news 2024

University of Birmingham researchers have found that biomass burning contributes significantly to fine particulate matter levels in the region. Woodburning has a major impact on air quality in Birmingham and the West Midlands - accounting for a substantial proportion of all fine pollution particles and representing a significant risk to public health, a new study reveals.

Bath engineers co-author new research, finding parks can cut air pollution by almost a quarter With house building a priority for the new UK Government, University of Bath engineers have co-authored research that urges city planners not to forget to build parks and to include green spaces in new communities.

New research has revealed how tiny soil microbes are impacted by extreme weather events, offering new insights into the risks posed by climate change. As extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and freezes become more common due to global heating, understanding how soil microbes - critical for healthy ecosystems - respond is crucial.

Scientists from the University of Manchester have uncovered the secrets behind one of nature's quirkiest plants - the squirting cucumber. While most plants rely on external forces such as animals, wind, or water to spread their seeds, this cucumber - scientifically known as Ecballium elaterium - launches them at high speed in a pressurised jet, sending seeds over 10 metres from the parent plant.

Some of the first human beings to arrive in Tasmania, over 41,000 years ago, used fire to shape and manage the landscape, about 2,000 years earlier than previously thought. A team of researchers from the UK and Australia analysed charcoal and pollen contained in ancient mud to determine how Aboriginal Tasmanians shaped their surroundings.

An international team of researchers, including Dr Peter Etchells from our Department of Biosciences, have published new research which brings to light new discoveries in the development and understanding of stem cells. The new study, published by the journal Science, saw researchers from Durham, University of Helsinki and Utrecht University collaborate to identify the key components required to control the balance of stem cells in plants.

Manchester scientists unveil advanced materials that capture benzene in our atmosphere, tackling major health risk Scientists have developed a new material capable of capturing the harmful chemical benzene from the polluted air, offering a potential solution for tackling a major health and environment risk.

A study undertaken by a student at The University of Manchester has revealed a severe level of microplastic pollution within the Medina Estuary on the Isle of Wight. An alarming level of microplastic fragments were found to be present throughout the intertidal mudflat sediments within the Medina Estuary, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

A nationwide citizen science project has found high levels of chemical pollutants in freshwater bodies across the UK. Thousands of volunteers have helped to provide a snapshot of the health of the nation's rivers and waterways, highlighting high levels of nitrates and phosphates, as well as a cocktail of chemical compounds that pose a risk to ecosystems.

Measures to count carbon emissions need to be reworked to make Net Zero efforts achievable - Bath research Efforts to reach Net Zero are being undermined by a multitude of carbon accounting systems, new research has found. Research led by University of Bath academics shows that the multiple systems increase costs and prevent well-meaning companies from effectively counting their carbon emissions, while creating loopholes that can be exploited by others.

Machine learning-equipped camera systems can be an effective and low-cost flood defence tool, researchers show Smart CCTV systems trained to spot blockages in urban waterways could become an important future tool in flood prevention, new research published today has found. Researchers at the University of Bath have shown that their AI-enabled detection software, 'AI on The River' trained to accurately detect natural debris, litter or waste blocking trash screens mounted in culverts, can be integrated to existing CCTV systems to provide an early warning of likely flooding.

Most dog owners didn't know that flea and tick treatments are dangerous to aquatic life, suggesting more awareness could ease the problem. A study on Hampstead Heath shows that ponds where dogs are allowed to swim contain levels of two pesticides harmful to invertebrate life. These pesticides, imidacloprid and fipronil, are used as parasite treatments for flea and tick infestations in cats and dogs, using 'spot-on' formulas and flea collars.

Scientists have discovered the first cases of Anopheles funestus mosquitoes genetically mutating to develop a resistance to a type of insecticide called DDT. The discovery of 'knock-down resistance' (kdr) - a major insecticide resistance mechanism in insect pests - is the first time such a mutation has been documented in this species, which is a major vector for malaria transmission in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Celebrities and politicians leading by example could be a crucial 'missing link' in climate change mitigation, finds new research. Psychologists from Cardiff University have uncovered new insights into the role of celebrities and politicians in influencing public opinion on low-carbon lifestyles. "Behaviour change is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions quickly.

A global study has revealed that how women view their own home conditions, financial resources, and physical environment, including pollution levels, is key to understanding their overall quality of life and health. The study published today (2/10/24) in the open-access journal PLOS ONE was led by researchers from The University of Manchester and University Alberta, in collaboration with colleagues world-wide.

As many as 249 lives could have been saved in London during the 2018 record-setting hot summer had the city widely adopted cool roofs, estimates a new study by researchers at UCL and the University of Exeter. The paper, published in Nature Cities , analysed the cooling effect that roofs painted white or other reflective colours would have on London's ambient temperature between June and August 2018, the city's hottest summer.

Mount Everest is about 15 to 50 metres taller than it would otherwise be because of uplift caused by a nearby eroding river gorge, and continues to grow because of it, finds a new study by UCL researchers. The study, published in Nature Geoscience , found that erosion from a river network about 75 kilometres from Mount Everest is carving away a substantial gorge.

An international study led by the University of Glasgow is the first to define a safe operating space (SOS) for major rivers in the Ganges Delta, which will enhance resilience in one of the world's most vulnerable deltas to global climate change.

New research exploring the effects of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Glasgow has found that while traffic flow has remained largely unchanged since the Zone was enforced, air quality has improved. Co-authored by researchers from the Universities of Auckland, University College Dublin, and Glasgow, the study gathered hourly data from traffic sensors and air quality monitors in the city's busy Hope Street and High Street within the LEZ to produce figures for the daily average NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide).

Scientists have discovered that ocean waves may become far more extreme and complex than previously imagined. The new study, published in Nature today, reveals that under specific conditions, where waves meet each other from different directions, waves can reach heights four times steeper than what was once thought possible.