Research in Life and Environmental Sciences Across the breadth of life and environmental sciences we discover, apply and translate science, forging advances in human and environmental health.
Addressing the Climate Challenge Find out how our research is addressing the reality of climate change
Ancient sea ice core sheds light on modern climate change 09 September 2021 A 170 m record of marine sediment cores extracted from Adélie Land in Antarctica by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme is yielding new insights into the complicated relationship between sea ice and climate change.
Children at greatest risk of sexual violence in Kenya during the pandemic 09 September 2021 A study of sexual violence in Kenya during the Covid-19 pandemic finds that children were more likely than adults to be attacked by somebody familiar to them.
Alcohol and other substance use play complex roles in young people's experience of attempted suicide 06 September 2021 Alcohol and other substance use play complex roles in suicidal behaviour among young people. Gaining a better understanding of these impacts can help services better support young people, according to a new study.
Plants evolved ability to actively control water-loss earlier than previously thought 26 August 2021 New research has shed light on when plants first evolved the ability to respond to changing humidity in the air around them, and was probably a feature of a common ancestor of both flowering plants and ferns.
Physical activity in children can be improved through 'exergames' 26 August 2021 Physical activity among young people can be improved by well-designed and delivered online interventions such as 'exergames' and smartphone apps, new research shows.
Birmingham researchers confirm speed, simplicity and sensitivity for new COVID-19 test 17 August 2021 Researchers from the University of Birmingham have confirmed the speed, accuracy and simplicity of a novel, highly sensitive testing method for COVID-19.
Children and young people to become co-creators of sustainable 'treescapes' 10 August 2021 The Voices of the Future project will explore how treescapes – landscapes where trees play a significant role - could be expanded to meet the UK's net zero targets.
Major new study will explore if a tree's 'memory' can increase its resilience 07 August 2021 The research will improve our understanding of the value of trees to people and the planet, and support the expansion of treescapes across the UK
Food or sex? Fruit flies give insight into decision-making 05 August 2021 Individuals are likely to prioritise food over sex after being deprived of both, according to researchers, who studied this behavioural conflict in fruit flies.
Motivation depends on how the brain processes fatigue 30 July 2021 Researchers at the University of Birmingham & University of Oxford have shown that the willingness to work is not static, and depends upon the fluctuating rhythms of fatigue.
Exploring how air pollution in indoor spaces affects human health 28 July 2021 University of Birmingham experts are part of a new research programme investigating how air pollutants in indoor spaces such as homes, schools and workplaces can adversely affect human health.
UK scientists designed world's most sophisticated COVID-19 sequencing system – here's how they did it 27 July 2021 New bioinformatics software and cloud computing approaches developed at the University of Birmingham, have enabled the UK's COVID-19 genome sequencing effort to be the most sophisticated in the world.