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Cardiff University


Could smell hold the key to ending pesticide use?

Researchers from Cardiff University and Rothamsted Research created tiny molecules that replicate a natural insect-repelling smell, offering a potential alternative to pesticides. The team's breakthrough uses an enzyme to create similar smelling insect repellent molecules, with some exhibiting attractive behavior.

SourceCardiff University·JournalChemical Communications·DateApr 26, 2015

Iceberg armadas not the cause of North Atlantic cooling

A team of researchers from Cardiff University used sediment cores to construct records of changing ocean temperature and iceberg activity over the last 400 thousand years. They found that abrupt cooling events were often paired with an increase in iceberg activity, but icebergs arrived too late to have triggered cooling at this site.

SourceCardiff University·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 2015

Unravelling the mystery of gamma-ray bursts

Researchers at Cardiff University are exploring a new method to detect the origins of gamma-ray bursts using giant space 'microphones' that can pick up gravitational waves created by black holes. By analyzing these waves, scientists may uncover information about the mass and collision history of star and black hole systems.

SourceCardiff University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 20, 2014

Genetic test would help 'cut bowel cancer spread'

A genetic test for Lynch Syndrome could help reduce the risk of bowel, womb, and ovarian cancers in families. The test would identify individuals who are at higher risk and provide them with risk-reducing measures such as more intensive surveillance to spot recurrences and new cancers early.

SourceCardiff University·JournalHealth Technology Assessment·DateSep 30, 2014

Urban river pollutants suppress wild bird development

Research reveals that urban river pollutants are suppressing the health and development of wild birds, with chicks from contaminated rivers showing signs of underweight and hormonal imbalance. The study highlights the importance of monitoring bird populations as indicators of environmental well-being and food-web contamination.

SourceCardiff University·JournalEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry·DateApr 29, 2014

Noble gas molecule discovered in space

A team of astronomers from Cardiff University has discovered a noble gas molecule, argon hydride, in the Crab Nebula. The find provides new insights into the chemistry of outer space and challenges previous assumptions about the conditions necessary for such molecules to form.

SourceCardiff University·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2013

Light triggers death switch in cancer cells

Researchers at Cardiff University have created a peptide linked to a light-responsive dye that triggers cell death in cancerous cells. The new pathway activation technology, called transient photoactivation, enables scientists to precisely define the area where peptides should act, leading to more effective treatment strategies.

SourceCardiff University·JournalMolecular BioSystems·DateOct 16, 2013

Rapid climate change and the role of the Southern Ocean

A study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that oceanographic reorganisations and biological processes linked to airborne dust in the Southern Ocean drove past rapid fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The research found large changes in chemical stratification of the Southern Ocean on millennial timescales, highligh...

SourceCardiff University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 8, 2013

'Kick-starting' male fertility

Researchers found that eggs that don't fertilise due to defective PLCz protein can be treated with human PLCz, initiating fertilisation and improving pregnancy chances. The study strengthens potential use of PLCz in treating male infertility.

SourceCardiff University·JournalFertility and Sterility·DateSep 21, 2012

Britain's urban rivers bounce back

Urban rivers throughout England and Wales have experienced dramatic improvements in water quality and biodiversity over the past two decades. The range of invertebrates found has increased by around 20%, with insects such as mayflies and stoneflies making a comeback.

SourceCardiff University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJun 29, 2012