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University of Leeds


Private protected areas help conserve overlooked and threatened regions

New research reveals that private protected areas (PPAs) are twice as likely to be in areas with human disturbance and three times more likely to protect key biodiversity areas. PPAs account for 1.2% of these areas, increasing connectivity by over 7%. This study highlights the importance of recognizing their role in conservation efforts.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 7, 2022

“Tree of life” could help slow climate change

Researchers propose a new way to harvest aguaje fruit from the Mauritia flexuosa palm tree without cutting down female trees, increasing fruit production by 51% and generating $62 million annually. This method could provide a sustainable economic alternative for local communities and reduce deforestation in Amazonia.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeObservational study·DateApr 4, 2022

Higher blood fats more harmful than first thought

Researchers discovered that elevated blood fats in people with metabolic diseases create stress in muscle cells, leading to cell death and worsening the illness. Ceramides, a signal created by stressed-out cells, can be passed on to other cells, increasing the risk of severe symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 1, 2022

Engineers develop a ‘magnetic tentacle robot’ to pass into the narrow tubes of the lung

A team of engineers and scientists has developed a proof-of-concept for a magnetic tentacle robot that can navigate the narrow tubes of the lung, enabling doctors to take tissue samples or deliver cancer therapy. The device measures just 2 millimeters in diameter and uses an autonomous magnetic guidance system to guide it into place.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalSoft Robotics·TypeCase study·DateMar 21, 2022

"Seafloor fertilizer factory" helped breathe life into Earth

Scientists have discovered that the onset of microbial fertilizer factories on the Earth's seafloor roughly 2.6 billion years ago was a crucial step in the rise of oxygen levels during the Great Oxidation Event. This recycling process fueled photosynthetic bacteria, which increased oxygen production and paved the way for complex life t...

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2022

Why exercise gets harder the less you do

Researchers at the University of Leeds discovered that deactivating the Piezo1 protein, a blood flow sensor, reduces muscle capillary density and restricts blood flow to muscles. This results in reduced exercise capability and increased risk of disease, highlighting the crucial link between physical activity and physical performance.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 28, 2022

Unravelling the mysteries around type-2 diabetes

Researchers at the University of Leeds identify step-by-step changes in human islet amyloid polypeptide as it transforms into a toxic substance linked to type-2 diabetes. They also discover two compounds that can control the process, offering potential starting points for new treatments.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 24, 2022

Reducing COVID-19 risk during dentist appointments

A study by the University of Leeds found that changing drills from air-powered to electric drills can significantly reduce aerosol spray and create a safer environment for patients and dental teams. The research resulted in a 99.98% reduction in virus spread, potentially allowing millions more treatments to be carried out.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalJournal of Dental Research·DateJan 31, 2022

Using the eye as a window into heart disease

Researchers developed an AI system that can analyze retinal scans to identify patients at high risk of a heart attack over the next year. The system uses deep learning techniques and achieves an accuracy of 70-80%, revolutionizing the way patients are screened for signs of heart disease.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 25, 2022

Satellites reveal world’s most famous ‘mega iceberg’ released 152 billion tonnes of fresh water into ocean as it scraped past South Georgia

Scientists tracked A68A iceberg from its creation to its melting, revealing it released 152 billion tonnes of fresh water near South Georgia. The iceberg's melting influenced local ocean circulation and fostered biological production around the island.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalRemote Sensing of Environment·TypeImaging analysis·DateJan 19, 2022

Unintended consequences of edicts to wear a mask

A study by University of Leeds researchers found that compulsory mask wearing in Bangladesh led to an increase in mobility and a rise in COVID-19 cases. The study analyzed Google community mobility data and found statistically significant evidence of risk compensation, where people adopted riskier behavior if they felt safer with masks.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 9, 2022

Study reveals more hostile conditions on Earth as life evolved

Researchers used a state-of-the-art climate model to find that the level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth's surface could have been underestimated, with UV levels being up to ten times higher. This challenges the long-held assumption that oxygen levels reached about one percent relative to present atmospheric levels.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 4, 2022

