Cutting edge eDNA research to help maintain high quality drinking water
The latest techniques in environmental DNA (eDNA) research are being used by United Utilities and Cardiff University to help maintain high quality drinking water for North West England and understand the causes of taste and odour issues. Water Magazine reports the water company and the university’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and School of … Continue reading Cutting edge eDNA research to help maintain high quality drinking water
The drought resistant Welsh crop that will help Africa’s farmers
A crop developed at Aberystwyth University is set to help African farmers feed people in the face of climate change. Aberystwyth University reports its scientists, working with colleagues at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, based in Niamey, Niger, have developed a new drought resistant strain of pearl millet to help prepare … Continue reading The drought resistant Welsh crop that will help Africa’s farmers
Newborns develop language skills within hours
Newborns have traditionally been thought to spend the first few weeks or months of life mostly passively lying around and crying, at least until they’re old enough to start actively paying attention to what’s going on around them. But a new study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, has found that newborns start soaking up and … Continue reading Newborns develop language skills within hours
AI that mimics the human gaze could be used to detect cancer
A cutting edge artificial intelligence system that can accurately predict the areas of an image where a person is most likely to look has been created by scientists at Cardiff University. Based on the mechanics of the human brain and its ability to distinguish between different parts of an image, Cardiff University says the novel … Continue reading AI that mimics the human gaze could be used to detect cancer
Research finds autistic mothers are not getting the help they need to breastfeed
Swansea University research has found autistic mothers are not getting the help they need to breastfeed. Kat Williams, a mother of two said that despite really wanting to breastfeed both her children, struggling with it left her feeling like a failure. She said “I think I was coming across as a bad patient. “The worst … Continue reading Research finds autistic mothers are not getting the help they need to breastfeed
The biggest study of its kind implicates specific genes in schizophrenia
The largest ever genetic study of schizophrenia has identified large numbers of specific genes that could play important roles in the psychiatric disorder. The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium study, led by scientists at Cardiff University, found a much larger number of genetic links to schizophrenia than ever before, in two hundred and eighty seven different regions … Continue reading The biggest study of its kind implicates specific genes in schizophrenia
Alzheimer’s study finds 42 more genes linked to a higher risk of disease
More than forty genes have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease for the first time in a “landmark” study offering hope for better diagnosis and treatment. The BBC reports scientists in eight countries, including specialists at Cardiff University, looked at genetic material of one hundred and eleven thousand people with Alzheimer’s. Findings suggest it is caused … Continue reading Alzheimer’s study finds 42 more genes linked to a higher risk of disease
Could a person’s finger length be a clue to how ill they might get with Covid-19?
Fingers could point to a link between low testosterone and Covid hospitalisations. It is widely recognised that a longer ring finger is a marker of higher levels of testosterone prenatally, whereas a longer index finger is a marker of higher levels of oestrogen. Generally, men have longer ring fingers, whereas women have longer index fingers. … Continue reading Could a person’s finger length be a clue to how ill they might get with Covid-19?
Vaccination used to successfully treat Covid-19 for the first time
Doctors have successfully used vaccination to treat a man with Covid-19 in what is thought to be the first instance of the vaccine being used for therapy instead of prevention. Cardiff University reports the virus was finally cleared Ian Lester’s body after clinicians from the Immunodeficiency Centre for Wales, at University Hospital of Wales in … Continue reading Vaccination used to successfully treat Covid-19 for the first time
Wastewater research programme expanded across Wales
A Welsh Government led programme to test wastewater for Covid-19, first piloted by Bangor University, has been expanded to cover all Welsh health boards and local authorities across forty eight sites. Bangor University says the programme provides vital data on the prevalence of coronavirus in the community and was key to the early detection of … Continue reading Wastewater research programme expanded across Wales
