Professor Zara Hodgson and Professor Jovica Milanovi膰 have been elected for their exceptional contributions to their field: pioneering new innovations within academia and business, providing expert advice to government, and fostering a wider comprehension of engineering and technology. 

Zara Hodgson, Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute at 黑料入口 is an internationally renowned expert in nuclear energy policy and research. She has been pivotal in the UK government鈥檚 recent interventions to grow the UK鈥檚 nuclear fuel production capability, delivering advances for the global net-zero mission, and generating energy security by building resilient supply chains. Zara is the Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute and a Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Manchester, where she is leading contributions to the national nuclear enterprise through high impact research, education, training and independent advice.

Jovica Milanovi膰, Professor of Electrical Power Engineering at 黑料入口 is internationally recognised for his outstanding contributions to power systems engineering. His research focuses on the probabilistic modelling of power system dynamics, addressing uncertainties in generation, demand, and network topology, and advancing distributed voltage control strategies. He has played a pivotal role in shaping industrial standards through leadership in IEEE and CIGRE task forces, and his work on load modelling has been instrumental in improving peak demand management across UK networks. Professor Milanovi膰 also holds leadership positions within the IEEE and senior advisory roles in the electrical power industry.

The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a special ceremony in London on 18 November, when each Fellow will sign the roll book. In joining the Fellowship, they will lend their unique capabilities to achieving the Academy鈥檚 overarching strategic goal to engineer better lives.   

The group consists of 60 Fellows, nine International Fellows and five Honorary Fellows.They are drawn from every specialism from within the engineering and technology professions and cover sectors ranging from energy and defence to new materials.

 Sir John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: 鈥淎s we approach our 50th anniversary next year it鈥檚 a good time to reflect on how much we have achieved. The Academy is built on the foundation of our Fellowship, and that remains as true today as half a century ago. Our story began as a 鈥楩ellowship of Engineering鈥� of 130 Fellows including such pioneers as Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, Lord Hinton of Bankside and Sir Ove Arup, driven by the support of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 cohort join a community of around 1,700 of some of the most talented engineers and innovators in the UK and around the globe. Their knowledge and experience make them uniquely well placed to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world, and our determination to advance and promote excellence in engineering remains undimmed.鈥� 

Further information about the new Fellows can be found on the

Working with colleagues at 黑料入口 St Mary鈥檚 Hospital and the University of Malaysia, the researchers used mathematical modelling to understand how the cord鈥檚 unique twisted shape affects the way oxygen, nutrients and heat are exchanged before birth.

The study, published in the , found that the spiral design of the blood vessels in the cord appears to affect the exchange of oxygen and heat, minimising the risk of heat and oxygen being lost, helping to keep babies鈥� temperature and oxygen levels stable before birth.

Although the umbilical cord is essential to life, scientists still know little about how its complex coiled structure contributes to its function. These new findings shed light on an overlooked but vital process.

Complications linked to the placenta and umbilical cord, such as fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia, affect around 10% of pregnancies in the UK, yet remain poorly understood.

The researchers hope their work will pave the way for further studies on abnormal cord structures, such as cords that are too loosely or tightly coiled, which are known to be associated with complications during pregnancy.

Paper details:

Journal : Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Full title: A functional shunt in the umbilical cord: the role of coiling in solute and heat transfer

DOI:

The image from this research was also chosen as the journal's issue cover: 

The project, supported by a 拢3 million grant from the Gates Foundation, will develop national-scale irrigation mapping data and capacity in three countries 鈥� Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria 鈥� between September 2025 and August 2029.

Expanding and improving irrigation access is vital for climate adaptation and food security across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Yet, most SSA countries lack up to date or reliable information about existing irrigation systems, leaving governments and development actors limited in their ability to target interventions to improve irrigation access, evaluate outcomes of investments, and ensure development is both sustainable and equitable.

The new project 鈥� IrrEO: Irrigated Area Mapping Tool Development and Deployment 鈥� will leverage advances in Earth Observation (EO) imagery and artificial intelligence algorithms, working with national partners in the three focal countries to co-develop a set of data products, algorithms, and software that enable high-resolution mapping of irrigated croplands both now and into the future.

The project will also work with local research teams to use new irrigation mapping data and tools to understand the barriers and opportunities for irrigation development, highlighting investment strategies that deliver better results for small-scale farmers.

Another key goal is to strengthen the capacity of government agencies and development partners across Sub-Saharan Africa to apply advanced mapping approaches in national irrigation planning. Over four years, the team will conduct training workshops and participatory design session to help overcome barriers to adopt of EO methods and tools in irrigation decision-making and policy.

The University team brings together interdisciplinary expertise in remote sensing, agricultural sustainability, rural development, and data justice. Alongside , the other 黑料入口 team members include , Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography from the School of Environment Education and Development (SEED) and co-lead of MERI鈥檚 newly launched Land and Resource Futures Initiative 鈥� and , Senior Lecturer in Socio-Environmental Systems in the Global Development Institute (GDI).

