Research by Drs Vince Craig, David Williams and Chiara Neto from the Australian National University, has revealed that "when liquids flow at relatively fast speeds in a confined space, the liquid molecules adjacent to the surface are in fact moving", Dr Craig said. The research was conducted using an Atomic Force Microscope, which has a very small ball attached to a sensing spring that measures the forces on the ball produced by the liquid as it approaches a solid surface. [ + ]

The Visualisation and Advanced Computation Laboratory (ViSAC) based at the University of Queensland is a $2 million computing resource that will allow researchers to access visualisation tools to produce better and more efficient research. [ + ]

Victoria has been confirmed as the biotechnology, and research and development capital of Australia. [ + ]

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the working population of developed countries and it is an increasing problem in the developing world. [ + ]

Cells that might cause cancer can now be extracted from transplants grown from embryonic stem cells, removing a major barrier to this kind of tissue repair. What's more, if things go wrong, the entire transplant could be ordered to self-destruct. [ + ]

Collaboration among Western Australian medical research institutes and four of the public universities has brought significant funding to the region. [ + ]

Working with Dr Kay in the Department of Pathology, University of Western Australia, Janelle Pelham has begun to model the testing of specific anti-cancer drugs on the domestic dog. [ + ]

The Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin has announced the first $1.2 million funding round under the new National Innovation Awareness Strategy for projects to raise awareness of the importance of innovation and science. [ + ]

In a move that enhances its position in the laboratory data management market, Thermo LabSystems has announced that it has acquired Galactic Industries, the spectroscopy software solutions company. [ + ]

Delta EMD has signed an agreement to invest over $200,000 in the establishment of the ‘Delta EMD Lectureship in Applied Chemistry’ with the University of Newcastle. [ + ]

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is inviting submissions on draft guidelines for the Writing of Human Gene Therapy Proposals. The draft guidelines have been developed by the NHMRC Gene and Related Therapies Research Advisory Panel (GTRAP). [ + ]

Hyden farmer and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Western Regional Panel Chairman, Dale Baker, has praised the CSIRO for the commitment it has shown WA agriculture by building a world class containment facility in Perth. [ + ]

Lastek has been appointed the representative of LaVision for Australia and New Zealand. [ + ]

From 16 July to 20 July the International Conference on Scientometrics and Informetrics will be held from 9:00am to 4:30pm. [ + ]

A short-list of 37 major research facilities is to be considered for $155 million in government funding, the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, has announced. [ + ]