Apr 24, 2013

The 8th Conference on Global Health and Vaccination Research in Bergen, Norway

The 8th Conference on Global Health and Vaccination Research and the 25th Anniversary of the Centre for International Health at The University of Bergen will take place in the middle of beautiful Bergen 16-17 October 2013.

Apr 24, 2013

Microscopic dust particles found in underground railways may pose health risk

New research from the University of Southampton has found that working or travelling on an underground railway for a sustained period of time could have health implications.

Apr 11, 2013

CUHK Invites Applications to the “Chinese Studies as a Major Area” Funding Scheme

 

Apr 10, 2013

Ocean nutrients are a key component of future environmental change say scientists

Variations in nutrient availability in the world’s oceans could be a vital component of future environmental change, according to a multi-author review paper involving scientists from the University of Southampton.

Apr 08, 2013

Filling the education gap

WUN Chief Executive talks to China Daily News about trends in higher education.

Apr 08, 2013

Balancing the best of East and West

WUN Chief Executive talks to China Daily News about cultural differences from East to West.

Apr 08, 2013

£3.7 million to help improve mental health treatment in Europe

The University of Southampton has been given £3.7 million to help train and structure career paths for young scientists in Europe working in mental health research.

Mar 27, 2013

New research looks at novel ways to combat drug resistance

University of Southampton biological scientists are leading a major research project aimed at making drugs more effective.

Mar 25, 2013

University of Leeds Appoints Next Vice-Chancellor

The Council has appointed Sir Alan Langlands as the next Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Mar 22, 2013

Impact of Iceland volcano on ocean biology assessed

The impact of the 2010 Icelandic volcano eruption had a significant but short-lived effect on the biology of the North Atlantic Ocean according to a team led by scientists from the University of Southampton – who were on a shipboard research expedition in the area at the time.

Mar 21, 2013

Launch of the first ever UK-wide equipment sharing database for higher education

Led by the University of Southampton and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) on behalf of RCUK SSC Ltd, the new national aggregation portal allows institutions to both contribute to and access facilities and equipment data from a selection of UK universities.

Mar 18, 2013

University of York appoints new Vice-Chancellor

The University of York announces the appointment of Professor Koen Lamberts as its new Vice-Chancellor.

Mar 12, 2013

CUHK Hosts APAIE Conference & Exhibition 2013

Hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) as part of its golden jubilee celebration, the annual Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition is being held for the first time in Hong Kong, China. With the generous contribution from The Lanson Foundation, Dr. Alex K Yasumoto and a number of other sponsors and supporting organizations, CUHK is hosting the largest ever international education conference in the region from 11 March to 14 March 2013 at the AsiaWorld-Expo, bringing the territory into the spotlight in the global education arena.

Mar 07, 2013

Australia’s Prime Minister launches new University of Sydney Centre for Carbon, Water and Food

Australia's first multidisciplinary research centre dedicated to tackling the nation's and region's biggest food security and environmental challenges, through the integrated study of carbon, food and water, has been launched today by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Feb 26, 2013

Research suggests Malaria can be defeated without a globally led eradication programme

A researcher at the University of Southampton, working as part of a team from the UK and USA, believes the global eradication of malaria could be achieved by individual countries eliminating the disease within their own borders and coordinating efforts regionally.

Feb 25, 2013

Southampton researchers handed crucial role in national search for prostate cancer answers

Researchers from the University of Southampton have received a £113,000 grant to explore a new form of hormone based treatment for prostate cancer.

Feb 20, 2013

Nobel Prize-winner delivers University of York lecture

The impact of the recession across Europe was the subject of the University of York’s James College Annual Lecture delivered this year by Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Sir James Mirrlees from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Feb 19, 2013

Bergen Summer Research School 2013

The Bergen Summer Research School takes place 17-29 June 2013. The theme for this year s edition is “Food as a Global Development Challenge”.

Feb 15, 2013

2013 WUN Conference & AGM registration open!

Registration is now open for the 2013 WUN Conference and AGM taking place in Washington DC from 21-23 May 2013.

Feb 04, 2013

New study highlights impact of environmental change on older people

Recent natural disasters illustrate vulnerability of older people: majority of deaths from the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011) and Hurricane Katrina (2005) occurred among older people.

Feb 02, 2013

How do corals survive in the hottest reefs on the planet?

Coral reefs are predicted to decline under the pressure of global warming. However, a number of coral species can survive at seawater temperatures even higher than predicted for the tropics during the next century. How they survive, while most species cannot, is being investigated by researchers at the University of Southampton.

Feb 01, 2013

University of Southampton announces new project to engage young people in research

The University of Southampton has successfully bid for funding to launch a new project aimed at getting secondary school students enthusiastic about research.

Feb 01, 2013

The Power of Partnership

The Boao Review recently published an article on higher education reform by WUN Chief Executive Professor John Hearn.

Jan 29, 2013

New research facility designed to improve patient ca

Researchers in Southampton now have the benefit of a dedicated, brand new facility to develop and support pioneering research into patient safety and essential care.

Jan 21, 2013

WUN expands its European presence

The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) welcomed 2013 with exciting news – the joining of Maastricht University to the global network.

Jan 17, 2013

Neon lights up exploding stars

An international team of nuclear astrophysicists has shed new light on the explosive stellar events known as novae.

Jan 14, 2013

New study reveals gas that triggers ozone destruction

Scientists at the Universities of Leeds and York have discovered that the majority of ozone-depleting iodine oxide observed over the remote ocean comes from a previously unknown marine source.

Jan 14, 2013

Growing evidence of global warming threat to future food supplies

Increasingly hot summer weather could cause a fall in crop yields over the next two decades unless farming techniques are improved more quickly, scientists at the University have found.

Jan 10, 2013

York insulin scientists in anniversary breakthrough

Scientists at the University of York played a pivotal role in new research that has signaled a significant step forward in the understanding of how insulin works.

Jan 10, 2013

Southampton scientist develops strongest, lightest glass nanofibres in the world

The University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is pioneering research into developing the strongest silica nanofibres in the world.

Jan 08, 2013

University of Leeds – Former student’s $4 million gift

A $4 million gift from a former student, Peter Cheney, will fund a programme of research and study at the University of Leeds. It is one of the biggest philanthropic gifts ever given to the University.

Jan 05, 2013

New study documents the natural relationship between CO2 concentrations and sea level

By comparing reconstructions of atmospheric CO2 concentrations and sea level over the past 40 million years, Southampton researchers have found that greenhouse gas concentrations similar to the present (almost 400 parts per million) were always associated with sea levels at least nine metres above current levels.

Jan 03, 2013

Quit smoking for new year – and feel less anxious, not more

Researchers have found that smokers who successfully quit feel less anxious afterwards – despite a widely held belief that smoking relieves stress and giving up makes you feel more on edge.

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Jan 01, 2013

Higher Education Reform to 2020: The Power of Partnership

It is a time of turbulence for higher education and research around the world. The effects of the global financial crisis continue, with reductions in resources from all sides. In contrast, the demand for higher education increases, with international student mobility likely to double according to the OECD. For research intensive universities, there are great challenges in maintaining quality and competitiveness, the cost of which increases constantly. In teaching and learning, new methods and technologies are also more costly. There is also a shortage of talent and availability of senior, experienced academics and research leaders, while conversely there is unemployment among new graduates as the generational transition is postponed along with retirement.

Dec 20, 2012

Occasional family meals boost kids’ fruit and veg intake

Eating meals together as a family, even if only twice a week, boosts children’s daily fruit and vegetable intake to near the recommended 5 A Day, according to researchers at the University of Leeds.

Dec 20, 2012

Leeds joins partners in offering free online access to education

Students from the UK and around the world will soon have free access to new online education resources generated by the University of Leeds and its partners.

Dec 17, 2012

WUN supporting global research collaboration

The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) announced today the outcomes of its 2012 Research Development Fund (RDF), investing £239,000 directly into international research collaboration that addresses issues of global concern.

Dec 17, 2012

Southampton astronomers help discover gorging black hole in Andromeda

Southampton astronomers have been involved in the discovery of a black hole on a massive binge in our nearest neighbour galaxy, Andromeda, which has revealed a new side to the mysterious class of “ultraluminous X-ray sources”.

Dec 14, 2012

Improving energy efficiency in your home – find out how to reduce your bills

Households are being encouraged to take part in a new project by the University of Southampton to help reduce their energy bills.

