Research at University of Bristol found that children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) have difficulty recognizing basic facial expressions. Despite this, the types of mistakes made by those with ASC were similar to those without ASC.
Researchers have found that synapses in brain cells display unusual properties before disease progression, pointing to a new approach for treating dementia. The study highlights the importance of synaptic stability in the development of the condition.
Research found no 'weekend admission effect' for patients with hip fracture in the NHS, contrary to previous reports. Delays to surgery and certain discharge times were associated with increased mortality risk.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a technique to manufacture immortalized red blood cells, which can be cultured indefinitely and differentiated into mature red blood cells. This breakthrough could potentially provide a safe source of transfusions for people with rare blood types and areas with inadequate blood su...
A team of researchers is developing a wearable robotic system for minimally invasive surgery, which will offer surgeons natural movement and the ability to sense, see, control, and safely navigate through the surgical environment. The system will be equipped with exoskeletons that fit over the surgeon's hands, smart glasses with real-t...
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a highly magnetic material made from nickel-based polymer that can be easily created and destroyed using temperature changes. This discovery has significant implications for improving data storage applications and enhancing computer technology performance.
Researchers have developed a way to program randomness into quantum circuits, paving the way for a boson sampler and potentially a quantum computer. The breakthrough, led by Dr Nick Russell's work, solves a key problem in quantum computing and offers a significant milestone in the field.
Researchers discovered bumblebees can recognize scents left by family members, sisters, and unrelated individuals. This ability helps them remember visited flowers and make informed decisions about food sources.
Researchers discovered that melatonin regulates VEGF production in the pituitary gland, controlling blood vessel growth and hormone release for seasonal fertility. This mechanism enables animals to adapt to changing environments and has implications for farming and human medicine.
Researchers have created a world-first synthetic receptor that can respond to chemical signals like its natural equivalent, enabling the study of cellular communication. The breakthrough has the potential to advance biotechnology and treat medical conditions caused by faulty communication.
A new study has found that large-scale hydrologic models can be improved to provide more realistic groundwater recharge estimates. The research team compared two models and showed that accounting for subsurface heterogeneity leads to greater estimates of groundwater recharge, which is essential for securing sustainable water supplies.
Scientists call for transparent and credible data to track the real mitigation potential of forests. Forests are expected to contribute up to 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2030.
A new study confirms the existence of 'living fossils' by measuring evolutionary rates in the tuatara, a reptile that has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. The research found that the tuatara's anatomy is remarkably conservative and shows slow evolution compared to its fossil relatives.
Researchers identify a new species of ancient bristle worm, the largest fossil jaws ever recorded, suggesting the creature achieved a body length over a metre. The discovery sheds light on the phenomenon of gigantism in marine worms and its evolution in different species.
A 250 million-year-old fossil from China shows an embryo inside its mother, revealing the first evidence of live birth in a group previously thought to lay eggs exclusively. The discovery, made by an international team of scientists, pushes back the evidence of reproductive biology in this group by 50 million years.
New research by University of Bristol physicists shows that protein molecules can be understood using virtual knots, a branch of knot theory previously considered abstract. This approach captures the essential ambiguity of where protein curve ends are, providing a more detailed understanding of their three-dimensional structure.
Researchers at University of Bristol and UCLan uncover new type of LTP controlled by kainate receptors, promising therapeutic strategies for dementia and epilepsy. The study's findings have far-reaching implications for understanding memory and neurodegenerative disorders.
A study from the University of Bristol reveals how Streptococcus gordonii binds to human cells via a 'catch-clamp' mechanism, leading to cardiovascular disease. The research provides a new target for anti-adhesive agents to combat life-threatening infections.
A 480-million-year-old slug-like fossil in Morocco has been discovered, providing new insights into the evolution of molluscs. The fossil, Calvapilosa kroegeri, features a radula and short spines, suggesting that its ancestor was single-shelled and covered in bristle-like spines.
A new research review suggests that the UK's nuclear safety benchmark undervalues human life, with a current figure of £1.83 million per prevented fatality potentially too low. A revised estimate, considering a more robust methodology, places the value at between £16 million and £22 million per life saved.
Research by University of Bristol scientists found that traffic noise hinders animals' response to warning signals, making them more vulnerable to predators. The study suggests that man-made noise can have a broader impact on information transfer between and within species.
Researchers discovered a brain-wide chemical signal released in response to attention-demanding situations, which is boosted by current Alzheimer's treatments. This signal could lead to new ways to enhance cognitive function and memory in healthy individuals.
Researchers identified specific neural pathways controlling temporal and spatial aspects of episodic memory in rats, revealing the brain's intricate communication between regions.
Researchers found that starlings are safer from predation in larger flocks due to the confusion effect, where predators struggle to target individual birds. The study suggests that this behavior may be one of many functions of these impressive groups in starlings.
Researchers at the University of Bristol propose a cost-effective solution for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to share high-quality data with drivers in emergency situations. The single frequency network (SFN) approach could improve road safety by providing reliable information, reducing transmission power by up to 20 times.
