Under-16 Social Media Crackdown: Australia will introduce tougher legislation to strengthen enforcement of its under-16 ban and expand eSafety’s powers, with the maximum penalty for non-compliance set to double to A$99m and the regulator able to compel platforms and third parties to hand over compliance documents. AI Infrastructure Deal: Nvidia has signed a strategic partnership with Australian AI infrastructure firm Firmus Technologies to make cheaper AI computing available to smaller developers, with 170,000 GPUs planned for deployment in Indonesia from early 2027. Climate-Tech for Reefs: Researchers are developing seaweed biobanks to preserve genetic diversity and help restore Australia’s warming Great Southern Reef as marine heatwaves wipe out seaweed forests. Neuroscience Breakthrough: A Monash-led study finds the physical shape of the brain helps guide how neural wiring forms, using a model tested across species. Health & Food Science: Scientists are also building a global early warning system that can forecast where vertebrates face extreme heat exposure months ahead. Local Innovation: UQ has opened a Biosustainability Hub to scale biotech research and industry collaboration, while SeaStock is constructing a WA facility to commercialise seaweed-derived pigments.