In a remarkable piece of detective work, a team of ‘retired’ CSIRO scientists have revealed the group of artists responsible for the iconic scribbles found on smooth-barked Eucalyptus trees in south-eastern Australia. [ + ]

Scientists from the University of Cambridge have discovered a cognitive biomarker - a biological indicator of a disease - for young adolescents who are at high risk of developing depression and anxiety. Their findings have been published in the journal PLoS ONE. [ + ]

Following news that a phase III trial of VivaGel failed to reach its primary end point, Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has emphasised the potential of its platform technology across multiple applications. [ + ]

The latest Access to Medicine Index, which ranks the top 20 pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to improve access to medicine in developing countries, finds that the industry is doing more than it was two years ago. [ + ]

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have combined the ability to detect cancer DNA in the blood with genome sequencing technology in a test that could be used to screen for cancers, monitor cancer patients for recurrence and find residual cancer left after surgery. [ + ]

Early research into Viralytics' (ASX:VLA) Cavatak oncolytic virus shows it effectively targets receptors on bladder cancer tissue. [ + ]

A massive genetic study has found the last 5,000 years of evolution has introduced many disease variants that have yet to be weeded out by natural selection. [ + ]

Women in biotechnology have featured strongly in the “2012 Australia Census of Women in Leadership”, with biotech CEOs making up 25 per cent of the female CEOs of ASX 500 companies. [ + ]

According to psychological lore, when it comes to items of information the mind can cope with before confusion sets in, the ‘magic’ number is seven. But a new analysis by a leading Australian psychiatrist challenges this long-held view, suggesting the number might actually be four. [ + ]

To provide greater clarity and consistency in naming practices for medicines, a new drug naming policy established by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) will become official on 1 May 2013. [ + ]

A pre-clinical trial of Allied Healthcare's (ASX:AHZ) CardioCel in valve reconstruction showed evidence of new tissue growth near the parch at eight-month follow-up. [ + ]

Tumult has struck Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) as CEO Paul MacLeman resigns at the annual general meeting yesterday in protest over a board spill. [ + ]

Trading in Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has been halted ahead of an announcement by the company of two phase III studies of its VivaGel treatment for bacterial vaginosis. [ + ]

Australia’s Chief Scientist and Australian Research Committee (ARCom) chairman Professor Ian Chubb has welcomed today’s launch of the National Research Investment Plan (NRIP). [ + ]

Scientists have demonstrated in an experiment that captured ions can be cooled through contact with cold atoms and may thus be stored in so-called ion traps in a stable condition for longer periods of time. [ + ]