When a Virgin Galactic commercial flight soared into space on 8 September 2023, there were two Virgin Galactic pilots, an instructor and three passengers on board – as well as two fossils…
Category: Science + Technology
how Australians made the early internet their own
The internet is growing old. While the roots of the internet date back to the 1960s, the popular internet – the one that 99% of Australians now use – is a child…
What is intelligence? For millennia, western literature has suggested it may be a liability
In the age of the Anthropocene, humanity appears poised to destroy itself. Each day brings a reminder of another threat to our peace and security. War, political instability and climate change send…
Canada’s participation in the world’s largest radio telescope means new opportunities in research and innovation
Canada is about to become a member of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) — the world’s next giant radio telescope. This is a win for all Canadians, not just astronomers. SKAO…
A Nasa spacecraft is on course to deliver material from an asteroid to Earth – here’s what we could learn
Around 15 years ago, I was on a European Space Agency (Esa) committee, looking at Esa’s strategy for proposed forthcoming space missions. Under consideration was a mission to an asteroid. Over dinner,…
what came first, the chicken or the egg?
What came first, the chicken or the egg? — Grace, age 12, Melbourne Hi Grace! Thanks for this great question. It’s an age-old dilemma that has left many people scratching their heads….
Why do I get so much spam and unwanted email in my inbox? And how can I get rid of it?
Spam might not have brought an end to the internet or email, as some dire predictions in the early 2000s claimed it could – but it’s still a massive pain. Despite all…
The UK re-joining the Horizon research funding scheme benefits Europe too – the data backs it up
The UK has just rejoined the EU’s flagship research funding programmes, Horizon Europe and Copernicus. This is great news for science, the EU and the UK. The reasons are simple: science progresses…
In future, we’ll see fewer generic AI chatbots like ChatGPT and more specialised ones that are tailored to our needs
AI technology is developing rapidly. ChatGPT has become the fastest-growing online service in history. Google and Microsoft are integrating generative AI into their products. And world leaders are excitedly embracing AI as…
Five golden rules for effective science communication – perspectives from a documentary maker
Over the past three years, people from all walks of life have learned a great deal about different branches of science. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many of us to information about virology…