5 ms·

The more striking part is that it is in Australia.

defrost 4y ago
The country that explained to the US that it was possible to build a nuclear weapon? The place that made the clocks that allowed laser gravitional wave detectors to work? Who'd have thought.
- selimthegrim 4y ago
  How did laser enrichment turn into the former? What did Australia have to do with nukes in WWII?
  - defrost 4y ago
    These are very good questions: [1] https://www.uwa.edu.au/Profile/David-Blair https://www.uwa.edu.au/Profile/David-Blair [2] https://www.atomicheritage.org/profile/mark-oliphant https://www.atomicheritage.org/profile/mark-oliphant
    - selimthegrim 4y ago
      Not sure Blair had anything to do with Silex.
- pedalpete 4y ago
  I am not aware of the nuclear weapon story, do you have a link? I'm also not sure it's such a great example of expertise that came out of Australia. There is also WiFi (CSIRO), seL4 (NICTA), ResMed, Cochlear, Saluda (NICTA), and many many more.
  - defrost 4y ago
    A link to a good starting point in the atomic archives is there in my reply to a peer comment. It might not be a story of Australian expertise in (then) cutting edge technology that you like, but it's a real nugget of history. His mentor was a New Zealander ... now a determinedly nuclear free country.
tuxie_ 4y ago
What is striking about it?
- chii 4y ago
  that it breaks the OP's the common misconception that australia is a backwater country that cannot do anything but export resources?
  - dghughes 4y ago
    I'd say many people also assume such things about my country Canada. Both Canada and Australia have small populations, large land area, and are not in the news much. Out of sight out of mind and one day we're in the news. For example Canada built the NIRISS (exoplanet detection and analysis) and the FRS (guidance) devices for the JWST.
pera 4y ago
Actually Australia has quite a lot of research in quantum information science.
bowsamic 4y ago
Australia has many leading experts in theoretical and experimental quantum control
mirekrusin 4y ago
Andrea Morello's videos [0] are awesome. [0] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHSIfioizVW1sXAjY3aYCugtKDFPTNztl https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHSIfioizVW1sXAjY3aYC...

The country that explained to the US that it was possible to build a nuclear weapon? The place that made the clocks that allowed laser gravitional wave detectors to work? Who'd have thought.

selimthegrim 4y ago
How did laser enrichment turn into the former? What did Australia have to do with nukes in WWII?
- defrost 4y ago
  These are very good questions: [1] https://www.uwa.edu.au/Profile/David-Blair https://www.uwa.edu.au/Profile/David-Blair [2] https://www.atomicheritage.org/profile/mark-oliphant https://www.atomicheritage.org/profile/mark-oliphant
  - selimthegrim 4y ago
    Not sure Blair had anything to do with Silex.
pedalpete 4y ago
I am not aware of the nuclear weapon story, do you have a link? I'm also not sure it's such a great example of expertise that came out of Australia. There is also WiFi (CSIRO), seL4 (NICTA), ResMed, Cochlear, Saluda (NICTA), and many many more.
- defrost 4y ago
  A link to a good starting point in the atomic archives is there in my reply to a peer comment. It might not be a story of Australian expertise in (then) cutting edge technology that you like, but it's a real nugget of history. His mentor was a New Zealander ... now a determinedly nuclear free country.

tuxie_ 4y ago

What is striking about it?

chii 4y ago
that it breaks the OP's the common misconception that australia is a backwater country that cannot do anything but export resources?
- dghughes 4y ago
  I'd say many people also assume such things about my country Canada. Both Canada and Australia have small populations, large land area, and are not in the news much. Out of sight out of mind and one day we're in the news. For example Canada built the NIRISS (exoplanet detection and analysis) and the FRS (guidance) devices for the JWST.

pera 4y ago

Actually Australia has quite a lot of research in quantum information science.

bowsamic 4y ago

Australia has many leading experts in theoretical and experimental quantum control

mirekrusin 4y ago

Andrea Morello's videos [0] are awesome. [0] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHSIfioizVW1sXAjY3aYCugtKDFPTNztl https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHSIfioizVW1sXAjY3aYC...