoc in Australia and around the world, according to a major global report.
Science awards put Aussie pioneers in rarefied air
Collecting Australia's most prestigious science awards is gratifying, but seeing their pioneering work in action is the real reward for our top researchers.