A study published in the BMJ found a consistent causal effect of higher BMI on lower mental wellbeing. The researchers used Mendelian randomization to rule out other factors and found that individuals with higher BMI were less happy and satisfied with their lives.
Research led by the University of Bristol found that children aged 11-19 can effectively use collective intelligence to make group decisions, revealing a geometric mean rule-of-thumb approach. The study revealed that pupils used their original guesses to come to a final consensus, even in cases of disagreement.
A recent study published in the British Journal of General Practice found that prescribing antibiotics to children with cough does not significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization. However, a strategy of delayed antibiotic prescribing may help reduce unnecessary return visits to the GP.
Researchers from the University of Bristol have developed autonomous sensor pods called 'dragon eggs' that can withstand harsh conditions around active volcanoes, providing valuable real-time data on volcanic activity. The innovative technology has numerous applications, including remote monitoring of glaciers and geological faults.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed protocell communities that can exhibit cooperative and antagonistic behavior by responding to a chemical signal. The study demonstrates a new approach to creating synthetic soft materials with life-like properties.
A new €10 million Parkinson's study will implement an integrated care model designed specifically for people with Parkinson's disease across two health hubs in Bath, UK and Nijmegen, Netherlands. The project aims to bridge the gap between fragmented care providers and deliver proactive and integrated care to patients.
Researchers mapped 329 primate electrocutions in Diani, Kenya, highlighting hotspot areas and patterns of association. The study aims to inform conservation strategies by providing a framework for systematic spatial prioritization of power lines to reduce primate electrocution risks.
A new study by University of Bristol scientists reveals that ancient global warming was associated with more intense and episodic rainfall events. The Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum showed increased rainfall in some areas, decreased in others, but a significant increase in extreme event frequency.
Research team analyzed thousands of features across all living animal groups to create a 'shape space' for animal body plans. The results show that fundamental evolutionary change occurred in fits and starts, with animal designs continuing to evolve to the present day.
A new model developed by scientists at the University of Bristol aims to help farmers tackle multi-million losses due to liver fluke infestations. The model explicitly links liver fluke prevalence with key environmental drivers like soil moisture, enabling farmers to make informed decisions on grazing and treatment.
University of Bristol researchers have discovered a way to exploit hypoxia to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. The study found that a specific receptor, GPRC5A, can be targeted using genetic techniques to trigger cancer cell death.
Marimo algae balls sink at night and float during the day due to photosynthesis and biological circadian rhythms, according to a new study published in Current Biology. The research has implications for conserving these endangered species, which have experienced a global decline.
A team of researchers at the University of Bristol has developed a silicon chip that can guide single photons to encode qubits, demonstrating a fully functional quantum processor. This breakthrough device shows promise for scalable and low-cost production of quantum computers.
A new study by the University of Bristol has created a timescale for the origin and evolution of all life on Earth, revealing that life emerged around 4.5 billion years ago from a single ancestor called LUCA. The study uses genomic and fossil data to provide a more accurate timeline than previously thought.
Researchers have successfully assembled enzyme-powered artificial cells that can oscillate in water column using catalase-generated gas bubbles. The protocells use glucose oxidase as a fuel source, enabling buoyant motion and self-sorting capabilities.
Researchers have found that early farmers at Çatalhöyük turned to drought-resistant sheep and goats during a sudden climate event 8,200 years ago. The study used ancient animal fats in cooking pots to detect changes in precipitation patterns, providing new insights into past climate conditions.
Researchers found that ice sheet meltwater contains a distinctive isotopic signature of silica, which supports the growth of diatoms in oceans. This study suggests that glacial meltwater plays a significant role in sustaining marine ecosystems and carbon cycles.
A study discovered that plants regulate their internal 'circadian clock' using sugars from photosynthesis to stay in tune with day and night cycles. This process enables plants to match their activities to the time of day, crucial for growth, flower opening, and energy reserve management.
Researchers use holographic technology to create complex knots in light, revealing new insights into the topology of knotted fields. The study's findings could lead to the creation of new devices processing information through customized light structures.
Scientists warn that rising CO2 levels could cause Western Europe and New Zealand to revert to a hot tropical climate similar to the early Paleogene period. Land temperatures were estimated to be 10-15°C higher than current average temperatures, with annual land temperatures ranging from 23-29°C.
Researchers analyzed ocean sediments to understand Atlantic Ocean circulation changes, finding two episodes of ice melting linked to slow-downs in ocean circulation. The findings have implications for future long-term changes in Earth systems with global climate change.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a new experimental protocol to create synthetic fossils in the lab. This method uses sediment filtration to mimic the conditions of deep burial and has successfully preserved soft tissues, including feathers and leaves, similar to exceptional fossils. The findings offer insights i...
A study by researchers from the University of Bristol identified key risk factors for hip replacement infections, including patient age and health conditions. The research found that certain surgical approaches and implant materials reduced the risk of infection, while others increased it.
A new review of published observational studies reveals that depression and the use of antidepressants are both associated with an increased risk of VTE. The study's findings suggest that prescribers and healthcare professionals should evaluate patients to determine their excess risk of VTE during management.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have revealed insights into how plants evolved from simple aquatic algae to complex, upright forms. The study found that CLAVATA peptides control cell growth and division at plant tips, enabling 3D shapes and multiple directional growth.
A new study published in Science Advances has shown that a decline in religion is linked to a country's future economic prosperity. Secularisation precedes economic development, but only when accompanied by tolerance for individual rights like abortion, divorce, and homosexuality.
