A new species of pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland expands our understanding of its evolution. The discovery sheds light on the early diversification of flying reptiles, with Ceoptera evansae showcasing a significant period of evolution and distribution.
A new type of inhibitor drug has shown promise in preventing microvascular diabetic complications, including diabetic eye and kidney disease. Researchers have developed a novel class of drugs that target the glycocalyx lining, which is damaged in diabetes.
A new study led by University of Bristol researchers found that weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes can alter levels of cancer-related chemicals circulating in the blood. Nine cancer-related proteins were changed by the weight loss intervention, suggesting a potential reduction in cancer risk.
A recent study published in BMC Medicine found that higher maternal body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increased risk of several pregnancy complications, including high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. However, being overweight also has a lower risk of anaemia during pregnancy and low birthweight babies. The research used mul...
Leading scientists propose a new global advisory system to address the alarming impacts of urban expansion, which would fulfil a similar function as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The system aims to manage sustainable growth of cities and protect vital Earth systems.
A study published in Journal of Ecology found that forest canopies do not follow fractal patterns, despite exhibiting similar deviations from fractality across diverse ecosystems. The researchers used airborne laser scanning data to compare forest heights and deviated scaling with fractality.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a significant connection between specific weather patterns and power faults. The study shows that winter weather patterns characterized by high wind speeds and precipitation volumes are responsible for many instances of power outages through wind, gale, and lightning strikes. Hig...
A three-year study has provided the first reliable estimate of giraffe population size for the region, revealing a mere 27 individuals remain within Bénoué National Park. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect this subspecies from extinction due to threats from poaching and human pressures.
The study's findings highlight serious failures in animal welfare protection during transportation, with all countries falling short of guaranteeing adequate protection. The researchers propose updating the regulations to address major risk factors such as excessively long journeys and hot weather, drawing key future directions for new...
Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a 200-million-year-old flying reptile, Kuehneosaurs, in Somerset. These small animals had gliding wings made from skin stretched over their side ribs and likely fed on insects.
Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Ghent have shown that exploring the unknown is crucial for realising continual innovation in biological design. By focusing on novelty and diversity, algorithms can create better solutions than solely optimising for a specific goal.
Scientists have unraveled a major mystery in lunar geology by identifying a key step in the creation of unique magmas. High-temperature laboratory experiments and isotopic analyses reveal a critical reaction that controls their composition, providing new insights into the origin of volcanic lunar rocks.
Researchers use computational fluid dynamics to examine the feeding mode of extinct jawless heterostracans, dismissing the filter feeding hypothesis. The study reveals that forward-facing denticles on oral plates may have prevented oversized food particles from lodging between plates.
New research from the University of Bristol found that exposure to high humidity and temperature during pregnancy can influence blood pressure changes in children. The study analyzed over 7,000 participants and found a steeper increase in blood pressure with higher relative humidity and a slower increase with higher temperature.
New research found that rapid-acting antidepressants modulate affective biases associated with learning and memory. The study proposes a neuropsychological mechanism explaining both immediate and sustained effects of these drugs.
Scientists have discovered fossils of ancient predator worms, Timorebestia, which are estimated to be over 518 million years old. These massive swimming animals were among the largest predators in Early Cambrian times and had a complex food chain.
Researchers have discovered that an HIV drug, cobicistat, can stop many coronavirus diseases when given to infected cells at the right concentration. The findings could strengthen antiviral treatments against current and future outbreaks of coronaviruses.
A systematic review of papers found abnormalities in brain cancer and potential treatment with licensed drugs. Genetic differences were discovered between smokers and non-smokers, suggesting personalized medicine approaches.
A team from the University of Bristol has successfully inspected a steel pipe using a network of robots equipped with guided acoustic wave sensors. The approach achieved 100% detection coverage for defects on a three-meter long pipe, minimizing communication between robots and reducing data transfer costs.
A study published in Appetite found that the taste perception of ultra-processed foods is no better than that of less processed foods. Foods with a balanced carbohydrate-to-fat ratio and high dietary fibre content were more liked, while those with intense sweetness and saltiness were preferred.
Researchers found that skunks with varied fur colors, such as all-black or white individuals, were more common in areas with low mammalian predator density. This suggests that relaxed selection pressures led to the evolution of signal conformity, resulting in similar warning signals across species.
A new study found that consuming ultra-processed foods is associated with a higher risk of developing upper aerodigestive tract cancers. The study analysed data from 450,111 adults and found that eating more UPFs was linked to a 23% higher risk of head and neck cancer and a 24% higher risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
A recent study published in One Health found that feeding dogs raw meat significantly increases the risk of excreting antibiotic-resistant E. coli, a bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections. The researchers emphasized the importance of proper hygiene and sourcing high-quality meat to reduce this risk.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have found a rare phenomenon in purple bronze that could create an ideal 'perfect switch' in quantum devices. The material exhibits emergent symmetry, where it can transition between insulating and superconducting states with temperature changes.
Research from the University of Bristol found that conflict with rival groups increases pup survival rate when threat levels are higher. This challenges the common belief that intergroup conflict has negative consequences on reproductive success.
A potential treatment for Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) has been discovered by an international team of scientists. The breakthrough found that inhibiting the complement pathway early on can successfully treat STEC-HUS, a devastating disease that can lead to life-long dialysis and death in children.
