A new study reveals that targeted preventative measures can significantly reduce the economic burden of tooth decay, particularly in deprived groups. The research estimates that implementing upstream and downstream interventions could save £14,000 per person in the most deprived group.
A new AI-driven approach identifies potentially harmful chemical substances in rivers by monitoring their effects on tiny water fleas, providing insights into complex mixtures and aquatic life. The study enables more comprehensive environmental monitoring and supports better-informed regulations for chemical discharge into waterways.
A new set of internationally-agreed recommendations aims to reduce potential bias in medical AI technologies. The STANDING Together initiative recommends improving dataset diversity, inclusivity, and generalisability to ensure safe and effective use of AI for everyone. These guidelines are now available open access.
Researchers found that particles can absorb substantially more water than previously thought, potentially extending their time in the atmosphere. This changes how long particles remain suspended in the air and affects strategies for controlling air pollution.
Researchers discovered a key security weakness in AMD computer processors due to 'BadRAM', rogue memory modules providing false information to the processor. This allows attackers to bypass CPU memory protections and access sensitive data or cause disruptions in shared cloud environments.
A new study reveals woodburning contributes significantly to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in the region, accounting for 25% of total PM2.5 mass. The experts recommend targeted measures to mitigate health risks associated with woodburning activities, including raising public awareness and promoting cleaner alternatives.
A new toolkit has been developed for clinicians involved in Child Death Review to improve support for bereaved parents. The recommendations include having a named bereavement support key worker within 24-48 hours after the child's death and providing training for healthcare professionals to better understand parents' roles.
A new brain mapping technique has revealed fresh insights into how higher-order functions like language, thought, and attention are organised. Researchers used data from fMRI scans to create accurate models of brain activity and interactions between regions.
A new emotional literacy programme adapted for special schools has shown promising results, suggesting significant benefits for children with learning disabilities. The study found improvements in mental health and behaviour among participants, highlighting the potential of such programmes in improving quality of life.
A new study by the University of Birmingham found that Covid-19 public health measures led to a significant decrease in stranger sex offenses, particularly those involving night-time economy and outdoor settings. The research also showed a reduction in offences taking place at home and internet-facilitated crimes during lockdowns.
A new seven-point strategy devised by international experts outlines steps for safe, equitable, and sustainable global water management. The plan emphasizes local collaboration, community engagement, and inclusive policies to foster peace and security.
Researchers found effective peptidomimetics that can bind to and inhibit Aurora-A's interaction with TACC3 without inhibiting its enzymatic function. This inhibition also showed promise in targeting a different protein-protein interaction between N-Myc and Aurora-A, which is crucial in childhood brain cancers.
The Birmingham Blade is the world's first geographically tailored urban wind turbine designed by AI, addressing the challenge of harnessing clean wind energy in low-wind areas. Developed by EvoPhase and Kwik Fab, it boasts an optimal design for curved blades that spin around a central point, significantly enhancing efficiency.
A new study calls for the integration of climate resilience into every aspect of the UN SDGs to secure a sustainable future. The researchers propose five key recommendations, including aligning the Paris Agreement's climate objectives with the SDGs and empowering local communities to develop climate-focused policies.
A new study by the University of Birmingham has found that air fryers emit significantly lower levels of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than other cooking methods. The researchers measured pollutant levels in a well-controlled research kitchen and found that improving ventilation can help reduce indoor pollution.
ChromaTwist has secured a £0.5M Innovate UK Smart grant to enhance its novel dyes for improved bio-imaging. The funding will boost the company's technical development and scale-up for commercial launch.
A new book by Dr Merten Reglitz proposes a human right to free internet access, including protections against government censorship and surveillance. The research argues that governments should provide guaranteed access to the internet with sufficient quality to meet basic human rights needs.
A new study found that speech sounds have texture and shape to them, with R sounds associated with roughness and L sounds with smoothness. The research showed strong tendencies for matching trilled R sounds with jagged lines and L sounds with straight lines across cultures.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new theory that explains how light and matter interact at the quantum level. The theory enables scientists to precisely define the shape of a single photon for the first time.
A new study reveals that patients attending first referral hospitals in low- and middle-income countries receive safe and effective surgical care comparable to higher level referral centers. District hospitals manage to deliver safe surgical care despite having fewer full-time surgeons and medically trained anaesthetists.
Researchers found that a high-flavanol cocoa drink can protect the body's vasculature against stress even after eating high-fat food. Flavanols in green tea and other foods also showed benefits for cardiovascular health.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham create a ruthenium-based material with complex disordered magnetic properties, fulfilling the Kitaev quantum spin liquid state requirements. This breakthrough opens up new pathways for exploring these states of matter and provides a route to magnetic properties that don't follow classical laws.
Glaciers within three miles of a volcano move 46% faster than average, according to a new study that analyzed velocity data from 85% of the world's glaciers. This increased melt reduces friction between the glacier and the underlying rock, resulting in faster glacier flow.
The University of Birmingham and DEFRA's Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee have published new recommendations for improving chemical testing. The report suggests that the UK can adopt a risk-based approach to regulation, using New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), to reduce animal testing and improve safety assessments.
A new strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, ST164, has been spreading widely across Asia, posing significant challenges to global public health. Researchers discovered that 80.9% of A. baumannii bacteria found in patients were CRAB, with ST164 accounting for 40.2% of samples.
