German researchers have discovered what they believe to be the underlying cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) — an illness which until now had no clear trigger. [ + ]

This year's World Meteorological Day has a somewhat sombre tone, with the WMO revealing that numerous climate records were broken in 2016. [ + ]

Researchers have confirmed that the evolution of bipedalism in fossil humans can be detected using a key feature of the skull — a claim that had previously been contested. [ + ]

Researchers have discovered a small protein in funnel web spider venom that could protect the brain from stroke-induced injury. [ + ]

US scientists have developed a highly accurate method that analyses metabolic biomarkers to assess whether a child is on the autism spectrum. [ + ]

Frontier Microscopy has developed an automated microscopy analysis system for the asbestos air monitoring industry. [ + ]

Have you ever wondered why the size and shape of the nose tends to vary between different human populations? [ + ]

Lyncean Technologies, the manufacturer of the Lyncean Compact Light Source (CLS), has signed AXT as its exclusive representative in Australia and New Zealand. [ + ]

Scientists have created a functional 'beating' human heart muscle from stem cells, in a breakthrough that will enable them to study cardiac biology and diseases 'in a dish'. [ + ]

People with colorectal cancer that have a certain type of immune cell in their tumour may have increased survival rates. [ + ]

Innovation and Science Australia (ISA) Chair Bill Ferris has identified the six key innovation challenges Australia must address in order to become a top-tier innovation nation. [ + ]

Shimadzu Australia has partnered with Xperential Scientific for Australian (excluding WA) and New Zealand distribution of its balances and GC columns. [ + ]

It is now possible to selectively switch individual oxygen molecules 'off' and 'on', from a non-reactive to a reactive state, using a special force microscope. [ + ]

UK scientists have shown that bacteriophage (phage) therapy could offer a safe and effective alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections. [ + ]

CSIRO scientists have confirmed the first pest rabbit that has succumbed to the Korean strain of calicivirus, known as RHDV1 K5. [ + ]