science wire

Linking climate change and human evolution
Rapid climate change during the Middle Stone Age, between 80,000 and 40,000 years ago, during the Middle Stone Age, sparked surges in cultural innovation in early modern human populations, according to new research. The research, published in the journal Nature [21 May], was conducted by a team of scientists from Cardiff University's School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, the Natural History Museum in London and the University of Barcelona.

Tiger, tiger, not burning so bright
India's tigers are facing extinction owing to a collapse in the variety of their mating partners, according to new research carried out by scientists at Cardiff University. India is a refuge for approximately 60% of the world's wild tigers, yet even here their numbers remain low and genetic diversity is declining rapidly making them increasingly vulnerable to extinction.

UK economy downgrades
New research by Cardiff Business School's Dr Vito Polito and Professor Michael Wickens has cast doubt on the timing of the recent downgrades of the UK.

UKIP is becoming patriotic party of England
Following UKIP's surge in the local elections, new survey data indicates that one possible explanation of their success - until now largely overlooked - is their emergence as the party with the strongest appeal to English patriots.

UK Catalysis Hub opens
Scientists from Cardiff and other partner universities have launched a new centre for research into catalytic research - the study of materials which speed up chemical reactions.

Curbing patients’ risky behaviour
Much of the burden of disease and ill health facing the NHS is as a result of 'risky' health behaviours such as smoking, excess drinking and over-eating. Given that time for counselling patients about this is limited, the biggest challenge facing clinicians is to find an efficient way of helping patients consider a change in behaviour and to take action.

Treating laughter lines leaves patients feeling more depressed
Injections of botulism toxin A (often referred to as Botox) to reduce crows' feet leaves people feeling more depressed, according to new research by a Cardiff University psychologist. A study carried out on people who had received Botox treatment for facial lines found that depending on which facial lines were treated, determined how depressed they felt.

University Professors become Society of Biology Fellows
Two Professors of Cardiff University have been elected as Fellows of the Society of Biology. Professors Derek Jones and Tim Wess accepted this prestigious invitation for their prominent contribution to the advancement of the biological sciences.

Tumour-shrinking drug trialled for treatment of tuberous sclerosis
A new trial is underway at Cardiff University to see if a tumour-shrinking drug can improve the memory and thought processes of adults with tuberous sclerosis.

Sustainability science summer school
The Sustainable Places Research Institute is launching a new sustainability science summer school to be run in June 2013.

£1M Marie Curie Fellowships boost Cardiff’s research profile
As part of an initiative to help broaden Europe's knowledge base, five Marie Curie Fellowships worth a combined total of £1M have been awarded to international researchers to undertake new research projects in Cardiff University.

Fusion IP: £20m earmarked for investment
 Fusion IP, the AIM-listed company which works with Cardiff as a partner to turn the University's world-class research into business has announced it has raised a further £20M through share issue.

Autism hub launched
A major challenge for researchers working in the field of autism is the capacity to ensure that research knowledge is impacting policy and practitioner communities. While research evidence needs to make more impact on practice and government policy, at the same time, issues central to practitioners and policy makers need to receive more research attention.

Combating cybercrime
Cyber Security and Cyber Crime experts in the University's Schools of Computer Science and Informatics and Social Sciences have been awarded £1.2M to study the human and technical factors in cybercrime.

Forecasting the future
Internationally recognised social and computer scientists at the Cardiff Online Social Media Observatory (COSMOS) at Cardiff University will analyse tweets to help predict offline social behaviour such as crime and disorder.

Religion and society
The Director of a national research programme which aimed to significantly advance our understanding of religion and society will outline its impact in a keynote lecture at the University.

International child abductions
Research conducted by Cardiff Law School shows that the efficiency of the system dealing with international child abduction to England and Wales may be under threat. The 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international agreement which aims to ensure the return of an abducted child to the country where he or she usually lives.

Mapping oxygen consumption in the brain
A Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) project is one of 15 to share in a £12.2M EPSRC investment in creative engineering research projects to deliver major advances in healthcare The CUBRIC project was chosen for its potential to develop innovative technology to improve the diagnosis and treatment of serious illnesses including neurological diseases, improve patient outcomes, and help severely disabled people.

Creating jobs
The University's world-leading medical research has helped created 500 new full-time posts and brought some £220M of external funding into the Welsh economy, an audit has uncovered.

Novel approach to treating glue ear could save children from surgery
A new trial is underway to determine if a short course of oral steroids can improve the hearing of children suffering from glue ear, thanks to a £1.3M research grant awarded to scientists at Cardiff University.

Supporting university cultural engagement
Cardiff is one of 45 universities to have been awarded funding to help arts and humanities PhD students develop skills in relation to the wider impact of their research.

Climate Change
According to results of a major new national survey, belief in climate change and levels of concern in Wales are now at their highest level for a number of years.