The new guidelines provide a revised conceptual model of VCI and its subtypes, aiming to clarify diagnosis and facilitate collaboration among researchers. The study's findings have the potential to speed up research in this vital area and bring much-needed help to people with vascular cognitive impairment.
Researchers tested tropical rainforest fly Drosophila birchii's response to climate change by transplanting flies along mountain gradients. They found similar responses across families, indicating little potential for thermal tolerances to evolve.
Researchers analyzed 35 million articles from British regional newspapers to detect major events, gender bias, and cultural shifts. The study found significant changes in representation over time, with women's presence increasing after 1900 but still being underrepresented.
A UK-based international team of researchers has made a breakthrough in understanding the mechanism of mcr-1 gene-mediated resistance to colistin. They identified key features necessary for the protein that modifies bacterial surface to reduce colistin binding, and constructed computer models to block MCR-1 function.
Researchers detected lipid residues in unglazed cooking pots from Libyan Sahara sites, dating back over 10,000 years. Over half of the vessels showed plant-based processing, including grains and aquatic plants.
A recent study from the University of Bristol found stronger evidence that schizophrenia risk predicts cannabis use, rather than the other way round. This suggests that people with schizophrenia may use cannabis as a form of self-medication to manage symptoms.
Researchers found that closely bonded mongooses are more likely to help attack snakes, improving survival chances for friends. Strong social bonds provide key anti-predator benefits, increasing the likelihood of being helped in the future.
Scientists found that dung beetles can reduce the survival of parasites in cowpats, which cause serious illness in cattle. The study suggested that dung beetle activity helps ventilate cow pats, creating conditions for parasite egg hatching.
Researchers have uncovered widespread evidence of prehistoric milk production in southern Europe, dating back to the onset of agriculture around 9,000 years ago. The study found varying intensities of dairying and non-dairying activities across the northern Mediterranean region, with the slaughter profiles of domesticated animals mirro...
A recent study by researchers at the University of Bristol found that LED lights are less attractive to nuisance insects compared to traditional filament lamps. The study, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and Integral LED, used customised traps at 18 field test sites across south-west England.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) should include ocean variability and regional projections in its reports to better understand the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Experts from the University of Bristol and Tasmania recommend incorporating local stressors and regional projections into policy decisions.
New research using big data analysis has found that people's collective behaviour is more predictable than thought, with strong periodic patterns influenced by the weather and seasons. Historical news and social media data revealed cycles in leisure and work activities, diet, diseases, and mental health.
Researchers have discovered a huge magmatic lake, 15 kilometers below a dormant volcano in Bolivia, which could help explain why and how volcanoes erupt. The find suggests that similar bodies of water may be 'hiding' under other volcanoes.
A team of researchers identified three novel proteins that act together on clock neurons to make the clock light responsive. The Quasimodo protein regulates light responses in the fly's clock neurons, controlling the circadian rhythm.
Metallic glasses have the potential to revolutionize many commercial applications due to their toughness and hardness. The researchers uncovered the mechanism by which fivefold symmetry inhibits crystallisation, making it an important step in developing metallic glasses for various applications.
Research found man-made noise can disrupt animal responses to predator faeces, affecting information gathering and vigilance. This study highlights the negative impact of noise pollution on animal survival in mammals.
Begonia species have evolved a nanoscale light-trapping structure to harvest energy in low-light environments. The iridoplasts, found only in dark conditions, reflect blue light and absorb green light to maximize photosynthesis.
Scientists are developing an early warning system to detect and predict jellyfish blooms that can clog water intakes at coastal power plants. The tool will provide gridded maps showing the probability of jellyfish arrival times, enabling rapid risk evaluation and informing operational responses.
The team created highly uniform arrays of low surface tension functional water-based droplets for biochemical experiments, overcoming current patterning limitations. This non-contact method has potential applications in drug discovery and clinical diagnostics.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a set of guidelines for assessing vascular cognitive impairment, which can help determine the likelihood that cognitive decline was caused by vascular disease. The guidelines are based on pathological criteria and can be used to streamline research into dementia.
Researchers have identified a potential new way to treat high blood pressure by targeting aberrant nerve signals in the carotid bodies. By blocking these signals, they were able to significantly reduce blood pressure in preclinical models, suggesting a novel approach to controlling cardiovascular disease.
Coral larvae can't survive long enough to cross the Pacific Ocean due to changing ocean currents, supporting Darwin's opinion of an impassable barrier. The study highlights the importance of local conservation for remote and poorly-protected coral reefs.
The study found that the marsupial lion's elbow joint had a unique rotational capacity, similar to arboreal mammals, but also features not seen in living climbers. The researchers suggest this allowed the animal to use its dew claw to kill prey. The incisors were blunt and functioned better for gripping than piercing flesh.
Engineers from the University of Bristol have developed a new shape-changing metamaterial using Kirigami, a class of material engineered to produce unusual properties. The Kirigami metamaterial can seamlessly change shape, exhibits large variations in mechanical performance with small geometry changes.
A Bristol student, Paul Harris, has achieved a world record in 5G wireless spectrum efficiency using Massive MIMO. He set a new record of 145.6 bit/s/Hz with his research team, demonstrating the potential for this technology to deliver ultra-fast data rates to high densities of smartphones and tablets.