Dec 14, 2012

Commonly prescribed antibiotics ineffective for treating uncomplicated chest infections

The findings are from the largest randomised placebo controlled trial of antibiotics for acute uncomplicated LRTI to date, which was led by the University of Southampton and published Online First in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Dec 11, 2012

Coral researcher from Southamtpon recognised with prestigious award

Research by a scientist from the University of Southampton into a process that is threatening to wipe out coral reefs has been recognised with a prestigious award worth 1.29 million euros.

Dec 10, 2012

Professor Michael Arthur to take up new role as President and Provost of UCL

Professor Michael Arthur, currently Vice Chancellor of the University of Leeds and former Chair of the Worldwide Universities Network, was confirmed on 10 December as the new President and Provost of University College London (UCL). He will succeed Professor Malcolm Grant, who has led UCL since 2003 and who will be stepping down in September 2013. 

Dec 06, 2012

Researchers investigate impacts of climate change on rare tropical plants

Research led by the University of York has found that the impacts of climate change on rare plants in tropical mountains will vary considerably from site to site and from species to species.

Dec 03, 2012

Removing sea defences may reduce impact of coastal flooding

A study involving a scientist from the University of Southampton, which shows that ensuring continued flood protection for low lying coastal areas may mean sacrificing cliff top communities to the sea, has won the <font color

Nov 27, 2012

Southampton professor calls for harder choices to be made on climate change adaptation

Uncertainty about how much the climate is changing is not a reason to delay preparing for the harmful impacts of climate change says Professor Robert Nicholls of the University of Southampton and colleagues at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, writing today in Nature Climate Change.

Nov 23, 2012

An Ascendant Asia-Pacific: International Higher Education in the 21st Century

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) will host the 8th Annual Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition during 11 – 14 March 2013 at the AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong.

Nov 22, 2012

Praise for York project to encourage tuberculosis patients to quit smoking

The BUPA Foundation has awarded a high commendation prize for research led by the University of York into effective ways of helping tuberculosis patients in Pakistan to give up smoking.

Nov 20, 2012

Unlocking ancient rice secrets to overcome rainfall extremes

Researchers from the UK, USA and India, led by scientists at the University of York, are embarking on a major four-year project which aims to develop new strains of rice to help to feed millions of people.

Nov 19, 2012

Scientists pioneer method to predict environmental collapse

Scientists at the University of Southampton are pioneering a technique to predict when an ecosystem is likely to collapse, which may also have potential for foretelling crises in agriculture, fisheries or even social systems.

Nov 15, 2012

New dating of sea-level records reveals rapid response between ice volume and polar temperature

An international team of scientists, led by Eelco Rohling, Professor of Ocean and Climate Change at the University of Southampton, has developed a new method of dating the RSL record by using Mediterranean data from radiometric (Uranium-series) dating of cave deposits.

Nov 12, 2012

University of Bergen awarded three new Centres of Excellence for research

The University of Bergen, Norway, has been awarded three new Centres of Excellence by the Research Council of Norway.

Nov 12, 2012

Southampton to help develop new crops for water-stressed environments

The University of Southampton is to lead a new €11.6 million EU funded research project to develop new drought tolerate crops for bioenergy and bio-products.

Nov 09, 2012

Brazilian trailblazers take up their places at University of York

The University of York has welcomed its first students from Brazil under the Science without Borders scheme.

Nov 08, 2012

University of York’s green chemistry alliance with Korea takes off

Scientists from the University of York and Korea will gather in York this week for a conference that will showcase ways of advancing green chemical technology.

Nov 07, 2012

Protected areas in East Africa may not be conserving iconic plants

A new study led by researchers from the University of York suggests protected areas in East Africa are not conserving plants such as the iconic Acacia tree.

Nov 06, 2012

University of Southamtpon: Clues that could lead to a universal flu jab honoured

A study which has found a way to develop a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, has been recognised by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and gained its lead researcher a prestigious award.

Nov 05, 2012

The Great Game of Today

The following op-ed piece was written by Professor John Hearn, Chief Executive of the Worldwide Universities Network and appeared in the Australian Financial Review on 5 November 2012. The opinions presented are his own.

 

Churchill was right when he predicted that the empires of the future would be empires of the mind. Around the world, universities with international ambitions are engaged in a furious scramble for resources, alliances and manpower that evokes the imperial conflicts of the nineteenth century in the era of the Great Game.

Nov 01, 2012

University of Southampton physiotherapist gains top medical research award

Dr Anne Bruton, an expert in respiratory rehabilitation at the University of Southampton, has become the first Physiotherapist in the UK to receive a National Institute for Health Research Senior Research Fellowship Award.

Oct 25, 2012

Protecting fish from river development

Research at the University of Southampton is protecting fish that inhabit rivers and estuaries impacted by dams and power plants.

Oct 24, 2012

Mobilising Solutions to Global Development Challenges

The Sustainability Science at Southampton will be hosting an evening seminar on the UN World Development and Information Day titled ‘Mobilising Solutions to Global Development Challenges’, 24th October, 5.30-7.30pm.

Oct 24, 2012

A new take on the Midas touch – changing the colour of gold

A University of Southampton team have discovered that by embossing tiny raised or indented patterns onto the metal’s surface, they can change the way it absorbs and reflects light – ensuring our eyes don’t see it as ‘golden’ in colour at all.

Oct 24, 2012

Enactus Southampton reach semi-final in worldwide competition

The University of Southampton Enactus team (formerly known as SIFE, Students in Free Enterprise) has reached the semi-final of the Enactus World Cup. Students from Southampton represented the UK in the international competition for business leaders of the future, for the second year running.

Oct 18, 2012

York Exhibition explores history and lessons of smallpox eradication

A multimedia exhibition at the University of York will chart the eradication of smallpox – widely regarded as the greatest triumph of global public health in the 20th century.

Oct 12, 2012

New study to combat the most common form of liver cancer

Scientists at the University of Southampton are to investigate the best way to use natural killer cells (NK) to target the most common form of liver cancer.

Oct 11, 2012

York law students lend a helping hand abroad

University of York law students are offering free legal advice to local communities in the United States, Canada, India, El Salvador and South Africa.

Oct 05, 2012

Superheroes needed to tackle public health challenges

Public health ‘superheroes’ are needed to help tackle the growing challenges posed by obesity, alcohol, smoking and other public health threats, according to new research from the University of Leeds.

Oct 03, 2012

University of Southampton improves across the board as National Student Survey results are released

The University of Southampton has improved in all 22 areas of the latest National Student Survey (NSS) results, published today (Thursday 27 September).

In particular, Southampton has received 100 per cent satisfaction ratings in four subject areas: Ocean and Earth Sciences (Geology), Modern Languages (French), Modern Languages (German) and Ship Science.

Sep 25, 2012

Secrets in small blood vessels could reveal the risks of heart disease and diabetes

Researchers at the University of Southampton together with colleagues at King’s College London have embarked on a unique study that will shed new light on the risk of heart disease and diabetes in later life.

A healthy diet for pregnant women is important for the health of the baby. Having a poor diet in pregnancy, such as one that is too high in fat, may cause problems in the offspring’s later life. However, the exact mechanisms controlling the effect of diet during pregnancy on the long-term health of children are not well understood.

Sep 17, 2012

New Global Initiative to Accelerate the Development of Academic Talent

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Sep 05, 2012

UCT hosts international higher education conference

WUN member, the University of Cape Town hosted the 16thAnnual International  Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) Conference from 29 August to 1 September 2012, attracting 300 delegates from around the world.

Opened by UCT Vice-Chancellor, Dr Max Price, the conference examined the state of internationalisation of universities in South Africa and how they can best keep apace with the rest of the world in this dynamic facet of higher education. The hosting of the conference was evidence of UCT’s commitment to internationalisation.

Aug 30, 2012

Children’s body fatness linked to decisions made in the womb

New born human infants have the largest brains among primates, but also the highest proportion of body fat. Before birth, if the supply of nutrients from the mother through the placenta is limited or unbalanced, the developing baby faces a dilemma: should resources be allocated to brain growth, or to fat deposition for use as an energy reserve during the early months after birth?

Scientists at the University of Southampton have shown that this decision could have an effect on how fat we are as children.

Aug 30, 2012

Climate change stories from the abyss

A team of scientists including those from the University of Southampton have shed new light on the world’s history of climate change.

