News in September
- New study reveals how reptiles divided up the spoils in ancient seas 30 September 2020 While dinosaurs ruled the land in the Mesozoic, the oceans were filled by predators such as crocodiles and giant lizards, but also entirely extinct groups such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs.
- University of Bristol launches interactive platform to connect new students and staff to the city’s diverse heritage 29 September 2020 The University of Bristol, together with CARGO – a collective of artists, poets and filmmakers – has launched a digital platform aimed at connecting new students and staff with the diversity of the city of Bristol.
- Young adults needed to take part in digital technology study 29 September 2020 Digital technology can present both opportunities and harms to young people and their mental health. A new research project is asking for young adults to take part in a UK-wide online survey to identify the importance of adolescents' digital technology use to consultations about mental health.
- Bristol’s ‘Science of Happiness’ course re-packaged as a BBC podcast 29 September 2020 A new BBC podcast will bring the University of Bristol’s ground-breaking Science of Happiness course to a much wider audience.
- We Are Bristol History Commission chaired by University of Bristol historian 24 September 2020 Bristol’s history will be explored by the city’s first ever history commission, which formally launched this week.
- Bristol scientists shine light on tiny crystals behind unexpected violent eruptions 23 September 2020 In a new study of volcanic processes, Bristol scientists have demonstrated the role nanolites play in the creation of violent eruptions at otherwise ‘calm’ and predictable volcanoes.
- Professor Sir Michael Berry to receive Fudan-Zhongzhi Science Award 23 September 2020 Melville Wills Professor of Physics Sir Michael Berry is to receive the Fudan-Zhongzhi Science Award for 2020.
- University of Bristol launches public consultation for new Temple Quarter sites 23 September 2020 The University of Bristol is hosting an online public consultation on sites adjacent to the current Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus development.
- Professor William Drury elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering 22 September 2020 Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor of Innovation William Drury joins the Royal Academy of Engineering as a Fellow.
- Discovery of a druggable pocket in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein could stop virus in its tracks 21 September 2020 A druggable pocket in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein that could be used to stop the virus from infecting human cells has been discovered by an international team of scientists led by the University of Bristol. The researchers say their findings, published today [21 September] in the journal Science, are a potential 'game changer' in defeating the current pandemic and add that small molecule anti-viral drugs developed to target the pocket they discovered could help eliminate COVID-19.
- Do rats like to be tickled? 21 September 2020 Not all rats like to be tickled but by listening to their vocalisations it is possible to understand in real-time their individual emotional response, according to new research by the University of Bristol. The study, published today [21 September] in Current Biology, suggests that if this same relationship is observed for other situations, then it may be possible to use call patterns in rats to measure their emotional response and understand how best to improve their welfare.
- Modelling of ancient fossil movement reveals step in the evolution of posture in dinosaur and crocodile ancestors 21 September 2020 Scientists from the University of Bristol and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) used three-dimensional computer modelling to investigate the hindlimb of Euparkeria capensis–a small reptile that lived in the Triassic Period 245 million years ago–and inferred that it had a “mosaic” of functions in locomotion.
- Bristol rises two places in Good University Guide 2021 18 September 2020 The University of Bristol has risen two places to 13th out of 131 UK universities in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.
- Discovery of a new mass extinction 16 September 2020 It’s not often a new mass extinction is identified; after all, such events were so devastating they really stand out in the fossil record.
- World’s largest ever DNA sequencing of Viking skeletons reveals they weren’t all Scandinavian 16 September 2020 Invaders, pirates, warriors – the history books taught us Vikings were brutal predators who travelled by sea from Scandinavia to pillage and raid their way across Europe and beyond.
- 9/11 can teach us how to support those bereaved during COVID-19, researchers find 16 September 2020 Researchers from a leading end-of-life charity have looked to 9/11 and other mass death events for approaches to support people bereaved through COVID-19.
- Positive reaction to Somerset study into the best way to prevent domestic abuse 16 September 2020 A Somerset study into the most effective way to tackle domestic abuse has received a positive response from its first participants. Barnardo's in Somerset has been funded by the University of Bristol to deliver weekly groups to local men and improve safety for their partners, ex-partners and children.
- Slower growing chickens experience higher welfare, commercial scale study finds 16 September 2020 Slower growing broiler chickens are healthier and have more fun than conventional breeds of birds, new evidence from an independent commercial scale farm trial has shown. The study carried out by researchers from FAI Farms, the University of Bristol and The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, is published today [16 September], in Scientific Reports.
- Stopping the spread of coronavirus in universities 14 September 2020 As universities prepare to welcome students back, infectious disease modelling experts at the University of Bristol have conducted a rapid review and developed a new epidemic model which contributed to evidence considered by SAGE to assess the effectiveness of different interventions that could stop the spread of Sars-CoV-2 in a university setting. The findings, published on the preprint server medRxiv, provides the sector with recommendations to help reduce the risk for students, staff and the wider community.
- Study to identify transmission risk of COVID-19 aerosols during medical procedures 11 September 2020 Many operations, due to the potential risk of COVID-19 aerosols being generated, have been delayed or are being performed with additional personal protective equipment (PPE), which has greatly reduced NHS services. A new National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded study will identify which medical procedures are truly aerosol generating and whether the virus remains viable in the aerosol produced. The findings will be crucial in providing guidance about the safe reopening of essential NHS services.
