Latest news with #UniversityofPortsmouth
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Portsmouth uni and GB Row Challenge research finds UK seas are warming
Data, collected by rowers who circumnavigated Great Britain and analysed by university researchers, has found that sea temperatures have risen.A report by the University of Portsmouth and GB Row Challenge found UK seas were, on average, 0.39C (32.7F) warmer in 2023 compared to data was collected by a crew who took part in the 2023 GB Row Challenge which saw participants travel more than 2000 miles (3219 km) around of environmental pollution at the University of Portsmouth, Fay Couceiro, said: "We expect fluctuations but we don't want to see this increasing number of marine heatwaves." Some regions, including the Celtic and Irish Seas and the northern North Sea, experienced temperature increases exceeding 2C (35.6F), during a marine said the data gives an important indication of the health of our oceans."Understanding it allows us to better protect the species that are there," she added that sessile organisms like mussels and oysters, which are unable to move themselves to cooler waters. were most affected by the rising temperatures. Environmental DNA, underwater sound and microplastic data was also collected by the the surprising findings was a fragment of Bakelite plastic found in Clacton-on-Sea north of the Thames was the first commercially produced synthetic plastic, which was widely used in the early 1900s and largely discontinued in the 1940s."Despite being phased out of production decades ago, this possible century-old relic has persisted, highlighting how plastics can linger in ecosystems for generations," Ms Couceiro said."This longevity contributes to the accumulation of microplastics, which infiltrate our soils, waterways, and even the food chain, posing risks to both environmental and human health. The finding serves as a reminder of the urgent need for sustainable materials and robust waste management practices to address the escalating global plastic crisis." 'Citizen science' Team Ithaca, an all-female rowing crew, were responsible for gathering the group also went on to become the fastest female team to row around Great Row Challenge founder, William de Laszlo said: "Team Ithaca's expedition highlights the potential of citizen science in contributing to environmental research."Their dedication and resilience have not only set a new benchmark in ocean rowing but have also provided critical insights into the challenges facing Britain's coastal waters." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside EastEnders star Zack Hudson actor's life away from soap with famous wife
Zack Hudson's fate in Walford has been revealed tonight, but what does actor James Farrar have going on in his personal life when he's not filming in Albert Square? EastEnders fans were left reeling this week as Zack Hudson's fate was thrown into question after a dramatic car crash resulted in him vanishing beneath the surface of a lake. But while his friends and family in Walford may be in mourning, what do we know about the man behind the character, and the life he leads when he is not in Albert Square? James Farrar, 37, joined EastEnders in 2021 as Zack Hudson, who quickly became a central figure in the soap. Zack has had no shortage of dramatic storylines, including a recent one where it was revealed that he is the secret father of Barney Mitchell. Now, after this week's shock crash, viewers are wondering if the actor's time on the soap has come to an end. Tuesday night's (May 27) episode of EastEnders left fans stunned as they watched Teddy and Zack's car plunge into a lake after Teddy lost control of the vehicle. The tension has only built in Wednesday's (28 May) follow-up, as Zack has not been found and characters on-screen think he is dead. While the show has not yet officially confirmed Zack's demise, fans have been speculating that this Farrar has appeared on the soap for the last time, especially after a comment the actor made during a recent interview on This Morning. When asked if he would survive the crash, he simply shrugged and said, "We'll see." He previously told the Mirror: "There is something really exciting coming up next year that nobody really knows about yet. It keeps me going into work every day going…. I'm buzzing for it to start. It is just starting around now." Away from the high-stakes drama of EastEnders, James Farrar has a fulfilling life that extends far beyond the world of Walford. Farrar was born in Greenwich, London, and studied drama and media at the University of Portsmouth before attending the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2010. Before becoming an actor, James had a successful career as a model. He fronted campaigns for major fashion houses such as Jimmy Choo and Dolce & Gabbana, and even shared the spotlight with well-known figures like Nicole Kidman and Kate Moss. However, he eventually took a step back from that glamorous lifestyle because of a very personal reason. He previously told TV Mag: "One of the reasons I joined EastEnders was because of my mum, who has cancer. "It meant that if these are my last days with her, we spent them together rather than me travelling the world." His mother has since undergone chemotherapy and, according to James, is "smashing it" with the "grit of a warrior". In 2017, James married wellness expert Ali Roff Farrar, the Wellness Director for Psychologies Magazine and co-founder of luxury retreat brand We Are Remedy. The couple welcomed their daughter Summer in 2021 and now live together in Blackheath, London. Outside of acting, James is also a certified personal trainer and vegan chef. This is a lifestyle he shares with his wife. They have hosted wellness retreats together for people looking to recharge, and they both champion looking after your physical and mental wellbeing.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
More than a long face: horses use ‘rich repertoire' of expressions to interact
