Research News

Scientists to tackle potato blight disease threat – new research

Scientists will work on new ways to tackle a disease that causes significant crop losses worldwide, including blight in potatoes, thanks to a new research grant.

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Robots could help check biodiversity loss – new study

Robots could help track biodiversity loss across the world’s land masses, according to a new study.

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Aberystwyth scientists help monitor pine martens

Aberystwyth University scientists are helping to monitor the success of the reintroduction of Britain’s second rarest mammal.

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Cleft lip research may reduce childhood operations

Research could help children born with a cleft lip and palate to avoid multiple operations as they grow up.

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No kidding: goats prove brainier than sheep and alpacas

PhD Candidate Megan Quail has written an article for The Conversation about research findings that goats outperform sheep and alpacas in a series of cognitive tests.

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New research network aims to reduce dairy farming carbon footprint

Innovative strategies to significantly reduce high levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the dairy industry are being trialled in a major new research project.

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New research identifies KPIs with the greatest influence on livestock profitability

Our researchers have identified a simple yet highly effective set of metrics which could be used to help improve the financial performance of livestock farms.

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Innovative system of ‘listening’ sensors to monitor Greenland ice melt

Scientists are deploying an early warning system to closely monitor how rapidly the Greenland ice sheet is melting and help predict potential climate tipping points.

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Scientists to explore why Everest glacier is warming

A team of researchers is making final preparations for a trip to Mount Everest in Nepal next month to explore why the ice on one of the mountain’s most iconic glaciers is so close to the melting point.

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Goats smarter than sheep and alpacas – study

Goats can process information and solve memory tests better than sheep and alpacas, according to research by Aberystwyth University scientists.

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Aberystwyth scientists part of new £3m cardiovascular research network

Health and Care Research Wales and British Heart Foundation have announced a significant £3m agreement to support cardiovascular research in Wales through funding for the National Cardiovascular Research Network.

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Touch screens test whether horses suffer from poor sleep and depression

Academics are researching whether changes in living conditions could cause depression in horses by using screens the animals touch with their muzzles.  

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We’re turning waste bread crusts into nutritious food with ancient Asian fermentation

Writing in The Conversation, Aberystwyth scientists Juan Felipe Sandoval Rueda and Dr David Bryant discuss their research looking at turning bread crusts into nutritious new foods, by using fungal fermentation.

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New research examines cultural control and censorship in Cuba

More than 65 years after the Cuban Revolution began, the country’s artistic community still faces censorship and strict controls on their cultural creativity, according to a new academic book. 

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Leftover bread crusts can be turned into new food – research

If you are concerned about the crusts of your bread going to waste, then new research that promises to turn it into new kinds of food could be the answer.

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Stonehenge may have been built to unify the people of ancient Britain

The recent discovery that one of Stonehenge’s stones originated in Scotland supports a theory that the stone circle was built as a monument to unite Britain’s early farmers nearly 5,000 years ago, according to a new study by researchers at UCL and Aberystwyth University.

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New seaweed capsules tested for gut health benefits

Scientists are set to test the gut health benefits of a seaweed extract as part of efforts to improve the nation’s health.

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Welsh scientists developing groundbreaking rapid prostate cancer test

A groundbreaking test that could detect prostate cancer in men more quickly and with greater accuracy than current methods is being developed by Welsh scientists.

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Scientists create new palm oil alternative

Scientists have devised a new way of creating alternatives to palm oil in our food and cosmetics.

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Aberystwyth historian helps unravel mystery of medieval silk bag

An Aberystwyth University academic is part of an international team that has made an exciting discovery linking an 800-year-old silk bag at Westminster Abbey with Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor.

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Scholar’s research award in memory of women’s rights campaigner

An Aberystwyth scholar has received a prestigious award presented in memory of a Welsh woman who campaigned for women's rights across the world.

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UK’s first Lion’s Mane burger on plates after research project

The UK’s first Lion’s Mane burger has gone on sale at a Welsh eatery with the help of Aberystwyth University researchers.

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Land use climate research could save UK economy £1.6 billion

Aberystwyth scientists are helping the agriculture sector hit its net zero targets by making best use of the UK’s grasslands.

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Aberystwyth Prof gains top fellowship

An Aberystwyth University professor has received an esteemed fellowship from the Academy of Social Sciences

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Stonehenge origins search heats up as Orkney ruled out

Scientists’ search for the source of Stonehenge’s iconic Altar Stone has intensified, with a new paper ruling out Orkney as where it came from. 