Organised in partnership with Rethink Rebuild Society and supported by the Chemists鈥� Community Fund (Royal Society of Chemistry), 48 children aged nine to 14 visited the University鈥檚 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 黑料入口 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 鈥� once one of Syria鈥檚 most vibrant cultural centres 鈥� 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: 鈥淭his event wasn't just about science 鈥� 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.

鈥淭he 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.鈥�

The initiative concluded with a Community Celebration Day at Rethink Rebuild Society鈥檚 centre in 黑料入口, 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鈥檚 achievements.

Magda van Leeuwen, Volunteer and Engagement Manager for the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: 鈥淐hemistry 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.

鈥淭hrough the Outreach Fund and with the backing of the Chemists鈥� 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.鈥�

黑料入口 is recognised as a University of Sanctuary, working to make the University a welcoming and safe place for refugees and asylum seekers. The University鈥檚 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 黑料入口 a place that is open and fair. 

Read more about Abdullatif鈥檚 initiative on the

鈥�, published to mark the Centre鈥檚 25th anniversary, looks back at the Tyndall Centre鈥檚 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鈥檚 鈥淩ed鈥� scenario - came close to predicting the UK鈥檚 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鈥檚 research. Starting with the Royal Commission鈥檚 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鈥檚 energy pathways more closely with climate science.

Decarbonising the UK revisited is being launched at the Tyndall Centre鈥檚 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

In a new review, published in the journal today, the researchers have examined the current scientific research on how tiny plastic fragments 鈥� called micro and nanoplastics 鈥� 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:

Located around 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, the Butterfly Nebula is one of the best studied planetary nebulae. Its 鈥榳ings鈥� of glowing gas were previously but Webb鈥檚 new observations, published in today, go even further, uncovering hidden structures and finally pinpointing the nebula鈥檚 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 鈥榳ings鈥� of the butterfly. At its centre, a dense band of dusty gas called the torus, which poses as the butterfly鈥檚 鈥榖ody鈥�. 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鈥檚 , 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 黑料入口, discovered  the butterfly鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 黑料入口, said: 鈥淭his is an extraordinary discovery. We鈥檙e looking at one of the hottest stars ever found - an object so elusive that even Hubble couldn鈥檛 detect it for decades. Thanks to JWST, we鈥檝e finally uncovered it, concealed within its own dense shroud of dust.

鈥淪urrounding 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鈥檛 fully pierce through it. Inside, the environment is sheer chaos; powerful radiation and stellar winds tearing into the surrounding cloud. It鈥檚 unlike anything I鈥檝e ever seen.

鈥淢ost planetary nebulae appear graceful and symmetric, but this one is still at the beginning of its transformation 鈥� it鈥檚 more like a butterfly struggling out of its cocoon than the elegant shapes we鈥檙e used to seeing.鈥�

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 鈥� 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 鈥� I. A UV-irradiated torus and a hot bubble triggering PAH formation

DOI:  

Link:  

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鈥檚 Johnson Space Center, published in the journal , 黑料入口 researchers studied the gases trapped inside Bennu鈥檚 samples 鈥� in particular xenon, which is a very rare gas. Their measurements showed that Bennu鈥檚 gases resembled those found in some of the most primitive meteorites found on earth and materials returned from asteroid Ryugu by Japan鈥檚 Hayabusa2 mission.

When combined with other elemental and isotopic analyses, the results suggest that Bennu鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 National Museum of Natural History, and included contributions from Professor Rhian Jones at 黑料入口.

In the third paper, co-led by Lindsay Keller at NASA鈥檚 Johnson Space Center and Michelle Thompson of Purdue University, also published in , researchers found microscopic craters and tiny splashes of once-molten rock 鈥� known as impact melts 鈥� 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鈥檚 Johnson Space Center, said: 鈥淭he 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.

鈥淪pace 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鈥檛 visited.鈥�

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鈥檚 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 鈥� including the UK, the United States, Japan and Canada 鈥� to study Bennu鈥檚 samples and unlock new insights into the origins of the solar system.

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

The breakthrough, reported in by a team led by Professor Andre Geim, was achieved by placing a sheet of graphene just three atoms below cleaner bulk graphite. This 鈥減roximity mirror鈥� cancels out unwanted electric fields, reducing disorder in graphene by a factor of 100.

"Think of it like creating the ultimate clean room, but for electrons," explains first author Dr Daniil Domaretskiy. "We鈥檝e removed almost all the 鈥榙irt鈥� that disrupts smooth flow of electric current. You can suddenly see effects that were hidden, like wiping clean a fogged-up window."

In quantum materials, disorder hides delicate effects and can prevent new physics from emerging. Researchers normally go to great lengths to remove impurities and minimise interference, but in graphene the team has now pushed this to an extreme: just one uncontrolled electron per 100 million carbon atoms remains across an entire device.

This record-low disorder means that electrons travel faster and further than ever before. Key benchmarks of material quality, such as Shubnikov鈥揹e Haas oscillations, are now visible at fields below 10 Gauss. The celebrated quantum Hall effect appears below 50 Gauss, far weaker than a fridge magnet.

The concept is straightforward: the nearby graphite acts like an electrical mirror, cancelling random electric fields in the graphene layer. The challenge was engineering the mirror close enough, three atoms apart, without damaging the graphene.