A new hormone replacement therapy, Pulsatility, has shown promising results in improving symptoms and quality of life for patients with adrenal insufficiency conditions. The treatment, which delivers hydrocortisone in a pulsatile pattern, decreased fatigue by 10% and improved mood and energy levels by 30%.
Astronomers detected two ice giant exoplanets colliding, creating a blaze of light and plumes of dust that moved in front of the parent star, dimming it over time. The study suggests the collision occurred three years before the star started to fade in visible light.
A University of Bristol-led study found that circadian misalignment associated with 'jet-lag' disrupts hormones regulating appetite, leading to increased food consumption. The study suggests promising targets for drug treatments adapted to treat eating disorders and obesity.
A dispute over fossil rights led to mud-slinging between professors from Cambridge and London Universities in the 1970s. The researchers found that Professor Parrington's team took four tons of clay rich in fossils from quarries in South Wales, sparking a heated debate.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have created a prediction model for a simple connection method using screws in bamboo. This innovative approach can help fight climate change by sequestering carbon at a faster rate than traditional wood, taking only four-to-five years to mature.
Researchers developed a software that can accurately detect intricate details of emotions in parents, even in everyday family life. The study uses machine learning techniques to analyze facial expressions from videos taken at home, providing potential early intervention opportunities for mood and mental health disorders.
A new study reveals that sperm tail movement follows the same mathematical template as zebra stripes and other natural patterns. This discovery, published in Nature Communications, suggests that flagellar undulations can arise spontaneously without external influence, using a reaction-diffusion system first proposed by Alan Turing.
Research suggests that a merged supercontinent will lead to extreme temperatures, making most of the world uninhabitable for mammals. The team used supercomputer climate models to simulate temperature trends, leading to predictions of widespread heat stress and mortality in humans and other species.
Contrary to long-held assumptions, primate species with better color vision do not necessarily exhibit more colorful traits like red skin or fur. Instead, these traits may be used for social communication, such as signaling fertility or rank in the dominance hierarchy.
Researchers at the University of Bristol studied the damping and natural frequency characteristics of a 150m tall building in London. The findings suggest that amplitude and time are the dominant factors affecting damping ratios, which can improve occupant comfort and reduce failure risk.
Research revealed that both brachiopods and bivalves shared similar trends in diversification dynamics during the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. The study found that bivalves eventually prevailed due to better adaptation to high ocean temperatures, while brachiopods retreated to deeper waters.
Climate scientists simulated North African Humid Periods every 21,000 years driven by Earth's orbital precession. The study revealed that these humid events intensified the West African Monsoon system, resulting in the spread of savannah-type vegetation across the desert.
Researchers discovered that pachypleurosaur species doubled their neck lengths by adding new vertebrae, reaching lengths of up to five times the length of their trunk. This rapid growth occurred over a period of 5 million years in response to changing marine environments.
A new study has uncovered that plants evolved gradually over time, with episodic bursts of innovation to overcome environmental challenges. The research found that changes in plant anatomy occurred in association with events where the entire cellular genetic make-up was doubled, likely due to errors in genome-copying.
Astronomers have found a Neptune-sized planet denser than steel, suggesting extreme planetary collisions that stripped away lighter atmosphere and water. The discovery provides new insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
Researchers at the University of Bristol developed a novel Bi-Touch system enabling robots to perform manual tasks with human-like dexterity. The system uses simulation-based training for AI agents, which are then applied to real-world scenarios, achieving precise sensing, gentle interaction, and effective object manipulation.
A team of scientists has discovered extremely rare 160-million-year-old sea spider fossils in Southern France that are closely related to living species, providing new insights into their evolution. The findings suggest that the diversity of sea spiders had already started to form by the Jurassic period.
Researchers found that six bat species exhibited lower activity levels at solar farms compared to control sites, highlighting the need for mitigation strategies. The study emphasizes the importance of considering ecological impacts in planning legislation and policy.
A team of researchers from China and the UK has discovered that a group of ancient marine reptiles used whale-like filter feeding methods 250 million years ago. The Hupehsuchus skull shows adaptations similar to baleen whales, including grooves and notches along the jaws.
Researchers have discovered that Heliconius butterflies can learn spatial information at large scales, suggesting complex learning skills may be more common in insects. The findings provide the first experimental evidence of spatial learning in any butterfly or moth species.
A University of Bristol-led study warns that Kordofan giraffes may go extinct within 15 years if poaching continues in Cameroon's Bénoué National Park. Researchers found that the removal of one male and one female giraffe per year would result in an average time to extinction of just 15.3 years.
Scientists at the University of Bristol found that Heliconius butterflies' brains grew as they adopted a novel foraging behaviour, allowing them to collect and digest pollen, which gives them an adult source of protein. The findings suggest that brain structure and function are closely linked to ecological niche and behaviour.
A new study by the University of Bristol highlights significant variations in healthcare spending and care delivery across NHS hospitals following hip fracture. The research found that patients who received timely orthogeriatrician assessment and physiotherapy had lower costs and reduced risk of delirium.
Researchers used machine learning algorithms to predict nest material use based on beak shape and size, correctly identifying broad materials in 60% of species. The study explores ecological and evolutionary context behind these relationships, with potential applications in understanding animal manipulation and evolution.