Newsroom University of Manchester

Eviction is a ‘deliberate feature’ of the housing system, says new book

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

A new book by Dr Jessica Field from The University of Manchester has revealed that eviction is a ‘deliberate and enduring feature’ of Britain’s housing system, rather than simply being a consequence of a housing crisis.

Eviction: A Social History of Rent, published by Verso, is a detailed look at the complex history of rented housing in the UK, tracing policy evolutions from the late 19^th century to the contemporary private rental sector. It examines how rental policies and housing structures have historically positioned low-income tenants as vulnerable to displacement, showing that the threat of eviction has long been woven into the design of the housing market rather than arising from occasional crises.

The book offers a compelling and often unsettling look at the persistent reality of housing insecurity for low-income tenants in Britain over the past century and a half. It argues that eviction is not an aberration, but is fundamentally ingrained in the nation's housing system, often masked as progress.

Dr Field uses her own family’s story as the heart of the book, focusing on a housing estate in south Leeds nicknamed “Cardboard City.” This neighbourhood, which was built in the 1950s by the National Coal Board (NCB) to house miners and their families, became home to generations of working-class tenants. It was a close-knit community where neighbours supported one another, socialised as close friends, and raised families.

Eviction charts the path of these homes from state-owned worker housing to privately rented properties, detailing cycles of neglect and financialisation. Despite promises of security, NCB properties - like many council houses - suffered from inadequate maintenance, and were eventually sold off to private speculators for a pittance.

In 2017, the property company that now owned the estate announced plans to demolish the homes and build ‘executive’ houses in their place. This would mean evicting seventy households, many of whom had lived there for at least a decade, including Dr Field’s parents. The residents formed a campaign group, Save Our Homes LS26, and fought hard to save their homes - but despite their efforts, most were eventually forced to leave. Dr Field’s parents were evicted in 2022.

In the book, Dr Field shares how the fight to stop the eviction affected her mother’s health and well-being, and how the loss of their home shattered a once-thriving community. She situates those personal experiences in the long history of renting in Britain, showing how renters have always had fewer rights than homeowners and how evictions have often been treated as inevitable or even for the good of the tenants.

Through a mix of personal storytelling and historical research, Eviction challenges the idea that private renting has ever been a secure or fair option for families – even during the apparent post-war golden era of council house expansion. It also highlights the importance of community, neighbourly support and tenant-led activism and celebrates the achievements of many women-led activist movements over the decades.

"My parents fought for five years to save their community from a mass eviction. They lost, but their story reveals a brutal truth about Britain's housing system. For working-class families, the housing crisis isn't new – it's the enduring status quo”, says Dr Field.

Eviction: A Social History of Rent is available now from .

New research finds that ‘Levelling Up’ left many southern areas behind

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:18:44 +0100

Communities in the South of England were systematically underfunded in the government’s flagship ‘Levelling Up’ programme, according to new research using a Community Resilience Index (CRI) developed at The University of Manchester.

The study, published in , analysed how £8.64 billion of Levelling Up funding was distributed across 307 local authority districts in England. Using a new Community Resilience Index (CRI) to measure need, researchers discovered that while many northern and coastal areas received more than their “fair share” of investment, the South of England was consistently underfunded.

The findings challenge the dominant narrative of a simple “north-south divide” and reveal that southern communities - particularly in inland areas - were frequently left behind in funding allocations.

Only 36.2% of local authorities received support proportionate to their need - the research shows that 30% of Levelling Up funding would have needed to be reallocated to ensure an equitable distribution across the country

“Levelling Up was designed to help all places build on their strengths and reach their potential - yet our resilience-based analysis shows that many southern communities were overlooked in funding allocations,” said Dr Christine Camacho, lead author of the study. “These areas face significant challenges but did not receive the support needed to strengthen their resilience.”

Among the starkest cases was Havant, in the South East, which received just £12.45 per person in Levelling Up support - 94% less than the £200 per person it would have received under a fair allocation model.

By contrast, several northern districts received far more than their modelled “fair share”. Redcar and Cleveland, for example, secured £469.70 per person - more than double its needs-based allocation. The researchers argue that this unevenness highlights deep flaws in the competitive, ministerial-driven allocation process.

The study emphasises that competitive bidding and ministerial discretion meant funding often flowed to areas with stronger institutional capacity, rather than those with the greatest social and economic need.

The researchers argue that without systematic, needs-driven allocation of investment, future regional policies risk repeating the mistakes of Levelling Up - leaving vulnerable communities in both the North and the South behind.

The authors stress that as the new Labour government moves beyond the Levelling Up brand, future place-based policies must adopt transparent, needs-based criteria. The Community Resilience Index, they argue, offers a robust tool for ensuring resources go where they are most needed.

University of Manchester ranked second in UK for graduate employer interest

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:48:09 +0100

The University of Manchester has been ranked as the UK’s second most sought-after institution by leading graduate employers, according to a newly published report.

Research conducted by High Fliers, published via , ranked Manchester second only to Birmingham, and ahead of Nottingham, Warwick and Bristol.

Now in its 21^st year, The Graduate Market is an annual review of the graduate job market, with this year’s report based on research completed in July 2025 with 100 of the UK’s leading graduate employers. The University of Manchester has maintained its second-place ranking from the previous year.

The report cited how the top five universities attracted the most graduate employers in 2024-2025 for locally-run publicity, university career fairs, on-campus employer presentations, careers service promotions, on-campus presentations and university-specific virtual events.

The University of Manchester is consistently ranked highly in national and international rankings, scoring second in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings for 2025 and 53^rd in THE’s overall list.

The University rose this year to 46^th globally and 13^th in Europe in the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). It also ranked 35^th in the world and 11^th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings, and 9^th in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings.

University of Manchester inspire refugee children through hands-on science

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:55:16 +0100

Chemists at The University of Manchester have hosted a series of interactive workshops for refugee children across Greater Manchester, using science to spark curiosity and rebuild confidence for those who have missed out on formal schooling due to displacement and conflict.

Organised in partnership with Rethink Rebuild Society and supported by the Chemists’ Community Fund (Royal Society of Chemistry), 48 children aged nine to 14 visited the University’s state-of-the-art Makerspace facility over three days to take part in a variety of fun and practical experiments, including making batteries out of lemons, testing acidity with natural indicators, and simple filtration experiments.

The initiative is the brainchild of Dr Abdullatif Alfutimie, Senior Lecturer in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University. Dr Alfutimie first came to Manchester from Aleppo in 2009 to pursue postgraduate study before going on to complete his PhD in 2012. But while pursuing his research career, his home city of Aleppo – once one of Syria’s most vibrant cultural centres – was being devastated by civil war.

Staying closely connected to family and friends affected by displacement and the collapse of education, he began to consider how he might use his own expertise to help displaced students regain educational confidence.

Dr Abdullatif Alfutimie, who led the programme, said: “This event wasn't just about science — it was about recognising curiosity, celebrating identity, and creating a sense of belonging for children who often face immense challenges.

"If we need to rebuild our country or even to contribute to improve this country, we need to educate this generation.

“The enthusiasm from the pupils was truly heartwarming - one parent told us that their child couldn't wait to repeat an experiment at home for their siblings.”

The initiative concluded with a Community Celebration Day at Rethink Rebuild Society’s centre in Manchester, welcoming more than 150 children and family members. Each child received a certificate and a take-home chemistry kit to continue their learning at home. A representative from the Royal Society of Chemistry was also in attendance to present the certificates and celebrate the children’s achievements.

Magda van Leeuwen, Volunteer and Engagement Manager for the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “Chemistry Education for Refugee Students is an important initiative that gives young people who have already experienced a lot in their lives hope and opportunities. Programmes like the one Abdullatif has developed show that chemistry really is for all and can be a catalyst for instilling a lifelong passion in our subject.

“Through the Outreach Fund and with the backing of the Chemists’ Community Fund, the RSC is committed to supporting projects that give more people the opportunity to get hands-on scientific experiences. We are proud to have played a small part and want to applaud Abdullatif and his colleagues for their hard work in putting together such a practical and engaging experience for the participants.”

The University of Manchester is recognised as a University of Sanctuary, working to make the University a welcoming and safe place for refugees and asylum seekers. The University’s commitment to supporting sanctuary seekers is embedded across its three core goals: research, teaching, and social responsibility. The city of Manchester is also a City of Sanctuary, part of the . The University works closely with the organisation to help its aim of making Manchester a place that is open and fair.

Read more about Abdullatif’s initiative on the

80 Years of Excellence: Celebrating Occupational Health at Manchester

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:28:03 +0100

On 1 October the University’s (COEH) will mark its 80^th anniversary with a celebratory afternoon of talks and discussion that will incorporate this year’s Lane Lecture.

Established in 1945, COEH is the UK’s oldest and one of the world's earliest centres for occupational health research and education. Its foundation lies in Manchester's industrial history, particularly the cotton industry, with early studies addressing respiratory diseases and lead exposure.

The annual honours , the first Professor of Occupational Medicine (1945–1964). The Centre’s subsequent leaders have each contributed to its growth and enduring reputation: Tommy Scott focussed on research on bladder cancer and hearing loss; Tim Lee broadened the scope to areas such as occupational asthma and lead poisoning, and introduced distance learning; Nicola Cherry expanded the department further with research into neurotoxicity and Gulf War Syndrome, launching the Occupational Disease Ascertainment Network (ODIN) network; and Raymond Agius strengthened environmental health research and online education, securing long term funding for the future.

Current lead, Professor Martie van Tongeren, has transformed the Centre into an interdisciplinary centre offering innovative undergraduate and postgraduate training, attracting students from around the world. Working in collaboration with and the , COEH’s research spans global occupational and environmental health, health inequalities, climate change and health, digitalization and AI, as well as traditional occupational hazards. The Centre is also actively engaged with regulatory bodies, and its balance of basic and translational research supports policy makers.

As COEH enters its ninth decade, the centre continues to build on its founders’ pioneering work while adopting new approaches to train practitioners and address emerging challenges. Through interdisciplinary collaboration with partners COEH remains committed to social responsibility and reducing health inequalities both in the UK and worldwide, continuing to make a significant impact.

Professor van Tongeren commented: “I am proud and honoured to be part of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, continuing the legacy begun by Prof Ronald Lane 80 years ago. As new challenges like AI emerge and longstanding ones like silicosis persist, our mission to protect worker health through research and teaching remains vital. I’m confident COEH will continue to lead the way.”

80^th anniversary event

COEH invites colleagues and guests to commemorate 80 years of pioneering research and education at The University of Manchester on the afternoon of 1 October. The event will bring together past and present staff, students, and guests to honour the Centre’s legacy and explore future progress in occupational health.

The programme will include:

Lightning talks showcasing key achievements and ongoing research initiatives
Forward-looking panel session to explore challenges and opportunities in occupational health
The , presented by Professor Malcolm Sim, former Head of the Monash University Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health in Australia
Closing reception

2025 Lane Lecture

While UK occupational health research, including at COEH, now focuses more on stress and mental health, traditional risks such as occupational respiratory disease continue to be a key priority. The Centre has, in recent years, led efforts to address the dangers of artificial stone (used frequently in kitchen worktops and bathrooms) as workers without proper controls can develop accelerated silicosis—a serious lung disease affecting even young individuals.

Professor Malcolm Sim played a lead role in research and advisory activities to address the silicosis epidemic in Australia among stonemasons working with artificial stone. In this year’s Lane Lecture, Professor Sim will explore artificial stone silicosis further through his talk, ‘The Artificial Stone Silicosis Epidemic: Lessons Learned for More Effective Prevention’.

where you can also find a detailed programme.

From pubs to plates: Manchester research shows Britain’s social life is shifting

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:13:07 +0100

A new study by experts from The University of Manchester has revealed a major shift in Britain’s social life, as the number of bars and pubs has dropped sharply in recent years while restaurants have expanded.

The research, published in , examined more than 1100 neighbourhoods across Greater Manchester and Nottingham between 2002 and 2019. The team found that bar numbers fell by around 35%, while restaurant numbers grew by a similar percentage over the same period

This trend is part of a nationwide pattern. Across the UK, thousands of pubs have closed their doors in the past two decades, with closures accelerating in recent years as rising costs, changing habits and the Covid-19 pandemic hit the industry hard.

The researchers say the shift is driven by younger generations who are drinking less alcohol and increasingly socialising around food rather than drink. “Our findings show a clear generational move away from alcohol-centred venues,” said lead author Jonathan Wood. “Bars are disappearing from many neighbourhoods, while restaurants are spreading into new areas.”

While bars and pubs once dominated high streets and local centres, the study found that many have vanished altogether from large parts of both Manchester and Nottingham. In 2002, around 43% of Manchester neighbourhoods and 47% of Nottingham neighbourhoods had no bars at all. By 2019, the number of “bar deserts” had increased nearly twenty-fold.

In contrast, restaurants – once concentrated almost entirely in city centres – have grown and spread into suburbs and residential areas. The study shows the likelihood of a neighbourhood having no restaurants fell by at least five-fold during the period

The research also reveals how geography plays a role. Venues are increasingly clustering in central, well-connected areas, often close to retail hubs and good public transport. Manchester’s nightlife, for example, has become more centralised, with popular spots like the Northern Quarter and Deansgate thriving while local bars in outlying neighbourhoods struggle to survive.

By contrast, restaurants have been able to expand further afield, offering more choice in suburban areas. The team suggests this reflects the way people now prefer to spend their leisure time, with eating out seen as a more inclusive and family-friendly activity than drinking.

The decline of pubs and bars has long worried campaigners who see them as vital community spaces. The new research underlines how closures are reshaping neighbourhoods – especially in deprived areas, where pubs once offered affordable social outlets. At the same time, the growth of restaurants may bring new opportunities for local economies, but it also highlights the need for planners and policymakers to adapt to changing consumer habits.

Bad reviews push Airbnb hosts to rethink their positioning, study finds

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:10:15 +0100

A new study from The University of Manchester has revealed that bad reviews often push Airbnb hosts to change the way they position their properties, sometimes with surprising results.

The research, carried out with colleagues from the University of Oxford and the University of Alberta, looked at more than 80,000 Airbnb hosts across major US cities. It found that when guests left negative reviews, hosts were much more likely to switch the category of their property - for example, moving a listing from “loft” to “apartment,” or from “tiny house” to “cottage.”

The study shows that these changes often happen not because hosts are constantly fine-tuning their positioning, but because they are reacting to complaints - in other words, hosts don’t usually rethink how their properties are categorised unless something goes wrong.

“Negative reviews are powerful - they don’t just influence potential guests, but they also make hosts question whether they’ve positioned their property in the right category,” said Dr Karl Taeuscher from Alliance Manchester Business School, the lead author of the research. “If customers say a listing isn’t what they expected, hosts often switch category in the hope of avoiding more complaints.”

The research found that the effect is strongest in categories where customers have diverse and sometimes conflicting expectations. For example, a “villa” or “loft” may mean very different things to different people, while a “houseboat” or “tent” comes with more obvious expectations. In these ambiguous categories, hosts were particularly likely to reposition their property after receiving poor feedback.

Interestingly, when hosts did make a switch, they usually chose categories that were close to their original one. Few hosts took the risk of moving their property into a completely different type. Instead, they tended to opt for categories that accommodate a wider range of features.

