This patronage is a formal endorsement by a National Commission for UNESCO for an external activity that aligns with UNESCO's mission, acting as a recognised mark of quality.

The Great Science Share for Schools (GSSfS) aims to engage young people in asking, investigating and sharing scientific questions. The campaign has over 800,000 young people registered in 50 countries across the world.

Earlier this year, GSSfS celebrated 10 years of the programme, leading to registrations from 835,135 pupils. 黑料网吃瓜爆料 hosted more than 35 schools from across Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 in its Nancy Rothwell building. They explored questions such as, are all flowers the same? And, does the temperature of the ocean affect coral? 

The team are now working towards their 11th year, seeking to continue to build international engagement, with significant inroads made in training teachers and engaging schools in Malta, Spain and Slovenia.

Driven by the University鈥檚 Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange (BEKE) team, The , the (AMBS) and the , the partnership will focus on creating opportunities for collaboration that drive innovation.

The partnership aims to create tangible outcomes to benefit students, staff, businesses and the wider community, across the North West region and beyond.

Students will benefit from real-world learning experiences embedded within their academic programmes, supported by opportunities for internships, placements, and professional mentoring. The partnership also creates scope for a wide range of innovative activities, including enterprise competitions, advanced skills development, and initiatives to nurture entrepreneurial ventures and start-ups.

For staff and researchers, the partnership provides a platform for meaningful engagement with industry, enabling knowledge exchange and joint projects that address emerging challenges and drive innovation.

Dr Cat Headley, CEO of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Innovation Factory, commented: 鈥淭he signing of this MoU with NatWest is a really positive step in building a partnership that has the potential to span across many areas of innovation in the University, in a way that will benefit researchers, students and entrepreneurs across our community.鈥�

The signing event for the MoU was held at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and it was signed by Professor Kenneth McPhail, Head of School at AMBS and Stephen Sankson, Regional Director at NatWest, on NatWest鈥檚 behalf.

Mr Sankson said of the partnership: 鈥淲e are delighted to sign this agreement with 黑料网吃瓜爆料. Whether focussing on entrepreneurship with students, supporting spin outs, or helping early-stage ventures to flourish, this partnership will not only provide opportunities to work on our shared goal of supporting growth, but will also be a catalyst for even greater collaboration and innovation across the City Region and beyond.鈥�

The MoU establishes a three-year framework for collaboration, with regular reviews to ensure continued progress and impact. A dedicated Steering Committee will guide the partnership, focusing on broad strategic priorities that strengthen innovation, enhance the student experience, and create opportunities for knowledge exchange and enterprise across the University and beyond.

The MoU will merge the University鈥檚 world-class academic expertise and NatWest鈥檚 leadership in the financial sector, with the aim of shaping a future of inclusive, sustainable growth.

An international collaboration of scientists, including from 黑料网吃瓜爆料, working on the experiment at the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory announced that they have found no evidence for a fourth type of neutrino, known as a sterile neutrino.

For decades, physics experiments have observed neutrinos - sub-atomic particles that are all around us - behaving in a way that doesn鈥檛 fit . One of the most promising explanations was the existence of a sterile neutrino, named because they are predicted not to interact with matter at all, whereas other neutrinos can. This means they could pass through the Universe almost undetected.

Using a highly sensitive detector called MicroBooNE, sitting on two different neutrino beams, the researchers observed how thousands of neutrinos behaved over several years. If the fourth neutrinos existed, it would have left a clear fingerprint. The result, published today in the journal , shows there was no evidence and rules out a single sterile neutrino explanation with 95% certainty.

Professor of Particle Physics at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and co-spokesperson for MicroBooNE, said: 鈥淎ny time you rule out one place where physics beyond the Standard Model could be, that makes you look in other places. This is a result that is going to really spur a creative push in the neutrino physics community to come up with yet more exciting ways of looking for new physics. Sometimes, science is just as much about what you don鈥檛 find as what you do."

黑料网吃瓜爆料 played a leading role in the breakthrough. Dr Elena Gramellini was the driving force behind the experiment鈥檚 physics programme using the NuMI beam - a crucial part of the analysis behind this result. Professor Roxanne Guenette was one of the originators of MicroBooNE鈥檚 short-baseline oscillation programme, helping to shape the strategy used to investigate the sterile-neutrino question. The new paper builds directly on that foundational work.

Neutrinos come in three known types, or flavours: muon, electron and tau. They can change from one type to another as they travel. But this flavour-flipping cannot fully be explained by the current Standard Model.

Some earlier experiments - -  also made observations suggesting that muon neutrinos were oscillating into electron neutrinos over shorter distances than should be possible.

鈥淭hey saw flavour change on a length scale that is just not consistent with there only being three neutrinos,鈥� explained , 鈥淎nd the most popular explanation over the past 30 years to explain the anomaly is that there鈥檚 a sterile neutrino.鈥�

The experiment collected data from 2015 to 2021, observing neutrinos from Fermilab鈥檚 Booster Neutrino Beam and the NuMI beam. MicroBooNE is the first experiment that has done a sterile neutrino search with one detector and two beams simultaneously. This reduces the uncertainties in MicroBooNE鈥檚 result, making it possible to exclude nearly the entire favoured region in which a single sterile neutrino could be hiding. 

Although this result rules out one explanation for anomalies seen in neutrino behaviour, the mystery itself remains. Scientists are now analysing the remaining MicroBooNE data and other experiments in the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program are also on the case.

In addition to the search for new physics, the MicroBooNE collaboration is providing insight into how neutrinos interact in liquid argon, an important metric that will benefit other liquid-argon time projection chamber experiments such as the .

Matthew Toups, Fermilab senior scientist and co-spokesperson for MicroBooNE, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting to be doing both cutting-edge science that has a major impact on our field as well as developing novel techniques that will support and enable future scientific measurements.鈥�

This research has been published in the journal

Full title: Search for light sterile neutrinos with two neutrino beams at MicroBooNE

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09757-7

URL:

黑料网吃瓜爆料 and the have established a groundbreaking strategic partnership. The first of its kind, this partnership will give the ISAC access to the University鈥檚 research and expertise to drive forward recommendations for the Government鈥檚 Industrial Strategy. 

The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, reporting to the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury, has been tasked with bringing together views from business, academia and industry to further the Government鈥檚 mission to drive economic growth across the country.  

Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 has been leading the way for many years, and the launch of the partnership coincides with the announcement that the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) will be headquartered in 黑料网吃瓜爆料, giving the Council direct access to world class universities, innovative businesses and pro-growth institutions.

The University鈥檚 gateway for innovation, Unit M will work closely with the ISAC, an independent body responsible for advising Government on the Industrial Strategy, to bring the partnership vision to life and support its commitment to oversee effective implementation of the Industrial Strategy.  

The Council鈥檚 presence in 黑料网吃瓜爆料 will also ensure that their work benefits from real insight into how to drive growth at a local level reflecting the insights of local leaders, businesses and institutions.

The partnership will support the Council鈥檚 monitoring of the growth-driving sectors of the Government鈥檚 Industrial Strategy to establish evidence and data to support a shared understanding of how they are developing. Though it will have a national focus, it will also leverage an in-depth knowledge of Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 to give a regional perspective to the Industrial Strategy.

Dame Clare Barclay DBE, Chair of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC), said: 鈥淚 am delighted to launch our new partnership with the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料. This partnership demonstrates the Council鈥檚 commitment to working collaboratively with world class institutions such as the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 to share knowledge and research in support of our shared objectives. 

"This partnership will strengthen the Council鈥檚 ability to advise Government by enhancing our collaboration with the local innovative institutions and businesses that are so crucial to driving economic growth in the UK.鈥�

Minister for the Industrial Strategy, Blair McDougall MP said: "Our modern Industrial Strategy is kickstarting an era of economic prosperity, and this landmark partnership will help provide expert advice as we continue to effectively deliver our Strategy over the next decade.

"By bringing academia and industry together, this partnership will unlock the local innovation we need to drive economic growth into Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and every part of the country."

Highly Cited Researchers demonstrate significant and broad influence across their fields of research and have authored multiple 鈥楬ighly Cited鈥� papers. These papers proudly rank in the top one percent by citations for their field and publication year in the Web of Science over the past eleven years.

Celebrating researchers鈥� impact, the list includes 11 entries for academics primarily affiliated with 黑料网吃瓜爆料 (with a double entry for Professor Zhiguo Ding in the fields of both Computer Science and Engineering).

The 2025 list includes Professors Pamela Qualter, Dave Singh and Adisa Azapagic for the first time.

Professor Pierluigi Mancarella and Professor Sir Konstantin S. Novoselov, both secondarily affiliated with 黑料网吃瓜爆料, also made this year鈥檚 list, earning the University 13 mentions overall in the 2025 rankings.

David Pendlebury, Head of Research Analysis at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate commented: 鈥淭he Highly Cited Researchers list identifies and celebrates exceptional individual researchers at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 who demonstrate significant and broad influence in their fields.

鈥淭hey exemplify excellence in their research as well as integrity in their publication and citation practices. These researchers continue to shape the future of science, technology and academia globally and deliver innovation that drives societal progress.鈥�

The rankings are built on rigorous citation analysis and refined by expert judgement, quantitative metrics and qualitative analysis.

Ultimately, the project concludes that tackling conspiracy theories requires more than closing individual online channels. Efforts must address the structural political and social conditions that allow conspiracist narratives to flourish, as well as the business models that incentivise sensational content. The researchers urge a move away from simply asking why the public lacks trust, towards making institutions genuinely worthy of trust.

By , Professor of Evolutionary Ecology & Conservation, The

On the western flanks of Mount Kenya lies the Laikipia plateau, an achingly beautiful landscape that is both a refuge for wildlife and a home to traditional Masai communities. Black rhinos, which were once nearly extinct, are now thriving on some of these conservation properties, thanks to the intense efforts to keep them safe.

The tells the story of the people and the challenges faced to in this volatile landscape. The cinematography and score beautifully captures the landscape, people, animals and pace of life, which is at times languorous and at times frantic.

The story unfolds from the perspective of two rangers. Ramson Kiluko is an experienced ranger who works with his team to watch, protect and understand the rhinos. The film gives us a glimpse into his family life, the camaraderie of the ranger team and the rich knowledge he has about the lives of individual rhinos and their landscape. Rita Kulamu is a young ranger learning about rhinos as her property prepares to welcome them. Their work takes place against a background of danger, posed by both people and animals.

Rhino focuses on the critical role rangers play in the conservation story of black rhinos, which is an inspiring change from the traditional wildlife documentary that suggests a wildness that exists without the need for human intervention or involvement. Once on the brink of extinction, it is precisely the intensive efforts made to protect rhinos by people like Kiluko and Kulamu that has seen .

The film loosely follows a narrative around the planned move of 21 rhinos from the and reserves in central Kenya, where they are too numerous, to 鈥� a 58,000 acre wildlife conservation area which has long been without rhinos.

On Lewa and Borana, the rhinos fight for space and territory, on Loisaba they have the opportunity to create a new breeding population. Moving rhinos between reserves is a core part of their conservation. Poaching pressures require rhinos to be fiercely guarded. In Kenya, where my team has carried out research to understand the factors that lead to successfully breeding , rangers are tasked with finding each rhino every day. Fences that keep rhinos in and people out mean that rhinos cannot move to avoid threats, avoid inbreeding, or to reestablish populations where they no longer are found.

Moving rhinos is far from easy. They can be aggressive and need to be handled with care. Rhinos are also not very resilient to being moved between properties. These moves often lead to rhinos dying from fighting, stress and .

The film shows how led to a delay of several years to try to maximise the success . This widespread and prolonged drought caused intense suffering of humans, livestock and wildlife. Conflicts over animals and land boiled over, leading to violence but also . These day-to-day challenges faced by conservationists are rarely touched on. Hopefully this film will help audiences understand that there are legions of passionate conservation professionals behind every success story.

However, there is much that the story doesn鈥檛 tell. My experience researching wildlife health and disease in this landscape has highlighted how critical it is to create solutions that benefit both nature and people. Laikipia is a complicated landscape, where land rights, land ownership and power inequalities create tensions, and even violence, .

This is a landscape where settlers, European farmers that immigrated, appropriated the best, most productive beautiful lands from . High-end conservation reserves manage landscapes that teem with wildlife but are often off limits to the people that once moved widely with their animals. Our conversations with local people suggest that they view rhino conservation as a Trojan horse, moved around to justify high fences, armed security and to restrict people鈥檚 movement.

Rhino portrays the situation in somewhat simplistic terms: the good rangers and the bad 鈥渂andits鈥�. In reality, conservation sits at a much less clear cut interface between the haves and the have nots, between those with international and national support for protecting animals, and pastoralists, a traditional way of life where people move with their herds of animals across the land, who feel their rights and traditional lands have been taken from them and that the wild animals have more rights that they do.

