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Estimates of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from volcanoes may have been significantly underestimated, according to new research by The University of Manchester. Published in the journal, Science Advances , s cientists have developed an advanced sensor that can detect volcanic gases with rapid speed and precision.

New research shows humans were not passive in the transition from forager to farmer; they played an active and crucial role in the transition. A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has turned traditional thinking on its head by highlighting the role of human interactions during the shift from hunting and gathering to farming - one of the biggest changes in human history - rather than earlier ideas that focused on environmental factors.

University of Manchester scientists have discovered significant concentrations of microplastics in the male reproductive system of sea turtles. The scientists also found slightly less, but still significant levels of microplastics in other organs of both male and female turtles, including the heart, kidney, liver and spleen, as well as skeletal muscle, subcutaneous fat, stomach and intestines.

Scientists hope a new method will pave the way to provide insights into the impact of climate change and habitat loss on biodiversity. In a study published in Systematic Biology , researchers from Imperial College London, UCL, Dalhousie University and the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre described how their new simulation methods improve understanding of how patterns of biodiversity emerge across the globe.

Scientists find that sex is the leading factor explaining differences in hearing sensitivity, with women having significantly more sensitive hearing than men. Hearing problems are on the rise worldwide, and whilst hearing sensitivity is well known to decrease with age, little research has been done on the other biological and environmental factors that influence it, such as sex, ear side, language, ethnicity and local environment.

Scientists explore a seafloor area newly exposed by iceberg A-84; discover vibrant communities of ancient sponges and corals. An international team of scientists have uncovered a thriving underwater ecosystem off the coast of Antarctica that had never before been accessible to humans. The team, including researchers from the University of Cambridge, were working in the Bellingshausen Sea off the coast of Antarctica when a massive iceberg broke away from the George VI Ice Shelf in January of this year.

A wide diversity of marine life, that may include previously unknown species, flourishes in a region of ocean once hidden beneath a thick cover of ice, finds a recently-returned Antarctic expedition co-led by a UCL researcher. The expedition, in partnership with Schmidt Ocean Institute, examined and mapped the unseen submarine environment off the Antarctic Peninsula, in an area that was until recently covered by a massive ice shelf and that in late 2024 shed a colossal iceberg from its floating edge.

Research increasingly shows that tackling modifiable exposures and environmental risks could be one of our most powerful levers for longevity and health span. Scientists say this knowledge could help us design better solutions to create environments that promote human health to address the global health and economic crises caused by the chronic disease epidemic and ageing demographic.

A new study has found that targeted psychological interventions can significantly enhance long-term resistance to misinformation. Dubbed "psychological booster shots," these interventions improve memory retention and help individuals recognize and resist misleading information more effectively over time.

A sneaky form of advertising favoured by oil giants influences public opinion with climate action misperceptions, but researchers are studying potential solutions. In the battle against climate disinformation, native advertising is a fierce foe. A study published in the journal npj Climate Action by researchers from Boston University (BU) and the University of Cambridge, evaluates two promising tools to fight misleading native advertising campaigns put forth by big oil companies.

Analysis of Earth's past ice ages, tracked across one million years, has shed new light on the mystery of the planet's natural climate cycles, enabling improved projections of future climate, finds a new study co-authored by UCL researchers. Published in Science, the international team of scientists led by Cardiff University identified the specific contributions of various subtle changes in Earth's orbit that cause the climate to shift between warm periods and glacial periods every 100,000 years.

Analysis of Earth's past climate changes suggest the onset of the next ice age could be expected in 10,000 years' time, researchers claim. Their study tracks the natural cycles of the planet's climate over a period of a million years. The international team, led by Cardiff University, made their prediction based on a new interpretation of the small changes in Earth's orbit of the Sun, which lead to massive shifts in the planet's climate over periods of thousands of years.

A new study led by researchers from Oxford Population Health has shown that a range of environmental factors, including lifestyle (smoking and physical activity) and living conditions, have a greater impact on health and premature death than our genes. The researchers used data from nearly half a million UK Biobank participants to assess the influence of 164 environmental factors and genetic risk scores for 22 major diseases on ageing, age-related diseases, and premature death.

Low-cost sensors and innovative techniques allowed researchers to discover that pollution levels in houses were higher and more variable than outdoor levels. People may be exposed to unhealthy levels of airborne pollutants inside their homes, even if the outdoor air quality is good, a new study reveals.

People's ability to interpret emotions or focus on performing a task is reduced by short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution, potentially making everyday activities, such as the weekly supermarket shop, more challenging, a new study reveals. Scientists discovered that even brief exposure to high concentrations of PM may impair a person's ability to focus on tasks, avoid distractions, and behave in a socially acceptable manner.

Tiny copper 'nano-flowers' have been attached to an artificial leaf to produce clean fuels and chemicals that are the backbone of modern energy and manufacturing. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley, developed a practical way to make hydrocarbons - molecules made of carbon and hydrogen - powered solely by the sun.

Researchers from our top-rated Biosciences department have made an exciting discovery that could revolutionise how scientists design and engineer biological systems. Their new study reveals a way to predict and control how proteins inside cells bind to metals - an essential process for life. Revealing secrets of protein metalation Metals such as iron, manganese, and cobalt are crucial for many biological processes, helping proteins carry out vital functions in cells.

Peatlands are critical ecosystems for carbon storage and biodiversity, containing more carbon than all the world's forests despite covering just 3% of the global land surface - but new research has revealed that vast areas of the UK's peatlands, including the Flow Country UNESCO World Heritage Site, are likely to be unsuitable for peat accumulation by 2061-80 due to climate change.

Scientists from The University of Manchester have developed a new material that could help reduce water pollution caused by harmful chemicals, such as from leftover medicines and hygiene products, that end up in rivers and lakes. Water pollution is one of the growing challenges of modern life. Many everyday items, from medications to cosmetics, leave behind residues that don't fully break down after use.

The world's botanic gardens must pull together to protect global plant biodiversity in the face of the extinction crisis, amid restrictions on wild-collecting, say researchers. A concerted, collaborative effort across the world's botanic gardens is now needed to conserve a genetically diverse range of plants.