The Pacific Ocean has remained the largest of all oceans on the planet for many million years. It covers one third of the Earth’s surface and has a mean depth of 4.2 km. Its biologically productive equatorial regions play an important role particularly to the global carbon cycle and long-term climate development.

Aug 21, 2012

Modern human culture could have emerged 44,000 years ago

The University of Bergen professor in African archaeolgoy, Christopher Henshilwood, was awarded a Europen Research Council Advanced Grant in 2009.

Aug 16, 2012

Social Media Study

Associate Professor Ariadne Vromen from the University of Sydney has won a $312,000 grant to study whether social media applications such as Facebook and Twitter can help to reduce young people’s disenchantment with politics.

Aug 16, 2012

Chinese Politics in Globalized World

The Chinese Politics in a Globalized World program for the Spring semester 2013 is up and running!

Aug 09, 2012

London’s bridge is not one too far

All is right on the night. The naysayers are dispersed. As the Olympics roll on, London and the Brits are cresting the wave with a superb backdrop of history, humanity and style.

Aug 08, 2012

University of Leeds Alumni take Olympic Gold and Bronze

Brownlee brothers, both University of Leeds Alumni, take the Gold and Bronze medals for Team GB in the London 2012 Triathlon

Aug 03, 2012

New AAG representative appointed at Penn State

Marty TretheweyProfessor Martin Trethewey, the Arthur L. Glenn Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University, has been appointed to the WUN Academic Advisory Group (AAG).

Professor Trethewey will take over the role of developing the WUN program at PSU and represent the university on the AAG. He takes over the role from Peter Schiffer, who was former Chair of the AAG and is moving on from Penn State.

Aug 01, 2012

Funding international research collaboration

WUN today announced the 2012 round of the Research Development Fund (RDF).

Jul 24, 2012

Spin doctors meet in Sydney

Scientists working on the next generation of faster, smaller and more complex electronic devices are meeting at the University of Sydney for the 4th Worldwide Universities Network International Spintronics Conference. 

The three-day event brings together world experts in the frontier science of spintronics – a new technology that is expected to replace the conventional digital logic used in IT systems. 

Jul 20, 2012

New AAG representative appointed at UW-Madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison recently announced the appointment of an Interim Dean of the Division of International Studies and Vice-Provost for Globalization, who also takes responsibility as the university’s representative to the WUN Academic Advisory Group.

Jul 16, 2012

International conference brings global focus to social inequality

Academics from around the world gather in York this week for one of the most significant social policy conferences in the UK in recent times. The Social Policy Association and the East Asian Social Policy research network have joined forces to host ‘Social Policy in an Unequal World’, which opens on 16 July at the University of York.

Jun 29, 2012

Erasmus – 25 years with the world´s most successful mobility scheme

25 years after its launch, Erasmus has become the best known EU programme and the most successful student exchange scheme in the world. More than 231 000 students received Erasmus grants to study or train abroad during the 2010-11 academic year – a new record and an 8.5% increase compared to the previous year. Since 1987, the programme has provided more than 2.5 million European students with the opportunity to go abroad to study at a higher education institution or for a job placement in a company.

Jun 27, 2012

CUHK hosts Forum on the Public Interest & Future of Public Higher Education

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) hosted a Forum on ‘The Public Interest and the Future of Public Higher Education in the 21st Century’ as part of the WUN Global Higher Education and Research Challenge on the occasion of the visit of Chancellor David Ward from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jun 20, 2012

Global collaboration aims to improve mother and newborn health

Led by the University of York, researchers from across the world have joined forces to improve the quality of midwifery care and reduce maternal, newborn and infant mortality.

Jun 19, 2012

Bergen Summer Research School 2012

Research based education for global development challenges

Jun 12, 2012

University of York launch for international project exploring legacy of slave trade

The University of York’s Institute for the Public Understanding of the Past (IPUP) is hosting the launch events this week for an ambitious €4.3 million project exploring the history of transatlantic slavery and its legacies.

May 31, 2012

University of York in world top ten of younger universities

The University of York has been ranked eighth in the world and number one in the UK in new Times Higher Education world rankings of universities less than 50 years old.

May 31, 2012

Genetic discovery unlocks biosynthesis of medicinal compound in poppy

Scientists at the University of York and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Australia have discovered a complex gene cluster responsible for the synthesis of the medicinal compound noscapine.

May 02, 2012

Ageing population should see China and Australia joined at hip

THERE are 8 million Chinese over 80 years of age and, by some estimates, there will be 100 million Chinese octogenarians by the middle of this, the Asian century.

And although old age may bring brittle bones, there is a view that Australia's ties to China could benefit from a hip replacement. Half a million even.

Apr 10, 2012

Sydney gears up for WUN-SPIN 2012

Recent developments in the emerging field of spintronics – the technology that is expected to drive the next wave of faster and smaller electronic devices – will be discussed at an international conference hosted by the Worldwide Universities Network at the University of Sydney this July.

Apr 10, 2012

UCT to host international education conference

WUN partner, the University of Cape Town, will host the 16th International Education Association of South Africa Conference on 29 August to 1 September 2012.

The theme of the conference is promoting higher education internationalisation through international research collaboration, partnership and innovative teaching. The event will take a broad view of internationalisation of higher education with topics ranging from the role of donors, governments and agencies in promoting internationalisation to quality assurance in higher education internationalisation.

Apr 01, 2012

Volcanic plumbing exposed

Two new studies into the “plumbing systems” that lie under volcanoes could bring scientists closer to predicting large eruptions.

Apr 01, 2012

University of Leeds inks £3m research deal with Sinochem Group

The University of Leeds has signed a £3m collaborative research deal with Sinochem Group.

Mar 23, 2012

A truly worldwide network

The Worldwide Universities Network has extended its global reach by welcoming its first South American partner.

Mar 22, 2012

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.

Mar 21, 2012

York chefs do ‘Masterchef’ in Nanjing and Zhejiang

Andrew Wood, Executive Chef at the University of York, and his Deputy Ian Dickson, have been in China learning to cook authentic Chinese haute cuisine.

Mar 14, 2012

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.

Feb 17, 2012

University of Rochester Formally Joins WUN

WUN Chief Executive, Professor John Hearn, and representatives of the Worldwide Universities Network met with University of Rochester President Joel Seligman to officially sign the WUN membership agreement and discuss research links. The signing follows Rochester’s accession to the network in December 2011.

Feb 08, 2012

University of York researchers ‘dig for data’ with US, Canadian and European partners

Historians, archivists and experts in computer science from the Universities of York and Washington, as well as others, are teaming up to develop new ways of exploring digital historical records.

Jan 31, 2012

Learning from international human rights defenders at the University of York

Human rights defenders from around the world will share their experiences and discuss the challenges they face in a series of public lectures at the University of York.

Jan 18, 2012

Climate Balancing: Sea-Level Rise vs. Surface Temperature Change Rates

Engineering our way out of global climate warming may not be as easy as simply reducing the incoming solar energy, according to a team of University of Bristol and Penn State climate scientists.  Designing the approach to control both sea level rise and rates of surface air temperature changes requires a balancing act to accommodate the diverging needs of different locations.

Jan 05, 2012

No more free rides for ‘piggy-backing’ viruses

Scientists at the University of York and the University of Melbourne have determined the structure of the enzyme endomannosidase, significantly advancing our understanding of how a group of devastating human viruses including HIV and Hepatitis C hijack human enzymes to reproduce and cause disease.

Dec 12, 2011

The University of Rochester joins WUN

Rush Rhees library

The University of Rochester has joined the Worldwide Universities Network. 

Founded in 1850, Rochester is one of the smallest of the country’s top-tier research universities, with 2,000 staff and 9,300 students. It offers more than 180 degree programs. 

Dec 09, 2011

University of York announces new partnership with the US National Library of Medicine

A new partnership between the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) at the University of York and PubMed Health at the US National Library of Medicine is launched today.

Nov 14, 2011

Multi-million funding for centre for medieval European literature

A proposed new centre for the study of medieval European literature based in York and Odense is set to become a reality thanks to an award of nearly £4.5 million funding from the Danish National Research Foundation.

Nov 07, 2011

Ancient DNA provides new insights into cave paintings of horses

An international team of researchers has used ancient DNA to shed new light on the realism of horses depicted in prehistoric cave paintings.

Nov 04, 2011

First Jiangning scholars settle in at the University of York

The University of York has welcomed it first two scholars sponsored by a new foundation to promote cultural links between the UK and China.

