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Adapted from a news release by British Ecological Society The 'colour' of our environment is becoming 'bluer', a change that could have important implications for animals' risk of becoming extinct, say ecologists from Imperial College London this week. In a major study published this week in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Animal Ecology , researchers examined how quickly or slowly animal populations and their environment fluctuate over time, something ecologists describe using 'spectral colour'.

Imperial College London and King's College London News Release Scientists have identified a gene that appears to play a role in regulating how much alcohol people drink, in a study of over 47,000 people published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers say that finding a common genetic variation influencing levels of alcohol consumption may lead to a better understanding of mechanisms underlying alcohol drinking behaviour in the general population.

Bombardments of 'micro-meteorites' on Earth and Mars four billion years ago may have caused the planets' climates to cool dramatically, hampering their ability to support life, according to research published today in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Scientists from Imperial College London studied the effects of the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB), a period of time in the early Solar System when meteorite showers lasting around 100 million years barraged Earth and Mars.

Adapted from a news release issued by Cancer Research UK Thursday 31 March 2011 Scientists have discovered an essential protein that controls inflammation induced by "tumour necrosis factor" (TNF) - an important part of the body's defences against infection and a driver of cancer-associated inflammation, according to research published in Nature today.

The earliest rocks in our Solar System were more like candy floss than the hard rock that we know today, according to research published Geoscience. The work, by researchers from Imperial College London and other international institutions, provides the first geological evidence to support previous theories, based on computer models and lab experiments, about how the earliest rocks were formed.

Scientists have discovered a protein secreted by tuberculosis (TB) bacteria that could be a promising new vaccine candidate, they report today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The protein could also be used to improve diagnosis of TB. TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), which infects the lungs and spreads through the air as a result of coughing.

The structures inside animals' thigh bones that enable them to support huge loads whilst being relatively lightweight are revealed in research published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The researchers say their work could lead to the development of new materials based on thigh bone geometry.

From the Asian elephant to the roadrunner: study of 90 animals? thigh bones reveals how they can efficiently carry loads Study suggests new materials could be developed that are inspired by geometry inside thigh bones The structures inside animals' thigh bones that enable them to support huge loads whilst being relatively lightweight are revealed in research published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The researchers say their work could lead to the development of new materials based on thigh bone geometry.

Study finds five new genetic variants linked to heart disease Five new genetic variants linked to heart disease have been identified in a meta-analysis of four large genome-wide association studies, published this week. By Sam Wong Monday 7 March 2011 Five new genetic variants linked to heart disease have been identified in a meta-analysis of four large genome-wide association studies, published this week.

Climate survey: Blow a bubble and spot a contrail Open Air Laboratories launches national Climate Survey in Prince's Gardens - News Thursday 3 March 2011 By Simon Levey and Sarah Baldwin Meteorologists and other scientists are asking everyone in England to take part in a new survey exploring how we influence the climate and how the climate affects us.

Sugary drinks associated with higher blood pressure Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with higher blood pressure, according to a study of over 2,500 people reported in the journal Hypertension. Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with higher blood pressure, according to a study of over 2,500 people reported this week in the journal Hypertension .

Scientists weigh out ingredients for the perfect galaxy Herschel space telescope finds out how much dark matter it takes to make a galaxy - News Friday 18 February 2011 Adapted from a news release issued by the UK Space agency and NASA Astronomers working with Europe 's Herschel Space Observatory have found out just how much dark matter it takes to make a new galaxy bursting with stars.

Under embargo until 2200 hrs London time Thursday 10 February 2011 It might be better to implement policies to reduce the impact of a flu epidemic a few weeks after the start of an outbreak rather than straight away, according to a new study that uses mathematical models to simulate the effects of different interventions.

Flu reduction policies don?t need to start at the beginning of an outbreak, study suggests Mathematical models predict that some policy interventions might not be best employed at the start of an epidemic. It might be better to implement policies to reduce the impact of a flu epidemic a few weeks after the start of an outbreak rather than straight away, according to a new study that uses mathematical models to simulate the effects of different interventions.

Study suggests why HIV-uninfected babies born to mothers with HIV might be more vulnerable to infections Imperial research published in JAMA finds that babies of mothers with HIV have lower levels of several specific antibodies. Babies whose mothers have HIV, but who are not HIV-infected themselves, are born with lower levels of specific proteins in their blood called antibodies, which fight infection, compared with babies not exposed to HIV, a new study has found.

Huge decline in HIV rates in Zimbabwe driven by fear of infection, says study The big drop in the numbers of people infected with HIV in Zimbabwe is because of mass social change, driven by fear of infection, according to an international study reported in PLoS Medicine. The big drop in the numbers of people infected with HIV in Zimbabwe is because of mass social change, driven by fear of infection, according to an international study reported today in the journal PLoS Medicine.

Pair of genes makes plant pest double trouble Research at Imperial could help scientists control one of the world's most important crop diseases, Pseudomonas Syringae - News Monday 7 February 2011 Adapted from a news release issued by the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC).

Obesity has doubled since 1980, major global analysis of risk factors reveals Study shows western high-income countries have achieved impressive progress in lowering hypertension and cholesterol The worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly doubled since 1980, according to a major study on how three important heart disease risk factors have changed across the world over the last three decades.

Major trial suggests common treatments for treating children with HIV equally effective New trial addresses questions about best practice for treating HIV in children - News Tuesday 1 February 2011 by Sam Wong A major trial comparing the effectiveness of two classes of drugs commonly used to treat HIV in children has found that both are equally effective as an initial treatment.

Boys will infect boys, swine flu study shows Study will help researchers model how epidemics spread and how interventions such as school closures can contain outbreaks Boys predominantly pass on flu to other boys and girls to girls, according to a new study of how swine flu spread in a primary school during the 2009 pandemic, published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.