Science News

Sloth

Sloths’ ancestors may have crossed Atlantic

Published
Monday 15th February, 2016
Categories
Science

The family tree of the largest group of mammals—those that nourish their young with placentas—divided later than scientists previously thought, according to a new study.

The Ebola virus

Researchers to use supercomputer to 'hack' Ebola

Published
Thursday 11th February, 2016
Categories
Science
Health

Scientists at the University of Leeds will run the equivalent of password cracking software to find the chemical keys to defeating the Ebola virus.

(From left-right) Jim Sharp (Met Office), Dr Ryan Neely (NCAS/University of Leeds), Dr Lindsay Bennett (NCAS/University of Leeds), Michael Cranston (SEPA) in front of the NCAS X-band Radar.

Improving rainfall and flooding predictions

Published
Friday 5th February, 2016
Categories
Environment
Science

The University of Leeds is a partner in a new research project to improve our understanding of rainfall and flood predictions in Scotland.

Bell heather (Erica sp.) with the flowers bagged to exclude pollinators so the researchers can collect the nectar produced over a 24 hour period. Credit: Mathilde Baude

Loss of wild flowers matches pollinator decline

Published
Wednesday 3rd February, 2016
Categories
Science
Environment

The first Britain-wide assessment of the value of wild flowers as food for pollinators shows that decreasing resources mirror the decline of pollinating insects.

Researchers uncover the key to the rise of the animal kingdom

Published
Friday 18th December, 2015
Categories
Environment
Science

A new study may have resolved a fundamental question concerning the development of Earth as a planet on which animals could flourish: what came first, increasing levels of oxygen or complex animals?