science wire

Conservation clusters: making the case
A new study reveals how the gathering together of conservation organisations in one location - a 'conservation cluster' - can work best to reap global rewards.

Decline in proboscis monkeys
University researchers and conservationists in Sabah have shown that proboscis monkey populations throughout Borneo may experience population decline if nothing is done to stop their habitat degradation.

New Director of the Smith School appointed

British scientist warns AAAS of the threat posed by ocean acidification
One of the country’s leading voices on ocean acidification has addressed a prestigious conference in Canada with a warning that marine biodiversity is at risk due to the corrosive effects of carbon dioxide.

UCL Energy Institute professors announced as government advisors
Professor Tadj Oreszczyn and Professor Paul Ekins (UCL Energy Institute) have been announced as advisors to the Department of Energy and Climate Change's new Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO).

£9.3 million project to improve oil refining in Russia gets the green light
For Immediate Release Wednesday 15 February 2012 Multi-million pound project to improve sustainability and efficiency of Russian oil industry is given green light A £9.3 million international consortium to make oil refining in Russia more efficient and environmentally sustainable has been given the green light this week.

University Professor helps to put the depletion of soil carbon on the global radar
University Professor helps to put the depletion of soil carbon on the global radar A professor from the University of Sheffield is helping to highlight the dramatic opportunities and the improvements desperately needed in the way the world manages its precious soils.

Elephants’ habitat fragments in Borneo
The home range and movement rate of the Bornean elephants are influenced by the degree of habitat fragmentation, according to a new study by researchers and conservationists. The study, carried out by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), Cardiff University and Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) -Malaysia was recently published in the scientific journal Public Library of Science One (PLoS 1).

Flumes and lasers test elite sportswear
Fabric used to make what is believed to be the fastest swimsuit to ever go on the market was tested Leeds researchers who simulated conditions close to those experienced by elite swimmers. A team led by Sedimentologist Jeff Peakall developed a methodology using lasers and flume tanks contained in a giant black box to accurately measure the speed of fabric through water.

The UK’s largest prefabricated straw bale building is officially opened
One of the largest prefabricated straw bale buildings in Europe officially opened at The University of Nottingham today - Wednesday 8 February 2012.

Scientists' model predicts seabird feeding habits
A computer model which predicts the foraging habits of seabirds could be a vital tool in the quest to protect wildlife along the British coastline. Experts from Plymouth University say the technique can also be used to predict the at-sea distributions of species which are too small to be tracked at present.

Research, policy, practice: conservation in the round
Conservation scientists working in partnership with practitioners and policy makers are building practical tools for real-world conservation.

Fossil cricket reveals Jurassic love song
The love song of an extinct cricket that lived 165 million years ago has been brought back to life by scientists at the University of Bristol. The song - possibly the most ancient known musical song documented to date - was reconstructed from microscopic wing features on a fossil discovered in North East China.

Under the Microscope #5 – Daisy
In this video Beverley Glover explains how a daisy is a collection of tiny flowers grouped together to make it look like a single big flower. " Under the Microscope is a collection of videos that show glimpses of the natural and man-made world in stunning close-up. They will be released every Monday and Thursday for the next couple of months and you can see them here: http://bit.ly/A6bwCE Glover: “The flowering plants (Angiosperms) form the dominant vegetation over most of the Earth's land surface.

Canopy commerce: forest conservation and poverty alleviation
Innovative approaches for protecting the future of Sierra Leone's Gola Forest - globally important for its biodiversity and its carbon reserves - are being developed by a collaboration of conservation agencies and University of Cambridge researchers.

Scotland first to map wild land
In a first for the UK, a new map detailing Scotland's wild areas is being published today by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Some of the country's wildest landscapes are already identified and protected if they fall within national parks or national scenic areas. But many other wild areas are not identified in any way.

Biodiversity conservation for life
This month, the University of Cambridge will be profiling research that addresses biodiversity conservation.

Children test the air for pollutants in Brighton science project
by Simon Levey Wednesday 1 February 2012 Children from Brighton have been testing the air quality in their school playgrounds to monitor how pollution from neighbouring roads might affect them and their environment.

