A new study found that excessive visceral fat is linked to faster ageing of the heart, with a genetic predisposition to female-type fat in women potentially slowing heart ageing. Researchers also discovered that artificial intelligence analysis of images revealed signs of organ ageing, including tissue stiffness and inflammation.
The new compute roadmap aims to improve lives and livelihoods with advanced computing power. It includes investments in AI research, healthcare diagnostics, and renewable energy.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that weight loss triggers the breakdown and recycling of fats called lipids, potentially leading to improved health outcomes. Weight loss also clears out senescent cells, which are ageing and damaged cells that accumulate in tissues, reducing inflammation and scarring.
Researchers from UK and Canada will study ways to reduce mining's environmental footprint and enhance efficiency across critical mineral value chains. The project aims to develop new geological models and exploration tools for rare earth element deposits, aiming to diversify the supply chain and ensure high environmental standards.
A new study by NERC finds that long-term funding has driven the UK's offshore wind industry, providing 17% of total UK electricity and supporting 32,000 jobs. The investment is expected to grow to 100,000 by 2030.
The new centre will investigate neural dynamics, developing novel interventions and devices to improve symptom relief and quality of life for people with brain disorders. It aims to harness neural dynamics for people with conditions like Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy.
Researchers found that aspirin prevents cancers from spreading by decreasing a clotting factor called thromboxane A2 and releasing T cells from suppression. This discovery could lead to the development of targeted treatments to prevent cancer metastasis, making aspirin potentially less expensive than antibody-based therapies.
The UK is investing £170 million in new research and innovation projects to support clean living, tackle climate change, and boost economic growth. The projects will focus on land use transformation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
Researchers from the FlyWire Consortium have created a detailed wiring diagram of every neuron in the adult fly brain, revealing substantial similarities between individual brains. The map includes 50 million connections between neurons, providing insights into neural circuits and their functions.
Scientists have developed new therapies that selectively remove aggregated tau proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease in mice. The approach utilises TRIM21 to target tau aggregates, leaving healthy tau intact, and demonstrates potential for other brain disorders driven by protein aggregation.
Researchers discovered that deactivating IL-11 increases healthy lifespan by 20-25% in mice, with reduced cancer deaths, fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and improved muscle strength. The findings raise the possibility of using anti-IL-11 treatments to study aging in humans.
Scientists have discovered genetic variants in BSN and APBA1 genes linked to adult-onset obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease. These variants are associated with a significant increase in obesity risk, highlighting a new biological mechanism for the condition.
The Integrating Finance & Biodiversity for a Nature Positive programme aims to build knowledge, tools, and collaboration to support sustainable investments. By incorporating biodiversity impact into financial decision-making, the programme seeks to reduce the global economy's damage and improve sustainability.
Researchers have identified a crucial interface in a mutated protein that drives lung cancer growth, which could act as a target for more effective treatments. The study used advanced laser imaging techniques to provide unprecedented details of the protein's structure and interactions.
The UK is launching four new PhD training centers to boost expertise in environmental science, focusing on flood management, freshwater quality, sustainable mineral resources, and wetland conservation. These centers will support the next generation of researchers who will go on to build careers in research, business, and public service.
Researchers have identified a new protein, TAF15, associated with frontotemporal dementia, a rare and debilitating condition. The discovery provides a potential therapeutic target for diagnostic tests and treatments, offering hope for patients and families affected by the disease.
The UK has launched four new research hubs to address challenges of vaccine manufacturing and delivery in developing countries. The hubs will use lessons from the global COVID-19 rollout to improve processes, with funding from £33 million UK aid and £1.5 million EPSRC co-funding.
A team of scientists has created the first comprehensive map of a worm's nervous system, showing how neurons communicate wirelessly through neuropeptides. The study reveals complex networks with distinct hubs and connections that transcend traditional synaptic pathways.
The UK and Japan partnership aims to develop new technologies for detecting and processing radioactive waste. Researchers will focus on improving inspection technologies using hyperspectral imaging and exploring calcined clays as natural resources to engineer 'geopolymer binders'.
The UK fashion and textile industry is set for a significant boost with a £6 million investment in sustainability research. The initiative aims to help the sector adopt more sustainable practices, reducing its environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK Research and Innovation has awarded £53 million in funding to six research centers to boost knowledge, create innovative green technologies, and reduce energy demand. The focus is on developing game-changing ideas to improve domestic, industrial, and transport energy systems.
The £7 million CoTide project aims to develop scalable tidal stream energy, making renewable power cheaper, more reliable, and scalable. The initiative will create integrated engineering tools and solutions to overcome technical challenges in harnessing ocean tides as a clean energy source.
The £72 million investment will support cutting-edge research in fluid dynamics, biological sciences, and astronomy. It aims to maintain the UK's position as a science superpower and accelerate innovation in various fields.
The UK is investing £11 million to improve forecast accuracy for extreme weather events like storms, floods and droughts. Scientists are focusing on atmospheric turbulence to create more detailed models.
Researchers characterize a unique molecular mechanism in early stages of programmed cell death (apoptosis), a crucial process preventing cancer. By studying Bax protein interactions with mitochondrial lipids, they found that pore creation drives apoptosis initiation.
