This Month
Fortescue, Playground-backed hydrogen flight start-up collapses
Universal Hydrogen had attracted almost $150 million in funding, including from Aussie Peter Barrett’s Playground Global, but it wasn’t enough for it to take flight.
- Yolanda Redrup
June
- Exclusive
- Quantum Computing
Cashed-up Diraq says it can win the quantum computing race
It hasn’t got as much money as government-backed PsiQuantum, but the UNSW start-up says it makes up for that in qubit size, as it banks a big funding round.
- John Davidson
How China became a scientific superpower
From plant biology to superconductor physics, the country is at the cutting edge.
- The Economist
This physicist can prove that economics has it all wrong
J. Doyne Farmer, an American complex systems scientist says the world is more predictable than we think, and he can prove it.
- Will Dunn
May
- Exclusive
- Funding
Blackbird-backed deep tech start-up faces liquidation
The Supreme Court of Victoria has ordered food waste recycler Bardee be wound up for unpaid bills, but it has already sold a large part of its assets.
- John Davidson
- Exclusive
- Quantum Computing
UK’s bet on PsiQuantum is one-fiftieth the size of Australia’s
Leading British quantum computing specialists have expressed surprise at the Albanese government’s decision to invest nearly $1 billion in backing the start-up.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Blue-sky thinkers block the sun to fight climate change
It might sound like science fiction, but a mix of scientists and venture capitalists are working on plans to block the sun to slow global warming.
- Peter Ker and Lap Phan
- Exclusive
- Quantum Computing
PsiQuantum in talks for bipartisan support but Coalition not swayed
PsiQuantum is confident of winning over sceptical politicians by highlighting its backing from both major parties in the US, where it has defence contracts.
- Tess Bennett
- Opinion
- Quantum Computing
Answers emerge slowly to government’s $1b quantum questions
Questions are mounting over how PsiQuantum was backed when we have been told so often to marvel at local tech stars.
- Paul Smith
Don’t swat fruit flies – they’re smarter than you probably think
Researchers say many species, from insects to invertebrates, have consciousness. It turns out humans aren’t so special, after all.
- Ed Cumming
April
‘Country mile ahead’: How PsiQuantum won a $1b investment
Chief scientist Cathy Foley said US-based PsiQuantum showed it was a “country mile” ahead of other Aussie companies in trying to build a world-first quantum computer.
- Paul Smith, John Davidson and Tess Bennett
- Exclusive
- Venture capital
Made in Australia ‘over-due’ as Sydney VC forms $US150m fund in Singapore
Sydney-based VC fund Investible has secured Indonesia’s biggest bank as an investor, its CEO says Australia has ground to make up on regional peers.
- Paul Smith
- Analysis
- Analysis
Eclipse that ended a war and opened door to forecasting
In contrast to today, solar eclipses were feared as portents of calamity in ancient times. Then, superstition gave way to rational prediction.
- William J. Broad
March
Meet Australia’s version of James Bond’s Q
After a stellar career as an academic researcher, Professor Tanya Monro now heads Canberra’s top-secret Defence Science and Technology Group.
- Julie Hare
CSIRO backs its long-term VC bet despite nil returns
The CSIRO’s VC fund has not returned a dollar to public coffers despite receiving $175m from taxpayers over seven years, but insists it is on track.
- Nick Bonyhady
‘More than mining’: WA med-tech sector message to local investors
WA medical ventures no longer limited to interstate or overseas investors for viability, says OncoRes breast cancer tech innovator Katherine Giles.
- Tom Rabe
A sun in our galaxy is about to explode
There hasn’t been a supernova in this vicinity since German astronomer Johannes Kepler saw one in 1604.
- Jeff Allan
How this virus may increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s
Serious research is under way on whether treating this virus with antiviral medication could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
- Jill Margo
Private company intends to be the first to mine the moon
US start-up Interlune intends to be the first to collect, return and then sell lunar resources.
- Christian Davenport
The idea of Chinese exceptionalism just won’t die
Democracy, human rights and the rule of law are not a Western fixation, whatever ‘The New China Playbook’ suggests.
- Yasheng Huang