Tool is new weapon in fight against climate change
A new service, developed by experts at The University of Manchester and The Mersey Forest, will provide vital information to help urban neighbourhoods avoid the potentially dangerous effects of climate change.

Ageing UK infrastructure systems need to be more joined up
A research consortium led by Oxford University warns that significant investment will be needed in many cases to replace the UK's ageing infrastructure systems.

Ancient lessons for a modern challenge
The seat of the Khmer Empire in Cambodia mysteriously collapsed in the 15th century. Now a University of Cambridge Gates Scholar has pieced together its climate history and put forward a compelling new theory to explain its demise. There is a lot we can learn from studying how climate change affected populations in the past which could help us to devise ways of coping in the future." —Mary Beth Day What caused the collapse of the Cambodian city of Angkor, the largest preindustrial city in the world, 600 years ago?

Climate balancing: sea-level rise versus surface temperature change rates
Engineering our way out of global climate warming may not be as easy as simply reducing the incoming solar energy, according to a team of University of Bristol and Penn State climate scientists.

Competition to find architects and landscape architects for North West Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is looking for a number of complementary architectural and landscape firms - large and small - for its ambitious new urban extension in North West Cambridge.

University of Sussex to help developing economies move towards low carbon energy
University of Sussex to help developing economies move towards low carbon energy University of Sussex academics are helping the Government to launch a new network to link British energy experts to those in developing economies.

NEC unveiling for Drayson electric powered race car built with help from WMG
Drayson Racing Technologies and Lola will unveil an electric prototype racing car the “Lola-Drayson B12/69EV” at the Low Carbon Racing Conference at the NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday.

Researcher suggests new design kitemark for homes that make us healthier and happier
A University of Warwick professor is proposing a new kitemark for housing developments to ensure your new home will not make you unwell or depressed. Professor Libby Burton, Professor of Sustainable Building Design and Wellbeing at the University of Warwick's School of Health and Social Studies, claims living in houses that are badly designed in areas that do not have enough space or greenery can seriously affect our health and wellbeing.

Next ice age delayed by global warming
Without human carbon dioxide emissions the next ice age would be imminent, according to a Nature Geoscience study led by a UCL scientist.

Economic returns and job creation from major investments in low carbon cities
A new study from the Centre for Low Carbon Futures shows that UK cities could cut their energy bills by billions by exploiting commercially attractive opportunities in energy and carbon management.

‘Extreme Sleepover #11’ – moulins and meltwater on the Greenland ice sheet
In the eleventh of a series of reports contributed by Cambridge researchers, glaciologists Ian Willis and Alison Banwell watch as a lake disappears before their eyes.

‘Extreme Sleepover #10’ – an encounter with ‘Hell’s Gate’
In the tenth of a series of reports contributed by Cambridge researchers, PhD student Robert Hird pitches his tent next to a gas crater in Turkmenistan in the course of his studies on the stability of saline soils.

‘Extreme Sleepover #2’ – A night in Ghana’s tropical forest
In the second of a series of reports contributed by Cambridge researchers, zoologist Ben Phalan ventures into a tropical forest to understand the impact of encroaching agriculture.

Rapidly rising Arctic temperatures could lead to significantly greater sea-level rise
Rapidly rising Arctic temperatures could lead to significantly greater sea-level rise An environmental expert from the University of Sheffield has warned global sea-level rise by the year 2100 could be significantly greater than previously predicted following analysis of Greenland´s rapidly shrinking ice sheets.

UK groups set to benefit from €9m EU marine renewables fund
A European Union cash boost for marine renewable energy is set to remove financial barriers to enable wider use of testing sites such as those at Plymouth University.

Industrial "inertia to change" is delaying development of zero carbon homes, report finds
Tackling rising CO2 emissions from the residential sector could make a vital contribution towards mitigating climate change, according to a new report from the UCL Bartlett School of Planning.

Deep heat
A whole range of alternative technologies will be needed to fill our huge appetite for energy and reduce our dependency on finite resources.