Nations are overusing natural resources faster than they are meeting basic human needs

The study tracked nations' progress in meeting basic needs and respecting environmental limits, finding that no country meets both criteria without overconsuming resources. Wealthy countries like the US and UK drive ecological breakdown while poor countries like Bangladesh struggle to meet basic human needs.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 18, 2021

Going for gold to reduce antibiotic resistance

Research identifies way of using nanoparticles to target and disrupt bacterial cells, making them more susceptible to standard antibiotic treatments. Laboratory studies show a strong effect in killing a range of bacteria, including some linked to hospital-acquired infections.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalChemical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2021

Industry must prepare now for a new world of green electricity

The University of Leeds research highlights the need for industry to adopt new technologies that can manufacture materials using renewable electricity. This is crucial to achieving net zero emissions targets by 2050, as current steel and aluminium manufacturing capacities pose a significant barrier to this goal.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalCurrent Opinion in Environmental Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

Making self-driving cars human-friendly

Researchers used neuroscientific theories to develop a decision-making model that predicts pedestrian road-crossing decisions. The model shows that pedestrians add up sensory data before crossing, helping autonomous vehicles communicate more effectively with pedestrians.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalComputational Brain & Behavior·DateOct 4, 2021

Act now to benefit economically from peatland restoration

A new study found that restoring peatlands now would provide significant economic benefits to society, including a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and improved wildlife habitat. In Scotland, restoration could generate £191m in annual societal benefits if done by 2027, rather than later.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalGlobal Environmental Change·TypeCase study·DateSep 16, 2021

Astrophysicists identify large reservoirs of precursor molecules necessary for life in the birthplaces of planets

Researchers found significant reservoirs of large organic molecules in protoplanetary disks, providing a potential pathway for life to form elsewhere. The presence of these molecules suggests basic chemical conditions that led to life on Earth could exist more widely across the Galaxy.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 15, 2021

Scientists discover that taste cells can control a whole animal’s foraging strategy

Researchers developed a computer model revealing how single brain cells in nematode worms sense and process environmental information to drive decision-making. The study found that sensory cells use salt cues as 'navigation beacons' to direct foraging behavior, controlling the animal's search strategy.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 9, 2021

Transforming marine biodiversity discovery and monitoring

A new system for sampling fragments of DNA from marine organisms drifting in the ocean has been developed, enabling researchers to monitor biodiversity and conservation efforts on a global scale. The innovative approach uses water collected from engine cooling systems on commercial vessels, allowing for large-scale surveys of marine ec...

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeObservational study·DateSep 9, 2021

Forest fires linked to tens of thousands of avoidable deaths

A new study quantifies the contribution of agricultural and forest fires to poor air quality in Southeast Asia, finding that preventing these fires could reduce premature deaths by an estimated 59,000 annually. The region's poorest communities are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from these fires.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalGeoHealth·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 8, 2021

‘Safe and well tolerated’ - the prototype breathing device for covid patients

A low-cost prototype breathing device designed for poorer-resourced healthcare settings has shown promising results in a pilot trial involving healthy volunteers. The device provides continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and operates with oxygen concentrators, which are commonly used in low-pressure systems.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalFrontiers in Medical Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 24, 2021

Reducing COVID-19 risk during dentist appointments

New research found that using electric drills instead of air-driven drills reduces aerosol spray by 99.98%, creating a safer environment for patients and dental teams. This could lead to a significant increase in treatments carried out, addressing the growing backlog of patients waiting for dental care.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalJournal of Dental Research·DateAug 3, 2021

Developing new techniques to build biomaterials

Scientists at the University of Leeds have developed an approach to control the structure and mechanics of synthetic biomaterials made from proteins. By removing specific chemical bonds, known as 'protein staples,' they altered the structure of a protein network, resulting in different mechanical properties.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalACS Nano·DateJul 6, 2021