An Australian has been elected president of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), as it becomes increasingly involved in major global issues such as climate change, security and social responsibility.

Recent studies have shown that a vacuum, previously thought of as a state of total nothingness, is really filled with energy-hungry ‘virtual particles’ that could interfere with high energy collision experiments.

Researchers have discovered why the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) has been so devastating, allowing it to wipe out 90% of some native Tasmanian devil populations.

The Australian government has allocated $62.3 million over the next five years to more than 200 new collaborative research projects.

The Australian government has announced it will provide $3.5 million for projects to commence in 2008 under the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage International scheme.

A $41 million national research facility for cutting-edge microscopy and microanalysis was launched by the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, at the University of Sydney today.

Teaching the responsible way to conduct research might not always guarantee positive results on students and young researchers, according to an American study presented at the first World Conference on Research Integrity in Lisbon this month.

CSIRO scientists win Australia's premier science award for discovery of double-stranded RNA interference in plants, while marine researcher wins life scientist of the year award. [ + ]

New head for Melbourne's Genetic Technologies as founder steps back. [ + ]

Scientists in California have advanced toward rapid testing for pre-natal detection of Down syndrome and other birth defects involving an abnormal number of chromosomes.

A Queensland team is launching a trial of a vaccine to protect koalas from the ravages of Chlamydia, but - as always - they could do with a little assistance. [ + ]

Patient participation in genetic research the topic of the second David Danks oration. [ + ]

No one is completely certain of the exact role of paraspeckles, but most suspect they are involved in gene expression. [ + ]

Fish is brain food and for most of us that means eating it. For Michael Lardelli, zebrafish are also helping us understand the human brain. [ + ]

Studying the symbiotic relationship between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria raises the possibility of a potential application in cereals. [ + ]