Violence comes not just from evil, avaricious thieves, but sometimes from frustrated, desperate people who have to deal with too many animals on too little land. Rhino tells an interesting and valuable story, but true conservation success must also address inequality, disenfranchisement and the tensions that 鈥減arachute鈥� and colonial conservation in local communities.

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

For me, stepping back starts with understanding the real cost behind Black Friday. There鈥檚 the waste that often comes from 鈥渂agging a bargain鈥� we didn鈥檛 actually need.

Research suggests around 80% of Black Friday purchases end up unused or thrown away after one use, and more than half of shoppers regret what they bought.

And it鈥檚 no wonder. The whole event is built on aggressive marketing and psychological pricing tricks that make it difficult to think clearly in the moment.

Consumer group Which? even found that 98% of Black Friday 鈥渄eals鈥� were the same price or cheaper at other times of the year.

The environmental side is just as striking: carbon emissions from deliveries rise by almost 94% compared with a typical week, and waste increases by around 25%.

The second part is remembering that most of us want something a bit more meaningful than another parcel arriving on the doorstep.

That feeling of guilt or disappointment after a rushed purchase isn鈥檛 just about the item. It often reflects the sense that the whole cycle leaves us a little empty. Especially in a year when it鈥檚 become so expensive simply to get by.

That鈥檚 where Giving Tuesday comes in. It鈥檚 a global movement that encourages people to support good causes rather than accumulate things that won鈥檛 matter for long.

Last year, Giving Tuesday raised almost 拢20 million for charities in the UK. In the United States, where it began, it raised 拢2.5 billion.

Maybe the difference in scale is fuelled by the same concerns that mean today in the UK fewer people are donating to charity than ever before. People want to feel confident that their support genuinely helps.

That it does, in fact, reach the people and communities we want to benefit from our generosity, rather than getting tied up in the costs of running a large charity.

But here鈥檚 why I think we鈥檙e right not to be swept along by big charitable gimmicks. The answer isn鈥檛 more one-off giving days. The truth is that real change doesn鈥檛 happen in 24 hours. It doesn鈥檛 follow a marketing calendar.

It happens slowly, steadily, in the hands of people who understand their communities better than any charity board or funder ever could.

And the small grassroots groups doing this work say that what they need most isn鈥檛 a sudden spike in donations. It鈥檚 steady, predictable support that lets them plan ahead.

That鈥檚 why long-term, small-scale giving can be so powerful. A few pounds a month isn鈥檛 dramatic, but it creates stability. It gives community organisations the confidence to look beyond the next crisis and invest in what they know will make a lasting difference.

 offers an approach built around exactly that idea. People contribute small monthly amounts 鈥� as little as 拢1.25, far less than a take-away coffee - into a shared fund.

That money goes directly to community-led groups in the UK and around the world, supporting local groups directly: the young people leading climate resilience projects, the women shaping their neighbourhoods and campaigning for social housing, the local organisers tackling loneliness, and the local organisations keep young people in school.

No glossy campaigns. No distant decision-making. Just practical, grounded support for people tackling the challenges they live with every day. That鈥檚 what generates change, not charity.

So if Black Friday feels overwhelming and Giving Tuesday feels a bit fleeting, there is another option. You can choose to be part of something that lasts longer than a sale or a hashtag. What we give doesn鈥檛 have to be big to be meaningful.

Giving a little, regularly, is what it takes to help communities build the change they know is needed. Showing up consistently - no matter how small 鈥� is so much more powerful than showing off once a year.

That what helps communities create the kind of change that outlives all of us.

________________

Nicola Banks is Professor at the Global Development Institute at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and Co-Founder of social enterprise, 

This piece was originally published by .

The research offers a pointed reminder that, in an era where symbolic gestures from global sporting bodies can carry enormous political weight, understanding the mechanics of narrative formation is essential. Debates around sport, reputation and political power are set to continue - and this work provides a crucial framework for interpreting them.

The researchers say progress on attendance since the pandemic has been slow - and for some children, things are getting worse. They鈥檙e calling for a joined-up approach that brings together schools, families and community services. This could include:

- Family Hubs which offer early help, advice and activities to support school readiness
- More flexible routes through education, like apprenticeships and internships
- Enrichment activities, mental health and careers support to support pupil鈥檚 broader engagement with learning
- Stronger relationships between teachers, pupils and parents
- Involving young people in decisions to increase their sense of belonging and safety

鈥淓very missed day of school means a missed opportunity,鈥� said Baroness Anne Longfield, founder of the Centre for Young Lives. 鈥淭his research shines a light on the urgent need to fix attendance and make sure every child gets the education they deserve.鈥�

The Child of the North campaign is a partnership between the N8 Research Partnership and Health Equity North which brings together universities across the North of England - including 黑料网吃瓜爆料, Leeds, Durham, York, Lancaster, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle - to push for fairer futures for children across the North of England.

鈥淚f we want to give every child a fair start in life, we need to fix attendance - and that means fixing the barriers that stop children from feeling they belong in school,鈥� said Professor Mark Mon-Williams, who leads the campaign.

From September 2026, graduates from both 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Metropolitan University and 黑料网吃瓜爆料 will be eligible for a 10% fee discount on PGT programmes across both institutions.   

Together, they are the first UK universities to offer an alumni discount across separate institutions, marking a significant step forward in collaboration between two which will benefit graduates, while helping to grow 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 talent pipeline and economy. 

The new scheme will open opportunities for more students and answers the Government鈥檚 call in its recently published Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper for universities to work more closely together to support students and drive growth. 

Professor Malcolm Press CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Metropolitan University, said: 鈥淗ere in 黑料网吃瓜爆料 our universities have a long history of working together for the benefit of our students, our city region, and our national economy.  

鈥淚nitiatives such as our joint alumni scheme represent tangible progress towards deeper, more strategic partnerships. We are committed to continuing this journey together and are actively exploring new opportunities to collaborate and strengthen regional collaboration to drive meaningful impact in local communities.鈥� 

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 said: 鈥淲e want to see flourishing communities where people have good quality jobs. More people having more chances to develop their skills and extend their education is an important way to do this. By creating this partnership, we are increasing the ability of people of all ages to access new knowledge and benefit wider society.   

鈥淭his partnership will also strengthen the ties that people in 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and across the world have with our two universities. This is just the start of a strategic relationship with  黑料网吃瓜爆料 Met that builds on our unique strengths.鈥� 

Both 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Met trace their roots back more than 200 years to the formation of the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Mechanics Institution in 1824, founded to educate the skilled workforce essential to 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 industrial revolution.  

黑料网吃瓜爆料 is now home to one of the largest student populations in Europe and the city鈥檚 excellence in higher education is evidenced through 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 ranking of 7th in the UK in the QS World University Ranking 2026 and 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Metropolitan鈥檚 position as Modern University of the Year in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.  

黑料网吃瓜爆料 and 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Metropolitan鈥檚 joint School of Architecture is ranked the 5^th best in the world in the QS World Subject Rankings, and initiatives such as the Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 University Mental Health Service bring both institutions together with regional partners to support our students.  

The joint alumni discount will be available from September 2026 to anyone who has previously graduated from 黑料网吃瓜爆料 or  黑料网吃瓜爆料 Metropolitan University  

Further information about the discount and how to apply will be available here in early 2026, including information on eligibility, participating courses, and how the alumni discount is applied. 

/study/masters/fees-and-funding/masters-student-funding/manchester-alumni-loyalty-discount/

Published in Brain, Behaviour and Immunity, the study adds to the emerging idea of the 鈥済ut-brain axis鈥� 鈥� in which scientists suggest allows communication between the two organs in both health and disease.

The study casts more light on the biology of stroke, a life-threatening medical emergency that disrupts blood flow to parts of the brain often causing long-term effects to mobility and cognition.

Stroke patients are also at risk of secondary bacterial infections and often exhibit gastrointestinal symptoms including difficulty swallowing and constipation.

Increasing evidence suggests these gastrointestinal complications are associated with changes in the commensal microbiota 鈥� the community of 鈥済ood bacteria鈥� that normally keep our guts healthy.

The changes are seen both in stroke patients and in animal models of stroke, yet the underlying reasons for these gut symptoms and their importance for stroke severity or recovery have been poorly understood.

Previous studies from scientists who co-authored the current study have shown how signals from the nervous system may act to change gut immune responses following stroke.

The latest study, funded by the Wellcome Trust,  shows the axis may also work in both directions, with antibody-producing immune cells moving to the brain and the associated membranes during stroke 鈥� although the importance of this for stroke severity and prognosis is not yet known.

Using mice, the team studied the changes that happened in the small intestine after a stroke,  revealing populations of immune cells that make antibodies became altered in the first few days.

In particular they found that a specialised subset of cells that make an antibody called Immunoglobulin A (IgA) became hyper-activated. IgA acts to manage the populations of commensal bacteria that live in the intestine and determine gut health.

The researchers then found that mice lacking IgA do not exhibit the same degree of changes to the gut microbiome following stroke 鈥� suggesting altered immune function could in part explain some changes seen in the intestinal tract of stroke patients.

Lead investigator Professor Matt Hepworth from  the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunity and Inflammation at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 said: 鈥淪troke is a devastating neurological event but also has many long-term consequences that can leave the patient at risk of airway infection, as well as gastrointestinal complications.

鈥淲orking with neuroscientists, we were able to begin to uncover how the immune system in the gut becomes disturbed following a stroke, and how that might lead to changes in the way the gut deals with its 鈥済ood bacteria鈥�.

鈥淲e now think these immune changes might contribute to the intestinal symptoms and long-term complications seen in stroke patients.鈥�

He added: 鈥淲hile the focus remains on stroke prevention, as well as early intervention to minimise the damage in patients who do suffer stroke we reveal new understanding of the secondary pathologies experienced throughout the body and that contribute to long-term complications for recovering patients.

鈥淎s immune-targeting therapeutics are increasingly used in the clinic, this opens up the possibility of treating immune driven disease symptoms following a stroke to improve patients鈥� quality of life.鈥�

• The paper Cerebral ischaemic stroke results in altered mucosal antibody responses and host-commensal microbiota interactions  available . DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2025.106184.

The report, commissioned by Marketing 黑料网吃瓜爆料, Visit England, and the Growth Company, is the first detailed analysis of direct tourism emissions for a city-region in England. The findings reveal that international flights and domestic car travel are the biggest sources of emissions, alongside smaller impacts such as accommodation, and attractions.

Led by Dr Chris Jones and , the research also makes recommendations for how the region can grow a low carbon visitor economy in the region, supporting Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 ambition to become carbon neutral by 2038.

The framework will act as a guide for other destinations to conduct similar assessments and address common data limitations in the tourism sector.

a Research Associate based at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change, said: 鈥淭ourism connects people with places and cultures, while supporting local economies and jobs. However, this value can鈥檛 come at the expense of our environment. In the climate crisis it is vital that the sector becomes sustainable in every sense of the word. Measuring tourism emissions is challenging, but it is important for identifying where change is most needed.

鈥淏y commissioning this research Marketing 黑料网吃瓜爆料 has taken an important and proactive step to decarbonise tourism. We hope that this work will not only support Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 to take action and reimagine what truly sustainable tourism looks like, but also inspire other destinations to do the same.鈥�

Key findings of the report include:

• International travel dominates emissions: Although relatively low visitor numbers, long-haul flights from Asia, Oceania, and North America make a disproportionately large contribution to carbon impacts.
• Domestic car travel a major contributor: Trips by petrol and diesel vehicles account for the majority of domestic travel emissions, even on well-connected rail routes.
• Trip profiles matter: Analysis suggests the carbon footprint or a trip to Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 can range from under 10kg CO鈧俥 for regional day-trippers to over 500kg CO鈧俥 for long-haul visitors. Mostly because of transport options.
• Low-carbon infrastructure already in place: Most major attractions benefit from excellent public transport accessibility, increasing the opportunity for car-free tourism.

Recommended actions include:

• Promoting rail and ferry access from nearby European countries.
• Targeting tourism growth in markets accessible by low-carbon transport.
• Supporting accommodation providers and attractions to meet local energy efficiency targets.
• Encouraging car-free tourism through public transport integration and sustainable travel itineraries.

The research establishes benchmark targets aligned with Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料's commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2038 and its aim to be in in the Global Destination Sustainability Index top 40, including phasing out petrol and diesel car visits and ensuring no net growth in aviation emissions until truly low-carbon alternatives become available at scale. It also supports Marketing 黑料网吃瓜爆料's participation in the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.

Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing 黑料网吃瓜爆料, said: 鈥淭ourism is a significant contributor to Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 economy, but we cannot overlook its environmental impact. As a destination, Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 is passionate about driving forward low-carbon tourism, and this report, in collaboration with the Tyndall Centre, is helping us set a standard for other English cities to follow through . Having clear objectives will help us to make a positive impact and support our partners to become greener in the process; all of which will contribute to our region鈥檚 ambition to become carbon neutral by 2038 and keep our status as a leading sustainable UK destination.鈥�

Girls vaccinated before the age of 16 were found to be 80% less likely to develop cervical cancer. The reviews also confirm that HPV vaccines are only likely to cause minor, transient side effects such as a sore arm. The reviews were supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Professor Emma Crosbie, Honorary Consultant in Gynaecological Oncology at Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital, part of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 University NHS Foundation Trust, was involved in the new Cochrane reviews.

Prof Crosbie, who is also Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Co-Theme Lead at the NIHR 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, specialises in the screening, prevention and early diagnosis of gynaecological cancers.

She said: 鈥淐ervical cancer is an essentially preventable disease; we can prevent it through screening and vaccination. The Cochrane review looked at all the available evidence from all the studies that have been done so far looking at the effectiveness of HPV vaccination and its long-term safety.鈥�

HPV is a family of common viruses, including the viruses that cause skin warts. Whilst many types of HPV are harmless, other 鈥榟igh-risk鈥� types can cause cancers of the cervix, anus, penis, vulva, vagina, and throat, and others cause anogenital warts.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and causes more than 300,000 deaths each year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. The new reviews confirm that vaccination against HPV can prevent most of these cancers from developing.

Prof Crosbie said: 鈥淯nfortunately, year on year, we have seen a drop in the number of people taking up vaccination. HPV vaccination is incredibly safe. The work we have done with Cochrane show there are no negative long-term health impacts associated with vaccination. Many millions of people have now been vaccinated with the HPV vaccine, and we have not seen any safety issues.鈥�

Watch this video to hear Professor Crosbie discuss the importance of the HPV vaccine, alongside senior author, Dr Jo Morrison and Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, Laura Pope who was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Clinical trial evidence supports effectiveness and safety

The first review focused on randomised controlled trials and included 60 studies with 157,414 participants. They found that all HPV vaccines were effective in preventing infections that can lead to cancer and other HPV-related conditions, with no evidence of serious safety concerns.

Because cancers caused by HPV can take many years to develop, most studies did not follow participants long enough to measure direct effects on cancer itself. However, vaccines such as Cervarix, Gardasil, and Gardasil-9 reduced precancerous changes in the cervix and other tissues in people aged 15 to 25 years, as well as the number of people needing treatment for HPV-related disease. The vaccines that included protection against the relevant HPV types significantly reduced the risk of anogenital warts.

Short-term side effects like mild pain or swelling at the injection site were common, but serious side effects were rare and occurred at similar rates in both vaccine and control groups.

鈥淐linical trials cannot yet give us the whole picture on cervical cancer, as HPV-related cancers can take many years to develop,鈥� says Hanna Bergman, co-lead author. 鈥淭hat being said, the evidence from these trials confirms that HPV vaccines are highly effective at preventing the infections that lead to cancer, without any sign of serious safety concerns.鈥�

Real-world evidence confirms long-term protection

The second review analysed evidence from 225 studies involving more than 132 million people across multiple countries. It looked at observational study designs, including population-level studies comparing outcomes before and after introduction of the vaccine. Findings show that HPV vaccination clearly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes of the cervix. The results came from studies of various designs across different follow-up periods.

Girls vaccinated at or before the age of 16 were 80% less likely to develop cervical cancer than unvaccinated girls. The review also found substantial reductions in pre-cancerous changes (known as CIN2+ and CIN3+), and in anogenital warts, which are also caused by HPV infection. Reductions were greater in people who received the HPV vaccine at or before the age of 16.

Importantly, the review found no evidence to support claims that HPV vaccination increases the risk of serious adverse events. By cross-referencing alleged adverse events with real-world follow-up data, the review team found no relationship between reported serious side effects and HPV vaccination.

鈥淲e now have clear and consistent evidence from around the world that HPV vaccination prevents cervical cancer,鈥� says Nicholas Henschke, co-lead author. 鈥淎n important finding was that the commonly reported side effects of the vaccine, often discussed on social media, were found to hold no evidence of a real link to vaccination.鈥�

Global impact and next steps

Together, the two Cochrane reviews provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date evidence on HPV vaccination to date, drawing from both large-scale real-world studies and rigorous clinical trials. Evidence shows that HPV vaccination is a safe and highly effective public health measure, capable of preventing cancers that affect hundreds of thousands of people every year.

The findings underscore global recommendations to vaccinate both girls and boys, ideally before the age of 16, to achieve the greatest protection against HPV-related cancers. Protection is strongest when vaccination occurs before sexual debut and exposure to the virus.

However, the authors also note some evidence gaps. Most research has been conducted in high-income countries, meaning more studies are needed in low- and middle-income settings, where cervical cancer is more common and screening programs are lacking; it is in these countries that HPV vaccination will have an even more positive impact. However, to achieve the World Health Organisation鈥檚 ambition to eradicate cervical cancer, high rates of HPV vaccination, cervical screening and treatment of pre-cancers detected by screening remain crucial.

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for the prevention of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases: a network meta-analysis is available
• Effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on community rates of HPV-related disease and harms from vaccination is available

In February this year, Oliver (Ollie) Chu, was treated for Hunter syndrome in a clinical study being delivered at Royal 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Children鈥檚 Hospital (RMCH) in collaboration with the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Centre for Genomic Medicine at Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital 鈥� both part of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) The trial is managed and sponsored by the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料.

Children with Hunter syndrome, a rare, inherited condition also known as mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II), have an error in a gene, meaning they cannot produce an important enzyme that breaks down complex sugar molecules. Over time these sugars build up in organs and tissues, leading to joint stiffness, hearing loss, breathing and heart problems, developmental delays and cognitive decline, resembling childhood dementia. Hunter syndrome can be life-threatening, with life expectancy typically between 10 and 20 years. Currently the only licensed drug that can help to improve life for children with Hunter syndrome is Elaprase 鈥� a weekly enzyme replacement therapy that takes approximately three hours, that children must take for their whole life. Approximately 50 patients in the UK receive Elaprase, which costs around 拢375,000 a year per patient. The drug can reduce mobility and organ problems but cannot improve mental decline.

Now, several months on from the procedure, Ollie has fully recovered from the transplant, and his parents and the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 researchers are excited by his progress.

The clinical study at RMCH is investigating a one-off gene therapy which involves removing the child鈥檚 stem cells, replacing the faulty gene and re-injecting the modified cells into the patient. These stem cells can produce high levels of the missing enzyme and also reach the brain.

Professor Rob Wynn, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist and Director of Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Programme at RMCH and joint clinical lead, said: 鈥溾�淔or many years we have performed bone marrow transplant for children with Hunter Syndrome and similar illnesses. However, these are difficult procedures that can only deliver as much enzyme as the donor鈥檚 blood naturally has.

鈥淕ene therapy is not only safer and more effective, but it enables us to use the child鈥檚 own cells which cuts out the need to find a donor, and means we can produce more enzyme for the patient.

鈥淭he principles of using gene therapy of blood cells to treat patients with this disease can be applied to many other conditions which offers exciting prospects for patients and healthcare professionals. Our medicine is becoming safer, and better, and that can only be a good thing!鈥�

Professor Simon Jones Consultant in Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Disease at the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Centre for Genomic Medicine at Saint Mary鈥檚 Hospital,  joint study lead, said: 鈥淪ince having the gene therapy Ollie is no longer having weekly Elaprase infusions, but instead of seeing levels of the previously missing enzyme dropping we are seeing very high levels in his blood, and this is an extremely encouraging sign that the treatment is working.

Professor Jones, who is also a Medical Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at RMCH, added: 鈥淚 have worked in researching treatments for children with rare genetic diseases for over twenty years and I have sadly seen many children lose their lives to these devastating conditions. This is a truly exciting development which could lead the way for treating similar genetic conditions and bring hope to other families.鈥�

Ollie Chu is the first of five young children with Hunter syndrome to participate in this study. The research is jointly funded by the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and by LifeArc, a self-funded, not-for-profit medical research organisation, and developed by researchers at MFT and 黑料网吃瓜爆料, working in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where patients鈥� cells are taken to be modified with the missing gene in their specialist laboratories.

Ollie鈥檚 story

Ollie was diagnosed with Hunter Syndrome after five-year-old brother, Skyler, was found to have the condition.

Ollie, who lives in California with mum Jingru, dad Ricky, and Skyler travelled to the UK to be part of the research, after tests showed he was still in the early stages of the condition.

Ricky said: 鈥淎lthough it was a big commitment to travel to the UK, of course we want the best for our children, so when this opportunity came up in 黑料网吃瓜爆料, we discussed it as a family. Due to Skyler鈥檚 age, he was not eligible to take part in the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 trial and is taking part in a different study in the United States. That has meant splitting up the family, but it was something we were willing to do for Ollie to have the opportunity to be in this trial.

鈥淭here are very few times where your child can have a reset on life so if you can give them that chance, then it鈥檚 just something you do.

鈥淥llie is doing great since having the gene therapy. We have seen dramatic improvements, and he continues to grow physically and cognitively. Our hope for Ollie because of this treatment is that he will continue to make his own enzymes and live a normal life without infusions.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited for Ollie鈥檚 future. Seeing the difference for Ollie pre-and post-transplant has made us believers.

鈥淲e will be forever grateful to the entire research team for allowing us to be part of this research. I鈥檝e been a huge advocate of this trial. The medical team is very transparent and provides all the information that they can.

"We think it鈥檚 wonderful that there is research being done on rare conditions. Our priority is our children but knowing that this could result in helping other children around the world is very meaningful for us. We hope that one day, a treatment becomes available for all children at all stages of Hunter syndrome.鈥�

Brian Bigger, Honorary Professor at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, academic lead said: 鈥淭his therapy was developed over the course of 10 years at the University 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and seeing this now tested in patients by the clinical team at MFT has been incredibly rewarding.鈥�

鈥淲e developed an improved method of stem cell gene therapy which adds a short tag to the missing enzyme, allowing it to cross the blood-brain-barrier and improve the amount of enzyme delivered to the brain. This helps break down complex sugars that build up in the brain and aims to prevent the devastating dementia-like decline seen in children with severe Hunter disease. Parents have told us that this symptom is the most important factor to improve quality of life for their family.鈥�

• Philanthropic support from individual donors and not-for-profit medical research organisations such as , has been essential in driving this progress forward. Philanthropy helps to bridge critical funding gaps and translate breakthrough science into life-changing therapies. To learn more about the University's fundraising for research, visit: Challenge Accepted.

Meningiomas, which account for around 3,500 new cases in the UK each year, are often discovered by chance during brain scans. While most never cause harm, some eventually require surgery or other treatment. Until now, it has been difficult to know which patients will be affected, leading to years of unnecessary monitoring for some and delayed treatment for others.

Researchers developed the in 2019 based on data from around 400 patients under neurosurgical care at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. The tool considers the patient鈥檚 comorbidities, functional status and imaging characteristics of the tumour, to work out the risk of tumour progression, and need for treatment. The tool has now been tested on more than 1,200 patients from 33 hospitals across 15 countries, with follow-up periods of up to 15 years. The results showed that patients could be reliably grouped into low, medium, or high risk of tumour progression.

Low-risk patients were found to have only a one in twenty-five chance of needing treatment, while the risk was one in four for medium-risk patients and one in two for those in the high-risk group. Most progression was seen within the first five years, while older or frailer patients were found to be very unlikely ever to require treatment.

, study co-lead, former Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and currently a Neurosurgery Registrar and PhD Fellow, University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 & Salford Royal Hospital said: 鈥淭his study is an important step forward in personalising care for people with meningiomas. For the first time, we can give patients with an incidental meningioma clear answers about their individual risk, helping avoid unnecessary scans for some, while ensuring that others get timely treatment.鈥�

The findings suggest that high-risk patients may benefit from early intervention, medium-risk patients should continue regular monitoring, and many low-risk patients could be safely discharged with advice on what symptoms to look out for.

Study lead, concluded: 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that now we test the IMPACT tool in real-time with patients in clinics, with funding being sought to bring it into routine practice. The ability to offer personalised care will bring not only health benefits to patients but also cost savings to the NHS and wider economic growth.鈥�

• The paper, 鈥� was published in Jama Oncology DOI 10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.4821

The trophy, designed by internationally acclaimed 黑料网吃瓜爆料-born designer was unveiled during a special event celebrating both the city鈥檚 creative heritage and the University鈥檚 role as a hub for arts, design, music and performance. 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 , home to the renowned - the UK鈥檚 first large-scale, dedicated collection for the preservation and study of popular, counter- and youth culture - helped frame the significance of the occasion. 

