Scientists have found the first direct evidence of a so-called ‘hot zone’ feeding a supervolcano in southern Italy that experts say is nearing eruption conditions. Campi Flegrei is a volcanic caldera to the west of Naples that last erupted centuries ago. The area has been relatively quiet since the 1980s when the injection of either…

Sub-zero temperatures in the deep waters of the North Atlantic would significantly hamper the ability of oil-eating bacteria to help the ocean recover from a major oil spill, according to new research. In the first study of its type, scientists at the University of Aberdeen have tested the ability of oil-degrading microorganisms found in deep…

Scientists have discovered new evidence strengthening the link between a previously misunderstood gene and major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and autism. The University of Aberdeen-led research, published in Scientific Reports, expands on an unexpected finding by the same team two years ago that linked a poorly-understood gene with mental health disorders. The…

Scientists have discovered new evidence strengthening the link between a previously misunderstood gene and major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and autism. The University of Aberdeen-led research, published in Scientific Reports, expands on an unexpected finding by the same team two years ago that linked a poorly-understood gene with mental health disorders. The…