The study highlights how small businesses and individuals, like most Airbnb hosts, often don’t have the time or resources to constantly rethink their positioning strategies - instead, they tend to act only when problems arise.

The findings matter beyond Airbnb. Many online platforms, from Amazon to Etsy, rely on categories to help customers navigate. If businesses use categories that don’t quite fit, it can create mismatches between what buyers expect and what they get. This study suggests that finding the right category requires businesses to be receptive to customer feedback and open to revising their initial choice.

The research, titled Right on Cue? Category-Switching in Online Marketplaces, is published in the .

Study highlights digital divide in diabetes healthcare

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:16:00 +0100

Men, black communities and the poorly educated are experiencing significant disparities in accessing game-changing digital healthcare for type 2 diabetes, data scientists from The University of Manchester show.

The peer reviewed meta-analysis of 16 studies involving 71,336 patients from the US, UK, and the Netherlands published in the today (10/09/25), is a wake-up call to policy makers grappling with escalating numbers affected by the disease.

“Our study provides evidence of significant disparities in telemedicine use for type 2 diabetes among men, black communities and those with lower levels of education,” said Nawwarah Alfarwan, a PhD researcher and lead author of the study.

“These groups already face many challenges in accessing essential healthcare services.

“Every 10 seconds, somebody dies from diabetes-related complications worldwide, most of whom have type 2 diabetes, so policymakers really need to think about how to improve access to this crucial form of healthcare.”

Telemedicine has revolutionised the management of type 2 diabetes in primary care by improving access to healthcare services, and consequently health outcomes.

Comprising a range of technology including virtual consultations, wearable devices, mobile health apps and other technologies, health services have successfully used it as a response to increasing prevalence of the disease.

Data from 5 studies comprising 59, 609 patients showed patients with higher education levels had 68.1% greater odds of using telemedicine than those with lower education levels.

The less educated, say the researchers, have lower levels digital and health literacy, and be more likely to have concerns about trust and privacy.

Ten of the studies, comprising 68,355 patients, showed female patients had a 5% higher chance of using telemedicine than men.

The difference can be explained, say the researchers, by women being more actively engaged with healthcare services not only for themselves but also their family.

Existing epidemiological evidence, they add, suggests men’ have lower help-seeking behaviour, stronger preferences for in-person consultations, or lower levels of digital health literacy.

Five of the studies showed that compared to white patients, black patients were less 45% likely to use telemedicine.

Many people within black communities, the researchers argue, have limited access to digital infrastructure, mistrust in healthcare systems, language barriers, and inadequate insurance coverage or digital literacy support.

And 10 of the studies comprising 47 927 patients showed older patients were 2.1% less likely to use telemedicine than younger patients.

Co-author Professor Maria Panagioti , also from The University of Manchester, added: “For patients with type2 diabetes, we show the extent of the digital divide in certain demographics, especially those from minority backgrounds.

“Lack of affordable access to computers, smartphone, and lower levels digital and health literacy all contribute to these inequalities.

“By understanding these disparities and addressing the underlying factors, policymakers could make more inclusive and effective telemedicine interventions.

“They should also consider targeted strategies to improve engagement among men, such as awareness campaigns and tailored interventions.”

The paper is Demographic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Telemedicine Utilisation Among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care: Systematic Review and Meta Analysis is published in the

Professor Gerard Hodgkinson receives lifetime achievement award from British Academy of Management

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:24:08 +0100

Gerard P. Hodgkinson, Professor of Strategic Management and Behavioural Science at AMBS, has been awarded the Richard Whipp Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Academy of Management (BAM) in recognition of his various contributions to the field and management research.

About the Richard Whipp Lifetime Achievement Award

The Award is made in memory of Professor Richard Whipp, an outstanding scholar in the field of business and management and former Chair of BAM. It specifically recognises a career within the management field where the beneficiary will have done one or more of the following: enhanced a field of study, founded or effectively led a major national/international academic initiative, or provided unusually effective service to a major professional institution and/or the Academy.

Professor Hodgkinson’s Reflections

Said Professor Hodgkinson: “I’m delighted and humbled in equal measure, to have received this prestigious award, in recognition of my various contributions to research, BAM, and the wider management research community, over the course of the past 40 plus years.”

A Legacy of Achievement

Professor Hodgkinson was made a Fellow of BAM in 2001 and received the BAM Medal for Research in 2021. He is pictured receiving the Richard Whipp Award from Richard’s widow Anne Whipp.

Mentoring programme gives big mental health boost to LGBTQIA+ teens

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:04:37 +0100

A mentoring programme for LGBTQIA+ young people is making a real difference to their mental health, according to new research from The University of Manchester.

The programme delivered by pairs young people aged 13 and over with trained mentors who understand the challenges LGBTQIA+ teens can face. Over regular one-to-one sessions, the mentors offer a safe space to talk, practical advice and support to help build confidence, reduce feelings of isolation and improve overall wellbeing.

LGBTQIA+ young people are more likely to struggle with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression compared to their heterosexual or cisgender peers. Many of these struggles are linked to experiences of discrimination, prejudice or feeling unable to be themselves.

Despite this, there’s been little solid evidence about which support services actually work - until now.

Researchers at The University of Manchester compared the mental health of young people taking part with thousands of other teens from a large wellbeing study. The results were clear: those in Free2B's programme saw a strong and noticeable improvement in their mental wellbeing, much higher than what’s usually seen in similar support programmes.

“Free2B;s programme isn’t just helpful - it’s making a meaningful difference in young people’s lives,” said lead researcher Qiqi Cheng. “We saw real changes in how the participants felt about themselves and their future. Many started the programme feeling isolated, anxious, or unsure of how to cope with the challenges they were facing. By the end, they reported feeling more confident, supported, and hopeful. Programmes like this show that when young people have someone in their corner who understands them, it can completely shift their outlook.”

”The evidence is strong, and it should be part of the conversation on how we help vulnerable young people not just survive, but thrive," Neil added.

The experts say the next step is to study the programme in more detail, looking at whether the benefits last long term and whether it can also help reduce loneliness.

The study was funded by PBE, with wider support from the , The National Lottery Community Fund, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Festival celebrating Manchester’s medieval heritage returns for 2025

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

Thanks to the dedication of The University of Manchester’s Dr Gillian Redfern and the support of the University’s Social Responsibility Fund, the Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival will return to the city on Saturday 27 September. The free, family-friendly festival will once again transform the area into a lively celebration of Manchester’s rich medieval heritage.

Now in its third edition since its launch in 2021, the festival continues its mission to shine a light on an area many residents are surprised to learn exists - the Medieval Quarter. Nestled beside the modern city centre, this historic area stretches from Chetham’s Library and School of Music to Manchester Cathedral, weaving through Shambles Square, the Corn Exchange and the National Football Museum.

The area tells the story of Manchester long before the Industrial Revolution. From the 10th-century parish church that grew into Manchester Cathedral to the 15th-century Collegiate buildings that became Chetham’s Library, the area is steeped in history. At the festival, the public will have the rare chance to explore these spaces for free - normally only accessible by paid tour - making the festival a unique opportunity to engage with the city’s past.

Visitors can look forward to an exciting programme of activities designed to bring medieval Manchester to life:

Saturday Scriptorium – Try your hand at medieval calligraphy using quills, ink and parchment in Chetham’s Library’s Baronial Hall, and take home your masterpiece.
Falconry Displays – Watch birds of prey soar in the courtyard and even try falconry with expert guidance.
Historical Re-enactments – Meet medieval re-enactors from Historia Normannis as they showcase tournaments, crafts, and costumes.
Medieval Drama – Boo, cheer, and hiss along with interactive student performances in Chetham’s Courtyard.
Guided Tours – Discover the story of the Medieval Quarter, including rare access to the remnants of the 14th-century Hanging Bridge, and enjoy tours of Manchester Cathedral.
Music of the Middle Ages – Immerse yourself in the sounds of the era with performances from the Manchester Troubadours.
Family Fun – Browse medieval-themed stalls, enjoy a fashion show, and soak up the atmosphere with food, picnics and live entertainment.

The festival will take place from 11am – 4pm. For more information, visit .

Not white, not seen: study uncovers France’s racial blind spot

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:20:34 +0100

A groundbreaking new study from The University of Manchester has challenged traditional ideas of race and national identity in France, revealing how French citizens of Indian descent are navigating their identities in a society that often ignores them.

The research, led by Dr Manuela Latchoumaya from the University’s Department of Sociology and published in leading journal , explores the lived experiences of French people whose families come from former French colonies in India and the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe via the system of Indian indentured labour in the 19^th century.

Despite holding French passports and speaking fluent French, many of these citizens feel excluded from what it means to be “truly” French.

Using interviews with 21 people, the study paints a powerful picture of what it feels like to be treated as invisible in your own country - and how people push back.

“It’s not just about being seen as different,” said Dr Latchoumaya. “It’s about being completely left out of how the French think about who belongs.”

The study found that many French Indians are misidentified as Black or North African, two established categories in France that covertly operate to minoritise people with roots in the French Empire. Others are judged by outdated stereotypes - like being overly traditional or even exotic - based on ideas left over from colonial times. These experiences often begin in childhood and continue into adult life, especially in education, work and healthcare.

But rather than staying silent, many people are speaking up and taking control of their identity. Some proudly reclaim the label Black as a category of visibility, while also identifying as South Asian. Others challenge people who use offensive or outdated terms, and several participants said they now openly name ‘whiteness’ - the idea that being white is the default or “normal” in France - as part of the problem.

The study also highlights the deep impact of colonial history, showing how the French Empire shaped today’s ideas about identity, and how some communities - like those with Indian roots - have been left out of the national story.

This research is one of the first studies to centre the voices of French citizens of Indian descent, a group rarely studied in academic or public discussions about French imperial history. It is especially relevant today as France - and many other countries - grapple with their colonial past and while having increasingly diverse populations.

New tool tackles unreliable research trials

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:31:00 +0100

An international group of researchers has developed a new tool which can help identify problematic randomised controlled trials (RCTs), including fraudulent studies, where there are serious concerns about trustworthiness.

The final version of the tool, called INSPECT-SR, is now published on the pre-print server .

It was developed by a worldwide collaboration of more than 150 integrity and health research experts, led by Dr Jack Wilkinson from The University of Manchester

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), it was developed in collaboration with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Cochrane, a not-for-profit organisation which is the world’s leading publisher of health systematic reviews.

Some of the studies are subject to critical but honest errors, but many appear to be fraudulent.

Concerns are growing over the increasing numbers of problematic high-level summaries of the research evidence from randomised controlled trials , known as systematic reviews.

In 2023 alone, over 10,000 research papers issued globally were retracted by journals according to an analysis by , many of which used evidence from problematic RCTs.

Dr Wilkinson warns problematic RCTs can result in medical research potentially being compromised, drug development hindered and promising academic research jeopardised.

INSPECT-SR is designed to root out problematic RCTs which publish faked or manipulated data or have Inadvertently made critical errors.

Some, written for a fee by outfits known as “paper mills”, are entirely fabricated.

The tool guides users through a series of 21 checks, grouped into 4 domains:

Post publication notices which express concern and retractions.
conduct, governance, and transparency
text and figures
data discrepancies and statistical errors.

One of the most well-known examples of problematic RCT research was around claims the drug Ivermectin, hailed as a miracle drug that would save the lives of people with severe COVID-19.

However, some of the trials used to make the Ivermectin claims appear to have been fabricated, according health authorities in the . Subsequent high-quality trials suggested little or no benefit.

In another example , the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reversed recommendation for a device called a fetal pillow, developed to assist caesarean sections, following the retraction of three clinical studies supporting it.

According to an article in : An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, a trustworthiness assessment may have prevented the use of the evidence in the NICE guideline, as it contained statistical anomalies.

And trustworthiness concerns were also identified in a group of trials around the use of CBT and exercise to combat spinal pain. The trials had substantial impacts on clinical practice guidelines. Several have now been .

Dr Wilkinson said: “When a systematic review is carried out, it includes all randomised controlled trials on a given topic.

“But historically, there has been no way to identify fraudulent or otherwise problematic RCTs, meaning that these studies are inadvertently included in systematic reviews.

“This is a big problem, as systematic reviews are very influential - they inform health guidelines for example.

“Most fraudulent RCTs are produced by individual researchers rather than commercial paper mills, but with the advent of AI I fear this is likely to become more of a problem in the future.”

He added: “Academic papers are often assessed for quality before they are published. But reviewers do not ask the more fundamental question of whether the evidence they are reading is even genuine..

“But we anticipate that INSPECT-SR will become the standard for assessing trustworthiness of RCTs, especially as it has been created withCochrane for use in their systematic reviews of health interventions.

“However, it’s important to stress that our tool is not merely a test for fraud and misconduct- though clearly many problematic studies are examples of that.

“It also tests for critical errors which is why our priority is to determine if a clinical trial should be used to guide healthcare decisions.

“Work is ongoing to develop more automated systems - perhaps using AI- to assist with this process. In the future, we hope to expand our work to detect problems in other forms of research studies, not just clinical trials.”

The paper INSPECT-SR: a tool for assessing trustworthiness of 1 randomised controlled trials is available on the print server https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.03.25334905

Manchester expert wins Royal Society’s highest honour for historian of science

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:18:22 +0100

Professor Sadiah Qureshi, a leading historian at The University of Manchester, has been awarded the prestigious Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture by the Royal Society in recognition of her internationally acclaimed research on science, race, empire and the history of extinction.

The medal is the Society’s highest honour for a historian of science, which is awarded annually for outstanding interdisciplinary contributions that illuminate the relationship between science and the wider human experience. It is named in honour of John Wilkins, John Desmond Bernal and Sir Peter Medawar, whose pioneering work explored the intersections of science, philosophy and society. Previous recipients include some of the UK’s most prominent historians and philosophers of science.

Professor Qureshi’s award acknowledges both her distinguished scholarship in the history of science and her ability to engage wider audiences in urgent debates that shape our present and future. Her work has transformed understandings of how ideas about race and empire have influenced scientific thought from the eighteenth century onwards.

Her research highlights the ways in which science and empire were deeply entangled, showing how racialised worldviews were both informed by and reinforced through scientific practices. She has also made major contributions to the history of natural history, particularly through her recent book on the emergence of extinction as a modern concept.

Published this year to widespread acclaim, explores how the idea of extinction - which is now fundamental to modern science and environmentalism - was only recognised in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. By uncovering the cultural, political and imperial contexts in which extinction was first understood, Professor Qureshi demonstrates that what we often take as timeless scientific knowledge is in fact historically contingent, with deep consequences for how societies today approach the climate and biodiversity crises.

Professor Qureshi joined The University of Manchester in 2023 as Professor of Modern History, having previously studied natural sciences and the history of science at the University of Cambridge. She has established herself as a leading public intellectual, contributing to major exhibitions, media debates and policy discussions that seek to make historical perspectives on science accessible beyond academia.

“It is a tremendous honour to receive this medal,” said Professor Qureshi. “The Royal Society’s recognition highlights the importance of placing science within its broader social and historical contexts, especially at a moment when global challenges demand we think critically about our past to imagine better futures.”