鈥淣ow that we know how to make things this clean, it opens the door to exploring phenomena that were out of reach,鈥� said co-author Dr Zefei Wu. 鈥淭his is just the beginning.鈥� 

The team expects their 鈥榩roximity-mirror鈥� technique to become standard for probing quantum phenomena in two-dimensional materials, enabling new discoveries in superconductivity, magnetism and exotic quantum phases, which would all benefit from the ultraclean electronic conditions to clearly emerge.

The work involved collaborators from Lancaster University, the National University of Singapore, and the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Proximity screening greatly enhances electronic quality of graphene

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09386-0

The is a world-leading graphene and 2D material centre, focussed on fundamental research. Based at 黑料入口, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field 鈥� a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by 拢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.

The research, published today in , tracks 130 years of changes in the 鈥渟pirograph鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 rising temperature, which has increased by around 3,000掳C since 1893, or roughly 1,000掳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 鈥� the element essential for life.

A planetary nebula marks one of the final stages in a star鈥檚 life. As the star鈥檚 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 鈥渢he spirograph nebula鈥�. 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 鈥� 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鈥檚 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: 鈥淲e 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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a strong joint effort - collecting, verifying, and carefully analysing more than a century鈥檚 worth of astronomical data and then melding that with stellar evolutionary models. It鈥檚 a challenging process that goes far beyond simple observation, and we鈥檙e grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our field in this way.鈥�

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:

A new study, led by researchers at 黑料入口, in collaboration with Chester Zoo, found that birds appear to follow Zipf鈥檚 Law of Abbreviation (ZLA) 鈥� 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 黑料入口 said: 鈥淚n human language, if we say something a lot, we tend to shorten it 鈥� like saying 鈥楾V鈥� instead of 鈥榯elevision鈥�. It turns out that the same pattern exists in birdsong.

鈥淲e 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鈥檝e been able to detect a consistent pattern of ZLA across multiple bird species. There鈥檚 still a lot more work to be done but this is an exciting development.鈥�

Although previous studies hinted that animal communication might follow ZLA 鈥� including in penguins 鈥� it has been difficult to find clear evidence of ZLA in birdsong. That鈥檚 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鈥檛 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: 鈥淪tudying 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鈥檚 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.鈥�

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鈥檚 law of abbreviation shape birdsong?

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013228

Link:

黑料入口 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 黑料入口 in collaboration with the Universities of Oxford, Plymouth, and Loughborough.

Nuclear energy is expected to play a central role in the UK鈥檚 net zero goals as it emits nearly zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions 鈥� 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鈥檚 most pressing nuclear challenges - securing a sustainable, sovereign supply of nuclear graphite and finding solutions to manage the country鈥檚 growing volume of irradiated graphite waste.

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

The programme of research, collaboration, and skills development aims to secure the UK鈥檚 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鈥檚 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: 鈥�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.鈥�

The programme will focus on three strands of work:

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

These advances could save the UK up to 拢2 billion in future waste management costs and offers a pathway to strengthen the UK鈥檚 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: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to be leading Theme two (Graphite Selection & Design 鈥� 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.鈥�

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: 鈥淭his 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: 鈥淭his 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 黑料入口 鈥� and our industrial partners across the nuclear industry 鈥� through this initiative.鈥�

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 , 黑料入口 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 黑料入口's role in flagship activities and initiatives including, the , the and

Researchers at 黑料入口鈥檚 have developed a new class of programmable nanofluidic memristors that mimic the memory functions of the human brain, paving the way for next-generation neuromorphic computing.

In a ground-breaking study published in , scientists from the , and the have demonstrated how two-dimensional (2D) nanochannels can be tuned to exhibit all four theoretically predicted types of memristive behaviour, something never before achieved in a single device. This study not only reveals new insights into ionic memory mechanisms but also has the potential to enable emerging applications in low-power ionic logic, neuromorphic components, and adaptive chemical sensing.

Memristors, or memory resistors, are components that adjust their resistance based on past electrical activity, effectively storing a memory of it. While most existing memristors are solid-state devices that rely on electron movement, the team, led by Prof Radha Boya, used confined liquid electrolytes within thin nanochannels made from 2D materials like MoS鈧� and hBN. This nanofluidic approach allows for ultra-low energy operation and the ability to emulate biological learning processes.

Four memory modes, one device

The study reveals that by tuning experimental parameters such as electrolyte composition, pH, voltage frequency, and channel geometry, the same nanofluidic device can switch between four distinct memory loop styles, two 鈥渃rossing鈥� and two 鈥渘on-crossing鈥� types. These loop styles correspond to different memory mechanisms, including ion-ion interaction, ion-surface charge adsorption/desorption, surface charge inversion, and ion concentration polarisation.

鈥淭his is the first time all four memristor types have been observed in a single device,鈥� said , senior author of the study. 鈥淚t shows the remarkable tunability of nanofluidic systems and their potential to replicate complex brain-like behaviour.鈥�

Mimicking the brain鈥檚 synapses

Beyond demonstrating multiple memory modes, the devices also exhibit both short-term and long-term memory, akin to biological synapses. This dynamic control over memory duration is crucial for developing neuromorphic systems that can adapt and learn from their environment.

