A new study at Durham University has found that combinations of heavy metals can make lung cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy. However, the resistance can be reversed with a metal-removal treatment called MiADMSA, which has the potential to improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects.
A new study led by Durham University suggests that reassuring body contact can improve social tolerance and promote peaceful resource sharing. The research analyzed behaviours of bonobos and chimpanzees and found that individuals who engaged in pre-feeding reassurance spent more time co-feeding alongside others.
Astronomers at Durham University have discovered the most distant example of a compact, star-forming structure at the heart of a galaxy, dating back over nine billion years. This finding reveals clear evidence of a nuclear disc forming at an early stage in cosmic history.
Scientists at Durham University have discovered a previously unknown way that plants control the formation of wood, revealing a complex interaction between two receptor proteins on the surface of plant cells. This finding could change how scientists think about communication between plant cells.
A UK study found that parents often rely on manufacturer instructions, social media, and babywearing websites for guidance on using baby carriers safely. The research calls for a UK-wide campaign to direct parents to trusted sources of guidance and specialist advice.
A new study from Durham University found that the way parents instruct and encourage infants to help plays a key role in shaping their helping behavior. The research, published in Developmental Psychology, discovered clear cultural differences in parenting styles between the UK and Uganda.
Researchers have developed a nanoscale tool that can capture and precisely position membrane proteins, essential for life and target of many modern medicines. The DNA Origami-Constrained Nanodiscs (DOC-NDs) approach combines two advanced techniques to create tiny structures that hold individual proteins with remarkable accuracy.
Researchers have identified novel DNA-binding proteins in Icelandic volcanic lakes and deep-sea vents, which can improve rapid medical tests for infectious diseases. The newly discovered proteins are stable under harsh conditions, making them suitable for biotechnology and medicine applications.
Researchers created the highest resolution map of dark matter, showing its interaction with normal matter through gravity. The new data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope confirms previous research and provides new details about dark matter's influence on the Universe.
Simulations predict a 22-26% and 37-43% increase in extreme floods on the Karnali River between 2020 and 2099, with high emissions expected to see a 73-84% increase. The study highlights the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate flood hazards.
Researchers analyzed ancient teeth from 71 people in modern Syria to reconstruct mobility patterns of Neolithic farming villagers. They found that most people stayed local, but women were more likely to move between communities, suggesting complex social dynamics.
Farmers in Middle East prioritized viticulture over olive growing due to irrigation, which maintained grape cultivation. This suggests that grapes and wine held cultural and economic value.
Durham University scientists have completed one of the largest quality verification programmes on superconducting materials for the world's biggest fusion energy experiment ITER. Their findings shed light on the quality of wires and how to test them, providing crucial knowledge for scientists to make fusion energy a reality. The resear...
Researchers observed mother-infant interactions in UK and rural Ugandan communities, finding that cultural context shapes maternal soothing strategies. While UK mothers responded quickly, Ugandan infants recovered faster when soothed with tactile contact like breastfeeding.
Researchers have created a detailed SUMO Cell Atlas that shows the specific ways cells use SUMOylation to respond to challenges such as salty soils and drought. The study reveals a single enzyme acts as the central driver of stress responses across conditions, providing new targets for improving crop resilience.
Researchers developed T-STAR system, enabling swarms of drones to fly faster and safer in complex environments. The technology has potential for various applications, including search and rescue, disaster response, and logistics.
A new Durham University study challenges the idea that Jupiter's dilute core was formed by a giant impact, instead suggesting it resulted from how the growing planet absorbed heavy and light materials as it formed. This discovery also sheds light on Saturn's similar dilute core, implying these structures may form gradually during plane...
A new tool called the ReaderBank Imagination Quiz identifies four forces of imagination linked to mental imagery and immersion in stories. This diversity of imagination skills may help refine treatments for similar traits in mental ill health.
Researchers have found extensive, previously unmapped flat surfaces beneath a 3,500 km stretch of the East Antarctic coastline, which were formed by large rivers after East Antarctica and Australia broke apart. These surfaces may currently be regulating the rate of ice loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Research shows how tropical plants like Squamellaria manage rival ant colonies by physically separating them within the plant's domatia. The compartments act as individual flats, preventing physical contact and allowing multiple ant species to coexist peacefully.
New research predicts the existence of 80-100 additional satellite galaxies surrounding the Milky Way, orbiting at close distances. These 'orphan' galaxies are lost in most simulations but should have survived in the real Universe.
A new type of star-like object, called 'dark dwarfs', could help solve the universe's greatest mystery: dark matter. These objects are powered by dark matter and may be found at the center of our galaxy.
The Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) aims to transform our understanding of the Universe, capturing billions of stars, galaxies, asteroids, and celestial objects. Durham University researchers will focus on frontier topics in astrophysics, including dark matter, black holes, and galaxy evolution.
A recent study reveals that climate change is increasing the abundance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soils, which can lead to untreatable infections. The research highlights the interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health, emphasizing the importance of a 'One Health' approach.
Scientists used NASA's Hubble and Gaia space telescopes to simulate the evolution of the Milky Way and Andromeda over 10 billion years. Contrary to previous beliefs, they found a only 2% probability of collision within five billion years.
A new study suggests that limiting global temperature increase to 1.5°C may not be enough to save the world's ice sheets, which could lead to significant losses and extensive displacement of coastal populations. The researchers argue that a target of around 1°C would be more effective in preventing rapid sea level rise.
