Fresh Science

The moon may be the key to unlocking the secrets of the early Universe. In a project led by Dr Benjamin McKinley at Curtin University, astronomers are observing the moon with a radio telescope, in search of the faint signal from hydrogen atoms in the infant Universe.

An Adelaide researcher has created the most detailed, most accurate map of the surface of Mars ever produced, providing an accurate geographical assessment of Martian surface dust, sand, pebbles, bedrock, and ice. The map is an important development for ensuring the safety of future robotic and human landings on the Red Planet. It could also…

By travelling backwards it’s pushing knowledge forwards All planets move around their stars in the same direction as the star spins—at least that’s what we thought. But now Australian National University astronomer Dr Daniel Bayliss and his colleagues have found that some planets break the mould.

With salinity fears escalating across Australia, researchers have developed an innovative method that uses microwave energy from NASA’s aircraft and Space Shuttle system to accurately map dryland salinity. Mr. David Bruce with colleagues from the University of South Australia and CSIRO have developed a way to use pulses of microwave energy to measure soil moisture.…