Skip to main content

Latest Science news

Wally the emotional support alligator is missing, suspected stolen and set free in the wild

Wally's owner Joie Henney says his pet went missing while on vacation and he fears the reptile had been stolen by pranksters, then set free in the wild.
A man hugs a small alligator to his chest

Long wait on the cards for WA's giant climbing trees to reopen, despite government funding pledge

While $3 million will be put towards the Gloucester and Dave Evans Bicentennial Trees in this year's budget, locals and prospective visitors face a wait of at least 12 months for both tourist attractions to reopen. 
Man climbing tree in forest

Say goodbye to the 'little green tennis ball on a stick' — this is the future of virtual film production

What do Barbie, Dune, The Mandalorian and Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts have in common? Using new cutting-edge technology to make films.
Updated
Thor played by Chris Hemsworth kissing a green screen Hulk

Huge fish believed to be giant sunfish washes up on SA beach

A huge creature of the deep estimated to be more than two metres long that washed up on a South Australian beach is "almost certainly" a bump-head sunfish, the state's museum says.
A large fish washed up on a South Australian beach.

Three in four Australian children accessed porn before they turned 18. Here's how the government plans to tackle the problem

The government is pursuing age verification for online porn. It's going to be complicated. Everyone agrees kids shouldn't be able to access porn online. Stopping them is much harder than you might think. 
Child works on a laptop computer

The lonely job of a fire spotter in an isolated tower may soon be obsolete as AI cameras take over the task

Bushfire detection cameras that use artificial intelligence to recognise smoke are being installed at some Australian fire towers. They are replacing human fire spotters, scanning the horizon 24 hours a day. 
Updated
Two men standing in front of a green shed.

In Iceland, there are almost no babies born with Down syndrome. It's raised concerns from disability advocates

Prenatal testing means some genetic conditions, like Down syndrome, can be identified in utero. But experts say it raises complex and challenging questions about how we value people with disabilities.
An illustration of a line of silhouetted people walking along a DNA spiral.

Why a surging gold price is driving renewed interest in its 'poor cousin' silver

With Australia holding the biggest share of the world's silver reserves, an 18 per cent price rise over the past six months has people talking — especially when it comes to the silver lining of technology.
Silver bullion bars

Scientists racing to solve the mystery of why pilot whales lose their bearings

On the surface pilot whales appear to be the world's most poorly named mammal but scientists say there is likely more to their beachings than a radar that has gone awry.
Dozens of beached whales thrashing in the shallows.

A damning new report shows that women are still not being represented fairly in Australian galleries

Despite pledges made by major galleries to address gender inequity, male artists are still over-represented in solo shows in state and commercial galleries and major museums. 
Updated
A woman with curly blonde hair and a woman with dark straight hair sit either side of a yellow and black text-based artwork.

Science in your inbox

Get all the latest science stories from across the ABC.

Connect with ABC Science