Research News
Cattle vaccine immunity ‘boost’ tested by new research
Scientists at Aberystwyth University are leading research into how a widely used vaccine can boost overall immunity in livestock.
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Parasitologists join forces to tackle devastating worm diseases
Parasitology expert joins new UK-wide network to drive global research into combating parasitic diseases of humans and animals.
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Aberystwyth academics appointed to assess UK research excellence
A further eight Aberystwyth University academics have been announced as members of prestigious sub-panels assessing research excellence in the UK higher education sector, bringing the total involved to nine.
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Himalayan flash floods: climate change worsens them, but poor planning makes them deadly
Writing in The Conversation, Dr Himalayan floods are natural, but poor planning turns rain into disaster. Reading the land could save lives.
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Welsh mine microbes mapped to help heat homes
Welsh scientists have mapped the hidden microbes thriving in south Wales’s abandoned coal mines, helping to overcome obstacles to using mine water to heat Britain’s homes.
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AI tool automates plant fruit measuring to breed better crops
Aberystwyth University scientists are developing new artificial intelligence tools that automatically measure plant seed and seed pods in order to breed better crop varieties.
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Fish using more energy to stay still than first thought, research finds
Fish staying still in water are using considerably more energy than first thought, new research has found.
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Wales-wide rural crime survey launched to measure progress
A new Wales-wide survey on farm and rural crime has been launched by Aberystwyth University.
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Boosting the use of Welsh in the workplace – new research
Efforts to increase Welsh language use in workplaces need to be strengthened, according to a new report.
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Geographer honoured for outstanding research and teaching
Aberystwyth geographer, Dr Cerys Jones, has received an award for her exceptional contribution to scientific research and Welsh-medium teaching.
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Perito Moreno became the world’s first superstar glacier – but now it’s set to disappear
Writing in The Conversation, Professor Neil Glasser discusses how one of Patagonia’s few stable glaciers is now on the verge of collapse.
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AI kiln packing to lower emissions
Math experts are using AI to help the ceramics industry pack more objects into a kiln to lower their carbon footprint.
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Humans not glaciers moved bluestones from Wales to Stonehenge – new research
The renowned bluestone boulders of Stonehenge were transported from Pembrokeshire to Salisbury Plain by humans and not glaciers as previously claimed, according to new scientific research.
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AI and biotech driving the next revolution in resilient crop development – new report
A major review published in the prestigious journal Nature today outlines how artificial intelligence and biotechnology could transform global crop production — helping to build more resilient food systems in the face of climate change, pests and population growth.
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Helping farmers tackle major parasitic disease in livestock
Improved guidance and practical tools are required to help farmers to sustainably tackle the major problem of liver fluke infections in livestock, according to new research.
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Early potato blight detection mobile app plan
Potato blight, one of the world’s most devastating crop diseases, could soon be detected using mobile phones, thanks to a new app being developed by Welsh scientists.
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Bluetongue outbreak endangers UK livestock – what you need to know about the virus
Writing in The Conversation, Dr Cate Williams discusses how a new strain of the bluetongue virus is spreading putting livestock at risk and placing fresh pressure on farmers.
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Academic helps track lost penguins as they journey home
A penguin rehabilitation project in Brazil is tracking penguins’ journeys home with the help of an Aberystwyth University academic.
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Migration conference discusses climate change and border-making
The growing trend of people fleeing climate change has been discussed at a migration conference held at Aberystwyth University.
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AI fuels surge in questionable health research, study warns
A sharp rise in potentially misleading health research articles could be due to the use of artificial intelligence tools, a new study suggests.
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Having a laugh? Scientists question inherited joke telling skills
Scientists are starting to question whether being able to crack a good joke runs in the family, according to new research.
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Violet traps better for controlling biting flies - research
Violet coloured traps are better at controlling flies than traditional blue and black ones, according to new research.
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University and Health Board partner to boost research and innovation
Hywel Dda University Health Board and Aberystwyth University are extending their partnership to help improve the health and well-being of communities in west Wales after signing a new agreement.
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New industrial hemp hub to drive green innovation
A new hub dedicated to unlocking the potential of industrial hemp has been launched at Aberystwyth University's AberInnovation Campus.
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Can Britain be a nation of tea growers? Scientists say yes – and it could even be good for your health
Writing in The Conversation Dr Amanda Lloyd and Professor Nigel Holt discuss the potential for a homegrown UK tea industry by using metabolomics and machine learning to analyse the chemical diversity and health benefits of tea cultivated in Devon and Wales.
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‘Exceptional’ oat variety bred at Aberystwyth wins major award
The UK’s most widely grown oat, bred at Aberystwyth University, has scooped one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades.
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Tackling society’s most urgent challenges
Academics will investigate how citizens, civil society organisations and policymakers are collaborating to tackle some of society’s most pressing problems.
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Horses’ faces speak volumes - new study maps their rich facial language
Horses possess a far more expressive and nuanced facial “language” than previously understood, new research has revealed.
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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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Marine detectives shine a light on secret lives of Cardigan Bay dolphins
Some of the mysteries surrounding the underwater lives of Cardigan Bay’s bottlenose dolphins are being uncovered as part of an innovative research project.
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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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New disease threat to oak trees - volunteers sought
Woodland owners and managers are being invited to play a part in helping to monitor the health of Britain’s most iconic tree species.
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Time for more home grown tea cultivation?
Rows of tea plants could become a more familiar sight on the hills of Wales and other parts of the UK in the future.
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The DIY guide to checking how well you’re ageing
Writing in The Conversation, Dr Marco Arkesteijn and Dr Alexander Taylor discuss how standing on one leg while brushing your teeth isn’t a full ageing check-up, and explain why walking speed, brain flexibility and overall wellbeing score matter more.
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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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eDNA reveals new information about rare marine life on world’s most remote inhabited islands
Researchers from Aberystwyth University have carried out the first ever environmental DNA (eDNA) assessment of marine vertebrates in Tristan da Cunha, a group of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
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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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New hazard-mapping tool to help safeguard Nepal from natural disasters
A new online tool could help safeguard communities in Nepal from the dangers posed by natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods and landslides.
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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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History of Welsh music videos charted in new website
Welsh-language television has played a more important part than commercial record labels in the development of Welsh music videos over the past 50 years, say researchers.
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Unheard voices: older women’s experiences of domestic abuse and sexual violence - research
More needs to be done to support older women who experience domestic abuse and sexual violence, according to our researchers.
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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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