The Feds are moving to clamp down on Google and Facebook - to protect citizens' privacy and online security; to more effectively tax tech giants; to even de-monopolise. BUT, just as we may not trust the commercial holders of big data, can we trust our government?

Artificial intelligence has been proven to fast track technical breakthroughs and human progress by sifting through millions of scientific papers, finding connections that humans may have missed. But the need for explainability is vital yet not always available from AI analysis.

Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast find that bone spurs at the back of the neck could be caused by long-term smart phone use, especially among young people.

Popular Russian-based FaceApp uses machine learning and facial recognition technology to show how you might look when you're older. But what else is being done with your precious biometric data, once you've clicked 'Agree' to all the T's&C's?

The US space agency will launch a nuclear-powered drone to the solar system's second largest moon to fly between multiple locations over hundreds of kilometers, take samples and look for prebiotic chemistry. Called 'Dragonfly', the mission will image the surface, gather weather data and perform seismic studies to detect subsurface activity and structure.

New Zealand is one of the most ambitious and advanced users in the Western world of artificial intelligence to streamline government decision-making. But there are concerns about the need for explainability.

NASA wants to gradually commercialise the International Space Station and is offering 2 paying visitors up to 30 days each on board at US$35K a night. If this sounds cheap, you might want to consider your transport costs, which come in at US$58 million for the round trip.

A dangerous and hard-to-treat ulcer is spreading among residents and visitors on the Mornington Peninsula. The Victorian Government and health authorities are scrambling to understand the enigmatic bacteria which causes infection. To restrict a possible disease vector, an extensive 'fogging' campaign may be used to target mosquitos from October. But activist Simon Mulvany of Save The Bees Australia has grave concerns about the effects of pesticides on bees and other insects. His petition on change.org garnered well over 8000 signatures in 3 days.

A staggering 350 million litres of recycled water is pumped into the ocean off Victoria's Mornington Peninsula every day. The Hinterland Environmental Water Scheme aims to further purify this water and redirect it to nearby farming areas. We chat to HEWS board members Russell Joseph and Alana Jones about this exciting proposal, which has recently attracted Federal Government funding.

A staggering 350 million litres of recycled water is pumped from Gunnamatta beach, just south of Melbourne, into Bass Strait every day. The Hinterland Environmental Water Scheme aims to purify this water and redirect it to nearby farming hinterland. HEWS board members Russell Joseph and Alana Jones argue the case for better use of a precious resource on the Mornington Peninsula.