For instance, the devices could 鈥渇orget鈥� information over time or retain it for days, depending on the applied voltage and electrolyte conditions, e.g., like how one might quickly forget where they left their keys, yet remember their home address for life.

Imagine you're working in a caf茅. At first, the clatter of cups and chatter is noticeable, but soon your brain filters it out so you can focus. This everyday phenomenon is called sensory adaptation, and short-term synaptic depression is one of the cellular mechanisms contributing to them. The team mimicked short-term synaptic depression, a process where consecutive neural signals reduce the strength of a response unless sufficient time is allowed for recovery. In neurons, this is caused by temporary depletion of neurotransmitter vesicles. In the nanochannels, a similar effect emerges due to the ionic interactions, which requires time to relax back to its initial state.

A minimal model and a major leap

To explain the observed behaviours, the team developed a minimal theoretical model that incorporates ion鈥搃on interactions, surface adsorption, and channel entrance effects. The model successfully reproduces all four memristive loop types, offering a unified framework for understanding and designing future nanofluidic memory systems.

鈥淭his work represents a major leap in our understanding of ionic memory,鈥� said Dr Abdulghani Ismail, lead author of the study. 鈥淚t opens up exciting possibilities for low-power, adaptive computing systems that operate more like the human brain.鈥�

Towards brain-inspired computing

By harnessing the unique properties of 2D materials and fluidic ion transport, the researchers envision a new class of reconfigurable, energy-efficient computing devices capable of real-time learning and decision-making, with broad implications for artificial intelligence, robotics, and bioelectronics.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Programmable memristors with two-dimensional nanofluidic channels

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61649-6

The is a world-leading graphene and 2D material centre, focussed on fundamental research. Based at 黑料入口, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field 鈥� a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by 拢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.

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.

 鈥淲hat makes our device truly transformative is its ability to operate reliably in extreme environments such as space,鈥� 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 黑料入口, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field 鈥� a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by 拢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.

Silver has long been used to combat bacteria, particularly in wound care, due to its ability to release ions that disrupt bacterial cells. However, current approaches have limitations; silver can be released too rapidly or unevenly, potentially harming surrounding healthy tissue and resulting in short-lived or inconsistent antibacterial protection.

The 黑料入口 team tackled these issues by designing a graphene oxide-based membrane that can release silver ions slowly and precisely over time. The key lies in the structure of the membrane itself, its nanoscale channels act like filters, regulating how much silver is released.

"Our research represents a paradigm shift in antimicrobial coating technology," states lead author . "By harnessing the potential of graphene oxide membranes, we've unlocked a method for controlled silver ion release, paving the way for sustained antimicrobial efficacy in various applications.鈥�

The team also created a testing model that better reflects real biological conditions. By using foetal bovine serum in lab trials, they could simulate the environment the coating would encounter in the body, offering a clearer view of how it performs over time.

鈥淭his approach allows us to deliver just the right amount of silver for extended protection,鈥� first author Dr Swathi Suran adds. 鈥淚t has potential in many areas, including wound care dressings and antimicrobial coatings for implants, and could bring long-term benefits for both patients and healthcare providers.鈥�

As the team looks ahead, they're focused on exploring how this coating could be integrated into a range of everyday and medical products, making bacterial resistance less of a hidden threat and more of a manageable challenge.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Tunable Release of Ions from Graphene Oxide Laminates for Sustained Antibacterial Activity in a Biomimetic Environment

DOI:

The National Graphene Institute (NGI) is a world-leading graphene and 2D material centre, focussed on fundamental research. Based at 黑料入口, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field 鈥� a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by 拢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.

The team uncovered a rare type of wave, known as a shear phonon polariton, in a two-dimensional form of the material. Phonon polaritons are light-matter hybrid waves that emerge when light interacts with atomic vibrations in certain crystals. They can travel through materials in unusual ways and concentrate light into extremely small volumes.

In this study, the researchers found that in  thin films of gypsum, these waves undergo a topological transition, shifting from hyperbolic to elliptical behaviour, passing through a unique canalized state.

This transition allows scientists to tune how light propagates through the material.

鈥淭he studies of shear phonon polaritons in previous studies were limited to bulk crystals in the hyperbolic regime. In our study we aimed to complement those initial findings with shear polaritons in a 2-dimentional material,鈥� said Dr Pablo D铆az N煤帽ez, who co-led the study. 鈥淎nd remarkably, we discovered that shear phonon polaritons in gypsum support a topological transition from hyperbolic to elliptical propagation, with canalization in between.鈥�

Dr D铆az N煤帽ez added, 鈥淢oreover, we were able to confine light to a space twenty-five times smaller than its wavelength and slow it down to just a fraction of its speed in vacuum, this opens up new possibilities for manipulating light at the nanoscale.鈥�

The research also highlights the role of crystal symmetry. Gypsum belongs to a class of materials with low symmetry, specifically to the monoclinic crystal system, which gives rise to asymmetric light propagation and energy loss, the central characteristic of shear polaritons.

