Newborn gas planets may be surprisingly flat – new research: A new planet starts its life in a rotating circle of gas and dust, a cradle known as a protostellar disc. My colleagues and I have used computer simulations to show that newborn gas planets in these discs are likely to have surprisingly flattened shapes. This …
Thirty years of rural health research: South Africa’s Agincourt studies offer unique insights: In 1992 a group of academics from the University of the Witwatersrand introduced a health and socio-demographic surveillance system in remote, rural South Africa to track and understand health and wellbeing in these environments. This initiative built on pioneering work by a …
Sexism permeates every layer of the music industry – new report echoes what research has been saying for years: Gorgev/Shutterstock The landmark Misogyny in Music report from British MPs on the women and equalities committee, published on January 30, shines an unsettling light upon the gender discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse which is rampant across …
Using your phone at work can help to balance your home life – new research: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock You might not think twice about using your phone while you’re at work. Maybe you need to send a quick message to a family member or a friend, or catch up on the news. Then there’s that dental …
Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughter: 'The earth rose in the air to the height of hundreds of feet.': but a delay in the infantry attack meant that hundreds of British troops were killed. The Battle of the Somme began …
I research the therapeutic qualities of writing about art – here are three steps for trying it yourself: Sorapop Udomsri/Shutterstock What do we learn about ourselves when we write creatively about an artwork? I asked myself this question during my creative writing PhD, where my focus was on writing a collection of poems in response …
UK urged to get ready for disaster with new national crises plan – but our research reveals the dark side of prepping: What would you do if everyday life was suddenly turned upside down? Thanks to recent Hollywood blockbusters, the increasing popularity of everyday survivalism and a climate of volatile, uncertain times (war, weather, accelerating …
School uniforms may trigger sensory overload in kids who are sensitive to fabrics – our research can help: Children who experience sensory overload struggle with many items of clothing, including school shirts. macniak Many people live with what’s known as sensory over-reactivity or over-responsiveness. Those with this condition experience an over-reaction to sensory stimuli, such …
The care home sector got £2.1 billion in government COVID aid — our research shows care workers themselves got little support: Danie Franco|Unsplash The Coronavirus public inquiry has made public all manner of decisions taken by the UK government, during the pandemic, that have shocked the nation. In particular, Jenny Harries, current head of the …
Cats like to play fetch, as long as it’s on their terms – new research: Surprised that cats like to play fetch too? Tzido Sun/Shuttestock Cats have a reputation for being aloof (some may even say lazy) – but our new research has found they interact with their owners in surprising ways. What we discovered …
Can seabirds hear their way across the ocean? Our research suggests so: Wandering albatrosses can cover huge distances in a single trip. MZPhoto.cz/Shutterstock Animals cover astonishing distances when they are looking for food. While caribou, reindeer and wolves clock up impressive mileage on land, seabirds are unrivalled in their travelling distances. Arctic terns travel from …
The Sahara Desert used to be a green savannah – new research explains why: Algeria’s Tassili N’Ajjer plateau is Africa’s largest national park. Among its vast sandstone formations is perhaps the world’s largest art museum. Over 15,000 etchings and paintings are exhibited there, some as much as 11,000 years old according to scientific dating techniques, …
How much could the NHS save if people had healthier lifestyles? Hundreds of millions according to research: encierro/Shutterstock The NHS spends a lot of time and money looking after people who smoke, or drink too much or don’t do enough exercise. Hospital admissions and treatments are an expensive business. So what would happen if these …
Thrush: zinc may prevent yeast infections – new research: The majority of yeast infections are caused by _Candida albicans_. Kateryna Kon/ Shutterstock Around half a billion women experience a vaginal yeast infection (thrush) every year – with around 140 million women suffering from multiple infections throughout their lifetime. While treatments do exist for thrush, for …
Rural communities are being left behind because of poor digital infrastructure, research shows: In an era where businesses and households depend on the internet for everything from marketing to banking and shopping, the lack of adequate digital access can be a significant hurdle. And our recent research shows that many homes and businesses in the …
‘Just the rich can do it’: our research shows how immigration income requirements devastate families: Post-Brexit immigration rules have already affected thousands of UK-EU couples and families. 1000 Words/Shutterstock The government has announced a host of new restrictions aimed at cutting net migration to the UK. Headline announcements include increasing the salary requirements for skilled …
Why did Keir Starmer pen the ‘Margaret Thatcher’ article for the Telegraph? Our research suggests it may yield votes: Labour leader Keir Starmer has received some criticism from within his own party for publishing an article in the Telegraph, a famously rightwing newspaper, in which he made a direct appeal to voters who have previously …
Exercise benefits physical and brain health in people with Down’s syndrome – new research: An exercise as simple and accessible as walking can have significant health benefits for people with Down's syndrome. Halfpoint/ Shutterstock Exercise is known to have many benefits when it comes to cognitive function – such as improving memory and concentration skills. …