At the event, attended by fashion, music and drama students from across the University, guests witnessed the first public reveal of the iconic trophy and took part in an in-depth Q&A with Williamson. The conversation, led by , Head of Collections, Teaching and Research at the John Rylands Library, offered students and attendees unique insight into the designer鈥檚 creative process, his career journey, and what it means to see the BRITs come to his home city. 

Williamson鈥檚 design draws deeply from 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 identity. Crafted in amber-toned resin reminiscent of the golden honey of the worker bee, the city鈥檚 enduring symbol of resilience, the trophy sits atop a globe representing the global reach and influence of British music. 

Heather Cole from the John Rylands Research Institute and Library added: 鈥淚t was a privilege to host Matthew Williamson and introduce our students to the creative thinking behind this year鈥檚 BRITs trophy.  

At the John Rylands Library, and through the British Pop Archive, we are committed to preserving and celebrating the cultural movements that shape British identity. Seeing a 黑料网吃瓜爆料-born designer lead this new chapter of the BRIT Awards resonates strongly with our mission, and it was inspiring to give students direct access to such an influential figure.鈥� 

, taking place on Saturday 28th February at 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 , marks the first time the ceremony will be hosted outside London. This year鈥檚 trophy places 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and the University, firmly at the centre of the BRITs鈥� new era. 

Matthew Williamson joins a distinguished list of creatives who have shaped the BRITs trophy, including , , , , , , , . Each year, the BRITs commission a leading artist to reinterpret the iconic statue, ensuring it remains a dynamic symbol of British creativity. 

As the BRIT Awards begin their first-ever chapter in 黑料网吃瓜爆料, the University鈥檚 involvement underscores its commitment to celebrating and fostering the city鈥檚 rich cultural landscape while offering transformative experiences for its students. 

Most national strategies emphasise supply-side technological solutions such as electrification and renewable energy generation. But the research, published today in , finds that supporting demand-side solutions, such as social and behavioural changes to how people travel, work, heat their homes, and consume goods, could cut total UK energy demand by between 18% and 45% by 2050 compared to today.

These demand-focussed pathways would continue to maintain quality of life while costing around half as much as technology-led pathways.

The finding is the result of a unique collaboration between academics from 黑料网吃瓜爆料, University College London, University of Leeds, and University of Oxford and members of the public, which informed a published by the UK Government Office for Science in 2023.

The study uniquely placed policymakers at the centre of modelling four future scenario designs, guided by the experts. Together, they explored how different mixes of technology, lifestyle, and social change could shape the country鈥檚 energy system and costs:

• Atomised Society: Rapid tech growth drives high consumption, but it creates a divided society where the rich are protected and the poor face greater climate risks.
• Metropolitan Society: High growth and trusted AI enable efficient living, but this concentrates prosperity in cities, creating an urban-rural divide.
• Self-preservation Society: Low growth and outdated tech lead to a fragmented society, though some communities find comfort in the slower, traditional pace of life.
• Slow Lane Society: Despite low growth, strong community values and high trust promote repair, reuse, and major cuts in energy demand.

Analysis shows that all four futures deliver lower energy demand than today, but reductions vary. The Slow Lane Society achieves the biggest cut (around 45%), while Atomised Society delivers the smallest (around 18%). Energy system costs also vary: the most energy-intensive future could see costs rise 136% by 2050, while the lowest-demand scenario limits this to just 24% compared to today.

Crucially, higher-demand futures depend far more on large-scale carbon removal technologies, which are still unproven at scale, whereas lower-demand pathways could reduce the need for such measures by around 70%.

The researchers also held discussions with members of the public to explore how believable each scenario felt and what impacts people thought they might have on everyday life. Participants generally viewed Metropolitan Society and Self-Preservation Society as most realistic, while Atomised and Slow Lane Societies were seen as more aspirational. Interestingly, while policymakers described Slow Lane as somewhat restrictive, the public viewed it as hopeful and positive.

The team say their approach could help other countries design people-centred climate policies that balance technological innovation with social, demand-side change.

Beyond advancing ecological science, the research could provide vital tools for tracking soil carbon storage, monitoring land degradation, and supporting sustainable land management in the face of climate change. 

鈥淭his research opens up a powerful new window into Earth鈥檚 hidden biodiversity, providing a way to map and monitor soil biodiversity at large scales in a cost-effective way,鈥� said Professor Bardgett.

A report released today (November 20, 2025) by Health Equity North (HEN) reveals that the relationship between health and productivity has become stronger over the last seven years, placing a huge financial burden on the economy and stagnating possible productivity growth.

The scale of the health-related economic inactivity crisis is greater in the North of England, with workers more likely to lose their job due to ill health, and those without educational qualifications facing a ninefold higher risk of losing their job if they become ill.

鈥楬ealth for Wealth 2025: Building a Healthier North to boost UK Productivity鈥� revisits the issues exposed in the landmark 2018 Health for Wealth report and explores how the landscape has changed over the last seven years.

It shows that regional inequalities in health, wages and economic inactivity have deepened since the 2018 report 鈥� a trend that began even before the COVID pandemic. This sharp rise in economic inactivity due to ill health, now at a record high, underscores the urgent need to put health at the heart of any strategy for sustainable economic growth.  However, there are some 鈥榞ood news stories鈥� in the North, with productivity growth strong in areas such as Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料, Cumbria and parts of Yorkshire over the past few years.

In 2018, the Northern Health Science Alliance鈥檚 highlighted the link between the North鈥檚 poor health and poor productivity for the first time, and revealed that tackling health inequalities between the North and the South could generate an additional 拢13.2bn per year. Today鈥檚 analysis show that this figure has risen to 拢18.4bn per year.

Findings also show that improving physical and mental health through a variety of policy changes, proactive health programmes and empowering local authorities, could deliver transformative economic benefits - particularly in regions such as the North East, where improving population mental health alone could add 拢6.6bn to the economy.

The report, authored by HEN academics from Newcastle University, 黑料网吃瓜爆料, Lancaster University and Teesside University, shows that:

• If the health of the North was matched to the rest of the country, it could generate an additional 拢18.4bn a year - a 13% increase in economic gains found in the previous Health for Wealth report published in 2018 when accounting for inflation.
• People living in the North are two times more likely to lose their job following a spell of ill-health than those in the rest of England.
• In the North, workers with no educational qualifications are nine times less likely to remain employed following a spell of ill health compared with those with at least an A-level qualification, whereas in the rest of England, there is no statistically significant relationship between worsening health and remaining employed by educational attainment.
• 拢6.6bn could be added to the economy if mental health was improved in the North East.
• Workers in the North who experience ill-health suffer monthly pay losses that are nearly triple the national average 鈥� equal to 6.6% vs. 2.3% national average.
• Since 2018, all three northern regions have experienced, on average, more than double rises in economic inactivity due to ill health compared with London - rising by 22% vs. 10% respectively.
• Amongst people with long-term health conditions, the gap in economic inactivity between the North and rest of England has nearly quadrupled since the start of the COVID pandemic 鈥� increasing from a 1.1 percentage point difference to 4.2 percentage points (47% to 51.2%).
• The regional economic divide between the North and the South has increased since 2018, with gaps in total economic inactivity growing by 8% and in wages by 5%.
• The relative gap in productivity (as measured by GVA per head) has decreased by 2%, owing to the relatively greater increases in the North, particularly since the pandemic. However, the gap remains large, with 26% lower productivity in the North than in the rest of England in 2023. In particular, Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and some parts of Yorkshire experienced the highest increases in productivity growth over the past two decades, with accelerated improvements since the pandemic. However, other parts of the North 鈥� including the majority of the North East 鈥� are continuing to be left-behind.
• The new report suggests that unless decisive action is taken, the North-South health and productivity divide will continue to widen, limiting the UK鈥檚 ability to deliver inclusive, sustainable growth.

Additional findings include:

Wages and GVA

• Overall, between 2013 and 2022, the average gap in GVA per head was approximately 30% lower in the North (拢22,710 vs 拢29,379) 鈥� 36% of the gap can be attributed to the poor health in the North.
• Since 2013, the gap in economic inactivity increased by 8% (from 3.8 to 4.1 percentage points) and the gap in wages rose by 5% (from 拢54 to 拢57). The relative gap in productivity has decreased by 2%, with the Northern regions experiencing faster productivity growth by 1% since the pandemic.

Economic inactivity

• Since 2019, economic inactivity rates have been rising ten times faster than the growth of the working-age population. Economic inactivity due to ill-health is now at its highest levels, with poor mental health and musculoskeletal problems being the main cited reasons.
• Economically inactive people in the North are more likely to have mental health problems, to be younger and to live in larger families and more likely to be private renters.
• The economic inactivity rates due to ill-health in North East are more than double compared with the rates in South East (9.5% vs. 4.5%), with the remaining southern regions having similarly low rates around 5%. The North East has the highest rates of economically inactive women at 9.7% and 9.4% for men - compared to 5% and 3.9% respectively in the South East.

Mortality and morbidity

• Between 2013 and 2022, rates of mortality were 16% higher in the North than in the rest of England, with the rates of morbidity being 45% higher.
• Since 2013, the gap in morbidity between the North and the rest of England has increased by 62%, with the gap in mortality rising by 15%.

Health and productivity

• In the North East, potential economic gains from improving population mental health amount to 拢6.6bn in terms of productivity and household prosperity.
• To reduce the employment gap between the northern regions and the rest of England by 10%, population self-rated health problems in the North need to be reduced by 4.4%.
• The report urges government and business leaders to make health a central component of the UK鈥檚 productivity and growth strategy.

The recommendations call for targeted investment in mental health services, preventative programmes, and public health funding across the North of England, alongside reforms to benefits and employment support that promote health and economic participation. Authors also advocate for regionally driven strategies with embedded health targets to tackle inequalities and ensure place-based solutions align with national goals.

Lead report author Dr Julija Simpson, Research Associate at Newcastle University, said: 鈥淪ince the last Health for Wealth report in 2018, the health divide between the North and the rest of England has not only persisted but deepened. This growing inequality is not inevitable, nor is it the fault of individuals 鈥� it鈥檚 the result of policy choices. Addressing this gap must be central to the government鈥檚 growth and wealth agendas.

鈥淗ealth and economic performance are deeply intertwined: when communities are healthier, they are more productive, more resilient, and better able to contribute to long-term prosperity. Health policy is economic policy 鈥� and investing in the health of people in the North is one of the most effective ways to unlock the country鈥檚 full economic potential.鈥�

Professor Clare Bambra, Academic Co-director of Health Equity North and Professor of Public Health at Newcastle University, said: 鈥�

鈥淲hile many welfare and employment reforms are designed to reduce long-term benefit dependency and encourage people back into the workforce, these efforts will not work unless they are supported by sustained investment in public health, health care and mental health services. Without addressing the root causes of ill health in the North, we risk pushing people into situations of poverty - worsening their wellbeing and limiting their capacity to work 鈥� all while our economy continues to take the hit.

鈥淭o genuinely improve economic participation, we need to ensure that people are not only healthy enough to be able to work, but and also healthy enough to thrive in employment. The link between good health and a strong economy is undeniable 鈥� and policy must reflect that reality.鈥�

Dr Luke Munford, Academic Co-director of Health Equity North and Senior Lecturer in Health Economics, 黑料网吃瓜爆料, said: 鈥淚nvesting in public health delivers extraordinary value for money. For every 拢1 spent, society can expect to see a return of around 拢14 in broader health and socio-economic benefits. That means every pound we invest in preventing illness, improving mental health, and tackling health inequalities pays dividends in higher productivity, stronger local economies, and reduced strain on the NHS.

鈥淭he evidence is clear: the government鈥檚 approach to health should not be seen as a cost, but an investment. By prioritising prevention and supporting healthier communities, we create the conditions for long-term economic growth and prosperity across the North and the nation as a whole.

鈥淭here are things we can learn from Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料. Since devolution of health and social care, we have seen improvements in life expectancy, and this is now beginning to track through to increases in productivity and economic growth.鈥�

Hannah Davies, Executive Director at Health Equity North, said: 鈥淭here is a great deal of work being done across local government, central government, and the third sector to tackle the North鈥檚 health and productivity challenges 鈥� but the scale of the problem means there is still so much more to do.

鈥淥ur new analysis makes it clear that health investment is not just a social or moral priority, but an economic necessity. Poor physical and mental health are holding back the potential of millions of people and, in turn, the productivity of the entire UK. If we want a stronger economy, we must start by building a healthier nation. Prioritising mental health, prevention, and place-based support in the North will deliver lasting returns in prosperity and wellbeing.鈥�

The report, Health for Wealth 2025: Building a Healthier North to boost UK Productivity, is available

Previously, little was known about the drivers of post-infection symptoms typically associated with severe viral infections, such as breathlessness and fatigue, but the study sheds light on what exactly might underpin these long-term effects.