Oct 21, 2011

York filmmaker helps to expose modern day slavery

A University of York academic has played a key role in the production of a hard-hitting television series on modern day slavery now showing on Al Jazeera English.

Oct 20, 2011

Researchers trace evolution of diversity in Hawaiian Honeycreepers

An international team of scientists has determined the evolutionary family tree for one of the most strikingly diverse and endangered bird families in the world, the Hawaiian honeycreepers.

Oct 17, 2011

WUN expands its global reach into Hong Kong

The Worldwide Universities Network has been joined by one of the leading universities in Asia, with the signing of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to the partnership.

Oct 16, 2011

Churning galaxy is a snake pit

A pit of writhing snakes – that’s what the first picture of turbulent gas in our Milky Way looks like. A recent collaboration between WUN partners, the University of Sydney and the University of Wisconsin-Madison used a CSIRO radio telescope in eastern Australia to make the groundbreaking image, published in Nature earlier this month.

Oct 13, 2011

International Biomaterials Workshop

The 2011 Workshop on ‘Biomaterials and Their Interactions with Biological and Model Membranes’ took place in Salou, Spain from 19-23 September 2011.

Oct 12, 2011

University of York signs agreement with Santander Universities

Santander Universities Global Division is to provide funding for scholarships and awards after signing a co-operation agreement with the University of York for a total of £198,000 over the next three years.

Oct 11, 2011

A fine balance in the Arctic

Fifteen members of AEVO from five WUN institutions attended a two-day workshop at the University of Leeds, 12-13 September 2011, to launch this novel project which tackles the crucial issue of climate impacts on Arctic communities.

Sep 30, 2011

Discovery of all species on Earth achievable this century

There are far fewer species on Earth – just 2 million – than widely believed and it is possible to discover them all this century, according to Associate Professor Mark Costello from The University of Auckland’s Leigh Marine Laboratory.

Sep 30, 2011

Astronomers reveal new findings from ‘monster’ black hole

Astronomers reveal new findings from ‘monster’ black hole

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Working as part of an international team, astronomers at the University of Southampton have revealed some striking features in the gases emitted from the regions close to one of the brightest, supermassive black holes known to man.

Sep 30, 2011

Costly treatment ‘ineffective for babies’

A worldwide study involving University of Sydney researchers has concluded that a costly and controversial treatment for neonatal sepsis is ineffective.

Sep 29, 2011

Problem-solving therapy may reduce attempted suicides

Problem-solving therapy may help people who attempt suicide or self-harm according to a study by University of Auckland researchers published in the British Journal of Psychiatry this month.

Sep 29, 2011

Rebuilding a dinosaur head

A University of Alberta-led research team has taken a rare look inside the skull of a dinosaur and come away with unprecedented details on the brain and nasal passages of the ancient animal.

Sep 28, 2011

Chemical game changer

University of Alberta chemistry researchers have discovered an active catalyst that has the potential to improve the efficiency and environmental impact of manufacturing processes used to make products such as agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Sep 28, 2011

Genome map of advanced, lethal prostate cancers reveals ‘hypermutations’

A team of researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the UW has conducted the first comprehensive assessment of every gene in the genome of advanced, lethal prostate cancer. Until now, the genetic composition of such tumors had been poorly defined.

Sep 25, 2011

Jumping gene enabled key step in corn domestication

Corn split off from its closest relative teosinte, a wild Mexican grass, about 10,000 years ago thanks to the breeding efforts of early Mexican farmers.

Sep 25, 2011

Bone drug is mixed blessing for breast cancer patients

A drug used to protect bone may extend survival in older breast cancer patients, according to researchers at the Universities of Sheffield and Leeds.

Sep 23, 2011

CT scanning shows how ants build without an architect

Novel use of CT scanning technology has allowed researchers at the University of Bristol to create a four-dimensional picture of how ants build their nests.

Sep 23, 2011

100-year-old lock of hair rewrites early Aboriginal history

A 100-year-old lock of hair from a West Australian Aboriginal man has led to a discovery that Aboriginal Australians are directly descended from the first people to leave Africa more than 70,000 years ago.

Sep 23, 2011

Facing up to non-communicable diseases

University of Bergen researchers have contributed to an international declaration on the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Now the UN is discussing the issue.

Sep 22, 2011

Brain wiring continues

The human brain doesn’t stop developing at adolescence, but continues well into our 20s, recent research from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta demonstrates.

Sep 22, 2011

Model provides successful seasonal forecast for the fate of Arctic sea ice

Relatively accurate predictions for the extent of Arctic sea ice in a given summer can be made by assessing conditions the previous autumn, but forecasting conditions more than five years into the future depend on understanding the impact of climate trends on the ice pack, new research shows.

Sep 22, 2011

Virus kills breast cancer cells in laboratory

A nondisease-causing virus kills human breast cancer cells in the laboratory, creating opportunities for potential new cancer therapies, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers who tested the virus on three different breast cancer types that represent the multiple stages of breast cancer development.

Sep 22, 2011

Nitrate levels rising in northwestern Pacific

Changes in the ratio of nitrate to phosphorus in the oceans off the coasts of Korea and Japan caused by atmospheric and riverine pollutants may influence marine ecology and the makeup of marine plants, according to researchers from Korea and the U.S.

Sep 22, 2011

New research shows that a simple screening programme can prevent fractures

A University of Bristol study has found a simple 15-minute screening programme for women at risk of osteoporosis can reduce their chance of fracture by half.

Sep 22, 2011

Our ability to model past climates does not guarantee future success

New research from the University shows that past trends in climate must be very carefully understood before using them to model the future.

Sep 21, 2011

Information technologies can foster freedom or reinforce repression

The media may portray text messaging and social networks as powerful new weapons for freedom fighters, but these new communication tools may not be as uniformly beneficial or as robust as suggested, according to Penn State researchers.

Sep 21, 2011

Another step towards resisting breast cancer

Medical researchers have come a step closer to understanding how to stop breast cancers from coming back.

Sep 20, 2011

Stems cells are potential source of cancer-fighting T cells

Adult stem cells from mice converted to antigen-specific T cells — the immune cells that fight cancer tumor cells — show promise in cancer immunotherapy and may lead to a simpler, more efficient way to use the body’s immune system to fight cancer, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Sep 20, 2011

How our liver kills

Our livers can fight back against the immune system – reducing organ rejection but also making us more susceptible to liver disease, report scientists from the University of Sydney’s Centenary Institute.

Sep 20, 2011

The role of law in fighting non-communicable disease

World leaders gathering at the United Nations in New York this week to discuss non-communicable disease (NCD) such as obesity and diabetes need to consider how law is an essential weapon in the fight against the problem, a University of Sydney legal expert said.

Sep 20, 2011

Proton-based transistor could let machines communicate with living things

Human devices, from light bulbs to iPods, send information using electrons. Human bodies and all other living things, on the other hand, send signals and perform work using ions or protons.

Sep 19, 2011

‘Inexhaustible’ source of hydrogen may be unlocked by salt water

A grain of salt or two may be all that microbial electrolysis cells need to produce hydrogen from wastewater or organic byproducts, without adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere or using grid electricity, according to Penn State engineers.

Sep 19, 2011

Deforestation reduces rainfall in Africa

Deforestation in the rainforests of West Africa reduces rainfall over the rest of the forest, according to new University of Leeds research published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Sep 16, 2011

Some smokers successfully switch to electronic cigarettes

While electronic cigarettes may be a long-term alternative to the real thing for some smokers, Penn State College of Medicine researchers suggest medical providers should continue to encourage more traditional smoking cessation methods.

Sep 16, 2011

Save Our Soils

Researchers must collaborate to manage one of the planet’s most precious and threatened resources — for food production and much more, says Steve Banwart.

Sep 15, 2011

Minerals from ocean-floor rocks found in ultra-deep diamonds

Mineral inclusions discovered in diamonds prove that surface rocks can be subducted into the deep part of the Earth’s mantle. The isotopic composition of the diamonds confirms that recycling of crustal materials, including carbon, extends into the lower mantle.

Sep 14, 2011

Global study offers new hope for regulating blood pressure

Researchers at The University of Western Australia in collaboration with more than 200 centres from 24 countries have identified DNA links to blood pressure which could lead to new treatments for cardiovascular disease.

Sep 14, 2011

Sheffield experts shine a light on the detection of bacterial infection

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed polymers that fluoresce in the presence of bacteria, paving the way for the rapid detection and assessment of wound infection using ultra-violet light.

