Photo by Niall KennedyA few years ago it was crocodiles and now it's platypus that might hold the key to new antimicrocial compounds. Consider that when they hatch, baby platypus are blind, hairless, helpless and about and a half centimetres long. They are born like this into a borrow, so it stands to reason that they must have some sort of antimicrobial assistance.

Researchers at Victoria's Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have isolated, synthesised and tested several platypus proteins revealing powerful antipmicrobial compounds. The researchers have mooted the possibiity of using these new compunds to combat "superbugs" (eg Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or to fight methane-producing bactiera in the guts of cattle. 

Taking on golden staph and tackling climate change - platypus are cool.

Oh, regarding the crocodiles, Great Big Science Gig have a nifty song about them.