Why giant sea scorpions got so big
Research on giant sea scorpions (eurypterids) – the largest bugs that ever lived – has shed new light on why eurypterids became so large and eventually died out.
Research
Aristotle on Desire
Dr Giles Pearson in the Department of Philosophy has been awarded £24,000 by the AHRC to complete a book-length study on Aristotle and desire. Driving the project is the belief that Aristotle’s account of desire is extremely important for a number of key topics in his philosophy, and is also of philosophical interest to us now.
Bristol scientists perform new experiment to solve the ‘one real mystery’ of quantum mechanics
What is light made of: waves or particles? This basic question has fascinated physicists since the early days of science. Quantum mechanics predicts that photons, particles of light, are both particles and waves simultaneously. Reporting in Science, physicists from the University of Bristol give a new demonstration of this wave-particle duality of photons, dubbed the ‘one real mystery of quantum mechanics’ by Nobel Prize laureate Richard Feynman.
Preacher and Ritualist: the role of Theravada Buddhist monks
Dr Rita Langer in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies has been awarded £25,000 by the AHRC for her research into the role of Buddhist monks in funerals and post-funerary rites.
Call for global monitoring of infectious diseases in dogs and cats
A new study led by the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences recommends a global system is needed to monitor infectious diseases of companion dogs and cats.
£1.1 million boost for synthetic biology research in Bristol
Scientists from the University of Bristol have been awarded a £1.1 million share of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)'s strategic Longer and Larger Awards in Synthetic Biology, announced today.
Genes link growth in the womb with adult metabolism and disease
Researchers have identified four new genetic regions that influence birth weight, providing further evidence that genes as well as maternal nutrition are important for growth in the womb. Three of the regions are also linked to adult metabolism, helping to explain why smaller babies have higher rates of chronic diseases later in life.
Study will help our genetic understanding of dangerous new viruses
Scientists studying the genes and proteins of human cells infected with a common cold virus have identified a new gene identification technique that could increase the genetic information we hold on animals by around 70 to 80 per cent. The findings, published in Nature Methods, could revolutionise our understanding of animal genetics and disease, and improve our knowledge of dangerous viruses such as SARS that jump the species barrier from animals to humans.
Britons increasingly positive about their financial future
Britons are starting to feel more positive about their financial situation, according to the latest research from the University of Bristol’s Personal Finance Research Centre (PFRC). Almost a quarter of respondents feel that their financial position will improve over the next 12 months, compared to 15 per cent in 2008.
Men and women explore the visual world differently
New research by scientists from the University of Bristol have found that men and women see things differently.