News in June
- Biotech company wins Bristol’s Tech-Xpo 2021 1 July 2021 Ferryx, a biotech company tackling gastrointestinal inflammation, pitched against ten other startups from Bristol’s world-leading tech scene, to win ‘Best Elevator Pitch’ at SETsquared Bristol’s Tech-Xpo on Wednesday 30 June.
- Major research project to study chronic pain 30 June 2021 Chronic pain is a major global public health challenge that causes significant disability. A new research consortium and national chronic pain data hub could improve outcomes for the many people living with painful and debilitating conditions, such as fibromyalgia, lower back pain, headaches and migraines, thanks to a joint £14 million grant from UKRI and Versus Arthritis.
- Bee behaviour to influence energy efficiency communication to homes 30 June 2021 A 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.
- Scientists reveal how plants become good neighbours in times of stress 30 June 2021 Scientists from the University of Bristol and the John Innes Centre have discovered how plants manage to live alongside each other in places that are dark and shady.
- Dinosaurs were in decline before the end, according to new study 29 June 2021 The 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.
- Friends and family found creative ways to support women experiencing domestic abuse during COVID-19 29 June 2021 In usual times, women experiencing domestic abuse reach out to those around them for support, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social restrictions have made this more difficult to do. New research has found friends, family, neighbours and colleagues (informal supporters) used creative ways to keep in touch with and to continue offering support domestic abuse survivors.
- Microbes feast on crushed rock in subglacial lakes beneath Antarctica 29 June 2021 Pioneering 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.
- Playing wind instruments generates less aerosol than vocalisation, COVID-19 study finds 29 June 2021 Aerosol generated by playing woodwind and brass instruments is less than that produced when vocalising (speaking and singing) and is no different than a person breathing, new research has found. The findings, published online in the journal Aerosol Science and Technology, could be crucial to developing a roadmap for lifting COVID-19 restrictions in the performing arts, which have been significantly restricted since the start of the pandemic.
- Prestigious Diana Award for doctor putting diet on the medical curriculum 28 June 2021 A newly qualified doctor leading a campaign to get diet and nutrition on the medical curriculum has been honoured with a prestigious Diana Award.
- Mask-wearing reduces COVID-19 transmission, study finds 28 June 2021 Mask-wearing is associated with a significant reduction in COVID-19 transmission and factors other than mandates contributed to the global uptake of mask-wearing in 2020, new research has found.
- Major £2.8 million UKRI research programme to explore mental health outcomes for care-experienced young people 28 June 2021 A significant, new research programme will investigate factors linked to the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced young people during two transition periods: moving from primary to secondary school and moving from adolescence into adulthood.
- Professor Richard Dixon FRS, 1930-2021 25 June 2021 Professor Richard Dixon FRS, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, died on 25 May 2021. Professors Mike Ashfold and Andrew Orr-Ewing offer this appreciation.
- Protocells spring into action 24 June 2021 A University of Bristol-led team of international scientists with an interest in protoliving technologies, has today published research which paves the way to building new semi-autonomous devices with potential applications in miniaturized soft robotics, microscale sensing and bioengineering.
- Bristol Robotics Laboratory hosts virtual conference to showcase cutting-edge research 24 June 2021 Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) will host a virtual conference on Wednesday 30 June, showcasing cutting-edge research and opportunities for organisations to engage with the UK’s largest robotics research laboratory.
- Bridging Histories project helps city explore its past 24 June 2021 Communities in Bristol and beyond are being invited to explore their past, present and future, by taking part in a new learning project launched by the We Are Bristol History Commission and partners, which includes the University of Bristol.
- Longest known SARS-CoV-2 infection of nearly 300 days successfully treated with new therapy 24 June 2021 An immunocompromised individual with the longest known PCR confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, lasting more than 290 days, has been successfully treated with two investigational monoclonal antibodies (laboratory engineered antibodies). Clinicians and researchers from the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) worked closely to assess and treat the infection and want to highlight the urgent need for improved access to treatments for such people with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- How does the one-humped Arabian camel survive without drinking? 23 June 2021 Research 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.
- New research reveals remarkable resilience of sea life in the aftermath of mass extinctions 23 June 2021 Pioneering research has shown marine ecosystems can start working again, providing important functions for humans, after being wiped out much sooner than their return to peak biodiversity.
- Teachers want to encourage children to take a public stand against climate change 23 June 2021 More than half of teachers in England are in favour of teaching children to take direct action against climate change and break the rules to make their point, according to a new survey.
- The humidity of flowers acts as an invisible attractor for bumblebees 22 June 2021 As 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.
- Scientists develop energy saving technique which could help pave way for a carbon neutral society 21 June 2021 Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a method which will allow for faster communication systems and better energy saving electronics.
