Lily the Barn Owl and Innovative Technology Reveals How Birds Fly in Gusty Winds
Scientists from the University of Bristol and the Royal Veterinary College have discovered how birds are able to fly in gusty conditions — findings that…
University of Bristol
Switch to Warm-Bloodedness Triggered by World’s Greatest Mass Extinction
Mammals and birds today are warm-blooded, and this is often taken as the reason for their great success. University of Bristol paleontologist Professor Mike Benton identifies…
Long-Standing Scientific Enigma Solved: Ground-Breaking Discovery Finally Proves Rain Really Can Move Mountains
A pioneering technique that captures precisely how mountains bend to the will of raindrops has helped to solve a long-standing scientific enigma. The dramatic effect…
Pioneering Analysis of 200 Million-Year-Old Teeth Reveals First Mammals Lived More Like Reptiles
Pioneering analysis of 200 million-year-old teeth belonging to the earliest mammals suggests they functioned like their cold-blooded counterparts — reptiles, leading less active but much…
Increased Risk of Self-Harm for Boys and Girls Who Experience Earlier Puberty
Boys and girls who experience puberty earlier than their peers have an increased risk of self-harm in adolescence, a study funded by the National Institute…
Brain Power: Battling With Neighbors Could Make Animals Smarter
From ants to primates, ‘Napoleonic’ intelligence has evolved to help animals contend with the myriad cognitive challenges arising from interactions with rival outsiders, suggest researchers…
Classical Evolutionary Story Overturned: Our Mud-Slurping Chinless Ancestors Had All the Moves
A team of researchers, led by the University of Bristol, has revealed our most ancient ancestors were ecologically diverse, despite lacking jaws and paired fins….
Dawn of the Dinosaurs Triggered by Newly Discovered Mass Extinction Event
Huge volcanic eruptions 233 million years ago pumped carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour into the atmosphere. This series of violent explosions, on what we…
Deadly Surprise: Tiny Crystals Behind Unexpected Violent Volcanic Eruptions
In a new study of volcanic processes, Bristol scientists have demonstrated the role nanolites play in the creation of violent eruptions at otherwise ‘calm’ and…
Revolutionary Quantum Cryptography Breakthrough Paves Way for Safer Online Communication
The world is one step closer to having a totally secure internet and an answer to the growing threat of cyber-attacks, thanks to a team…
Discovery of a New Mass Extinction – Carnian Pluvial Episode – 233 Million Years Ago
It’s not often a new mass extinction is identified; after all, such events were so devastating they really stand out in the fossil record. In…
What Makes Memories So Detailed and Enduring? Newly Discovered Mechanism of Learning
In years to come, personal memories of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be etched in our minds with precision and clarity, distinct from other…
Global Warming Warning: Devastating Hurricanes Could Be Up to Five Times More Likely in the Caribbean
Global warming is dramatically increasing the risk of extreme hurricanes in the Caribbean, but meeting more ambitious climate change goals could up to halve the…
Finally Revealed: Gargantuan True Size of Legendary Prehistoric Mega-Shark Megalodon
A new study led by the University of Bristol and Swansea University has revealed the size of the legendary giant shark Megalodon, including fins that…
The Mystery of Why Zebras Have Their Stripes Has Baffled Scientists – Now a Dazzling Answer
The mystery of why zebras have their characteristic stripes has perplexed researchers for over a century. Over the last decade, Professor Tim Caro at the…
How Human Sperm Fooled Scientists for 350 Years
How Human Sperm Really Swim: New Research Challenges Old Assumption New research in fertility science by researchers from Bristol and Mexico has shattered the universally…
Pioneering Research Reveals Certain Human Genes Relate to Gut Bacteria
The role genetics and gut bacteria play in human health has long been a fruitful source of scientific enquiry, but new research marks a significant…
How Long to Play Dead in Order to Stay Alive? The Answer Is “Highly Strategic”
Many animals remain motionless or play dead after being attacked by a predator in the hope that it will give up and move onto some…