Scientists analyzed hoof prints and foot bones from modern horses to discover what happened to the lost digits. The team confirmed that the distant ancestors of modern horses had hooved toes instead of a single hoof, which vanished over time.
A comprehensive dataset of neurotransmitter receptors has been made publicly available, revealing potential role in distinguishing internal thoughts and emotions from external influences. The study's findings have exciting implications for understanding brain function and developing new treatments.
Scientists at the University of Bristol have shown that reinforcement learning significantly outperforms commercial blood glucose controllers in terms of safety and effectiveness. The new study improves on prior work by learning from patient records, achieving good blood glucose control through personalized insulin dosing strategies.
Researchers reveal alternative locomotion methods used by extinct kangaroos, including striding on two legs and traversing on all fours. These findings suggest that large-bodied kangaroos were not only specialized in endurance-hopping but also had diverse gaits.
A new study found that NHS policies on patient's weight affecting access to hip replacement surgery are inappropriate and worsen health inequalities. The study analyzed nearly 490,000 hip surgeries and found a link between BMI policies and decreased surgery rates in deprived areas.
Researchers from Nanjing University and University of Bristol found that early reptiles, birds, and mammals may have borne live young, contrary to the long-held assumption that hard-shelled eggs were key to their success. Extended embryo retention was likely a crucial adaptation that allowed these animals to thrive on land.
A team of researchers studied ancient rhynchosaurs and found that their diet led to weakened teeth, making it difficult for them to obtain enough nutrition. As they aged, their growth slowed down, and new teeth were added at the back of their jaw, eventually leading to starvation and death.
Researchers at the University of Bristol found that human influences can reduce bee communication effectiveness, adding stress to struggling colonies. The study analyzed habitat differences, social lifestyle, and nesting habits to explain variation in communication strategies among bees.
A new study found that adaptations to living in cold climates promoted the evolution of social behaviors, including extended care by mothers and increased infant survival. The research team integrated ecological, geological, fossil, behavioral, and genomic analyses to understand how these species adapted over time.
Researchers found that animals using Lévy motion are targeted twice as often as those using Brownian motion by predators. This suggests that prey may use less efficient searching strategies due to potential costs.
Researchers have measured the effects of ground on propeller noise for the first time, finding clear differences in noise characteristics. The study aims to inform strategies to reduce aircraft noise while taking off or landing, which is crucial for urban air services.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that children who met more UK Government dietary guidelines during childhood had better cardiometabolic health when they became young adults. The study, which analyzed data from the Children of the 90s cohort, found that almost a third of children only met one out of ni...
A new paper reveals that Henry Hilton, Central Park's Treasurer and VP, was behind the order to destroy life-size models of dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures in 1871. The destruction was part of a struggle for control of New York city following the American Civil War.
A study analyzing 34,000 people found that lowering sclerostin levels may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The research suggests that strategies to minimize potential impact on heart attack risk are needed.
Scientists have identified a gene in the brain driving anxiety symptoms and found that modifying it reduces anxiety levels. The discovery offers an exciting novel drug target for anxiety disorders.
A new study finds that pet rabbits require daily freedom to exercise outside their home enclosure, even in larger hutches with access to an exercise area. The research highlights the importance of allowing pairs of rabbits to move freely throughout the day.
A new study highlights regions such as Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, and Central America, which are under-prepared for scorching temperatures. The research emphasizes the need for policy makers in hotspot regions to consider action plans to reduce heat-related deaths and harms.
Researchers at the University of Bristol collected 840 hours of underwater sound recordings from five ponds in England, revealing clear daily acoustic activity cycles. The study provides insights into the health of freshwater ecosystems and the potential for assessing species presence without disturbing the environment.
Researchers at the University of Bristol used NASA's InSight lander data to detect seismic waves traveling into Mars' core, revealing a denser and smaller core comprising iron and numerous other elements. The study found that the core's composition is distinct from Earth's, with a high fraction of light elements alloyed with iron.
A new study published in Palaeontology sheds light on the swimming styles of Mesozoic marine reptiles, finding a gradual diversification of locomotory modes that peaked in the Cretaceous period. The research also explores the evolution of body size, with the widest spread occurring during this time.
Research finds global emissions of several banned ozone-destroying chemicals are increasing, primarily due to their use in alternative products. These potent greenhouse gases affect the climate, equivalent to CO2 emissions from a smaller country like Switzerland, and may negate some benefits of the Montreal Protocol.
A new study highlights the risks of cryptocurrency investors engaging in online gambling, with cryptocurrencies posing extreme price volatility. Cryptocasinos present a double danger, allowing gamblers to bet on sophisticated products using cryptocurrencies.
Global efforts to track HIV and HCV incidence among people who inject drugs are necessary to validate targets for ending the epidemics by 2030. The research highlights the importance of prioritizing this population in prevention and elimination work, particularly for vulnerable subgroups like young people and women.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have found that the first land plants were likely to have been branched, contradicting previous theories. The discovery sheds new light on the origin of branching in plants and its role in shaping their evolution.
A new study published in Current Biology found that the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex must synchronize their neural assemblies to support memory encoding, maintenance, and recall. Disruption of this synchronization leads to memory loss, presenting a viable target for therapeutic interventions.
