Archived News for Engineering Professionals - February, 2014
Environmentalists are celebrating a decision by building giant Lend Lease to pull out of the planned expansion of a Queensland coal port.
Five high-rises to house thousands in CBD
Melbourne’s skyline will feature several new high-rises in coming years, with the Victorian Government signing off on a record number of residential permits.
Spinning nano-crystals find their own forms
Simply making certain nanoparticles spin causes them to leap into life, of a sort.
Big spend to get nearby neighbours up to speed
Nearly half a billion dollars will be spent to improve transport in Pacific regions.
Chicken eyes give better view on new state of matter
The light-sensitive cells in the eye of a chicken represent the first known biological occurrence of a potentially new state of matter.
China moving on rail tunnel plan despite obvious dangers
China has dusted off its idea to build an underwater rail tunnel across 123 kilometres of the Bohai Bay, which would be the world’s longest if it goes ahead.
Phase change found for ultra-thin future
Breakthroughs have brought the possibility of functional ‘Mottronic’ devices a bit closer.
Refugee price jump with new $1.2 billion responsibility
A new company will soon take over a large range of operations at Australia’s offshore detention centres, with the tragedy of recent violence still echoing around the country.
Rock finding sets back the clock on Earth, oceans and life
The oldest piece of the Earth’s crust ever seen has been uncovered in Western Australia.
UGL hits back, saying books remain raw
Australian engineering firm UGL has emphatically denied media allegations that it “cooked the books” to misrepresent financial results for investors.
Big figures push oil explorers to new fields and agreements
Oil exploration and production firm Senex Energy Ltd has posted its profits and announced a new partnership with Origin Energy in South Australia.
Lively liver cells created, transplanted and functioning in mice
Researchers have developed a method to turn skin cells into mature, fully functioning liver cells, that flourish after being transplanted into laboratory animals with liver failure.
New exoskeleton tops fit, comfort and movement stakes
A successful test has shown the future for prosthetics, with a fully-customised exoskeleton allowing a paralysed skier to walk for the first time in over twenty years.
Young inventor finds cheap help for the blind
An inventor has slashed the price of Braille printers by thousands of dollars, but even more incredibly – he’s only 12 years old.
AECOM gets huge fund to fix nation's flow
One of the world’s largest engineering firms has secured a contract to re-design the water infrastructure of an entire country.
Fish-following boosted by rolling battery design
Engineers have created a tiny battery and sensor, no bigger than a grain of rice, which holds enough power to track the long migratory path of salmon.
Health grants fund broad range of vital efforts
The funds are flowing to help Australian researchers usher a new age of medical treatments, with the announcement of $134 million worth of health research grants.
New light links bend and stretch to future devices
Researchers worldwide are working on materials to better integrate humans with their technology, and a new development in the field of optics may provide a way to link it all together.
Power-saving water-cleaner sees desert success
A trial site has seen successful tests for a new way to desalinate water, making it drinkable for about half the cost of traditional methods.
Google's big green spend to save later
Google has dropped over a billion dollars into a range of renewable energy projects, possibly so that it can trim the power bills from its other big buys.
Queenslanders bag big African iron expansion
A Queensland-based firm has won the right to expand the Tonkolili iron ore mine.