Solar power generation more powerful in Europe this century
Climate change will increase the amount of electricity generated by solar power in some parts of the world while decreasing it in others. The University of Leeds findings, published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science , have major impacts for countries looking at what type of solar power to build, where to build it and financial rates of return.

Tool which targets carbon emission hotspots in supply chains developed
Tool which targets carbon emission hotspots in supply chains developed A management expert at the University of Sheffield has developed a tool to analyse supply chains in industry, enabling businesses to highlight waste hotspots and make their processes more environmentally friendly.

Scientists set to gather at Plymouth University for global palaeontology conference
From the colouration of dinosaurs and the causes of their ultimate extinction to the evolution of mammals and the very present threat that climate change poses to our oceans: the 55th Annual Meeting

Spring’s rising soil temperatures see hormones wake seeds from their winter slumber
Dormant seeds in the soil detect and respond to seasonal changes in soil temperature by changing their sensitivity to plant hormones, new research by the University of Warwick has found. This sensitivity alters the depth of dormancy, indicating to the seed when it is the right time of year to germinate and grow.

Memory like a fish
The traditional belief that fish have short memory spans may not be as true as we thought. Gates scholar Alex Vail is carrying out research that reveals how fish remember other sea creatures and even people.

Wildlife broadcasters ’should pay for ecosystem services’
Media corporations that make and broadcast wildlife programmes and films should pay towards the cost of nature conservation under an existing innovative funding mechanism for the 'use of ecosystem services'.

How sustainable is nuclear power for the UK?
08 Dec 2011 Nuclear power could contribute significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK but this would lead to considerable impacts on natural resources and the environment, a report from The University of Manchester claims. The research into the sustainability of nuclear and other electricity options in the UK shows that nuclear power could make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

Cities fail to recognise full potential of smart technologies
PA 380/11 Cities are wasting the potential of smart technologies by failing to realise the value of their hidden infrastructure and digital assets.

Making finance serve society, the economy and the environment
Ways to make the financial system better serve Europe's economic, social and environmental needs are to be explored by a ¤10m international research project.

Researcher awarded ¤500,000 as part of European project to enable effective climate policy
Dr Simon O'Doherty of the University of Bristol's School of Chemistry has been awarded ¤500,000 as part of InGOS, a European project to monitor emissions of methane, nitrous oxide and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases and improve the observational infrastructure.

£2million for research into Mediterranean gateways and global climate change
A Bristol-led consortium of universities and industry has been awarded more than £2million to reconstruct Atlantic-Mediterranean flow patterns, 5-6 million years ago, before the Straits of Gibraltar formed.

200 lorry loads of concrete in one day: a construction challenge
A major construction logistics operation was staged on the West Cambridge site recently to create a substantial concrete base for some of the world's most powerful microscopes.

Six steps to a better material world
Every year we make 10 times our own bodyweight of steel, aluminium, cement, plastics and paper, for every person alive, using a fifth of all the world's energy supply to do so. Now researchers are releasing a manifesto to change that and help cut carbon emissions. And they've also released an album of songs to go with it.

COP 17 and a low carbon future for cities
Investing 2% of a modern city's GDP in low carbon and energy efficient opportunities for ten years would reduce that city's carbon emission levels by 40% at no net cost.

Industry leaders and academics debate how to reduce the UK’s carbon output
By Simon Levey Friday 25 November 2011 Official recommendations expect the UK to almost triple its annual cut in carbon footprint in order to meet its 2050 target of reducing emissions by 80% as compared to 1990.

Doing good - or just talking about it?
UK companies making bold claims about social and environmental achievements are using incorrect and irrelevant data, say researchers at the University of Leeds and Euromed Management School (France).

Biomass could provide a fifth of global energy without damaging food production
By Simon Levey Friday 25 November 2011 Energy generated from plant biomass could deliver up to one fifth of global demand without causing a decline in food production, although there are challenges involved, according to a new report launched this week by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC).

Queen's Anniversary Prize for WildCRU

Living with the Inugguit
In 2010, researcher Stephen Leonard began a 12-month research project, documenting the disappearing oral traditions of the northernmost settled people on Earth.