鈥�Serious viral infections like influenza and Sars-CoV-2 can cause long-term breathlessness and fatigue, though until now, the biological context to this has puzzled scientists,鈥� said co-author Prof Tracy Hussell from 黑料网吃瓜爆料:

The study, funded by Wellcome and published in the journal Mucosal Immunology, also explains how inflammation may lead to aging in the lungs. 

The researchers found that following severe viral infection, a critical structure in the lung remains damaged, even after the symptoms and virus have both cleared. 

The structure, known as the basement membrane, is a thin supportive layer of extracellular matrix that anchors and separates cells from underlying tissue 

The basement membrane forms a barrier to line airspaces, support cells, and regulate fluid and cell movement. 

For the study, the lungs of mice with influenza virus were analysed by proteomic mass spectrometry, to identify potential protein biomarkers compared to non-infected mice.

The study also used peptide location fingerprinting, a technique developed by Dr Eckersley鈥檚 lab, which can identify damage across protein structures. 

They found that basement membrane proteins had reduced abundance and harboured structural damage following recovery from infection. 

That suggests post-viral damage is long-term, and that the membrane does not repair appropriately. The damage appeared patchy when observed histologically and resulted in leaky lungs.

 As similar structural damage was also observed by the scientists in aged lungs of non-infected mice, they propose that long-term, age-related complications may be caused by repeated inflammation.

Dr Alex Eckersley, from the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 said: 鈥�We鈥檙e very excited about our findings which reveal a new angle on why some viral infections have a long-term impact on lung health.

鈥淥ur study suggests that similar processes occur both when your lungs are exposed to a serious viral infection, and when you age.

鈥淭his means repeated viral infection could cause some people鈥檚 lungs to age more quickly.鈥�

In many cases, the resolution of inflammation is incomplete, and the lung is thought to accumulate damage as a result over time.

By identifying evidence for this process, the  researchers hope to have found a new area of interest in developing therapeutic targets for treating long-term post-viral symptoms.

He added: 鈥�By identifying these persistent basement membrane changes, we provide an entirely novel area to target with new medicines to treat complications arising from viral infection.

鈥淏y providing new therapeutic targets, and opportunities to broaden our understanding of how relevant biological structures might be being damaged or struggling to repair, we can better understand, research, and medicate post-viral symptoms.鈥�

• Lung basement membranes are compositionally and structurally altered following resolution of influenza infection is published in . DOI:

Previous research has found the risks of serious conditions like diabetes, renal and liver failure, fractures, and premature death, are particularly raised within the first 12 months of being diagnosed with an eating disorder. 

But new findings, published in the journal ,  highlight that these elevated risks can persist for years, even after the person is thought to have recovered from their eating disorder, with the researchers saying that timely interventions from multiple different health services are needed to improve patient outcomes.

The research team, led by Dr Cathy Morgan from 黑料网吃瓜爆料 with input from Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham OBE from Keele, were funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC).

Using the the researchers studied anonymised electronic health records spanning from 1998 to 2018, linked to Hospital Episode Statistics data, and linked death records across England.

Their data covered over 24,000 patients with a diagnosed eating disorder which were each matched for age, sex, and GP practice, with up to 20 others who had not been diagnosed with an eating disorder (493,001 in total). They then tracked the patients鈥� mental and physical health over 10 years using the data to learn more about their health following initial diagnosis.

Their analysis showed that patients diagnosed with eating disorders were at a much higher risk of poor physical and mental health, and premature death. The greatest risks were within a year of diagnosis, but the researchers found that these risks persisted for years afterwards.

People with eating disorders were six times more likely to develop renal failure and nearly seven times more likely to develop liver disease within the first year of being diagnosed, as well as being at significantly heightened risks of osteoporosis, heart failure, and diabetes.

The risks of poor mental health were also higher within the first 12 months of diagnosis, with rates of depression and self harm being significantly higher during this period, with these heightened risks persisting after five years, albeit lowered.

The risk of death from any cause was also higher within the first 12 months and once again, these risks persisted for up to 10 years afterwards, although at a lower rate.

Dr Cathy Morgan from the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料, said: 鈥淭his study highlights the substantial long-term effects of eating disorders. Raising awareness among healthcare providers about the lasting effects of eating disorders and the need for ongoing support in managing current symptoms and recovery is essential.鈥� 

Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham OBE from Keele University, added: 鈥淚ntegration is needed across primary and specialist care 鈥� both mental and physical health services including nephrology, cardiology, and endocrinology. This is particularly important at the time of diagnosis of an eating disorder and whilst a person is under specialist mental health services.

鈥淥ur work highlights that monitoring a person鈥檚 health is vital even when management of the eating disorder has been completed and the person is thought to have recovered. This monitoring should take place in primary care (general practice) 鈥� so we highlight the need for education and training of primary care clinicians, but also the need for this work to be commissioned in primary care going forwards.鈥�

• Adverse outcomes in patients with a diagnosis of an eating disorder: primary care cohort study with linked secondary care and mortality records is published in BMJ Medicine and is available .  doi:10.1136/ bmjmed-2025-001438

A delegation from 黑料网吃瓜爆料 visited the State from 10-15 November where they met the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Health Minister and the Medical Education Secretary to sign the MoU. It formalises the collaboration between all partners who are focused on generating high-quality evidence that can inform policy and practice in Rajasthan, a state with a population of 80million.

The delegation comprised of academics including Professor Vimal Sharma, Professor Catherine Robinson and Professor Lucie Byrne Davis, leading experts in mental health and health psychology.

The partnership aims to create the opportunity for the partners to co-create solutions that improve screening for mental health and to understand the rates and causes of suicide and self-harm, and then to begin to implement change. Capacity building is an integral part of this as to deliver the services, a high-quality trained workforce is required to support.

The 黑料网吃瓜爆料 team met with Indian business and academic partners and shared the work the University has led in the state to help identify other possible collaborative education and research projects.

Planned early projects will address mental health and wellbeing among youth, rural communities, and frontline law-enforcement and healthcare workers.

As part of the visit, the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 team visited the Rajasthan Police Academy where they met the Director to hear about the impact of the high suicide rate amongst its force and leading a workshop with police on suicide surveillance, offering training on how to identify at-risk signs in colleagues and where to signpost them.

The RMC will also establish Rajasthan鈥檚 first registry for self-harm, interpersonal violence, and suicide. The 黑料网吃瓜爆料 delegation also met with academic partners from institutes and universities to plan next steps and implementation.

Professor Vimal Sharma, who was part of the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 delegation, said; 鈥淭his work is vital in tackling the rising burden of mental health challenges and violence-related trauma, especially in underserved communities. By generating locally relevant evidence and scalable models, the RMC is not only strengthening public health responses in Rajasthan but also contributing to the global understanding of mental health.

鈥淭he insights and innovations emerging from this partnership have the potential to shape international policy, improve care pathways, and promote more inclusive, data-driven approaches to wellbeing globally.鈥�

Through education, the RMC will explore opportunities to co-deliver 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 programmes in Rajasthan, co-design innovative curricula, and support faculty development. It will also offer intercalated and articulated degree pathways, enabling students to begin their studies in India and complete them in 黑料网吃瓜爆料, building a two-way flow of ideas and knowledge exchange.

Continuing professional development courses, including flexible online options, will help upskill the health and care workforce in emerging technologies and management methodologies, equipping them to meet the needs of changing healthcare systems to ensure better patient outcomes and more responsive care.

Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhajan Lal Sharma, said: 鈥淚鈥檓 truly excited about this partnership with 黑料网吃瓜爆料 as it is a powerful example of how global collaboration can help to tackle shared challenges in health and education. By bringing together our local knowledge and 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 international expertise, we are building something that can make a real difference鈥攏ot just in Rajasthan, but around the world.鈥�

This agreement marks a further step toward global collaboration, addressing shared challenges and advancing inclusive, impactful solutions in health and education.

The KTP2025 Conference and Awards were held in 黑料网吃瓜爆料, the birthplace of KTP, from 28 to 30 October and hosted by 黑料网吃瓜爆料, the University of Salford, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Metropolitan University and Innovate UK.

In addition to the annual awards, there was a special ceremony to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of KTP, the KTP Golden Awards, which honoured the most exceptional people, projects and partnerships of the last five decades. Over 450 representatives from universities, industry, and Innovate UK gathered to celebrate and discuss the future of collaborative innovation.

Winning the 鈥楧riving Innovation for the Future鈥� category within the KTP Golden Awards was the University鈥檚 partnership with Arup, which helped to tackle strategic change in the built environment sector. Led by Professors Francoise Tisseur and Stefan G眉ttel from the Department of Mathematics, the project explored how Arup could radically innovate the simulation of buildings in an earthquake, to enable safer and more sustainable structural building in the future.

Since their launch in 1975, the UK Government has funded over 14,000 groundbreaking KTPs, uniting top businesses with researchers and graduates to solve real-world challenges, adding billions to the UK economy.

From 2010 to 2020 alone, Innovate UK invested 拢200m in 2,000 projects, adding 拢2.3bn to the UK economy. 

Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Vallance, said: 鈥淜nowledge Transfer Partnerships have long supported collaboration between our renowned universities, UK innovators and thriving businesses 鈥� from helping household brands to produce their goods more efficiently through to unleashing new discoveries that improve lives. They also demonstrate the benefit of public investment, with ambitious, Innovate-UK-backed projects across the country having added billions of pounds to our economy in the previous decade alone. I look forward to these partnerships supporting the next generation of cutting-edge innovations.鈥�

Richard Lamb, KTP Programme Manager at Innovate UK, said: 鈥淐elebrating 50 years of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme offers a valuable opportunity to recognise its enduring impact on UK innovation and economic resilience.

鈥淏y bridging academia and industry, KTP has extended vital opportunities to businesses and academic partners across the UK, reaching beyond London and the Southeast to drive innovation in fields ranging from STEM to the creative industries and pioneering areas like AI and quantum technology. This collaborative model has not only boosted productivity and growth but has empowered organisations of all sizes to innovate and thrive on a local and national scale. This 50th anniversary is the perfect occasion to reflect on the impressive impact achieved through the programme and its lasting legacy.鈥�

KTPs at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 are supported by the Knowledge Exchange Partnerships team within Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange. For a researcher or an external organisation looking to collaborate, the team can help explore how KTPs can bring innovation ideas to life 鈥� get in touch via kepartnerships@manchester.ac.uk to find out more.

With an overall score of 98 out of 100, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 is now 10^th globally and 5^th in the UK in recognition of its ability to tackle the world鈥檚 greatest environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges - a shift from 9^th and 4^th respectively last year.

The University remains the only university in the world to feature in the top 10 of both the QS Sustainability Rankings and the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.

Now in the fourth year, this year鈥檚 QS assessment is its most comprehensive yet, evaluating 2,002 universities, compared with 1,745 in 2024. It assesses Universities鈥� commitment to sustainability, evaluating them on everything from the impact that alumni are making in science and technology to solve climate issues, to the impact of research being done across the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). It evaluates the social and environmental impact of universities as a centres of education and research, as well as a major employers with the operational sustainability challenges of any large and complex organisation.

黑料网吃瓜爆料 has placed social responsibility as one of five foundations in its new strategy From 黑料网吃瓜爆料 for the world, and as one of the world鈥檚 leading research institutions, the University is driving global change through groundbreaking research, teaching, community engagement and responsible campus operations.

In the past five years alone, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 academics have produced more than 21,500 SDG-related research publications, accounting for 4% of all UK research on the goals.

Through teaching, students are empowered to address global challenges through accessible education, the Stellify programme and curriculum-embedded social responsibility opportunities.

The University holds a prestigious Platinum Watermark for excellence in public engagement and its work with cultural institutions including 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum, the Whitworth, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre and the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, aims involve and inspire local and global communities with the SDGs.

Meanwhile, its campus operations continue these values, from being a living wage employer and a leader in equality standards to its commitment to reach zero carbon by 2038.

Earlier this year, the University begun powering its campus with clean, renewable electricity from a major new solar farm, which means that up to 65% of the University鈥檚 electricity demand will now be met from exclusive 鈥榥ew-to-earth鈥� renewable infrastructure. The move will reduce University carbon emissions by 12,000 tonnes of CO2e each year - enough to power 21,000 homes.

Their symptoms are investigated less often, they receive less treatment, and have a poorer prognosis according to the study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC). 

The results of the most comprehensive investigation ever carried out 鈥� using huge national datasets - are published today (insert date) in the journal The Lancet Regional Health 鈥� Europe. 

The study using linked primary care, hospital, and national cancer and death records from England, compared 180,911 individuals with a learning disability to over 3.4 million matched comparators. 

