Anonymous cell phone data can quantify behavioral changes for flu-like illnesses, study finds28 January 2021Being prepared for a pandemic, like COVID-19, depends on the ability to predict the course of the pandemic and the human behaviour that drives spread in the event of an outbreak. Cell phone metadata that is routinely collected by telecommunications providers can reveal changes of behavior in people who are diagnosed with a flu-like illness, while also protecting their anonymity, a new study has found. The research, led by Emory University and devised by the University of Bristol, is based on data drawn from a 2009 outbreak of H1N1 influenza in Iceland and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
New study unravels Darwin’s ‘abominable mystery’ surrounding origin of flowering plants 28 January 2021The origin of flowering plants famously puzzled Charles Darwin, who described their sudden appearance in the fossil record from relatively recent geological times as an “abominable mystery”. This mystery has further deepened with an inexplicable discrepancy between the relatively recent fossil record and a much older time of origin of flowering plants estimated using genome data.
How vitamins, steroids and potential antivirals might affect SARS-CoV-228 January 2021Evidence is emerging that vitamin D – and possibly vitamins K and A – might help combat COVID-19. A new study from the University of Bristol published in the journal of the German Chemical Society Angewandte Chemie has shown how they – and other antiviral drugs – might work. The research indicates that these dietary supplements and compounds could bind to the viral spike protein and so might reduce SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. In contrast, cholesterol may increase infectivity, which could explain why having high cholesterol is considered a risk factor for serious disease.
Cell death shines a light on the origins of complex life27 January 2021Organelles continue to thrive after the cells within which they exist die, a team of University of Bristol scientists have found, overturning previous assumptions that organelles decay too quickly to be fossilised.
Pioneering research unravels hidden origins of Eastern Asia’s ‘land of milk and honey’ 27 January 2021A study has revealed for the first time the ancient origins of one of the world’s most important ecosystems by unlocking the mechanism which determined the evolution of its mountains and how they shaped the weather there as well as its flora and fauna.
Common pesticides stop bees and flies from getting a good night’s sleep21 January 2021Just like us, many insects need a decent night’s sleep to function properly, but this might not be possible if they have been exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides, the most common form of insecticide used worldwide, suggests research by academics at the University of Bristol.
Women invited to join study into nutrition advice in pregnancy21 January 2021The University is seeking volunteers for a new study that will identify the foods women tend to avoid during pregnancy and the information sources that influence their decision to include or avoid certain foods.
University's hidden treasures to be unveiled to the world20 January 2021Treasures collected by the University of Bristol, including Brunel documents, historic maps and rare film, will be made public thanks to a major investment in digitisation equipment.
Why are around a third of pregnant women not vaccinated against whooping cough?20 January 2021Whooping cough is widespread, highly contagious and serious for new-born babies. However, 30 per cent of pregnant women in the UK do not receive the whooping cough vaccine, leading to avoidable illness and death and the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be having a negative impact on these numbers. New research led by the University of Bristol aims to understand why pregnant women are not being vaccinated against whooping cough and how to improve delivery by maternity services and mothers’ uptake of vaccines.
Amber-encased fossil shines light on evolution of bioluminescent insects20 January 2021Trapped in amber for 100 million years, an exceptionally well-preserved, light-producing beetle sheds light on the diversification of bioluminescent beetles in the Cretaceous period and provides the missing fossil link between fireflies’ living relatives.
Remote, online support for blood pressure management at home is effective and low-cost20 January 2021At-home blood pressure monitoring using a web-based system offering personalised support and linked to a remote healthcare professional can result in better hypertension management than face-to-face consultations, finds a study led by University of Oxford, Bristol and Southampton researchers.
All-purpose dinosaur opening reconstructed for the first time19 January 2021For the first time ever, a team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, have described in detail a dinosaur’s cloacal or vent – the all-purpose opening used for defecation, urination and breeding.
Genetic factors involved in shaping the composition of the human gut microbiome, finds international research team18 January 2021Human genes have an impact on shaping our gut ecosystem according to new evidence from the international MIBioGen consortium study involving more than 18,000 people. The findings, led by the University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands and involving researchers at the University of Bristol, are published today [18 January] in Nature Genetics.
National consortium to study the threats of new SARS-CoV-2 variants 15 January 2021A new national research project to study the effects of emerging mutations in SARS-CoV-2 is launched today [15 January]. The £2.5 million UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded 'G2P-UK' National Virology Consortium will study how mutations in the virus affect key outcomes such as how transmissible it is, the severity of COVID-19 it causes, and the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments.
Science finds simple way to make lamb leaner14 January 2021Scientists based at Rothamsted and the University of Bristol Veterinary School have found a clear link between the weight of lambs early in their life and meat quality – which is good news for consumers, farmers, and the environment.
Research reveals how teeth functioned and evolved in giant mega-sharks13 January 2021A pioneering study by University of Bristol researchers finds that the evolution of teeth in the giant prehistoric shark Megalodon and its relatives was a by-product of becoming huge, rather than an adaptation to new feeding habits.
New research shows the importance of consuming enough vitamin B12 in pregnancy11 January 2021A new study published in Nutrition Research has found that children born to a mother with low intake of Vitamin B12 during pregnancy were at increased risk of adverse development specific to certain speech and mathematical abilities.
Project provide entrepreneurship and business support to non-EU migrants7 January 2021Refugees, migrants and newly arrived communities have long been at the forefront of new enterprise but often left behind when it comes to support. However, that is all about to change through a major new project led by ACH and with partners from Bristol's School for Policy Studies and the West of England Combined Authority.
Global experts urge everyone to talk about COVID-19 vaccines responsibly7 January 2021A team of renowned scientific experts has joined forces from across the world to help fight the spread of misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines, which hold the key to beating the deadly pandemic and releasing countries from debilitating lockdown restrictions.