research

Complex cognition shaped Stone Age axe

New research has shown that the ability to make a Stone Age hand axe depends on complex cognitive control and memory.

The recently published results knock another chip off theories that pre-historic hand axes are simple tools that don’t involve complex functions of the brain made by ape-men just banging rocks together.

University of Exeter Archaeologist Professor Bruce Bradley co-authored the research with Emory University (USA) and Aix-Marseille University (France) colleagues, which highlights how making stone tools provide some of the most abundant evidence of human...

Top award for Exeter genomic medicine expert

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 03/12/2015 - 12:49pm

A leading light in genetic diabetes research has been awarded a prestigious national award for outstanding scientists.

Professor Sian Ellard, at the University of Exeter Medical School, has secured a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award.

Jointly funded by the Wolfson Foundation and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the scheme aims to provide universities with additional support to enable them to attract science talent from overseas and retain respected UK scientists of outstanding achievement and potential.

Professor Ellard, who is...

Love, love me do: male beetles that have more sex are more insecure, study shows

Males that mate more often are more insecure about their social status than those mating less, according to new research on the behaviour of burying beetles.

The study, published tomorrow (Tuesday 10th March) in the journal Evolution, provides new evidence that the social sensitivity of male behaviour is linked to how often male beetles mate.

Male burying beetles actively compete with each other for access to breeding resources such as dead mice, and when they find a suitable carcass will emit pheromones as a signal to attract females. But the emission of pheromones may...

Old mothers know best: killer whale study sheds light on the evolution of menopause

A new study led by the Universities of Exeter and York has shown that female killer whales survive after menopause because they help their family members find food during hard times. This research provides insights into why women continue to live long after they can no longer have children. Menopause is one of nature’s greatest mysteries. Most animals die around the same time they stop reproducing. Killer whales are one of just three species – alongside humans and another type of whale – where females continue to live for many years after giving birth to their last baby. Female killer...

Chiefs and Uni to tackle concussion

Specialists from the University of Exeter are working with Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club on a project to model what happens to the brain of a player when they are concussed in order to improve safety and manage the impact of injuries following head trauma.

The data gathered during the research and the resulting findings could have a huge impact on the prevention and management of injury across a wide range of fields. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the biggest cause of death and disability worldwide in young children and working age adults.

Professor Huw Williams, Co-Director of...

Exercise training opportunities for pre-menopausal women

Authored by lconnolly23
Posted: Wed, 02/18/2015 - 4:48pm

We are about to start two studies looking at the effects of different exercise training interventions on the health profile of pre-menopausal women.

Details about the study and what would be required of you as a participant are provided in the attached posters.

If you are interested in participating in either of these studies then please email Luke Connolly ( ljc219@exeter.ac.uk ) to confirm your interest and request further information.

This study will provide you with an opportunity to get a free assessment of your health and a fitness programme (or just the...

Appeal for information about City players killed in First World War

The Exeter City F.C. Supporters’ Trust is continuing to research the stories of City players who were killed in World War I.

In particular we would like help in contacting the families of four Grecians for whom we have no photographic or other image? They each had a strong Exeter/local area connection. They are:

George Thomas WHITE (d 1914)

John Addems WEBB (d 1915)

Frederick (Fred) Henry BAILEY (d 1916)

Edwin CLARK (d 1917)

In April it will be the 100th anniversary of John Webb's death. He enlisted with the Sherwood Foresters, having...

United front in fight against dementia

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 02/11/2015 - 5:28am

The Alzheimer’s Society has announced the launch of a new dementia-focussed Doctoral Training Centre at the University of Exeter.

The centre will support eight PhD students to investigate the effect of dementia on the brain’s neural networks.

Nationally, the dementia research community is one sixth the size of the cancer research community and Alzheimer’s Society aims to attract new people to dementia research from a range of different academic and clinical backgrounds, bringing fresh ideas and talent to help expand the boundaries of dementia science.

Dr Doug Brown...

Exeter university experts work with Man U

A unique research project to identify the effects of exercise on young hearts has been announced today (Wednesday 28th January 2015).

Manchester United’s Academy players are being put through their paces and having their hearts monitored by the newest imaging technology to give invaluable insights into how young people’s hearts work during exercise.

The project, led by the Bristol Heart Institute at the University of Bristol together with partners Toshiba Medical Systems, Bristol’s Clinical Research and Imaging Centre (CRICBristol), the University of Exeter‘s Children’s...

Wild pollinators at risk from commercial bees

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 01/19/2015 - 10:19am

A new study from the University of Exeter has found that viruses carried by commercial bees can jump to wild pollinator populations with potentially devastating effects.

The researchers are calling for new measures to be introduced that will prevent the introduction of diseased pollinators into natural environments.

Commercial species of honey bee and bumble bee are typically used to pollinate crops such as tomatoes, sweet peppers and oilseed rape. Fast evolving viruses carried by these managed populations have the potential to decimate wild pollinator species, including...

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