Sep 13, 2011

Seeing beneath the soil to uncover the past

Archaeology is no longer just about digging holes. New research by a team led from the University of Leeds promises to improve the investigation of our heritage from the air.

Sep 08, 2011

Researchers probe genetic link to blindness

University of Leeds researchers have used next-generation DNA sequencing techniques to discover what causes a rare form of inherited eye disorders, including cataracts and glaucoma, in young children.

Sep 06, 2011

UW Receives European Grant for Center of Excellence

The European Union Center of Excellence (EUCE) at University of Wisconsin–Madison has
received a grant for €300,000 (ca. $430,000) from the European Commission in Brussels renewing
its funding through 2014.

Sep 05, 2011

Crystal clear research

Scientists have successfully created synthetic crystals whose structures and properties mimic those of naturally occurring biominerals such as seashells.

Sep 02, 2011

Stopping metabolic disease

Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta have discovered that resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in common foods, prevents a metabolic syndrome in some offspring that could lead to health issues like diabetes.

Sep 02, 2011

Study finds safer alternative for sulphur preservative

Groundbreaking new research has found that sulphur dioxide can boost a plant’s defence system, which could change the way table grapes, wine and dried fruits are preserved.

Aug 31, 2011

Cracking cellulose: a step into the biofuels future

Scientists from the University of York have played a pivotal role in a discovery which could finally unlock the full potential of waste plant matter to replace oil as a fuel source.

Aug 31, 2011

Research offers new way to target shape-shifting proteins

A molecule which can stop the formation of long protein strands, known as amyloid fibrils, that cause joint pain in kidney dialysis patients has been identified by Leeds researchers.

Aug 31, 2011

Researchers link bowel cancer to diabetes 2 in men

Researchers at The University of Western Australia today released the results of a long-running study which has established a significant link between type 2 diabetes and the risk of potentially fatal bowel cancer in men.

Aug 25, 2011

Breakthrough insights into mitochondrial diseases

A fundamental new understanding of programs that control energy production in the human body provides new clues to help the development of therapeutics for a broad range of mitochondrial diseases.

Aug 24, 2011

New research offers breakthrough in nanotechnology

Experts from the University of Sheffield have shed new light on the application of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) on a nano scale, paving the way for improved medical imaging techniques, computing, telecommunications, data storage and photovoltaics.

Aug 24, 2011

Major EU grant for physics team

Researchers at the University of York have been awarded a major EU grant to help gain a clearer understanding of the underlying physics behind ultrafast magnetic processes.

Aug 23, 2011

Ancient wild horses help unlock past

An international team of researchers at the University of York has used ancient DNA to produce compelling evidence that the lack of genetic diversity in modern stallions is the result of the domestication process.

Aug 23, 2011

Understanding Cultures: Uses and Abuses of Culture

A three-day meeting at UCT on the contested politics of The Uses and Abuses of Culture hosted jointly by the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) and HUMA was held in July 2011.

Aug 22, 2011

Towards the cloud

A major international e-Science conference at the University of York will explore the concept of cloud computing to enable better use of software and data from research and industry.

Aug 22, 2011

Filling without drilling

Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a pain-free way of tackling dental decay that reverses the damage of acid attack and re-builds teeth as new.

Aug 18, 2011

Further, faster, higher: wildlife responds increasingly rapidly to climate change

New research by scientists in the Department of Biology at the University of York shows that species have responded to climate change up to three times faster than previously appreciated. These results are published in the latest issue of the leading scientific journal Science.

Aug 17, 2011

Research finds Greenland glacier melting faster than expected

A key glacier in Greenland is melting faster than previously expected, according to findings by a team of academics, including Dr Edward Hanna from University of Sheffield.

Aug 17, 2011

Model shows polar ice caps can recover from warmer climate-induced melting

A growing body of recent research indicates that, in Earth’s warming climate, there is no “tipping point,” or threshold warm temperature, beyond which polar sea ice cannot recover if temperatures come back down.

Aug 17, 2011

Career Opportunity – WUN General Manager

The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) – General Manager

The Worldwide Universities Network is searching for a General Manager with the ability and experience to administer the Network. The position is offered initially to those staff of network partners who wish to apply.

Aug 15, 2011

A new tool in the fight against obesity

A new diagnostic method developed by researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta is proving it can be a reliable tool for health professionals to predict an overweight or obese patient’s risk of death and even the degree to which they need to lose weight.

Aug 15, 2011

New nanostructured glass for imaging and recording

University of Southampton researchers have developed new nano-structured glass, turning it into new type of computer memory, which has applications in optical manipulation and will significantly reduce the cost of medical imaging.

Aug 15, 2011

UW Medicine study finds caffeine guards against certain ultraviolet-induced skin cancers at molecular level

Caffeine guards against certain skin cancers at the molecular level, according to a study appearing online August 15, 2011, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)

Aug 11, 2011

New research finds carbon can be used to reduce emissions and waste

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have led a new report that provides the first comprehensive technical and economic assessment of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) as a viable but poorly understood option for reducing carbon emissions.

Aug 11, 2011

Can you feel the force?

Engineering students from the University of Leeds have found a way to let surgeons keep their sense of touch when operating at a distance with ‘keyhole’ techniques.

Aug 11, 2011

Polar climate change may lead to ecological change

Ice and frozen ground at the North and South Poles are affected by climate-change-induced warming, but the consequences of thawing at each pole differ due to the geography and geology, according to a Penn State hydrologist.

Aug 11, 2011

Escaping gravity’s clutches: the black hole breakout

New research by scientists at the University of York gives a fresh perspective on the physics of black holes.

Aug 09, 2011

Southampton researchers’ blood cancer breakthrough

Researchers at the University of Southampton have discovered clues to why many patients do not respond to a standard drug for the blood cancer lymphoma, raising hopes that more effective treatments can be designed.

Aug 08, 2011

Bridging the gap between research and patient benefit

Bridging the gap between research and patient benefit

The 2nd Worldwide Universities Network Symposium in Oral Health Sciences was held between 25 and 26 July at the University of Leeds.  The programme included presentations from 21 international speakers who shared their experiences in translational research in dentistry with 110 delegates from around the world.

The Symposium featured invited speakers from Australia, China, Japan, the United States, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Aug 08, 2011

Research on protocells sheds new light on the evolution of life

Researchers at the University of Bristol have designed a chemical system which represents perhaps the simplest protocell model of cell formation on the early Earth. The work is described in an article published today in Nature Chemistry.

Aug 08, 2011

Cancer risk may be higher for early-morning smokers

Two new studies from Penn State College of Medicine have found that smokers who tend to take their first cigarette soon after they wake up in the morning may have a higher risk of developing lung and head and neck cancers than smokers who refrain from lighting up right away.

Aug 05, 2011

U of A researchers strive to increase awareness of forgotten essential nutrient

A group of researchers at the University of Alberta hopes to draw attention to what has become a forgotten essential nutrient.

Aug 05, 2011

Plants may lose less water under global warming than expected, scientists find

Some plants may use less water under global warming, says a University of Sydney scientist involved in a major study published in the journal Nature.

Aug 04, 2011

Researchers unveil body clock battle for Blind New Zealanders

Nearly 3000 blind and partially-sighted New Zealanders could be suffering from undiagnosed sleep timing disorders according to a recent study from The University of Auckland.

Aug 04, 2011

A healthy beginning can prevent overweight and obesity

Early and regular home visits to first-time mothers that encourage breastfeeding and ‘tummy time’ during their child’s first year of life improve the likelihood of their children growing up being a healthy weight, according to research published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Aug 01, 2011

US Scholarships foster international cooperation at University of York

The University of York is welcoming a record number of American Fulbright scholars for the new academic year. Five American academics will join the University in October, teaching and researching subjects ranging from gender, violence and conflict, to restoration of the pedagogical bassoon works of Julius Weissenborn.

Jul 28, 2011

Memory experts from around the world meet in York

Leading memory researchers from across the world are gathering at the University of York for a major six-day conference. Organisers believe the event from 31 July – 5 August is the world’s largest ever conference on memory.

Jul 28, 2011

Sea level rise less from Greenland, more from Antarctica, than expected during last interglacial

During the last prolonged warm spell on Earth, the oceans were at least four meters — and possibly as much as 6.5 meters, or about 20 feet — higher than they are now.

