The ubiquitious egg problem - "what came first, the chicken or the egg?" - has been partially cracked.

Results coming out of a fine coal research laboratory have attracted the interest of some of the world’s largest coal producers. Established by site water management specialists Nalco Australia, the laboratory is adopting a holistic approach to fine coal recovery. A complementary facility to the company’s primary mining R&D laboratories in Western Australia, the new Sydney lab is focusing on the multifaceted optimisation of fine coal circuits.

A new, hybrid technique that improves the detection of trace chemicals important in such areas as national security, human health and the environment has been uncovered.

An emerging technique designed to quickly distinguish between people with active and dormant tuberculosis may help health professionals diagnose the disease sooner, thereby potentially limiting early exposure to the disease, according to a study conducted by researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Physicists have developed a quantum interface which connects light particles and atoms.

Measuring a set of protein changes in the blood linked to alcohol use may potentially lead to a more accurate diagnostic test than those currently available.

Yeast cells decide whether to have sex with each other within two minutes of meeting according to research published in ‘Nature’. One of the authors of the study, from Imperial College London, says the new insights into how yeast cells decide to mate could be helpful for researchers looking at how cancer cells and stem cells develop.

Some top soccer goalkeepers are able to head off a penalty kick by diving in the correct direction in advance of the kick. Recent research in cognitive science explains how they do this.

To date, in vitro preclinical electrophysiological studies rely mainly on recombinant cell systems like injected oocytes or mammalian cell lines expressing only one specific ion channel.

Nucleofection has become a method of choice whenever transfection of primary cells or difficult-to-transfect cell lines is required.

Lab workers often ask me, "How did you come up with this?" Well, here is a précis of the diji (pipetting syringes) story that will probably get you thinking about that neat gizmo you have been meaning to develop since finding it impossible to open that packet of sauce last Christmas.

The Australian Research Collaboration Service (ARCS ) today launched its Computer Cloud, an initiative designed to give researchers faster and easier access to the Australian Grid network of high performance computers. [ + ]

Although vodka is a reasonably pure mixture of alcohol and water, beverage drinks typically show differences in appeal among brands. The question immediately arises as to the molecular basis, if any, of vodka taste perception.

Doubts about the role played by mutations in the gene BRAF in the development of melanoma have largely been laid to rest by new research which confirms that drugs inhibiting the gene greatly increase chances of survival. [ + ]

Australia’s research funding culture favours experienced scientists at the expense of promoting young researchers with great potential. Changes must be made if the future of Australian science is to be placed in safe hands. [ + ]