The immune system uses zinc as an antimicrobial for protection during attack by Streptococcus pneumoniae, the primary bacterial cause of pneumonia. [ + ]

Scientists from the University of Tasmania are among an international research team that recently set out to crack the secret of the unique cubed poo of wombats. [ + ]

What if there were a way to delay egg ageing, without losing egg quality? Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have now discovered the switch that may do this — in worms. [ + ]

German researchers have developed a new microscopy method whereby the unusual properties of graphene electromagnetically interact with fluorescing molecules. [ + ]

US scientists have utilised an existing antibody drug to pull down the protective wall that surrounds tumours, potentially re-exposing them to the killing power of the immune system. [ + ]

Researchers have identified a specific gene they believe could be a key player in the changes in brain structure seen in several psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and autism. [ + ]

Thermo Fisher Scientific has entered into a collaboration with Cedars-Sinai and elected Debora Spar to its board of directors. [ + ]

Researchers have found a causal relationship between depression and 20 distinct diseases, including asthma, coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, oesophagitis, gastroenteritis, E. coli infections and urinary system disorders. [ + ]

Australia's own Jacques Miller is among the winners of the 2019 Lasker Awards, widely regarded as America's top biomedical research prize. [ + ]

Women with specific DNA characteristics in certain areas of the genome may live longer if they take aspirin before they are diagnosed with breast cancer. [ + ]

The model achieves 90% accuracy in predicting the correct product of unseen chemical reactions, whereas the accuracy of trained human chemists is around 80%. [ + ]

Eye-tracking technology could be used in future to predict if people with mild memory and thinking impairments will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]

Events that occur as part of assisted reproduction technology can impact gene health or epigenetics in babies — but these effects are short lived. [ + ]

US scientists have used nanoparticles to confer a real superpower on ordinary mice: the ability to see near-infrared light. [ + ]

The abnormal expression of many genes, previously associated with autism, is also present in violent psychopathy, according to a new study from European researchers. [ + ]