Thanks to USB sticks and video streaming, DVD players are becoming all but obsolete. But their cheap optics may find a new life in a cost-effective and speedy technique for on-the-spot HIV testing and other analytics. [ + ]

An announcement today of a licensing agreement with US drug company Sarepta Therapeutics to develop new treatments based on award-winning research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) at The University of Western Australia may lead to the state’s first genetic drug derived from WA research. [ + ]

Patrys (ASX:PAB) has completed initial treatment for half of the 12 multiple myeloma patients to be involved in a clinical trial of anticancer antibody PAT-SM6. [ + ]

Researchers have been able to reconstruct the genome sequence of an outbreak strain of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) that caused over 50 deaths in Germany. They used an approach known as metagenomics, which bypasses the need for growing bacteria in the lab. [ + ]

The Australian Synchrotron has announced the establishment of the Australian Synchrotron Fellows Program, available to outstanding individuals whose passion for science matches that of the AS’s staff and who will be rewarded with access to Australia’s premier scientific and innovation support facility. [ + ]

pSivida (ASX:PVA) has launched channels on each of the four major social networks to provide more outlets to communicate key information to investors. [ + ]

Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) has tapped United Medical as its exclusive distribution partner and sales rep for cystic fibrosis treatment Bronchitol in Brazil. [ + ]

UK diagnostics development company AgPlus Diagnostics is to collaborate with New Zealand-based BioTest Diagnostics in the development of a rapid and convenient test for canine progesterone that will be used to pinpoint the narrow window for artificial insemination in canine breeding programs. [ + ]

People often think that other people are staring at them even when they aren’t, vision scientists have found. [ + ]

That question was recently answered with the help of a so-called free electron X-ray laser, which makes it possible to follow in real time how bindings in a molecule are changed and broken. The study, published in Science, found, among other things, evidence of a much-discussed intermediate state before molecules bind to or leave a metal surface. The possibility of monitoring at the molecular level how the electron structure changes in a chemical reaction creates entirely new opportunities for investigating and understanding key chemical processes in detail. [ + ]

Novogen (ASX:NRT) has revealed that one enantiomer of cancer drug candidate CS-6 appears many times more active against brain cancer than the reverse form. [ + ]

Allied Healthcare (ASX:AHZ) says five surgeons have now received early approval to use heart patch CardioCel under the TGA’s Authorized Prescriber Scheme. [ + ]

A Biohackathon will open up scientific problem solving to the public next week in Sydney. [ + ]

The EMA has allocated more time to review Clinuvel’s (ASX:CUV) application for approval of Scenesse as an EPP treatment. [ + ]

Applikon Biotechnology will buy part of the product portfolio of HaloteC Instruments and integrate the instruments and software tech into its bioreactor software offerings. [ + ]