To manage data associated with genomics, proteomics and next-generation sequencing, the Queensland Centre for Medical Genomics implementied the GenoLogics LIMS. The LIMS has enabled QCMG to take control of previously unstructured data stored in scattered spreadsheets, enabling them to reduce pipeline stalling errors and measure lab progress to improve efficiency. [ + ]

Lorne Genome: The humble fruit fly is teaching us how microRNAs seem to be punching above their weight in an ever-growing list of biological functions in health and disease. [ + ]

RIKEN researchers are leading the way with novel rare-earth metal catalysts that reduce waste and improve aromatic bond-forming reactions. [ + ]

The National Health and Medical Research Council has published its Ten of the Best Research Projects of 2011, showcasing the best of NHMRC-funded research. [ + ]

Lorne Protein: Dr Nikki Verrills believes reactivating a suppressed protein phosphatase might just switch off leukaemia cells. [ + ]

The Attorney-General’s Department’s Chemical Security program requires chemical manufacturers’ and users’ input to develop systems to prevent common chemicals being misappropriated and used in illegal bomb manufacture. [ + ]

The critical lack of talented mathematicians engaging with biology is threatening the future of medical research, says Walter and Eliza Hall Institute head Doug Hilton. [ + ]

Memories are maintained by synapses, the connections between neurons, but how do these synapses stay strong and keep memories alive for decades? Neuroscientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have discovered a major clue from a study in fruit flies: hardy, self-copying clusters or oligomers of a synapse protein are an essential ingredient for the formation of long-term memory. [ + ]

Scientists from Bristol University have developed a soap, composed of iron rich salts dissolved in water, that responds to a magnetic field when placed in solution. The soap’s magnetic properties were proved with neutrons at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) to result from tiny iron-rich clumps that sit within the watery solution. [ + ]

Malcolm Simons, pioneer of so-called ‘junk’ DNA, has passed away, succumbing to multiple myeloma at the age of 73. [ + ]

Criegee biradicals may have the potential to play a significant role in offsetting global warming by cooling the planet. [ + ]

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed a laboratory test that can rapidly identify the bacterium responsible for staph infections. The test takes advantage of unique isotopic labelling combined with specific bacteriophage amplification to rapidly identify Staphylococcus aureus. [ + ]

Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body’s own immune system attacking its pancreatic islet beta cells and requires daily injections of insulin to regulate the patient’s blood glucose levels. A new method described in BioMed Central’s open access journal BMC Medicine uses stem cells from cord blood to re-educate a diabetic’s own T cells and consequently restart pancreatic function reducing the need for insulin. [ + ]

In the eighth year of its Mars expedition, rover Opportunity has found evidence that water once existed on Mars. [ + ]

A biochip developed by scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques will enable physicians to analyse blood on site to determine if a patient is suffering from blood poisoning within 20 minutes. [ + ]