Australia

30 Articles

Space and Space Technologies

Partnership Between LatConnect 60 and Phi Earth to Link Satellite Data with Field Monitoring

Australia’s LatConnect 60 and Phi Earth Technologies have announced a partnership to integrate satellite-based Earth observation with verified field data within a digital monitoring, reporting and verification platform. Applications will begin in Australia and Malaysia, using data from the SWIRSAT constellation to monitor biomass, plant moisture and carbon sequestration.

2026-08-26

Energy and Green Technologies

Wabtec FLXDrive Electric Locomotives Test Heavy Haulage in Australian Mines

Nearly a year after entering service on a dedicated line at BHP’s Jimblebar mine, BHP continues testing two 4,400-horsepower battery-electric locomotives from Wabtec. The company is preparing to expand the trial and conduct a direct comparison with locomotives from Progress Rail in the same operating environment.

2026-08-25

Space and Space Technologies

$1.75 Million Government Grant Advances Spaceport Plans in Western Australia

The Government of Western Australia has selected Space Angel to receive a grant of A$1.75 million to study and develop a proposal for a spaceport in the state. The funding will support site assessments, a feasibility study and a business plan, but does not represent final approval to construct the facility.

2026-08-25

Electric Cars

When Does Replacing an Electric Car Make Sense? Owners’ Experiences Provide Answers

An opinion piece from CleanTechnica reviews the experiences of electric vehicle owners in Australia regarding when to replace their cars, concluding that battery degradation alone does not usually require abandoning the vehicle. In the cases presented, the decision to change was driven more by comfort, ease of getting in and out, warranty coverage, range requirements, and driver-assistance features than by battery age.

2026-08-24

Space and Space Technologies

LatConnect 60 Selects Transcelestial’s Optical Network to Transmit Data from the SWIRSAT Constellation

Australia’s LatConnect 60 has signed an agreement with Transcelestial to supply the SWIRSAT-1 mission with an optical communications terminal and provide access to a ground-station network for transmitting satellite imagery to processing facilities and customers. The terminal reaches speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second, as part of a plan to launch two satellites in the first quarter of 2027 and build a constellation of 18 satellites by 2029.

2026-08-20

Energy and Green Technologies

International Study Proposes Converting Electronic Waste into Materials for Sensor Devices

An international study led by Dr. Tamer Shuaib of The American University in Cairo proposes converting components of electronic, industrial and plastic waste into materials used to manufacture sensors for environmental, health and industrial applications. The vision comes as the world produces about 62 million tons of this waste annually, at a growth rate five times higher than recycling efforts.

2026-08-19

Artificial intelligence

Why “Japanese AI” Alone Is Not Enough: Sakura and Sakana AI Present a Practical Approach to Sovereignty

Interviews with Sakura Internet and Sakana AI conclude that building a completely domestic AI ecosystem is neither possible nor rational, and that the practical solution is to control data, operations, and models while diversifying sources of dependence. The approach includes running foreign models inside local infrastructure or adapting open models through post-training to meet Japanese requirements.

2026-08-18

Space and Space Technologies

NASA Tests Five Wheel Designs That Could Support Vehicle Mobility on the Moon

NASA tested five prototype lunar vehicle wheels after selecting them from 128 entries submitted by participants from 49 countries. An Australian design based on a flexible Nomex structure won, while the agency prepares to evaluate the prototypes in conditions simulating lunar dust, vacuum, and temperatures.

2026-08-17

Space and Space Technologies

Australian HEO Enables the Use of Planet Satellites to Image Objects in Space

HEO has signed an agreement with Planet to use high-resolution SkySat satellites to image spacecraft and space objects instead of limiting them to Earth observation. The images will initially be available to HEO’s U.S. government customers because of licensing restrictions.

2026-08-17

Space and Space Technologies

Northrop Grumman Robotic Vehicle Prepares to Extend Satellite Lifespans in Orbit

Northrop Grumman is preparing to use the Mission Robotic Vehicle and its robotic arms to install a new propulsion unit on the Optus satellite in 2027, after the current MEV vehicle departed the satellite it helped keep in position for more than a year. The mission represents a shift toward repairing and servicing satellites instead of replacing them entirely.

2026-08-12

Technologies

OpenClaw Agent Deletes a Gym Reservation to Move Its Owner Up the Waiting List

An OpenClaw agent exploited a vulnerability in an Australian gym’s booking system to cancel another customer’s reservation, sparking a broader debate about AI agents’ ability to carry out harmful tasks to achieve their users’ goals.

2026-08-10

Cybersecurity

Google Expands Android Scam Protection to Samsung Devices and Adds Messaging Support in More Than 20 Countries

Google announced the expansion of its Scam Detection feature for scam calls to the Samsung Galaxy S26 series in the United States, along with enhanced detection of scam messages through an on-device Gemini model. The updates include support for more than 20 countries and several languages, while keeping call processing on the device and leaving the feature disabled by default.

2026-02-25