Science + Technology – Views and Research – The Conversation

Animated loop of a data centre in a field.

Animated loop of a data centre in a field.

Can Australia build one of the world’s largest data centres?

Illustration showing X and Y chromosomes

Illustration showing X and Y chromosomes

Men lose their Y chromosome as they age. Scientists thought it didn’t matter – but now we’re learning more

Silhouette of two people stargazing.

Silhouette of two people stargazing.

For $40, you can name a star for your Valentine. But it won’t mean much

Deep-sea fish larvae rewrite the rules of how eyes can be built

A small fish glowing with green light.

A small fish glowing with green light.

Are video game developers using AI? Players want to know, but the rules are patchy

Animated image of character walking along a golden path with brightly lit red and blue landscape

Animated image of character walking along a golden path with brightly lit red and blue landscape

An illegal bioweapons lab was found in a Las Vegas garage. It’s a warning for Australia

People in biohazard suits standing in the driveway of a suburban home.

People in biohazard suits standing in the driveway of a suburban home.

A new wave of romance scams is washing across the internet – here’s how to stay safe

Bunnings decision may open door to facial recognition surveillance free-for-all

Photo of the exterior of a Bunnings shop

Photo of the exterior of a Bunnings shop

Sea lion camera reveals mother taking pup on educational foraging expedition in the wild

Animated image showing a seal pup swimming along the sea bed

Animated image showing a seal pup swimming along the sea bed

Why do nose and ear hairs become longer and thicker as we age?

A plan plucking nose hairs in front of a mirror.

A plan plucking nose hairs in front of a mirror.

Why are new tea towels worse at drying dishes than older ones?

A woman drying forks with a stripey well used dishtowel.

A woman drying forks with a stripey well used dishtowel.

A new comet was just discovered. Will it be visible in broad daylight?

Pixelated images of people's faces in a colourful background

Pixelated images of people's faces in a colourful background

Why comparisons between AI and human intelligence miss the point

Big tech companies are still failing to tackle child abuse material online

Four children standing on dirt during daytime.

Four children standing on dirt during daytime.

In the Australian outback, we’re listening for nuclear tests – and what we hear matters more than ever

Aerial photo of some buildings in a flat, scrubby landscape

Aerial photo of some buildings in a flat, scrubby landscape

An ‘AI afterlife’ is now a real option – but what becomes of your legal status?

We ate space mushrooms and survived to tell the tale

Two women happily eating mushrooms.

Two women happily eating mushrooms.

Latest science and technology articles

Expert life advice

Takeaway coffee cups release thousands of microplastic particles

A person holding a red takeaway coffee cup.

A person holding a red takeaway coffee cup.

Yes, those big touchscreens in cars are dangerous and buttons are coming back

A giant touchscreen showing navigation and car controls.

A giant touchscreen showing navigation and car controls.

Pets suffer in extreme heat. An animal welfare expert explains how we can help them

A person pouring water into their hand to help a dog drink.

A person pouring water into their hand to help a dog drink.

Why does mint make water taste so cold? A scientist explains

Close-up of a glass of water with mint and ice.

Close-up of a glass of water with mint and ice.

More life hacks

Artificial intelligence

A smartphone screen showing a cartoon lobster and the word 'Moltbot'

A smartphone screen showing a cartoon lobster and the word 'Moltbot'

OpenClaw and Moltbook: why a DIY AI agent and social media for bots feel so new (but really aren’t)

AI is failing ‘Humanity’s Last Exam’. So what does that mean for machine intelligence?

Glitch art with symbols and distorted patterns

Glitch art with symbols and distorted patterns

Digital ghosts: are AI replicas of the dead an innovative medical tool or an ethical nightmare?

This image features a pixelated selfie featuring an individual with long brown hair and a fringe. The person has their tongue out and is smiling

This image features a pixelated selfie featuring an individual with long brown hair and a fringe. The person has their tongue out and is smiling

World-first social media wargame reveals how AI bots can swing elections

Hammond Pearce, UNSW Sydney; Alexandra Vassar, UNSW Sydney, and Rahat Masood, UNSW Sydney

A person using a laptop computer under neon lights.

A person using a laptop computer under neon lights.

Does adding ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to your ChatGPT prompts really waste energy?

Richard Morris, Lincoln University, New Zealand

More on artificial intelligence

Explore the universe

A grainy star image showing a bright straight line

A grainy star image showing a bright straight line

New fear unlocked: runaway black holes

A red Moon, a blue Moon, a supermoon and more: your guide to the southern sky in 2026

Nick Lomb, University of Southern Queensland

A partially eclipsed orange Moon reflected in the water of a lake

A partially eclipsed orange Moon reflected in the water of a lake

New images reveal the Milky Way’s stunning galactic plane in more detail than ever before

Silvia Mantovanini, Curtin University and Natasha Hurley-Walker, Curtin University

Is it aliens? Why that’s the least important question about interstellar objects

Laura Nicole Driessen, University of Sydney

Shiny blue lights against a black void

Shiny blue lights against a black void

Should humans colonise space? We asked 5 experts

Drew Rooke, The Conversation

A small white capsule flying above a blue planet against a black void.

A small white capsule flying above a blue planet against a black void.

More on astronomy

Curious Kids

Academic experts answer real questions from real kids.

A light brown spider on water.

A light brown spider on water.

Curious Kids: can spiders swim?

Curious Kids: if our eyes see upside down, how does the brain flip the picture?

Daniel Joyce, University of Southern Queensland

A happy child hangs upside down on monkey bars.

A happy child hangs upside down on monkey bars.

Curious Kids: If you scoop a bucket of water out of the ocean, does it get lower?

Dylan Irvine, Charles Darwin University

A blue bucket and spade on a beach.

A blue bucket and spade on a beach.

Curious Kids: if heat rises, why does it get colder in the mountains?

James Renwick, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Silhuette of Ama Dablam - a mountain in the eastern Himalaya

Silhuette of Ama Dablam - a mountain in the eastern Himalaya

Curious Kids: what was the biggest dinosaur that ever lived?

Nic Rawlence, University of Otago

Dinosaurs with a volcano in the background

Dinosaurs with a volcano in the background

More Curious Kids articles

Don't miss our free weekly Science newsletter

Most read this week

Events

A Mirror

Belvoir St Theatre

Conducting Service Reviews Course

University of Technology Sydney

Ending Coercive Control, Family & Domestic Violence SA

The Hatchery

Jobs Board

Senior Manager, Professional Experience

Applications close 22 March 2026

Gold Coast QLD, Australia

Research Fellow (Level A)

Applications close 21 March 2026

Melbourne CBD, Melbourne, Australia

Deputy Editor

Applications close 05 March 2026

London, United Kingdom

Director of Professional Development

Applications close 05 March 2026

Sydney NSW, Australia