Research

Multiple new species of “living fossil” fish found hiding in plain sight after more than 150 years

8 September 2025

The modern coelacanth is a famous ‘living fossil’, long thought to have died out, but first fished out of deep waters in the Indian Ocean in 1938. Since then, dozens of examples have been found, but their fossil history is patchy. In a new study, Jacob Quinn and colleagues from the University of Bristol and University of Uruguay in Montevideo have identified coelacanths in museum collections that had been missed for 150 years.

Gigantic, meat-eating dinosaurs didn’t all have strong bites

5 August 2025

New research analysing the bite strength of 18 species of carnivorous dinosaurs has shown that predatory dinosaurs followed different evolutionary paths.

New research reveals ancient alliance between woody plants and microbes has potential to protect precious peatlands

4 August 2025

As the climate warms and regional drying becomes more frequent, peatlands – some of the planet’s most important carbon sinks – are increasingly under threat. But a study, led by an international team including scientists from the University of Bristol, has shown peatland ecosystems may have a natural defence through the combined forces of plant changes and microbes.

Ancient giant marine reptile relied on stealth while hunting in darkness

16 July 2025

A new study has uncovered evidence that a giant marine reptile from the Early Jurassic period used stealth to hunt its prey in deep or dark waters – much like owls on land today.

New research reveals more people feel Budget tax rises were necessary than not, even if they think they will be worse-off

16 December 2024

New polling has found more than half (57%) of households think the Budget will leave them financially worse-off – and 80% would possibly support some further tax rises if necessary.

Redefining net zero will not stop global warming – scientists say

18 November 2024

In a new study, led by the University of Oxford (co-authored by a University of Bristol scientist) and published today [18 November] in Nature, an international group of authors who developed the science behind net zero demonstrate that relying on ‘natural carbon sinks’ like forests and oceans to offset ongoing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use will not actually stop global warming.

Bristol scientist has key voice in new global report highlighting grave peril posed by human-induced climate change and urgent need to act

28 February 2022

Human-induced climate change is wreaking havoc in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit, according to leading scientists in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released today.

Researcher awarded ‘Unsung COVID Heroes’ award for outbreak control work across schools

28 February 2022

Dr Amy Thomas, a Research Associate at Bristol Medical School, has been awarded an ‘Unsung COVID Heroes’ award from WISE, an organisation that promotes women in science, maths and engineering (STEM), for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diabetes breakthrough: gel-like sieve in blood vessels a new target for repairing damaged hearts

25 February 2022

Drugs that repair damage to a gel-like layer in the tiny blood vessels of the heart could present a much-needed treatment for heart failure in people with diabetes, according to University of Bristol-led research funded by the British Heart Foundation and published today in Diabetologia.

Deteriorating Great Barrier Reef hushed - young fish no longer hear their way home

30 April 2018

Degraded coral reefs are far quieter than five years ago, and no longer sound like suitable habitat to young fish searching for a place to live and breed, according to research co-authored by the University of Bristol and published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.