RMIT

Scientists in Australia have developed a new type of electronic material that is touch-responsive and just a fraction of the thickness of current smartphone screens, which could see it one day find use in next-generation mobile devices.

One of humanity’s biggest threats is also the smallest – bacteria. But now, researchers at RMIT in Australia have found a new method for killing these superbugs that they can’t resist – magnetic nanoparticles that physically tear them to shreds.

Engineers have recently focused on trying to emulate the structure of the brain with artificial synapses. Now, a team of researchers have made a new artificial synapse design that works using a light-based biotechnology technique called optogenetics.

​The wonderful potential of graphene has been well covered on our pages. One thing missing has been a cost-effective way to produce the wonder material, but a team of researchers now believe they may have discovered a key to this hiding in the bark of Australian eucalyptus trees.

Capturing carbon from the air and sequestering it is emerging as a viable strategy, and now scientists have developed a new method to turn CO2 gas back into solid coal, that can then be buried, or even used for electronic components.

Researchers have found that bees can do basic arithmetic. The discovery that bees have the ability to add and subtract shows that the busy little insects are capable of a sophisticated level of cognition and proves once again that brain power isn't necessarily dependent on brain size.​

Fiber optics allows for ultra-fast communication systems, and more data can be crammed in by "twisting" the light. Now, Australian researchers have developed a device to decode beams that’s small enough to fit over the end of a fiber optic cable.

After years of development researchers at RMIT are one step closer to bringing their revolutionary gas measuring capsule to market following a new agreement with health tech company Atmo Biosciences that paves the way for technology enhancements and final human trials.

​​Bit by bit, scientists are shining the light on the relationship between gut bacteria overall health. A new pill could prove a useful tool in learning more about the mechanics at play, hiding sensors inside that can take important gas measurements and send its findings to a smartphone. ​

Although most holograms are still pretty tiny, a team from Australia’s RMIT and the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) have created the world’s thinnest holographic display, encoding a 3D image onto a material just 25 nanometers thick.

New research is adding some clarity to the reasons behind the rising number of drone incidents, suggesting that more often than not, technical glitches rather than piloting errors are to blame.

The latest candidate to emerge in oil spill cleanup solutions is a multipurpose fabric covered in tiny semi-conducting rods, affording it a unique set of properties that could see it used to deal with everything from water decontamination to wiping down your kitchen counter. ​