A global study found that while recovering tropical forests can remove significant amounts of carbon, the rate of regrowth is outpacing natural recovery. The study highlights the importance of sustainably managing forest areas that can recover from human disturbances.
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in quantum computing, enabling the creation of an experimental wormhole. The 'counterportation' approach harnesses basic laws of physics to transport small objects across space without particles crossing.
An analysis of European marine fish found temperature to be a key driver of large-scale spatial variation in fish assemblages. By 2050 and 2100, the study predicts the greatest community-level changes will occur at locations with greater warming, particularly further north.
A pioneering study finds that flood risks in the UK can be kept below a 5% increase by 2050 if all countries meet their carbon emission pledges. The research reveals dramatic regional variations in flood hazards, with areas like South East England and London facing significant increases in damage.
A University of Bristol study found that social animals limit individuality to conform with the behaviour of the group. Simple social behavioural rules can drive conformity behaviour in groups, eroding consistent behavioural differences shown by individual animals.
Researchers discovered that some predatory dinosaurs used their claws for digging or display, contrary to previous assumptions. The study focused on two groups of theropod dinosaurs, the alvarezsaurs and therizinosaurs, which had unusual claws that were previously unknown to have a function.
Researchers found that zebra fur's thinly striped and sharply outlined pattern deters horseflies. The team theorized that small dark patches are less appealing to flies compared to large monochrome patches.
A global study reveals how schools use marketing techniques to attract higher-performing pupils and climb league tables. Marketing practices often prioritize recruitment over quality of teaching, exacerbating social inequalities.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a way to improve the accuracy of medical needle-use in surgical simulation, reproducing effects similar to real-life delivery. The breakthrough has the potential to enhance training for junior surgeons and develop surgical robotic solutions.
A new study by the University of Bristol has found that spironolactone can help preserve the glycocalyx layer on blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing damage from diabetes. This discovery could lead to more effective treatments for diabetic kidney disease without adverse side effects.
A large international study found no robust difference in blood pressure, heart rate, lipids, and glucose measurements between children conceived naturally and those conceived using assisted reproductive technologies. Children conceived via ART had slightly higher cholesterol levels in childhood, which did not persist to adulthood.
Scientists studied African cichlid fish's lateral line sensing organ to understand cues for collective behavior, which could aid underwater robots. They found that different areas of the lateral line influence swimming patterns in shoals.
Researchers have discovered an anti-ageing gene that can rewind the heart's biological age by 10 years, offering a potential target for patients with heart failure. The study found that administering the healthy mutant gene to elderly patients with severe heart problems improved their cardiac function and rejuvenated their immune system.
A new study found that children with persistent speech disorder are more likely to experience peer problems and emotional difficulties in school. The researchers analyzed data from over 7,300 participants and found no significant associations between speech disorders and depressive symptoms or antisocial behavior.
A new biography of Mary Anning, written by George Roberts in the final years of her life, has been published for the first time. The manuscript reveals details of her discoveries of fossil reptiles, including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, as well as her struggles with breast cancer.
A UK program using magnesium sulfate to prevent cerebral palsy in premature babies has been shown to be both effective and cost-effective. The PReCePT program increased the use of magnesium sulfate by 9.5 percentage points on average, resulting in a lifetime saving of £3 million.
Early dinosaurs showed diversity in diets, with plant-eaters starting as omnivores and meat-eaters appearing later. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary success of these ancient creatures.
A new study calls for anti-racist and holistic models of care to address ethnic inequalities in mental healthcare. The research highlights the need to consider social factors, racism, and cultural aspects of illness to produce equitable care.
Researchers found that adult hospitalisations from Omicron-related SARS-CoV-2 infections were less severe than those from Delta infections. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was effective in preventing hospitalisations and severe outcomes, even with increasing Omicron variant transmissibility.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have created a new technique to construct rare molecules found in Bahamian sediments, which could lead to cheaper and more accessible treatments for diseases. The breakthrough reduces the production time of these complex molecules from over 20 steps to just 14.
A new fossil discovery in a London storeroom has revealed that modern lizards originated in the Late Triassic period, 35 million years earlier than previously thought. The fossil, Cryptovaranoides microlanius, is a relative of living lizards and snakes, and its characteristics impact estimates of lizard evolution and diversification.
Researchers have identified a tailor-made pocket feature in the spike glycoproteins of deadly coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, MERS, and Omicron. This finding could lead to the development of a pan-coronavirus treatment that exploits this pocket feature to stop virus infectivity.
Researchers at the University of Bristol found that social bees have larger foraging ranges due to traits like body size, colony size, communication, and flower constancy. This has significant implications for predicting pollination services and creating effective conservation strategies for bees and plants.
Research at the University of Bristol found that fertilizers alter the electric field around flowers for up to 25 minutes, reducing bee feeding effort. This impact can last longer than natural fluctuations and causes a reduction in pollination in nature.
A majority of gig economy workers report feeling threatened by online reviews, which can negatively impact their earnings. The study found that algorithms used to rank workers are opaque and volatile, leaving workers vulnerable to malicious customers. This 'reputational insecurity' is creating instability in the workforce, with some wo...