Declaring a result ‘significant’ strongly suggests certainty, and that the result is large and important, but this is not what statistical significance implies. This is why statistical reformers are advocating a switch from significance testing to estimation. [ + ]

Across Australia and New Zealand and much of the world there is a growing shortage of science, engineering, technology and mathematics graduates. How to inspire students to pursue these subjects in their post-secondary education is challenging educators globally. Microsoft commissioned two surveys with Harris Interactive to try to gain insight about what can better prepare and inspire students to pursue post-secondary education in STEM subjects. [ + ]

An international research team based in Germany has sequenced the entire genome of the 'Black Death'.

Virginia Tech researchers have created software to remotely put smartphones under lockdown.

Physicists have predicted that under the influence of sufficiently high electric fields, liquid droplets of certain materials will undergo solidification.

The growth of China’s life sciences sector presents tremendous opportunities for Australian biotechs, but it pays to understand the nuances of the culture and take things slow. [ + ]

Two Sydney researchers coming from entirely different backgrounds have teamed up to find out how the hedgehog pathway is being hijacked by breast cancer calls – with a potential win-win result for patients. [ + ]

Scientists have designed a much simpler method of preparing ordered magnetic material.

Deep in the recently published wallaby genome are genes that might yield antibiotics that could combat the growing number of multi-resistant bacteria. [ + ]

Peer into the wonders of the micro with the 37th Annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition, showcasing some of the best microscopy images from researchers around the world. The official judging for the Nikon Small World took place on May 12, 2011. The winners will be announced in October, but Nikon is giving you the chance to pick your favourites among this year’s top entries. [ + ]

Members of the public are being asked to join the SkyNet community computing science initiative and contribute their spare computing power to process radio astronomy data.

Understanding the proteomics of plant mitochondria can potentially unlock the secrets of plant respiration and salt tolerance, enabling us to produce stronger crops. [ + ]

Professor Harvey Millar’s team at the University of Western Australia is delving into the proteomic depths of plant respiration, helping us to grow stronger and more salt tolerant crops. [ + ]

From Devils’ Advocates to beating malaria, life scientists have received several prestigious Eureka Awards at the gala dinner last night. [ + ]

Recognising the need to demonstrate its timeline of discoveries and prove IP inventorship for legal defensibility, Australian pharmaceutical company Cancer Therapeutics CRC has invested in data authenticity protection.