According to the study, people with learning disabilities were about half as likely to be referred for urgent investigation when they had 鈥榬ed flag鈥� symptoms that could be due to cancer. They were more often diagnosed after the disease had spread, when cure was not possible, and were less likely to receive surgery, radiotherapy, or systemic anticancer therapy. 

Life expectancy after cancer diagnosis was significantly shorter, particularly among those with severe learning disability or Down syndrome, with most dying within four years of diagnosis compared with nine years among those without a learning disability. 

The study found that several cancers were more common among people with learning disabilities. Rates of sarcoma were around twice as high, cancers of the central nervous system were three and a half times higher, testicular cancer was twice as high, and uterine cancer was about 70% higher compared with the general population. 

While some cancers, including melanoma, breast and prostate cancer were less common among people with learning disabilities, those affected had up to a fourfold higher risk of death after diagnosis, highlighting possible delays in diagnosis and inequities in access to timely and effective treatment. 

The research team also found that people with learning disabilities were over 70% more likely to develop cancer before the age of 50. This pattern was especially strong for nervous system, uterine, ovarian and digestive tract cancers. Oesophageal cancer in the under 50s, was more than five-fold higher in those with a learning disability. 

Lead author Dr Oliver Kennedy, Clinical Lecturer at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and The Christie said: 鈥淲e already know that people with a learning disability face poorer health outcomes, but the burden of cancer in this population is poorly understood. 

鈥淭hat is why this study, the most comprehensive population-based investigation of cancer in people with a learning disability, is so crucial to understand the immense challenges this vulnerable population group face in cancer care. 

鈥淭here is an urgent need for effective strategies to improve cancer detection and care鈥�

Principal Investigator Prof Darren Ashcroft from 黑料网吃瓜爆料 is Director of the NIHR Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC)  

He said: 鈥淧eople with a learning disability frequently encounter barriers to healthcare access, such as communication difficulties and  diagnostic overshadowing, where clinicians might attribute new symptoms to an existing diagnosis instead of investigating other possible causes.

鈥淭hese contribute to poorer health outcomes in general. On average, adults with a learning disability die 19鈥�23 years earlier and it is widely accepted that 42% of deaths are considered preventable.

鈥淭his study highlights critical gaps and persistent uncertainties in cancer care for people with a learning disability that merit further investigation.鈥�

Dr Kennedy added: 鈥淲e suspect many people with learning disability experience missed opportunities for earlier diagnosis given the reduced likelihood of urgent suspected cancer referral following red-flag symptoms.

鈥淭his was probably why more cancers were diagnosed outside the urgent suspected cancer referral pathway, and more frequently at an advanced stage.

鈥淏arriers such as lack of staff training, communication challenges and inflexible appointment systems may also contribute to these disparities.鈥�

Jon Sparkes OBE, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: 鈥淲e already know that cancer is the second most common cause of avoidable death amongst people with a learning disability.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unacceptable that late diagnosis and lack of urgent referral for treatment is costing people with a learning disability years of life.

鈥淢elanoma, breast and prostate cancer are eminently treatable, yet people with a learning disability are four times more likely to die of them even after diagnosis. There鈥檚 something deeply wrong when people die for want of proper screening or treatment.

鈥淭he NHS must do better, with priority screening at a younger age and urgent referral for people with a learning disability, who we know are at greater risk of certain cancers.鈥�

CASE STUDY:

Annabell Downey, supported by Mencap in Hexham, Northumberland has terminal cancer. She said:

鈥淚鈥檇 gone to the doctor countless times with back pain but I found it hard to explain how bad it was. The pain scale didn鈥檛 mean anything to me and when I was asked if I could walk about as normal, I struggled to convey that sometimes I鈥檇 be fine, other times I鈥檇 be curled up in agony.

鈥淎nd, though I鈥檇 had breast pain for some time, I didn鈥檛 realise it might be related.

鈥淪omeone without a learning disability might volunteer that information, questioning if there was a link 鈥� but it didn鈥檛 occur to me. No one ever asked if I had pain elsewhere until I was in hospital.

The  paper 鈥楥ancer diagnoses, referrals, and survival in people with a learning disability in the UK: a population-based, matched cohort study鈥�, published in Lancet European Health is available

Interestingly, the index did not predict COVID-19 mortality or pandemic-related excess deaths - the researchers say this may reflect that some aspects of resilience 鈥� such as good transport links, mobility and strong social connectedness 鈥� can increase exposure risk during fast-moving infectious disease outbreaks.

The team believes their findings could help shape future public health policy. While deprivation measures like the Index of Multiple Deprivation will remain key tools, resilience-based measures may help councils and national bodies identify communities that need support - not just because of what they lack, but because of the assets they can build upon.

The researchers hope the index will be used alongside deprivation indices to guide investment in social infrastructure, voluntary sector capacity, community spaces and local connectivity.

The discovery, published in the journal , provides the first biomolecular data linking several extinct Australian megafauna species to their living relatives.

Led by at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, an international team analysed 51 fossilised marsupial bones collected from caves and swamps across Tasmania 鈥� one of the last refuges of these giant animals. Using an innovative technique called zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS), or collagen fingerprinting, the team was able to analyse fossils more than 100,000 years old 鈥� far beyond the age limit for traditional DNA analysis.

Dr Buckley said: 鈥淯ntil now, we鈥檝e struggled to determine exactly how many of these extinct species were related because Australia鈥檚 hot climate destroys DNA over time. However, collagen proteins survive in much older and even extremely fragmented bones, allowing us to identify species and reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between extinct and living marsupials that could not be achieved through traditional methods.鈥�

The most surprising discovery was that despite being wildly different animals, the koala and the marsupial lion - one of the largest meat-eating mammals ever to roam Australia - shared a common ancestor around 25-35 million years ago. This places the two animals much closer previously thought.

The research also provides new biomolecular data for two other extinct species 鈥� Zygomaturus trilobus and Palorchestes azael. Comparisons of their ancient collagen sequences confirmed that both belonged to the broader wombat鈥搆oala group, known as Vombatiformes.

The findings could help solve one of Australia鈥檚 biggest prehistoric mysteries surrounding the extinction of the continent鈥檚 giant animals.

During the Late Pleistocene, Australia lost nearly 90% of its giant land animals in one of the greatest extinction events in Earth鈥檚 history. Scientists are still debating whether the cause was climate change, human hunting, or a combination of both.

Because ZooMS can identify even tiny bone fragments and reveal their species, it could help scientists refine the timeline of when Australia鈥檚 megafauna disappeared and how long they overlapped with humans.

Dr Buckley added: 鈥淶ooMS also allows thousands of fossil specimens to be analysed quickly, so it could be a game-changer for the study of extinct species. We can now identify more fossils, improve extinction chronologies, and better understand ancient biodiversity.鈥�

This paper was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Full title: Collagen fingerprinting and sequence analysis provides a molecular phylogeny of extinct Australian megafauna

DOI/link:  

With arts subjects continuing to decrease in school timetables, the research provides compelling evidence for policymakers to rethink how creativity is valued.

鈥淭his analysis meaningfully contributes to the body of evidence on investing in arts and culture as an investment in young people鈥檚 future,鈥� said Dr Maliha Rahanaz, author of the report. 鈥淓very young person deserves the chance to imagine, create and belong.鈥�

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; The campaign will mobilise more than half a million global alumni, supporters, staff and students with a target of raising 拢400M to drive transformative change.

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; 鈥淐hallenge Accepted鈥� will focus on four core priorities: student inclusion and success; research with purpose; innovation and enterprise; and culture and community - accelerating the University's ambitious 黑料网吃瓜爆料 2035 strategy.

黑料网吃瓜爆料 has launched a landmark 拢400m global fundraising and volunteering campaign to drive transformative change across research, student support, innovation and culture and back bold solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

"Challenge Accepted" marks a defining moment for the University as it looks ahead to its third century, building on 200 years of turning world-changing discoveries into practical impact - from splitting the atom, isolating graphene, challenging social norms, and building the first programmable computer.

Built in the world's first modern city, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 has always pursued new ideas, creating knowledge for public good to shape the region and the wider world. But today's challenges demand more, which this campaign aims to address.

The launch follows the recent unveiling of the University's 黑料网吃瓜爆料 2035 strategy, which sets out an ambitious vision to become the partner of choice for those committed to excellence and turning knowledge into impact for the public good. The fundraising campaign will accelerate delivery of this strategy, channelling philanthropic giving and volunteering support into four priority areas:

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Research with purpose: Backing researchers tackling today's most urgent problems - from quantum physics and cancer research to climate resilience and social innovation - getting breakthrough discoveries like cancer drugs out of labs and into patients more quickly.

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Innovation and enterprise: Connecting world-leading research with our innovation ecosystem, civic networks and entrepreneurial hubs. Supporting entrepreneurial students and staff to address global challenges in green energy, health equity and digital inclusion, with the ambition to become Europe's most impactful innovation network and drive inclusive growth for Greater 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and beyond.

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Culture and community: Harnessing the University's world-class cultural institutions - the Whitworth, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Museum, the John Rylands Library and Jodrell Bank - as engines of inclusion and creativity, tackling mental health challenges, reaching 40,000 school children annually and creating spaces where marginalised communities feel welcome.

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Student inclusion and success: Removing barriers to access and supporting leadership and career success through scholarships, mentorship, wellbeing support and paid work opportunities, preparing students from all backgrounds to become the leaders and citizens who will change the world.

The campaign reflects the University's role as a great civic university for the 21st century in the digital age. By connecting brilliant people to work together - academics, students, partners, alumni and civic leaders - the University will deliver real-world change, both locally in 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and globally.

Professor Brian Cox, Professor of Particle Physics and Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, is a Challenge Accepted ambassador. He said: "This is such an exciting moment for 黑料网吃瓜爆料, and for all of us whose work here depends on the generosity of philanthropists.

 "Their support drives the curiosity-led research that deepens our understanding of the world - from developing new cancer treatments and tackling climate change, to exploring the origins of the universe.

 "The truth is, we never know which discovery will transform our future - and that鈥檚 what makes philanthropy so powerful. Whether it鈥檚 funding a PhD, supporting a particular area of research or innovation, every gift fuels the people and ideas needed to tackle the challenges of our time.鈥�

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of 黑料网吃瓜爆料, said: "At 黑料网吃瓜爆料, turning discovery into impact is what we do. Through this campaign, we're mobilising our entire community to deliver real-world change. The support of academics, students, partners, alumni and civic leaders will help us deliver the next life-saving medical discovery, the next leap in sustainable technology, and support the next generation of global changemakers.

"The great universities of the 21st century are going to be the ones that get their work out into the world and make a difference, faster. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has already supported 黑料网吃瓜爆料, and I warmly invite others to join us. The future won't be shaped by those who wait. It will be shaped by those who say: 'Challenge Accepted.'"

The campaign builds on existing momentum, with major gifts already accelerating high-impact research and expanding student support.

In 2024, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 received a $1.3 million donation from alumna Judith Sear to accelerate cancer research impact. The generous gift, which was made to the North American Foundation for 黑料网吃瓜爆料 (NAFUM), created the Sear Family Cancer Research Fund. The first initiative supported by the fund is a four-year Sear Family Cancer Research PhD, into which early-career researcher Gala Konteva has been recruited. Her research will focus on improving outcomes for lung cancer sufferers.

Also in 2024, Sir Terry Leahy pledged 拢1.5 million to fund research into regional economic disparities. The gift supports the Sir Terry Leahy Chair in Urban and Regional Economics. The role is part of Alliance 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Business School (AMBS), which oversees detailed research into regional productivity inequalities. The first appointment to the Chair was award-winning economist Professor Philip McCann 鈥� a specialist in the analysis of regional economic inequalities and the identification of new pathways to change the trajectory of the UK economy.

Through Challenge Accepted, supporters can engage directly with academic leadership, shape a meaningful legacy through named gifts and bespoke partnerships, and explore causes that reflect their passions - from discovery science to social justice.

For more information about the Challenge Accepted campaign and to start a conversation about how your support can make a difference, visit www.manchester.ac.uk/give

The study, funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC),  and led by researchers at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, introduces a more detailed way of simulating how urban areas interact with the atmosphere inside one of the world鈥檚 leading models, the Community Earth System Model (CESM), which scientists use to predict how the Earth鈥檚 climate behaves now and in the future.

Until now, these large-scale climate and Earth system models have treated cities very simply, grouping them into just a few generic categories such as 鈥渉igh density鈥� or 鈥渕edium density鈥�. But cities differ enormously with a mix of buildings, roads, vegetation and human activity, which can significantly affect how heat is stored, released and transferred, with knock-on effects for heatwaves, air quality and energy demand.  These factors are often overlooked in current climate predictions and policy decisions.

