Bristol students harness the power of sport to support their mental health16 November 2020Leaving home, moving city and starting a new academic life present some of the most challenging times for university students – which is why those who have successfully navigated the path are now stepping up to help others do the same in a new partnership between the University of Bristol and the mental health charity, The Ted Senior Foundation.
Launch of new neurodevelopmental and neurodiversity network 2 November 2020A new regional network between the GW4 universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter has launched which will focus on research into neurodiversity and conditions such as ADHD and autism. It will draw on world-leading expertise across GW4, including the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at Bristol, the Wales Autism Research Centre at Cardiff, and Egenis research groups at Exeter. While supported by GW4 – a research alliance bringing together the four universities - the network hopes to generate engagement from other researchers, clinicians, the public, and third sector organisations from around the region.
Specially-adapted drones gather new data from unexplored volcanoes30 October 2020Specially-adapted drones developed by an international team including Bristol scientists have been gathering data from never-before-explored volcanoes that will enable local communities to better forecast future eruptions.
Giant lizards learnt to fly over millions of years28 October 2020Pterodactyls and related winged reptiles that lived alongside the dinosaurs steadily improved their ability to fly, becoming the deadly masters of the sky, over the course of millions of years.
Using a volcano’s eruption ‘memory’ to forecast dangerous explosions28 October 2020Stromboli, the ‘lighthouse of the Mediterranean’, is known for its low-energy but persistent explosive eruptions, behaviour that is known scientifically as Strombolian activity. This feature has long been an attraction for tourists and volcanologists from all over the world.
Multidisciplinary Bristol team receives £3m to investigate trustworthiness of future robots26 October 2020Would you trust a robot surgeon? What about a robot pilot, shop assistant or emergency responder? Would you trust them if they had the ability to adapt and change how they functioned? What would it take to make them trustworthy? These are some of the questions driving a team of social scientists, ethicists, computer scientists and engineers at the University of Bristol.
What’s the STORY of infectious diseases in the UK? 26 October 2020A study looking at how children's immune systems respond to COVID-19, and to vaccines for other infectious diseases, is asking children under the age of 20 who live in the Bristol area to consider taking part. The research project is being run by the Bristol Children’s Vaccine Centre (BCVC) at Bristol Medical School, and the Oxford Vaccine Group which is part of the University of Oxford.
Oxford COVID-19 vaccine follows its programmed genetic instructions, independent analysis finds 22 October 2020The AstraZeneca Oxford COVID-19 vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and also known as AZD1222) now undergoing Phase III clinical trials, has already undergone rigorous testing to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety. Now a team at Bristol University has used recently developed techniques to further validate that the vaccine accurately follows the genetic instructions programmed into it by the Oxford team. This novel analysis provides even greater clarity and detail about how the vaccine successfully provokes a strong immune response.
Lily the barn owl reveals how birds fly in gusty winds 21 October 2020Scientists from the University of Bristol and the Royal Veterinary College have discovered how birds are able to fly in gusty conditions – findings that could inform the development of bio-inspired small-scale aircraft.
Neuropilin-1 drives SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, finds breakthrough study20 October 2020In a major breakthrough an international team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, has potentially identified what makes SARS-CoV-2 highly infectious and able to spread rapidly in human cells. The findings, published in Science today [20 October] describe how the virus’s ability to infect human cells can be reduced by inhibitors that block a newly discovered interaction between virus and host, demonstrating a potential anti-viral treatment.
Be More Empowered portraits celebrate staff, students and alumni from BAME backgrounds20 October 2020The University of Bristol has unveiled a series of photographic portraits that celebrate some of its Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff, students and alumni who have led the way in education, the arts, economics, politics, activism and social change.
Deep sea coral time machines reveal ancient CO2 burps17 October 2020The fossilised remains of ancient deep-sea corals may act as time machines providing new insights into the effect the ocean has on rising CO2 levels, according to new research carried out by the Universities of Bristol, St Andrews and Nanjing and published in Science Advances.
Historic signing is major boost to region’s digital future15 October 2020The University of Bristol and BT have joined forces to shape a digital future that is inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable, and will make a significant contribution to regional growth.
