News: November 2019
Scientists complete largest global assessment of ocean warming impacts
A group of international marine scientists has compiled the most comprehensive assessment of how ocean warming is affecting the mix of species in our oceans – and explained how some marine species manage to keep their cool. Researchers from the UK, Japan, Australia, USA, Germany, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand analysed three million records of thousands of species from 200 ecological communities across the globe.
Publication date: 26 November 2019
Did human hunting activities alone drive great auks’ extinction?
eLife news release New insight on the extinction history of a flightless seabird that vanished from the shores of the North Atlantic during the 19th century has been published today in eLife. The findings suggest that intense hunting by humans could have caused the rapid extinction of the great auk, showing how even species that exist in large and widespread populations can be vulnerable to exploitation
Publication date: 26 November 2019
Pico power protects oldest Welsh Bible
A 431-year-old Welsh Bible is staying warm this winter, following the installation of a small pico hydro turbine by the National Trust at Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant in Snowdonia, which will help manage humidity levels in the 16th-century farmhouse. Through collaboration with Bangor University and Trinity College, Dublin, the renewable energy scheme is helping the charity protect one of the nation’s most culturally important manuscripts more sustainably, with the Bible dating back to 1588 and one of only 24 known original copies left, it’s housed at the birthplace of its translator, Bishop William Morgan.
Publication date: 22 November 2019
Underwater Gliders help improve weather forecasts
New measurements of how waters mix just below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean are to be used to improve weather forecasts. The water turbulence was measured by an underwater ‘glider’ and the results of the research, led by Bangor University researcher Natasha Lucas, are published in a new Journal paper .
Publication date: 18 November 2019
Talking About Climate Change - Primates Vs Humans
A group of researchers from Bangor University have recently finished a study researching the effects of climate change on primates.
Publication date: 15 November 2019
Packaging our foods without plastic
People worldwide are increasingly concerned by the amount of single use plastic which surrounds our purchases, and in particular our food shopping. While such wrappings appear unnecessary, many fruit and vegetable producers would argue that packaging perishables ensures that consumers can easily carry away their food. Further, more food reaches the market place undamaged, increasing the food supply and reducing food waste. The solution lies in developing sustainable food packaging alternatives.
Publication date: 13 November 2019
Prey-size Plastics are Invading Larval Fish Nurseries
New research has shown for the first time, that larval fish across a range of fish species from different ocean habitats are surrounded by and ingesting plastics in their preferred nursery habitat. Many of the world’s marine fish spend their first days or weeks feeding and developing at the ocean surface, but little is known about the ocean processes that affect the survival of larval fish. Larval fish are the next generation of adult fish that will supply protein and essential nutrients to people across the world. NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and an international team of scientists, including Bangor University in the UK, conducted one of the most ambitious studies to date, to shed light on this critically important knowledge gap.
Publication date: 12 November 2019
School of Computer Science participates in the International conference on Visualisation
Professor Jonathan C. Roberts and PhD student Mr Hayder Al-maneea participated at the premier visualisation conference in Vancouver between the 14 th to 26 th October 2019.
Publication date: 7 November 2019
Gender Equality Scholarships 19/20 Awarded
Three ‘Gender Equality Scholarships’ have been awarded to outstanding Bangor University students – Ally Jackson, Claire Carrington and Victoria Chinery. All three were undergraduate students at Bangor and graduated with First Class Honours. The scholarships, which cover the full course fees, will enable the talented and enthusiastic students to continue their studies and the recipients of these scholarships are now enrolled in postgraduate research courses at Bangor.
Publication date: 5 November 2019