Jul 22, 2011

New target found for nitric oxide’s attack on Salmonella bacteria

A new target for nitric oxide has been revealed in studies of how it inhibits the growth of Salmonella. This bacterium is a common cause of food-poisoning.

Jul 18, 2011

International Conference on Nanomedicine

Major conference on nanomedicine held in Hangzhou

Jul 15, 2011

Forests absorb one-third of global fossil fuel emissions

The world’s established forests remove 8.8bn tonnes of CO2 per year from the atmosphere – equivalent to nearly a third of annual fossil fuel emissions – according to new research published in Science.

Jul 13, 2011

Atomic structure discovered for a sodium channel that generates electrical signals in living cells

Scientists at the University of Washington in Seattle have determined the atomic architecture of a sodium channel. The achievement opens new possibilities for molecular medicine researchers around the world to design better drugs for pain, epilepsy and heart rhythm disturbances.

Jul 13, 2011

Pivotal UW study in Africa finds HIV medications prevent HIV infection

A pivotal study in Africa conducted by the UW’s Clinical Research Center is bringing new hope that taking a daily AIDS drug can keep an uninfected person from getting the AIDS virus.

Jul 10, 2011

Genetic study sheds new light on auto-immune arthritis

Researchers are one step closer to understanding how an individual’s genetic make-up predisposes them to Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a common auto-immune arthritis which causes pain and stiffness of the spine, and in serious cases, progressive fusion of the vertebrae and other affected joints.

Jul 07, 2011

Coetzee Collective: Into the Archive

Report on the one-day symposium “Into the Archive: J.M. Coetzee and his Precursors” which took place on Tuesday 28 June 2011 at the University of Leeds.

Jul 07, 2011

Gold nanoparticles bring scientists closer to a treatment for cancer

Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed smart nanomaterials, which can disrupt the blood supply to cancerous tumours.

Jul 07, 2011

Arctic science goes tropical

Climate change in Asia is the latest focus area for researchers at the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research.

Jul 06, 2011

Higher daily dose of Aspirin could play key role in preventing heart attacks for those with diabetes

In some cases, an apple a day may keep the doctor away, but for people with diabetes, regular, over-the-counter Aspirin may also do the job.

Jul 05, 2011

Clues on antipsychotic drugs side effects offer hope

Weight-gain and diabetes-like symptoms are common side effects of antipsychotic medications, and New Zealand research into the chemical changes involved is raising hope that these effects may be better managed or eliminated.

Jul 05, 2011

The worm that turned

A University of Leeds researcher has drawn inspiration from biology to build a giant robotic worm that can wiggle its way around obstacles.

Jul 01, 2011

Culture influences people’s response to climate change

How people choose to consume resources and use contraception influences their responses to climate change, according to a team of psychologists.

Jun 30, 2011

Click chemistry creates new ‘stealth’ DNA links

Scientists at the University of Southampton have pioneered a chemical method of linking DNA strands that is tolerated by living organisms.

Jun 29, 2011

Studying solar wind

An international team of scientists, including Dr Chris Coath from the University of Bristol, have measured oxygen isotopes in solar wind, captured by NASA’s Genesis mission, to infer the isotopic composition of the Sun, and, by inference, the solar system as a whole.

Jun 28, 2011

Will new drugs block hepatitis C virus in its tracks?

Targeted multi-drug treatments for hepatitis C patients that could stop the virus in its tracks have come a step closer, thanks to researchers at the University of Leeds, UK.

Jun 28, 2011

Poverty is a complex issue

There is no simple or unambigious connection between population growth and poverty, according to Vigdis Broch-Due. Her research in northern Kenya questions stereotypical views of poverty.

Jun 27, 2011

Night owls’ habits linked to depression in older men

Men who have difficulty falling asleep are at greater risk of depression than those who nod off easily, researchers have found.

Jun 24, 2011

Mantis shrimp eye could improve high-definition CDs, DVDs

The eye of the peacock mantis shrimp has led an international team of researchers to develop a two-part waveplate that could improve CD, DVD, blu-ray and holographic technology, creating even higher definition and larger storage density.

Jun 24, 2011

Healthy eating, activity and sleep needed to curb childhood obesity

Limiting television and other media use, encouraging infants and children in preschool and child care to be more physically active, and requiring child care providers to promote healthy sleeping practices are some of the actions needed to curb high rates of obesity among America’s youngest children, according to a new report.

Jun 24, 2011

ALES heads project to improve the quality of life of Tanzanian villagers

A University of Alberta research team will be introducing new varieties of root crops and goats to rural areas in Tanzania, hoping to improve local food security and nutrition.

Jun 23, 2011

Researchers move closer to a cure for a deadly cardiovascular disease

A multidisciplinary research team in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta has taken a big step towards understanding the cause and potential cure for a deadly cardiovascular disease.

Jun 22, 2011

Scientists from the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York help launch major climate study

Fast action on pollutants such as black carbon, ground level ozone and methane may help limit near term global temperature rise and significantly increase the chances of keeping temperature rise below 2 degrees C, says a new assessment.

Jun 22, 2011

Scientists help explain size of the 2004 Sumatran tsunami

The unusual geological characteristics of the seabed and underlying sediments south of the epicentre of the 2004 Boxing Day Sumatran-Andaman earthquake contributed to the devastating power of the resulting tsunami, according to research involving University of Southampton scientists.

Jun 22, 2011

Brief exam diagnoses cognitive impairment in ALS patients

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) could lose brain function earlier than is noticeably detectable, affecting their ability to make decisions about their care. Physicians need a method to assess these sensitive changes in brain function, without the need for extensive neuropsychological tests.

Jun 22, 2011

Slowing the spread of drug-resistant diseases is goal of new research

In the war between drugs and drug-resistant diseases, is the current strategy for medicating patients giving many drug-resistant diseases a big competitive advantage? That is the question being asked in a research paper that will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Jun 22, 2011

Smoking during pregnancy increases children’s heart disease risk factors

University of Sydney researchers have discovered that children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy had lower levels of the type of cholesterol known to protect against heart disease in later life – high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Jun 21, 2011

Diabetic kidney disease on the rise in America, despite improved diabetes care

Diabetic kidney disease has become more prevalent in the United States over the past 20 years, despite a substantial increase in the use of medications for the treatment of people with diabetes, according to a study to be published June 22 in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Jun 21, 2011

Ocean measurements by UW will be part of just-launched satellite mission

With the launch earlier this month of NASA’s satellite Aquarius, more than half a dozen University of Washington researchers are involved in projects to calibrate data from space with actual measurements of ocean salinity.

Jun 20, 2011

World-first virtual reality study to trial new Parkinson’s treatment

In a world-first study, researchers at the Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) at the University of Sydney may have found a new way to help the Parkinson’s disease patients who experience walking problems.

Jun 19, 2011

New approach to cancer vaccines proves successful in early studies

University of Leeds researchers, funded by Cancer Research UK, have used a library of DNA to create a vaccine that could be used to treat cancer, according to a study published in Nature Medicine.

Jun 19, 2011

Atmospheric carbon dioxide buildup unlikely to spark abrupt climate change

There have been instances in Earth history when average temperatures have changed rapidly, as much as 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) over a few decades, and some have speculated the same could happen again as the atmosphere becomes overloaded with carbon dioxide.

Jun 17, 2011

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism

Scientists from the University of Sydney are celebrating the 100th anniversary of superconductivity with a discovery of their own.

Jun 15, 2011

Young adults struggle with online political participation

Young adults who are Web-savvy but lack knowledge about federal government may struggle to use the Web for political participation, according to a team of researchers.

Jun 15, 2011

Sleep position in late pregnancy could decrease risk of late stillbirth

Women who go to sleep on their left side on the last night of their pregnancy have a halved risk of late stillbirth compared with women who do not according to findings from The University of Auckland published on bmj.com today.

Jun 15, 2011

Stem Cells from Patients Make ‘Early Retina in a Dish’

Soon, some treatments for blinding eye diseases might be developed and tested using retina-like tissues produced from the patient’s own skin, thanks to a series of discoveries reported by a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison stem cell researchers.

Jun 14, 2011

Cruise to investigate impacts of ocean acidification

Southampton scientists have set sail on the first research cruise specifically to study ocean acidification in European waters.

Twenty-four scientists from eight different UK institutes, led by the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, will carry out the science from aboard the UK research vessel RRS Discovery.

