News
Cat owners need better information about when to neuter their cat
22 May 2013
A new study from the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences ‘Bristol Cats' study cohort has shown that 85 per cent of pet cats are not neutered by the recommended age possibly due to cat owners needing better information about when to neuter their cat.
Iodine deficiency during pregnancy adversely affects children’s mental development
22 May 2013
A study of around 1,000 UK mothers and their children, published in The Lancet, has revealed that iodine deficiency in pregnancy may have an adverse effect on children’s mental development. The research raises concerns that the iodine status of pregnant women is a public-health issue that needs to be addressed.
Unexpected Effects of Ocean Acidification on Deep-sea Organisms
22 May 2013
About 55.5 million years ago, geologically rapid emission of a large volume of greenhouse gases at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary (PETM) led to global warming of about 5oC, severe ocean acidification, and widespread extinction of microscopic organisms living on the deep-sea floor (foraminifera). A study of survivors of the extinction provides unique insight into the response of deep-sea calcifiers to past episodes which resemble the potential future consequences of fossil fuel CO2 emissions. The organisms, contrary to expectations from experiments, actually increased the thickness of their shells during ocean acidification, with organisms living buried within the sediment able to survive better than forms living on the sediment surface. The research, by scientists from the University of Bristol (UK) and Yale University (USA), is reported in this week's early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.
Masked donors: new study reveals why people make large donations anonymously
21 May 2013
New research that studied why people choose to make large donations to charity anonymously has found that it may act as a signal to other donors of the charity’s quality. The findings, published today, also show that anonymous gifts rather than public ones induce larger donations from subsequent donors.
New £23m research unit will use advances in genetics to help reduce risk of disease
20 May 2013
A new £23million research unit is announced today, that will exploit the latest advances in genetics to improve understanding of how changes to lifestyle or environment, as well as pharmacological interventions, can reduce the risk of disease. The Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU), jointly funded by the Medical Research Council and the University of Bristol, will launch on 1 June 2013.
SUMO wrestling cells reveal new protective mechanism target for stroke
20 May 2013
Scientists investigating the interaction of a group of proteins in the brain responsible for protecting nerve cells from damage have identified a new target that could increase cell survival.
Minister marks starts of NCC expansion work
15 May 2013
Construction on the second phase of the National Composites Centre (NCC), a world leading research and technology hub owned by the University of Bristol, got underway yesterday with a turf cutting ceremony attended by the Business Minister Michael Fallon.
Discover the secrets of the garden
15 May 2013
The University of Bristol Botanic Garden will be transformed into a living science lab this Sunday [19 May] for Fascination of Plants Day.
Cooling ocean temperature could buy more time for coral reefs
14 May 2013
Limiting the amount of warming experienced by the world's oceans in the future could buy some time for tropical coral reefs, say researchers from the University of Bristol.
The high-tech future of healthcare: a digital health assistant in your home
9 May 2013
The UK’s healthcare system faces unprecedented challenges. A pioneering new collaboration, led by the University of Bristol, hopes to address these challenges by developing a 24/7 digital home health assistant thanks to a grant awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of £12 million.
Silk and cellulose biologically effective for use in stem cell cartilage repair
8 May 2013
Over 20 million people in Europe suffer from osteoarthritis which can lead to extensive damage to the knee and hip cartilage. Stem cells offer a promising way forward but a key challenge has been to design a ‘smart material’ that is biologically effective for cartilage tissue regeneration. Now researchers have identified a blend of naturally occurring fibres such as cellulose and silk that makes progress towards affordable and effective cell-based therapy for cartilage repair a step closer.
New antiviral treatment could significantly reduce global burden of hepatitis C
6 May 2013
Around 150 million people globally are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) – a major cause of liver disease and the fastest growing cause of liver transplantation and liver cancer. New prevention strategies are urgently required as people are continuing to be infected with HCV. Findings, published in Hepatology, reveal the impact of a new antiviral treatment that could potentially reduce HCV rates in some cities affected by chronic HCV prevalence by half over 15 years.
Researchers calculate the global highways of invasive marine species
5 May 2013
New research by scientists from the Universities of Bristol, UK, and Oldenburg, Germany, has mapped the most detailed forecast to date for importing potentially harmful invasive species with the ballast water of cargo ships.
Xenon gas successfully delivered to babies in ambulance
29 April 2013
Two babies at risk of brain injury following a lack of oxygen at birth have received xenon gas and cooling therapy while being transferred from one hospital to another in a specially equipped ambulance.
Shape-shifting mobile devices
29 April 2013
Prototype mobile devices that can change shape on-demand will be unveiled today [Monday 29 April] by academics in the University’s Department of Computer Science and could lay down the foundation for creating high shape resolution devices of the future.