Bristol group snatches FIVE nominations at ‘Grammys of a cappella’
Talented singers from the University of Bristol were left “stunned” when their debut album was nominated for five awards at the CARAs, the Grammys of the a cappella world.
News in January
Anonymous cell phone data can quantify behavioral changes for flu-like illnesses, study finds
Being prepared for a pandemic, like COVID-19, depends on the ability to predict the course of the pandemic and the human behaviour that drives spread in the event of an outbreak. Cell phone metadata that is routinely collected by telecommunications providers can reveal changes of behavior in people who are diagnosed with a flu-like illness, while also protecting their anonymity, a new study has found. The research, led by Emory University and devised by the University of Bristol, is based on data drawn from a 2009 outbreak of H1N1 influenza in Iceland and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
New study unravels Darwin’s ‘abominable mystery’ surrounding origin of flowering plants
The origin of flowering plants famously puzzled Charles Darwin, who described their sudden appearance in the fossil record from relatively recent geological times as an “abominable mystery”. This mystery has further deepened with an inexplicable discrepancy between the relatively recent fossil record and a much older time of origin of flowering plants estimated using genome data.
How vitamins, steroids and potential antivirals might affect SARS-CoV-2
Evidence is emerging that vitamin D – and possibly vitamins K and A – might help combat COVID-19. A new study from the University of Bristol published in the journal of the German Chemical Society Angewandte Chemie has shown how they – and other antiviral drugs – might work. The research indicates that these dietary supplements and compounds could bind to the viral spike protein and so might reduce SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. In contrast, cholesterol may increase infectivity, which could explain why having high cholesterol is considered a risk factor for serious disease.
Cell death shines a light on the origins of complex life
Organelles continue to thrive after the cells within which they exist die, a team of University of Bristol scientists have found, overturning previous assumptions that organelles decay too quickly to be fossilised.
Pioneering research unravels hidden origins of Eastern Asia’s ‘land of milk and honey’
A study has revealed for the first time the ancient origins of one of the world’s most important ecosystems by unlocking the mechanism which determined the evolution of its mountains and how they shaped the weather there as well as its flora and fauna.
The British Horse Society and Bristol Vet School are asking the public to stop feeding horses
The British Horse Society (BHS) and the University of Bristol Veterinary School are asking members of the public not to feed any horses they may encounter whilst out and about.
UK public supports usage of tracking technology and immunity passports in global pandemic
New research suggests the majority of people in the UK are willing to use privacy-encroaching tracking technology and support the introduction of ‘immunity passports’ to protect themselves and others in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Double win for PhD student at major science meet
A PhD student has scored twice at a major international science conference, winning prizes for best talk and best poster.
New research demonstrates how the best camouflage can be found for an arbitrary environment
A new method, developed by scientists at the University of Bristol can determine the optimal colouration pattern to cover an object in order to make it as visible or concealed as possible, in any given environment.
Common pesticides stop bees and flies from getting a good night’s sleep
Just like us, many insects need a decent night’s sleep to function properly, but this might not be possible if they have been exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides, the most common form of insecticide used worldwide, suggests research by academics at the University of Bristol.
Women invited to join study into nutrition advice in pregnancy
The University is seeking volunteers for a new study that will identify the foods women tend to avoid during pregnancy and the information sources that influence their decision to include or avoid certain foods.
Future of mathematics on global stage looks brighter thanks to £20 million funding boost
A £20 million investment to champion innovation and nurture the greatest minds in mathematical sciences across the UK has been awarded today to the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research (HIMR).
University's hidden treasures to be unveiled to the world
Treasures collected by the University of Bristol, including Brunel documents, historic maps and rare film, will be made public thanks to a major investment in digitisation equipment.
Why are around a third of pregnant women not vaccinated against whooping cough?
Whooping cough is widespread, highly contagious and serious for new-born babies. However, 30 per cent of pregnant women in the UK do not receive the whooping cough vaccine, leading to avoidable illness and death and the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be having a negative impact on these numbers. New research led by the University of Bristol aims to understand why pregnant women are not being vaccinated against whooping cough and how to improve delivery by maternity services and mothers’ uptake of vaccines.
Amber-encased fossil shines light on evolution of bioluminescent insects
Trapped in amber for 100 million years, an exceptionally well-preserved, light-producing beetle sheds light on the diversification of bioluminescent beetles in the Cretaceous period and provides the missing fossil link between fireflies’ living relatives.
Remote, online support for blood pressure management at home is effective and low-cost
At-home blood pressure monitoring using a web-based system offering personalised support and linked to a remote healthcare professional can result in better hypertension management than face-to-face consultations, finds a study led by University of Oxford, Bristol and Southampton researchers.
