Cosmos Magazine

How do we deal with this era of change, when the limits of what’s possible – and what’s normal – are rapidly shifting? Issue 103 explores this uncertain ground, from digitising a climate-changed nation to exploring the deep oceans to developing a new kind of dark-matter search.

The Best Australian Science Writing 2024

Cosmos survey results

Cosmos Magazine

From the Editor

DIGEST • Science news from around the globe (and beyond)

Tower recaptures Starship rocket booster • It's the fifth test flight for Starship, which aims to eventually carry people on interplanetary flghts.

Silicon chip could pave the way for 6G communications

Islands are drivers of language diversity • Biodiversity and language follow similar patterns.

Iron and alcohol make plastic textiles recyclable

Van Gogh painting mirrors atmosphere • The Starry Night painting resembles real turbulence.

Focus: Underwater investigations

3D scanning cadavers for photorealistic models • Robust and realistic models, perfect for studying anatomy.

Queensland's billion-dollar quantum deal

Dramatic “stellar volcano” captured by Hubble • The spiral pattern extends 400 billion km into space.

Excess drugs threaten animals and environment

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Spanish nuclear fusion reactor takes a new approach • A SMART step forward in the quest for fusion power.

Building with reusable glass bricks • This masonry is designed for sustainable construction.

Dwarf planet Ceres is an ancient water world

Could we hit the “pause button” on human embryo development? • This discovery could improve the success rate of in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Edible transistor made from toothpaste

Zebras of the fish world use stripes to dazzle • Black and white markings cause predator confusion.

What will Earth be like in billions of years’ time? • Earth will meet its violent end. Then what?

Antarctic Peninsula greening fast

How pests respond to climate change • Michael Kearney has been tasked to predict how Australia's major insect and mammal pests will behave in unprecedented conditions.

Diving along the Great Southern Reef • Meet the local residents of the kelp forests, including seadragons and handfish, as marine scientist Prue Francis takes you on a dive to her favourite place.

OUR QUANTUM FUTURE • There's no field of science that will be untouched by quantum, from physics to biology, chemistry to Earth sciences. Chris Vale, Director of CSIRO's Quantum Future Science Platform, sets the scene as we head down the rabbit hole into the weird world of quantum.

A beginner's guide to quantum physics • The Australian government is spending $1 billion on this field of research. So you can guarantee it has a simple, poll-friendly explanation of what it is, right? Ellen Phiddian breaks down the complexities of quantum physics, so that newbies like her can understand the transformative technologies it promises.

A MAP OF QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY

QUANTUM SIMULATIONS • Quantum technology promises to spark a revolution in computing as significant as the integrated circuit in the 1950s and 60s. Evrim Yazgin helps us master the basics of quantum computing today, to imagine where quantum simulators will take us tomorrow.

Racing ahead in quantum biotech • In the competition to transform medicine with quantum technologies, Australia is off and racing. Still, it's shaping up to be a marathon effort. Visit the cutting-edge Centre in Quantum Biotechnology, with quantum physicist Erin Grant.

Birds of the subantarctic • Visit the remote, windswept islands of the subantarctic with scientific illustrator Bonnie Koopmans. Here she shares her artworks...