UK ‘meat tax’ would cost economy almost £250 million a year22 July 2021A 'meat tax' would cost the UK £242 million a year according to a new study, adding a surprising economic rationale to the National Food Strategy's dismissal of the idea on political grounds.
The Robot A-Team vital to the future of offshore wind and Net Zero15 July 2021One of the UK’s most ambitious robotics projects has proven the concept for robotic teams repairing offshore wind farms. The project paves the way for human-robot teams at wind farms within 10 years and wind farms designed for robotic maintenance by 2050 – a scenario that will be vital to the UK achieving its Net Zero targets.
New interim Director for Cabot Institute for the Environment 13 July 2021The University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute for the Environment has appointed as interim Director, Professor Guy Howard, for the next six months while we recruit for the new Director.
Come and discover the fascinating relationship between pollinating insects and flowers1 July 2021How do bees visualise and interact with flowers? A summer art and science exhibition that uses a blend of the most innovative interactive technology, including augmented reality (AR), inspiration from 17th century Dutch flower paintings, and the latest scientific research on the symbiotic relationship of plants and insects, opens at the University of Bristol's Botanic Garden next week [Tuesday 6 July].
Bee behaviour to influence energy efficiency communication to homes30 June 2021A revolutionary project launching in December 2021 is set to redefine how households are advised on the most efficient use of their energy, based on bees’ social organisation and communication patterns.
Microbes feast on crushed rock in subglacial lakes beneath Antarctica29 June 2021Pioneering research has revealed the erosion of ancient sediments found deep beneath Antarctic ice could be a vital and previously unknown source of nutrients and energy for abundant microbial life.
Dinosaurs were in decline before the end29 June 2021The death of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago was caused by the impact of a huge asteroid on the Earth. However, palaeontologists have continued to debate whether they were already in decline or not before the impact.
How does the one-humped Arabian camel survive without drinking?23 June 2021Research led by scientists at the University of Bristol has shed new light on how the kidneys of the one-humped Arabian camel play an important role in helping it to cope with extremes.
The humidity of flowers acts as an invisible attractor for bumblebees22 June 2021As well as bright colours and subtle scents, flowers possess many invisible ways of attracting their pollinators, and a new study shows that bumblebees may use the humidity of a flower to tell them about the presence of nectar, according to scientists at the Universities of Bristol and Exeter.
GW4 takes a world leading One Health approach to tackling the antimicrobial resistance pandemic21 June 2021The GW4 Alliance (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter universities – GW4) formally launched their new ‘One Health’ antimicrobial resistance research consortium this week [Wednesday 16 June]. The World Health Organisation cites antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the most significant risks facing the world. AMR threatens global health and development as it impacts on human, animal and plant health and also our environment, water safety and food security.
Professor Jemma Wadham stepping down as Cabot Institute Director17 June 2021It is with both pride and sadness that we announce Professor Jemma Wadham, will be stepping down as Cabot Institute Director from July, to take up a chair in Norway (UiT the Arctic University of Norway/Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromsø).
New £6.3M deep tech incubator set to open in Bristol27 May 2021A new 30,000 sq. ft Science Creates deep tech incubator is set to open in the heart of Bristol thanks to a £6.3 million investment from the University of Bristol, Research England, and private investors. Construction works on the new facility, that will house some of the city’s most innovative science and engineering companies, have reached the final phase.
Researchers find Greenland glacial meltwaters rich in mercury24 May 2021New research shows concentrations of the toxic element mercury in rivers and fjords connected to the Greenland Ice Sheet are comparable to rivers in industrial China, an unexpected finding raising questions about the effects of glacial melting in an area that is a major exporter of seafood.
Fascination of Plants Day: What are the important questions for plant science research?18 May 2021What are the most important challenges for plant science research? Today [18 May] is the first-ever virtual Fascination of Plants Day and researchers from the University of Bristol and The New Phytologist would like to find out from members of the public and academia, farmers, policy makers, funding bodies and industry what issues plant science research should tackle.
University of Bristol students to showcase innovative research in interactive online festival13 May 2021Control tiny robots, design a house on Mars and explore medieval manuscripts - these are just some activities on offer at this year’s Research without Borders: The University of Bristol’s Public Festival of Postgraduate Research, which returns on Wednesday 19 May in a new online format.
Cabot Institute Innovation Fund 2021 – apply now!11 May 2021We are delighted to announce the annual call for proposals to the Cabot Institute Innovation Fund. A total of ~£25K is available to share between projects under this call. This will be distributed between the highest-ranked projects.
Professor of Hydrology elected as Fellow of the Royal Society6 May 2021The University of Bristol’s Professor of Hydrology, Paul Bates, has been elected as a Fellow of the world's most eminent scientific academy, the Royal Society, for his exceptional contributions to science.
Close brush with death prompts world-leading glaciologist to pen memoir capturing epic lifelong battle to understand and save vanishing glaciers 26 April 2021Ever since her first expedition to remote realms of glaciers and ice sheets, world-leading glaciologist Professor Jemma Wadham was so captivated by their mysterious beauty, that getting to grips with how they worked instantly became a career-defining passion. As the severity of the global climate crisis grows ever-starker, such steely determination to convey their vital importance to the planet and people’s survival has deepened, amplified by her own near-death encounter due to a serious brain tumour.
Survey reveals many people have reservations about flying in future22 April 2021More than half of adults plan to fly less or much less, even after they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, citing worries about the virus and climate change, according to a survey carried out by the University of Bristol.