These findings extend beyond fundamental research of phonon polariton propagation and could support future developments in areas that rely on precise control of light, such as thermal management, sensing, and imaging beyond the limits of conventional optics. Moreover, the study introduces gypsum as a new platform for exploring advanced photonic concepts in emerging areas like non-Hermitian photonics.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Visualization of topological shear polaritons in gypsum thin films

DOI:

The National Graphene Institute (NGI) is a world-leading graphene and 2D material centre, focussed on fundamental research. Based at 黑料入口, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field 鈥� a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by 拢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.

On Thursday 17^th July 2025, researchers from 黑料入口 furthered their entrepreneurial journey by completing the MEC R2I programme at the Options Roundabout event. The event saw participants pitch their innovations to a panel of commercialisation experts, entrepreneurs and funders from across the University. The day concluded with a celebration of the cohort鈥檚 accomplishments with peers and supporters of the programme, as well as a networking opportunity to aid them in their next steps.

The R2I programme aims to inspire and accelerate the translation of academic research into impact-driven ventures. Over the course of 12-weeks, participants benefited from a series of bespoke workshops and mentoring opportunities to help them articulate their ideas and explore the commercial potential of their research.

Six Innovation Enabling Awards were granted to acknowledge the progress and growth potential, with early career researchers receiving between 拢2,000 to 拢10,000 to support the further development of their businesses.

Aurore Hochard, Director of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, presented the Innovation Enabling Awards to the six winning projects.

Award Winners

Innovation Enabling Award: 拢10,000

Lut猫o Medical

Dr Abigail Elias (School of Biological Sciences)

鈥�The support, mentoring, and resources provided through the Researcher to Innovator (R2I) programme have been transformative. Most importantly, the experience gave me the confidence to reach out to potential stakeholders and begin building the connections needed to bring my ideas to life. It was also great to connect with people on the cohort from such a broad range of disciplines."

Innovation Enabling Award: 拢5,000

ViRTUE: Virtual Reality Training in Ultrasonic Evaluation

Daniel Conniffe (School of Engineering)

鈥淩2I equipped me with the resources, motivation, and communication skills to bridge the gap between research and industry. Through building a strong network, I gained insight into real-world challenges and was able to pivot my research toward creating a meaningful, practical solution.鈥�

Innovation Enabling Award: 拢3,000

Hollowgraf

Dr Premlal Balakrishna Pillai (School of Engineering)

鈥淭he encouragement, guidance, and practical knowledge I gained through R2I have been truly inspiring. The programme really helped me to clarify my idea and shape it into a commercially viable opportunity, giving me the confidence to take the first steps into entrepreneurship.鈥�

Innovation Enabling Award: 拢2,000

PRECIOUS: Programmable Recovery of Critical Elements Using Synthetic Biology

Dr Sergio Guti茅rrez Zapata (School of Natural Sciences)

鈥淭he R2I programme gave me the push I didn鈥檛 know I needed. It helped me go from a scientific idea to something that could actually work in the real world 鈥� with real people and real challenges. Being able to shape a venture around bioremediation, and test the idea from different angles, has been incredibly motivating.鈥�

Innovation Enabling Award: 拢2,000

PRISM: Prostate cancer Risk Identification by Spectroscopic Measurement

Dr Dougal Ferguson (School of Engineering)

鈥�The R2I programme really helped me hone my ability to concisely and impactfully pitch my research as a commercial application. I am much more confident now pitching my science to a non-scientific audience!鈥�

Innovation Enabling Award: 拢2,000

Inclusive Skincare Solutions

Yoana Kirilova (School of Biological Sciences)

鈥淭he Researcher to Innovator programme has been a fantastic journey 鈥� connecting with like-minded peers, learning from experienced entrepreneurs, and gaining insights that will continue to shape my innovation journey.鈥�

The prize winners will also receive expert support and signposting to regional and national accelerator programmes and all the participants on the MEC R2I programme will be connected to the wider ecosystem for further support, mentoring and guidance in taking their research ideas forward.

The organisers wish to thank the Innovation Academy and the Engineers for Business Fellowship for their sponsorship of the Innovation Enabling Awards.

The  is supported by the University鈥檚 Innovation Academy. The Innovation Academy is a pan University initiative and joint venture between the , the  and the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, bringing together knowledge, expertise and routes to facilitate the commercialisation of research.

The study, led by ETH Zurich and supported by 黑料入口, sheds new light on how fast-moving mixtures of water, soil and rocks 鈥� known as debris flows 鈥� develop into a series of surges, destroying everything in their path. 

Using highly sensitive 3D laser scanners, the scientists collected measurements during a major debris flow in the Illgraben valley in Switzerland on 5 June 2022. Analysis enabled the scientists to pinpoint how small surface disturbances evolve down the channel into powerful large amplitude waves that concentrate the flow鈥檚 destructive power.

The findings, published in the journal , are among the most detailed measurements of a real-life debris flow ever recorded.