“The recipients of this year’s medals and awards have all made outstanding contributions to science and its applications for the benefit of humanity,” said Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society. “They have done so through by furthering our understanding of the processes that govern the world around us, changing the practices of academia to build a more robust and inclusive research environment, and engaging new audiences. I offer my congratulations to all the 2025 recipients.”

Three Manchester experts become Academy of Social Sciences Fellows

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:05:39 +0100

Three academics from The University of Manchester have been recognised as leading experts in their fields by being named as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences.

New Fellows are named in recognition of their excellence and impact, and their advancement of social sciences for the public good. Through leadership, research and policymaking, they have deepened understanding of major societal challenges. The Academy comprises over 1,700 Fellows from academia, the public, private and third sectors as well as 46 societies and affiliates, forming a 90,000-strong network that cements the UK’s global leadership in social sciences.

Academy Fellows - who are selected through an independent peer review which recognises their excellence and impact - are elected for their excellence in their fields and their substantial contributions to social science for public benefit.

Joining them is Professor of Public Administration and Head of Politics Liz Richardson, an expert who advances democratic and inclusive policymaking through her knowledge of participatory urban governance, local politics, public services and innovative research methods. Recognised among the Local Government Information Unit’s Top 25 Thinkers, Liz bridges academic insight and civic practice to tackle complex local and global policy challenges. She has co-authored pivotal reports in the UK’s Public Design Evidence Review, shaping how design thinking can reinvigorate public services.

“I am delighted to be an ambassador for social science,” Liz said. “Academic research has the potential to create a more equitable society - such potential is greater when knowledge fosters scientific rigour as well as respect for the experiential expertise of participants.”

Also named as a new Fellow is Professor of Public Policy David Richards, an internationally recognised scholar who specialises in British politics, governance, democracy and institutional reform. His research investigates the relationship between political institutions, public policy and democratic accountability. He has co-authored influential works, including Institutional Crisis in 21st Century Britain, and leads major projects on Treasury–Whitehall financial relations and productivity governance. Widely published and frequently cited in national debate, he bridges academic insight and public discourse, shaping critical conversations about the challenges facing British democracy and the future of effective, accountable government.

Our third new Fellow is Professor of Urban Economics & Real Estate Anupam Nanda, an award-winning expert in the economics of property markets, urban and regional dynamics, real estate finance, investor sentiment, cross-border investment, ESG issues, and the role of technology in real estate. A prolific researcher, his papers feature in top journals such as Journal of Urban Economics, Real Estate Economics, Regional Studies, and Energy Economics. Alongside his academic research, he works with policymakers and industry to develop solutions for sustainable, resilient and fair urban and housing systems.

“I am pleased to be nominated to join the Academy and contribute to its crucial work in promoting the role of social sciences in my field and across other related fields,” said Anupam. “I look forward to working with other fellows of the Academy.”

President of the Academy, Will Hutton FAcSS, said, “It’s a pleasure to welcome more leading social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship. Their research and practical applications have made substantial contributions to social science and wider society in a range of areas, and we look forward to working with them to promote further the vital role the social sciences play in all areas of our lives.”

Major new book asks whether addressing climate change requires stability or conflict

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100

A landmark new book is set to change how we think about tackling the climate crisis. It asks a big question: when it comes to climate change, is it better to ‘lock in’ steady, long-term policies, or do we need dramatic political conflict and protests to force real change?

Stability and Politicization in Climate Governance is co-edited by and - both leading politics experts from The University of Manchester - alongside from the University of Massachusetts Boston (USA). The book highlights that the debate between ‘stability’ and ‘politicisation’ isn't as simple as it seems.

For a long time, many policymakers believed that ‘stability’ was the key to successful climate action. This stability meant creating predictable rules that encourage businesses to invest in green solutions, or making laws that are difficult to roll back in the future.

However, the book reveals a significant problem: often, trying to keep things stable just means nothing really changes, which can actually slow down efforts to cut carbon. Studies in the book also show that a focus on stability can perpetuate existing inequalities, making it harder for marginalised communities to participate in climate action.

On the other hand, "politicisation" means bringing climate issues into the public spotlight, challenging powerful interests and sparking debate. The book shows how social movements like the Fridays for Future school strikes in Germany have successfully pushed governments to adopt more ambitious climate strategies. This kind of public pressure can show who really has the power and lead to significant policy changes, like demanding deadlines for phasing out coal.

However, building pressure isn't equally easy or safe for all communities. For some groups, like Muslim climate activists in the UK, engaging in protests can be risky because of existing unfairness in society. As one Muslim climate campaigner noted, "when you think about climate change, it is a social justice issue".

The book’s main message is that stability and politicisation aren't always opposites - they often interact in complex ways. What appears stable may hide underlying conflicts which eventually burst out, while political conflicts can sometimes lead to new forms of stability.

The book covers examples from around the world - from Brazil to China and South Africa to Norway - across all levels of society from grassroots street activists in California right up to global negotiations. The volume also tackles a wide range of policy areas and sectors including the fossil fuel industry, financial and insurance businesses and electricity companies.

It is available now, and free to read and download from .

Tyndall Centre at 25: UK must step up climate ambition, report warns

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0100

The UK now uses less energy than almost anyone anticipated 20 years ago, but opportunities to act on this potential were largely missed, according to a new report published by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at The University of Manchester today.

’, published to mark the Centre’s 25th anniversary, looks back at the Tyndall Centre’s own energy scenarios, alongside more than 80 others produced in the 2000s. The study found that while most scenarios assumed some level of reduction in energy demand, only one - Tyndall Centre’s “Red” scenario - came close to predicting the UK’s actual energy demand in 2022.

The researchers say this mismatch reveals that early scenarios often focused on untested technologies while overlooking practical and proven ways to reduce energy use, such as improving public transport, insulating homes, and reducing air travel.

They identified that these modelling choices often influenced policy debates, with optimism about new technologies often overshadowing everyday solutions, potentially limiting the scope of decarbonisation deemed possible by policymakers.

By comparing the envisioned futures with the UK energy system changes that actually emerged, the authors show where foresight was limited, where assumptions proved overambitious, and where genuine transformation was underestimated.

The report also reflects on two decades of Tyndall Centre’s research. Starting with the Royal Commission’s 60% carbon cut target by 2050, the Tyndall Centre helped bring carbon budgets to the centre of UK climate policy and highlighted the need for action across all sectors, including aviation and shipping,.

The authors argue that energy scenarios aiming to support an urgent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, must explore a wider range of options, with greater focus on proven solutions such as efficiency, lifestyle change, and equity. Doing so would open up more options for policymakers to deliver on their climate ambition, reduce reliance on unproven technologies, and align the UK’s energy pathways more closely with climate science.

Decarbonising the UK revisited is being launched at the Tyndall Centre’s 25^th Anniversary Conference at the University of East Anglia (UEA) on Monday, 8 September. Our Critical Decade for Climate Action is a major meeting for 300 researchers from 20 countries.

The report is part of a wider project at Tyndall Centre that explores how energy scenarios influence policy and what lessons can be drawn halfway through this critical decade for climate action.

Read the full report

New research calls for global action on micro and nanoplastics in the atmosphere

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:20:55 +0100

Scientists at The University of Manchester are calling for the creation of a global network of air monitoring stations to track the movement of airborne plastic pollution, which may be travelling further and faster around the planet than previously thought.

In a new review, published in the journal today, the researchers have examined the current scientific research on how tiny plastic fragments – called micro and nanoplastics – enter the air, where they come from, and the mechanisms that transport them across vast distances.

The study reveals significant gaps in knowledge and understanding of airborne plastic pollution, driven by inconsistent measurement techniques, limited data, oversimplified simulations, and gaps in understanding atmospheric cycling mechanisms.

One key uncertainty is the scale of plastic entering the atmosphere. Current estimates vary wildly - from less than 800 tonnes to nearly 9 million tonnes per year - making it difficult to assess the true global impact. It also remains unclear whether the dominant contributors are land-based, such as road traffic, or marine based, such as sea spray.

Such large uncertainties raise the concern that airborne plastics, which pose potential risks to human and environmental health, may have a more extensive presence and influence than previously captured by current monitoring and simulation systems.

Each year, the world produces over 400 million tonnes of plastic, with a significant proportion ending up as waste. Over time, these plastics breaks down into microscopic particles called microplastics (less than 5mm) and nanoplastics (smaller than 1 micron), which are increasingly being found in the air we breath, oceans and soil. These particles can move thousands of miles within days and have even remote regions like polar ice zones, desserts and remote mountain peaks.

While our understanding of the problem has grown rapidly, limited real-world data, inconsistent sampling methods, and computer models that oversimplify how plastic behaves in the air, means that key questions remain unanswered.

To address these concerns, the authors are calling for future research efforts to focus on three critical areas:

Expanding and standardising global observation networks
Improving and refining atmospheric modelling
Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI)

They say this integrated approach could transform how we understand and manage the plastic pollution crisis.

Full title: A Review of Atmospheric Micro/Nanoplastics: Insights into Source and Fate for Modelling Studies

Journal: Current Pollution Reports

DOI: 10.1007/s40726-025-00375-5

Link:

Most women have positive experience of NHS maternity services, study shows

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:02:00 +0100

An independent evaluation of measures introduced by the NHS in 2019 to reduce stillbirth in England has shown that most women have a positive experience antenatal care, birth and labour.

Two peer reviewed studies led by University of Manchester researchers across 28 NHS maternity units are published today in the journals BMJ Open Quality and BMJ Quality and Safety.

The BMJ Open Quality paper showed 89% of women reported positive antenatal care and 86% had positive labour experiences.

However, the data from online surveys with 1,140 women and 633 healthcare professionals - carried out in 2023- also showed concerns around poor communication, lack of personalised care, staff shortages and delays still persist.

The Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle (SBLCB) was introduced in England from 2015 as the Government’s response to a stillbirth rate that was comparatively higher than many western countries.

SBLCB has evolved through three versions in 2016, 2019, and 2023, each building on the last to improve maternity care and reduce perinatal mortality across England.

The SBLCB evaluation- of version 2 - found it had been successfully rolled-out in the majority of NHS maternity providers and that midwives and frontline staff have a pivotal role in implementing it.

Women’s positive experiences were linked to feeling listened to, being involved in decision-making, effective communication and continuity of care.

They encountered staff, the researchers found, who acknowledged their history and made them feeling able to ask questions.

However their negative experiences often stemmed from poor communication and lack of personalised care, making them feel dismissed, especially when expressing concerns about reduced fetal movement and during labour.

Some of the women who had a negative labour or birth experience also reported disorganised and inconsistent care, staff shortages, lack of beds and poor pain management which left them feeling neglected.

Poor communication between staff made care feel disjointed and was further hindered with changes to electronic notes, they reported.

Risk factors was not always communicated effectively and women were often given no choice in their treatment which meant they felt threatened or frustrated.

Alexander Heazell, is Professor of Obstetrics at The University of Manchester, Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at St Mary’s Hospital, and Director of the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre.

He said: “We analysed a total of 1,071 women’s written responses about their antenatal care, of which 89% reported a positive experience. 86% had positive experience of labour.

“So much progress has been made in terms of their experiences around feeling listened to and reassured, feeling in control of decision-making and encounters with staff and care.

“Our data suggest that elements of the SBLCBv2 are increasingly embedded in maternity care, but refinements are still needed.

“This will address variation in practice between units and to support effective communication between health care professionals and service users to balance standardised clinical practice with personalised care.

A second paper published in BMJ Quality and Safety examined the qualitative experiences of the women.

Lead author Dr Holly Reid, also from The University of Manchester, said: “Our paper found that having a trusting relationship with maternity care providers is of paramount importance to achieve positive and safe maternity experiences for women.

“Trust was built through consensus among the care team, making sure the partner was involved in discussions around care and continuity of carer.

“When women were not listened to or believed by healthcare professionals during labour and birth, this resulted in frightening experiences for women and their safety being put at risk.”

Professor Heazell added: “However, there is still work to do. Service users need to feel heard, involved in and reassured by their care. To this end, the communication between health care professionals and service users is critical.

“We suggest maternity staff may benefit from additional training to discuss the reasons for and results of interventions to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications.

“This will need to be combined with effective communication skills to ensure that service users receive information to make an informed choice, ensuring they retain agency and perceived control.

“And that will enable the core recommendations of SBLCBv2 to be personalised to individual service users, promoting safe maternity care and improved maternity experience.”

Examples of representative anonymised quote from service users:

All testing done efficiently, staff were continually informing us about the decisions they were making, we felt well taken care of”

“I felt really dismissed by the midwives when I kept saying the baby wasn’t moving and I didn’t feel well

“All testing done efficiently, staff were continually informing us about the decisions they were making, we felt well taken care of”

“While yes I got growth scans nothing was ever explained and I wasn’t able to ask any questions”

“The staff were attentive and provided me with all the information I required. This was offered and also given 24 hours a day with no bias.”

“The administration side of things was not great. I was forgotten about on numerous occasions. Letters were sent out with appointment dates that didn’t exist. I would turn up and people weren’t expecting me.”

The paper Evaluating the implementation of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle Version 2 from Service User and Health Care Professionals’ perspectives: A Questionnaire Study is published in BMJ Open Quality DOI: bmjoq-2025-003456
The paper Service users’ experiences of maternity care in England informed by the Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle Version 2: A reflexive thematic analysis to be published in BMJ Quality and Safety is published in BMJ Quality and Safety DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2025-018582

Decades of research informs NICE guidance on leg ulcer treatment

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:24:38 +0100

Research on venous leg ulcer treatments, doggedly pursued by two University of Manchester academics since 1989, has greatly influenced NICE issued this month.

The work by Professors Jo Dumville and Nicky Cullum on the most effective types of compression treatments is good news for the hundreds of thousands of patients affected by venous leg ulcers every year, costing the NHS tens of millions of pounds.

Venous ulcers are a common long-term condition which adversely affect people's quality of life; nurses deliver the majority of care, which takes the form of compression therapy as a first-line treatment.

According to the NHS National Wound Care Strategy Programme, venous leg ulcers account for 60% to 80% of all leg ulcers.

However, the abundance of different compression treatments and heavy product promotion by the wound care industry makes it difficult for nurses to decide, with patients, on the course of treatment that is most clinically effective and offers the most value to the NHS.

The guidance - known officially as a “Late Stage Assessment" - is set to change that by providing crucial information to nursing staff on the most effective types of compression.

It will also help NHS commissioners and procurement specialists give healthcare professionals access to a range of the most appropriate compression products to ensure their affordability to the NHS.

According to the researchers’ evidence, the clinical effectiveness of two-layer compression hosiery and two-layer and 4-layer bandages is similar, while compression hosiery is more cost-effective than bandages. However, compression wraps are less clinically and cost-effective.

Professor Cullum was first asked to review the research evidence on leg ulcer management by the then Department of Health (now the Department of Health and Social Care) in 1989.

Working with Professor Dumville, they have been analysing and publishing the evidence in Cochrane and other systematic reviews, and have worked to fill knowledge gaps by doing new randomised controlled trials and other relevant studies.

A Cochrane systematic review is a rigorously conducted, independent review of research evidence on the effects of healthcare interventions, published by Cochrane, a global, not-for-profit organisation.

The latest randomised controlled trial, led by Professor Dumville will have further important implications for care and is likely to be published later in 2025 or early 2026.

