Five remarkable technological breakthroughs in Australia in 2015
In the year 2015, Australian students and researchers have pioneered in a handful of technological innovations in various fields and works of life. Here are the five remarkable technological breakthroughs by the Australians for the world:
1. A medical breakthrough - pioneering innovation in biotechnology
Evelyn Linardy, a Research Assistant and PhD student with SpeeDx, a company based at the National Centre for Innovation is working on a DNA testing device that may change the world with its immediate results. It will ease out cost and anxiety of patients. The new technology is called EzyAmp from the SpeeDx labs. Evelyn was awarded two University of NSW Innovation Awards for the EzyAmp project, which was recognised for its innovation and potential to have such an important impact in medical diagnostics.
“This biotechnology will change the way testing for illness and disease is done in the future. There is huge commercial opportunity, both in Australia and overseas,” Evelyn said.
2. A breakthrough in mobile device battery technology breakthrough
In collaboration with industry partner Ionic Industries, researchers at the Monash University have created supercapacitors for storing huge amounts of energy. The supercapacitors are thinner than a strand of human hair. It can radically boost up the energy level of a phone’s battery. The batteries can be fully recharged in few minutes and last longer than usual ones.
“Here we have shown that when the size of the electrodes becomes smaller, the amount of energy and power these supercapacitors can deliver per unit volume becomes exceedingly large,” said Professor Mainak Majumder of Monash’s Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory, as reported by The Australian.
3. A breakthrough in printing technology - Nanocube technology into printable ink
In 2015, ASX listed company Strategic Elements, under licence from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) achieved a technological breakthrough in developing nanocube memory technology and successfully and effectively converting nanocubes into printable ink. This move could significantly boost the printed electronics market.
Nanocube technology comprises of tiny cube-shaped memory cells which has the potential to store enormous amounts of data on smaller, faster memory devices or chips. It is based on Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM), using tiny nanocubes made from cerium oxides (rare earth). The nanocubes are 10,000 times smaller than a human hair. Thus, two trillion nanocubes could fit in an area as small as a postal stamp. This means, on single chip can store two terabytes of data which is equivalent to 500 hours of High Definition Video.
“Importantly, the type of memory being developed [RRAM] has potential to scale up for very high performance in comparison to current printed memory technologies,” said Charles Murphy, Managing Director at Strategic Elements .
4. A breakthrough in Quantum computing technology
Superfast quantum computers can soon be a reality. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, a team of scientists at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) led by Professor Andrew Dzurak have discovered a way to put quantum computing technology into silicon computer chips. This breakthrough will pave the way for the development of the world’s first quantum processor chip and super-powerful silicon computers. It will result in incredibly fast multiple calculations compared to standard computing.
In a research paper published in Nature, Professor Dzurak confirmed the team has demonstrated the central building block of a quantum computer, a two-qubit logic gate. The team of UNSW researchers has also patented the new design that uses affordable silicon found in regular computer, mobile and tablet chips.
5. A breakthrough fingerprint testing technology
Australian scientist Dr. Kang Liang of CSIRO is working on ‘forensic dust’ which will make fingerprints glow. A break-in at his own home has led this young researcher to pioneer the breakthrough technology.
The ‘dust’ will allow the police to identify fingerprints using a drop of liquid containing luminescent crystals. Applied to fingerprints, the crystals create a greater contrast between the mark left by a criminal and the surface enables higher resolution images to be taken for easier and more precise analyses.
His research paper titled ‘ Glowing fingerprints to fight crime’ mentions that the invisible fingerprints will glow in 30 seconds after the application of the liquid. Dr. Liang believes that this breakthrough technology can be used for more challenging evidences in complicated criminal cases.
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