RMIT University

Australian researchers have found that pre-treating lithium electrodes in a special salt bath decreases the breakdown of the electrodes and boosts performance and battery life so markedly it could bring an end to range anxiety for drivers of electric vehicles.

What if we could get rid of cigarette butt litter by using them to make bricks? A team at RMIT University in Australia tried the idea out and found that not only could it reduce toxic waste, but also makes for better bricks.

A team of scientists has conducted the first-ever trials of a smart capsule designed to improve our understanding of intestinal gas. With the ability to measure the amount of gas present in the gut, the capsule could one day lead to targeted, patient-specific treatments.

In working towards more efficient unmanned aircraft, Melbourne researchers have developed a fixed-wing sail-plane that uses updrafts to gain height, inspired by the ability of the kestrel falcon to hover while searching for prey on the ground.

A prototype nebulizer developed at RMIT can deliver high doses more efficiently than inhalers, and it could be used instead of needles for new drug treatments such as DNA vaccines and stem cell therapy. The nebulizer could also replace inhalers for many asthma and lung cancer patients.

According to the World Health Organization, nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-based air pollution contributes to over 7 million deaths per year. Thanks to research being carried out at RMIT University, however, it may soon be possible to receive warnings of dangerous NO2 levels via a sensor in your smartphone.

The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) got a fashion show with a medical twist last month as Denmark’s first astronaut, Andreas Mogensen, donned a SkinSuit designed to counteract the harmful effects of prolonged periods of weightlessness on the human body.

We've already heard about swallowable capsules that can transmit video from within the digestive tract. Pictures will only tell you so much, though. That's why researchers have now developed a capsule that measures concentrations of intestinal gases, and sends that data to a smartphone.

If autonomous delivery drones are ever going to see widespread use, then they can't simply fly around with no regard for other aircraft. That's why researchers from RMIT University have developed a system that lets drones communicate with air traffic controllers using a synthesized voice.

Turbulence can be unpleasant enough for passengers in full-sized aircraft, but it's even more of a challenge for micro air vehicles. That's why a team from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, has looked to birds for a solution.

With a well established ability to kill off bacteria, silver has come to play a significant role in the development of antimicrobial materials. The latest effort comes from Australian researchers who have developed an antibacterial fabric capable of killing off infectious bacteria within 10 minutes.