A new study published in The British Journal of Cancer found that whole genome sequencing can help identify treatment recommendations for cancer patients. The study evaluated the regional implementation of the 100,000 Genomes Project and found that different types of cancer were associated with varying rates of recommended actions.
A new study found that foreign accents can mitigate judgment for grammatical errors, except in cases where listeners are highly conscientious. The research suggests that English speakers are generally tolerant of grammatical errors when the speaker has a foreign accent.
Using Clinical Design Support Systems (CDSS) can help make maternity services safer for pregnant women, with a meta-analysis of 35 studies showing a 1.69 times higher odds of improved outcomes. The findings support the use of AI and related software tools to improve pregnancy care.
Researchers discovered that when combined, microplastics and PFAS cause more severe toxic effects on aquatic life, including developmental failures and stunted growth. The study highlights the urgent need for regulatory frameworks addressing the unintended combinations of pollutants in the environment.
A new study finds that AI-powered models exhibit similar levels of accuracy as ophthalmologists in identifying infectious keratitis, a leading cause of corneal blindness worldwide. The AI models displayed a sensitivity and specificity of 89.2% and 93.2%, respectively, matching the diagnostic accuracy of human experts.
A new study on the James Bond franchise reveals that regressive nostalgia can pose a significant threat to brands by attracting exclusionary consumers. These consumers cling to idealized past versions of brands and resist attempts to modernize them, posing challenges for marketers.
A new study discovered toxic 'Forever Chemicals' in tap and bottled water from around the world, with 99% of samples containing PFOA and PFOS. Treatment methods such as boiling and activated carbon filtration can substantially reduce PFAS concentrations, with removal rates ranging from 50-90%.
A team of researchers has identified the USP50 protein's role in regulating DNA replication by deciding which enzymes to use during critical processes. The study found that USP50 helps cells balance nuclease and helicase activity, preventing replication defects when it is absent.
Soaring house prices, employment uncertainty, and lack of affordable education contribute to increased mental health problems among young people. Mental health practitioners are urged to consider intergenerational inequities in their support, particularly for those with serious mental health issues.
A team of researchers discovered a protein that blocks bone-forming cells by preventing them from maturing. The study found that the protein CLEC14A reduces bone formation, while its absence leads to increased mineralized bone tissue.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have shown that transcranial near infrared light therapy can aid tissue repair after mild traumatic brain injury. The study found significant reductions in inflammatory processes and improved functional outcomes, with superior results achieved with red light.
A new study found that brain endurance training (BET) improves attention and executive function, as well as physical endurance and resistance exercise performance in older adults. BET outperformed exercise-only training in terms of cognitive and physical performance improvements.
A new study reveals that green education can nurture a generation of eco-leaders to tackle climate change and environmental issues in the Middle East and North Africa. The study recommends integrating sustainability into national curricula, providing sustainable funding for education initiatives, and monitoring evaluation systems.
A new study reveals the true global impact of human-induced species loss is far greater than previously thought, resulting in a loss of approximately 3 billion years of unique evolutionary history. This extinction crisis has severe consequences on ecosystem function, including reduced pollination, seed dispersal, and disease outbreaks.
A new study reveals that Brazil's democracy has been weakened by authoritarian populism, which has undermined welfare systems and human rights protections. This has created an exclusionary view of citizenship and intensified social conflicts, posing a threat to the country's democratic future.
A critical review reveals a significant oversight in research and global regulatory frameworks regarding microplastics in leave-on cosmetics. The study highlights the need for new analytical methodologies to aid future enforcement efforts.
A new study found that the IOTA ADNEX ultrasound model can detect up to 96% of ovarian cancers in postmenopausal women, outperforming the current standard test. The research team recommends replacing the risk of malignancy (RMI1) test with the IOTA ADNEX model.
A study published in Royal Society Open Science uses virtual reality to educate people about harmful, non-exhaust vehicle emissions and how to navigate safely. The research reveals that exposure risk is highest at the end of braking events, particularly near bus stops and pedestrian crossings.
Researchers developed a low-cost means of measuring indoor air quality, pinpointing sources and factors affecting PM concentrations. Air pollution levels remained within World Health Organisation guidelines during school hours, with dominant outdoor sources.
Scientists analyzed millions of tweets to detect early warning signs of PTSD in COVID-19 survivors, achieving an accuracy rate of 83.29%. The study highlights the potential for machine learning techniques to identify individuals at risk of PTSD through social media data.
Researchers found that stored human urine had little impact on soil bacterial communities, increasing nitrifying and denitrifying groups compared to synthetic fertilizers. The study suggests that recycled urine could enhance agricultural sustainability, reduce wastewater pollution, and decrease reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
A new study published in Communications Psychology found that older adults (60+ years) are more susceptible to social influence when making impulsive financial decisions. In contrast, younger adults tend to stick to their original preference even after seeing others opt for the impulsive option.
A new study has identified key factors to build food resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa, including diversifying suppliers, empowering local farmers, and promoting sustainable practices. The proposed blueprint aims to enhance self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on external sources.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham used Porous Liquids to separate harmful alcohols from water mixtures, consuming up to 88% of the PL pore volume. This innovation can reduce alcohol content in drinks while retaining flavor profiles, aligning with growing consumer demand for low-alcohol beverages.
Researchers found that certain C4 crops can control water loss through non-stomatal mechanisms, allowing them to absorb carbon dioxide despite raised temperatures and increased atmospheric demand. This discovery has significant implications for improving water-use efficiency in these crops.