Physicists at the University of Utah have developed a new organic molecule shaped like rotelle, wagon-wheel pasta that emits light randomly in all directions - a necessary feature for a more efficient organic LED. [ + ]

The emphasis on screening and very early diagnosis is increasing, with healthcare fast focusing on ways to prevent high treatment costs. [ + ]

element14 has launched the Smarter Life Challenge, a global design competition which will encourage participants to develop forward-thinking products. [ + ]

Renesas, Murata and Ubiquitous have formed a technological collaboration for the development of high-speed network connection technology for automotive information devices. [ + ]

Stanford researchers have developed a microbial battery that generates electricity from sewage using naturally occluding ‘wired microbes’ as mini power plants, producing electricity as they digest plant and animal waste. [ + ]

CSIRO and Catapult Sports' program Tracking Elite Athletes, which uses revolutionary ClearSky Technology, has received the President's Award from Engineers Australia, Sydney Division. [ + ]

Scientists at the Vienna University of Technology have now managed to combine a graphene photodetector with a standard silicon chip. It can transform light of all important frequencies used in telecommunications into electrical signals. [ + ]

The combined total minutes spent on activities requiring data connectivity on smartphones now far outpaces talking on these devices, according to the latest research released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). [ + ]

The world market for PCBs reached nearly $60bn in 2012, with 1.7% real growth over 2011, according to IPC's World PCB Production Report for the Year 2012. [ + ]

The pure-play foundry sales growth in 2013 is expected to be driven by ≤28 nm feature size device sales, according to research firm IC Insights. [ + ]

MathWorks has announced Release 2013b (R2013b) of its MATLAB and Simulink product families, focusing on increased systems integration and compatibility with its latest range of updates. [ + ]

Wearable technology will become popular in mainstream markets within the next two to three years, according to a recent SSI survey. The study showed one out of three people were "very" or "somewhat" likely to buy a wearable device. [ + ]

Australia-based researchers are in Ireland this week to team up with European collaborators who have helped drive the exciting developments in graphene, medical bionics, artificial muscles and next-generation solar cells at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES). [ + ]

The Republic of Korea has awarded a $51m contract to the LONGBOW Limited Liability Company, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, for providing LONGBOW Fire Control Radars (FCRs) for the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. [ + ]

Rohde & Schwarz UK has been down-selected after a 12-month competition process run by BAE Systems to be the preferred partner for the design phase of the integrated communications system for the Royal Navy's Future Type 26 Global Combat Ship. [ + ]