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A dog and cat

UK domestic cat and dog population larger than thought

6 February 2010

A new study by researchers at the University of Bristol has found that the UK domestic cat and dog population is larger than previously reported by industry figures.

Image of a pregnant woman

Mums’ depression in pregnancy tied to antisocial behaviour in teenagers

5 February 2010

Children from urban areas whose mothers suffer from depression during pregnancy are more likely than others to show antisocial behaviour, including violent behaviour, later in life, according to new research from the Universities of Cardiff and Bristol published today in 'Child Development'.

The OdoReader device

Device to sniff out stomach bugs could save NHS millions

5 February 2010

Testing has begun on a device that can sniff out the presence of disease by smell, thanks to a £1.3 million award from the Wellcome Trust. OdoReader, developed by Chris Probert from the University and Norman Ratcliffe from UWE, uses pioneering technology to rapidly diagnose Clostridium difficile, by ‘reading’ the odour of stool samples.

Contact lens-shaped particles form irregular clusters

Repulsive interactions

5 February 2010

The recent state of the roads is a clear illustration of what happens when water freezes into crystals of ice. But despite its frequent occurrence, the crystallisation of water is remarkably difficult to understand in detail.

Great Shearwater

Making the most of our waste

3 February 2010

Using satellite transmitters to track the movements of Mediterranean shearwaters – a type of sea bird – researchers found that the bird’s foraging range shrinks on days when fishing boats are operating in the area.

Heart cartoon

New method for treating stress

3 February 2010

A new analysis of the way the body responds to stress suggests that administering constant high levels of drugs is not the best way to treat this condition. A better way might be to design drugs that follow the body’s own naturally-occurring rhythms.

Artist's impression of a giant kangaroo

Early humans caused extinction of Australia's giant animals

28 January 2010

The mass extinction of Australia’s giant animals, such as huge kangaroos and rhinoceros-sized wombats, might have been more rapid than previously thought, according to new research from the University of Bristol. This suggests humans could have been responsible for wiping out the country’s megafauna between 50,000 and 40,000 years ago.

Professor Dave Gordon

Social Sciences and Law celebrate £4.3m ESRC grant

28 January 2010

Professor Dave Gordon from the University's Centre for Poverty and Social Justice has been awarded a record £4.3m grant by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for his research project, 'Poverty and Social Exclusion in the United Kingdom – the 2010 Survey'. It is the largest grant ever awarded for poverty research in the UK.

Reconstruction of a single Sinosauropteryx

The colour of dinosaur feathers identified

27 January 2010

The colour of some feathers on dinosaurs and early birds has been identified for the first time, reports a paper published in Nature this week.

Mixed-race group

Gap between rich and poor wider than 40 years ago

27 January 2010

The independent National Equality Panel, of which the University's Professor Tariq Modood is a member, today publishes a report entitled An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK that calls for policy interventions at each life-cycle stage to counter economic inequalities.