All people working in laboratory, scientific, technical and facilities management in all areas, including life science, analytical testing, education, research, pathology, food, construction, mining, pharmaceutical and quality control, must attend to update to the latest thinking in laboratory management, network with other laboratory, facility, research, scientific and technical managers and discover new productivity tools at the trade exhibition.

The mention of E. coli O157:H7 sends a chill through the spine of every food processor. This deadly pathogen has been implicated in disease outbreaks all over the world and only a small load can cause illness. But in the latest outbreak in Germany and France, a new serotype is proving even more deadly.

The discovery of a large field of dinosaur tracks in Arkansas has researchers busy using cutting-edge technology and traditional techniques to learn all that they can about the animals and environment that existed there 120 million years ago.

Recent Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research recipient, Professor Michael Parker, is uncovering the structure of key pathogenic proteins employed by a range of nasties with a vision to develop new drugs. [ + ]

Researchers have discovered how to extract and use information in an individual image to determine how far objects are from the focus distance.

Declaring a result ‘significant’ strongly suggests certainty, and that the result is large and important, but this is not what statistical significance implies. This is why statistical reformers are advocating a switch from significance testing to estimation. [ + ]

Across Australia and New Zealand and much of the world there is a growing shortage of science, engineering, technology and mathematics graduates. How to inspire students to pursue these subjects in their post-secondary education is challenging educators globally. Microsoft commissioned two surveys with Harris Interactive to try to gain insight about what can better prepare and inspire students to pursue post-secondary education in STEM subjects. [ + ]

An international research team based in Germany has sequenced the entire genome of the 'Black Death'.

Virginia Tech researchers have created software to remotely put smartphones under lockdown.

Physicists have predicted that under the influence of sufficiently high electric fields, liquid droplets of certain materials will undergo solidification.

The growth of China’s life sciences sector presents tremendous opportunities for Australian biotechs, but it pays to understand the nuances of the culture and take things slow. [ + ]

Two Sydney researchers coming from entirely different backgrounds have teamed up to find out how the hedgehog pathway is being hijacked by breast cancer calls – with a potential win-win result for patients. [ + ]

Scientists have designed a much simpler method of preparing ordered magnetic material.

Deep in the recently published wallaby genome are genes that might yield antibiotics that could combat the growing number of multi-resistant bacteria. [ + ]

Peer into the wonders of the micro with the 37th Annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition, showcasing some of the best microscopy images from researchers around the world. The official judging for the Nikon Small World took place on May 12, 2011. The winners will be announced in October, but Nikon is giving you the chance to pick your favourites among this year’s top entries. [ + ]