Industry News
Condoms and gloves thin as human hair
Fibres from the Australian native spinifex grass are being used to improve latex that could be used to make condoms as thin as a human hair without any loss in strength. [ + ]
3 new operating theatres to slash wait times
Tasmania's State Government has announced the opening of three new operating theatres in the state this week as part of their plan to rebuild Tasmania’s health system. With serious questions being raised about the allocation of dollars earmarked for Tasmanian health, this will be only a drop in the ocean but it is a step in the right direction. [ + ]
There is a little known threat in your home
They are small items, the size of a ten cent coin and they can cause big problems for small children. Lithium button batteries can be found in many items from remote controls and bathroom scales to singing greeting cards. [ + ]
‘Last-drink’ laws reduce violence
With single punch deaths on the rise, states and territories are grappling to put in place tougher measures to reduce alcohol-fueled violence. This report from Kypros Kypri, University of Newcastle, looks at the current situation around the country. [ + ]
What are KPC superbugs and are we worried?
According to Trent Yarwood from the The University of Queensland, superbugs are back in the news – and everybody loves a good germ panic story. The bugs raising alarm are called KPC (Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase) or CRE (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae). [ + ]
Dancing Robot for Aged Care Residents
A humanoid robot standing 57cm high and weighing just 7kg will be joining Perth aged care residents at Brightwater’s Madeley facility for a 12 month trial. Zora is a socialisation robot specifically programmed to provide cognitively and physically stimulating activities activities such as the hosting of exercise and dance classes, book and news reading, joke telling and music classes and have one-on-one interactions with residents. [ + ]
Could thalidomide have a future?
The drug thalidomide has a notorious past. It was used between 1957-62 as a sedative and to treat morning sickness in early pregnancy but a serious side effect resulted in over 10,000 children born with severe birth defects. [ + ]