They might get asked by bartenders about their long faces, but horses pull a variety of expressions when interacting with each other, researchers have found. While facial movements can help members of the same species communicate emotions or other signals to each other, they can also be important for inter-species understanding – such as helping humans glean insights into the experiences of domesticated animals. In horses, for example, ear movements have long been viewed as important indicators of their internal state. However, the new work suggests there are many more signals to look out for. 'Horses produce a rich and complex repertoire of facial expressions, and we should not overlook the nuances in these if we want to truly understand the subjective experiences of horses,' said Dr Kate Lewis, the first author of the research, from the University of Portsmouth. She said the new work could also be important for improving the care and welfare of horses. Related: Like a Tom Cruise stunt: hawk uses traffic patterns to target prey Writing in the journal Peer J, Lewis and colleagues report how they drew on an existing directory of horse facial movements known as the Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) to unpick the combinations of facial expressions and behaviours made by 36 domestic horses during different types of naturally occurring interactions. These were classified by the team as friendly, playful, aggressive or attentional. The team analysed 72 hours of filmed observations to explore which facial movements tended to occur in each context. 'Something of this size has not been attempted before in horses, and it's really exciting to see the subtleties in how animals communicate with each other,' Lewis said. While the researchers found that almost all facial movements occurred in all of the different contexts, some were more specific to certain types of interaction. In particular, they found that during friendly, peaceful interactions with other horses, the animals tended to put their noses forward. By contrast, when paying attention to something, the horses' ears were typically forward and pulled together. During aggressive encounters, the ears tended to be flattened and backward-facing, while the inner brows were raised, the nostrils dilated and the head lowered. During play, the lower lip was often depressed, the chin raised, lips parted, mouth stretched open wide, and the ears rotated and flattened backwards. In addition, the team noted that during play horses often had an increase in visible eye white, the nose was pushed forward, and the head tended to be up or turned to the right, or both. 'These results really highlight the importance of not relying on just one aspect of the face, such as the ears, to understand what the horse is trying to communicate,' Lewis said. 'Instead we need to consider how the individual facial movements work together to create the overall facial expression.' Primates and some carnivores such as bears also open their mouths during play, Lewis added, in order to indicate the interaction is not aggressive, thereby preventing unwanted fighting. 'This face has been anecdotally described in horses previously, but here we were able to show that it definitely exists and, crucially, that it involves the same muscles as it does in primates,' Lewis said, adding that the similarity suggested that the 'play face' evolved in mammals earlier than previously thought, before horses and primates split on the evolutionary tree. She said: 'There are both similarities and differences between the facial expressions made by non-human primates and horses, so if we are to gain a comprehensive understanding of facial expressions and their evolutionary origins, we need to look beyond our closely related primate cousins.'
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Science
- Daily Maverick
When the elders fall silent — how the loss of elephant matriarchs fractures a society
From bees to whales, it's increasingly acknowledged that creatures have cultures within which they live their daily lives. This is particularly true for elephants, and the loss of matriarchs is leading to severe social disruption. It's a crisis for elephant culture across Africa and Asia. Knowledge among elephants is passed through the footsteps and memories of their elders using vocalisations, vibrations and chemical, tactile and visual signals. Because of poaching, habitat destruction and human interventions, a crisis is unfolding: the social transmission that binds elephant societies is breaking down. Without their matriarchs – the living libraries of their kind – elephants are increasingly adrift in a world reshaped by humans. A new study led by a team of top elephant scientists and published by the Royal Society, has shone a light on this hidden dimension of elephant conservation. It warns that when experienced elephants are lost, the very fabric of elephant society unravels. This breakdown in knowledge transfer between generations threatens not just individuals, but entire populations. The study, led by Dr Lucy Bates from the University of Portsmouth, shows how social learning from older elephants underpins the very fabric of elephant life. And when those elders are killed, entire herds can lose their way. 'Elephants are among the most intelligent and socially complex animals on the planet,' said Bates. 'Our findings suggest that when their social structures are disrupted – whether through poaching, translocation or habitat loss – the consequences can ripple through generations, affecting survival, reproduction and even behaviour.' The research represents the most comprehensive review to date on the subject. Drawing on 95 peer-reviewed studies spanning African savannah, African forest and Asian elephant populations, the team found that human-caused disturbances – especially poaching and culling – have a profound impact on elephant social networks. At the heart of these networks are the matriarchs: older females who lead herds, guide migrations, remember watering holes and alert younger elephants to dangers. Their role is not symbolic – it is practical, essential and learnt over decades. The study shows that younger elephants naturally cluster around these elders, soaking up knowledge in a process not unlike mentorship in human cultures. But when poachers target the biggest tusks – often belonging to these very leaders – the knowledge pipeline is severed. 'Elders are the keepers of knowledge in elephant societies,' Bates explained. 