Faculty of Life Sciences
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Scientists repurpose gene editing tool to help uncover hidden microbial diversity
24 April 2025
Pioneering research has repurposed a gene editing tool to help shed light on the true biodiversity present in natural environments.
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Research reveals ‘brinkmanship’ between genes may determine survival of unborn mammals
23 April 2025
A study has shown that a dangerous game of ‘brinkmanship’ between rival genes in mammals could help explain why many fertilised eggs don’t result in a new life.
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World of art and nature on show at the Botanic Garden
15 April 2025
Art and nature will be on display this weekend at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden annual Easter Sculpture and Arts Festival. The event will also celebrate 20 years of the garden being at The Holmes in Stoke Bishop.
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Researchers study for the first time how children’s thinking skills change alongside brain development during first 5 years of life
11 April 2025
Why do some children struggle when starting school whilst others flourish? A new University of Bristol-led research project will investigate how a child’s brain develops, allowing them to learn new things, and how new experiences might shape brain changes during the first 5 years of their life. This is the first time changes in the brain and children's developing skills have been studied in a lab-based setting across early childhood in the same group of children.
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Bristol scientist awarded £125,000 from Academy of Medical Sciences for mitochondria and nerve cells research
8 April 2025
A University of Bristol academic is one of over 50 scientists to be awarded funding through the Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard programme. In its largest-ever funding initiative for early-career researchers, the Academy is investing £7.6 million to tackle urgent health challenges from Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and obesity to addiction and climate change impacts on health.
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Scientists use the Great Oxidation Event and how organisms adapted to it to map bacterial evolution
3 April 2025
Microbial organisms – particularly Bacteria – dominate life on Earth, yet tracing their early history and how they have developed over time has long eluded scientists because they rarely fossilize.
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Smartwatch technology could help with future alcohol interventions, new study finds
2 April 2025
Alcohol harm costs NHS England £3.5 billion annually, with 70 people dying every day from alcohol-related causes in the UK (1). According to new University of Bristol-led research smartwatches could provide a more accurate picture of people’s daily drinking habits than current methods. The technology could be a key element for future alcohol interventions.
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Top science journal names research paper on how caterpillars detect predators among best of the year
31 March 2025
The renowned academic scientific journal PNAS has named a University of Bristol research paper providing insight into a fascinating method used by caterpillars to detect predators as one of the best it published in 2024.
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Cuttlefish ‘mesmerise’ their prey with a moving skin pattern, study finds
26 March 2025
While sneaking up on prey, cuttlefish employ a dynamic skin display to avoid detection in last moments of approach, researchers at the University of Bristol have found.
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Tense tiebreak decides Bristol’s University Challenge clash
25 March 2025
Nerves reached fever pitch as Bristol’s second University Challenge quarterfinal was decided by a rare tiebreak.
Events 
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