Mast from classic racing yacht holds one of the keys to sustainable biofuels
The mast from a classic racing yacht and samples from a Forestry Commission breeding trial have played a key role in the search for sustainable biofuels. Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on earth — and therefore a potentially major source of glucose for the production of biofuels.

Shale gas expansion ’would jeopardise climate commitments’
Researchers at Tyndall Manchester, in partnership with The Co-operative, have updated their assessment of the environmental impact of shale gas in light of new developments in the UK.

Enough water to double food production
There is enough water in the major basins of the world to double their food production in the next decades, scientists have found.

Carbon cycling in the terrestrial biosphere was much smaller during last ice age than in today’s climate
A reconstruction of plants' productivity and the amount of carbon stored in the ocean and terrestrial biosphere at the last ice age is published today. The research by an international team of scientists greatly increases our understanding of natural carbon cycle dynamics. A reconstruction of plants' productivity and the amount of carbon stored in the ocean and terrestrial biosphere at the last ice age is published today.  The research by an international team of scientists greatly increases our understanding of natural carbon cycle dynamics.

Rivers may aid climate control in cities
Rivers may aid climate control in cities Planners could make greater use of urban waterways to regulate environmental temperature in our cities, according to research presented today (17 November 2011).

Exhibition celebrates 'father of European landscape painting'
Visitors to the Ashmolean Museum can explore an unconventional side to artist Claude Lorrain this winter.

National differences in reporting of climate scepticism
An Oxford University study of climate change coverage in six countries suggests that newspapers in the UK and the US have given far more column space to the voices of climate sceptics than the press in Brazil, France, India and China. More than 80 per cent of the times that sceptical voices were included, they were in pieces in the UK and US press, according to the research.

Lessons from a German bank could cut energy bills for UK homeowners
UK home owners could see reduced energy bills if the government's energy policy takes lessons from a publicly owned German bank that has pioneered energy-efficient construction over the past 30 years, a new report has found.

Sainsbury Laboratory wins World’s Best Learning Building award
The Sainsbury Laboratory has been acclaimed as the World's Best Learning Building 2011 at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona.

Durham part of consortium awarded £5.3M to establish new research and innovation capability
Durham part of consortium awarded £5.3M to establish new research and innovation capability Durham University is part of a consortium awarded a £5.3m grant from the UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills' new Regional Growth Fund (RGF) scheme.

Prestigious award for zero-carbon home research
Researchers involved in a unique research facility of zero carbon homes have won a prestigious award for their work on low carbon housing design.

Spin-out is energy-saver for business
The latest spin-out from Oxford University, Pilio Limited, provides a cost-effective online tool enabling small and medium businesses to monitor and manage their energy usage, potentially saving up to 40 per cent of their energy budget.

New professors signal fresh ambitions for science policy research at Sussex
New professors signal fresh ambitions for science policy research at Sussex The University of Sussex continues to tackle the most challenging issues for governments and policy makers with the appointment of three big names in the field of science and technology policy.

Developing a sustainable laboratory
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from across Wales is aiming to tackle waste and shape the laboratory of the future by redesigning the lifecycle of laboratory gloves.

Unravelling the causes of the Ice Age megafauna extinctions
Was it humans or climate change that caused the extinctions of the iconic Ice Age mammals (megafauna) such as the woolly rhinoceros and woolly mammoth?

Academic’s ’Geog Blog’ to tell of his week in Westminster
PA340/11 Physical geographer Simon Gosling is to blog his way through Parliament this week when he shadows Barry Gardiner, Labour MP for Brent North, at Westminster.

Researchers to explore if Ganges River water use affects climate
Thursday 27 October 2011 By Colin Smith Determining if water usage patterns in northern India over the last 50 years are affecting the climate is the focus of new international £1.1 million collaboration announced today. Researchers from Imperial College London are part of a UK and Indian academic consortium that is developing the most comprehensive computer models yet of the water cycle in the Ganges River Basin, which is one of the most heavily populated and farmed river basins in the world.

