The production of ingredients used in dog food contributes around 1% of the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions, with wet and raw foods associated with substantially higher emissions. Choosing dry food over grain-free or wet options can significantly reduce environmental impact.
Researchers found early medieval migrants came from the Mediterranean and Arctic Circle, with a significant spike in male migration and female mobility in the 7th-8th centuries. The study provides new evidence on the nature and scale of early medieval migration, showing that population movement was a consistent feature throughout England.
Researchers have developed a new method to compress AI models' memory, increasing their accuracy in complex tasks while saving energy. The Dynamic Memory Sparsification (DMS) technique allows AI models to think more deeply and explore more possible solutions without extra computer power.
Daily scans taken during prostate cancer radiotherapy can identify changes linked to future rectal bleeding as early as one week into treatment. This allows doctors to adapt radiotherapy to limit side effects while maintaining cancer control.
Researchers tracked children from Wales to find that rates of mental ill health among young people have been rising. By 2023, one in five young people had accessed specialist NHS child and adolescent mental health services before their 18th birthday.
A study of almost 258,000 children in Scotland found that lockdown measures during the Covid-19 pandemic were associated with an increase in developmental concerns, including speech and language skills, physical movement, and emotional growth. The proportion of children with at least one developmental concern increased by up to 6.6 per...
Researchers have developed AI-powered forecasting tools that can predict the risk of aftershocks within seconds of an initial earthquake, offering a significant improvement over current methods. The new models trained on global earthquake data demonstrate comparable accuracy to existing systems while providing near real-time results.
Researchers have found a gene linked to the risk of delirium, a common medical condition characterized by sudden mental confusion. The study suggests targeted treatments and new ways to prevent progression from delirium to dementia.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have identified a new mechanism of resistance to common antibiotics, targeting a special repair system possessed by certain bacteria. This discovery could aid efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, one of the world's most urgent health challenges.
Websites for COP conferences emit significantly more carbon than average internet pages, with a 13,000% rise in emissions between 1995 and 2024. The team's findings highlight the need to reduce digital footprint through practices such as page size limits, optimized site layouts, and renewable energy hosting.
A study by the Scottish Centre for Social Research found that young people in Scotland are experimenting with nicotine pouches, reporting adverse effects like gum pain and fainting. The products are widely available and discreetly used, posing a challenge for teachers and policymakers.
A new study found that patients with early-stage breast cancer who underwent a mastectomy and anti-cancer drugs had similar 10-year survival rates whether or not they received chest wall radiotherapy. The research team concludes that radiotherapy may no longer be necessary for these patients, reducing treatment burden and potential sid...
A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that adolescents treated with doxycycline had a lower risk of developing schizophrenia. The researchers hypothesize that doxycycline's impact on inflammation and brain development may be responsible for this protective effect.
New research reveals that low oxygen levels can alter the genetic makeup of key immune cells, reducing their capacity to fight infection. The study found that oxygen deprivation can leave a lasting mark on bone marrow cells, making people more vulnerable to repeated infections after recovering from severe lung disease.
A recent study by the University of Edinburgh reveals that retirement has a significant impact on mental health, with certain groups at risk of dips in wellbeing. Researchers found that people on average income who had physically demanding jobs before retirement and those on high-income who retire later are particularly vulnerable to f...
Researchers analyzed ancient pollen grains to study plant biodiversity responses to climate and land use changes. Two sites showed different patterns of biodiversity change, with one site experiencing steady decline due to peat formation, while the other showed rapid changes with recolonization through disturbances.
Scientists found brain changes similar to those of people with Alzheimer's disease in cats with dementia, including a build-up of toxic protein amyloid-beta. This discovery may lead to new treatments for both cats and humans with the condition.
Researchers found a significant link between vaccination of pregnant women and a drop in newborns being admitted to hospital with a serious lung infection. The RSV vaccine offered a 72% reduction in hospital admissions, with mothers who received the jab before delivery having twice the protective effect.
A 20-year study suggests that increased access to innovative treatments has led to a significant drop in patients requiring surgery for ulcerative colitis. The use of advanced therapies targeting the immune system has improved treatment outcomes and reduced the need for colectomy procedures.
Researchers created a new way to measure short-sightedness that better predicts long-term risk of serious retinal damage. The approach uses routine eye scans and AI to identify individuals at higher risk, who may require more tailored management to prevent vision loss.
Researchers have developed a new way to precisely tune magnetism using ultra-thin CrPS₄ material. This breakthrough could solve long-standing scientific problems and pave the way for smarter magnetic technologies.
Researchers have developed a method to transform polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste into paracetamol using genetically reprogrammed E. coli bacteria. The new process creates virtually no carbon emissions and can be completed in under 24 hours.
A new study has identified consistent blood differences associated with chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and liver disease in ME/CFS patients. The results support the long-term goal of developing a blood test to diagnose ME/CFS.
A study from the University of Edinburgh found that young children with difficulty managing intense emotions are more likely to experience mental health issues like depression and anxiety as teenagers. The research suggests that helping children develop emotion regulation skills early on could reduce these issues in adolescence.
A study analyzing data from nearly one million people found that socioeconomic status is linked to brain health, with a common genetic signal across measures of occupation, income, education, and social deprivation. The study suggests that this factor may explain differences in cognitive skills and dementia risk.
