World famous University of Adelaide invention wins Eureka prize
ADELAIDE’S Sapphire Clock — a tool so accurate it gains or loses just one second every 40 million years — has won one of Australia’s most prestigious science prizes.
ADELAIDE’S Sapphire Clock – a tool so accurate it gains or loses just one second every 40 million years – has won one of Australia’s most prestigious science prizes.
The University of Adelaide has picked up a Eureka prize for the clock, which works with Australia’s Jindalee Over-The-Horizon Radar Network to spot and track asylum seeker boats or enemy planes up to 3000km away.
Its precise nature works to help the radar see smaller objects even further away.
The team led by Professor Andrew Luiten won the Defence Science and Technology Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia, one of 16 prizes awarded in Canberra last night.
The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes show “how Australia’s scientists are kicking the big goals”, according to Australian Museum director Kim McKay.
“From lifesaving breakthroughs in medical science to discoveries that provide a sustainable future, Australia is producing world-leading results.
“It’s particularly exciting to see the girls from Presbyterian Ladies’ College Sydney and St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School Brisbane taking out the primary and secondary school project prizes,” she said.
The respective projects were explaining the importance of bees and talking about lactose intolerance and farting.
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said the clock delivered “a step change in radar frequency, purity and overall performance”.
“This is an example of world-leading research with a positive impact on Australia’s defence and national security,” he said. “It will be a game-changer for defence capability.”