Rats’ keen sense of smell can be exploited to dramatically reduce their attacks on native birds, researchers from the University of Sydney have shown. The technique could be adapted to protect vulnerable species worldwide. [ + ]

Flinders University researcher Dr Jan Bekker is on a mission to chemically fingerprint South Australia’s marine sponges, with the wider aim of identifying new compounds that could ultimately play an important role in the fight against cancer and infectious diseases. [ + ]

Prima BioMed (ASX:PRR) has reported promising interim results from a phase II trial of CVac, its prospective ovarian cancer vaccine. [ + ]

The BrainArt Exhibition integrates the artistic and scientific worlds, depicting the application of neuroscience in our daily lives. [ + ]

Scientists at Murdoch University have led a study which calculates that all bonds in a DNA strand preserved at the ideal temperature of -5°C would be completely destroyed in bone after approximately 6.8 million years. [ + ]

Two astronomers involved in the Square Kilometre Array telescope project have been recognised at the 2012 WA Science Awards. [ + ]

Nanosonics (ASX:NAN) has been entered as a finalist in the Australian Export Awards, after winning recognition at yesterday's Premier's NSW Export Awards. [ + ]

Benitec Biopharma (ASX:BLT) will acquire Tacere Therapeutics, which has a phase I/II ready hepatitis C treatment candidate developed using Benitec's ddRNAi technology. [ + ]

Bionomics (ASX:BNO) has announced that chairman Chris Fullerton will leave the company at the end of the year, and will be replaced by Graeme Kaufman. [ + ]

The AusBiotech Annual Report 2012, released this week, details another significant period for AusBiotech and for the Australian biotechnology industry. [ + ]

Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka have received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their research into a class of protein receptors that govern many key cellular functions. [ + ]

Life Technologies has announced the acquisition of Compendia Bioscience, a pre-eminent cancer bioinformatics company widely used by the pharmaceutical industry to identify novel gene targets for drug discovery and development. [ + ]

QRxPharma (ASX:QRX) has secured a potentially lucrative licensing deal covering the Canadian market for its pain relief drug, MoxDuo IR, which is currently awaiting marketing approval in Canada and the US. [ + ]

A University of Queensland (UQ) invention that will deliver vaccines without the need for needles has struck a significant partnership with US-based pharmaceutical giant Merck. [ + ]

The McKean Review has reported recently, providing a consultation paper for comment until the end of October. [ + ]