Bristol researchers awarded Future Leaders Fellowships15 October 2020Four Bristol researchers have been awarded UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) prestigious Future Leaders Fellowships. The awards, designed to establish the careers of world-class research and innovation leaders across the UK to help them tackle major global challenges, are announced today [15 October] by Science Minister Amanda Solloway.
Bristol Cyber Security experts helping stop child exploitation14 October 2020Cyber Security experts at the University of Bristol are developing new technology to help law enforcement investigate child sexual abuse on the internet. The project will use AI to identify images, helping police to catch perpetrators and protect children.
Handbook helps explain how best to combat misinformation14 October 2020With the current flood of misinformation and "fake news" undermining democracies around the world, a consensus document that summarises the science of debunking has been published by a team of 22 prominent researchers of misinformation and its debunking.
New multi-million-pound centre to protect citizens online14 October 2020The University of Bristol will lead a team of the UK’s world-leading cyber security experts in the creation of a new, £8.6 million centre to protect citizens online.
Cameras that can learn13 October 2020Intelligent cameras could be one step closer thanks to a research collaboration between the Universities of Bristol and Manchester who have developed cameras that can learn and understand what they are seeing.
Researchers launch first study into COVID bereavement among BAME people12 October 2020A pioneering study into people's experience of bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic has been launched by researchers from the universities of Cardiff and Bristol. The study is calling for participants, particularly those from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds following the disproportionate effect COVID-19 has had on ethnic minority groups.
Ancient tiny teeth reveal first mammals lived more like reptiles12 October 2020Pioneering analysis of 200 million-year-old teeth belonging to the earliest mammals suggests they functioned like their cold-blooded counterparts - reptiles, leading less active but much longer lives.
New emergency care research hub for Bristol launched9 October 2020The University of Bristol and UWE Bristol have joined forces with health care partners in the city to set up a collaborative research hub to improve the delivery of emergency care in Bristol and the surrounding area. The new hub, Research in Emergency Care, Avon Collaborative Hub (REACH), was launched today [Friday 9 October].
Coronavirus cases at city centre student residence 9 October 2020The University of Bristol is providing help and support to students at The Courtrooms, a residence in Bristol City Centre following a cluster of positive COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases.
Good Grief Festival to explore the many faces of grief8 October 2020A free online festival exploring the many faces of grief will take place for the first time this month [Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November]. Broadcast from a studio in Bristol and reaching thousands of people all over the UK, Good Grief, will include 70 events exploring the universal human experience of grief through panel discussions, conversations, interactive workshops and webinars.
Research suggests significantly less risk of COVID-19 transmission from anaesthesia procedures
6 October 2020Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been much debate about the danger to hospital staff from anaesthetic procedures. Concerns include that placing a tube in the patient's airway (intubation) before surgery or removing it at the end (extubation) may produce a fine mist of small particles (called aerosols) and spread the COVID-19 virus to nearby staff.
Risk of self-harm increases for boys and girls who experience earlier puberty6 October 2020Boys and girls who experience puberty earlier than their peers have an increased risk of self-harm in adolescence, a study funded by the National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC) and published in the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences today [Tuesday 6 October] has found.
Battling with neighbours could make animals smarter6 October 2020From ants to primates, ‘Napoleonic’ intelligence has evolved to help animals contend with the myriad cognitive challenges arising from interactions with rival outsiders, suggest researchers at the University of Bristol in a paper published in Nature Communications today [Tuesday 6 October].
Bristol part of new £4 million FDA study to advance understanding of severe coronavirus infection5 October 2020Bristol is part of a major new international project to improve our understanding of severe coronavirus infection in humans. The study, funded by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will analyse samples from humans and animals to create profiles of various coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. The results will help inform the development of new treatments and vaccines to tackle coronavirus infections.
Mud-slurping chinless ancestors had all the moves1 October 2020A team of researchers, led by the University of Bristol, has revealed our most ancient ancestors were ecologically diverse, despite lacking jaws and paired fins.