- How can we get pupils and staff back-to-school safely during COVID-19? 11 September 2020 Ensuring pupils and staff stay safe when they return to school this autumn is a major challenge because there is very little scientific evidence on the incidence and transmission of COVID-19 within schools. A ground-breaking research project will test whether 5,000 staff and pupils have active or past COVID-19 infection, develop systems to help schools prevent and cope with an outbreak and assess strategies to support the mental wellbeing of the school community now and moving forward.
- Dr Lydia Medland awarded British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship 11 September 2020 Senior Research Associate Dr Lydia Medland has received a Postdoctoral Fellowship by the British Academy to continue her research on food systems in the UK.
- Bristol Vet School announces new equine clinical rotation teaching partnership with CVS Group 11 September 2020 A new educational partnership for equine clinical rotation teaching has been announced by the University of Bristol Veterinary School (BVS) and CVS Group. Starting this autumn, final-year undergraduate veterinary students will benefit from a structured clinical rotation placement in a number of commercial equine clinics operated by CVS. The student experience is in addition to other first opinion and charity clinical rotations that are operated by the School through Langford Vets. This new model will allow vet students access to a wide equine caseload in the authentic learning environment of busy clinical practices as part of the Vet School’s accredited teaching programme.
- University of Bristol fund helps local businesses through COVID-19 challenges 10 September 2020 A dedicated University of Bristol fund has fully funded 100 internships to support local SMEs throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
- Professor Shallcross honoured by American Chemical Society 10 September 2020 Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry Dudley Shallcross is to receive the 2021 George C. Pimentel Award by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
- Research unravels what makes memories so detailed and enduring 7 September 2020 In years to come, personal memories of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be etched in our minds with precision and clarity, distinct from other memories of 2020. The process which makes this possible has eluded scientists for many decades, but research led by the University of Bristol has made a breakthrough in understanding how memories can be so distinct and long-lasting without getting muddled up.
- Genetic study of proteins is a breakthrough in drug development for complex diseases 7 September 2020 An innovative genetic study of blood protein levels, led by researchers in the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) at the University of Bristol, has demonstrated how genetic data can be used to support drug target prioritisation by identifying the causal effects of proteins on diseases.
- University of Bristol climbs 12 places in the Guardian University Guide 7 September 2020 The University of Bristol has been named as 11th best university in the country in The Guardian’s annual university guide – a rise of 12 places.
- Professor Geoffrey Grimmett FRS appointed Chair of the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research 7 September 2020 The University of Bristol is pleased to welcome Professor Geoffrey Grimmett FRS as the new Chair of the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research (HIMR).
- Manuscript leaf from thirteenth century ‘Glastonbury Bible’ returns to the South West 7 September 2020 A precious manuscript leaf from a thirteenth-century Latin Bible that almost certainly originated from Glastonbury Abbey has been acquired by the University of Bristol Library’s Special Collections.
- German Ambassador visits the University 7 September 2020 Andreas Michaelis, German Ambassador to the Court of St James's, visited Bristol on Wednesday 2 September accompanied by his wife Frau Heike Michaelis, German Consul General Hans-Guenther Loeffler, and the new Honorary German Consul for Bristol Kai von Pahlen.
- Robotic muscles could turn back body clock by 2050 4 September 2020 Loss of strength and muscle wastage is currently an unavoidable part of getting older and has a significant impact on health and quality of life.
- European grants recognise excellent science at Bristol 4 September 2020 Four researchers from the University of Bristol have been awarded almost €7M in European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants in recognition of their ‘excellent science’ and potentially ground-breaking research.
- Contribute to apple database and identify what type of tree is growing in your garden 3 September 2020 Scientists from the University of Bristol are asking people in the local area who have ‘unknown’ varieties of apple trees in their garden, allotment or neighbourhood to collect a few leaves and send them in to them.
- True size of prehistoric mega-shark finally revealed 3 September 2020 To date only the length of the legendary giant shark Megalodon had been estimated but now, a new study led by the University of Bristol and Swansea University has revealed the size of the rest of its body, including fins that are as large as an adult human.
- Revolutionary quantum breakthrough paves way for safer online communication 2 September 2020 The world is one step closer to having a totally secure internet and an answer to the growing threat of cyber-attacks, thanks to a team of international scientists who have created a unique prototype which could transform how we communicate online.
- World university rankings puts Bristol in UK top 10 2 September 2020 The University of Bristol has been named the 10th best in the country and one of only 11 UK institutions to feature in the top 100 universities worldwide.
- Analysis of seven trials finds that corticosteroids reduce risk of death by 20 per cent in critically ill COVID-19 patients 2 September 2020 Corticosteroids reduce the risk of death among critically ill COVID-19 patients by 20 per cent, an analysis of seven trials published today [2 September] in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has found. The results of three of the trials included in the meta-analysis are also published in JAMA today.
- Handgrip strength shown to identify people at high risk of type 2 diabetes 2 September 2020 A simple test such as the strength of your handgrip could be used as a quick, low-cost screening tool to help healthcare professionals identify patients at risk of type 2 diabetes. In new research, scientists at the universities of Bristol and Eastern Finland measured the muscular handgrip strength of 776 men and women without a history of diabetes over a 20-year period and demonstrated that the risk of type 2 diabetes was reduced by around 50 per cent for every unit increase in handgrip strength value. The findings are published today in Annals of Medicine.
