Murata Electronics North America and Peregrine Semiconductor have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Murata will acquire all outstanding shares of Peregrine not owned by Murata for $12.50 per share in cash, or a total transaction value of around $471 million. [ + ]

La Trobe University's eNurse has won the best technical development award, and received an overall 'highly commended', in Telstra's 10-week M2M (machine to machine) University Challenge for students from across Australia. [ + ]

Engineers Australia has announced 49 engineering projects as finalists in this year's Sydney Division Engineering Excellence Awards. The projects collectively contribute substantial investment to the Australian economy. [ + ]

Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) have designed a new device for wireless energy transfer that will, for example, charge mobile phones or laptops without needing cables. [ + ]

You may know moulded connectors are a good option for harsh environments, but you may not know what to look for when specifying one in particular. [ + ]

MIT researchers have developed a system that recycles materials from discarded car batteries - a potential source of lead pollution - into new, long-lasting solar panels that provide emissions-free power. [ + ]

With the global economy stabilising, steady improvements in overall demand and a strong recovery in the smartcard market segment, microcontroller sales are set to reach a new high of $16.1bn, according to IC Insights' new mid-year update to the 2014 McClean Report. [ + ]

Australia risks being left behind as the only country in the OECD that does not have a national science and technology, or innovation policy, according to the Chief Scientist, Ian Chubb. [ + ]

element14 and Adafruit have announced the finalists in its 'Hats Off' global design challenge. [ + ]

US-based research group Skajaquoda has launched a flexible solar panel with a USB charger that can be mounted on backpacks, camera straps and even bikes. [ + ]

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) recently held the Hawaii Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. [ + ]

Nearly 40% of women who earn engineering degrees quit the profession or never enter the field, reveals a new study. For those who leave, poor workplace climates and mistreatment by managers and co-workers are common reasons. [ + ]

First Solar claims to have achieved 21% efficiency for its cadmium-telluride (CdTe) PV research cell, as certified by the Newport Corporation's Technology and Applications Center (TAC) PV Lab. [ + ]

Scientists from South Korea have converted used cigarette butts into a high-performing material that could be integrated into computers, handheld devices, electrical vehicles and wind turbines to store energy. [ + ]

Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited and ON Semiconductor have announced that they have entered into a foundry services agreement. [ + ]