Archived News for Engineering Professionals - April, 2014
A band of roaming metallurgists will visit some of Australia’s most remote schools, burning things, blowing them up and getting students excited about mineral science.
Bird-copying flight design takes off
Australian engineers are stealing some natural techniques to improve robotic flight.
Less is more for hydro-cell improvement
Energy labs in the US have reported a new material for generating hydrogen fuel, cutting the time and cost of the next-generation power supply.
Contamination checks take pills for vast improvement
A team of chemical engineers is working on a way to reduce an entire water safety testing lab into a single pill.
Disney dreams of 3D-printed sheep
Disney’s research arm has helped build a 3D-printer specifically for soft and cuddly creations.
Gas check to build baseline as CSG explodes
Researchers are investigating whether coal seam gas (CSG) activity could be causing methane seeps in Queensland.
Rio runs first tests for robo-rail in WA
Rio Tinto is about to start running its driverless train in the Pilbara.
Staged change found in shifting material
Researchers have discovered some interesting ways to influence a material that could be central to all electronics in the future.
Transurban takes new roads to more spending
A major toll road builder is sinking its teeth into new infrastructure availabilities.
Curtains drawn on innovative energy saving
A new innovation will add to the energy-saving potential of buildings, with the addition of technology to normally drab drapery.
One drop lens could bring microscopy to masses
Australian engineers have come up with a new way of making lenses, which could turn any smart phone into a microscope.
Padbury's port plan unlikely after Premier's comments
Another twist in the strange attempt to build a port in Australia, with the WA Premier saying Padbury Mining’s $6 billion plan probably won’t happen.
Solar solutions bringing perpetual flight closer
A company in Europe is moving closer to its goal of creating a solar-powered plane that can fly indefinitely.
Thousands line up for local online learning
One Australian University will launch its first ever Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) today, and already has over 20,000 people waiting for the first lesson.
Fifty-eight fighter jets could be $12 bil "dud"
Australia will buy dozens of fighter jets at a cost of more than $12 billion, despite a raft of concerns about their design and abilities.
Native deal clears path for new port
A native title agreement has been signed to allow deepwater port to go-ahead in WA.
Anti-aging plastic provides huge energy savings
Australian researchers have created a new material which prevents plastic from aging, and should be a huge boost to the energy industry.
Carbon hybrid for ultra-electronics
Two cutting-edge atomic structures have been combined to create incredibly high-powered energy storage.
Flower's phobia could make future anti-fouling face
Engineers have once again taken reference from nature to guide new material research, this time emulating the water-repelling effects of a flower’s petals.
Hawking warns preparation is low, as we prepare to outdo ourselves
It is all but inevitable that humans will create an Artificial Intelligence capable of outdoing to the human brain, and Stephen Hawking says we should be better prepared.
Health and legal concerns latest hindrance for big city link
The Victorian Health Department has put out its list of concerns about the multi-billion-dollar East West link in Melbourne.