A newly published study led by Emeritus Professor Brian Huntley shows the key role that atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has played in past changes in global vegetation patterns, provides evidence that past biome extent plays a key role in determining present patterns of biodiversity, and demonstrates that potential future global vegetation patterns are unlike any during the past 800,000 years.

Researchers at the Department of Biosciences have been awarded a major grant from Ofwat in partnership with environmental gel innovator Intelligent Gels, Northumbrian Water and technology innovation catalyst CPI. This is one of 16 initiatives being awarded a share of £40 million in Ofwat’s latest innovation competition – the Water Breakthrough Challenge.

Leading scientists from our Department of Biosciences and Mathematical Sciences are encouraging breeding swifts to nest by setting up high powered speakers in Durham Cathedral’s iconic Belfry Tower.

In celebration of World Parkinson’s Day 2023, the Durham Parkinson’s UK Branch, Durham University, Space 2, and Balbir Singh Dance Company collaborated for an afternoon exploring the classical Indian dance of kathak at Durham University Botanic Gardens. This builds on the previous work of the ‘Unmasking Pain’ project with Balbir Singh Dance company backed by Arts Council England, offering similar days for people living with chronic pain.

New research just published by Dr Adrian Brennan and a team of researchers: Invasive species often possess a great capacity to adapt to novel environments in the form of spatial trait variation, as a result of varying selection regimes, genetic drift, or plasticity.

A leading scientist from our Department of Biosciences has collaborated with researchers from UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to predict which invasive species could pose a future threat to the UK’s ecologically unique Overseas Territories.

Dr Steve Chivasa is part of our Biosciences Department and specialises in understanding how plants respond to stressful environments. Here he discusses a project he’s working on to help farmers in Zimbabwe overcome challenges caused by soil degradation.

Persistent pain is a huge world-wide health challenge. It is the primary reason people in the UK see their GP. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised it as a priority disease in 2019. NICE has also recently accepted that current chronic pain medications have limited use, and in fact carry serious safety concerns. Reducing opioid prescriptions (for non-cancer pain) to zero by 2024 is a priority for Public Health England (PHE).

Our highly-rated Department of Biosciences has helped to decipher the mechanical code of DNA.

The Institute of Advanced Study has opened the recruitment for the 2022/23 Addison Wheeler postdoctoral fellowship round.

European colonialism is still evident in the spread and prevalence of plants in countries around the world, according to new research involving our Department of Biosciences.

If you’re interested in conservation and ecology, our MammalWeb project needs your help to chart the activity of the UK’s mammals.