Press releases: 2008

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Bee probiotic business plan a winner for young entrepreneurs

12 Dec 2008
A team of graduate students from the University of Oxford has scooped first prize in the Environment Young Entrepreneurs Scheme competition. Bee probiotic business plan a winner for young entrepreneurs

UK invests in monitoring the health of the planet

27 Nov 2008
NERC welcomes the news of the UK's £82m investment in GMES and the announcement of a new UK ESA facility. UK invests in monitoring the health of the planet

UK's biggest ever Countryside Survey: Results published

18 Nov 2008
The results of the biggest and most comprehensive survey of Britain's countryside and its natural resources are unveiled in a report published today. UK's biggest ever Countryside Survey: Results published

Research councils recommend changes to draft EU animals Directive

6 Nov 2008
MRC, BBSRC and NERC have expressed concern over proposed changes to the EU's animals Directive. Research councils recommend changes to draft EU animals Directive

Long term strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions needed

29 Oct 2008
Carbon dioxide will continue to rise even if current national and international targets for reducing emissions are met, scientists warn. Long term strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions needed

Arctic sea ice is getting thinner as well as receding

28 Oct 2008
Last winter, the thickness of sea ice in large parts of the Arctic fell by nearly half a metre (19 per cent) compared with the average thickness of the previous five winters. Arctic sea ice is getting thinner as well as receding

Revealing East Antarctica's hidden landforms

28 Oct 2008
The landscapes of East Antarctica, buried beneath ice several kilometres thick, are to be revealed under plans to map the area in detail for the first time. Revealing East Antarctica's hidden landforms

Cloud-hopping for better climate predictions

22 Oct 2008
A team of 20 cloud and climate experts head for Chile to investigate how massive swathes of Pacific clouds affect world climate and weather. Cloud-hopping for better climate predictions

Deepest-living fishes caught on camera

7 Oct 2008
The world's deepest living fishes have been filmed for the first time. Deepest-living fishes caught on camera

Science minister re-appoints NERC Chief Executive

2 Oct 2008
Ian Pearson today announced the re-appointment of Professor Alan Thorpe as NERC Chief Executive and Deputy Chair. Science minister re-appoints NERC Chief Executive

Discovery of an active methane gas system beneath Arctic seabed

24 Sep 2008
Researchers have discovered a methane gas system beneath the seabed of the Arctic that has probably been active since the end of the last ice age. Discovery of an active methane gas system beneath Arctic seabed

Neighbours from hell: infanticide rife in guillemot colony

17 Sep 2008
One of Britain's best-known species of seabird is increasingly attacking and killing unattended chicks from neighbouring nests due to food shortages. Neighbours from hell: infanticide rife in guillemot colony

Culture and the climate challenge

12 Sep 2008
This month (September 2008) a 40-strong crew of artists and scientists embark on a scientific and cultural expedition to Disko Bay on the west coast of Greenland. Culture and the climate challenge

Caught in a trap: Bumblebees versus robotic crab spiders

4 Sep 2008
Bumblebees learn to avoid camouflaged predators by sacrificing foraging speed for predator detection, according to scientists from Queen Mary, University of London. Caught in a trap: Bumblebees versus robotic crab spiders

UK Robot submarine successfully completes first science mission

15 Aug 2008
Autosub6000, the UK's deepest-diving robot submarine, has successfully completed its first science mission in the deep Atlantic Ocean. UK Robot submarine successfully completes first science mission

UK scientist explores Sichuan fault

14 Aug 2008
A UK scientist arrives in China today to explore the fault lines that caused the earthquake on 12 May that killed 69,000 people. UK scientist explores Sichuan fault

Smells like bees' spirit

13 Aug 2008
Bumblebees choose whether to search for food according to how stocked their nests are, say scientists from Queen Mary, University of London. Smells like bees' spirit

NERC appoints three new members

13 Aug 2008
Three new appointments to the Natural Environment Research Council have been announced by Ian Pearson, Minister for Science & Innovation. NERC appoints three new members