- Photo exhibition at Royal Fort Gardens chronicles urban land cultivation in Bristol 21 June 2021 Growing Spaces, an exhibition of photographs by Bristol photographer Chris Hoare, chronicling urban land cultivation in the city is currently on display at Royal Fort Gardens as part of Bristol Photo Festival.
- New research finds GCSE results linked to child’s enjoyment of school aged six 21 June 2021 A child's enjoyment of school at six years old is linked to their GCSE results aged 16, according to new research from the University of Bristol, published in the journal Science of Learning.
- Validating digital tools for remote clinical research 18 June 2021 A team of scientists from Cambridge Cognition and the University of Bristol have been developing digital assessments for remote clinical research.
- Student’s India fundraising drive after losing friend to Covid 18 June 2021 A student volunteer group has raised more than £2,500 to send oxygen concentrators to Covid-hit India.
- Student consultants offer free support to Bristol’s third sector 18 June 2021 A taskforce of bright young students is offering local charities and non-profits free support over the coming year.
- Bristol Teaching Awards: lights, camera, action! 18 June 2021 It was curtains up for the Bristol Teaching Awards 2021 on June 16, as staff gathered online to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of those who teach and support learning.
- Innovative student start-up wins £10,000 to develop food waste slashing tech 17 June 2021 A student start-up developing technology that will slash food waste in the education sector has won £10,000 to develop their idea.
- GW4 takes a world leading One Health approach to tackling the antimicrobial resistance pandemic 17 June 2021 The 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.
- How have vaccines helped to protect the world and how can they continue to do so? 16 June 2021 The power of vaccines to help save lives and shape our world has never been more evident as countries around the world fight against COVID-19. The pandemic has also highlighted how vital it is for industry, academia and global populations to work together in the race for effective vaccines. The importance of vaccine research to global public health will be discussed later this week by a distinguished panel of experts at a live online event jointly organised by the University of Bristol and Pfizer.
- Talented student releases first EP ‘Piano Stories’ 15 June 2021 A gifted student pianist has released his first EP.
- UK faces post-pandemic bereavement crisis and lasting legacy of grief 15 June 2021 New research has highlighted the difficulties and distress people experienced when trying to get support after the death of a loved one during the pandemic, with more than half of people (51 per cent) experiencing high or severe vulnerability in their grief and those seeking support facing long waiting lists or being told they are ineligible.
- HIV has detrimental effect on children’s growth and bone strength, finds landmark study 14 June 2021 Children growing up with HIV infection have concerning deficits in skeletal strength which become more apparent towards the end of pubertal growth, finds the largest study to date to investigate the link between HIV and skeletal health in children. The study, conducted in Zimbabwe and published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, identifies a link between these skeletal deficits and the first-line antiretroviral-HIV drug, tenofovir disproxil fumarate (TDF), which is widely used across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Dental procedures are very low risk in the aerosol spread of COVID-19, study finds 14 June 2021 Many of the common procedures carried out by dentists have very low risk of increasing the aerosol spread of COVID-19 and some procedures, such as ultrasonic scaling, were not shown to generate aerosol other than from the clean instrument itself, new research has found.
- Half who said they definitely wouldn’t get a Covid vaccine have since had one 12 June 2021 Half (52 per cent) of those who said they would definitely not get a COVID-19 vaccine when asked back in November/December 2020 have now done so, indicating that many people’s hesitancy has disappeared since the UK's vaccine rollout began, according to a new study.
- Palaeontologist, infectious disease mathematical modeller, anaesthetist and ecologist receive Queen’s Birthday Honours 12 June 2021 University of Bristol academics Professor Mike Benton, Dr Ellen Brooks Pollock, Professor Tim Cook and Professor Jane Memmott have all received awards in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list which recognises the achievements and service of people across the UK.
- Phil Gould, 1948–2021 11 June 2021 Phil Gould, Estates Assistant in the Victoria Rooms, passed away earlier this month. Matt Davies and other colleagues offer a remembrance.
- Young infants produce strong immune response to SARS-CoV-2, study finds 11 June 2021 Young infants show strong immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, new research has found. In particular, compared with adults, young infants produce relatively high levels of antibodies and immune cells that can specifically protect against COVID-19.
- Analysis of child deaths in England shows importance of care for premature and young babies 10 June 2021 Actions to reduce the number of babies born before 37 weeks’ gestation and improve their outcomes are among the recommendations made by the University of Bristol National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) team, who carried out national analysis of child deaths in England. This is one of the findings, published today [10 June] in NCMD’s second annual report, which aims to learn lessons from all child deaths in order to reduce the number of children who die in the future.
- New report examines why people with learning disabilities continue to die prematurely 10 June 2021 People with learning disabilities continue to die prematurely – and although there are some early signs of improvements, there are still considerable differences compared to the general population, according to a new report published today.