Search results (210)
« Back to NewsLandmark study definitively shows that conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss
26 April 2024
Biology Research Sustainability & the environment
MPLS researchers have contributed to a first-of-its kind review on the success of a wide range of conservation actions.
Oxford researchers comment on the plastic waste crisis for Earth Day 2024
22 April 2024
Biology Climate Sustainability & the environment
Each year, Earth Day acts as a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for the planet. For the 2024 Earth Day, taking place today, the theme is ‘Planet vs Plastics.’ Oxford University researchers comment on the global plastic waste crisis, and the opportunities and challenges in moving to a sustainable plastics economy.
Study shows that island bats are valuable allies for farmers
17 April 2024
The 17th April is international bat appreciation day and a new study has highlighted how these secretive mammals can be valuable allies for farmers, by feeding on important agricultural pests. The findings demonstrate that encouraging bat species can be a win-win for both conservation efforts and local farmers.
More social birds are more adventurous feeders, study finds
4 April 2024
A new study led by researchers at the University of Oxford has found that birds that are more social are more likely to use novel sources of food. The findings have been published in iScience.
Study finds that bees need food up to a month earlier than provided by recommended pollinator plants
26 March 2024
Biology Food security & biodiversity Research
New research from the Universities of Oxford and Exeter has revealed that plant species recommended as ‘pollinator friendly’ in Europe begin flowering up to a month too late in the spring to effectively contribute to wild bee conservation.
Researchers discover a coral superhighway in the Indian Ocean
12 March 2024
Biology Earth sciences Food security & biodiversity Research
Despite being scattered across more than a million square kilometres, new research has revealed that remote coral reefs across the Seychelles are closely related. A network of ocean currents scatter significant numbers of larvae between these distant islands, acting as a ‘coral superhighway.’
The world’s most prolific carbon-fixing enzyme is slowly getting better
7 March 2024
Biology Food security & biodiversity Research
New research led by the University of Oxford has found that rubisco – the enzyme that fuels all life on Earth – is not stuck in an evolutionary rut after all; it is improving all the time – just very, very slowly. These insights could potentially open up new routes to strengthen food security.
From The Conversation: Wild solitary bees offer a vital pollination service – but their nutritional needs aren’t understood
4 March 2024
Biology Food security & biodiversity The Conversation
Ellen Baker from the Department of Biology writes about the important role played by solitary bees and the need to ensure the right flower foods are available to them.
Study reveals high number of persistent COVID-19 infections in the general population
21 February 2024
Biology COVID-19 Medical science Research
A new study led by the University of Oxford has found that a high proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the general population lead to persistent infections lasting a month or more. The findings have been published today in the journal Nature.
From The Conversation: Developers in England will be forced to create habitats for wildlife – here’s how it works
15 February 2024
Biology Sustainability & the environment The Conversation
Natalie Duffus and Sophus zu Ermgassen from the Department of Biology discuss how England’s new environmental policy, biodiversity net gain, will work in practice.
From The Conversation: Migratory animals face mass extinction – but as a conservationist I’m optimistic
15 February 2024
Biology Sustainability & the environment The Conversation
Dan Challender, Research Fellow in Conservation Science and Policy in the Department of Biology, writes about a landmark meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species, supporting the conservation and sustainable use of migratory species.
From The Conversation: Men become less fertile with age, but the same isn’t true for all animals – new study
14 February 2024
Krish Sanghvi, Irem Sepil and Regina Vega-Trejo from the Department of Biology discuss how understanding ageing of sperm in other animals could give new insights into our own fertility.
Endangered seabird shows surprising individual flexibility to adapt to climate change
2 February 2024
A decade-long study led by the University of Oxford has revealed new insights into the mechanisms that enable animals to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The results have been published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Researchers develop hedgehog safety test for robotic lawnmowers
16 January 2024
Researchers at the Department of Biology have developed a new test to assess how dangerous robotic lawnmowers are to hedgehogs. They hope this will lead to a certification scheme that will allow consumers to choose ‘hedgehog-friendly’ mowers to help protect these lovable mammals.
Ancient DNA reveals how a chicken virus evolved to become more deadly
18 December 2023
Biology Medical science Research
An international team of scientists led by geneticists and disease biologists from the University of Oxford and LMU Munich have used ancient DNA to trace the evolution of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV). This global pathogen causes fatal infections in unvaccinated chickens and costs the poultry industry over $1 billion per year.
Study shows diverse gut bacteria communities protect against harmful pathogens by nutrient blocking
15 December 2023
A new study led by the University of Oxford has demonstrated that diverse communities of resident bacteria can protect the human gut from disease-causing microorganisms. The researchers found that protective communities block the growth of harmful pathogens by consuming nutrients that the pathogen needs.
Unprecedented conservation triumph: Saiga antelope return from the red list
12 December 2023
Biology Food security & biodiversity
The antelope, which roamed the Eurasian Steppe alongside woolly mammoths, has been restored from near extinction by conservation efforts, including those of Professor E J Milner-Gulland in the Department of Biology.
Antibiotic resistance genes are spread more widely between bacteria than previously thought
7 December 2023
Antimicrobial resistance Biology Medical science Research
Researchers at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) at Oxford University and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in China have developed a new approach to study the transmission of plasmids containing antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria sampled from hospital wastewater.
Armed to the hilt: Study solves mystery behind bacteria’s extensive weaponry
5 December 2023
Antimicrobial resistance Biology Medical science
A new study led by the University of Oxford has shed light on why certain species of bacteria carry astonishing arsenals of weapons. The new findings could help us to engineer microbes that can destroy deadly pathogens, reducing our reliance on antibiotics.
Success for Biology researchers in the NERC Impact Awards
30 November 2023
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) celebrated the finalists of the 2023 NERC Impact Awards on Wednesday 29th November. Two researchers from the Department of Biology received awards, including Dr Sophus Zu Ermgassen who was the winner of the Early Career category.