science wire

Patients to benefit from better advice on pain control
New guidance for doctors and other prescribers on the use of strong painkillers for patients with chronic or incurable disease has been welcomed by researchers at the University of Leeds.

University of Leeds takes Gold at Chelsea Flower Show
The University of Leeds has scooped Gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show today (22 May) with its first exhibit at the prestigious event. The garden, designed by Martin Walker, brings to life research carried out by leading academics and shows how simple changes to urban gardens can make a positive contribution to the planet.

Is the Earth a cosmic feather-duster?
Scientists at the University of Leeds are looking to discover how dust particles in the solar system interact with the Earth's atmosphere. Currently, estimates of the Earth's intake of space dust vary from around five tonnes to as much as 300 tonnes every day. A €2.5 million international project, led by Professor John Plane from the University's School of Chemistry, will seek to address this discrepancy.

University of Leeds prepares to take ’bee-utiful’ garden to world’s most prestigious flower show
The University of Leeds will visit one of the world's most famous flower shows next week to show how simple changes can make a positive contribution to the planet.

Keeping up with the Joneses harms Britain’s bees
University of Leeds scientists take 'bee-friendly gardening' on the road as they prepare to exhibit at Chelsea Flower Show. A new study from the University of Leeds has revealed that poorer neighbourhoods are a bee paradise compared to richer suburban areas where the pressure to 'keep up with the Joneses' often means gardens have manicured lawns and rows of regimented bedding plants that usually don't have any bee-friendly nectar or pollen.

Creating energy from light and air - new research on biofuel cells
Researchers from the University of Leeds are studying how to make electricity from electrodes coated in bacteria, and other living cells, using light or hydrogen as the fuel.

Bacterial builders on site for computer construction
Forget computer viruses - magnet-making bacteria could be used to build tomorrow's computers with larger hard drives and speedier connections.

New exhibition trails University’s treasures on paper
The latest exhibition at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery will present highlights including early English watercolours, 20th century drawings and recent prints.

Take care of water and make your garden grow
With the Environment Agency today (13 April) reporting that England and Wales received only 38% of the rainfall normally expected in March, scientists from the University of Leeds' leading interd

English class divide extends to cosmetic surgery
The English class divide is still going strong when it comes to a choice of where to go abroad for breast implants and nose jobs.

Women use strategies to overcome discrimination in large law firms
Women and people from ethnic minorities have to employ special strategies to overcome institutional discrimination when working in large law firms.

Making a mess can improve your gardening
A University garden at this year's Chelsea Flower Show highlights how messy gardens can boost pollination, manage water and increase carbon capture. Research by scientists at the University of Leeds has shown that having a 'messy' area in your garden is the most effective way to give bugs a boost and improve pollination in gardens.

New £13M UK Centre for CCS research to be established
The University of Leeds is to benefit from a multi-million pound investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

Research deal with Sinochem Group
The money will be used to fund six new research projects in colour science, semiconductor research, polymer development and plant science covering transgenic technology, new materials and anti-counterfeit technologies.

Clash of the crayfish: why the Americans are winning
Aggressive American signal crayfish are threatening Yorkshire's native white-clawed crayfish populations because they have better resistance to parasites and are less fussy about what they eat.

More children now living with ’life limiting’ conditions
The number of children with conditions such as muscular dystrophy, neurodegenerative disorders or severe cerebral palsy who are surviving into adulthood has been underestimated, a new study shows. Research led from the University of Leeds, has shown that the number of children and young adults in England with a 'life limiting condition'* is far higher than had previously been thought and is increasing year on year.

Making the leap from ’theory to theatre’
A Leeds professor is one of eight of the UK's most promising leaders in medical health research to be awarded a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) professorship.

Flumes and lasers test elite sportswear
Fabric used to make what is believed to be the fastest swimsuit to ever go on the market was tested Leeds researchers who simulated conditions close to those experienced by elite swimmers. A team led by Sedimentologist Jeff Peakall developed a methodology using lasers and flume tanks contained in a giant black box to accurately measure the speed of fabric through water.

BBC Chinese broadcast from Leeds explores the city’s Olympic connection
With Leeds preparing to host the Chinese Olympic team as its training camp for the London Olympics, BBC Chinese will broadcast from the University of Leeds Refectory at 14.00 GMT on Sunday 5 February.

Scotland first to map wild land
In a first for the UK, a new map detailing Scotland's wild areas is being published today by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Some of the country's wildest landscapes are already identified and protected if they fall within national parks or national scenic areas. But many other wild areas are not identified in any way.

Food crops damaged by pollution crossing continents
Man-made air pollution from North America causes Europe to lose 1.2 million tonnes of wheat a year, a new study has found. The research, led by the University of Leeds and co-authored by the University of York, shows for the first time the extent of the Northern Hemisphere's intercontinental crop losses caused by ozone - a chemical partly produced by fossil fuels.

China in perspective
Professor David Goodman, Professor of Chinese Politics at the University of Sydney, will speak about Chinese perspectives on globalisation at Leeds on 1 February 2012.

Seeking benefits, avoiding conflicts
A new report on Uganda's emerging oil and gas industry says companies can improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to give fairer employment, compensation and land deals to communities. The report Seeking Benefits and Avoiding Conflicts: A Community-Company Assessment of Uganda's Hydrocarbon Industry is the culmination of a year of consultation, validation discussions, roundtables and workshops, conducted by the Ugandan members of the study team and coordinated by the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas (CSCO).

Leeds genetic research ’blueprint’ for NHS
The approach to genetic research established at the University of Leeds could serve as a blueprint for how the NHS could make more of the advances new genetic technologies can deliver. The UK Government has set up a Human Genomics Strategy Group to improve new advances in genetic medicine in the health service.

Economic returns and job creation from major investments in low carbon cities
A new study from the Centre for Low Carbon Futures shows that UK cities could cut their energy bills by billions by exploiting commercially attractive opportunities in energy and carbon management.

If you plan, then you’ll do... but it helps to have a friend
While you are more likely to do something if you plan it in advance, new research from the University of Leeds shows that partnering up can really boost the likelihood of sticking to your resolutions.

Violent storms provide testing conditions for research scientists
Better forecasting of violent storms, such as those battering the British Isles over the past few weeks, could be possible in the future.

Solar power generation more powerful in Europe this century
Climate change will increase the amount of electricity generated by solar power in some parts of the world while decreasing it in others. The University of Leeds findings, published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science , have major impacts for countries looking at what type of solar power to build, where to build it and financial rates of return.

Making finance serve society, the economy and the environment
Ways to make the financial system better serve Europe's economic, social and environmental needs are to be explored by a €10m international research project.

Alan Turing pardon petition launched
A University of Leeds academic is supporting an e-petition calling on the Government to posthumously pardon the mathematician and computer pioneer Alan Turing for his conviction of gross indecency.

Aggression prevents the better part of valour... in fig wasps
Researchers have confirmed a unique behaviour within the male population of tiny fig wasps that pollinate fig trees - they team up to help pregnant females, even if they have not mated themselves.

COP 17 and a low carbon future for cities
Investing 2% of a modern city's GDP in low carbon and energy efficient opportunities for ten years would reduce that city's carbon emission levels by 40% at no net cost.