Jun 14, 2011

Cellular trash turns out to be treasure

Researchers at The University of Western Australia in collaboration with scientists at CSIRO Plant Industry have made a discovery that will change the way scientists look at the role of respiration in regulating plant responses to disease.

Jun 14, 2011

Scientists from SEI help launch major climate study

Fast action on pollutants such as black carbon, ground level ozone and methane may help limit near term global temperature rise and significantly increase the chances of keeping temperature rise below 2 degrees C, says a new assessment launched today.

Jun 13, 2011

Life history may affect mutation rates in males more than in females

Scientists at Penn State have used large-scale DNA sequencing data to investigate, for the first time, a longstanding evolutionary assumption: that DNA mutation rates are influenced by life-history traits, including metabolic rate and the length of time between generations.

Jun 13, 2011

The 2011 International Symposium on Functional Polymers and Nanomedicine Held in Hangzhou

From May 16 to 18, the 2011 International Symposium on Functional Polymers and Nanomedicine was held in Hangzhou. The Symposium was organized by Center for Bionano-Engineering at Zhejiang University, University of Leeds and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University jointly.

Jun 10, 2011

The stuff of life hitched ride to Earth on asteroid

Detailed analysis of the most pristine meteorite ever recovered shows that the composition of the organic compounds it carried changed during the early years of the solar system. Those changed organics were preserved through billions of years in outer space before the meteorite crashed to Earth.

Jun 09, 2011

Postpartum depression study shows gene behavior differs by environment

A recently released paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), “The Role of Mother’s Genes and Environment in Postpartum Depression,” explores the interplay between genes and environment when determining whether a mother is at high or low risk for postpartum depression.

Jun 09, 2011

End native versus alien wars: Expert

It is time to drop the alien versus native species dichotomy in conservation, according to a group of eminent scientists concerned with the restoration of ecosystems around the world.

Jun 09, 2011

Keeping score helps asthma sufferers breathe a sigh of relief

Seven per cent of adults and 14 per cent of Canadian children have a hard time breathing because of asthma. Brian Rowe, in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta, is working towards making life easier for both asthma patients and emergency physicians who treat them.

Jun 09, 2011

Adjustable valves gave ancient plants the edge

Controlling water loss is an important ability for modern land plants as it helps them thrive in changing environments. New research from the University of Bristol, published today in the journal Current Biology, shows that water conserving innovations occurred very early in plants’ evolutionary history.

Jun 09, 2011

Physicists hit on mathematical description of superfluid dynamics

It has been 100 years since the discovery of superconductivity, a state achieved when mercury was cooled, with the help of liquid helium, to nearly the coldest temperature achievable to form a superfluid that provides no resistance to electrons as they flow through it.

Jun 07, 2011

Pioneering research sheds light on controversial heart condition treatment

Research from the University of Sheffield has found that a common treatment for a life-threatening heart condition has little significant impact on patient outcomes. The paper is due for publication this week (Saturday 21 May) in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Jun 07, 2011

New research provides breakthrough in understanding common cancer

Researchers from the University of Sheffield have discovered valuable insight into how people develop B-cell lymphoma, one of the most common cancers in the UK.

Jun 06, 2011

Carbon release to atmosphere 10 times faster than in the past

The rate of release of carbon into the atmosphere today is nearly 10 times as fast as during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), 55.9 million years ago, the best analog we have for current global warming, according to an international team of geologists.

Jun 02, 2011

Ocean gliders uncover underwater ‘rivers’ off Perth

Oceanographers at The University of Western Australia have discovered the first underwater ‘rivers’ to be identified in a sub-tropical region flowing along the ocean bed off Perth’s coastline.

Jun 02, 2011

Chemists shed light on sun’s role mixing up molecules

University of Sydney scientists have discovered a startling new mechanism where sunlight can rearrange the atoms of molecules to form new chemical substances.

Jun 02, 2011

Iron may be key to brain-tumor drug delivery, researchers find

Brain cancer therapy may be more effective if the expression of an iron-storing protein is decreased to enhance the action of therapeutic drugs on brain cancer cells, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Jun 02, 2011

Research aimed at slowing spread of forest pests in wood packaging

As invasive forest pests such as emerald ash borer and Asian long-horned beetle decimate forests they never should have seen, scientists are investigating ways to slow the introduction of new insects that may be just as devastating.

Jun 01, 2011

Ocean acidification leaves clownfish deaf to predators

Baby clownfish use hearing to detect and avoid predator-rich coral reefs during the daytime, but new research from the University of Bristol demonstrates that ocean acidification could threaten this crucial behaviour within the next few decades.

Jun 01, 2011

Migration patterns linked to genetic differences in New Zealand seabirds

Ground-breaking research by NIWA and The University of Auckland, investigating the annual movements of New Zealand seabirds migrating within the Pacific Ocean, has revealed that populations are genetically distinct, and have been for centuries as a result of their differing migration behavior.

Jun 01, 2011

Retina holds the key to better vision in deaf people

People who are deaf benefit from better vision due to the fact their retinas develop differently, experts at the University of Sheffield have shown.

May 31, 2011

UCT and Penn State commit to joint research

UCT and the Pennsylvania State University recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Shanghai, China. The setting may not be as unlikely as it first appears – universities from across the globe were represented at a meeting (and AGM) of the Worldwide University Network (WUN).

May 27, 2011

Breakthrough for people with unknown muscle disease

Researchers at The University of Western Australia have discovered a gene mutation in a rare new form of muscle wasting disease which will lead other sufferers to be more accurately diagnosed.

May 26, 2011

New cancer study finds benefit in old therapy

Cancer patients who used a 5000-year-old combination of gentle exercise and meditation experienced significantly higher wellbeing levels, improved cognitive functioning and less inflammation compared to a control group, new University of Sydney research has found.

May 25, 2011

Research revelation could shape future long-term treatment of asthma

A new study reveals that the progressive loss of lung function in asthma sufferers could be entirely independent of the effects of inflammation. The findings have significant implications for the long-term treatment of asthma.

May 23, 2011

Social networking may prove key to overcoming isolation of older adults

The University of Sydney is leading an investigation into the use of online social networking tools and other information technologies by older Australians as a means of combating social isolation and increasing community engagement of seniors.

May 22, 2011

Human brain’s most ubiquitous cell cultivated in lab dish

Long considered to be little more than putty in the brain and spinal cord, the star-shaped astrocyte has found new respect among neuroscientists who have begun to recognize its many functions in the brain, not to mention its role in a range of disorders of the central nervous system.

May 22, 2011

Scientists find odd twist in slow ‘earthquakes’: tremor running backwards

Earthquake scientists trying to unravel the mysteries of an unfelt, weeks-long seismic phenomenon called episodic tremor and slip have discovered a strange twist. The tremor can suddenly reverse direction and travel back through areas of the fault that it had ruptured in preceding days.

May 19, 2011

Liquid crystal droplets discovered to be exquisitely sensitive to an important bacterial lipid

In the computer displays of medical equipment in hospitals and clinics, liquid crystal technologies have already found a major role. But a discovery reported from the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that micrometer-sized droplets of liquid crystal might find new uses in a range of biological contexts.

May 18, 2011

High pregnancy weight gain can lead to long-term obesity

Gaining more than the recommended weight during pregnancy can put women at increased risk of becoming obese and developing related health problems, including high blood pressure, later in life.

May 18, 2011

Expert discovers simple method of dealing with harmful radioactive iodine

A novel way to immobilise radioactive forms of iodine using a microwave, has been discovered by an expert at the University of Sheffield.

May 17, 2011

Life gets a little older

A University of Alberta-led research team has discovered that billions of years before life evolved in the oceans, thin layers of microbial matter in shallow water produced enough oxygen to support tiny, mobile life forms.

May 17, 2011

University of Alberta researchers take first step in understanding the immunity of bacteria

Researchers at the University of Alberta have taken an important step in understanding the immune system of bacteria, a finding that could have implications for medical care and both the pharmaceutical and dairy industries.

May 16, 2011

The Earth’s core is melting…and freezing

The inner core of the Earth is simultaneously melting and freezing due to circulation of heat in the overlying rocky mantle, according to new research from the University of Leeds.

May 16, 2011

University of Sydney expert developing next generation biofuels

The University of Sydney’s Professor Thomas Maschmeyer is behind cutting edge research that could fuel the aviation industry from sustainable energy sources in the not too distant future.

May 16, 2011

Sporadic mutations identified in children with autism spectrum disorders

Scientists at the UW Department of Genome Sciences have identified several sporadic or “de novo” genetic mutations in children with autism spectrum disorder.

