Unfortunately, uncleared minefields are still a serious problem in many parts of the world. An Australian developed Magnetic Resonance system by CSIRO and manufactured and distributed by RFC Ambrian is set to allow more efficient land mine detection. Known as MRead, the technology is not affected by other metal in the ground such as shrapnel and for the first time can detect land mines made entirely of plastic. Land mines can be cleared allowing people to return to normal life without the fear of these devices. Photo: prototype MRead system in testing.https://newatlas.com/good-thinking/mread-magnetic-resonance-land-mine-detection/
Longitudinal data shows an encouraging trend over the past decades. Simon Kuestenmacher writes that collectively we are richer, healthier, more peaceful, more environmentally aware and intellectually more capable than ever before. Gen Z is outrageously well-educated, tech-savvy, and capable of thinking systemically (granted, they are young and don’t know much stuff yet, but their intellectual framework is impressive). Even considering the climate challenge the future is in good hands.https://thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2023/04/01/the-stats-guy-why-young-people-should-remain-optimistic-and-focus-on-reshaping-the-future/
Very few Australian schools dedicate any time to teaching philosophy and ethics. Two students from Sydney saw the need for a program to teach these valuable life skills and named it Terra Symposium. Co-founder Daniel Mawston said"The best thing we can do for today’s generation is to future-proof their education to make sure they have the philosophical inquiry skills to deal with what’s thrown at them.”Terra Symposium took out the AIIA People’s Choice Award at the 2022 iAwards, Terra Symposium will move to full commercialisation this year. Photo from Facebookhttps://www.innovationaus.com/aussie-students-put-ethics-and-philosophy-back-into-schools/
Along with carnivores and herbivores we now have virovores - organisms that eat viruses.Since viruses are found absolutely everywhere, it’s inevitable that organisms will consume them incidentally. But researcher John DeLong at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln wanted to find out if any microbes actively ate viruses, and whether such a diet could support the physiological growth of individual organisms and the growth of a community. Experiments showed that a microbe known as Halteria favoured eating a virus. Additional studies will look for more virovores.https://newatlas.com/science/first-virovore-eats-viruses/
Problem solving and its close cousin innovation need a mix of skills and backgrounds within teams to really fire. While policy attention is often on the technical or STEM skills shortage solid research supports the inclusion of HASS - humanities, arts, and social sciences to get better outcomes in creating commercial, economic, and social value. These capabilities complement in very important ways the other (technical) elements of the skills mix.Article by Dr John Howard:https://www.innovationaus.com/technical-skills-are-not-enough-for-sustained-innovation/
New South Wales-based tech company InvertiGro has won the Food Agritech category at the InnovationAus 2022 Awards for Excellence for its novel and innovative solution to the world’s global food security struggles.InvertiGro's modular sealed grow cubes can be installed almost anywhere: from inner-city basements and car parks to warehouses in remote rural locations, without costly building modifications. Internally, they can be configured, and easily reconfigured, to deliver the optimal growing conditions and resource efficiencies for a wide variety of crops including food, fibres, fodder and medicinal plants.https://www.innovationaus.com/vertical-farm-business-invertigro-scores-food-agritech-award/
