News and features
Bristol student’s robot smashes 4x4 Rubik’s Cube world record
12 May 2025
University of Bristol student Matt Pidden has shattered the world record for solving a 4x4 Rubik's Cube, using a robot he designed, built and trained in just 15 weeks.
- Research reveals why next-generation engine noise grinds our gears 15 May 2025 A breakthrough study has revealed why emerging electric aircraft engine technology sounds so annoying — and how to fix it.
- Handy octopus robot can adapt to its surroundings 14 May 2025 Scientists inspired by the octopus’s nervous system have developed a robot that can decide how to move or grip objects by sensing its environment.
- Young people turn school uniform into compelling anti-knife crime art for Knife Crime Awareness Week 13 May 2025 More than 100 school shirts emblazoned with compelling messages capturing children and young people’s feelings about knife crime are set to be publicly exhibited to mark the start of national Knife Crime Awareness Week.
- Bristol student’s robot smashes 4x4 Rubik’s Cube world record 12 May 2025 University of Bristol student Matt Pidden has shattered the world record for solving a 4x4 Rubik's Cube, using a robot he designed, built and trained in just 15 weeks.
- Social media platform tailoring could support more fulfilling use, study finds 8 May 2025 Redesigning social media to suit different needs of users could make their time online more focused, according to new research by University of Bristol academics.
- Pioneering research reveals tree-mendous potential of inexpensive drones to help community forests flourish and unlock restoration funding 7 May 2025 Restoring forests at a community level can contribute significantly to helping reach global net zero and biodiversity goals.
- University of Bristol spin-out Inductosense honoured with King’s Award for innovation 6 May 2025 Inductosense, a University of Bristol spin-out company that designs and manufactures ultrasonic sensors for monitoring corrosion, cracks and defects industrial structures, has been honoured with a King’s Award for innovation.
- Breaking the cycle: supporting young boys in violent homes could prevent relationship violence, study suggests 1 May 2025 Young men growing up around parents who are physically violent to each other are 43% more likely to carry out violence or abuse in their own relationships, new University of Bristol research has found.
- Depression and other mental health conditions linked with immune response, study finds 30 April 2025 Depression, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions affect 1 in 4 people in their lifetime, but mechanisms underlying these conditions are poorly understood. New research led by researchers at the University of Bristol has linked the body’s immune response with schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and bipolar disorder. The study demonstrates mental health conditions might be affected by the whole body as well as changes in the brain. The findings could pave the way for better treatments of some mental health conditions.
- Road traffic accidents leading cause of pet cat deaths in the UK, Bristol Cats study finds 30 April 2025 Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the leading cause of death among UK pet cats who are 8 years old or younger, new research has found. This is the first UK-wide study to assess mortality and survival rates in pet cats to include those that do not attend vets or have insurance. The study, by the University of Bristol Veterinary School and Cats Protection, is published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
