A decade ago, a British philosopher put forth the notion that the universe we live in might in fact be a computer simulation run by our descendants. While that seems far-fetched, perhaps even incomprehensible, a team of physicists at the University of Washington has come up with a potential test to see if the idea holds water. [ + ]

Is homosexuality genetic? It’s a long-running debate. [ + ]

Scientists from Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) and the University of Texas have been trialling a method for using Mesoblast's adult stem cells to accelerate the body's adoption of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants. [ + ]

The first meeting of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council of Australia (ABCA) took place in Canberra last week, signalling a new and significant era for Australian agriculture. [ + ]

Alchemia (ASX:ACL) has entered a trading halt as it is on the cusp of completing its demerger and spin-off of Audeo Oncology, which prepares for its IPO. [ + ]

BioDiem (ASX:BDM) partner Serum Institute of India will file for WHO approval in early 2013 to export flu vaccines based on BioDiem's LAIV platform. [ + ]

At the 2012 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, Roche announced the presentation of results from the large-scale study IRON-II through an international research consortium. Based on next-generation 454 Sequencing Systems from Roche, the study aims to characterise selected genes in individuals with a wide range of haematological malignancies. [ + ]

AusBiotech has written to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in response to its consultation on proposed cost recovery arrangements for applications related to health claims, opposing the move. [ + ]

Durham University researcher Alice Rowland has benefited from the use of the PowerPlant Pro DNA Isolation kit in extracting DNA from the cells of arctic birch trees. Her investigations of patches of forest in the arctic conditions of Northern Sweden were hampered by slow DNA extraction, until the selection of the kit cut procedures down dramatically. [ + ]

Patrys (ASX:PAB) has completed the main round of dosing for the first three patients enrolled in a German trial of its PAT-SM6 antibody in multiple myeloma. [ + ]

Novogen (ASX:NRT) has acquired cancer drug developer Triaxial and re-appointed founder Dr Graham Kelly as CEO as it completes a three-year restructuring. [ + ]

Deep in interstellar space there is something lurking. Actually there is lots of something lurking. We know it’s there because of its spectra but we have no idea what it is. [ + ]

Progress towards a joint Australia New Zealand therapeutic products regulatory scheme continues with the second meeting of the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency (ANZTPA) Implementation Ministerial Council last week. [ + ]

A new method for generating stem cells from mature cells promises to boost stem cell production in the laboratory, helping to remove a barrier to regenerative medicine therapies that would replace damaged or unhealthy body tissues. [ + ]

Why is it that the placebo effect - the idea that taking fake medicine can make someone feel better - seems to work for some people but not others? According to researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M), it all comes down to the personality of the person taking it. [ + ]