All-purpose dinosaur opening reconstructed for the first time
For the first time ever, a team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, have described in detail a dinosaur’s cloacal or vent – the all-purpose opening used for defecation, urination and breeding.
Genetic factors involved in shaping the composition of the human gut microbiome, finds international research team
Human genes have an impact on shaping our gut ecosystem according to new evidence from the international MIBioGen consortium study involving more than 18,000 people. The findings, led by the University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands and involving researchers at the University of Bristol, are published today [18 January] in Nature Genetics.
Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab helps accelerate UK’s capabilities in drone operations
Experts from the University of Bristol are among a UK-wide consortium that is pushing the boundaries of drone development and aviation capabilities.
Study finds national data may be underestimating illicit drug use in young people
A study published today [18 January] in the publication Addiction suggests that the UK government’s current national population-based data may be understating illicit drug usage among young people by as much as 20 per cent.
National consortium to study the threats of new SARS-CoV-2 variants
A new national research project to study the effects of emerging mutations in SARS-CoV-2 is launched today [15 January]. The £2.5 million UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded 'G2P-UK' National Virology Consortium will study how mutations in the virus affect key outcomes such as how transmissible it is, the severity of COVID-19 it causes, and the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments.
Royal Society award enables University researcher to study neurodegenerative disease
Professor Peter Cullen, a Wellcome Trust Investigator from the School of Biochemistry at the University of Bristol, has been awarded the Royal Society Noreen Murray Professorship to expand his research into neurological sciences.
Foraging humans, mammals and birds who live in the same place behave similarly
Foraging humans find food, reproduce, share parenting, and even organise their social groups in similar ways as surrounding mammal and bird species, depending on where they live in the world, new research has found.
How sure would you want to be that you have coeliac disease before starting a gluten-free diet?
A new survey from researchers at NIHR ARC West and the University of Bristol has been launched to understand how sure people want to be that they’ve got coeliac disease before starting a gluten-free diet.
Science finds simple way to make lamb leaner
Scientists based at Rothamsted and the University of Bristol Veterinary School have found a clear link between the weight of lambs early in their life and meat quality – which is good news for consumers, farmers, and the environment.
Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab part of multimillion pound project to harness power of 5G
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has secured over £3m from the Government to test how the country can seize the full benefits of 5G and help businesses harness the power of modern technology.
Wetland methane cycling increased during ancient global warming event
New research provides a stark warning of the need to address emissions from one of the most potent greenhouse gases - methane.
Research reveals how teeth functioned and evolved in giant mega-sharks
A pioneering study by University of Bristol researchers finds that the evolution of teeth in the giant prehistoric shark Megalodon and its relatives was a by-product of becoming huge, rather than an adaptation to new feeding habits.
Project launched to reduce HIV infections and stigma in Bristol's African and Caribbean communities
A major new project is inviting people to its virtual launch event, to find out more about how it will be working with people of African and Caribbean heritage to tackle HIV infections and stigma in these communities in Bristol and the surrounding area.
New research shows the importance of consuming enough vitamin B12 in pregnancy
A new study published in Nutrition Research has found that children born to a mother with low intake of Vitamin B12 during pregnancy were at increased risk of adverse development specific to certain speech and mathematical abilities.
Project provide entrepreneurship and business support to non-EU migrants
Refugees, migrants and newly arrived communities have long been at the forefront of new enterprise but often left behind when it comes to support. However, that is all about to change through a major new project led by ACH and with partners from Bristol's School for Policy Studies and the West of England Combined Authority.
Research explains why crocodiles have changed so little since the age of the dinosaurs
New research by scientists at the University of Bristol explains how a ‘stop-start’ pattern of evolution, governed by environmental change, could explain why crocodiles have changed so little since the age of the dinosaurs.
Global experts urge everyone to talk about COVID-19 vaccines responsibly
A team of renowned scientific experts has joined forces from across the world to help fight the spread of misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines, which hold the key to beating the deadly pandemic and releasing countries from debilitating lockdown restrictions.
Imminent sudden stratospheric warming to occur, bringing increased risk of snow over coming weeks
A new study, led by researchers at the Universities of Bristol, Exeter and Bath, helps to shed light on the winter weather we may soon have in store following a dramatic meteorological event currently unfolding high above the North Pole.
Summer temperatures could rise faster in the UK than average global rates
The UK could be facing a future of extreme heatwaves according to a new study in which scientists mapped almost 40 years’ worth of trends to project what lies ahead.