The new model, published today in the , integrates a detailed urban classification system known as Local Climate Zones (LCZ), which distinguishes between ten types of built environments 鈥� from compact high-rise districts to open low-rise neighbourhoods. Each environment is defined by its building height, layout and materials and allows researchers to simulate how cities exchange heat and energy with the atmosphere in much finer detail.

Lead author Dr Zhonghua Zheng, Co-Lead for Environmental Data Science & AI at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Environmental Research Institute (MERI) and Lecturer in Data Science & Environmental Analytics at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, said: 鈥淐ities, which host more than half of the world鈥檚 population, are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, but they are also key to sustainable solutions. By using the Local Climate Zones approach, we can now represent the true diversity of urban areas, which is crucial for making accurate climate predictions. Improving how we simulate cities will help researchers and policymakers better understand urban heat stress and energy use, and design more effective strategies for the future.鈥�

Yuan Sun, PhD researcher at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, added: 鈥淚ncorporating LCZs into ESMs provides a bridge for communication between the environmental model community and urban climate adaptation actors.鈥�

Tests carried out at 20 urban observation sites worldwide, including locations in France, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, showed that the new LCZ-based approach improved the model鈥檚 accuracy in simulating key urban heat processes. These include how city surfaces release heat into the atmosphere (known as upward longwave radiation) and the heat generated by human activity, such as air conditioning (known as anthropogenic heat flux), compared with the standard urban scheme.

The study also identified where LCZ-based models could be refined to further improve accuracy.

Sensitivity experiments revealed that rooftop reflectivity has the biggest impact on sunlight and heat in cities, while the layout and shape of streets and buildings, along with roof materials, also play key roles.

Understanding these factors in urban areas could help explain why some areas get hotter than others and could guide future urban design and climate adaptation strategies.

This research appeared in the

Full title: Enhancing Global-Scale Urban Land Cover Representation Using Local Climate Zones in the Community Earth System Model

DOI:   

The study found that the PBoC uses its financial tools in very practical ways to support China鈥檚 green industries. For example, it offers cheaper loans for renewable energy projects and allows banks to borrow more easily when they invest in approved green sectors. Since 2021, one programme alone has supported more than 拢120 billion in green lending.

By contrast, the Bank of England and European Central Bank have focused mainly on encouraging banks to think about climate risk, rather than shifting financial markets directly. The researchers describe this as an 鈥渋ndirect鈥� approach that has little real-world impact.

What makes the Chinese case unique is how the government sets the direction - such as its pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 - and then expects the central bank to help deliver it. The PBoC still has technical freedom to design its own tools, but its mission is clear. One PBoC staff member told the researchers: 鈥淭he government sets the goal. We decide how to get there.鈥�

Dr Jackson says this offers an important lesson for the climate era. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not saying countries should copy China鈥檚 political system, but we are saying that central banks around the world may need to rethink how they work with governments. In order to tackle climate change and adapt to its impacts, we need financial systems that can move quickly - not slowly.鈥�

The report is based on extensive research and evidence from over 200 experts, practitioners, policymakers, academics and community representatives. 

Professor Pilkington鈥檚 remit was to scrutinise the evidence around the Government鈥檚 Prevent programme - which aims to identify and rehabilitate people at risk of radicalisation - drawing on her research expertise in youth engagement and the societal drivers of extremism.  

Referrals to Prevent increased markedly after 2015, when it became a legal duty for teachers, social workers, nurses and other frontline professionals to report people they believed to be at risk of being drawn into terrorism or extremism. Referrals jumped from a few hundred a year before 2015, to an average of 6,458 per year since 2015 and to a record number of 8,517 in 2024-25. 

More than two thirds of these referrals were for concerns that had no - or no clear - ideological dimension, meaning that a counter-terrorism intervention was not an appropriate response.  Almost half of referrals were for children aged 11-17, and a third had at least one mental health or neurodivergence condition.  

鈥淚t should constitute one element of a broader, more holistic and better resourced multi-agency safeguarding approach that addresses diverse drivers of violence and to which individuals are referred via a 鈥榖ig front door鈥�,鈥� Hilary added.

The Commission sets out 113 recommendations to modernise the UK鈥檚 counter-terrorism framework and strengthen its fairness, focus and accountability. 

The report concludes that while the UK鈥檚 counter-terrorism system remains world-leading, it has grown complex and overbroad. Key reforms are needed to ensure it remains effective, proportionate, and rooted in democratic values. As well as the recommendations concerning the Prevent programme, it also recommends that the government: 

• Narrow the legal definition of terrorism, ensuring clarity and proportionality.  

• Reform proscription powers, introducing time-limited reviews and stronger parliamentary and judicial oversight.

• Tighten terrorism offences, ensuring prosecutions are fair, proportionate, and grounded in clear intent.  

• Restore equality in citizenship law, limiting deprivation powers and ensuring fair treatment under the law.  

• Invest in social cohesion, recognising that inclusion and trust are vital to long-term security. 

The visit was made possible by alumnus and Blackpool FC owner, Simon Sadler, whose 拢1.5 million philanthropic gift has enabled the University to launch a transformative bursary programme for care-experienced students.

The Sadler Bursary provides an annual grant of 拢10,000 to up to 36 undergraduate students who have left care. The initiative addresses the significant barriers faced by care leavers in accessing and thriving in higher education. Nationally, only 14% of care leavers progress to university, compared to 47% of students from state-funded schools.

In recognition of these barriers, 黑料网吃瓜爆料 offers extensive support for care leavers. Each student has a named contact who helps them settle into university life and provides advice around subjects such as housing and finance. The University also makes 52-week accommodation in halls available, and can act as a guarantor to private landlords.

Financial support, of which the Sadler Bursary is an important part, also covers living costs, access to sports and recreation, and an offer of becoming a paid student ambassador.

The Scholars were invited to Blackpool FC to enjoy full hospitality in the club鈥檚 boardroom, meet players and staff, and walk through the players鈥� tunnel onto the pitch prior to kick-off.

Simon Sadler, Owner of Blackpool FC, commented: 鈥淚t was deeply moving to welcome the Scholars and to see them enjoying all that our wonderful club has to offer. These young people have overcome more challenges than many and the bursary is about giving them the support and encouragement they may need to pursue their ambitions with confidence.鈥�

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of 黑料网吃瓜爆料, commented: 鈥�Thanks to Simon's generosity, the Sadler Bursary is a shining example of how philanthropy can help change lives by making education more accessible and inclusive. This visit to Blackpool FC was a celebration of that spirit and that mission. These students deserve every opportunity to thrive, and we鈥檙e proud to be supporting them throughout their journey.鈥�

Daniel, one of the Sadler Scholars, added: 鈥淕rowing up, my life felt contained in a dark tunnel, boundless and solitary. Now, as I step out of the Bloomfield Road tunnel, the future shines so bright. On this journey I am no longer alone.鈥�

The Sadler Bursary forms part of the University鈥檚 broader commitment to supporting care-experienced and estranged students. In addition to financial support, students benefit from tailored guidance, accommodation grants, and opportunities to work as Student Ambassadors.

Led by National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator Professor Kevin Munro, the research team surveyed a representative sample of over 2,000 adults in the UK about their willingness to test their own hearing at home and use pre-programmed or self-fit hearing aids.

Almost 9 in every 10 adults surveyed said they would be willing to test their own hearing at home if recommended by the NHS.

The majority also said they would be willing to try a hearing aid that was sent to them by the NHS either ready programmed or which required them to programme it for themselves.  

The current NHS pathway involves GPs making a referral for a face-to-face appointment with an NHS audiologist in a hospital or high street setting. The uptake of hearing care is low and slow and current waiting times are very long.

However, policymakers are encouraging self-monitoring of health, and for health services to make greater use of digital technology as well as provide care closer to home.

The findings are a positive indication that such an approach would be welcomed by at least a proportion of adults.   

A variety of apps and online tests are available for people to assess their hearing at home using their smartphone or tablet, and there are hearing aids that are available without the need to involve a hearing professional. However, these vary in quality, and not all have been properly evaluated.

The findings are published in the International Journal of Audiology.

The study was funded by an NIHR Senior Investigator award to Prof Munro and was supported by the NIHR 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Prof Kevin Munro said: 鈥淚f evaluated and shown to be successful for adults who prefer this option, DIY ear care has the potential to increase patient choice and shift care closer to home. It will also free up audiologists鈥� time to spend with adults who most need their help.鈥�

However, Prof Munro cautions that more work is needed before the findings are rolled out into practice: 鈥淲e have yet to evaluate whether this willingness will translate into reality or whether audiologists would be comfortable with this approach. We would also need to determine what support the NHS should provide to adults who opt to use these new pathways.鈥�

Professor Gabrielle Saunders from 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and Hearing Health Co-Theme Lead at the NIHR 黑料网吃瓜爆料 BRC, a co-author of the study said: 鈥淭he main benefits reported in the survey include convenience, immediacy (not needing to wait for an appointment) and savings for the NHS. However, respondents raised genuine concerns that will need to be addressed including uncertainty about trusting the test results and feeling confident that they did the testing properly in the absence of face-to-face support.鈥� 

Claire Benton, President of the British Academy of Audiology, said:   鈥淭he profession is keen to foster a culture of continuous improvement, and these findings are very interesting. It is clear there is a need to provide a variety of solutions to resolve the current pressures. If the benefit to patients is not inferior to current practice, this provides additional options that are potentially sustainable solution for the NHS.鈥�

However, Benton went on to note: 鈥淭hese low-touch digital solutions will not be suitable for everyone. Also, we need to be reassured that we will not miss anyone with ear disease that requires medical attention.鈥�

Professor De wet Swanepoel, editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Audiology said: "Traditional models of hearing care can no longer meet the near-universal demand among older adults. This study highlights that adults themselves recognise the need for more accessible, self-directed models of care 鈥� a shift that is both necessary and transformative for healthy ageing.鈥�

According to RNID, 1 in 3 adults in the UK have some sort of hearing disorder, which is a total of over 18 million people. The prevalence increases significantly with age, with over half of people aged 55 or more having hearing loss. The number is projected to rise, with estimates suggesting 14.2 million adults will have hearing loss by 2035.

• The paper: DIY audiology at home: adults are interested in conducting self-administered hearing tests and trying fit-at-home hearing aids is published . The DOI of the paper is: 10.1080/14992027.2025.2576030.T

This year鈥檚 UN climate summit (Cop30) in Bel茅m, Brazil, begins with a familiar dilemma: how can we tackle a highly political, long-term problem that involves every country of the world?

Governments, experts and activists have been trying to address since the early 1990s, yet global greenhouse gas emissions remain at .

Emissions growth may be slowing, but even pro-climate action strategies seem to be pulling in different 鈥� or even, antagonistic 鈥� directions. Our presents these antagonisms as a choice between 鈥渟tability鈥� and 鈥減oliticisation鈥� in climate governance.

According to those favouring stability, governments should lock in steady, long-term policies that place us on a predictable and gradual track to much lower emissions. Creating policies that commit us to a certain path should help businesses to invest in ways that meet this predictable trajectory.

However, if it is weakened and made inadequate by pro-fossil fuel lobbyists and governments, then the stable path can still meander into climate catastrophe. This is the course we are presently on.

On the other hand, for those pursuing the politicisation of climate action, it is better to encourage political conflict and protests that constantly create pressure for more significant and rapid policy change.

Such strategies can disrupt pro-fossil fuel lobbyists鈥� grip and expose strategies used by some political figures to dismantle the hard-fought climate goals already in place. But by encouraging increased politicisation of these issues, we may open the door to and others seeking to slow or stop climate policy action altogether.

Both schools of thought 鈥� stability or politicisation 鈥� have their supporters and detractors. Both have benefits and downsides. However, these have rarely been discussed in conversation with one another, until now.

At Cop30, these distinct strategies will be under the spotlight.

The stability or politicisation dilemma helps to explain why building a strategy that works over years and decades creates difficult questions, not only about policy design but approaches for different organisations and states. These challenges change according to which level of government, which country, and which economic sector is in play.

For instance, it is easier to push for politicisation and conflict when you鈥檙e not a member of a marginalised or racialised community already facing to political participation.

Conversely, it is hard to avoid having to engage in politicisation and conflict in areas where there are deep historical power structures that need to be challenged. For example, in the UK, land ownership concentration blocks 鈥� both because landowners want to keep peat moors dry to maximise their grouse shooting revenue, and because the land concentration means they are very powerful within the British state.

Tension between timeframes

Our traces these dynamics across a range of cases, from the fossil fuel industry in the US to strategies used by the and ; from to environmental justice ; and from arguments about to generation.

International relations expert previous UN climate summits have been shaped by this clash in strategies, right back to the Kyoto protocol, the 1997 agreement that set emissions targets for economically developed countries.

