Archived News for IT Professionals

Google has dropped over a billion dollars into a range of renewable energy projects, possibly so that it can trim the power bills from its other big buys.

Health rating site derailed by junk food insider

What seemed like an innocuous error has become a scandal in the healthcare bureaucracy after a potential conflict of interest in the Health Department.

Many forlorn as fibre forgone to keep the copper

There has been widespread alarm and outrage since NBN Co announced it would wind back fibre-optic installations at some sites where the copper network seems fine.

Science lights up the decisive mental switchboard

Research has shown how our brain combines internal and external information to create a complete view of the world.

Talking app to use phones for mobility

A smartphone app is helping the blind stay mobile with public transport, giving up-to-the-minute location and stop information that is often lacking.

Boss looks to blue skies for jetpack launch

An NZ-based company is drumming up funds to make every ten-year-old’s dream come true; developing the world’s first practical, commercial jetpack.

Cell-moving robots bring organ-building closer

Biomedical engineers in the United States have announced an advance in the field of tissue manufacture – bringing the likelihood of 3D-printed replacement organs even closer.

Tests to lift necks from Nature's toolbox

Researchers are looking to nature for design advice, looking to pinch the secrets of their astounding neck joints.

Abbott's policy of silence to stop the Tweets

The Federal Government has placed itself under tight new controls for using social media sites.

Chip helps bring bionic hearing inside

New developments have been made in the quest for a fully-internal cochlear implant.

Experts unite for digital science upgrade

High definition 3D models and real scientific data will be used to create astounding virtual recreations of significant sites for students.

Gains in gathering power from good vibrations

Researchers are trying to crack open an extremely common source of electricity – vibrations.

Health site stars for one day, just enough to impress

A website with detailed information on Australia's new labelling system for food and beverages was launched, welcomed by health experts, and then taken offline just 24 hours later.

Mind control goes multi-coloured

Algae have provided a new tool to enhance optogenetics – a technique using light to watch and control neurons in the brain.

New maps show species threats and pressure worldwide

An international team has developed a series of maps showing how fast and in which direction local climates have shifted, to illuminate species at risk worldwide.

Rock scan pays off in spades

A university project using advanced technologies to look for crude oil has sold for $76 million.

Electronic losses lead to sale and sacking

Sony’s failure in the PC market has led to big losses for the electronics giant, which must now cut thousands of jobs to stay alive.

Feeling bionic hand makes mechanical sense

A Danish man has become the first in the world to be fitted with a prosthetic hand that can feel.

Moves to run rat race out to regions

A Rural and Regional Committee has called for forced public service teleworking quotas, to push government jobs into regional areas.

Red nation changes favourites in new OS

North Korea has updated the one operating system available in the country, moving from an interface pinched from Microsoft Windows toward one resembling Apple’s OSX.