Automated environmental monitoring and biological monitoring systems provide effective and reliable methods for monitoring of viable and non-viable particles in Grade A/B cleanrooms along with other critical environmental conditions such as pressure, relative humidity and temperature. [ + ]

Scientific instrument company AXT has won the bid to supply the Mawson Institute at the University of South Australia with a Rigaku D/Max Rapid II Dual Wavelength Micro X-Ray Diffractometer - claimed to be most advanced lab-based micro diffractometer in the country. [ + ]

Viralytics (ASX:VLA) announced that Cavatak has to date generated an overall response rate of 26% during a phase II melanoma trial and has demonstrated synergy with mAb therapy during preclinical research. [ + ]

Potentially deadly pathogenic strains of Salmonella and Escherichia coli get most of the headlines, but Professor Gary Dykes says most cases of non-lethal food poisoning in Australia are due to diners running afoul of poorly cooked chicken, and its microbial hanger-on, Campylobacter. [ + ]

Cochlear (ASX:COH) will this month launch the first in its Nucleus Profile line of implants - the successor to its Cl500 series - in Europe. [ + ]

Benitec Biopharma (ASX:BLT) has commenced a phase I/IIa trial of ddRNAi-based therapeutic TT-034, marking the first time the treatment candidate has been used in humans. [ + ]

Researchers from the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing have produced what is claimed to be the world's most sensitive thermometer. The new and unorthodox method uses light to measure temperature. [ + ]

A national survey on Australians' engagement with science has found that the majority have extremely positive attitudes about science and technology, though they're not always clear about the details. [ + ]

Australia has joined the Yeast 2.0 project, an international effort to create the world's first ever synthetic complex organism: a particular strain of yeast. [ + ]

Drs Leighton Clancy and Emily Blyth are developing and conducting clinical trials on virus-specific and tumour-specific T cells with the ultimate goal of producing an improved treatment package for bone marrow transplant patients.   [ + ]

The US FDA has registered the lead product of Melbourne-based biotech company Sienna Cancer Diagnostics - the antibody SCD-A7.

Novogen (ASX:NRT) has identified a number of super-benzopyran (SBP) compounds with a potent effect against prostate cancer cells in vitro, and aims to trial the lead candidate in 2015. [ + ]

The US patent office has granted Prima BioMed a Notice of Allowance covering a patent application protecting cancer treatment candidate CVac. [ + ]

All six injured thoroughbred racehorses treated with Phosphagenics' TPM/oxycodone patch during a pilot trial recovered from pain within 48 hours. [ + ]

Professor Graham Farquhar speaks about a distinguished research career that spans a range of fields and interests, from the development of models for photosynthesis and water use in plants to contemplating becoming a professional dancer and advising on global change. [ + ]