A natural hormone considered harmful by some scientists is being tested for potential use in breast cancer treatment. [ + ]

Researchers have identified a link between vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and increased autism traits, adding to the growing body of evidence connecting vitamin D to brain growth. [ + ]

The Turnbull government has selected the three venture capital fund managers who will manage the Biomedical Translation Fund (BTF), intended to help take Australian biomedical discoveries out of the laboratory and to the patient. [ + ]

Austrian researchers have identified the anti-diabetic properties of purslane and tindora after conducting a study on seven different plant extracts with the potential to mimic insulin activity. [ + ]

Australian, Austrian and Japanese scientists have found a way to harness the potential of designer crystals known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) — said to be the most porous materials on the planet. [ + ]

Australian scientists have developed an optical chip for telescopes, allowing astronomers for the first time to take clear images of planets that may support life. [ + ]

Researchers from the University of Wollongong have been studying the key structural proteins of myelin and, in doing so, may have discovered the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS). [ + ]

Researchers have revealed the way the brain handles the often noisy environments found on Earth, with the results explaining why animals, including humans, can easily cope with both the still and quiet of early-morning parks to the bustle of cafes and streets. [ + ]

University of Queensland (UQ) researchers have developed a way to produce and administer white blood cells to cancer patients following chemotherapy. [ + ]

Griffith University researchers have received $4 million in funding as part of a bid to accelerate the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and the discovery of appropriate treatments. [ + ]

The federal government was apparently in a generous mood over the weekend, announcing close to $700 million in funding for the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and CSIRO. [ + ]

Asynt has announced an updated version of its best practice guide developed to enable laboratory personnel to more safely use heating block systems. [ + ]

Australia's iconic monotremes have an unusual ability that could pave the way for new treatments for type 2 diabetes in humans. [ + ]

Giant galaxies may grow from cold gas that condenses as stars, contradicting the theory that they are formed by smaller galaxies falling together in a hot, violent merger. [ + ]

Geologists conducting research off the coast of eastern Indonesia have identified what they claim to be the biggest exposed fault on Earth — a find that will help researchers assess dangers of future tsunamis in the area. [ + ]