The group have been studying these supernovae for several years and having analysed their data, have come to the surprising conclusion that far from slowing down, the rate of expansion of the universe is actually speeding up.

EOS created a major stir in the aerospace world during 2000 by demonstrating that they could track space junk using a laser - a feat thought to be very difficult, if not impossible by international aerospace companies at the time.

A PhD student at the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Catherine Farage, is studying massive ellipticals in galaxy clusters, to look for clues that could help to explain the mechanisms behind the formation of large galaxies.