Scientists discover key to Christmas Island’s red crab migration27 August 2010One of the most spectacular migrations on Earth is that of the Christmas Island red crab (Gecarcoidea natalis). Acknowledged as one of the wonders of the natural world, every year millions of the crabs simultaneously embark on a five-kilometre breeding migration. Now, scientists have discovered the key to their remarkable athletic feat.
UK researchers release draft sequence coverage of wheat genome27 August 2010The first sequence coverage of the wheat genome has been publicly released by a team of UK researchers, including scientists from the University of Bristol. The release is a step towards a fully annotated genome and makes a significant contribution to efforts to support global food security and to increase the competitiveness of UK farming.
Mervyn Miles receives Wolfson Research Merit Award26 August 2010Professor Mervyn Miles of the School of Physics has been awarded a prestigious Wolfson Research Merit Award by the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science.
League tables help predict children’s success24 August 2010Parents who choose secondary schools on the basis of league tables will ensure their children do better in their GCSEs than those who choose schools at random, according to a new study.
The irresistible pull of the femme fatale23 August 2010Angelina Jolie, Anna Chapman, Naomi Campbell – celebrities, spies and divas who the media love to hate. The modern day female icon holds much in common with the archetypal femme fatale, whose enduring appeal dates back to Eve, the Sirens and Medusa. Now, a new collection of essays from distinguished arts scholars examines fatal femininity as a cultural preoccupation across different historical epochs.
Peregrine’s 'Soliton' observed at last22 August 2010An old mathematical solution proposed as a prototype of the infamous ocean rogue waves responsible for many maritime catastrophes has been observed in a continuous physical system for the first time.
Less is more for a hungry bat19 August 2010Like a stealth fighter plane, the barbastelle bat uses a sneaky hunting strategy to catch its prey. A team of researchers from the University of Bristol combined three cutting-edge techniques to uncover the secret of this rare bat’s success.
Work begins on world-leading National Composites Centre19 August 2010Work has begun on building a new world-class facility in Bristol that will bring together leading industry experts and academics in the growing area of composites research and manufacture.
Undergraduate admissions 201019 August 2010The University of Bristol received around 34,100 applications for the 3,280 home-funded undergraduate places available across the full range of subjects from this September.
Wyrd goings-on in Redland17 August 2010A group of staff, students and graduates of the University of Bristol is staging a play based on a Discworld novel by Sir Terry Pratchett to raise money for disadvantaged young people in Bristol.
Students go for gold at MIT17 August 2010A student team from the University of Bristol will be competing against 128 universities at an international synthetic biology competition hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the USA’s leading academic institutions.
Particle physics used to mitigate natural disasters16 August 2010Behind some of the smoothest systems that resolve some of the most complex problems lays a whole world of physics. Tapping into that world are a group of scientists whose work goes largely unseen yet has enormous potential for improving life on an international scale.
Plan for fingerprinting Great White Sharks13 August 2010Computer scientists from the University of Bristol are collaborating with international shark researchers to build a visual biometrics database of Great White Sharks.
Engage 201013 August 2010The Centre for Public Engagement is holding its second conference about public engagement at the University of Bristol on 23 September. The conference is free and open to all University staff and postgraduate students with an interest in public engagement.
Measuring the speed of thought10 August 2010If the eyes are the window to the soul, psychologists hoping to solve the mystery of why our neural impulses do not always trigger an immediate response could find the answer in the flick of the eye.
Amazon floodplain accurately measured for first time9 August 2010Scientists studying the largest drainage basin in the world have used satellite technology to provide the first detailed measurements of water flow between the Amazon River and its floodplains.
Make a bee-line to the Botanic Garden this Bank Holiday9 August 2010A festival this Bank Holiday weekend [28-30 August] at the University's Botanic Garden aims to raise awareness and understanding of the critical role bees and other animals play in pollination and the importance of pollination for food production.
Hospitals provide inadequate medical care in 40% of overdose deaths6 August 2010Almost 40 per cent of people admitted to hospital after taking an overdose received sub-standard care that may have contributed to their death, a new study by researchers at the Universities of Manchester and Bristol has found.
Catholic Church grant to fund ‘ethical’ stem cell research4 August 2010Professor Neil Scolding from the Institute of Clinical Neurosciences has received a grant from the Catholic Church for his research into the use of stem cells to treat Multiple Sclerosis.
Marine Pied Piper leads Nemo astray4 August 2010The growing amount of human noise pollution in the ocean could lead fish away from good habitat and off to their death, according to new research from a UK-led team working on the Great Barrier Reef.
Emotions help animals to make choices4 August 2010A new review of animal emotion suggests that, as in humans, emotions may tell animals about how dangerous or opportunity-laden their world is, and guide the choices that they make.
Study discovers a confused nation crippled by choice3 August 2010The UK is a nation overwhelmed by too much choice and information according to a study based on the views of 6,000 people, revealing that modern life has created a generation of people incapable of making decisions.
Flower power for the 21st century2 August 2010Why are flowers the shapes they are? How do they make seeds? What role will they play in feeding a growing global population? These and other questions come under the spotlight at an event at the Victoria Rooms on Thursday 4 August at 5.30pm when members of the public are invited to join world-leading scientists to explore the science of flowers.
Ancient reptiles 'make tracks'30 July 2010A new discovery of 318-million-year-old footprints in sea-cliffs on the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada, reveals when reptiles first conquered dry land, says new research from the Department of Earth Sciences.
Goldney hosts Amnesty garden party28 July 2010Goldney Hall is hosting Bristol Amnesty International’s annual summer garden party on Sunday 8 August.
Healthcare competition saves lives28 July 2010Competition among hospitals saves patients’ lives and decreases their overall length of stay in hospital, according to a new study involving researchers from the University of Bristol, who found there was no corresponding increase in overall expenditure.
Researcher awarded prestigious ESA Fellowship27 July 2010Dr Jennifer Griggs from the Bristol Glaciology Centre in the School of Geographical Sciences has been awarded one of only ten European Space Agency (ESA) Fellowships as part of the Agency’s Changing Earth Science Network programme.
EPSRC Fellowships in Engineering27 July 2010Two academics in the Faculty of Engineering have been awarded prestigious Fellowships by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Pupils explore their passion for perfume chemistry27 July 2010A group of budding chemists will be making their own perfume at a special 'Fragrance Chemistry Workshop' hosted by the University's School of Chemistry today [Tuesday 27 July].
Bristol academic elected British Academy Fellow26 July 2010Emeritus Professor Richard Little, in the University's Department of Politics, has achieved the rare distinction of being elected a Fellow of the British Academy.
Bristol students triumph in sport26 July 2010Five students from the University of Bristol have received outstanding results in national sporting events across the country and abroad in rugby, hockey and athletics.
New MSc in Systems Learning and Leadership23 July 2010The Graduate School of Education has launched an innovative new Master’s programme designed to support professional enquiry in the workplace, school or community.
Angel of Death: the story of smallpox22 July 2010Professor Gareth Williams from the University of Bristol will be giving a talk tonight [22 July] on the subject of his recent book, the Angel of Death, the name given to smallpox — the deadly disease that killed millions of people throughout history.