Whereas the EU was previously the driving force behind depoliticisation of negotiations, more recently, countries such as India and China are also pursuing such strategies. As Allan warns, this may delay the implementation of climate policies as more states debate how best to progress.

In Bel茅m at Cop30, similar dynamics will be at play. Efforts are ongoing to implement the 2015 agenda and process. Core issues remain on how to ensure regular reporting of emissions, alongside questions around who pays for the consequences of climate change.

At the same time, there will be a continued politicising push by certain countries and social movements. States such as the US, Saudi Arabia and their allies will be trying to politicise the negotiations to stymy progress. Meanwhile, social movements will be protesting to keep the pressure on negotiators and promote climate justice for those who are hardest hit by climate change.

, Senior Lecturer in Politics, ; , Professor of International Politics, , and , Professor of Global Governance & Human Security,

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

The study informs a process that takes place in many countries worldwide where women are overburdened with care responsibilities. As populations age and family structures change, how societies value and share care work may become one of the defining social issues of the century.

The authors also raise concerns over the discontinuation of the Thai national time-use survey by the National Statistical Office. They advocate for its urgent resumption, stressing that time-use data is critical for understanding gender inequality, strengthening the care economy, and helping the government monitor its progress toward the SDGs. Without such data, key dimensions of unpaid care work remain invisible in policy design and economic planning.

The study in older animals  showed that the placentas of male but not female offspring had increased cell damage from a biological state called oxidative stress. 

Oxidative stress occurs when harmful molecules called free radicals build up faster than the body can clear them. 

It is associated with a range of pregnancy complications including fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia, both of which increase the risk of stillbirth. 

The study demonstrated reduced weight in both female and male fetuses in older mice, but the placental alterations were sex-specific. 

The scientists are conducting further studies in mice to confirm these findings  and also carrying out a parallel study to see if similar sex differentiated mechanisms exist in human placentas from mothers of advanced maternal age (AMA), defined as age 35 and over. 

The study, published in the journal Reproduction and funded by Tommy鈥檚 and the Medical Research Council, also discovered placental mitochondria -  the biological batteries that power cells-  were working at a reduced rate in the placentas of both male and female pups but that there were more of them. 

Mitochondria are a major source of free radicals. Reducing their rate of activity at the same time as increasing their numbers is a way they adapt to prevent further oxidative stress while maintaining the supply of energy needed for cells to work properly.

This could mean that the adaptation in placentas from females was more successful than in placentas from males because oxidative stress was not increased in placentas from females of older mice. 

Although scientists know AMA increases the risk of placental dysfunction leading to  fetal growth restriction and stillbirth, little is known about the mechanisms that cause it.

Lead author Dr Michelles Desforges from the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料  said: 鈥淪ome impacts of advanced maternal age appear common to both sexes but this data suggests some may be sex specific.

鈥淓vidence that sex differentiated placental dysfunction occurs in a range of risk groups -  including diabetes or obesity- has been around for some time.

鈥淭his, however, is amongst the few to delve into the sex differentiated processes which increase the risks of adverse pregnancy outcome in animals of advanced maternal age.

鈥淚n 1980, only around 6% of pregnant women in the UK were aged 35 and over. However this figure has now risen to 25%. This represents a massive societal shift and it is important that we understand the reasons why these pregnancies are more vulnerable to fetal growth restriction and stillbirth.

鈥淏ut it is important to stress, however, that though advanced maternal age comes with  increased risks for some women, the  majority of mums aged 35 and over have normal pregnancies and healthy babies.鈥�

Principle investigator Dr Mark Dilworth added: 鈥淪tudies in mice are particularly helpful as they allow us to compare male and female offspring in the same pregnancy. In addition, these studies provide an important basis for future studies intent on developing therapeutic strategies for preventing fetal growth restriction and stillbirth.鈥�

• Sex-specific alterations in placental mitochondria, oxidative damage and apoptosis in mice of advanced maternal age鈥� is available .DOI: 

Scientists have developed a simple, low-cost method to drive key chemical reactions, which could make large-scale drug manufacturing, faster, more accessible and affordable.

The new study, published in the journal today by 黑料网吃瓜爆料, describes how complex light or electricity-mediated methods currently used across modern chemistry could be replaced by those driven by a simpler technology - heat.

By heating two common, inexpensive chemicals together, the researchers triggered 鈥榚lectron transfer鈥� reactions that chemists use to make many of our everyday products and medicines.  

Lead researcher, , Lecturer in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, said: 鈥淥ur goal was to develop a broadly accessible and low-cost way to promote electron transfer reactions for industrial applications.

鈥淏y using something as simple as heat - something every chemistry lab already has - we鈥檝e created a process that can be scaled more easily and used by companies without the need for expensive, specialised equipment, opening up new possibilities for chemists all over the world.鈥�

Many modern chemical reactions rely on photochemical (light) or electrochemical (electricity) technologies to kick start 鈥榚lectron transfer reactions鈥� 鈥� a process that involves transferring electrons between molecules to make medicines, or other essential materials. Although these high-tech methods are powerful and effective, they can be difficult to scale up for industrial use as they require specialist reactors and costly infrastructure.

The 黑料网吃瓜爆料 team鈥檚 new approach achieves the same result using only heat and two widely available chemicals - a type of azo compound and a formate salt. When heated together in a standard industrial reactor, these reagents naturally form a highly reactive molecule known as 鈥榗arbon dioxide radical anion鈥� - a simple yet powerful species capable of driving a wide range of chemical transformations.

Working with Dr James Douglas from AstraZeneca, the research team successfully demonstrated the scalability of the developed method  and tested it on a variety of other chemical reactions used in drug discovery.

, Lecturer in Computational & Theoretical Chemistry at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, added: 鈥淩adical chain chemistry underpins so many areas of science and manufacturing, so we hope this simple initiation method will be of wide use across both industry and academia. Beyond large-scale applications, it could also become a valuable tool for researchers studying new chemical reactions.鈥�

This research was published in the journal . 

DOI: 10.1038/s44160-025-00919-z

黑料网吃瓜爆料 is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university 鈥� ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings 鈥� with a diverse community of more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries.  Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe. 

Researchers at the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Breast Centre, based at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, found that blocking the effects of the hormone progesterone, using ulipristal acetate, a drug already used on the NHS, may reduce the risk of breast cancer developing in women before the menopause, with a strong family history of the disease.

Progesterone is a hormone that can drive breast cancer development. It promotes the growth of a type of breast cell, that has the potential to turn into breast cancer. It can also influence the environment inside the breast, making it easier for these healthy cells to transform into cancer cells.

Blocking these effects of progesterone could be a new way to stop breast cancer before it starts.

The study, published today in the journal Nature, found that taking ulipristal acetate helped block the growth of breast cells that can turn into cancer, called luminal progenitors. These cells are the starting point for triple negative breast cancer, a more aggressive form of the disease that is more common in younger women and black women. Previous research has shown that the risk of triple negative breast cancer coming back or spreading in the first few years after diagnosis, is higher than in other types of breast cancer.

Between 2016 and 2019, 24 women aged 34-44 with a family history of breast cancer took ulipristal acetate for a 12-week period. During the trial, they underwent breast biopsies, blood tests, and detailed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans before and after treatment.

The researchers were measuring changes in breast tissue to understand if the drug might have a protective effect against breast cancer development.

MRI scans showed that the breast tissue became less dense with treatment, which is important because higher breast density is known to increase risk of breast cancer. The team found that the treatment worked best in women who had high breast density before treatment started.

Researchers also observed dramatic changes in breast tissue.  They found that treatment significantly reduced the number and function of certain collagen proteins that normally help support breast tissue.  Overall, the breast tissue became less stiff, making the environment less favourable for cancers to develop and grow.

One protein in particular 鈥� collagen 6 鈥� showed the most noticeable decrease after treatment. Based on their findings, researchers now think that it may directly influence the behaviour of luminal progenitor cells, that can give rise to breast cancer. 

All these changes suggest that the drug alters breast tissue in a way that makes it harder for cancer cells to develop and grow, therefore reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Clinical lead author, Dr Sacha Howell, Clinical senior lecturer at 黑料网吃瓜爆料, Director of 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Breast Centre and Consultant Oncologist at The Christie said: 鈥淲e are profoundly grateful to the women who volunteered for this study. Our research, with them, provides evidence that progesterone plays a critical role in breast cancer development in high-risk individuals. By targeting its action, ulipristal acetate and other anti-progestins show promise as preventive treatments for women at increased risk.

鈥淲hat makes this study particularly exciting is the combination of clinical imaging and biological analysis, which gives us a powerful tool to understand how prevention therapies work at both the tissue and molecular levels. These results lay important groundwork for larger trials to confirm the potential of anti-progestins in reducing breast cancer risk鈥�.

Laboratory lead author, Dr Bruno Sim玫es, research fellow at 黑料网吃瓜爆料 and Principal Investigator at the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Breast Centre said: 鈥淥ur team was intrigued by how anti-progestins reshaped the breast tissue environment at the molecular level, reducing the number of tumour-initiating cells. We observed clear reductions in collagen levels and organisation, giving us direct insight into how targeting progesterone signalling can create conditions that make it harder for cancers to develop.鈥�

鈥淥ur goal is to understand the biology underlying breast cancer risk factors so we can develop better strategies to reduce the number of women affected by the disease. This study is particularly exciting because it suggests that women with increased breast density, a well-established risk factor, may benefit most from preventive treatment with an anti-progestin drug.鈥�

Co-lead author, Rob Clarke, professor of breast biology at the University of 黑料网吃瓜爆料, Principal Investigator and former Director of the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Breast Centre said: 鈥淭he biological research behind the clinical study was a great example of team science, a major collaboration between investigators in 黑料网吃瓜爆料, Cambridge and Toronto coming

together to understand the breast tissue and cellular changes underlying this preventive treatment. The findings reveal biomarkers that could be used to gauge response to therapy and whether it will be effective in preventing breast cancer.鈥�

Dr Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, which funded the research, said: 鈥淲e desperately need better risk-reducing treatments for women at high risk of breast cancer, that also protect their quality of life. And we need to explore all avenues, including existing drugs with the scope to be repurposed, to achieve this.

鈥淐urrently, these women have only two options to reduce their risk - surgery or long-term hormone therapy, both of which have a profound impact on their physical and emotional wellbeing.

鈥淭his research into ulipristal acetate is an important step forward, and aligns with our key strategic goal to accelerate the discovery of preventative treatments.  We now need larger, longer-term studies, so we can fully understand the potential of this drug to stop breast cancer developing.鈥�

Grace Burton, 27, from Bromley London, underwent a preventative double mastectomy last year after finding out she was at high risk of breast cancer due to an inherited BRCA1 gene change at the age of 21.

Grace says: 鈥淏reast cancer has had a huge impact on my family - both my mum and my aunt were diagnosed, and knowing I was at high risk was always in the back of my mind. Having later gone through preventative surgery myself, I know how heavy and difficult those decisions can feel. That鈥檚 why this new research into preventative medication is so exciting, it offers hope for other women who might one day have less invasive options to protect their health.

鈥淔or those of us with a strong family history, the possibility of preventing breast cancer before it starts is incredible. It gives me hope that future generations may not have to make the same tough choices and can grow up with more options and less fear around breast cancer.鈥�

Several of the authors were supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 黑料网吃瓜爆料 Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

The research is published in Nature and is  available

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09684-7   

黑料网吃瓜爆料 is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university 鈥� ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings 鈥� with a diverse community of more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries.  Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe. 

黑料网吃瓜爆料 is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university 鈥� ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings 鈥� with a diverse community of more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries.  Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe. 

Dr Yasmin hopes the findings will encourage international charities, donors and governments to rethink how they design and monitor conservation projects. 鈥淚f we want sustainable development,鈥� she said, 鈥渨e have to stop speaking for people and start listening to them - especially those who are most often ignored.鈥�

The annual list identifies the world鈥檚 most-cited researchers, offering an overview of the impact and influence of their work. This year, 551 黑料网吃瓜爆料 academics feature in the rankings, underscoring the University鈥檚 leading international research presence.

The data reveals the breadth of 黑料网吃瓜爆料鈥檚 research impact, with scholars contributing to diverse and interdisciplinary fields such as advanced materials, social sciences, global health, ecology, and physics.

The Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientist Rankings draw on data from Elsevier鈥檚 Scopus database, incorporating citations up to the end of 2024. The rankings evaluate researchers using a range of metrics, including, co-authorship-adjusted citations and a composite citation score鈥� providing a measure of influence beyond publication volume alone.

Developed by data scientists at Elsevier鈥檚 ICSR Lab in collaboration with Stanford University, the list鈥攏ow in its eighth edition鈥攈as become one of the most respected indicators of research excellence worldwide.