Melatonin use may reduce self-harm in young people, research shows: fizkes/Shutterstock Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It’s also often used as a medication for people who have difficulty sleeping. Since there are known links between sleep problems, depression, and self-harm, we were interested in exploring whether treating sleep problems …
Tyrannosaurus rex: our new research shows it covered its enormous teeth with lips: Mark Witton, Author provided Picture a Tyrannosaurus rex, that ferocious yet one of the most beloved of dinosaurs. Most people will probably imagine a scaly giant with enormous fangs visible even when its mouth is closed. This is the image of toothy …
Does carbon capture and storage hype delay emissions cuts? Here’s what research shows: Daniel Heighton/Shutterstock Is carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) an important tool for slowing climate change, or merely a way to justify the continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels? I’m a social scientist who studies the politics of environmental technology and …
What is antisocial behaviour? According to my research, no one really knows: Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled plans to crack down on antisocial behaviour. The proposals include making offenders wear hi-vis jackets to wash police cars and clean up vandalism, within 48 hours of being served a court order. Offenders may have …
Could the common cold give children immunity against COVID? Our research offers clues: Rawpixel.com/Shuttersock Why children are less likely to become severely ill with COVID compared with adults is not clear. Some have suggested that it might be because children are less likely to have diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, …
How to talk to your family and friends about the new IPCC report – five tips from climate change communication research: Esther Pueyo / Shutterstock The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report is a sobering read, which some describe as a “final warning” from scientists. The core message remains the same as prior IPCC …
Ballet dancers in sensor suits: new research explores how dance is used as a form of communication: Audio guides, maps, traditional and interactive texts help people attending art exhibitions to understand the works in front of them. With dance, however, the audience’s understanding is usually taken for granted. It’s assumed they will make sense of …
Antisemitism on Twitter has more than doubled since Elon Musk took over the platform – new research: What goes on in the Twitter shadows. In the days after Elon Musk took over Twitter in October 2022, the social media platform saw a “surge in hateful conduct,” which its then safety chief put down to a …
The camera never lies? Our research found CCTV isn’t always dependable when it comes to murder investigations: "The camera never lies," goes the old adage. But how true is that? Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock As a victim or suspect of a crime, or witness to an offence, you may find your actions, behaviour and character scrutinised by the …
The UK now ranks as one of the most socially liberal countries in Europe – new research: IR Stone/Shutterstock It’s easy to lose sight of just how accepting the UK now is as a nation. What were once pressing moral concerns have become simple facts of life for much of the public. The UK, in …
Children and teenagers can carry out valuable wildlife research – here’s how: Galina Kovalenko/Shutterstock The environment is in crisis. Young people are calling for environmental action and requesting more education about the environment and the climate emergency. They are also looking at what they can do to tackle climate change. Together with colleagues, I have …
New Brexit deal will be better for Northern Ireland’s economy than the protocol, research suggests: UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has said Northern Ireland will be “the world’s most exciting economic zone” due to its access to the EU single market under the latest post-Brexit trading deal between the EU and UK. The details of …
How to avoid falling victim to an online scam — research says slow down: It's easy to fall for an online scam if you're in a hurry Bits And Splits/Shutterstock Keeping up with the latest digital cons is exhausting. Fraudsters always seem to be one step ahead. But our study found there is one simple …
Class and the City of London: my decade of research shows why elitism is endemic and top firms don’t really care: During the COVID pandemic, as most wages stagnated, workers in the City of London were enjoying bumper pay packets. Average partner salaries in one corporate law firm exceeded £2 million for the first time. …
ChatGPT has many uses. Experts explore what this means for healthcare and medical research: AI can be like having a high-level personal assistant. Shutterstock The sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship is the cornerstone of the healthcare profession. This protected space is steeped in tradition – the Hippocratic oath, medical ethics, professional codes of conduct and …
How queuing leads to city centre violence and what our research says about preventing night-time brawls: People go out at night because they want to socialise, drink and be entertained. Unfortunately, all too often that leads to violent behaviour in our towns and city centres. But the events that lead to such violence are poorly …
Refugee families being moved from London to Leeds – our research shows what is lost when newcomers have to leave a neighbourhood: alice-photo/Shutterstock Just over a year after fleeing the Taliban and seeking asylum in the UK, more than 150 Afghan refugees, including children, are facing more upheaval. In a matter of weeks, the Home …
RuPaul’s Drag Race: our research shows how it helps destigmatise the LGBTQ+ community: Pressures on gender recognition laws, the strong opposition to drag shows and increasing incidents of violence show that stigmatisation of LGBTQ+ people still exists, especially for those who do not conform to societal expectations around gender and sexuality. A 2021 report by …