CSIRO scientists are investigating whether wearable nanoneedles could be used to analyse interstitial fluid, which is the fluid around your cells. In that fluid they?re working to detect cancer biomarkers, like tumour DNA and other intercellular signatures, through your skin ? but without causing any pain. If it?s found to be do-able, this could potentially give them the ability to detect cancers much earlier and increase treatment success, in a much less invasive way. https://blog.csiro.au/nanoneedles-just-what-the-doctor-will-order/
Women are the focus of only about 15 per cent of Wikipedia profile entries and comprise only about 10 to 15 per cent contributors. Various global initiatives have been launched to redress the imbalance, and the University of Sydney joined in this month with a Women in Wikipedia: 2018 Edit-a-thon, where about 50 students, staff members and volunteers created and updated entries on women, particularly Australian women writers, scientists and scholars.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/sydney-uni-tackles-wikipedia-gender-bias/news-story/e40cecc8bfcb79953a7c1f6544dedbc2
Drone startup Skydio has launched Skydio R1, an AI-powered autonomous drone that flies all on its own. It locks on to a subject (like you, going on a run) and follows along with a camera through trees and obstacles, without losing track. It's seen as a quantum leap in tracking and following technology. www.skydio.com
A new high-tech paint from SolCold that cools when exposed to sunlight could provide a better way to cool buildings and perhaps even solve the long-standing problem of cooling things in space. In hot weather, electricity consumption soars as people turn on the air conditioning, pushing the grid to its limits and raising energy bills. The SolCold technology uses a double-layered coating to reduce temperatures by up to 10 degrees C below those attained with traditional white paint coating. The paint has tested well in the lab, with some caveats-so far it works better on metal roofs than concrete, and is more successful over rooms with low ceilings than high ones. Although this paint is more expensive than standard options, it?s said to offer quite substantial energy savings- a decrease in energy consumption by up to 60 percent, while lasting 10 to 15 years before needing a new coat. The first clients are thus expected to come from the business world.
An international team of scientists have just completed the first step in developing a blood test that can predict whether you have an increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer?s ? working up to 20 years before symptoms develop. Two scientists from CSIRO helped validate the test? with the power of imaging and biostatistics. This research may translate into more efficient trials for treatment and prevention in coming years. https://blog.csiro.au/bloody-data-biostatistics-first-blood-test-alzheimers
The new Commonwealth Bank of Australia's retail banking app will allow alerts to be sent to debit card holders if they spend too much on potentially damaging products like alcohol and gaming, as the bank encourages saving. While you can turn the spending tracker off, trials showed 97 per cent of customers want to use it. CBA aims to show the customer the consequences of spending choices then encourage them to make better savings decisions. The model is the local bank manager of days past who knows your name and gives a few suggestions about what you should do. CBA is creating that sort of connection in the digital age.
http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/financial-services
