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A new study has found that air pollution is preventing pollinators finding flowers because it degrades the scent. A research team comprising the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and the Universities of Birmingham, Reading, Surrey and Southern Queensland, found that ozone substantially changes the size and scent of floral odour plumes given off by flowers, and that it reduced honeybees' ability to recognise odours by up to 90% from just a few metres away.

Even moderate exposure to nicotine-free vapour causes suppression of neutrophil’s typical activity. Inhaling vapour from an e-cigarette may be stopping frontline immune cells from working typically, as a new study shows that even moderate smoke exposure suppresses cell activity. The findings are published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and suggest that inhaling e-cigarette smoke could be damaging neutrophils, the first line of defence the human immune system has.

Scientists use innovative techniques to map the environmental impact of Birmingham's Clean Air Zone Birmingham's clean air zone (CAZ) has reduced the levels of nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2) - an air pollutant which adversely affects people's health, a new study reveals. University of Birmingham scientists used an innovative technique to discover that during the CAZ's first seven months of operation, after correction for weather and seasonal effects, it resulted in 'modest, but significant' reductions in NO2 of up to 7.

Quantum-derived findings could make mid-infrared light sensing much easier at room temperatures. Scientists from the University of Birmingham and the University of Cambridge have developed a new method for detecting mid-infrared (MIR) light at room temperature using quantum systems. The research, published today (28th August) in Nature Photonics, was conducted at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge and marks a significant breakthrough in the ability for scientists to gain insight into the working of chemical and biological molecules.

Study of microscopic fossils taken from Mississippi sediment cores reveals climate feedback that acted as temporary brake on an ancient cooling event Clues about the formation of major ice sheets on Antarctica have been found in mud cores drilled in Mississippi, providing an important lesson about a major climate cooling event, sometimes known as the Grande Coupure or great cut.

Female Genital Mutilation is causing thousands of unnecessary deaths every year - researchers are calling for extra effort to stop the practice. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a leading cause of death in the countries where it is practised, with over 44,000 additional women and young girls dying each year, a new study reveals.

Astronauts on the International Space Station are exposed to higher levels of potentially harmful chemical compounds than are found in homes on earth. Concentrations of potentially harmful chemical compounds in dust collected from air filtration systems on the International Space Station (ISS) exceed those found in floor dust from many American homes, a new study reveals.

An international team of scientists have discovered an unusual Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a low-mass star located in the Corvus constellation. An international team of scientists have discovered an unusual Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a low-mass star called TOI-4860, located in the Corvus constellation.

Taking inspiration from spirit mediums can give researchers powerful new tools to discover more about their specialism. Tourism researchers could learn from spirit mediums to develop a better way of researching by embracing 'nothingness' and opening themselves up to the mysterious and unseen 'atmospheres' that surround us, a new study reveals.

The breakup of tectonic plates is the main driving force behind the generation and eruption of diamond-rich magmas from deep inside the Earth, a new study has found. Diamonds, which form under great pressures at depth, are hundreds of millions, or even billions, of years old. They are typically found in a type of volcanic rock known as kimberlite.

Nickel-rich cathode materials are used in lithium-ion batteries, but their practical applications have been limited. Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding and overcoming the challenges associated with Ni-rich cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. These materials have the potential to achieve both high voltages and capacities, but their practical applications have been hindered by structural instabilities and loss of oxygen.

Discovery opens up applications beyond what biology is currently capable of - showcasing how we might engineer new technologies. Scientists have found a new use for copper in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent design, that could help to create better images which help doctors diagnose patients' conditions more easily and safely.

An international team of astronomers has announced the second-ever discovery of a multiplanetary circumbinary system. Circumbinary systems contain planets that orbit around two stars in the centre instead of just one, like in our Solar System. Circumbinary planets orbit around both stars at once. The discovery, led by researchers at the University of Birmingham, is reported in today's issue of the journal Nature Astronomy .

Tunnels deep underground in North Yorkshire are providing a unique opportunity to study how humans might be able to live and operate on the Moon or on Mars. Researchers at the University of Birmingham have launched the Bio-SPHERE project in a unique research facility located 1.1 km below the surface, in one of the deepest mine sites in the UK.

NHS Cancer Programme funding will see an advanced test used at GP surgeries in the West Midlands to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer. A £2 million study will see an advanced test used at GP surgeries in the West Midlands to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer - potentially saving thousands of lives a year.

A trial of a set of interventions to manage postpartum haemorrhage, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found a 60% reduction in heavy bleeding A new solution, known as E-MOTIVE, could provide a major breakthrough in reducing deaths from childbirth-related bleeding, according to a landmark study published today by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Birmingham.

A linguistic bias in the English language leads us to 'improve' things by adding to them, a new study reveals. A linguistic bias in the English language that leads us to 'improve' things by adding to them, rather than taking away, is so common that it is even ingrained in AI chatbots, a new study reveals.

Filters fitted to vehicle exhaust systems to remove particulate matter pollution have limited impact on ultrafine particles, new research shows. o 3 minute read Airborne particles from vehicle emissions are a major contributor to air pollution levels. Exhaust filters designed to mitigate this pollution have been a legal requirement in new cars since 2011, and in heavy duty vehicles since 2013.

Phase two trial saw significant reduction in pressure in the brain and monthly headaches Patients with 'blinding' headaches known as Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertension (IIH) could be treated with an injectable peptide used for type 2 diabetes, a new trial has found. The study, published in the journal Brain , today reports on a phase two trial of a drug called exenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, as a potential treatment for IIH.

Research shows the peptide called PEPITEM could provide a revolutionary approach to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related diseases Research published today shows that a peptide (small protein) called PEPITEM could provide a revolutionary approach to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related diseases such as hepatic steatosis (fatty liver).