The Australian Research Collaboration Service (ARCS ) today launched its Computer Cloud, an initiative designed to give researchers faster and easier access to the Australian Grid network of high performance computers. [ + ]

Although vodka is a reasonably pure mixture of alcohol and water, beverage drinks typically show differences in appeal among brands. The question immediately arises as to the molecular basis, if any, of vodka taste perception.

Doubts about the role played by mutations in the gene BRAF in the development of melanoma have largely been laid to rest by new research which confirms that drugs inhibiting the gene greatly increase chances of survival. [ + ]

Australia’s research funding culture favours experienced scientists at the expense of promoting young researchers with great potential. Changes must be made if the future of Australian science is to be placed in safe hands. [ + ]

"Our newer genome analysis systems, if commercialised, promise genome analysis in one hour, at under $1000," Schwartz says. "And we require that high speed and low cost to power the new field of personal genomics."

The Australian biotech and pharmaceutical industries saw an alarming 75 percent drop in venture fundings over the last four years, compared with a global decline of only 14 percent. That’s according to MedTRACK, a leading database of companies in the industry. [ + ]

Australian biotechs rode a wave of renewed confidence in international markets this week which helped the local bourse to stage its best performance in weeks today. Investors were buoyed by news that China had rejected British media reports it was planning to reduce its European debt holdings, as well as generally improved sentiment towards Europe in the wake of the Greek financial crisis. [ + ]

The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and NSW premier Kristina Keneally together opened the new Lowy Cancer Research Centre at Sydney’s University of New South Wales ( UNSW ) this morning. [ + ]

Relevare Pharmaceuticals will present data demonstrating the effectiveness of CNSB015 (flupirtine) as a pain killer at the Third International Congress on Neuropathic Pain in Athens this month. [ + ]

QIAGEN N.V.and Roche Molecular Systems Inc., a unit of Roche Holding AG ( ROG.VX ), have reached an out-of-court agreement ending a dispute over rights for a set of companion diagnostic products developed and manufactured by QIAGEN’s Manchester subsidiary DxS Ltd. [ + ]

Embryonic stem (ES) cells - those karyotypically normal immortal cell lines that can give rise to all other cell types of that organism - are believed to hold great promise for therapeutic applications. [ + ]

More accurate standards for how temperature and pressure are measured may result from new findings about helium.

Evolutionary biology has long focused its attention on protein-coding genes. But it's the vast regulatory networks of RNA - once thought of as "junk DNA" - that are the major driving force behind human evolution. [ + ]

Like a magician who says, “Pick a card, any card”, Stanford University computer scientist Debashis Sahoo, PhD, seemed to be offering some kind of trick when he asked researchers at the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine to pick any two genes already known to be involved in stem cell development.

The song says "diamonds are a girl's best friend", but scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) are finding that diamonds are a researcher's best friend too. The NRL, which has been involved in pioneering work involving chemical vapour deposition of diamonds and the use of diamond materials in advanced technologies relevant to the Department of Defence since 1987, has undertaken some new projects in diamond research.