NERC has invested £25 million in a host of high-risk, high-reward research projects tackling key unanswered questions about our planet. The projects cover geology, atmospheric science, biodiversity and ecology, with research spanning 3-4 years and funding up to £1.3 million.
Researchers have built the first ever map showing every single neuron and how they're wired together in the fruit fly larva's brain. This huge step forwards in science will help us understand basic principles of signal travel through the brain, leading to behavior and learning.
Researchers have discovered that over-the-counter heartburn drugs can shorten the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and reduce the chances of drug-resistant bacteria. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may mean TB can be cured with shorter treatments.
The initiative aims to share resources, assistance, and expertise between UK and Ukrainian universities. Research England's investment will help build capacity for research and innovation into the future.
Researchers have launched five projects to investigate the impact of pollution on UK rivers, which fail to meet good ecological status due to pollutants like chemicals, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals. The projects aim to improve water quality, biodiversity, and resilience to climate change.
The studies will provide evidence for a new global approach to valuing natural habitats and evaluate biodiversity in marine and urban areas. They aim to deliver on the recommendations from the Government's Dasgupta Review and support nature recovery and halt biodiversity loss.
The UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council has awarded £19 million to five world-class teams investigating bold ideas in bioscience. These projects will advance our understanding of fundamental rules of life, with potential implications for agriculture, health, biotechnology, and the green economy.
The six interdisciplinary studies will explore effective ways to expand UK trees, hedgerows, woodlands, and forests in rural and urban settings. Researchers aim to improve understanding of treescapes' value to people and the planet, supporting the Government's ambition to increase tree cover.
Researchers recover data from sensors swept away by massive underwater avalanche in Congo Canyon, providing new insights into sediment flow and seabed cable breakages. The study reveals the hazards of powerful turbidity currents and their impact on global communications.
A new £25m fund will bring together UK researchers, universities, and businesses to use design to address the climate crisis. The programme will focus on innovative design solutions to shift dependence on fossil fuels and support the British Government's commitment to decarbonise the economy.
The Impact Acceleration Account supports critical early-stage translation of UK research to transform public services, create new businesses, and jobs. The programme provides funding to unlock the value of UK research, including commercialisation of new technologies.
The UK's first major AI ethics research program will inform the ethical development and use of AI, addressing concerns over algorithmic decision-making and data-driven technologies. The £8.5 million program aims to build public confidence and create a responsible AI ecosystem.
Research reveals that healthy brain temperature varies significantly by brain region, age, sex, and time of day. Daily brain temperature cycles strongly correlate with survival in traumatic brain injury patients, suggesting potential improvements in understanding and treatment of brain injuries.
The UK is investing £290 million in upgrading aircraft facilities to facilitate easy transportation to Antarctic research stations. This investment is part of the £670 million total investment in modernizing polar science research facilities, ensuring the UK remains a world leader in the field until at least 2045.
Twelve new research projects aim to level up health and wellbeing across the UK through cultural and natural interventions. The programme, funded by AHRC and partners, will generate evidence for place-based approaches to creative health, generating insights into local cultural activities and natural spaces.
The UK report highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to future climate adaptation research and equitable partnerships. Embedding local knowledge and co-designing solutions with local stakeholders are crucial for effective adaptation.
A four-year UK-wide study tracks how pollution in homes affects fetus development and childhood health. The RESPIRE study measures pollutant exposures and their effects on organ function, including lung development, brain function, and heart health.
Cambridge University researchers are tackling major environmental challenges in the UK's 'vegetable garden', the Fens, through a £10 million project. The team is working with farmers, landowners, and conservation groups to develop whole system solutions for climate change, extinction, and pollution threats.
The UK has allocated £40 million to support four major research studies tackling key global environmental challenges. The projects will develop solutions for net zero cities, improve biodiversity, help rural communities adapt to climate change, and provide evidence for policy decisions.
Researchers have determined the molecular structure of TDP-43 aggregates extracted from human brains, shedding light on its role in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. The discovery may lead to the development of targeted therapies and diagnostic tests.
A new Digital Solutions Hub will provide a gateway to interconnected toolkits and resources, integrating existing data sources on pollution, flooding, biodiversity, geology, carbon capture, and environmental health. The hub aims to improve decision-making by providing cross-sectional data for informed decisions in various sectors.
Researchers found that a receptor in the brain detects nutritional state and regulates puberty timing and growth rate, explaining why humans have been growing taller and reaching sexual maturity earlier over the past century. The discovery has immediate practical implications for testing children with growth delays.
Researchers have found that heart cells regulate their circadian rhythms through changes in sodium and potassium ion levels, which can impact heart rate. This new understanding may lead to better treatments and preventative measures for combating heart conditions.
Five innovative research projects tackle fundamental questions of environmental and earth science, including the origins of Earth and life on Mars. The studies aim to advance our understanding and lead to important scientific breakthroughs.
Researchers found that certain species of gut bacteria accumulate human drugs, altering their types, activity, and metabolism. This can change the effectiveness of the drug both directly and indirectly, affecting side effects.