Quantum boost for medical imaging

Physicists have demonstrated how, using light, a diamond layer and quantum mechanics, they could potentially “light up” our molecular insides for more powerful MRIs.

Sciences & Technology | Pursuit by the University of Melbourne

Sciences & Technology

Why Melbourne makes you sneeze in spring

We've never known exactly which grass pollens trigger hay fever or thunderstorm asthma in Melbourne's spring. Now DNA is revealing which grasses are to blame

Research

Two AIs disagree about the reason someone can’t borrow money

When asked to explain why an algorithm rejected a loan application, two AI models listed entirely different reasons. If AI can disagree like this, what does it mean for transparency?

Research

Restoring Australia's she-oaks means listening to Indigenous Knowledges

The she-oaks no longer whisper across much of Australia. A 2000-year record from GunaiKurnai Country holds the answer to who shaped these native woodlands and what restoration is missing

Research

Why the image of ‘clean and green’ is no longer enough for Australian agriculture exports

New technology is integrating sustainability into production and helping Australia’s agricultural industry demonstrate its green credentials

Analysis

Humanity’s race to mimic the stars

Only the sun and stars reach fusion naturally. Now, the push for carbon-free, waste-free energy on Earth could become a reality by the 2030s, with real opportunities for Australia

Analysis

How much of your $6 coffee actually reaches the farmer?

A lot goes into taking your coffee beans from a distant farm to a Melbourne café. Knowing what’s real and what’s marketing can help you support everyone from farm to cup

Research

Pacific farmers are reviving traditional knowledge to tackle a changing climate

Drawing on long-held knowledge, research is helping farmers better adapt to climate challenges like drought, weed pressure and declining soil health

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What happens when AI runs out of pictures?

AI is data-hungry and needs thousands of images to learn how to detect tumours or product defects, but often very few are available. A new method aims to change that

Research

Australia's elusive rakali is hiding and thriving in Melbourne's waterways

The rakali is an Australian marvel of urban adaptation. Our new Map of the Month shows where to find them around Melbourne and where they’re mysteriously missing

Analysis

How rocket launches could threaten Australia’s coastal wildlife

Blast waves, acoustic trauma and sonic booms pose serious, underexamined risks to the threatened species living near proposed launch sites like South Australia's Whalers Way

First published on 28 July 2025.


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