Monkey business for the geek in you!
Living on the International Space Station presents unique challenges for astronauts, including the inability to do laundry due to water scarcity. However, here on Earth, washing clothes is a significant part of our daily lives. In fact, it is estimated that the equivalent of 21,000 Olympic swimming pools worth of water is used for domestic…
Boeing, the renowned American aerospace company, has long been associated with safe air travel. Alongside its European competitor Airbus, Boeing has dominated the market for large passenger jets since the 1990s. However, this year has seen Boeing making headlines for all the wrong reasons. In January, a Boeing 737 MAX experienced an emergency door plug…
A recent survey conducted in early 2024 has revealed that Australians are deeply concerned about the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and are calling for stronger government action to ensure its safe development and use. The survey, which included a nationally representative sample of 1,141 Australians, found that 80% of respondents believe preventing catastrophic…
NBN Co, the operator of the National Broadband Network, has proposed an upgrade that could provide users with download speeds up to five times faster on its fastest home services. This speed boost would come at no extra cost to retailers, meeting the growing demand for higher speed broadband connections. The move is driven by…
As the summer in the southern hemisphere comes to an end, preparations are being made for a flight over the Southern Alps in New Zealand to survey glaciers. This annual flight supports the longest scientific study of New Zealand’s glaciers and reveals that all of them have retreated since 1978. This year’s survey takes place…
The article discusses the lack of legal regulation surrounding the collection and modification of facial information. It highlights the value of facial data and the potential for exploitation by companies and individuals. The current Australian Privacy Act considers biometric information, including facial data, to be personal sensitive information but does not provide a clear definition…
European physicists recently made a groundbreaking discovery by measuring the strength of gravity on the smallest scale ever. Researchers from Leiden University, the University of Southampton, and the Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies conducted a tabletop experiment and measured a force of approximately 30 attonewtons on a particle with less than half a milligram of…
Your makeup brushes and sponges can harbor bacteria and fungi, posing potential health risks. These contaminants can come from both the cosmetics themselves and the surface of your skin. To maintain hygiene and prevent microbial growth, here are some important tips. Germs and fungi can enter your makeup kit in various ways. For example, flushing…
The traditional understanding that humans have five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch – is not entirely accurate. The sense of touch is actually a combination of several different senses working together. The human body contains a network of sensory nerve cells with endings in the skin that detect various physical signals from…
The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is exacerbating the problem of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news. Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini make it easier to produce content while making it harder to discern what is true and authentic. Malicious actors can use AI tools to automate the creation of convincing but…
Today, on February 29th, people around the world may think of Pope Gregory XIII and his calendar reform. The Julian calendar, introduced in 46 BC, was found to be inaccurate, falling short of the solar year by about 12 minutes each year. To correct this, Gregory formed a commission of experts who fine-tuned the leap-year…
In the years following the COVID pandemic, China, Japan, and India have successfully landed on the Moon, while other countries like South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel have flown past the Moon or entered lunar orbit. Recently, the American company Intuitive Machines, in collaboration with NASA, achieved a successful landing of its Odysseus…
New research conducted by the non-profit Consumer Policy Research Centre and UNSW Sydney reveals that Australian consumers have a limited understanding of how companies, including data brokers, track, target, and profile them. The study also found that 70% of Australians feel they have little to no control over the disclosure of their data between companies,…
A Hong Kong company recently lost HK$200 million (A$40 million) in a deepfake scam. The scammers used generative AI tools to create replicas of senior company officials during a video conference call, tricking an employee into transferring funds. The rise of these tools has raised concerns about intimate image abuse and the disruption of democratic…
As the rise of misinformation and radicalization continues, it is natural to search for something or someone to blame. The internet, social media personalities, sensationalized political campaigns, religion, and conspiracy theories are often targeted. And once a cause is identified, solutions are proposed, such as fact-checking, advertising regulation, and banning certain YouTubers. However, if these…
Coles and Woolworths, the dominant supermarket chains in Australia, are currently facing intense scrutiny. Various inquiries and investigations have been launched to examine their pricing practices, potential anti-competitive behavior, and the link between their practices and inflation. Recently, the two companies were featured on the ABC current affairs program Four Corners, where their CEOs gave…
Match Group, the parent company of popular dating apps Tinder, Hinge, and The League, is facing a class-action lawsuit in the United States. The lawsuit alleges that Match uses manipulative features to create addiction among its users. This raises the question of whether dating apps can truly be addictive and if we are falling into…
The Australian Navy is undergoing a transformation with plans for nuclear submarines and the addition of six new “optionally crewed” vessels. These vessels have the advantage of being able to operate with or without a crew, allowing for longer operation times, increased stealth, and the ability for military personnel to avoid hostile environments. However, the…
OpenAI recently introduced Sora, a new generative AI system that can create short videos based on text prompts. Although Sora is not yet accessible to the public, the high quality of the sample outputs has generated both excitement and concern. The sample videos released by OpenAI showcase Sora’s capabilities, including prompts such as “photorealistic closeup…
Running out of ingredients while cooking or baking can be a frustrating situation. However, there are several ingredient substitutions that can work just as well as the original ingredient. The success of these substitutions is often due to the chemistry and physical similarities they share with the original ingredient. One common substitution is using oils…