Seals help unlock secrets of the ocean

12 Aug 2008
Data collected from sensors attached to elephant seals in the Southern Ocean is helping researchers learn more about ocean circulation and the Earth's climate. Seals help unlock secrets of the ocean

Warmer climates lead to more extreme rainfall

11 Aug 2008
Researchers have confirmed the link between a warmer climate and more intense tropical rainstorms after analysing 20 years of satellite data. Warmer climates lead to more extreme rainfall

Female guppies risk death to avoid sexual harassment

6 Aug 2008
Sexual harassment from male guppies is so bad that long-suffering females will risk their lives to escape it, according to new research. Female guppies risk death to avoid sexual harassment

Acid rain reduces methane emissions from rice paddies

6 Aug 2008
City-related atmospheric pollution in China may have a beneficial side-effect - combating methane emissions from rice paddies. Acid rain reduces methane emissions from rice paddies

NERC and Met Office collaborate on climate predictions

4 Aug 2008
NERC is a partner in a new IBM supercomputer announced today by the Met Office. NERC and Met Office collaborate on climate predictions

Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 published today

30 Jul 2008
The Natural Environment Research Council's Annual Report confirms the government's citation analysis that NERC's research truly is world-class. Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 published today

Snapshot of past climate reveals no ice in Antarctica millions of years ago

28 Jul 2008
A snapshot of New Zealand's climate 40 million years ago reveals a greenhouse Earth, with warmer seas and little or no ice in Antarctica, according to research published this week in the journal Geology. Snapshot of past climate reveals no ice in Antarctica millions of years ago

Director appointed to take up the challenges of Living With Environmental Change

25 Jul 2008
Professor Andrew Watkinson, who is currently Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and a Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia, will take up the post during September. Director appointed to take up the challenges of Living With Environmental Change

£1m award to support commercialisation of research

27 Jun 2008
NERC has won nearly £1m to help it support the commercialisation of research in its research centres. £1m award to support commercialisation of research

Rapid Climate Change: past; present; future

26 Jun 2008
Key findings from an ambitious research project that provided the first 'early detection system' for climate changes in the Atlantic Ocean are highlighted today. Rapid Climate Change: past; present; future

Destruction of greenhouse gases over tropical Atlantic

26 Jun 2008
Large amounts of ozone - around 50% more than predicted by climate models - are being destroyed in the lower atmosphere over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Destruction of greenhouse gases over tropical Atlantic

Volcano 'pollution' solves mercury mystery

25 Jun 2008
Scientists have discovered how volatile metals from volcanoes end up in polar ice cores. Volcano 'pollution' solves mercury mystery

UK research partnership responds to the urgent need for environmental action

18 Jun 2008
Urgent action is needed from the research community, government and the public to respond to inevitable environmental change. UK research partnership responds to the urgent need for environmental action

'Family tree' of all British birds gives clues about which species might be endangered next

11 Jun 2008
A new complete evolutionary 'family tree' showing how all British bird species are related may provide clues about which ones are at risk of population decline. 'Family tree' of all British birds gives clues about which species might be endangered next

Puffins added to the list of dwindling North Sea birdlife

4 Jun 2008
Atlantic Puffin numbers on the Isle of May have declined by 30% during the last five years after a period of almost 40 years of rapid population increase. Puffins added to the list of dwindling North Sea birdlife

Earthworm detectives provide genetic clues for dealing with soil pollution

3 Jun 2008
Earthworms are proving to be great detectives when it comes to identifying pollutants present in soil. Earthworm detectives provide genetic clues for dealing with soil pollution

Parasites' family planning strategy helps malaria spread

29 May 2008
Malaria parasites ensure the successful spread of the disease by being able to produce more sons than daughters when conditions are difficult, a study shows. Parasites' family planning strategy helps malaria spread

Family feuds - why close relatives keep their distance in the animal kingdom

28 May 2008
Mammals cannot share their habitat with closely related species because the need for the same kind of food and shelter would lead them to compete to the death, according to new research out today. Family feuds - why close relatives keep their distance in the animal kingdom