Debris flows are a recurring natural hazard in steep terrain throughout the world, and are triggered by heavy rainfall, and increasingly, glacial runoff and permafrost melt. Recent landslides in the Alps continue to highlight the risks posed by debris flows, such as the 2017 Bondo landslide in Graub眉nden, which triggered a debris flow that travelled 4km downhill into the Bondasca Valley. This emphasises the urgent need to better understand and predict these hazardous events.

Due to the frequency of debris flow occurence, the Illgraben valley has been equipped with measuring instruments since 2000. It has recently supplemented by five highly sensitive 3D laser scanners, called LiDAR, which can determine distance and speed, and six high-speed video cameras.

On the day of the June 2022 event, 25,000 cubic meters of water, earth and debris poured approximately seven kilometres down the bed of the Illbach before the muddy stream was absorbed by the river Rh么ne at Susten. The devices measured surface velocities and the evolving free surface of the debris flow at three measuring stations with a spatial resolution of 2 cm and a temporal resolution of 0.1 seconds.

The team of scientists from ETH Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (Birmensdorf) and 黑料入口, were able to document how the waves grew along the channel and use the data to develop a new friction law that was used in a debris-flow model to realistically simulate the  genesis and growth of the waves.

They found that near the top of the (about 2km from the outflow into the Rh么ne river), the debris flow had a fast-moving wave front, but no surges, while further down the channel the flow became shallower and spontaneously developed a series of waves. During the 30-minute event, researchers recorded 70 of these surges, which emerge from a surface instability that allows the waves to grow and as they move downhill.

Lead researcher, Jordan Aaron, Professor of Engineering Geology at ETH Zurich, said: "It has long been known that waves play a central role in the destructive power of debris flows, because they concentrate the forces that are applied to structures in their path.

"Thanks to the measurements around the debris flow of June 2022 and the modelling based on them, the researchers now have a better understanding. Our analysis provides new insights into the dynamics of debris flows and enables improved hazard management in the medium term.鈥�

This research, which was partially funded by the UK鈥檚 Natural Environment Research Council (), has been published in the journal Communication Earth & Environment

Full title: Detailed observations reveal the genesis and dynamics of destructive debris-flow surges

DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02488-7

Link:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02488-7

The research, published today in , investigates a meter-long flipper from a Temnodontosaurus - a giant ichthyosaur 鈥� with uniquely preserved with fossilised soft tissues.

The findings reveal that the marine reptile, which exceeds 10m in length, was equipped with evolved to have specialised fins that the scientists believe served to suppress the sound of its own movements when foraging in dimly lit environments about 183 million years ago - an evolutionary adaptation never previously seen in any aquatic creature, living or extinct.

The team involves an international team of scientists, led by Dr Johan Lindgren from Lund University in Sweden, in collaboration with one of the world鈥檚 leading ichthyosaur experts, , a Palaeontologist at 黑料入口, who has been working on the fossil for about six years and says the finding 鈥渞epresents one of the greatest fossil discoveries ever made鈥�  and could revolutionise the way scientists investigate other prehistoric animals.

Dr Lindgren, who has pioneered research on ancient marine reptile soft tissues, said: 鈥淭he wing-like shape of the flipper, together with the lack of bones in the distal end and distinctly serrated trailing edge collectively indicate that this massive animal had evolved means to minimise sound production during swimming. Accordingly, this ichthyosaur must have moved almost silently through the water, in a manner similar to how living owls鈥攚hose wing feathers also form a zigzag pattern鈥攆ly quietly when hunting at night. We have never seen such elaborate evolutionary adaptations in a marine animal before.鈥�

Although many small ichthyosaurs have been found with soft-tissue preservation, scientists have never found anything on this scale.

Using a range of advanced imaging, chemical analysis and computational modelling techniques, the researchers also identified that the structure of the flippers were truly unique, with scalloped trailing edge reinforced by mineralised, rod-like structures that the team name 鈥榗hondroderms鈥�. 

Moreover, Temnodontosaurus also had the largest eyes 鈥� the size of footballs 鈥� of any vertebrate known, supporting the hypothesis that this aquatic reptile hunted under low-light conditions, either at night or in deep waters. 

Dr Dean Lomax, who is also an 1851 Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, said: 鈥淭he first time I saw the specimen, I knew it was unique. Having examined thousands of ichthyosaurs, I had never seen anything quite like it. This discovery will revolutionise the way we look at and reconstruct ichthyosaurs (and possibly also other ancient marine reptiles) but specifically soft-tissue structures in prehistoric animals.鈥�

 The fossilised flipper was discovered by fossil collector Georg G枚ltz, a co-author on the new study. Remarkably, Georg made the find entirely by chance whilst looking for fossils at a temporary exposure at a road cutting in the municipality of Dotternhausen, Germany.

The fossil consists of both the part and counterpart (opposing sides) of almost an entire front flipper. Although Georg looked for more, no other remains were found. As the top part of the fin is missing, the team surmise that it was originally an isolated flipper that might have been ripped off by a larger ichthyosaur.

Georg brought the specimen to the attention of palaeontologist and co-author Sven Sachs of the Natural History Museum, Bielefeld, who recognised the rarity of the find.

