Washington, DC, USA. A special committee of the influential Institute of Medicine (IOM) calls for attention to the specific health needs of groups often combined into a single LGBT entity for research and advocacy purposes.

The IOM cites difficulties when synthesizing data about the various groups combined under a single LGBT classification, since "studies and surveys use a variety of ways to define them". It recommends vigorous population profiling and health assessments that have direct relevance for addressing the health needs of both transsexual and transgender population groups.

Helsinki, Finland. Researchers have combined web-based virtual microscopy and a giant-size multitouch display into an entirely new way of performing microscopy.

By using hand and finger gestures, a user touches a table- or even wall-sized screen, then navigates and zooms within a microscope sample in the same way as in a conventional microscope, applicable to both education and scientific investigation.

Lund, Sweden. A human viewpoint colors the consideration of the traits and behavior of animals and plants in sexual conflicts, say biology researchers Kristina Karlsson Green and Josefin Madjidian.

They analyzed the literature for how the conflicts are described and determine what parameters are incorporated for each sex in mathematical models of sexual conflict. Their study results present evidence of choices and interpretations that may build on the researchers’ own, possibly subconscious, perception of female and male.

St. Louis, MO, USA. Scientists have figured out how to focus light deep under the skin, offering a steep improvement in biomedical imaging and light therapy.

Tissue is a light scattering medium. Maintaining the focus of light has been a basic goal since the beginning of biomedical optics. Existing technologies could not focus beyond the range of one millimeter (the approximate width of a human hair). Scientists now can focus on a desired target without taking any invasive measures.

Pullman, WA, USA. Scientific societies representing 40,000 researchers and clinicians are asking that federal regulators tap a broader range of expertise when evaluating the risks of chemicals to which Americans are being increasingly exposed.

Eight societies from the fields of genetics, reproductive medicine, endocrinology, developmental biology and other fields published the text of their letter in the journal Science. They note that every day some 12,000 new substances are being registered with the American Chemical Society (ACS).