Free web-based meditation course is launched
Designed by researchers at Cardiff University, the Web Wellbeing Experience study will assess the impact of Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM) and light physical exercise on the health of participants from a range of backgrounds and abilities.

Are chemicals damaging the health of male otters?
A new report has highlighted serious concerns for the health of otters in the UK. The otter is one of the country's best loved predator species, but research indicates that they may not be in the best of reproductive health. The report, co-authored by the Cardiff University Otter Project and CHEM Trust (Chemicals, Health and Environment Monitoring Trust), raises the question as to whether modern chemicals - particularly endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) - could be to blame.

Governing pollution from ships
A new University research report has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current international regulations to control air pollution from ships. An associated report also looks at possible enforcement issues associated with suggested future controls on ships' carbon emissions. Funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) the research was carried out by the Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC), an internationally-renowned research centre based at the Cardiff School of Social Sciences.

Assessing the needs of small businesses
The needs of small businesses are at risk of being overlooked by the Welsh Government's Economic Renewal Plan, according to new research undertaken by Cardiff Business School.

Huge funding boost to help transform cancer therapies
The collective sum of £2.45million has been awarded to Cardiff University's European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute (ECSCRI) to further its world class research in investigating cancer causes and developing new therapies to halt its spread. Director of ECSCRI, Professor Alan Clarke and Senior Lecturer Matthew Smalley were awarded the funding by Cancer Research UK to drive forward their respective research areas in cancer stem cells.

Tackling Type 1 diabetes
Preventing Type 1 diabetes could one day become a reality if University clinical trials of a new vaccine prove successful.

Future looks green for British construction
Cardiff University's School of Engineering has developed a unique web platform set to boost the profile of sustainable building solutions across the UK.

First ever Welsh-led EU space programme launched by Cardiff University
Cardiff University has launched the first ever Welsh-led European Union (EU) space research programme, funded by a €2M award from the EU through its FP7 (Framework Programme 7) SPACE programme.

Boost for Wales’ innovation culture
A new initiative to transfer more of Wales' cutting-edge university research into business to support the Welsh economy and build an 'innovation culture' has received a funding boost from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).

Endangered species project receives vital funding
The University's Danau Girang Field Centre in Borneo has received over £300,000 of funding from the Sime Darby Foundation.

Devolution is driving force behind UK renewable energy agenda
A new study concludes that devolution has played a significant role in the expansion of renewable energy deployment in the UK, with Scotland leading the way on renewable energy delivery ahead of Northern Ireland and Wales.

Double Success for University spin-outs
Fusion IP, the university IP commercialisation company that turns world class research into business has announced key achievements from two Cardiff spin-outs, Asalus and Diurnal.  Asalus, a spin-out company founded on the innovative research work of Neil Warren, from the School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education has successfully completed a 'first-in-man' trial of its lead product Ultravision TM , a revolutionary electrosurgical smoke clearing system for use in laparoscopic surgery.

South West research boost
A new collaboration with three of the South West of England's leading research-intensive universities will create a 'critical mass of knowledge' and help Cardiff and Wales 'better compete for more research income' according to Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan.

HR Excellence in Research
  Cardiff's commitment to improving the working conditions and career development for research staff has been recognised and reaffirmed.

Welsh Crucible in Europe
Promising research leaders from across Wales are visiting Brussels this week to showcase the benefits of their personal, professional and leadership programme to the European Parliament.

Efficient gas separation
A new polymer developed by researchers at Cardiff may lead to more efficient large-scale separation of gas mixtures for chemical engineering and energy generation.

Geo-energy technologies boost
Welsh Government Deputy Minister for European Programmes, Alun Davies, has announced a £1M EU boost for a project to further develop groundbreaking geo-energy technologies and pioneer research in a bid to cut fuel costs and greenhouse emissions.

Music in Vienna
David Wyn Jones, Head of the School of Music at Cardiff, has been awarded a Major Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust to research a long overdue, alternative approach to the history of music in Vienna.

In Vitro Meat: Fad or the future?
The world's first laboratory-grown hamburger has been produced by Mark Post and his team in Maastricht, representing something radically new in our world.

Empowering local news communities
A new hub for community journalism in Wales will help steer the field towards a sustainable and innovative future, paving the way for the creation of jobs and informing the development of digital journalism.

Raising concerns
A new partnership across health and social care services in Wales that will drive change in workplace culture in the care of older people is being launched, following the findings of a University study.

Amsterdam looks to Cardiff for violence tackling action
A University-designed violence prevention model has been adopted by the Dutch government in an effort to reduce violent behaviour.

The next generation of medicines
Cardiff is part of a major European consortium aiming to improve the process of moving novel therapeutic molecules into effective medicines.

Violence and domestic abuse
Legislative proposals aimed at ending violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence in Wales have been informed by two Cardiff academics.