Professor Dumville said: ‘I am delighted that our NIHR-funded research has delivered high-quality and relevant evidence on compression therapy for venous leg ulcers.

“The contribution of these findings to NICE’s late-stage assessment underscores the importance of NIHR studies like VenUS 6 in strengthening the clinical evidence base in wound care and informing national recommendations that support best practice in patient care.”

Professor Cullum said: “This is the first time there has been a piece of NICE guidance on compression therapy for venous leg ulcers.

“It feels like something of a culmination of all the work Jo Dumville and I have been doing for decades, so we are delighted it has culminated in some national guidance which will help nurses and patients arrive at informed decisions.”

See Professor Cullum’s Lockdown Lecture where she talks about her work on leg ulcers and her with Jude Johnson.

James Webb Space Telescope reveals hidden heart of the Butterfly Nebula

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:49:20 +0100

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed extraordinary new details in the heart of the famous Butterfly Nebula, one of the most striking planetary nebulae in our galaxy.

Located around 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, the Butterfly Nebula is one of the best studied planetary nebulae. Its ‘wings’ of glowing gas were previously but Webb’s new observations, published in today, go even further, uncovering hidden structures and finally pinpointing the nebula’s elusive central star.

Planetary nebulae like the Butterfly form when stars heavier than the sun reach the end of their lives, casting off their outer layers of gas and dust. The Butterfly Nebula is what astronomers call a bipolar nebula, meaning that it has two lobes of gas that spread in opposite directions to form the ‘wings’ of the butterfly. At its centre, a dense band of dusty gas called the torus, which poses as the butterfly’s ‘body’. This structure energises the nebula and may be responsible for its insect-like shape by preventing gas from flowing evenly in all directions.

Using James Webb’s , scientists have now been able to see through this dusty torus for the first time, providing an unprecedented view of its complex structure.

By combining images at many different wavelengths with complementary data from the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array in Chile, the international team of researchers, including from The University of Manchester, discovered the butterfly’s central star, one of the hottest ever found in our galaxy, with a scorching surface temperature of around 220,000 Kelvin.

Although this intense heat powers the nebula’s colourful glow, earlier telescopes lacked the sensitivity and resolution needed to see through the thick layer of dust, making the star impossible to detect at visible wavelengths.

Professor Albert Zijlstra, a co-author of the paper from The University of Manchester, said: “This is an extraordinary discovery. We’re looking at one of the hottest stars ever found - an object so elusive that even Hubble couldn’t detect it for decades. Thanks to JWST, we’ve finally uncovered it, concealed within its own dense shroud of dust.

“Surrounding the star is a massive dark torus, the heaviest ever observed around such an object, containing more material than our own Sun. Even Webb can’t fully pierce through it. Inside, the environment is sheer chaos; powerful radiation and stellar winds tearing into the surrounding cloud. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

“Most planetary nebulae appear graceful and symmetric, but this one is still at the beginning of its transformation – it’s more like a butterfly struggling out of its cocoon than the elegant shapes we’re used to seeing.”

The Webb data revealed that the torus is composed of crystals similar to quartz as well as unusually large grains of dust, suggesting they have been growing for a long time. Outside the torus, the team observed jets of iron and nickel blasting away from the star in opposite directions, along with a multilayered structure made up of different atoms and molecules.

Perhaps most intriguing was the discovery of carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. On Earth, these molecules are found in smoke from fires or even burnt toast – but they have never before been seen in an oxygen-rich planetary nebula. The team believes the PAHs may form when a bubble of stellar wind bursts into the surrounding gas.

The finding provides an important glimpse into the details of how these molecules form.

***

Journal:

Full title: The JWST/MIRI view of the planetary nebula NGC 6302 – I. A UV-irradiated torus and a hot bubble triggering PAH formation

DOI:

Link:

University of Manchester welcomes legacy pledge to establish medical and musical bursaries

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 08:39:25 +0100

Switzerland-based alumna, Dr Sheila W Weir has pledged a transformational gift to The University of Manchester in her will to establish The Dr Sheila W Weir Bursaries.

Intended to fund future medical and music students in need of support, Dr Weir hopes the bursaries will help others experience the world-class education at Manchester she has benefitted from over her long career.

Dr Weir has an extensive background in pharmacology, joining Manchester after completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. While she initially wanted to study medicine, she didn’t qualify for a grant.

For Sheila, this outcome paved the way to completing a PhD in Pharmacology at Manchester in 1985. Her work contributed to the eventual spark of interest worldwide in the field of potassium channels and their modulation by drugs.

After leaving academia, Sheila spent 30 years in drug development at the one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. But her keen interest in learning continued as she taught at ETH Zürich and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland along the way.

Dr Weir said of her donation: “The greatest gift I can give is making a difference in the life of another human being. Especially if that person is young, from an underprivileged background and dreams of attending University."

Professor Ashley Blom, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester said: “We are honoured by Dr Weir’s forward-thinking commitment to support Manchester’s future music and medical students.

“Her generosity will continue Manchester’s rich history of musical vibrance and medical excellence, enabling talented individuals to pursue their ambitions regardless of the obstacles they may face. We thank Dr Weir for her unwavering faith in our students and for helping to make their dreams a reality.”

In addition to funding medical bursaries, the musical bursaries reflect Dr Weir’s passion for music, which has been a constant in her life from an early age.

Amy Harris, Legacy Officer at The University of Manchester said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Dr Weir to transform her hopes for the future into tangible support that will shape the lives of students, and their communities, for generations to come.”

Dr Weir is one of a growing number of alumni, staff and other supporters who have chosen to support the University with a legacy gift. Donors are welcomed to the , which recognises their generosity through a programme of special events and communications.

For more information about leaving a gift in your Will, visit the University’s website.

University of Manchester powers up brand new solar farm delivering clean energy to campus

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0100

From Monday (1 September), The University of Manchester will begin powering its campus with clean, renewable electricity from a major new solar farm, marking a key milestone in its goal of becoming zero carbon by 2038.

The energisation of Medebridge, located in Ockendon, Essex, means that up to 65% of the University’s electricity demand will now be met from exclusive ‘new-to-earth’ renewable infrastructure.

Developed in partnership with leading UK clean energy firm Enviromena, the project is part of a 10-year (CPPA), facilitated by EDF and supported by Inspired PLC, the UK’s leading energy and sustainability advisor. It is the UK’s largest solar CPPA with an educational institution.

The development represents the University’s long-term commitment to sustainability and energy resilience.

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility at The University of Manchester, said: “The University’s new long-term solar power agreement is a landmark moment in our journey to zero carbon. By entering into this corporate Power Purchase Agreement, we are directly supporting the development of new UK renewable energy while significantly cutting our own emissions.

“Universities have a vital role to play in tackling the climate crisis, not just through research and education but by taking bold, practical action. At Manchester, we’re proud to be the only university ranked in the global top ten every year for social and environmental impact in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, and we remain determined to lead by example to help create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our partners, including Inspired, Enviromena and EDF, whose expertise and support have been essential in making this project a reality.”

Lee Adams, Chief Commercial Officer at Enviromena, added: “We’re incredibly proud to see Medebridge go live. It’s our largest and most complex project to date and a major step forward in the UK’s net-zero journey.

“By securing a long-term commitment with a top-tier academic institution, this project proves how large-scale renewables and corporate sustainability can align to deliver real impact.”

The construction of Medebridge commenced in April 2024. Comprising of around 104,000 solar panels across 175 acres (roughly the size of 70 football pitches), the site will generate more than 72 GWh of electricity annually, 80% (58GWh) of which will be purchased directly by the University over the next decade. The move will reduce University carbon emissions by 12,000 tonnes of CO2e each year - enough to power 21,000 homes.

In addition to emission reduction, the site will also create a significant biodiversity net gain. Enhancements to the existing hedgerows and planting of native grassland and wildflower meadow beneath and around the solar arrays will encourage nesting opportunities for wildlife and improved habitat connectivity.

Since the CPPA was agreed, Inspired have supported the Enviromena team to connect Medebridge to the UK grid to facilitate the delivery of this power to the University via a sleeving arrangement.

Richard Sullivan, Managing Director of I&C and Estate Intensive at Inspired, said: “CPPAs are an increasingly popular choice for organisations seeking to decarbonise as they offer up to 100% renewable power and much-needed additionality to the grid. Now a solar farm in Essex supplies The University of Manchester with renewable energy.

“This is the culmination of years of meticulous contract negotiations and support our technical experts have provided, and we are delighted for the project to have reached this point. We look forward to powering our partnership on with The University of Manchester and Enviromena alike.”

Following a successful tender bid in 2025, The University of Manchester has also extended its procurement contract with Inspired to 2030, providing energy security and ongoing CPPA in-life management.

EDF, Britain’s largest buyer of renewable electricity, is playing a key role in delivering and running the agreement that enables renewable electricity from Enviromena to power The University of Manchester. As part of this CPPA, EDF takes the variable output from the solar farm and turns it into steady, predictable blocks of power before adding it to the University’s energy supply contract. This ensures a smooth and reliable supply of renewable electricity, while delivering the transparency, reliability and carbon savings the University expects from a major renewable energy initiative.

Tom Abbott, PPA Director at EDF, said: “We’re proud to help The University of Manchester turn its sustainability ambitions into reality. By bringing power from Medebridge Solar Farm through this tailored CPPA, we’re showing how smart partnerships can unlock big wins for decarbonisation. Our balancing, shaping, and sleeving services mean the University gets dependable clean power - and a clear path towards its net zero goals.”

The Medebridge partnership adds to the University’s growing portfolio of environmental and sustainability initiatives from big changes, such as ending all investments in fossil fuels, and completing three zero carbon buildings, to the smaller ones, such as placing food waste bins in every University building, using peat free compost across campus and the .

The University of Manchester was recently ranked in first place in the UK and Europe and second in the world for benefitting society and the environment by for the third year running and was chosen to lead a pioneering global programme by United Nations designed to empower education’s role in the transition towards net zero.

Blood test detects ovarian cancer with high accuracy, study finds

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:01:13 +0100

A new blood test pioneered by diagnostics company AOA Dx (AOA) can detect ovarian cancer in symptomatic women with high accuracy a by researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Colorado has found.

Published in the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) journal Cancer Research Communications, the study assessed AOA’s novel technology that analysed multiple groups of biological markers from a single blood sample.

The researchers showed the test outperformed traditional biomarker tests for ovarian cancer detection in over 950 patients from Colorado and Manchester.

This study is a major milestone and AOA is committed to pursuing regulatory approval across the US and Europe in the coming years, ahead of launching the test to the NHS.

The technology combines two different sets of blood-markers, proteins and lipids, with machine learning to identify the presence of ovarian cancer in women that present with vague abdominal/pelvic symptoms.

In samples from University of Colorado the test exhibited an accuracy of 93% across all stages of ovarian cancer and 91% for early-stage disease.

In a set from Manchester, the model continued to perform strongly, with an accuracy of 92% for all-stages of ovarian cancer and 88% for early-stage disease.

AOA’s test performed better than single blood-based-markers which have been used for the past 30 year, which were only able to attain accuracies of less than 90%.

The successful results, say AOA, will inform the final design of the test, which could produce a streamlined and cost-effective diagnostic relevant to healthcare systems globally.

“Our platform detects ovarian cancer at early stages and with greater accuracy than current tools,” said Alex Fisher COO and Co-Founder of AOA Dx. “These findings show its potential to aid clinicians in making faster, more informed decisions for women who need urgent clarity during a challenging diagnostic process.”

“By using machine learning to combine multiple biomarker types, we’ve developed a diagnostic tool that detects ovarian cancer across the molecular complexity of the disease in sub-types and stages” said Dr. Abigail McElhinny, Chief Science Officer of AOA Dx. “This platform offers a great opportunity to improve the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer potentially resulting in better patient outcomes and lower costs to the healthcare system.”

varian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, largely due to late-stage diagnosis.

Over 90% of women experience symptoms in Stage I, yet only 20% of cases are diagnosed in Stage I or II, as symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and digestive issues often resemble benign conditions.

Existing diagnostic methods, which rely on invasive procedures or less reliable markers, frequently fail to identify early-stage disease.

An accurate early detection test available to women when they first visit a physician with symptoms could revolutionize the detection of ovarian cancer.

Professor Emma Crosbie, Professor at The University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant in Gynecological Oncology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), said: “AOA Dx’s platform shows significant promise for ovarian cancer early detection, offering a practical solution for symptomatic women.”

Professor Crosbie is also National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Co-Theme Lead.

She added: “AOA Dx’s platform has the potential to significantly improve patient care and outcomes for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We are eager to continue advancing this important research through additional prospective trials to further validate and expand our understanding of how this could be integrated into existing healthcare systems.”

The paper Utilizing serum-derived lipidomics with protein biomarkers and machine learning for early detection of ovarian cancer in the symptomatic population published in cancer Research Communications is available DOI:

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Manchester researchers help reveal asteroid Bennu’s complex origins

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:49:21 +0100

New analyses of the samples taken from asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx have revealed new insights into its origin – and The University of Manchester’s scientists have played a key role.

A series of three new papers published this week in Nature Astronomy and Nature Geoscience, reveal that Bennu is a mix of dust formed in our solar system, organic matter from interstellar space and stardust that predates the solar system itself. The asteroid is thought to have formed from fragments of a larger parent asteroid destroyed by a collision in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

In the first paper, co-led by researchers at the University of Arizona and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, published in the journal , Manchester researchers studied the gases trapped inside Bennu’s samples – in particular xenon, which is a very rare gas. Their measurements showed that Bennu’s gases resembled those found in some of the most primitive meteorites found on earth and materials returned from asteroid Ryugu by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission.

When combined with other elemental and isotopic analyses, the results suggest that Bennu’s parent body contained material from a range of origins, close to the Sun, far from the Sun, and even some grains from beyond our solar system.

The findings also show that while much of the materials in the parent asteroid had been affected by water and heat, some of the material had escaped various chemical processes and retained its original chemical signatures. Some even survived the extremely energetic collision that broke it apart and formed Bennu.

The studies also show that while some of Bennu’s original material survived unchanged, similarly, much of it was transformed by reactions with water. Minerals in its parent asteroid likely formed, dissolved, and re-formed over time, with up to 80% of Bennu’s material now made up of water-bearing minerals.

These findings were reported in a second paper the paper published in co-led by the University of Arizona and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and included contributions from Professor Rhian Jones at The University of Manchester.

In the third paper, co-led by Lindsay Keller at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Michelle Thompson of Purdue University, also published in , researchers found microscopic craters and tiny splashes of once-molten rock – known as impact melts – on the sample surfaces - signs that the asteroid was bombarded by micrometeorites. These impacts, together with the effects of solar wind, are known as space weathering and occurred because Bennu has no atmosphere to protect it.

Lindsay Keller at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, said: “The surface weathering at Bennu is happening a lot faster than conventional wisdom would have it, and the impact melt mechanism appears to dominate, contrary to what we originally thought.

“Space weathering is an important process that affects all asteroids, and with returned samples, we can tease out the properties controlling it and use that data and extrapolate it to explain the surface and evolution of asteroid bodies that we haven’t visited.”

As leftovers from the formation of planets 4.5 billion years ago, asteroids like Bennu provide a valuable record of solar system history. Unlike meteorites that fall to Earth, which often burn up or are altered in the atmosphere, Bennu’s pristine samples give scientists a rare opportunity to study untouched material.