Dr Lindgren said: 鈥淭he fact that we are able to reconstruct the stealth capabilities of a long-extinct animal is quite remarkable. Also, because human-induced noise from shipping activity, military sonar, seismic surveys, and offshore wind farms has a negative impact on today鈥檚 aquatic life, our findings could provide inspiration to help limit the adverse biological effects from anthropogenic input to the modern marine soundscape.鈥�

 To unravel the mystery behind the features preserved in this fossil, it was subjected to a range of sensitive imaging, elemental and molecular analyses. The multidisciplinary research team included palaeontologists, engineers, biologists and physicists. This involved high-end techniques such as synchrotron radiation-based X-ray microtomography at the Swiss Light Source SLS at PSI and Diamond Light Source, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and infrared microspectroscopy, along with the reconstruction of a virtual model using computational fluid dynamics.

Dr Lomax added: 鈥淭he fossil provides new information on the flipper soft tissues of this enormous leviathan, has structures never seen in any animal, and reveals a unique hunting strategy (thus providing evidence of its behaviour), all combined with the fact that its noise-reducing features may even help us to reduce human-made noise pollution. Although I might be a little bias, in my opinion, this represents one of the greatest fossil discoveries ever made.鈥�

The very first ichthyosaur brought to the attention of science was discovered over 200 years ago by pioneering palaeontologist Mary Anning and her brother Joseph. That fossil was also a Temnodontosaurus, the same type of ichthyosaur to which this flipper belonged.

鈥淚n a weird way, I feel that there is a wonderful full-circle moment that goes back to Mary Anning showcasing that even after 200 years, we are still uncovering exciting and surprising finds that link back to her initial discoveries鈥�, added Dr Lomax.

Nature article reference: Lindgren, J., Lomax, D. R., Sz谩sz, R-Z., Marx, M., Revstedt, J., G枚ltz, G., Sachs, S., De La Garza, R. G., Heing氓rd, M., Jarenmark, M., Ydstr枚m, K., Sj枚vall, P., Osb忙ck, F., Hall, S. A., de Beeck, M. O., Eriksson, M. E., Alwmark, C., Marone, F., Liptak, A., Atwood, R., Burca, G., Uvdal, P., Persson, P. and Nilsson, D-E. 2025. Adaptations for stealth in the wing-like flippers of a large ichthyosaur. Nature, 10.1038/s41586-025-09271-w.

Link to paper:

The research, published today in the journal, , demonstrates that compounds or 鈥榲olatiles鈥� found in sebum 鈥� the oily substance produced by our skin 鈥攈old key biomarkers for identifying Parkinson鈥檚 in its earliest stages.

Using a technique known as Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), scientists at 黑料入口, in collaboration with Salford Royal NHS Trust and the Medical University of Innsbruck, analysed skin swabs from participants with Parkinson鈥檚, healthy volunteers, and those with a sleep disorder called isolated REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD) 鈥� a known early warning sign of Parkinson鈥檚 disease.

The results showed that people with iRBD had distinct chemical profiles in their sebum that were different from healthy individuals, but not yet as pronounced as those with established Parkinson鈥檚 disease. This supports the idea that Parkinson鈥檚 disease leaves a detectable trace on the body well before physical symptoms appear.

Joy Milne 鈥� the 鈥榮uper smeller鈥� who inspired the research  鈥�  was also able to distinguish swabs from people with iRBD from the control group and Parkinson鈥檚 patients. Intriguingly, she was able to detect both diseases in two of the swabs that came from iRBD individuals, who were later diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 at their next clinical appointment, after sampling.

Professor Perdita Barran, Professor of Mass Spectrometry at 黑料入口, said: 鈥淭his is the first study to demonstrate a molecular diagnostic method for Parkinson鈥檚 disease at the prodromal or early stage. It brings us one step closer to a future where a simple, non-invasive skin swab could help identify people at risk before symptoms arise allowing for earlier intervention and improved outcomes.鈥�

The study involved more than 80 participants, including 46 people with Parkinson鈥檚, 28 healthy controls, and nine with iRBD.  They found 55 significant features in the sebum that varied between the groups. Those with iRBD often showed levels that sat between the healthy controls and the Parkinson鈥檚 group, reinforcing the possibility of detecting the disease in its early phase.

Dr Drupad Trivedi, a researcher from 黑料入口, built a model that examined the markers in a longitudinal sampling study. He collected samples from Parkinson鈥檚 patients over a three-year period and found patterns that suggest this method can also be used to map the progression of the disease, which could have use in refining treatment options and improve patient outcomes.

Sebum is also easy to collect using gauze swabs from the face or upper back, making it ideal for non-invasive routine screening and regular monitoring. by the team has also shown it does not need to be stored in the same cold conditions as other biofluids, such as blood, reducing associated costs.

The research is inspired by the observations of Joy Milne, who detected a unique scent in individuals with Parkinson's disease, prompting researchers at 黑料入口 to explore sebum as a source of diagnostic biomarkers.

By using mass spectrometry, a technique that measures the weight of molecules, they have found that there are distinctive Parkinson鈥檚 markers in sebum, which has led them to develop this non-invasive swab test.