May 13, 2011

Scientists design new anti-flu virus proteins using computational methods

A research article May 12 in Science demonstrates the use of computational methods to design new antiviral proteins not found in nature, but capable of targeting specific surfaces of flu virus molecules.

May 11, 2011

No safety in numbers for moths and butterflies

Scientists at the University of Leeds are to investigate how lethal viruses attack differently sized populations of moths and butterflies in research that may help develop new methods of pest control.

May 10, 2011

‘Smoke detector’ gene discovered in plants

Researchers at The University of Western Australia have discovered a gene that allows dormant seeds buried in the soil to detect germination stimulants in bushfire smoke called karrikins.

May 10, 2011

New ‘corn atlas’ shows which genes are active during each stage of plant growth

Just as a road atlas helps travelers find their way, a new corn atlas will help plant scientists navigate vast amounts of gene expression data from the corn plant, as described in the May 10 issue of The Plant Journal.

May 09, 2011

University of Alberta researchers find potential MS therapy could kill brain cells

Researchers with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta have discovered that some “protective” T-cells can kill neurons. This finding is significant because a specific type of T-cell therapy is being touted in the medical community as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions.

May 06, 2011

Bristol scientists pave the way to tackling anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are severely debilitating, the commonest cause of disability in the US workplace, and a source of great anguish to individuals and their families. Although fear and anxiety are part of our natural response to stress, the causes of chronic and inappropriate levels of anxiety are complex and treatments unsatisfactory.

May 05, 2011

Reptile ‘cousins’ shed new light on end-Permian extinction

The end-Permian extinction, by far the most dramatic biological crisis to affect life on Earth, may not have been as catastrophic for some creatures as previously thought, according to a new study led by the University of Bristol.

May 04, 2011

New link in tinnitus research

Researchers at The University of Western Australia have shown changes in a part of the brain previously not known to be involved in tinnitus generation.

May 04, 2011

Turning coal into methane using nanotechnology

A University of Alberta researcher has received special funding to turn underground coal seams into methane gas, a less environmentally harmful source of energy.

May 03, 2011

Study finds Canada's Arctic glaciers and ice caps losing water at an alarming rate

The work of Faculty of Science PhD graduate Alex Gardner—published in Nature magazine in April—has revealed some alarming evidence that Canada’s Arctic glaciers and ice caps have lost nearly as much water as there is in Lake Erie.

May 03, 2011

The sea dragons bounce back

The evolution of ichthyosaurs, important marine predators of the age of dinosaurs, was hit hard by a mass extinction event 200 million years ago, according to a new study from the University of Bristol.

May 01, 2011

Several baffling puzzles in protein molecular structure solved with new method

The structures of many protein molecules remain unsolved even after experts apply an extensive array of approaches. An international collaboration has led to a new, high-performance method that rapidly determined the structure of protein molecules in several cases where previous attempts had failed.

Apr 29, 2011

Healthy planet, healthy people

An international WUN workshop to be hosted by the University of Sydney next week will investigate the common ground between two of the biggest challenges facing the modern world – improving global health and reducing the impact of climate change.

Apr 21, 2011

Giant tortoises show rewilding can work

Exotic species can be used to restore important functions in ecosystems that were lost following the extinction of key species, according to a new study of giant tortoises on a small island in the Indian Ocean.

Apr 20, 2011

Decoding human genes is the goal of a new open-source encyclopedia

A massive database cataloging the human genome’s functional elements — including genes, RNA transcripts and other products — is being made available as an open resource to the scientific community, classrooms, science writers and the public, thanks to an international team of researchers.

Apr 20, 2011

New shapes in granular movement

University of Sydney researchers have discovered new patterns in the movement of granular mixtures with findings that could assist the study of oil and gas recovery and CO2 geo-sequestratrion.

Apr 20, 2011

Worm Studies Shed Light on Human Cancers

Research in the worm is shedding light on a protein associated with a number of different human cancers, and may point to a highly targeted way to treat them.

Apr 19, 2011

Climate ‘detectives’ use clues from the past to predict future weather changes

Drilling holes in trees across Australia and taking core samples from reefs at Ningaloo are two techniques being used to determine the extent of climate change in coming decades.

Apr 18, 2011

Habitat restoration could help species to cope with climate change

Animals and plants may need extra habitats to survive the challenge of climate change, according to research by scientists at the University of York.

Apr 15, 2011

Ground-breaking discoveries on language evolution

Psychologists from The University of Auckland have just published two major studies on the diversity of the world’s languages in the prestigious journals Science and Nature.

Apr 11, 2011

New treatment can destroy prostate cancer from within

A ‘Trojan horse’ system developed by researchers at the Universities of Sheffield and York attacks cancerous cells from within and potentially offers a safer treatment for prostate tumours.

Apr 10, 2011

West Antarctic warming triggered by warmer sea surface in tropical Pacific

The Antarctic Peninsula has warmed rapidly for the last half-century or more, and recent studies have shown that an adjacent area, continental West Antarctica, has steadily warmed for at least 30 years, but scientists haven’t been sure why.

Mar 31, 2011

3D lab experiments aid adult stem cell versatility

A type of adult stem cell is now proving itself more versatile for research and therapies thanks to revolutionary 3D experiments.

Mar 30, 2011

U of A hosts conference looking for solutions to challenges arising from an aging population

Social scientists from almost every continent have come to the University of Alberta this week to develop a plan that will help address some of the pressing social issues faced by the world’s aging population.

Mar 30, 2011

Robots could help solve the problem of autonomous refuelling

Robots will be used to help solve the problem of autonomous engagement for in-flight refuelling. This new research could pave the way for civil or military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights to last days or even weeks.

Mar 30, 2011

From little things big crops grow: ants and termites boost wheat yields

In an exciting experiment with major implications for food production under climate change, CSIRO and University of Sydney scientists have found allowing ants and termites to flourish increased a wheat crop’s yield by more than one third.

Mar 29, 2011

A window to the sea

A new ocean laboratory on the floor of the Norwegian Sea will provide scientists with real time data. The observatory can give us a better understanding of the ocean.

Mar 29, 2011

Scientists aim to improve photosynthesis to increase food and fuel production

A University of Southampton scientist is participating in a new £6.11 million transatlantic research project to improve the process of photosynthesis.

Mar 17, 2011

On a screen near you, the history of the world

At the click of a mouse button, scientists can virtually inspect the surface of our planet using widely available mapping software.

Mar 11, 2011

2011 Fulbright scholars dedicated to improving the world

Three University of Sydney graduates and one PhD candidate have been recognised for their work in moral philosophy, international diplomacy, and women’s and children’s welfare with 2011 Fulbright Scholarships.

Mar 10, 2011

Protecting children from second-hand smoke

Children from across Yorkshire are being asked to help test an initiative that could reduce their exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke.
Researchers from the University of Leeds and the University of York are recruiting schools from across the region to take part in the CLASS trial – Children Learning About Second-hand Smoke.

Mar 10, 2011

Lawyer, Cancer Researcher and Global Warming Expert USA-Bound

Three graduates of The University of Western Australia are among 26 Australians recognised as Fulbright Scholars in 2011.

Mar 10, 2011

Bergen leads search for CO2

How much CO2 are the oceans able to absorb, and will this change because of global warming? Scientists from all over the world are trying to find the answer.

Mar 09, 2011

Study probes cause of ‘ballooning’ blood vessels

Patients from Yorkshire are helping researchers at the University of Leeds find new ways of treating abdominal aortic aneurysms, a potentially life-threatening condition that is common in elderly men.

Mar 08, 2011

Migrating moths and songbirds travel at similar rates

International collaboration between the University of York and the Universities of Lund (Sweden) and Greenwich found that migrating moths and songbirds travel at similar rates.

Mar 04, 2011

Clear English coming to your medicine cabinet

Medicines Information, Review and Partnership – making information about medicines clearer to patients.

Feb 28, 2011

Old bones aid battle against back pain

The bones of people who died up to a hundred years ago are being used in the development of new treatments for chronic back pain. The research is bringing together the latest computer modelling techniques developed at the University of Leeds, and archaeology and anthropology expertise at the University of Bristol.

Feb 28, 2011

Chemist awarded grant to develop ‘green chemistry’ for pharmaceutical industry

A University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of chemistry has received a grant to develop “green” techniques to produce compounds for the pharmaceutical industry.