The project brings together researchers from NASA, universities and research centres around the world – including the UK, the United States, Japan and Canada – to study Bennu’s samples and unlock new insights into the origins of the solar system.

For more information on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, visit:

TropiConnect Launches Digital Trade Platform to Redefine Global Agriculture

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:18:58 +0100

TropiConnect, a Manchester-based agri-tech startup founded by University of Manchester alumnus Mark Cuthbert, has officially launched its innovative agri-trade platform: .

With several successful pilots, the platform empowers farming cooperatives across Africa by connecting them directly with global buyers, enabling transparent, sustainable, and fair trade in tropical agriculture.

The launch follows TropiConnect’s recent recognition as the Venture Further Award (VFA) Winner, presented by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, celebrating the startup’s vision to transform agricultural supply chains with technology.

TropiConnect is already partnering with farmer cooperatives representing over 200,000 farmers across East and West Africa, while building high-level collaborations with Innovate UK, the United Nations, and government organisations across the continent. From coffee and cocoa to cashew nuts, sesame seeds, and tropical fruits, TropiConnect is positioning itself as the go-to gateway for sourcing Africa’s finest agricultural products in one trusted platform. Leveraging AI and blockchain technology, the platform ensures traceability, competitive pricing,and efficient trade facilitation.

The company’s close ties with the University of Manchester’s innovation ecosystem have been instrumental in its growth. Support from the University’s R&D collaborations, has strengthened TropiConnect’s ability to scale and innovate.

For more information, visit or

University of Manchester launches radiotracer partnership with Alliance Medical

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:04:35 +0100

The University of Manchester has forged a new partnership with Alliance Medical to fast-track the development of the next generation of radiotracers.

Alliance Medical has signed a long-term lease agreement to take up residence at the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC), a University research facility based on the site of the Christie Hospital in Withington, a cancer care, research and education hub. WMIC is home to state-of-the-art radiochemistry facilities, including a cyclotron.

Through the partnership both parties will work collaboratively, combining the academic expertise at the University with Alliance Medical’s extensive industry experience. Alliance Medical works with the NHS to offer PET-CT diagnostic procedures to over one hundred thousand cancer patients in England per year, while also working within the fields of paediatrics, urology and neurology, among others.

Alliance will invest around £10m in the facility to rebuild a state-of-the-art radiopharmacy, which will support future academic research cooperations.

Professor Allan Pacey, Deputy Vice President and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester said: “We are delighted to have entered into this agreement with Alliance. This will open the doors for new and exciting research opportunities for our staff involved in finding new ways to detect and treat cancers and other medical conditions where radiotracers are important tools.”

Professor Stavros Stivaros, Director of Imaging at The University of Manchester said: “This is an exciting collaborative long-term working agreement, which will revitalise the University’s opportunities for state-of-the-art radiochemistry-based research. Research that spans from pre-clinical right through to diagnostics and therapies, across all age groups of patients.”

As manufacturers of radiotracers, Alliance Medical has production facilities across Europe but its partnership with the University paves the way for a presence in Manchester, a renowned UK medical research hotspot. The University will in turn benefit from Alliance Medical’s significant investment in research activity and the upgrade of its radiochemistry production facilities.

Howard Marsh, Chief Financial Officer for Alliance Medical Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with The University of Manchester to add an additional facility into our network that benefits patients in Manchester and the surrounding areas.”

Axel Schmidt, Managing Director of Alliance Medical Radiopharmacy said: “This cooperation is another testament to the fast-growing field of, and interest in, radiopharmaceuticals. It will further expand our involvement in the development and commercialization of own- and third-party innovative tracers for oncology, neurology and cardiology.”

The University will also utilise local access to commercial radiotracers for preclinical and clinical PET-MR imaging research. With Alliance Medical beginning its operations on the site in Autumn 2025, it is hoped production of radiotracers will begin within two years, with these tracers to be delivered to hospitals to improve patient care and diagnostic offerings.

Astronomers capture a record 130-year evolution of a dying star

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0100

For the first time, scientists have directly tracked the slow transformation of a dying star over more than a century - revealing it is heating up faster than any other typical star ever observed.

The research, published today in , tracks 130 years of changes in the “spirograph” Planetary Nebula IC418 - a glowing shell of gas and dust cast off by a dying star about 4000 light years from Earth.

By piecing together observations dating back to 1893, when astronomers first recorded the nebula by eye through a telescope, to today, scientists found the nebula’s signature green light, emitted by oxygen atoms, has grown around 2.5 times stronger since Victorian astronomers first studied it.

This change is being driven by the central star’s rising temperature, which has increased by around 3,000°C since 1893, or roughly 1,000°C every 40 years. For comparison, the Sun increased by the same amount during its formation, but took 10 million years to do it.

However, although the star is heating faster than ever observed, it is still slower than the latest models had predicted. This challenges current theories of how stars age and die, and may force astronomers to rethink the masses of stars capable of producing carbon — the element essential for life.

A planetary nebula marks one of the final stages in a star’s life. As the star’s core becomes unstable, it sheds its outer layers into space. The remaining core heats rapidly, energising the surrounding gas and dust to form beautiful structures. In the case of IC418, this creates an intricate, swirling structure, earning its nickname “the spirograph nebula”. Our Sun will undergo the same fate in about 5 billion years.

While planetary nebulae usually evolve slowly, the researchers discovered that IC418 is evolving fast enough to track within a human lifetime.

This makes it the most prolonged and rapid transformation ever recorded in a planetary nebula, and possibly any star.

The team examined 130 years of observations from a wide range of telescopes – from the human eye measurements in the late 1800s to the advanced technologies of today. They verified, calibrated, and combined the data before comparing it with detailed models of stellar evolution. This allowed them to measure the star’s heating rate, determine its current mass, and even estimate the mass of the star before it began its transformation.

The findings offer a rare insight into of how planetary nebulae evolve and suggest the night sky can change much faster than we usually think.

Co-author, Professor Quentin Parker from the University of Hong Kong, said: “We believe this research is important because it offers unique, direct evidence of how planetary nebulae central stars evolve. It will prompt us to rethink some of our existing models of stellar life cycles.

“It’s been a strong joint effort - collecting, verifying, and carefully analysing more than a century’s worth of astronomical data and then melding that with stellar evolutionary models. It’s a challenging process that goes far beyond simple observation, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our field in this way.”

Journal: The Astrophysical Journal Letters

Full title: The secular evolution of planetary nebula IC 418 and its implications for carbon star formation

DOI: 10.3487/2041-8213/ADF62b

Link:

How an ancient document secured the power of the ‘first King of England’

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:46:39 +0100

An expert from The University of Manchester has revealed how a single sheet of 1,100-year-old parchment may have been used to heal a dangerous royal rift in Ancient England.

King Æthelstan, who is generally known as the first King of England, began his rule almost exactly 1,100 years ago when he was crowned at Kingston on 4 September 925. While history books usually paint his reign as powerful and secure, Dr Jonathan Tickle has found that his early years on the throne were far from smooth sailing - especially in the city of Winchester, where loyalties to a rival prince ran deep.

The story centres on a document now known as “Sawyer 1417” – a lease of farmland agreed between the monks of Winchester’s New Minster and a royal official named Ælfred. On the surface, it looks like a simple property deal. But Dr Tickle’s analysis reveals it was also a carefully staged public event designed to send a political message, patch up strained relationships, and remind everyone who was really in charge.

At the time, Æthelstan faced opposition from supporters of his younger half-brother Eadwine, who some believed had a stronger claim to the throne. The New Minster was a key player in this drama - not only was it home to the tombs of Æthelstan’s father Edward the Elder and grandfather Alfred the Great, but it also stood in a city that may have backed Eadwine.

The charter was read aloud in an assembly packed with nobles, monks, and townsfolk. Its language tied the land deal to the memory of Alfred and Edward, anchoring the king’s authority in his famous ancestors. By setting the rent payment on the anniversary of Edward’s death, the agreement turned a routine transaction into a yearly reminder of Æthelstan’s royal lineage.

“This wasn’t just about farming rights. It was a performance – a way of reshaping alliances, cooling tensions, and making a statement about the king’s rightful place in history. The document itself became a lasting reminder of that moment,” said Dr Tickle.

The research also suggests that monks kept their copy of the charter safe for generations, possibly consulting it at annual rent payments or during disputes – ensuring the king’s message lived on.

By looking at this 1,100-year-old parchment not just as a legal record but as a piece of political theatre, the study opens a new window into how early English kings built and maintained their power.

The full article, ‘’, is published in the Journal of Medieval History.

Research finds that focusing on ‘luxury tourism’ may not benefit African nations

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:27:29 +0100

Many African countries have attempted to attract high-spending tourists in order to create economic success - but new research published in African Studies Review reveals that this strategy might not be as beneficial as it seems, and some countries are struggling to change course.

For decades, organisations like the World Bank advised African nations to focus on “luxury tourism”. The idea was to attract wealthy visitors who spend a lot per day, leading to "high-value, low-impact" tourism, which promised benefits for the environment and local communities. It sounds great on paper, and it helps countries to look like "green states" committed to sustainability.

However, critics are calling this "fake degrowth" as luxury tourists often arrive in private jets, which are much worse for the environment than regular flights. Plus, relying on international travellers - especially from far-flung places like Europe and North America - creates a higher global carbon footprint. But the problems don't stop there. The research found that luxury tourism often leads to:

• Enclaves: huge resorts or national parks that are separate from local life, with limited connections to the wider economy.
• Limited Local Benefits: these places hire few local workers, don't help communities improve their infrastructure, and are mostly all-inclusive, meaning tourists don't buy from smaller local businesses.
• Foreign Control: The most profitable eco-tourism lodges and conservation areas are often owned by foreign companies.
• "Leakages": the money tourists spend doesn't stay in the country. It goes to foreign travel agencies or is used to pay for imported goods for hotels, or profits are sent back to foreign owners.
• Increased Inequality: profits are concentrated among foreign operators or a small group of wealthy locals, while general wages in tourism jobs are often low. In Mauritius, for example, many locals feel like "foreigners are taking over the island" and don't even have access to their own best beaches.

The study highlights a surprising finding. When these luxury strategies don't deliver, democratic governments like Mauritius and Botswana - which face political pressure like upcoming elections or public anger over unemployment and inequality - are more flexible and have tried to adapt their strategies.

However, authoritarian governments like Rwanda with strong, centralised control tend to stick to their long-term luxury goals even when problems arise. Despite high unemployment and recent economic shocks, Rwanda has doubled down on its luxury tourism - its government believes this strategy will eventually pay off in the long run, even if it ignores short-term inequalities.

“This study challenges common ideas about which types of governments are better at development,” said Dr Behuria. “It shows that sometimes, political pressure in democracies can lead to more flexible and responsive policies than the long-term, rigid plans of authoritarian states.”

Northern Gritstone leads £4 million seed round investment in pioneering University of Manchester spinout

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:59:31 +0100

Northern Gritstone, the groundbreaking life sciences and deeptech investment firm chaired by Lord Jim O’Neill, has announced a combined £4 million seed round investment into the optical sensor startup PhovIR. Northern Gritstone is co-leading the investment alongside deeptech specialist SCVC.

The company is a spinout from the University of Manchester, founded by Dr Tim Echermeyer, based at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (), and joined by Dr Steve Turley as executive-Chair.

PhovIR uses its breakthrough Near Infra-Red (NIR) optical sensor technology to identify the ‘optical fingerprint’ of constituents of solids, liquids and gases, in a portable device. Human eyes perceive a very narrow band of the optical spectrum, predominantly colours, yet there is much more information about materials and substances contained in longer wavelengths.

This innovation is a ‘platform technology’ which has far-reaching applications for human health, such as the detection of drink spiking and other contaminants to industrial safety, pollution monitoring and agricultural functions.

Although other NIR sensor devices exist, they are bulky, often difficult to integrate into portable devices and expensive to manufacture. The breakthrough achieved by PhovIR allows this to be manufactured on a silicon chip enabling a small, light and cost-effective solution that has the potential to be incorporated into a smart watch or phone.

PhovIR has developed a capability based on MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology to create a flexible, portable, low-cost solution that captures a broader optical range. Its software is fully configurable, doing the job of multiple sensors, and can be manufactured at scale.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester said: “PhovIR is a fantastic example of the kind of innovation that defines The University of Manchester – world-class research brought to life through collaboration, with the potential to change lives.

“It’s exciting to see this deeptech breakthrough moving towards real-world application, supported by the expertise of our Innovation Factory and partners like Northern Gritstone. My congratulations to the team behind PhovIR, this is exactly the kind of impact we want to see more of across our University and our region.”

PhovIR is chaired by Dr Steve Turley, who has over 25 years’ experience dedicated to scaling complex technologies into high growth businesses, including as Chair of Effect Photonics and ex-CEO of Perpetuum.

With the funding, PhovIR plans to bring its first commercial product to market, grow its team, and continue delivering on its vision for making the invisible visible to improve human and planetary health.

PhovIR recently completed Northern Gritstone’s pre-seed program, NG Studios, which has supported PhovIR to refine its commercial strategy as a customer-led organisation ready for growth and successful fundraising.

Active since May 2022, Northern Gritstone has already made 37 investments in early-stage businesses in the North of England, expanded its investment team and built NG Innovation Services, its venture building ‘toolkit’ offering, inter alia: talent management; growth advice; business services; and the accelerator program, NG Studios.

Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, said: “PhovIR is a Northern Gritstone NG Studios graduate. The University of Manchester is home to innovation in materials science including graphene. Northern Gritstone is delighted to back Dr Tim Echtermeyer and Dr Steve Turley – graduates of our NG Studios venture building program - knowing that PhovIR’s technology has the potential to create a global company.”

Dr Tim Echtermeyer, CTO of PhovIR, said: “I am exhilarated to enter the next part of PhovIR’s journey and turn our vision into reality. I am grateful to the many people contributing and making this happen; particularly Steve, and William Wren and Minh Vu from the Engineering team, who have worked relentlessly.

Dr Steve Turley, Chair of PhovIR said: “I am very excited to be working with PhovIR not only because of the immense potential that the technology has but also the great team in Manchester led by Tim. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate that the UK can take excellent innovative technology and turn it into a global success story”

John Williams, General Partner of SCVC said: “PhovIR represents the future of deep tech: advanced hardware, unlocked by AI. It’s the kind of multi-tech breakthrough that creates entirely new categories—and the kind SCVC is here to back.”

Scientists shed light on root cause of muscular dystrophy subtype

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:08:00 +0100

University of Manchester scientists have mapped the mutations in the tiny protein chains that cause a subtype of muscular dystrophy.

Published today in the journal , the study provides a major insight into the muscular dystrophy subtype known collectively as Collagen VI-related dystrophy – or COL6-RD for short.

The team are the first ever to determine the high resolution structure of collagen VI- one of the networks of protein molecules that give our tissues mechanical strength and the ability to stretch and bend.

Called the extracellular matrix, the protein network also enables cells to sense their environment and communicate with one another in response to mechanical forces.

COL6-RD, which includes Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (UCMD) and Bethlem myopathy (BM), can cause a range of symptoms including muscle weakness, joint contractures, decreased muscle tone, and weak breathing muscles.