A study found significant gaps in testing for genetic cancer risk among patients with womb cancer, with less than half eligible receiving a blood test for Lynch syndrome. This can lead to delayed diagnosis and increased cancer risk, affecting not only the individual but also their family members.
Researchers found that exposure to dogs in early life reduced the risk of eczema in genetically predisposed children by suppressing skin inflammation. The study identified a genetic variant near an interleukin-7 receptor gene that responded differently to dog ownership, providing potential targets for future treatment or prevention.
Researchers developed a new computer modeling approach to simulate the behavior of tiny nanoparticles in the air, improving accuracy and efficiency. This could lead to better monitoring of air pollution and more precise ways of predicting its effects on human health.
Scientists have created the first soft robots that can walk out of the machines that make them using a new 3D printing system. The flexible devices were developed to overcome challenges in manufacturing and design, making them suitable for various industries like nuclear decommissioning and space exploration.
The Amazon rainforest could withstand prolonged droughts caused by climate change, but this would come with significant losses, including the death of largest trees. This would lead to a reduction in the forest's ability to act as a vital carbon sink.
Researchers found that social difficulties faced by autistic individuals are primarily due to differences in communication styles, rather than a lack of social ability. Autistic people often communicate more directly, but struggle with reading social cues, leading to varying conversation dynamics compared to non-autistic peers.
Researchers found that people with multiple chronic conditions are at a significantly greater risk of developing depression. Combinations of cardiometabolic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease can more than double the likelihood of a future depression diagnosis.
A recent study suggests that lowering the legal tackle height in women's rugby has been effective in reducing head contacts between players. The study found a 64% reduction in tacklers making initial contact with the ball carrier's head and neck, as well as significant reductions in head-to-head and head-to-shoulder contacts.
A new tool harnesses the power of AI to speed up the analysis of gel electrophoresis experiments. The technique uses a machine learning model to automate most tedious steps in the analysis process, eliminating biases and assumptions inherent to manual approaches.
A recent study suggests that common mental health conditions are more closely linked to people's personalities than previously thought. Personality traits explained around a quarter of the overall risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Researchers used living human brain tissue to study the toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease. They found that even small changes in natural levels of amyloid beta were enough to disrupt brain cells, suggesting a 'sweet spot' for the protein is required for proper function.
Researchers analyzed data from over 35,000 young people to capture how depression symptoms interact throughout adolescence. The study found that symptom patterns become more stable across age, with individuals more likely to experience persistent depression in adulthood.
A study published in BMC Public Health found that ME/CFS cases in England are significantly higher than initially projected, affecting approximately 404,000 people. The condition disproportionately affects white British individuals, who are almost five times more likely to be diagnosed than those from other ethnic groups.
A new study by the University of Edinburgh reveals that lowering the tackle height in men's rugby has successfully reduced the rate of head collisions among players. The study found a 29% reduction in head-to-shoulder contact and a 45% decrease in head-on-head contact, leading to fewer concussions.
Researchers have discovered that some fish, known as blue runners, hide behind sandbar sharks to launch high-speed attacks on smaller fish. The shadowing behavior improves their chances of success and may protect them from predators and conserve energy.
A new coffee-making robot, developed by the University of Edinburgh, demonstrates cutting-edge AI and motor skills that enable it to adapt to challenging kitchen environments. The robot can interact with objects and people seamlessly, solving complex problems like accessing drawers and measuring ingredients.
State-of-the-art AI models struggle to interpret clock-hand positions and answer questions about dates on calendars, requiring spatial awareness, context, and basic maths. Researchers tested various clock designs with different fonts and styles and found that AI systems got clock-hand positions right less than a quarter of the time.
A global study has identified nearly 300 genetic links to depression, revealing the condition's impact on the brain and suggesting new treatment targets. The research, involving over five million people from 29 countries, highlights existing drugs that could be repurposed for depression treatment.
Researchers have discovered that climate change and tsetse fly control measures can drive molecular changes in African trypanosomes, enabling them to infect animals without flies. New strains with reduced life cycles have been detected in Asia, South America, and southern Europe.
Researchers uncovered a rare musical score in an ancient manuscript, shedding light on Scotland's musical traditions during the Reformation. The discovery provides clues to what music sounded like five centuries ago and is the only surviving piece from the northeast of Scotland.
A new AI image tool, INQUIRE, can aid in analyzing millions of wildlife images uploaded to the internet for insights into climate change impacts on species. Current AI algorithms can identify species but struggle with more complex questions.
A new screening method combining laser analysis with AI identifies patients with breast cancer in its earliest stage, stage 1a. This non-invasive technique reveals subtle changes in the bloodstream that occur during the initial phases of the disease, outperforming existing early detection strategies.
A study found that only a small percentage of Ethiopian children under five regularly consume animal-sourced foods, limiting their dietary diversity. Introducing just one meat item into a child's diet each day could make a dramatic difference in preventing stunting and improving cognitive capacity.
A recent study by the University of Edinburgh found that preschool children who struggle to control their emotions and behaviour are more likely to display ADHD symptoms and conduct issues at age seven. Children with slower emotional regulation skills are also at risk of internalising behaviours such as sadness and worries.
A new study suggests that smart robots can predict waves in real-time, enabling them to work stably in turbulent seas. This technology could reduce the cost of generating renewable energy by up to 50%, making it more competitive with fossil fuels.