The end of oil - alternatives and implications
ASK AN EXPERT: Are there technologies that can replace our dependence on oil? What about medicines and plastics? Are we looking at a world catastrophe?
View ArticleEnergy eaters
ASK AN EXPERT: We all know that to reduce our carbon footprint we need to save energy. But is it better to buy a petrol electric car or install a solar hot water system? And how can you reduce your...
View ArticleTyre warns of looming flat
US researchers are developing a car tyre that warns the driver it's about to go flat.
View ArticleLow-carb cars
INDEPTH FEATURE: Rising oil prices and greenhouse gas emissions are pushing us to look at our motor vehicle use. But what are the alternatives and will they work in Australia?
View ArticleWildlife take to the 'high' road
Why did the possum cross the highway? Because it can do so safely - at least that is what an Australian study into the impact of wildlife rope bridges shows.
View ArticleIs a Hummer really better than a Prius???
GREEN GURU: It was on Boston Legal so it must be true!
View ArticleDandelions to lay rubber on the road
Long the bane of lawn owners everywhere, the sunny-faced dandelion could revolutionise the rubber industry.
View ArticleFuture engines full of compressed air
In an effort to reduce the level of air pollution in busy crowded cities, a team of Taiwanese researchers have developed an air-powered motorcycle, which uses compressed air to drive the motor.
View ArticleNew bacteria could make cheaper ethanol
Genetically engineered bacteria could make cellulosic ethanol cheaper to manufacture, researchers report, in a finding that may unlock more energy from the waste products of farming and forestry.
View ArticleJuiced-up bug builds better biofuel
US researchers have engineered a synthetic version of the common <em>E. coli</em> bacteria that could help build a better biofuel, according to a new study.
View ArticleWheels fall from 4WD safety myths
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: These days, 4WD vehicles are almost exclusively lurking in car parks and outside primary schools. And now Dr Karl has heard we're teaching our kids to drive in them! But is it...
View ArticleHuman-Computer interface researcher
ACE DAY JOBS: Natalie Ruiz researches better ways for people and computers to interact. Watch Ace Day Jobs to find out how her research can make your life easier.
View ArticleFuture cars talk to avoid collisions
Researchers have developed a set of algorithms that allow robotic cars to communicate with each other and avoid collisions.
View ArticlePetrol fumes cause 'road rage' in rats
Breathing in fumes from petrol made lab rats more aggressive, a finding that has wide implications for urban pollution, according to a new study.
View ArticleFuel additives lack firepower
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: Just like snake oil sellers, proponents of 'gas-saving' additives have next to no evidence to base their claims. So Dr Karl headed out on the highway looking for a venture.
View Article'Gas-saving' schemes leave little spark
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: There are so many schemes and products on the market today that claim to improve your car's fuel efficiency that you would hope at least one would work. Alas, Dr Karl learnt...
View ArticleToothbrush tech helps buses go green
South Korea is trialling a new way to turn public transport green by using a technology popular in electric toothbrushes and razors to power buses and cars.
View ArticleOnce-only button pushers get green light
GREAT MOMENTS IN SCIENCE: Dr Karl has been leaning on a lamp post wondering why, in our up-to-the-minute, fully-downloadable world, we aren't prepared to wait for anything?
View ArticleHelmet laws go head-on with science
Bicycle helmets may not be as important for bicycle safety as we think, according to the findings of new Australian research.
View ArticleWhy ABS brakes make your car safer
TEACHER DEMONSTRATION: Most kids may have noticed the ABS logo on the dashboard of the family car. Some might even know that it stands for 'Anti-skid Braking System'.
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