'Their loss disrupts the transmission of essential survival skills, much like losing a library in human terms. Conserving these social ties is as important as protecting their physical habitats.' Without elders, herds become less cohesive, calves face lower survival rates and elephants may make poor decisions when confronted with predators or human threats. In some disrupted populations, elephants have responded to unfamiliar predators inappropriately or failed to access critical resources during droughts because the knowledge of those water sources was never passed down. The consequences extend beyond individual survival. Elephant societies rely on complex social bonds that influence breeding, care of the young and cooperation between groups. When those bonds are weakened, the fabric of society itself begins to fray. The research highlights how such disruption may lead to reduced reproductive success and increased mortality, with effects potentially lasting generations. Graeme Shannon, co-author from Bangor University's School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, underscores the broader implications: 'This research provides a fresh perspective on why elephant conservation must go beyond numbers. While protecting habitats is crucial, so too is recognising the importance of the social and cultural factors central to elephant society. Without them, long-term conservation success may not be possible.' The study's findings challenge traditional conservation approaches that focus mainly on habitat protection and population counts. Instead, the authors argue for a more holistic strategy – one that safeguards not only elephant bodies but also their social structures and the elders who anchor them. Their recommendations are clear: Protect key individuals: Conservation efforts must prioritise safeguarding matriarchs and other experienced elephants to maintain the flow of knowledge within herds; Monitor translocation impacts: When elephants are moved to new habitats, the social consequences on both the source and destination populations need careful evaluation; and Expand research on forest and Asian elephants: Much of the existing knowledge is biased towards African savannah elephants, leaving critical gaps in understanding other species that face intense conservation challenges. The study also calls attention to the intertwined fates of elephants and humans. As elephants share landscapes with growing human populations, conflicts are inevitable – but so are opportunities for coexistence. Preserving the cultural knowledge of elephants may benefit not only the species but also the ecological systems and human communities that depend on them. 'Understanding and safeguarding the social lives of elephants is no longer optional,' Shannon added. 'It's a necessity for ensuring these magnificent animals thrive in an increasingly human-dominated world.' This focus on culture echoes a growing recognition in the scientific community that non-human animals have complex cultures, with learnt behaviours transmitted socially rather than genetically. Just as whales pass on hunting techniques and chimpanzees teach tool use, elephants hand down migration routes, predator recognition and social etiquette through generations. The loss of elders, therefore, is not just a demographic loss – it's cultural extinction. The stakes are high. In some regions, says the report, decades of poaching have hollowed out elephant populations, leaving behind orphaned generations that lack guidance. These elephants may grow up more aggressive, more fearful or simply less competent in navigating a landscape increasingly shaped by human activities. The study warns that such behavioural shifts can have cascading ecological effects, from altered seed dispersal patterns to increased human-wildlife conflict. Some projects now prioritise protecting matriarchs or reuniting disrupted family groups. But Bates and her colleagues argue that more needs to be done to integrate social dynamics into policy and practice. 'There is an urgent need to incorporate social dynamics and cultural knowledge into elephant conservation strategies as habitat destruction and poaching escalate,' the study concludes. This research adds to a growing body of evidence that conservation must move beyond biological metrics to embrace the social and cultural dimensions of animal life. For elephants, as for humans, survival is not just about having enough to eat or a place to live – it's about having elders to learn from, stories to guide them and a community to belong to. As the world grapples with biodiversity loss and environmental change, the lesson is clear: protecting species means protecting their cultures. And for elephants, that means ensuring that the matriarchs – the living libraries of the savannah and forest – are still there to lead the way. DM
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
These 5000-year-old Egyptian coffins depict the Milky Way galaxy, astrophysicist says
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Ancient depictions of the Egyptian sky goddess Nut may represent one of the earliest visual interpretations of the Milky Way galaxy, a new study suggests. In a recent study, astrophysicist Or Graur analyzed 125 images of Nut (pronounced "Noot") across 555 ancient Egyptian coffins dating back nearly 5,000 years. In only a few depictions, however, Nut is shown with a black curve bisecting her star-studded body. Graur says that curve could be an early depiction of our home galaxy. "I think that the undulating curve represents the Milky Way and could be a representation of the Great Rift — the dark band of dust that cuts through the Milky Way's bright band of diffused light," Graur, who is an associate professor at the University of Portsmouth and research associate at the American Museum of Natural History, said in a statement. "Comparing this depiction with a photograph of the Milky Way shows the stark similarity." In these depictions, Egyptian goddess Nut can be seen arching over the Earth god Geb, forming the sky. With her hands and feet touching the horizon, her body forms a protective dome over the world. According to Egyptian mythology, Nut swallows the sun god Ra each night and gives birth to him each morning, symbolizing the solar cycle. Nut is often covered in stars in Egyptian imagery, representing the night sky and, in some instances, possibly the twinkling arc of the Milky Way stretched across the skies above Earth. However, Graur argues that while there appears to be a connection between Nut and the Milky Way, the two are not one and the same because the sky goddess is not always drawn with the dark undulating curve believed to represent the galaxy's Great Rift. RELATED STORIES: — The ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky and how I used modern astronomy to explore her link with the Milky Way —What did ancient humans know about astronomy? —Strange anomaly in sun's solar cycle discovered in centuries-old texts from Korea "Nut is not a representation of the Milky Way," Graur added. "Instead, the Milky Way, along with the sun and the stars, is one more celestial phenomenon that can decorate Nut's body in her role as the sky." This builds on Graur's initial study published last year connecting Nut and the Milky Way, and is part of a larger project focused on multi-cultural mythology of the Milky Way. Graur's latest findings were published April 30 in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage.
