Monkey business for the geek in you!
Two prominent figures in the artificial intelligence (AI) and wellness industries, Sam Altman and Arianna Huffington, have announced a collaboration to develop a personalized AI health coach mobile app. The goal of this app is to combat chronic diseases by providing customized recommendations based on users’ personal biometric and medical data. Altman and Huffington believe…
The Australian government is currently investigating the possibility of banning unhealthy food advertising online and how it could be implemented. This comes after the United Kingdom announced that a ban on such advertising will begin in October 2025. In a recent study conducted by the Australian Ad Observatory, targeted junk-food ads on Facebook in Australia…
In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered and analyzed well-preserved fragments of ancient DNA from the skin of a woolly mammoth. This study, published in Cell, involved an international team from various countries including the United States, Australia, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Russia, and Norway. The findings greatly enhance our understanding of this extinct species and…
Neutron stars are incredibly dense and compact objects formed from the collapsed cores of supergiant stars. Despite their small size, they weigh more than our Sun. The matter inside neutron stars is in a unique state that cannot be replicated or studied on Earth. NASA is conducting a mission to study neutron stars and learn…
Amber, which is fossilized tree resin, has the unique ability to preserve ancient life forms in incredible detail. It acts as a time capsule, capturing tiny animals, plants, and microorganisms from millions of years ago. This makes it highly valuable to palaeontologists worldwide and is often referred to as the “holy grail” of palaeontology. Unlike…
The variety of dog hair is vast, ranging from shaggy to short, curly to straight. If you have a dog, you’re familiar with the constant presence of their hair on your couch and in your clothes. But have you ever wondered why dogs have different coat types? The differences in coat type can be attributed…
In the coming nights, a rare event will occur in the night sky as a “new star” or nova appears. Although it won’t be a spectacular sight, it presents a unique opportunity to witness this unpredictable phenomenon. The nova in question is T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), located in the constellation of the northern crown….
Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, there has been a remarkable surge in the investment, development, and use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications worldwide. This rapid growth has not only had social and economic impacts but also environmental consequences that have received less attention. The energy demand of AI applications is staggering. A…
Amazon has been awarded a A$2 billion contract by the Australian Signals Directorate to build a Top Secret Cloud for secure data storage of military intelligence. The contract is expected to last over a decade and will involve the construction of three secure data centres at undisclosed locations in Australia. The project aims to bolster…
The combination of affordable environmental sensors and AI-powered analytical tools holds the potential for faster and more insightful environmental planning. This is particularly important now due to the need for better decision-making in light of proposed changes under the Fast-track Approvals Bill, which require quicker assessments. Our research at Kuaha Matahiko, a collaborative project focused…
A recent report from Human Rights Watch has revealed that photos of Australian children have been used without consent to train artificial intelligence (AI) models that generate images. The photos were found in a large data set called LAION-5B, which contains billions of images paired with captions and was created using publicly available internet content….
New Zealand has taken a step towards digital credentials for online services with the launch of the Trust Framework Authority. The authority will determine which organizations are verified to provide digital identity services. The aim of the digital ID scheme is to simplify transactions such as opening a bank account or accessing government services by…
The eSafety Commissioner of Australia has given major tech platforms a six-month deadline to develop enforceable codes for protecting children from online pornography and other harmful content. The average age at which children encounter pornography online is 13, according to the commissioner’s research. Age verification is a challenging problem, especially for adult access to pornographic…
Several major record labels have filed copyright infringement lawsuits against generative AI music apps Suno and Udio. The labels claim that the AI companies have copied sound recordings owned by the record labels and produced outputs that are very similar to those recordings. The lawsuits seek damages of $150,000 for each allegedly infringed track. Examples…
The southeastern region of Australia once had vast expanses of grassy box gum woodlands, but now less than 5% of this habitat remains. This loss of large old trees has had a devastating impact on the numerous bird and animal species that rely on them for shelter. While it is difficult to replace these centuries-old…
A recent study conducted by our researchers has revealed a concerning cybersecurity threat on the web. We have identified millions of clickable links, which we refer to as “hijackable hyperlinks,” that can redirect users to malicious destinations. These vulnerabilities exist across the entire web, including on trusted websites. What is particularly alarming is that we…
Trilobite fossils are a common sight in natural history museums, but they usually only preserve the hard exoskeleton of these ancient marine arthropods. Soft body parts are rarely found and often obscured. However, a new study published in Science reveals the discovery of remarkably well-preserved trilobite fossils in volcanic ash. These fossils, which are around…
The debate surrounding whether children should be banned from social media platforms in Australia continues to generate controversy. Recently, politicians have made promises to implement a ban for those under the age of 16. However, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has expressed concerns that such age restrictions could lead children to use social media secretly…
Recent studies challenge the notion that social media use is directly linked to sadness and depression. While high social media use is associated with feelings of envy and depression, it may not be the cause of these negative emotions. Instead, the mindset of the individual using social media plays a significant role in determining its…
Caryn Marjorie, a popular social media influencer, has achieved over a billion views per month on Snapchat. She regularly posts content featuring everyday moments, travel memories, and selfies, attracting a large male following who are drawn to her girl-next-door aesthetic. In 2023, Marjorie introduced a “digital version” of herself called CarynAI. Fans had the opportunity…