Giant red bull ants are infamous for their excruciating sting, but a team of Australian researchers thinks their venom holds the key to chronic pain relief.…
bioengineering
Colour-changing sensors can offer on-the-spot disease diagnosis
Biomedical engineers in Australia and overseas are developing test kits that can confirm the presence of diseases ranging from the flu to cancer with a simple colour change.…
Coffee grounds find a second life as biodegradable plastics
Australia’s coffee habit produces a lot of grounds and a lot of cups that go to landfill. An engineering student wants to close the loop and recycle coffee grounds into biodegradable plastics.…
New research has a word of warning about CRISPR
While CRISPR gene editing has the potential to treat diseases from HIV and blood-disorders to cancer, a recent UK study has found the technique might cause more cell damage than originally thought.…
Interest in DIY biohacking is on the rise. What’s behind the trend?
The phrase ‘Do It Yourself’ is usually reserved for Pinterest and lifestyle magazines, but biohackers are using the DIY approach to transform the way we think about genetic engineering.…
Australia is making gains in the business of 3D printed body parts
The market for 3D-printed body parts is growing. Following the recent success of a titanium and polymer implant, Australia is well placed to lead the way.…
Little devices play big role in early cancer detection
Prof Dayong Jin hopes to spark a new generation of medical devices which integrate diagnostic technologies including nanotechnology, photonics and molecular biology.…
What happens when you transform living cells into wearable tech?
Your next health check might come courtesy of this chic, discreet, 3D-printed ‘living tattoo’.…
Can this new biomaterial help improve your body’s healing process?
Doctors might soon be piecing together damaged tissues and organs thanks to this ‘tissue paper’.…
Is the secret to treating illnesses hidden deep in your cells? This engineer thinks so
One of Australia’s top minds in biomedical engineering wants to change how we diagnose and treat diseases by going straight to the source – our cells themselves. …