Scientists have created artificial neurons that could potentially be implanted into patients to overcome paralysis, and restore failing brain circuits.The bionic neurons can receive electrical signals from healthy nerve cells, and process them in a natural way, before sending fresh signals on to other neurons, or to muscles and organs elsewhere in the body.https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/dec/03/bionic-neurons-could-enable-implants-to-restore-failing-brain-circuits

Former Prime Minister of Australia, Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, was the keynote speaker at StartCon 2019, Australia's largest startup event,  and spoke forcibly about the need for innovation. 

Ripe coral colonies ready to spawn – which is when they release egg and sperm bundles – are being collected from the Great Barrier Reef  and brought into a laboratory at Heron Island where CSIRO scientists are eagerly waiting for the corals to release their eggs.Coral spawning typically only occurs once a year in the days following the November full moon. They will be capturing millions of fertile eggs – each one the size of a pinhead – to aid their success in becoming new coral. This will help to develop techniques that will restore parts of the reef at a scale that could make a massive difference.https://blog.csiro.au/lab-to-reef-coral-eggs-provide-new-life/

I saw this bird amongst many in a garden shop in Long Island NY.  It had  to be sent in oversized baggage on my flight back to Sydney and I'm very pleased I went to the trouble. It's fun to have her in our garden swinging with the wind. 

Heliogen has created a solar oven — one capable of reaching temperatures that are roughly a quarter of what you'd find on the surface of the sun. The breakthrough means that, for the first time, concentrated solar energy can be used to create the extreme heat required to make cement, steel, glass and other industrial processes. In other words, carbon-free sunlight can replace fossil fuels in a heavy carbon-emitting corner of the economy that has been untouched by the clean energy revolution.https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/19/business/heliogen-solar-energy-bill-gates/index.html

The State Library of NSW has been able to transform its archives into a a public gallery offering a pictorial history of NSW. Collections are displayed in separate rooms for portraits and landscapes. The background to each artwork and its location is displayed on this screen in a display box and people can select an artwork to view. Many donors have helped to restore the artworks. Restoration of the painting shown was supported by Dr Wendy Michaels. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about-library/foundation