It is one of a number muscular dystrophy subtypes and others include the more prevalent Duchenne- caused by mutation of another protein - for which scientists are developing gene therapies.

However, so far equivalent therapies have not been developed for COL6-RD.

Collagens are the most abundant extracellular matrix proteins, and form long fibres many times smaller than a human hair, called microfibrils.

Collagen VI forms one type of microfibril, taking on the appearance of a large bead-like structure, consisting of three separate protein chains, that twist and fold together.

The research required the scientists to develop small fragments of collagen VI, which they called mini-collagens.

Mini-collagens will be useful tools for studying or even treating the diseases associated with collagen VI mutations.

Lead author of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded study Clair Baldock, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Manchester said: “It is extremely important to understand where mutations in the tiny protein chains called collagen VI that cause a subtype of muscular dystrophy are, to help in the design of future treatments.

“Using a technique called cryogenic-electron microscopy - which can magnify collagen VI hundreds of thousands of times- we were able to determine the organisation of parts of collagen VI and map the disease mutations.

“That provides an opportunity for scientists to design drugs which specifically target the mutations by focusing only on what's broken.

She added: “We are the first group to determine the high resolution structure of collagen VI; until now, no- one has been able to show the locations of these mutations on the collagen VI structure.

“This is an important step along the path of finding ways to treat these types of muscular dystrophy and will provide momentum to accelerate scientific discovery in this area.

“We hope that our structure will provide vital information to help the scientific community develop treatments, such as gene therapy, for collagen VI-RD.

“This provides some hope to people with muscular dystrophy that one day treatments will be available to improve their quality of life and help them to stay active and independent.”

The paper Collagen VI microfibril structure reveals mechanism for molecular assembly and clustering of inherited pathogenic mutations is . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62923-3

Remembering Mrs Jean Oglesby CBE 1939-2025

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:21:35 +0100

It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of Jean Oglesby CBE - a remarkable philanthropist, community leader and a treasured friend to The University of Manchester.

Jean, alongside her late husband Michael, co-founded the Oglesby Charitable Trust in 1992, building a legacy that has touched thousands of lives across the North West and beyond. The University has been privileged to share in that legacy for many decades. Jean’s approach to philanthropy was deeply personal – she wanted to understand the programmes she supported, meet the people leading them, and be certain that her giving would create lasting change.

Through the Trust, Jean and Michael made transformational contributions to our work – from funding PhD scholarships at the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre to advancing pioneering research in cancer and leukaemia, to supporting public health policy and environmental sustainability initiatives. Their leadership and generosity were instrumental in establishing the Manchester Cancer Research Centre’s new home, where world-leading oncology teams are now working to develop personalised cancer treatments that will save and extend lives.

Jean also enriched the University’s cultural life. Her love of the arts was expressed through the Trust’s support for Manchester Museum initially for the vivarium and followed by support for wider capital projects. This was also demonstrated in the Trust’s commissioning of original artworks for the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, the John Rylands Library, and the Whitworth Art Gallery. These contributions have enhanced our campus as a place to learn, work and be inspired.

In 2015, Jean and Michael became two of the founding members of the Langworthy Circle of Benefactors, an honour that acknowledges our most significant donors. In 2016, Jean was also honoured with a CBE for services to philanthropy in the North West. But those who knew her will remember her most for her warmth, wisdom, and quiet strength - qualities that left an impression on everyone she met.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Jean was a close friend to the University and a force for good. Her compassion and clarity of purpose were extraordinary. She believed deeply in the power of community. She touched and inspired countless lives – in Manchester and far beyond. Her legacy will live on through the Oglesby Charitable Trust, the causes she championed, the institutions she supported and the communities she cared for so deeply.”

On behalf of the entire University community, we offer our heartfelt condolences to Jean’s family and friends, and our enduring gratitude for her extraordinary partnership, which will continue to inspire for generations to come.

Manchester named as one of world’s leading universities in 2025 academic rankings

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:12:27 +0100

The University of Manchester has strengthened its position among the world’s best universities, rising to 46th globally in the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The prestigious annual list, compiled by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, assesses more than 2500 institutions worldwide and publishes the top 1000.

Manchester’s strong performance also saw it improve to 13^th place in Europe while maintaining its place as the 6th best university in the UK, underlining its reputation for research excellence, global impact and academic achievement.

Since 2003, the ARWU has been recognised as one of the most influential global university rankings. It measures academic and research performance using a set of objective indicators including the number of highly cited researchers, publications in Nature and Science and articles indexed in major citation databases.

It also includes Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals – alumnus Professor Simon Johnson became the 26th Nobel laureate associated with The University of Manchester last October, when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking research into understanding wealth disparities between different nations.

“For an institution of our scale and ambition, continued progress on the global stage is both a challenge and an opportunity," Duncan added.

The 2025 ARWU result follows a strong year for Manchester in other leading global rankings - in June, it was named the 35th best university in the world in the QS World University Rankings.

The power of the University’s social and environmental impact has also been recognised on a global scale, being the only university in the top ten in both the QS World University Sustainability Rankings and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, in recognition of its contribution towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The University’s research strength is further evidenced by the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), in which 93% of research activity was rated either ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*).

“Manchester has always been a place where world-class research meets real-world impact,” said Vice-President for Research Professor Colette Fagan. “We are proud of our achievements, but even more excited about what lies ahead.”

The full 2025 ARWU list and methodology can be explored at ShanghaiRanking’s .

Scientists discover new ways to predict course of chronic kidney disease

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 04:12:00 +0100

Scientists from The University of Manchester and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust have discovered a series of biological signals which can predict how chronic kidney disease is likely to progress.

Published in the American Journal of Nephrology today (11/08/25), the researchers show that higher levels of Kidney Injury Molecule-1(KIM-1), a special marker of kidney damage in the blood and urine, are associated with higher risks of mortality and kidney failure, never before have the two been measured together.

The research follows hot on the heels of their published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology last month, which measured 21 markers in blood and urine that reflect key processes driving kidney disease, inflammation, and heart disease.

From the JASN study , the team pinpointed three standout markers that can predict both how quickly kidney disease will progress and the risk of death.

Unlike the generic tests used in routine kidney clinics, the markers shine a light on the biological changes, underpinning CKD, that truly drive the disease. By revealing the hidden drivers, the discovery opens the door to new treatments designed to target the disease at its roots.

Lead author Dr Thomas McDonnell, is both a researcher at The University of Manchester and a kidney doctor at Salford Royal Hospital, part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

He said: “The progression of chronic kidney disease is highly variable between people, so it’s difficult to predict which patients will progress to kidney failure or worse.

“But our work raises the prospect of the development of simple blood or urine tests that could better predict the degree of risk- invaluable information for doctors and patients.

“We think that , these models, which are more closely aligned with the underlying biological changes happening in chronic kidney disease, could allow a more tailored approach to the individual needs of patients.”

The researchers analysed the blood and urine of adults with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease from 16 nephrology centres across the UK.

They analysed blood and urine KIM-1 in 2581 patients for the KIM-1 study and looked at all 21 markers of kidney damage, fibrosis, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease together in 2,884 patients for the second

They used statistical analysis to assess how or if biological signals associated with kidney failure and mortality, and developed risk prediction models.

Because chronic kidney disease can stay stable for years in one person but suddenly worsen in another, doctors find it difficult to identify which patients are most at risk.

Existing blood tests currently only give doctors a partial picture, missing important clues like inflammation and scar build up. As a result, people with the same CKD stage are often labelled has having the same risk and are given the same treatments.

Dr McDonnell added: “This discovery may will help doctors identify high-risk patients, so they enact more aggressive interventions, earlier specialist referral, and earlier treatment therapies.

“And by identifying low risk patients, they would be able to prevent over-treatment.

“Living with chronic kidney disease often means managing fatigue, having limits to what you can and can’t eat, and being consigned to frequent medical appointments.

“It can be physically and emotionally challenging, but with the appropriate care, it is possible maintain an active and fulfilling life.”

Plasma and Urinary KIM-1 in Chronic Kidney Disease: Prognostic Value, Associations with Albuminuria, and Implications for Kidney Failure and Mortality is published in doi 10.1159/000547867is

Biomarkers of kidney failure and all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease is published in the DOI:10.1681/ASN.0000000767

Book by Manchester academic shortlisted for Royal Society prize

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:44:39 +0100

A historian from The University of Manchester has been named as one of six authors shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, which celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe.

by Professor Sadiah Qureshi was named as one of the finalists at the Edinburgh International Book Festival by author and palaeontologist Steve Brusatte, following an event with the Prize’s 2024 winner Kelly Weinersmith.

The Royal Society Science Book Prize has championed non-fiction books that celebrate the collective joy of science writing for more than 30 years. Previous winning titles cover diverse themes, ranging from the sensory experiences of animals to the evolution of all life on earth, and a fresh perspective on human behaviour and relationships.

All of this year’s authors make the shortlist for the first time, with books that cover an array of important scientific topics through compelling and accessible storytelling. The shortlisted titles represent the judges’ pick of the most fascinating and relevant science writing over the past 12 months.

Professor Qureshi is a writer and historian of science, race and empire. Currently a Chair of Modern British History at the University of Manchester, she has written for the London Review of Books, Times Literary Supplement and New Statesman.

Vanished is a compelling exploration of how the modern concept of extinction has been shaped not just by science but by empire, racism and the politics of disappearance, and it urges us to reckon with extinction as both an evolutionary fate and a deliberate choice.

“This book shows us why science is not a neutral subject - from the human-driven extinction of the dodo to the justification of indigenous peoples being killed based on false racial hierarchy, politics has been woven into scientific decision-making throughout history,” said previous prize winner Roma Agrawal, who was on the judging panel. “This is an updated and refreshing perspective of a story we ought to know about. Qureshi’s writing is thoroughly readable, while being extremely well researched, opening up a new and important conversation about natural history.”

The winner of this year’s Prize will be revealed on the evening of 1 October 2025, where they will be presented with a cheque for £25,000. Each of the five shortlisted authors will receive a cheque for £2,500.

Scientists discover surprising language ‘shortcuts’ in birdsong – just like humans

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 19:00:00 +0100

Scientists have uncovered a hidden pattern in birdsong that mirrors a core rule of human language.

A new study, led by researchers at The University of Manchester, in collaboration with Chester Zoo, found that birds appear to follow Zipf’s Law of Abbreviation (ZLA) – the idea that more frequently used sounds tend to be shorter. This rule, found in all human languages, helps make communication more efficient.

The findings, published in the journal today, offer new insight into how animals communicate and provide a new foundation for researchers exploring whether birds, like humans, shape their vocal signals according to the 'principle of least effort'.

Lead author Dr Tucker Gilman, Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester said: “In human language, if we say something a lot, we tend to shorten it – like saying ‘TV’ instead of ‘television’. It turns out that the same pattern exists in birdsong.

“We know that birds and humans share similarities in the genes and brain structures involved in learning to communicate but this is the first time we’ve been able to detect a consistent pattern of ZLA across multiple bird species. There’s still a lot more work to be done but this is an exciting development.”

Although previous studies hinted that animal communication might follow ZLA – including in penguins – it has been difficult to find clear evidence of ZLA in birdsong. That’s partly because most birds have much smaller repertoires compared to humans. While humans use thousands of words, birds may only produce a few dozen distinct sounds.

To tackle this, the researchers developed new method for studying ZLA in birdsong that focuses on how often individual birds use certain note types and how long those notes last allowing them to examine communication at an individual rather than population level.

They then applied this method using a new open-source computational tool called ZLAvian, which compares real-world observed patterns to simulated ones to determine if ZLA is present.

Using ZLAvian, the team analysed more than 600 songs from 11 bird populations spanning seven different species. They found that while individual populations didn’t always show clear signs of ZLA, a stronger pattern emerged when the data was combined, showing more frequently used birdsong phrases were shorter on average.

Co-author Dr Rebecca Lewis, Conservation Scientist at Chester Zoo, said: “Studying ZLA in birdsong is far more complex than in human language. Birds often have very few note types, individuals even within the same species can vary widely in their repertoires, and classifying notes is tricky too. Our research has taught that it’s important to look across a wide range of species when looking for language patterns and we hope ZLAvian will make it easier for other researchers to explore these patterns in more birds but also other animals in the future.”

The team says that further studies are needed across a broader set of bird species to confirm their findings.

Paper details:

Journal: PLoS Computational Biology

Full title: Does Zipf’s law of abbreviation shape birdsong?

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013228

Link:

Job dissatisfaction and burnout may be behind exodus of GPs

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:48:00 +0100

Burnout and job dissatisfaction are likely to be key drivers influencing GPs’ decisions to leave patient care within the next five years, University of Manchester researchers have found.

The academics for the first time, identified how GPs in England are becoming less engaged with their work — and how these signs often follow one after the other, ultimately leading to the decision to quit.

The study published in and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research () School of Primary Care Research (SPCR) and Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC), helps explain the current GP workforce crisis.

While there is substantial evidence both internationally and within the UK of a growing exodus of GPs, until now we did not fully understand the warning signs or how they are linked.

Of 351 GPs from 57 practices surveyed via an online questionnaire, up to one in three GPs experienced symptoms of burnout (27%) and expressed a moderate to high intention to quit patient care within the next five years (33%).

Also from the study, one in five (19%) GPs reported low job satisfaction, two in five (41%) indicated poor work-life balance, and up to one in four (27%) reported working while unwell over the past year.

Further analysis showed that symptoms of burnout and low job satisfaction were the factors most directly linked to GPs’ intentions to leave their roles, even when other work-related factors were taken into account.

The findings suggest that burnout and job dissatisfaction are key drivers influencing GPs’ decisions to leave patient care within the next five years.

Other signs of work disengagement — such as working while unwell or having a poor work-life balance — were more indirectly linked to quitting, often through their effect on burnout and low job satisfaction.

Lead author Dr Christos Grigoroglou, a health economist from The University of Manchester, said:

“We found that job dissatisfaction and burnout are likely to be immediate signals that GPs are at high risk of quitting direct patient care. Poor work-life balance and working while unwell were also indirectly linked.

“This is why there is an urgent need to address these issues if we are to improve GP retention. If we do not, primary care may face unprecedented difficulties.”

The study authors suggested strategies including fair compensation, professional development, and a supportive work environment as ways to enhance job satisfaction.

Organisational support around time and resources to implement stress management programmes and mental health support could also help improve job satisfaction, reduce burnout, and retain GPs.

Preventative measures such as flexible working and fostering a supportive culture that encourages taking sick leave without stigma could improve work-life balance and reduce the tendency to work when unwell.

Principal investigator, psychologist Professor Maria Panagioti, said: “These findings highlight that GP retention policies should incorporate job satisfaction and wellbeing as core strategies to retain GPs.

“Additionally, improving work-life balance and reducing working while unwell can serve as effective early preventative measures to reduce burnout and job dissatisfaction — and in turn, help retain GPs.”

Associations between burnout and career disengagement factors among general practitioners: a path analysis is available

How RFK Jr is systematically undermining vaccines around the world

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:03:36 +0100

Vaccines are one of the greatest public health success stories of all time. Over the past 50 years, they’ve saved an estimated . But in the US, both access to vaccines and public trust in them are being systematically undermined – not by conspiracy theorists online, but from within the highest levels of government.

