Researchers borrow from bugs to make unsinkable metal
A University of Rochester team has developed a laser-etching technique and taken inspiration from fire ants and diving bell spiders to engineer water-repellent, buoyant metal structures.
Officeworks to introduce pen and battery recycling scheme “by the end of 2020”
Officeworks has announced that it plans to introduce battery recycling at all stores and pen recycling “in most stores” by the end of next year. Federal assistant minister for waste reduction, Trevor Evans – who attended the announcement at the Wesfarmers-owned office supplier’s Osborne Park store – said that Officeworks would partner with BIC on…
2020 WorldSkills tradie competition to be held August 13 – 15 in Perth
More than 500 competitors and 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the WorldSkills Australia National Championships, which have been announced for August 13 – 15 at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre next year. The national vocational and educational training (VET) competition will feature as many as 60 skills categories. It is held in conjunction…
Tyre recycler steps up tech export efforts with new US appointment
Central NSW-based tyre recycling business Green Distillation Technologies has announced the hire of a marketing agent in the United States.
Activated carbon startup eyes commercial plant
A South Australian startup that has developed a low-cost technique for making activated carbon from agricultural waste will soon begin a capital raising round to fund commercial production.
Two drone businesses awarded $8.6 million under Defence Innovation Hub
AVT Australia and Textron Systems have earned contracts worth $5.2 million and $3.4 million, defence industry minister Melissa Price announced on Monday.
Finalists named for 2019 Australian Export Awards
Ninety-four companies have been named as finalists in 13 categories at the 57th Australian Export Awards.
Pre-Xmas food and bev boost comes early as manufacturing continues overall expansion
The Australian manufacturing sector remained in growth over October, though this slowed over the month, according to the Australian Industry Group’s Performance of Manufacturing Index.
Work on bioplastics for Australian electric vehicles announced
University of Queensland has announced it is working with automotive start-up ACE-EV and Flinders University to develop bio-based materials for electric vehicles.
Behind those headlines. Why not to rely on claims robots threaten half our jobs
By Michael Coelli, Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne and Jeff Borland, Professor of Economics, University of Melbourne Should we believe headlines claiming nearly half of all jobs will be lost to robots and artificial intelligence? We think not, and in a newly released study we explain why. Headlines trumpeting massive job losses have been in abundance…