£2m to study earthquake region

16 May 2008
A major research consortium has just started to investigate the causes of devastating earthquakes in south-east Asia. £2m to study earthquake region

Gardens for the year 2050 at the Chelsea Flower Show

16 May 2008
Scientists from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit are inviting us to look into the future at next week's Chelsea Flower Show. Gardens for the year 2050 at the Chelsea Flower Show

Scientists aim to unlock deep-sea secrets of Earth's crust

14 May 2008
Scientists from Durham University will use robots to explore the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to study the growth of underwater volcanoes that build the Earth's crust. Scientists aim to unlock deep-sea secrets of Earth's crust

When following the leader can lead into the jaws of death

13 May 2008
International study of animal behaviour has important implications for human decision-making. When following the leader can lead into the jaws of death

Major UK funders publish common rules for animal research

8 May 2008
Five of the UK's major funders of animal research today published common guidelines for using animals in research. Major UK funders publish common rules for animal research

Amazon under threat from cleaner air

8 May 2008
The Amazon rainforest, so crucial to the Earth's climate system, is coming under threat from cleaner air say prominent UK and Brazilian climate scientists in the leading scientific journal Nature. Amazon under threat from cleaner air

Fluctuating diet increases risk of sudden death

30 Apr 2008
New research has revealed that binge eating then dieting may significantly reduce lifespan. Fluctuating diet increases risk of sudden death

Arctic adventurers return home

25 Apr 2008
A Wirral school may have a Polar scientist in the making after one of its students had an action-packed adventure in the frozen Arctic. Arctic adventurers return home

Early growth spurts could cause obesity

9 Apr 2008
Researchers have found that growth spurts in early childhood could permanently affect an individual's rate of metabolism, which is believed to be linked to obesity. Early growth spurts could cause obesity

The most advanced gravity measurement satellite prepares for launch

3 Apr 2008
A new satellite that will measure the Earth's global gravity field more accurately is being prepared for launch in Russia at the end of May. The most advanced gravity measurement satellite prepares for launch

Under the sea

27 Mar 2008
Scientists explore huge volume of molten rock now frozen into the crust under the ocean's floor. Under the sea

Evolution of new species slows down as number of competitors increases

25 Mar 2008
The rate at which new species are formed in a group of closely related animals decreases as the total number of different species in that group goes up, according to new research published today. Evolution of new species slows down as number of competitors increases

Unmanned aerial vehicles mark robotic first for British Antarctic Survey

18 Mar 2008
Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey in collaboration with the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany have completed the first ever series of flights by autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Antarctica. Unmanned aerial vehicles mark robotic first for British Antarctic Survey

Prestigious science prize awarded for 800,000 year old ice core

13 Mar 2008
Ice core scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are joint winners of a major European science prize. Prestigious science prize awarded for 800,000 year old ice core

Summer 2007 floods: a very singular event

11 Mar 2008
A new scientific study of the wet summer of 2007 confirms that the floods were a very singular event and does not support the idea that the exceptional river flooding was linked to climate change. Summer 2007 floods: a very singular event

Co-operation between figs, wasps and parasites proves three is not always a crowd

11 Mar 2008
Scientists at the University of Reading have found that during mutualism, a co-operative relationship between two different species, a third parasitic species may help to keep the relationship stable. Co-operation between figs, wasps and parasites proves three is not always a crowd

Hungry sharks take strange walks to find food

28 Feb 2008
Sharks and other marine animals find food using a similar search pattern to the way people may shop, according to one of the largest analyses of foraging behaviour attempted so far. Hungry sharks take strange walks to find food

Arctic adventure for Wirral school student

25 Feb 2008
A Wirral school student is about to set out on the trip of a lifetime to the Canadian High Arctic, as part of an International Polar Year science programme. Arctic adventure for Wirral school student

Masters of disguise: secrets of nature's 'great pretenders' revealed

20 Feb 2008
A gene which helps a harmless African butterfly ward off predators by giving it wing patterns like those of toxic species, has been identified by scientists who publish their findings today. Masters of disguise: secrets of nature's 'great pretenders' revealed

Press releases: 2008

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