In January 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr – long associated with vaccine misinformation – was confirmed as US health secretary. Despite being pressed during his , Kennedy insisted he was not and pledged to maintain scientific standards.

Seven months later, his actions tell a different story.

Kennedy has launched a sweeping assault on the US vaccine infrastructure: gutting oversight committees, sowing doubt about settled science, politicising ingredient safety, limiting access to vaccines and halting funding for research. His strategy doesn’t involve outright bans. But the cumulative effect may prove just as damaging.

In the US, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) plays a central role in vaccine policy, offering evidence-based recommendations on schedules. Until recently, its members were respected experts in immunology, epidemiology and infectious disease – all vetted, conflict-checked and publicly accountable.

In May 2025, Kennedy on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women and young children. The following month, he , citing alleged conflicts of interest. In their place, Kennedy appointed a smaller panel that included people with .

This broke decades of precedent. For the first time, ACIP’s membership was handpicked by the health secretary without standard vetting, training or safeguards to ensure independence.

In July, the ousted ACIP members in the New England Journal of Medicine, warning the recommendation process was facing “seismic disruption”. In August, Kennedy from advising ACIP, claiming they were too biased. This removed yet another check on the panel’s independence.

Meanwhile, Kennedy has reopened long-closed debates. He has called for “reassessment” of the , standard , and reportedly even the thoroughly debunked claim that the MMR . The latter has been refuted by multiple peer-reviewed studies, including .

At ACIP’s first meeting under new leadership, Kennedy’s panel reviewed thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in some flu vaccines. CDC scientists were scheduled to present their evidence but were dropped from the agenda. Instead, the only evidence came from Lyn Redwood, a vaccine critic and co-founder of the , an initiative that preceded Kennedy’s own Children’s Health Defense group.

Her presentation appeared to include at least one , yet ACIP went on to from flu shots – a decision Kennedy later extended to .

Though thimerosal was already used in very few vaccines, the way it was removed – based on flawed evidence and limited expert input – sets a dangerous precedent.

Kennedy has also criticised aluminium hydroxide, used in many vaccines to boost the immune response. His contradicts a large body of that supports its safety. Aluminium salts are found in vaccines against hepatitis A and B, meningococcal disease and tetanus.

Restricting access and innovation

The ripple effects of Kennedy’s changes go beyond oversight. In July, ACIP announced it would review recommendations for — a single shot that protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox).

These guidelines help determine what vaccines are covered by public insurers like Medicaid. Weakening them could for low-income families.

Kennedy has also targeted the , which provides payouts for rare adverse effects while protecting vaccine supply from litigation. He is considering expanding eligibility to include autism, despite consensus refuting any link, and may allow more lawsuits. These changes could deter pharmaceutical companies from offering vaccines in the US.

Kennedy has insisted that all new vaccines must undergo new , ignoring the fact that new vaccines already follow this standard. Only modified versions of approved vaccines – like annual flu shots – are currently exempt, for ethical reasons.

If Kennedy bans widely used ingredients like aluminium salts, companies may be forced to reformulate vaccines – triggering unnecessary full clinical trials (the multi-phase process typically required for entirely new vaccines) and delaying access to boosters.

In May, vaccine manufacturer Moderna for a combined COVID-flu vaccine, citing regulatory difficulties. Days later, Kennedy’s department in funding for a Moderna bird flu vaccine, followed by cuts to and .

Other countries may continue vaccine research, but the US’s retreat leaves a major gap.

Destabilising global trust

Perhaps most troubling is the messaging. Kennedy has repeatedly , , and .

He has also as corrupt and threatened to from publishing in respected outlets such as The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine — two of the world’s most prestigious peer-reviewed journals. Instead, he has proposed state-run alternatives. His own review on Aluminium Hydroxide was published in a non-peer-reviewed outlet.

In just a few months as health secretary, Kennedy has reshaped vaccine policy and public trust in the US. He has repeatedly claimed that the scientific and medical establishment is corrupt and that consensus cannot be trusted. This rhetoric is especially dangerous at a time when vaccine uptake is already low .

But the consequences don’t stop at national borders. When coverage drops in one country, the risk of disease outbreaks increases globally, as seen in the recent .

Kennedy has shown both determination and ingenuity in undermining vaccine science, often through methods that are complex, obscure, or hard to explain publicly. Without issuing a single ban, he has weakened the foundations of vaccine availability and trust in the US.

In the 19th century, the average life expectancy in the US was . Many children died of infections that are now preventable. In an age when the deadly realities of diseases like measles have faded from memory, it’s chilling to consider the possibility of returning to a pre-vaccine era.

, Professor of Operational Research, Director of the UCL Clinical Operational Research Unit, and , Professor in Immunology,

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

New £13m nuclear programme to boost UK energy security through sustainable graphite innovation

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 12:28:51 +0100

The University of Manchester has been awarded a major grant to lead a new programme that will transform the lifecycle of graphite in nuclear energy - an essential material for the future deployment of nuclear power.

The award brings together world-leading expertise led by The University of Manchester in collaboration with the Universities of Oxford, Plymouth, and Loughborough.

Nuclear energy is expected to play a central role in the UK’s net zero goals as it emits nearly zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions – but it comes with challenges.

The five-year ENLIGHT programme (Enabling a Lifecycle Approach to Graphite for Advanced Modular Reactors) will develop critical technologies to support the deployment of next-generation nuclear energy technology and will address two of the UK’s most pressing nuclear challenges - securing a sustainable, sovereign supply of nuclear graphite and finding solutions to manage the country’s growing volume of irradiated graphite waste.

The project is supported with an £8.2m grant from UK Research and Innovation’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Higher Education Institutions, and around £5m of contributions from industry partners.

The programme of research, collaboration, and skills development aims to secure the UK’s position at the forefront of nuclear innovation and a global leader in advanced reactor technology and clean energy innovation.

Graphite is a critical component in many next-generation Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), including High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors and various Molten Salt Reactor designs - technologies key to achieving the UK’s ambition to deliver 24GW of new nuclear power by 2050.

The material accounts for around one-third of reactor build costs, yet despite its importance, the UK currently relies entirely on imports to meet demand.

With the existing Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor fleet approaching decommissioning by 2028, and more than 100,000 tonnes of irradiated graphite already in storage, ENLIGHT will pioneer new approaches to both recycling legacy material and producing new, sustainable high-performance graphite suitable for future AMRs.

Dr Greg Black, Senior Advisor at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency look forward to participating as a partner in the ENLIGHT programme. As the environmental regulator for the nuclear industry in England, we consider the ambitions of the ENLIGHT programme on 'sustainable graphite' aligns with our Regulatory and RD&I areas of interest.”

The programme will focus on three strands of work:

Sustainable Graphite – Developing processes for decontaminating, recycling and reusing irradiated graphite from AMR deployment.
Graphite Selection & Design – Designing new graphite materials engineered to withstand extreme conditions in AMR environments.
Graphite Performance – Understanding how these new materials behave in novel AMR conditions to improve its lifespan.

These advances could save the UK up to £2 billion in future waste management costs and offers a pathway to strengthen the UK’s unique position as a global hub for graphite research and innovation.

, Professor of Energy Materials at the University of Oxford will lead theme two around graphite selection and design. He said: “I’m delighted to be leading Theme two (Graphite Selection & Design – Designing new graphite materials engineered to withstand extreme conditions in AMR environments) in this major project. Materials will contribute to several work packages across the whole activity, and our initial focus will be on novel studies of mechanical damage to support the design and qualification of new nuclear graphites for advanced fission reactors.”

At Loughborough University, researchers are contributing advanced computational modelling to explore how nuclear graphite behaves under extreme conditions.

Senior Lecturer in Materials Modelling at Loughborough University, said: “This will help us predict how and when these critical reactor components may fail, guiding the design of stronger, more reliable materials for the reactors of tomorrow. Our research also supports the reuse and recycling of existing graphite, helping to make future nuclear energy both safer and more sustainable."

The University of Plymouth will bring expertise in the analysis of porous materials, which will play a critical role in evaluating the performance and suitability of repurposed graphite.

, Lecturer in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Plymouth, said: “This project is not just about scientific discovery; it's about pioneering sustainable solutions for nuclear energy, turning waste into a valuable resource and bolstering the UK's energy security for decades to come. This consortium embodies a truly cyclical and green approach to nuclear solutions, aiming for a cleaner energy transition and helping to demystify some of the traditional concepts that surround the nuclear industry. Our expertise in analysing the intricate properties of porous materials will be instrumental in ensuring the suitability of repurposed graphite for next-generation nuclear reactors, and we are particularly excited to have the opportunity to grow our relationship with The University of Manchester – and our industrial partners across the nuclear industry – through this initiative.”

ENLIGHT will also focus on skills development to expand the national graphite research community and train the next generation of graphite scientists and engineers essential to the UK's clean energy future.

Home to the and a core partner in the , The University of Manchester is uniquely positioned to lead the ENLIGHT programme. The University brings together cutting-edge facilities from the Irradiated Materials Laboratory and the .

ENLIGHT will also build on Manchester's role in flagship activities and initiatives including, the , the and

Manchester experts join national project to combat NHS fraud

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 11:26:53 +0100

Two leading criminologists from The University of Manchester are playing a key role in a groundbreaking national research project designed to tackle fraud in the NHS, which costs the UK taxpayer an estimated £1.3 billion each year.

The initiative, known as Project SCAN (Strengthening Counter-Fraud Across the NHS in England), is led by Northumbria University and brings together experts from across the UK to improve understanding and responses to fraud within the health service.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the 32-month study will generate robust evidence on the nature and organisation of counter-fraud strategies in the NHS in England, and how these strategies can be strengthened.

It will explore multiple dimensions of fraud risk in the NHS, from procurement and payroll to patient identity and prescription fraud. It will also look at how data and technology can support prevention efforts and how public sector institutions can be better equipped to respond to emerging threats.

The project will involve collaboration with NHS bodies, frontline counter-fraud professionals and other academic partners across the UK. Results will be disseminated through public reports, practitioner briefings, academic publications, and policy engagement events.

By generating evidence-based recommendations, Project SCAN aims to inform national policy and practice, ultimately helping to safeguard public money and ensure NHS services remain sustainable and fair for all.

Manchester’s Professor Nicholas Lord and Dr Katie Benson, both from the University’s Department of Criminology, have previously led and contributed to high-profile studies into economic and white-collar crime, working with varied public and private organisations. In Project SCAN they will focus on the practical delivery of local counter fraud provision across NHS organisations.

“Understanding how counter fraud work is carried out is important for improving its effectiveness," added Dr Benson. ”Our research will better understand the experiences of those delivering these services, identifying what challenges they face and what support they need. This insight is vital for shaping a more strategic and joined-up approach to tackling fraud across the NHS."

Experts reveal how migration between South America and Europe has changed

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0100

A new study from experts at The University of Manchester has uncovered how people have moved between South America and Europe over the past 35 years, and how those patterns might change in the future.

The research, led by Dr Andrea Lisette Aparicio Castro and Professor Arkadiusz Wiśniowski from the Department of Social Statistics, looks at where people moved, why they moved, and what might happen by the year 2050.

In the early 1900s, many Europeans moved to South America to find work and a better life. But in more recent times, the direction has changed - now, more people are moving from South America to Europe. Until now, it’s been difficult to understand exactly how these movements work because the data from different countries didn’t match up.

To fix that, the research team collected census data from 30 countries and used a smart model to fill in the gaps and correct errors. This gave them a clear and complete picture of migration between 1985 and 2018, and helped them to make educated guesses about how migration will look in the future.

The study showed that many people from countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela moved to Spain, while Brazilians often went to Portugal. These moves were often easier because of shared languages and cultural history.

“We wanted to understand not just how many people moved, but why,” said Dr Aparicio Castro. “We found that people’s decisions are influenced by things like education, job opportunities, family ties, language, and even natural disasters like floods.”

The team also looked ahead to 2050. They found that as Europe’s population gets older, more workers from South America may be needed to help fill jobs - especially in healthcare and services. At the same time, education levels in South America are rising, which could mean more skilled workers moving to Europe.

The research was a partnership with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, and is published in the journal .

Manchester expert sheds light on what it means to be middle-aged

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0100

A new study by Dr Amy Barron from The University of Manchester’s Department of Geography is shining a light on a part of life which is often overlooked - middle-age.

While a lot of research focuses on the very young or very old, middle-age - often seen as the longest phase of life - rarely gets much attention. Dr Barron’s work looks at what middle-age actually means to people living through it, and why it's important to understand this period more fully.

Through interviews with people aged between 52 and 67 from Greater Manchester, the study explored how people define and experience being “in the middle” of life. Rather than looking for strict age ranges or one-size-fits-all answers, participants were asked to reflect on their own experiences and how they see themselves.

Many shared that middle-age feels like a time of reflection, transition and sometimes uncertainty. It’s a phase where people are no longer young, but don’t yet feel old. Some spoke about feeling “stuck” in their careers, or about health issues which made them more aware of their age. Others mentioned enjoying the freedom that comes with no longer having young children to care for, or having more financial stability.

One participant joked that calling herself “middle-aged” would only make sense if she planned to live to 120. Another said middle-age was more about mindset than years, while a third described it as a time to plan for a “good” older age, even while resisting the label “old.”

The research encourages people - and especially other researchers - to pay more attention to what happens in the middle of life, and not just focus on ‘childhood’, ‘youth’ and ‘older age’. Dr Barron suggests we need ways of thinking about ageing that don’t rely on fixed stages or categories, because life is always in motion, always changing and our lives often don’t follow a linear path.

She also notes that everyone experiences middle-age differently - life events, family, health, work and even global events like the COVID-19 pandemic all shape how people feel about this time in their lives.

The study, published in journal Social & Cultural Geography, offers important lessons for researchers, policymakers and the public. By listening to how people make sense of their lives, especially during the long stretch of middle-age, we can better support their needs - and challenge the idea that middle-age is boring or unimportant.

The University of Manchester celebrates flurry of prestigious teaching awards

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:16:54 +0100

The University of Manchester is celebrating a number of new teaching excellence awards, including two National Teaching Fellowships (NTFs) and a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) from Advance HE.

The NTFs have been awarded to Professor and .

Over a decade-long career with The University of Manchester, Ang has climbed the ranks from Lecturer and Senior Lecturer to Professor of Clinical Bioinformatics and Healthcare Science Education and Academic Lead for Lifelong Learning.

Ang takes a co-design approach to healthcare teaching, with her courses commissioned by the National School of Healthcare Sciences, part of NHS England. She focuses on authentic assessment and the integration of real-world case studies throughout her teaching. Her extensive experience in digital teaching paved the way for her role leading the Lifelong Learning workstream within the Flexible Learning Programme, a major change project for The University of Manchester, and becoming Co-Director, focusing on professional learning within Manchester Online.

Ang said of the award: “I'm thrilled to receive a NTF, recognising my teaching and leadership at the University. I design and deliver programmes for non-traditional learners who juggle work, family, and study. I strive to ensure we are a trusted learning partner for life, providing a holistic educational offer for students, alumni, industry partners and our city region.

“Whilst a NTF is a personal achievement it’s the result of working with many amazing colleagues and teams – and I hope I say this enough, but thank you to all those who have inspired, challenged and supported my journey.”

