A recent study by Durham University and Illinois Institute of Technology found that controlling message approaches can have negative effects on attitudes towards social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, an autonomy-supportive approach was shown to lower feelings of defiance and increase positive motivation.
A study by Durham University found that 90% of bidi workers are women who face numerous health issues and limited job options. Researchers suggest alternative employment like spice or fabric production could provide better working conditions and personal circumstances.
Researchers identified one to three major genes influencing flowering time in chickpea's wild relatives, enabling locally adapted varieties with improved drought and heat tolerance. This breakthrough study, published in Agriculture journal, will aid future breeding efforts and explore genetic variation for flowering time.
Researchers have discovered a new type of stellar explosion called micronovae, which are thermonuclear blasts lasting just a few hours and burning through massive amounts of material. The discovery challenges current knowledge of how these explosions occur in stars and may lead to more being found.
A new study reveals highly variable year-to-year changes in surface meltwater lakes around the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Warmer seasons lead to deeper and larger lakes, potentially vulnerable ice shelves are at risk of break-up due to climate change.
A new research project on Science, Society and Environmental Change in the First Millennium CE has been selected for a €2m European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant. The team will investigate how humans responded to environmental and climatic change between 1 and 1000 CE using textual, archaeological and environmental evidence.
The Durham Energy Institute is launching a new £1.23m fellowship scheme to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion among energy researchers. The scheme aims to address key challenges and equip a cohort of researchers with the skills to make lasting changes towards a diverse and inclusive research community.
Researchers have identified a protein in tick saliva that can relieve chronic pain and itching, offering a potential alternative to traditional painkillers. The findings could lead to a new medication that is more effective and safer than current options.
A team of international scientists has created a detailed radio image of over 4.4 million objects in the northern sky, including galaxies with massive black holes and new star-forming regions. The discovery is made possible by state-of-the-art data processing algorithms and high-performance computing resources.
A new study from Durham University and Kings College London presents a theoretical review strongly supporting the search for axion dark matter. Axions are proposed as a possible explanation for why the strong interaction obeys time reversal symmetry, a fundamental aspect of the Standard Model of particle physics.
Researchers created an interactive computer interface called EmoteControl, which allows users to control six cues of a musical piece in real time. Participants conveyed specific emotions through changing these cues, with tempo and mode being the most influential cues.
Researchers at Durham University have identified a medieval text written by Benedictine monk Gervase of Christ Church Cathedral Priory as the earliest known account of ball lightning in England. The description, composed around 1200, matches historical and modern reports of the phenomenon.
The pro:NE project will provide training, e-conferences, peer mentoring and PhD studentships for staff and students of colour, tackling inequalities in higher education. The initiative aims to create a legacy within the region that nurtures and develops academic pathways and communities for students and staff of colour.
A study of UK football fan message boards found openly misogynistic attitudes towards women's sport, despite progressive attitudes also being present. The researchers suggest that the dominant negative attitudes may be a response to advances in gender equality.
Researchers at Durham University have developed a sugar-containing polymer coating that can repair damaged artificial joint implants by mimicking the way cartilage works to lubricate human joints. The coating uses water to create a slippery surface, protecting the surfaces from wear and tear.
Research led by Durham University found former pro rugby players more likely to show signs of depression, anxiety, and irritability after retirement. Players with multiple concussions were almost twice as likely to report these symptoms.
Researchers at Durham University and Yunnan University discovered that ancient penis worms took shelter in empty shells, adopting the 'hermit crab' lifestyle. This adaptation allowed them to survive in environments with high predator pressure, highlighting the key role of predation in shaping early animal evolution.
Academics developed an agent-based model to simulate COVID-19 spread in Cox's Bazar refugee settlement, finding mask-wearing highly effective in slowing the spread. The study suggests that handling positive cases in isolation has little impact compared to home isolation for individuals with mild symptoms.
Researchers at Durham University used NASA's TESS satellite to observe a white dwarf switching on and off, challenging understanding of accretion processes. The discovery may help explain the physics behind accretion in objects like black holes and neutron stars.
A pilot study found improvements in memory, motor function, and processing skills in healthy individuals after receiving transcranial photobiomodulation therapy. The therapy, involving infrared light, has the potential to alleviate nerve cell damage and reduce symptoms of dementia.
Researchers discovered two defence systems in bacteria that work together to protect against modified DNA bacteriophages. BrxU has the potential to be a biotechnological tool for mapping the human epigenome, which alters in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
A 10-week training program showed that both sighted and blind participants improved on echolocation tasks, with some even performing better than expert echolocators. The study's findings suggest that click-based echolocation can be a valuable tool for people with vision loss or progressive degenerative eye conditions.
Researchers found that houses with higher floors had significantly fewer female Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, with a 84% reduction at 3m. This could lead to comparable reductions in malaria transmission. The study suggests elevating homes may be an effective intervention in sub-Saharan Africa.
A new study finds that a network of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in the Caribbean and Central and South America will remain robust under climate change. Despite predictions of species shifts, more than half of IBAs are projected to remain climatically suitable for 73% of conservation-concerned species.
A recent study by Durham University reveals that the rapid sea-level rise at the end of the last ice age was primarily caused by the melting of ice sheets in North America and Scandinavia. This finding, which challenges previous theories, provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between ice-ocean-climate systems.