Durham University scientists have reclassified a 500-million-year-old fossil as a distant relative of sponge-like creatures, chancelloriids. The reclassification reveals that the fossil's features were not indicative of molluscan biology, but rather preservation artefacts of the fossilisation process.
Researchers found that both bonobos and chimpanzees console peers at similar rates, but with greater variation within each species. Older apes are less likely to comfort younger ones in both groups.
A study published in Food Quality and Preference found that individuals from higher socio-economic backgrounds exhibit a stronger link between their vagal tone and chocolate consumption. In contrast, those from lower socio-economic groups show less correlation between physiological signals and food intake.
A study by Durham University found that unequal distributions of wealth correlated with longer-term human settlement over the last 10,000 years. However, this relationship was not causal, suggesting that humankind's survival is not linked to ever-increasing inequality.
Researchers at Durham University found that children as young as seven years old adjust their perception of body weight after seeing pictures of low or high weight bodies. The study suggests that media influences can impact both children's and adults' body perceptions, shaping their ideas about what constitutes a healthy weight.
A recent study comparing the sexual behavior of bonobos and chimpanzees during stressful periods has provided insights into humans' own behavioral origins. Both species utilized sex to manage social tension, with bonobos engaging in 'make-up sex' after conflicts and chimpanzees using sex in various ways to ease tensions.
A new 15-minute screening tool can identify visual perception problems in stroke survivors, affecting their quality of life and independence. The Oxford Visual Perception Screen (OxVPS) assesses object and face recognition, reading, eye-hand coordination, and neglect, providing an easy-to-interpret guide for healthcare professionals.
A study by Durham University has shown that E-coli bacteria produce an enzyme breaking down nutrients from dead cells, offering a banquet for neighboring cells. This process demonstrates that death is not the end of programmed biological processes, which can evolve to function after death.
A new study found that babies show positive responses to the smell of foods they were exposed to in the womb after birth. Newborns whose mothers had taken carrot powder capsules reacted favourably to the smell of carrot, while those whose mothers had taken kale powder capsules reacted more positively to the scent of kale.
Researchers found significant increases in crevasses at fast-flowing glaciers, with some sectors experiencing a 25% increase. This accelerated crevassing could further speed up the mechanisms behind the loss of ice from Greenland.
Researchers have developed a pioneering approach to predict and engineer the metalation of proteins, crucial for life. The study reveals that metal availability plays a key role in binding metals within cells, and provides practical tools to forecast metal-protein interactions.
Researchers at Durham University have successfully demonstrated long-lasting quantum entanglement between molecules, a key capability for next-generation quantum technology. The team achieved exceptionally high entanglement fidelity, reaching levels over 92%, enabling precision measurements in quantum sensing and simulating complex qua...
Researchers developed an AI tool, AMR-Policy GPT, to bridge knowledge gaps in antimicrobial resistance policy development. The tool provides well-referenced information for policymakers, increasing global knowledge-sharing and contextually relevant data.
Researchers at Durham University have developed a theoretical framework to predict the efficacy of quenching electrical pulses in excitable media, such as those found in the human heart. This breakthrough could significantly accelerate the development of more efficient defibrillation techniques for treating cardiac arrhythmias.
A study by Durham University found that bonobos orphaned by the illegal trade in bushmeat and pets can develop social abilities despite early life trauma. Researchers observed 83 bonobos at different stages of their lives, finding that female bonobos' social skills increased with age, while males' decreased, similar to wild interactions.
Researchers successfully monitored turbidity currents in the Congo Canyon-Channel, recording massive flows that travelled over 1,000 kilometres at speeds of up to 7.6 metres per second. The study provided critical new data on the duration and behaviour of turbidity currents, challenging traditional models.
A pioneering study introduces a novel methodology for rapidly assessing scientific consensus on a global scale, resulting in a 33.9% overall response rate and revealing trends of high agreement among institutions across multiple countries.
Researchers at Durham University have made a breakthrough in understanding DNA gyrase, a vital bacterial enzyme and key antibiotic target. The study reveals unprecedented detail of the enzyme's action on DNA, potentially opening doors for new antibiotic therapies against resistant bacteria.
Researchers found that grooming and play behaviors can spread among chimpanzee group members, promoting group cohesion. Younger chimps were more likely to engage in play contagion, while close social partners showed greater grooming contagion.
A new study at Durham University found that social tolerance enables social learning in wild bearded capuchin monkeys, leading to the transmission of skills and traditions. The research showed that individuals with strong social tolerance were more likely to learn from others and share information about solving complex tasks.
Researchers explored how future changes in the North Water Polynya could impact marine communities. Changes in plankton and fish populations were found to have significant effects on the entire ecosystem. Polar bear numbers are projected to halve due to declining phytoplankton and copepods.
A new study by Durham University finds that popular quick-fix strategies like bursaries and performance-related pay do not work in recruiting and retaining teachers. To tackle the issue, researchers recommend raising teacher pay, increasing resources for schools and targeting graduates with potential to become teachers.
Researchers at Durham University have developed a novel drug compound, Ellorarxine, which demonstrates significant potential in improving neuronal health and nervous system regeneration in MND sufferers. The study's findings suggest that Ellorarxine addresses the '3Ns' - neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, and neurorepair, offering a com...
A revolutionary robotic system developed by Durham University and international partners enables 24/7 monitoring of queen bees and their interactions with worker bees. Researchers have extracted valuable data on bee behavior, revealing insights into the social self-regulation within bee colonies.