Cambridge experts on UK drought and climate change
16 Aug 2022From pollinators to profits, food to fires, here's what Cambridge experts say about the impacts of water scarcity – and what it signals about our changing climate.
News from the Department of Zoology.
Natural clean-up: bacteria can remove plastic pollution from lakes
26 Jul 2022A study of 29 European lakes has found that some naturally-occurring lake bacteria grow faster and more efficiently on the remains of plastic bags than on natural matter like leaves and twigs.
Experts predict top emerging impacts on ocean biodiversity over next decade
07 Jul 2022Lithium extraction from the deep sea, overfishing of deeper-water species, and the unexpected ocean impacts of wildfires on land are among 15 issues experts warn we ought to be addressing now.
Toads surprise scientists by climbing trees in UK woodlands
06 Jul 2022Volunteers surveying dormice and bats in trees have made the unexpected discovery of over 50 common toads in nest boxes and tree cavities at least 1.5 metres high.
Conservation: it’s time to look at the evidence
29 Jun 2022Professor Bill Sutherland is leading a conservation revolution to reverse the dramatic loss of global biodiversity
Intensive farming may actually reduce risk of pandemics, experts argue
24 Jun 2022Scientists evaluate the evidence that intensive livestock farming is causing pandemics, and find that intensive farming could actually reduce the risk of future pandemics compared to 'free-range' farming.
Satellite images reveal dramatic loss of global wetlands over past two decades
13 May 2022An analysis of over a million satellite images has revealed that 4,000 square kilometres of tidal wetlands have been lost globally over twenty years.
150-year-old specimens that proved some mammals lay eggs
12 May 2022The specimens, collected in the late 1800s by the scientist William Caldwell, were found in the stores of Cambridge’s University Museum of Zoology.
Protected areas saw dramatic spikes in fires during COVID lockdowns, study finds
05 May 2022Scientists suggest that some staffing of protected areas should be considered “essential services” in future crises.
BioBullets protect UK water industry
05 May 2022How do you deal with a harmful invasive species wreaking havoc on the UK’s water pipes? You take advantage of them being fussy eaters and send them a Trojan Horse.