Scientists observe bonobos adopting infants born outside their social group, revealing strong parental instincts and emotional connection. The discovery sheds light on why humans adopt children without prior connections.
A new study by Durham University reveals that playing with ultra-thin dolls can negatively impact young girls' body image, particularly when combined with exposure to 'thin ideals' in media. The research suggests that this can lead to body dissatisfaction and potentially eating disorders.
Climate change is altering habitats, forcing animals to migrate across national borders, which are fortified with walls and fences. The study highlights the potential ecological damage of 32,000km of borders, including the USA-Mexico border wall, China-Russia border fence, and India-Myanmar border fencing.
New research by Durham University reveals that young children rely heavily on auditory cues to detect emotions, rather than visual stimuli. The findings have implications for parents and educators managing home learning and may also shed light on emotional recognition in children with developmental challenges like autism.
A new study suggests that the first people to settle in the Americas were accompanied by their dogs, implying a earlier dog domestication in Siberia. This discovery sheds light on the origins of dogs and their relationship with humans.
A study by Durham University and RSPB investigated how human activities shape bird species' geographical distributions. The research found that 42% of breeding bird species would be more widely distributed if humans didn't impact the landscape, while 28% are rarer today than in a human-free world.
Researchers sequenced ancient DNA from dire wolf sub-fossils, showing they diverged from grey wolves over 5 million years ago. Dire wolves remained isolated in North America for millions of years, becoming genetically distinct from other canids.
A new study by Durham University and colleagues suggests that galaxy mergers could shut down star formation in the early universe, affecting galaxy growth. The researchers observed a massive galaxy, ID2299, which ejected half of its gas into the intergalactic medium due to the merger.
Scientists at Durham University have discovered a new type of brain cell called Vector Trace cells, which can store maps of places we've been and track the distance between objects. This discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers ran supercomputer simulations to track material from the early Earth and a Mars-sized planet, Theia, after their collision. Simulations produced an orbiting body that could potentially evolve into a Moon-like object.
A Durham University study found that e-cigarette use during pregnancy may lead to abnormal reflexes and impaired brain development in babies. The researchers recommend that mothers avoid using e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes during pregnancy.
The webinar, titled 'The first carnival of the animals: Causes and consequences of the diversification of Early Palaeozoic marine life', will be presented by leading palaeontologists Professor David Harper and Professor Renbin Zhan. It will examine how major biotic events such as the Cambrian Explosion influenced life on Earth.
Research led by Durham University found that massive collisions could have stripped the early Earth of up to 60% of its atmosphere, leading to the Moon's creation. The study developed a new method for predicting atmospheric loss from any collision, which could aid in understanding the Moon's origins and other giant impacts.
The study found that small dark matter haloes have a similar internal structure to larger ones, with smaller clumps orbiting in their outer regions. This could help identify these small objects individually or collectively through future gamma-ray observatories.
A new study reveals that European migratory bird populations are most affected by changes in climate on breeding grounds, while land cover changes have a greater impact on their migration routes. The research highlights the importance of considering multiple factors in conservation efforts to mitigate population declines.
Researchers at Durham University have found a new toxin, called MenT, produced by the TB bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This toxin inhibits the use of amino acids needed for protein production, causing the bacteria to die. The discovery opens up new avenues for treating tuberculosis and other infections.
Researchers develop Proteus, a lightweight material that turns back the force of cutting tools upon itself, making it resistant to angle grinders, drills, and high-pressure water jets. The unique structure of ceramic spheres encased in cellular aluminium creates an interlocking, vibrational connection that repulses any attack.
A recent study by Durham University found that rugby players continue to suffer from injuries after retirement, with back pain and joint pain being common complaints. The study also revealed that concussion is the most common injury among rugby players, with a significant association with long-term impact.
A new study using supercomputer simulations reveals the scale of atmosphere loss during giant planetary collisions. Grazing impacts led to less atmospheric loss than direct hits, while higher speeds resulted in complete erosion of the atmosphere. The research provides insight into the evolution of planets and their atmospheres.
Using data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, scientists at Durham University measured the rates at which neutron particles leaked out from Venus and Mercury. The findings suggest a neutron lifetime of 13 minutes, with implications for our understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics.
Astronomers have observed a confirmed heartbeat in a supermassive black hole for over ten years, with the signal repeating every hour. The research provides new insights into the black hole's size and structure close to its event horizon.
A comprehensive study by Durham University found that TV exposure can have a causal effect on people's perceptions of body ideals, leading to the preference for thinner female bodies. The researchers are advocating for a shift towards a 'health at every size' attitude and media representation of diverse body types.
A study has mapped over 65,000 supraglacial lakes on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, revealing a more extensive presence than previously thought. The findings suggest that East Antarctica may be more susceptible to the effects of a warming climate.
Researchers at Durham University have spotted a brief transition phase in the development of quasars, challenging conventional views on red quasar color. The team believes this phase is caused by a violent ejection of energy from supermassive black holes, blowing away dust and gas to reveal blue quasars.
Researchers at Durham University used supercomputer simulations to test Chameleon Theory, an alternative model for gravity. The findings suggest that galaxies like the Milky Way can form even with different laws of gravity, providing a new perspective on galaxy formation and dark energy.