Researchers analyzed over 4,000 mosasaur fossil specimens to determine if quality impacts our understanding of past biodiversity. The study found that the rich fossil record provides an accurate picture of mosasaur diversity and evolutionary history despite variable completeness.
Researchers found that teenagers at age 15 had an excess weight of actual fat in their body of 1.7kg if their mothers did not think their actions would make a difference and held a laissez-faire attitude.
Scientists from the University of Bristol have discovered that spiders can become airborne in the absence of wind when subjected to electric fields, defying current theories on aerodynamic drag. The researchers believe that electric fields trigger ballooning and provide lift, revolutionizing our understanding of spider dispersal.
Bacteria can reduce liquid viscosity and make it flow frictionlessly. Researchers at the University of Bristol found that bacterial suspensions can exhibit negative viscosity, a phenomenon previously thought impossible in physics. This discovery could lead to the development of bacteria-powered machines.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed new virtual reality cloud-based tools to accelerate research tasks in drug and material discovery. Using real-time molecular simulations, researchers can now interact with molecules in a virtual space, folding, knotting, and changing their shape to test interactions.
Researchers tested a new approach to caring for people with multiple long-term conditions, which aimed to improve health-related quality of life and patient experience. The '3D' approach simplified complex drug treatment and considered mental health, but showed no improvement in quality of life, challenging current UK guidelines.
Researchers simulated future climate under Paris Climate Goals, finding a significant reduction in heat-related mortality if the lower goal of 1.5°C is met. The study's findings highlight the importance of adhering to the Paris Agreement goals to prevent heat-related health impacts.
Researchers used intravital correlative light-electron microscopy to visualize platelet production in vivo. They found that megakaryocytes form large protrusions rather than extruding fine proplatelet extensions, revising the understanding of fundamental biology of platelet formation.
A new study aims to identify drivers of antibacterial resistance in Thailand, focusing on two species of bacteria: Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The researchers will investigate how farm management practices, chemical pollution, and human behaviors influence transmission of these bacteria.
Researchers found distinct daily cycles in our thinking patterns, with analytical thinking peaking at 6 am and becoming more emotional and existential in the evenings. The study analyzed 800 million tweets to identify variations in language associated with specific words and psychometric indicators.
A recent study found that teenagers with autism and social communication difficulties are more likely to experience depressive symptoms when bullied. The research suggests that targeting bullying interventions could help reduce depression in autistic teens.
A team from University of Bristol identified the Carnian event through breakpoint analysis, a statistical method that compared species counts across Triassic samples. The event marked a sudden shift in ecosystems from dinosaur domination to modern groups like turtles and mammals.
New research led by scientists at the University of Bristol has found that bright warning colors on poison dart frogs not only signal danger but also function as camouflage. The frog's pattern allows it to blend in from a distance while still displaying its warning signal when close, providing a clear advantage.
Researchers have developed a new route to molecular modelling using photonic quantum technologies, which could lead to more efficient pharmaceutical developments. The method simulates the motion of atoms within molecules at the quantum level, allowing for a frame-by-frame reconstruction of atomic motions to create a virtual movie.
New research by University of Bristol researchers found that dwarf mongooses can quantify earlier acts of cooperation and provide suitable levels of delayed rewards. The study shows that mongooses have sufficient cognitive ability to trade goods and services with their groupmates, with grooming being traded for sentinel behavior.
Researchers found that bumblebees have difficulty discriminating between flower shapes when they are iridescent. This is because the changing colors create a visual signal that confuses potential predators and makes it hard for them to identify edible prey.
Researchers from University of Bristol and Cambridge created polymeric semiconductor nanostructures that absorb light and transport its energy further than previously observed. Lightweight semiconducting plastics can now be used to convert sunlight into electricity more efficiently.
A new three-year trial, led by a geriatrician, aims to determine whether a commonly prescribed dementia drug can prevent falls in people with Parkinson's. The trial, funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme, will test a cholinesterase inhibitor treatment on 600 patients across UK hospitals.
A major study on pregnant women's fish consumption found no link between mercury exposure and autism. Mercury was only associated with poor social cognition in mothers who avoided eating fish. The study confirms current advice for pregnant women to eat fish at least twice a week is safe.
A new study by University of Bristol PhD student Zoe Muller found that giraffe group sizes are not influenced by predation risk, contradicting a long-held assumption. Giraffe groups were smaller when adult females had calves, highlighting the complexity of their behavior and ecology.
A new study revealed that ancient elephant relatives, such as Gomphotherium connexum and G. steinheimense, primarily ate soft foliage and grasses 17 million years ago. The team found phytoliths stuck to their teeth and analyzed wear patterns on fossil tooth surfaces to confirm these results.
Tsetse flies transmit Nagana disease to livestock by injecting trypanosomes into the skin, which then invade the bloodstream and cause severe illness. Understanding how these microbes develop inside the fly may lead to new methods of controlling the spread of the disease.
Researchers have generated tools to understand the pig immune system's killer T cell responses to influenza, allowing for the design of more effective vaccines. The breakthrough research uses a unique line of pigs and can be applied to other important pig diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever.
A research team of engineers, led by Professor Camillo Nuti at Roma Tre University, investigated the Leaning Tower of Pisa's survival despite strong earthquakes. The team found that dynamic soil-structure interaction (DSSI) helped the tower survive due to its unique combination of height and foundation soil stiffness.