Jenni is Academic Lead for Employability at Alliance Manchester Business School, inaugurator of the Teaching and Scholarship Network at The University of Manchester and a Senior Lecturer in accounting.

She was nominated for her ability to integrate dialogic pedagogy, critical reflective practice and playful experiential learning to create distinctive and highly effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment, and she is the first NTF from the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS).

At a time when many students are encountering isolation and mental health challenges, the value of her empowering approach not only encourages intellectual development but enhances student wellbeing and sense of belonging.

Jenni said of the award: “Being recognised nationally for teaching excellence is deeply meaningful to me, it affirms the transformative learning which emerges through dialogue, experience, and reflection. This award celebrates the joy of playful learning and the courage to reimagine education when students’ long-term growth is placed at the centre of everything we do. I am so grateful to all who have supported me, across the University of Manchester and around the world and the students who inspire me every day.”

The importance of teamwork in the higher education sector is recognised through the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE). This prestigious accolade has been awarded to The PGCert Medical and Health Education Programme Team, led by Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader this year.

The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), a prestigious and sector-recognised teaching award, recognises, rewards and celebrates collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning.

The team were nominated for their work which has set the bar for collaborative, student-centred and socially impactful practice. The team work across functional and structural boundaries to engage students as partners with cutting-edge content, situated within a global context, deploying technology-enhanced pedagogies, and role-modelling a diversity of academic disciplines, professions, nationalities, socio-economic and cultural perspectives.

Dianne said of the CATE recognition: "I feel truly privileged to have led the development and continued delivery of our PGCert programme. At the heart of our success is a team philosophy grounded in open dialogue, mutual respect, and trust—where every individual voice is valued. It's a genuine pleasure to work in an environment where collaboration and support are embraced by all, and I couldn't be prouder of what our team has achieved together."

Bip added: “The PGCert team is truly unique in the way it functions, supporting colleagues to achieve their very best. I am delighted the team has been recognised for our excellence in collaborative working which showcases the very best of what teaching looks like when we truly work together for the flourishing of colleagues and learners.”

The PGCert Medical and Health Education is offered through the University’s Transnational Education operation to expand its reach, value and impact, helping healthcare systems around the world and improving health outcomes for patients globally.

Professor April McMahon, who was Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students at the time of the nominations, said: “Many congratulations to Ang, Jenni, Dianne, Bip and everyone who has supported them. The NTFs and CATE awards are highly competitive and prestigious, and it is wonderful to see that again our Manchester people have done so well. Our students, and those considering coming to join us in September, should also be encouraged that teaching excellence is such a focus for us at Manchester.”

The 2025 awards ceremony will take place on 25 September in Bristol, hosted by incoming Advance HE Chief Executive Alistair Jarvis.

Expert calls for return to fairness and global solidarity after aid budget cuts

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0100

As global leaders cut back on foreign aid in the face of rising nationalism and domestic pressures, a new paper by Dr Pritish Behuria of The University of Manchester says it is time to remember why aid was created in the first place – and why it is still desperately needed.

In the paper published by the , one of the world’s leading think tanks for development policy, Dr Behuria argues that today’s debates about foreign aid have lost sight of the big picture. Instead of focusing only on whether aid ‘works’ or whether it is ‘value for money’, we should be looking at the roots of global inequality. His message is simple: aid isn't charity - it's about justice.

In 2025, the US government led by President Trump froze most of its foreign aid, and many European countries - including the UK - have also slashed their contributions. Politicians say the money is better spent at home, but Dr Behuria warns that this could lead to greater global instability and inequality.

His paper explains that many poorer countries still rely heavily on aid, especially when they face big trade gaps - meaning they import more than they export and don't have enough foreign currency. These trade problems often date back to colonial times, when countries were forced to rely on exporting raw materials like coffee, cocoa or oil. That dependence hasn’t gone away.

In the past, aid helped these countries avoid economic crises. But over time, aid became more about short-term goals like fighting poverty or improving health, and less about helping countries grow strong, independent economies. “We’ve forgotten that aid used to be about helping countries stand on their own two feet,” says Dr Behuria.

The research also takes aim at what’s called ‘Global Development’ - a newer idea that treats poverty in rich countries the same as poverty in poorer ones. While this sounds fair, Dr Behuria says it confuses the issue and weakens the case for giving aid to the countries that need it most. “Yes, there’s poverty in London and New York - but that’s not the same as poverty in Malawi or Bangladesh,” he explains.

Dr Behuria calls for a new way of thinking - what he terms a “structuralist” approach - where we tackle the deep, historical roots of inequality between nations. He says academics, governments, and the public all need to reconnect with the original purpose of aid: correcting global injustice.

Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute appoints new director

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 16:44:37 +0100

The University of Manchester has appointed the globally-renowned international relations expert Professor Nicolas Lemay-Hébert as the new Director of the .

Professor Lemay-Hébert joins the HCRI from the Australian National University (ANU), where most recently he was Deputy Director (Education) of the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs. Before joining the ANU in 2019, he previously held positions at the University of Birmingham and the University of Quebec in Montreal.

In his work, Professor Lemay-Hébert has researched issues of local resistance to international interventions, as well as statebuilding and peacebuilding. He has conducted fieldwork in the separatist regions of Georgia, Kosovo, Timor-Leste, Haiti and more recently Kenya. He has published two monographs - The Law and Practice of Peacekeeping (with R. Freedman and S. Wills; Cambridge University Press, 2021), and Normalization in World Politics (with G. Visoka; University of Michigan Press, 2022).

His next book is under production with Cambridge University Press (International Leviathans: International Administration). In his latest work, Professor Lemay-Hébert has been interested in the political economy and the political geography of intervention.

He is currently completing an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant on The Cartography of Peace: Security Zones, Color Codes and Everyday Life, through which he and a team of researchers are analysing a number of colour-coded zoning practices around the world (green zones in Afghanistan or Cyprus; yellow zone in Haiti; blue zone in Kenya; red zone in Iraq).

"I hope to contribute to the growth of the institute, which has been phenomenal in the past 15 years, and help position the institute for the new challenges emerging around the world."

"The HCRI has always been known for its excellence in research and teaching, and for its policy-relevant work, engaging a multitude of stakeholders on the ground. I plan to build on this track record to further consolidate the HCRI's position in the UK, Europe and beyond as one of the key institutes to study and do research in humanitarian, disaster, global health and peace and conflict studies."

Professor Lemay-Hébert will lead an Institute at the forefront of research in humanitarian, conflict and disaster studies, as well as a thriving teaching unit at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. HCRI’s teaching portfolio includes a pioneering - and in the current times of global conflict, ever more important - joint degree programme in Humanitarian Practice, in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Project breaks the silence around death in primary schools

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:07:38 +0100

A powerful new initiative is set to transform how children talk about death, dying, and bereavement. The project - a collaboration between the universities of Manchester, Bradford and Wolverhampton, Child Bereavement UK and the Child Bereavement Network - features brand new poems by legendary children’s author and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, whose work has helped generations of young readers explore life’s most profound emotions with honesty and humour.

Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the 10-month pilot will work with primary schools to create age-appropriate, creative, and compassionate ways to explore life, death, and everything in between.

Led by Professor Karina Croucher, Professor of Archaeology, Heritage and Wellbeing at the University of Bradford, the project uses archaeology to start conversations around death and bereavement. “It’s about helping young people to talk about death, dying and bereavement, challenging what is almost a taboo in society,” said Professor Croucher. “We’re using archaeology and global practices to show how diverse our responses to death can be – and how we can celebrate life in the process.”

Dr Jane Booth, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Wolverhampton, is part of the team delivering weekly workshops in two primary schools – Wycliffe CE Primary in Shipley, West Yorkshire and St Joseph’s in Sale, Manchester. “The project is about normalising and validating feelings around death, dying, care-giving and grief resilience,” said Dr Booth. “It’s about saying it’s OK to talk about these subjects – and giving children the tools to do so.”

Beloved children’s author and poet Michael Rosen is writing new poems to accompany the project’s workshops, helping children explore their emotions through creative expression.

The project will run from September 2025 and is open to pupils aged five to 11 as part of their PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) education. Children will explore not only bereavement but other forms of loss – such as the death of a pet or a friend moving away – through archaeology-inspired art and poetry. Parents will be invited to information sessions and can choose whether their children take part.

‘Lost and Found’ builds on the success of previous AHRC-funded projects, including ‘Continuing Bonds’ and ‘Dying 2 Talk’, which used archaeology to support conversations about death in secondary schools. The new pilot will result in a workshop resource pack for other schools to replicate the approach.

This initiative also aligns with the UK Government’s recent inclusion of grief education in .

‘Lost and Found’ builds on nearly £100,000 in AHRC funding and follows two earlier projects: and . These initiatives explored how archaeology can support conversations about death, dying, and bereavement in non-medicalised, creative ways.

Continuing Bonds brought together archaeologists, healthcare professionals, and psychologists to explore legacy and loss, while Dying 2 Talk co-produced resources with secondary school pupils, using artefacts and workshops to help young people reflect on grief and caregiving through the lens of the past.

Manchester expert collaborates on major study evaluating active travel improvements

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:30:35 +0100

An expert from The University of Manchester has played a key role in a new research study evaluating the impact of active travel infrastructure improvements at Delapre Park in Northampton.

Working in collaboration with researchers from the University of Northampton and Nottingham Trent University, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow Dr Jack Benton helped deliver a year-long study designed to assess how new pathways in the park have influenced public use and perceptions of the area.

The project, funded by Active Travel England, aimed to understand the real-world impact of investment in walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure. It employed a mixed-methods approach incorporating resident surveys, in-depth interviews, on-site observations and GPS tracking to evaluate how improvements to path surfaces and layouts affected accessibility, safety, and comfort for a broad range of users - including those living with long-term health conditions.

Initial findings show that the new routes have led to measurable benefits in terms of increased access, improved feelings of safety, and greater comfort for park users. In particular, small infrastructure changes were found to significantly enhance mobility for those with disabilities and other physical challenges.

Dr Benton emphasised the value of listening to the lived experiences of local people when designing infrastructure to support healthier, more active communities.

“It’s been fantastic to collaborate with researchers in Northampton and Nottingham on this natural experimental study, which evaluated the impact of improvements to local walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure,” he said.

The study sets out clear recommendations for further improvements, based on direct community feedback. These insights are expected to inform future active travel strategies both locally and nationally.

The full report is available here: .

Quantum freeze: Scientists create the coldest state of motion in mechanical systems

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0100

Scientists from The University of Manchester, in a collaboration led by ETH Zurich and including TU Wien and ICFO Barcelona, have achieved a major breakthrough by cooling the spinning motion of a nanoparticle to its quantum ground state, the coldest possible state of motion.

The study, published in Nature Physics, and carried out at ETH Zurich, demonstrates how researchers used a finely tuned laser and vacuum system to trap and cool a 100-nanometre glass disc composed of billions of atoms. The work sets a new benchmark for quantum purity, a measure of how closely a system behaves according to the rules of quantum mechanics.

Dr. Jayadev Vijayan, a Research Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Manchester, explains: “This high-purity quantum state of motion gives us the best starting point to test whether objects 10,000 times heavier than the current record-holder show wave-like behaviour characteristic of the quantum world.”

A new cold source for quantum experiments

In the quantum world, atoms can behave like both particles and waves at the same time, appearing to being “in two places at once” – an effect that only happens in the quantum world.

To observe these effects in larger objects, their motion must be cooled close to absolute zero – where the only remaining motion is due to quantum fluctuations, the jittering of empty space itself.

To achieve this for the first time, researchers used a laser beam to trap a nanoparticle and make it levitate inside a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber removes all the air, so nothing can bump into the particle and heat it up. Next, they placed the particle between two mirrors facing each other, forming a cavity to cool the motion of the particle.

Professor Carlos Gonzalez-Ballestero, Institute of Theoretical Physics at TU Wien, explains: “The laser can either supply energy to the nanoparticle or take energy away from it. By carefully adjusting the cavity mirrors, we can make sure that the laser almost always takes energy away. The particle then spins slower and slower until it reaches the quantum ground state.”

What makes this result remarkable is the record-breaking purity of the quantum state. High purity means the object is behaving in a way that is almost entirely quantum, with very little influence from the environment. That level of control and precision opens doors to experimental tests of quantum mechanics at completely new scales.

Putting large quantum systems to use

This breakthrough creates a pathway to revolutionary new technologies. The larger a quantum object is, the more sensitive it becomes to certain types of forces, potentially making them incredibly sensitive quantum sensors. For example, levitated nanoparticle-based sensors could provide: a new type of precise navigation system that does not need global satellite systems; early detection systems for earthquakes and volcanic activity; and mapping tools for subterranean topology.

This research was published in the journal Nature Physics. Full title: High-Purity Quantum Optomechanics at Room Temperature. DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02976-9 . Available

Manchester researchers design electric thermal switch for space applications

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 07:30:00 +0100

An international team led by researchers at The University of Manchester’s has demonstrated a ground-breaking device capable of electrically controlling heat flow, potentially transforming thermal management in aerospace and advanced electronic applications. The findings are detailed in their recent publication in .

The team introduced a new type of thermal switch utilising high thermal conductivity graphite films. When a voltage is applied, ions insert between graphite layers. These ions disrupt phonon motion, cutting thermal conductivity by up to 1,300%. Removing the voltage expels the ions and restores the original heat-carrying capacity. This powerful modulation allows the device to actively turn heat conduction "on" and "off" at will, mirroring the functionality of electronic transistors, but for heat instead of electricity.

“What makes our device truly transformative is its ability to operate reliably in extreme environments such as space,” said Dr Pietro Steiner, lead author and current technology lead for graphene-based thermal technologies at , a spinout from the University of Manchester. "The solid-state nature and absence of mechanical parts make it particularly attractive for aerospace applications, where reliability, weight, and efficiency are critical."

Beyond basic switching, the team demonstrated that their device could actively steer heat flow in desired directions. By configuring voltages across patterned electrodes, they created anisotropic thermal conduction pathways, opening possibilities for programmable thermal management systems.

Lead author added, "This thermal switching technology could revolutionise spacecraft thermal regulation, offering dynamic and reconfigurable solutions to manage excess heat without complex moving mechanisms or bulky radiators."

Spacecraft often rely on radiators or mechanical valves to dump excess heat. These systems add weight and risk mechanical failure under vibration. A thin, solid-state switch removes those constraints. It can operate in ultra-high vacuum and tolerate radiation levels found in orbit.

Next, the group will test switching speed under high thermal load. They plan to integrate the switch with prototype electronics. Faster ion motion and alternative intercalants could boost performance further. By directly linking electrical signals to heat transport, this work lays the groundwork for programmable thermal management in aerospace, electronics cooling and adaptive insulation.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Electrically controlled heat transport in graphite films via reversible ionic liquid intercalation

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adw8588

The is a world-leading graphene and 2D material centre, focussed on fundamental research. Based at The University of Manchester, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field – a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by £13m leading-edge facilities, such as the largest class 5 and 6 cleanrooms in global academia, which gives the NGI the capabilities to advance underpinning industrial applications in key areas including: composites, functional membranes, energy, membranes for green hydrogen, ultra-high vacuum 2D materials, nanomedicine, 2D based printed electronics, and characterisation.