A new study takes a tour of the history of research into human embryology and development to show the "cycles of attention" that led to major scientific breakthroughs. Analysing the past sheds light on the present resurgence of research on human development. That's the lesson of a new study by Professor Nick Hopwood , from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, that is published in the Journal of the History of Biology .

Earth systems could be 'tipped' into unstable states if warming overshoots 1.5C target, but impacts could be minimised if warming is swiftly reversed. The Paris Agreement target to keep global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels was set to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

New research by our Psychology department has found that White Western women are less positive about their bodies and feel greater media pressure to be thin than Black Nigerian and Chinese women. The study looked at how age and culture impacts on women's positivity and pride about their bodies and the sociocultural pressures they experience.

A drug prescribed for diabetes and weight loss has been shown to reduce brain shrinkage in Alzheimer's patients by almost 50%. The drug, called liraglutide, is one of the glucagon-like peptide receptor (GLP-1) agonists which also includes semaglutide - known as Wegovy or Ozempic - which are licensed for managing overweight and obesity and for type 2 diabetes.

Researchers have identified an entirely new type of wood that does not fit into either category of hardwood or softwood. Scientists from the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University and Jagiellonian University, Poland made the discovery while undertaking an evolutionary survey of the microscopic structure of wood from some of the world's most iconic trees and shrubs.

The incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination than before or without vaccination, according to a new study involving nearly the whole adult population of England. This research further supports the large body of evidence on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, which has saved millions of lives worldwide Samantha Ip The study, published today in Nature Communications , showed that the incidence of arterial thromboses, such as heart attacks and strokes, was up to 10% lower in the 13 to 24 weeks after the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The results of routine blood tests could be used to speed up cancer diagnosis among people with stomach pain or bloating, suggests a new study led by UCL researchers. Most people who report these symptoms to their GP are referred for blood tests. However, it is not known how well these blood tests, used to explore a range of possible causes of ill health, can predict cancer risk.

A new study has revealed that changes in the ocean floor impacts currents, giving new insight into the deep-sea pathways of nutrients and pollutants. The study, published in Nature Geoscience by scientists at The University of Manchester and led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), has found that currents sped up, slowed down, changed direction, and sometimes reversed direction completely, depending on the varying and uneven surfaces and features found on the ocean floor.

3D printing offers effective, scalable way to remove harmful chemicals Engineers have invented a new way to remove health-harming 'forever chemicals' from water - using 3D printing. Researchers at the University of Bath say their method, using ceramic-infused lattices (or 'monoliths'), removes at least 75% of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the most common perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), from water, and could become an important tool in future efforts to eliminate the chemicals from water supplies.

Fashion sector's obsession with thin-size models may be counterproductive Online fashion retailers clinging to the received wisdom that photos of thin models are the most effective way of selling clothes may want to think again, according to a new study examining the impact of size-inclusive model photos.

A team led by scientists at the University of Bath discovers how light particles can be used to reveal the 'hidden' energy states of molecules. A new optical phenomenon has been demonstrated by an international team of scientists led by physicists at the University of Bath, with significant potential impact in pharmaceutical science, security, forensics, environmental science, art conservation and medicine.

Scientists have modelled the breakdown of alien spaceships using "warp drive" technology, to study the gravitational wave emissions that are generated. The technology, seen in sci-fi shows like Star Trek, creates a bubble in which fictional spacecraft are propelled forward by compressing the spacetime in front of them.

Many people who were hospitalised with COVID-19 continue to have cognitive and psychiatric problems even two to three years post-infection, according to a new study published in Lancet Psychiatry . Conducted by a group of researchers across the UK led by the University of Oxford and the University of Leicester, and published in Lancet Psychiatry , the research highlights the persistent and significant nature of these symptoms as well as the emergence of new symptoms years after COVID-19 was first present.

Scientists are using new technology to help endangered animals by listening to their sounds. The research, conducted by The University of Warwick and the University of New South Wales in Australia, analyses animal sounds from endangered species including types of elephants, whales and birds. It uses a new method adapted from tech used to analyse brain waves in neuroscience.

Infecting volunteers with malaria reveals why some get sick and others don't - and points to ways to induce stronger immunity through vaccination. A 'human challenge' study - purposefully infecting volunteers with malaria - has revealed crucial insights into how new, more effective malaria vaccines can be designed.

A new state of the art review, published in The Lancet , highlights the scale and impact of Long COVID. It explains biological mechanisms behind the condition and suggests priority areas for future research. In a new review paper , researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Leeds and Arizona, analysed dozens of previous studies into Long COVID to examine the number and range of people affected, the underlying mechanisms of disease, the many symptoms that patients develop, and current and future treatments.

The mystery of how complex molecules essential to life first formed may have been solved by a new study involving UCL's Dr Paola Pinilla. Planetary scientists believe that organic macromolecules that make Earth suitable for life, including elements such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, initially came from a type of meteorite known as a chondrite - but how chondrites acquired these molecules in the first place was unknown.

A drug that is currently used for the treatment of psoriasis has been found to be effective in treating the early stages of type-1 diabetes in children and adolescents, finds a new clinical trial led by Cardiff University. The new study has shown that Ustekinumab, an established immunotherapy that has been used to treat psoriasis since 2009, is effective in preserving the body's ability to produce insulin in type-1 diabetes - bringing the goal of managing type-1 diabetes without insulin a step closer.

The processes in the brain and body through which physical exercise reduces depressive symptoms have been explored by UCL researchers. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is associated with disruptions to several brain and psychological processes, including impaired learning and memory.

New research on 3D-printed materials could unlock benefits for industry A new analysis of the deformation mechanisms which cause 3D-printed materials to fail under strain could help create future generations of stronger, lighter plastics, unlocking transformative benefits for industry.