Diversa Corporation and Celera Genomics have announced the completion of the entire genome sequence of Streptomyces diversa. The companies completed the sequencing under the collaborative agreement signed in December of 2000. [ + ]

Recent tests have proved that incorporating polypropylene fibres in high-grade concrete mixes can prevent splintering of the building material in fire. [ + ]

Australian and New Zealand scientists are joining forces to use insects in the fight against the billion dollar weed problem. New Zealand's Ms Lynley Hayes will be introducing to Australian land managers a technology transfer program that has had wide success in her country. [ + ]

A national conference opened in Adelaide will hear of the advantages of a recent innovation in non-invasive geological mapping. [ + ]

PanBio has announced plans to list on the Australian Stock Exchange. [ + ]

A ground breaking invention that prevents mobile phone radiation reaching the ear invented by a UK company. The device looks like, and is used in exactly the same way as a conventional hands-free kit, but an innovative use of an old technique has been used to completely block the radiation from the phone before it reaches the user's ear. [ + ]

Salt, waterlogging and acid or aluminium soils could soon pose less of an impediment to lucerne growth, if a joint project between the State Government, the Australian Centre for International Research, and Chinese research institutions, proves successful. [ + ]

A survey by the Federal Government has revealed that Australians are becoming more accepting of genetically modified food. [ + ]

Health Minister Wendy Edmond today announced $80,000 worth of Royal Brisbane Hospital Research Foundation grants for nine research projects in Queensland. [ + ]

An ANU chemist, working with collaborators in Mozambique, has been instrumental in developing a multiprolonged approach to eliminating cyanide poisoning in Africa. [ + ]

Griffith University, in conjunction with the Australasian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ASTH), has announced that they will conduct a definitive study into the suspected association between deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and air travel. [ + ]

Researchers at The Australian National University have developed a map of a complex chemical receptor in the human body that plays an important role in the immune system. The receptor (the beta common receptor) controls the growth and activity of white blood cells involved in asthma, allergies, bacterial infections and some leukemias. Understanding how the receptor is activated by hormone-like signals may ultimately lead to new treatments for asthma and leukemia. [ + ]

The first Australian-made satellite to be launched in over 30 years, FedSat, is due to leave Earth in February 2002. [ + ]

A new technique for testing the condition of rubber products could lead to cost and time savings for industry and improve safety, by making it easier to check the likely performance life of parts in service. [ + ]

A Monash PhD student has developed a cheap and easy way to store sperm in aluminium foil bags. [ + ]