SARS-CoV-2 can survive for up to 28 days on common surfaces including banknotes, glass — such as that found on mobile phone screens — and stainless steel. [ + ]

Australia will soon have a purpose-built biobank of different biological samples from people with genetic diseases caused by changes to genes on chromosome 15. [ + ]

The 2020 Nobel Prizes recognise the discoveries of hepatits C, black holes and CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors. [ + ]

A new mobile app has made it possible to analyse the genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on a smartphone in less than half an hour. [ + ]

Scientists have identified and characterised the gene responsible for immune cell death and inflammation during sepsis — a disease that kills 11 million people per year. [ + ]

Researchers have found that the Y-chromosome gene that makes mice male is made up of two different DNA parts — not one, as had been previously assumed. [ + ]

Illumina has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GRAIL — a healthcare company whose mission is focused on multi-cancer early detection. [ + ]

Western Australia will host the Square Kilometre Array's 130,000 antennas, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity for Australia. [ + ]

C3.ai is encouraging data scientists, developers, researchers and creative thinkers from around the world to participate in the C3.ai COVID-19 Grand Challenge. [ + ]

Inflazome, based on a research partnership between The University of Queensland and Trinity College Dublin, has been acquired for an upfront cash payment of €380m. [ + ]

Adults conceived through sperm donation report higher frequencies of allergies, type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions. [ + ]

Researchers have demonstrated an endoscope that combines photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging in a device about the thickness of a human hair. [ + ]

The small blood vessels in muscles of women after menopause are less able to grow compared to young women, according to new research. [ + ]

The TGA has registered Novartis's LUXTURNA, the first gene therapy in Australia, for the treatment of patients with inherited retinal dystrophy. [ + ]

Testing of commonly available fabric masks has found they significantly reduce the number of aerosolised viruses a wearer could be exposed to. [ + ]