Salon event asks: Do we still care about climate change?
Salon event asks: Do we still care about climate change? Do people still get hot under the collar about climate change, or have public perceptions cooled‘ Who does care about the threat of

£25m research facility for food and biofuels opens for business
PA 324/11 The doors open on a new multi million pound research facility for biofuels, brewing science and food and drink processing at The University of Nottingham on Friday 21 October 2011.

Leeds ’sludge team’ targets nuclear waste
It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Researchers from the University of Leeds have teamed up with Sellafield Ltd to clean up radioactive sludge produced by the UK nuclear industry.

Bridging the global divide: Manchester stakes its claim
20 Oct 2011 Lord David Owen is to be guest speaker at a special meeting in Manchester next week to launch a new initiative that is guaranteed to put the city at the forefront of global health.

Leaf litter ants advance case for rainforest conservation in Borneo
Studies of ant populations in Borneo reveal an unexpected resilience to areas of rainforest degraded by repeated intensive logging.

Sussex academic helps launch ’unique’ migration report
Sussex academic helps launch 'unique' migration report University of Sussex academic Professor Richard Black will help today (Thursday 20 October) to launch a major new international report that he describes as “unique” in its approach to migration in an era of climate change.

Millions will be 'trapped' in areas facing environmental change
Major challenges associated with migration and environmental change 'have been underestimated', according to a major new report.

Glaciers Make Way for New Stream Habitat in Alaska
Researchers from the University of Birmingham and other UK universities describe the evolution and assembly of a stream ecosystem in South East Alaska in new de-glaciated terrain, from early insect and crustacean invaders to the arrival of migrating salmon from the ocean, in a paper published in the journal ‘Ecology' this month (October).

Sea Life Sharks Help Scientists Probe Mysteries of Ancient Seas
Sea Life Centre sharks are set to help University of Birmingham scientists unravel the mysteries of ancient seas. That will be the goal of a major research project announced as the centres prepare to host special Shark Weeks in October, to promote shark conservation. Clues to marine biological diversity over millions of years may be locked up in sharks' teeth, researchers believe.

Jodrell Bank given Royal seal of approval
13 Oct 2011 Prince Andrew, Duke of York, praised the achievements of astronomers and scientists at Jodrell Bank on a visit to the Observatory last week.

Sir Alex receives University’s highest honour on Foundation Day
12 Oct 2011 United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has this evening received an honorary degree from The University of Manchester to mark his 25 years in charge of the club.

UK must prepare for extreme weather and ageing population
UK must prepare for extreme weather and ageing population Researchers have mapped areas of England most likely to face more extreme weather events and increasingly elderly populations, and have called on service providers to adjust their planning to meet these challenges.

Nottingham to offer ’ideas incubator’ for the film industry
PA 302/11 An innovative initiative could see filmmakers and studios in Hollywood and around the globe turning to Nottingham experts for solutions to the biggest challenges facing the screen industries.

Are you an EcoDriver?
The University of Leeds is leading a £13m (¤14.5m) European project which aims to turn even the most committed of petrol heads into a green driver.

New professor Richard Green brings a business focus to environmentally friendly technologies
By Tanya Gubbay Monday 10 October 2011 A new Professor who recently joined Imperial College Business School is aiming to bring a business focus to the challenge of making the UK's energy supply more sustainable.

Lord Crisp leads Global Health Centre
Lord Nigel Crisp, former NHS Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary to the Department of Health is to lead a Centre at King's College London, part of King's Health Partners, that aims to improve the health of people in lower and middle income countries around the world.

University of Glasgow launches major bio-desalination project
The team will spend the next three years investigating how the biology of marine organisms might be used to deliver effective desalination.

Carrier bag confusion
A new report shows that Welsh shoppers are not clear on the reasons behind the minimum 5p charge for a single use carrier bag.

Wild plants are good for pollinators
A new study has shown that encouraging strips of wild plants at the edges of fields is important for supporting bees and other important pollinators. The research by academics at the University of Bristol has shown that enhancing the size of wild features in landscapes could be important for making sure that insect pollinators can exist within an agricultural landscape that faces increasing pressure for yield.  The paper is published online in PLoS One .