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Aberystwyth hosts annual UK conference for Apple developers

Software experts from across the world gather at Aberystwyth University this week (2-5 September) to hear about the latest advancements in the field of iOS development. 

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Regional approach to ending TB discussed in Aberystwyth

TB experts will gather in Aberystwyth this month to discuss how local, regional and national collaboration can help to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

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Greater plant diversity in world’s drylands surprises scientists

Plant life becomes more diverse in drier areas of the world as it adapts to more arid conditions, according to a new study that has surprised scientists.

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Stonehenge Altar Stone came from Scotland, not Wales

The largest “bluestone” at the heart of Stonehenge came from northern Scotland, not Wales, according to new research.  

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New research on how language helps integrate newcomers

In an era of increased migration, what are the best ways of integrating newcomers into the language of their host country?  It’s a question which is being addressed as part of an innovative study funded by a prestigious Leverhulme Trust research project grant.

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New radar to be used to take first 3D measurements of Northern Lights

A new radar being built in Scandinavia will be used by researchers at Aberystwyth University to capture three-dimensional measurements of the Northern Lights for the very first time.

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Butterflies prefer UV lights says new study

Butterflies prefer lighting that contains ultraviolet according to a new study by Aberystwyth University scientists that could help improve how insects are kept indoors.

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Eisteddfod weather researchers ask for public’s memories

If you remember the scorching weather at the Cardigan National Eisteddfod in 1976 or, the strong winds in Tŷ Ddewi in 2002 or the rain in Anglesey seven years ago, researchers want your memories

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Crickets in your brownies? Insect-based food taste tests

Welsh scientists are testing how people react to eating food containing insects as part of research into greener protein.

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New dawn for space storm alerts could help shield Earth's tech

Space storms could soon be forecasted with greater accuracy than ever before thanks to a big leap forward in our understanding of exactly when a violent solar eruption may hit Earth.

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Aberystwyth University research uses AI to improve support for modern slavery survivors

Organisations and policymakers supporting survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery now have a better understanding of their needs, thanks to an innovative research project led by an Aberystwyth law professor.

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Aberystwyth University project to study climate action in the Amazon

An Aberystwyth academic is leading an international team to explore the position of the Amazon Rainforest in climate politics and its place in the academic study of international relations.

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Largest ever global air sampling maps fungal spread

Mushrooms and other fungi spread their spores in a more localised way than once thought and more similar to how animals and plant species migrate, new research has found.

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Melting of Alaskan glaciers accelerating faster than thought

Melting of glaciers in a major Alaskan icefield has accelerated and could reach an irreversible tipping point earlier than previously thought, new research suggests.

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Seals reveal age of Antarctic water for first time

The age of water in the Antarctic is being revealed by seals for the first time.

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Domestic violence and abuse research initiative releases new British Sign Language resource

The Dewis Choice Initiative is marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (15 June) with the release of a British Sign Language version of its impactful animation highlighting the unique challenges that older adults face when domestic abuse occurs.

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Are nasty jokes causing problems for elderly couples? New research begins

From classic knock-knock jokes to mother-in-law puns, researchers are looking at how humour affects older couples’ relationships.

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Antibiotic pollution makes snails forgetful by altering their gut microbiome

Antibiotics prevent snails from forming new memories by disrupting their gut microbiome - the community of beneficial bacteria found in their guts. 

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Aberystwyth students win prestigious international research internships

Two Aberystwyth University undergraduate students will be spending the summer working in Canada after being awarded prestigious research internships.

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Biomass crop research aims to boost rural economy

Aberystwyth University researchers are exploring the potential of crops like willow and alder as alternative sources of income for farmers.

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Drought resistant cereal research ‘vital’ as world population rises – new research fellow

Aberystwyth University’s world-renowned plant research has been boosted by a prestigious European Union-funded research fellowship.

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New Aberystwyth oats make esteemed National List

Four new oat varieties bred at Aberystwyth University have received top level approval after being recommended to farmers by the government’s industry board.

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The Queen presents award to Aberystwyth University for parasite research

Queen Camilla has presented a prestigious award to Aberystwyth University for its pioneering parasitology work at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace today (Thursday, 22 February).

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Can green tea prevent age-related disease? Research project

Aberystwyth University scientists are testing how nutrients in green tea can affect age-related diseases by monitoring people’s brain activity.

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Unlocking clover’s potential to reduce fertiliser use – research aim

Scientists are aiming to unlock the potential of clover and other legumes to reduce the use of fertiliser and emissions from livestock agriculture, thanks to a £3.3 million UK Government grant.

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