IPhone 5 launch will see consumers rush to pay more than treble the price in internet auction
Research from the University of Warwick suggests the rush to be among the first to own the new iPhone 5 could see consumers paying more than three times over the retail price on internet auction sites.

Blimp to fly at proposed wind turbines site
A blimp is to be flown at the site of a proposed wind turbine development in Nottingham to help interested parties gauge the scale of the project.

Unravelling the uncertainties of predicting future heatwaves
As the country swelters in the grip of a late September heat-wave researchers at The University of Nottingham have warned that while Indian summers could become more common, heat-waves in the future could become even hotter. Moreover, they could have important implications for human health. However, their research suggests that we are going to have to take a lot more notice of the things we don't understand about the climate.

Beyond sustainability
Dominique Hes of the University of Melbourne will talk about how "green" buildings could become net contributors to their environment rather than just efficient takers in a seminar on 5 October.

UK homes need to warm to new sustainable heating technologies, says report
by Colin Smith UK homeowners need to be encouraged to replace gas boilers and adopt new low carbon sustainable heating systems in the future, if the country is to meet its CO2 reduction targets, according to a briefing paper released today .

Can smart meters make us greener?
PA 278/11 The Government wants every home to have one by 2020, but might the new generation of electricity meters help to change people's attitudes to climate change?

Food waste don’t let celebrity chefs play the blame game
The cooking styles promoted by celebrity chefs are unlikely to cut Britain's 8.3 million tonnes of household food waste, according to a new study.

UCL Grand Challenges Small Grants available

New tsunami software will help protect vulnerable coastal communities
A new piece of software has been developed to help protect vulnerable coastal communities from the destruction of a tsunami.

Global Food Security Champion appointed by public partnership
The Global Food Security programme (GFS) has appointed a University of Leeds academic as Champion to take on the key role of coordinator and spokesperson for the group.

New threat closes in on iconic Galápagos wildlife
Renewed vigilance over the biosecurity of the Galápagos Islands is needed, based on new research on the risk posed by West Nile virus. Scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the University of Leeds and the New York State Department of Health, together with the Galápagos National Park Service and University of Guayaquil, have been studying the disease threat posed by Islands' mosquito populations.

Biodiversity Virtual e-Laboratory launched
A groundbreaking research project which could revolutionise the study of biodiversity around the world has been launched at the University.

$US 10 million research partnership paves way for improvements in oil refining
By Colin Smith Improving the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the oil industry will be the focus of a $US 10 million international partnership, announced today in Russia. Imperial College London, the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis and the Skolkovo Foundation jointly announced the signing of a Letter of Intent, which could lead to an international research consortium for reducing heat loss in oil refining by up to 15%.

Why we need plant scientists
'Plant scientist' should take its rightful place beside 'doctor', 'lawyer' and 'vet' in the list of top professions to which our most capable young people aspire, according to a hard-hitting letter by an international group of botanists and crop scientists published today.

A canopy view of climate change -- novel art installation reaches heart of Sherwood Forest
Image courtesy of Active Ingredient PA 267/11 An ambitious touring art installation is to use real-time data collected from the canopies of trees in Sherwood Forest to raise awareness of the environmental changes affecting our planet as a result of the continued rise in CO2 emissions.

Field of Jeans comes to Sheffield city centre
Field of Jeans comes to Sheffield city centre An exhibition with a difference is coming to Sheffield´s Peace Gardens and Winter Gardens next week (12-13 September 2011) to showcase the world&

The cost of breathing - about £65 each year
The whole atmosphere is effectively worth more than 100 times the value of the world economy (Gross World Product – GWP), according to research being presented to the annual International Confe

Coral could be used to create sunscreens
Researchers at King's College London have discovered how coral produces natural sunscreen compounds to protect itself from damaging UV rays, leading scientists to believe these compounds could form the basis of a new type of sunscreen for humans.

Winning wildlife photography
Cardiff ecologist Adam Seward has snapped up another prize in this year's British Ecological Society photographic competition.