These findings have recently been validated in another paper, published today in the, where trained dogs were able to detect Parkinson鈥檚 in the patients recruited by Prof Barren and Dr Trivedi with remarkable accuracy by smelling skin swabs.

Now, the researchers are continuing to develop and improve the sebum-based testing to eventually use as a practical tool in real-world clinical settings.

Dr Drupad Trivedi, Lecturer in Analytical Measurement Sciences at 黑料入口, said: "Our goal is to develop a reliable, non-invasive test that helps doctors detect Parkinson鈥檚 earlier, track its progression, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

鈥淲e鈥檙e also keen to hear from other hyperosmic individuals, potential 鈥榮uper smellers鈥� like Joy, whose remarkable sense of smell could help extend our work to detect other diseases with potential odour signatures."

***

This research was published in the journal npj Parkinson's Disease

Full title: Classification of Parkinson鈥檚 Disease and idopathic REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder: Delineating Progression Markers from the Sebum Volatilome

DOI: 10.1038/s41531-025-01026-8

Link:

***

Biotechnology is enabling us to find new and more sustainable ways to produce chemicals, materials, and everyday products, by understanding and harnessing nature鈥檚 own processes and applying them at industrial scales. Supported by the 黑料入口 Institute of Biotechnology, our 400+ experts are innovating solutions in environmental sustainability, health and sustainable manufacturing. Find out more about our biotechnology research.  

Developed with the support of engineers at 黑料入口 since 2019, Concretene is a graphene-enhanced admixture for concrete that improves compressive strength and durability, enabling removal of cement and a reduced carbon footprint.

The company has extended its production and materials testing facility in the adjacent Pariser Building 鈥� part of the new 鈥� taking advantage of the advanced materials ecosystem delivered by the GEIC.

Concretene is one of several technologies being developed and applied at the GEIC to explore the potential of graphene in construction. It aims to create a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for the industry by increasing the service life of concrete and reducing cement requirements.

This is an ideal case study for 鈥榯he 黑料入口 model鈥� of innovation, whereby an idea for the exploitation of nanomaterials is grown through 黑料入口 to become a spin-out company, creating high-value jobs and encouraging inward investment in the city.

Concretene has attracted 拢1.9m of UK government funding and 拢6m of venture capital investment since its incorporation in late 2022 and has grown to a staff of 20.

Three Innovate UK-funded projects have delivered significant advances in the application of graphene-enhanced concrete:

• GraphEnhance 鈥� scale-up of graphene and graphene oxide supply chain (with and ).
• SMART 鈥� pre-cast foundation pilings (with )
• GCRE 鈥� low-carbon railway sleepers (with )

Prototype trials have demonstrated compressive strength increases up to 50% in ready-mix applications and 15-20% in pre-cast, all showing compatibility with existing low-carbon concrete mixes incorporating cement replacements (CEM II limestone, CEM III GGBS).

Tests by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) on Concretene鈥檚 low-carbon railway sleeper for Cemex have indicated improvements in durability, notably to mitigate shrinkage 鈥� a common problem for low-carbon concretes that can lead to cracking and shorter service life.

Collaboration is ongoing with ARUP 鈥� the global design and engineering consultancy, which is one of  鈥� and a range of material suppliers to hone specifications for different concrete mixes and applications, with a programme of further scaled trials upcoming to produce the robust dataset required for product certification and launch.

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@黑料入口, said:
鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly proud to support Concretene鈥檚 journey as a standout example of how graphene innovation at the GEIC can scale into real-world industrial impact. Their progress reflects the strength of our collaborative model, which brings together engineers, researchers and industry to tackle global challenges like decarbonising construction. Concretene represents the kind of transformative work we鈥檙e driving forward, and we continue to collaborate with a broad range of partners to accelerate the adoption of graphene-enhanced technologies that deliver both environmental and economic benefits.鈥�

Mike Harrison, CEO of Concretene, said:
鈥淲e鈥檙e really pleased to extend our deal with the GEIC for another three years. Having a dedicated formulation development facility, technical support and high-end microscopy and characterisation kit on site has been invaluable in the development of the product. The proximity of growth and maker space within the Sister Innovation District has allowed us to remain in 黑料入口 and we are grateful of the support from this community.

鈥淲e look forward to building on our success to date with the GEIC, commissioning our pilot plant in the Pariser Building and supporting asset owners in their journey to decarbonise concrete in construction.鈥�

Advanced materials is one of Manchester鈥檚 research beacons - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships tackling some of the planet's biggest questions. #ResearchBeacons

Professor Cox returned to his hometown of Oldham in July for a series of four inspirational 鈥楪reat Horizons鈥� events. These celebrated STEM education and highlighted the vital role teachers and industry play in shaping future opportunities for young people in Oldham. They were designed to raise the profile of science teachers and science learning, towards igniting ambition in the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.  On Tuesday 1 July, Professor Cox took part in a celebration event for science teachers and leaders from across Oldham鈥檚 schools. The event was coordinated by the Cranmer Trust and brought over 250 teachers together to identify how they can take science to a new level in their schools. 

The following day, he engaged with primary school pupils in a 鈥榯our of the galaxy鈥� during special morning assemblies, promoting participation in the Great Science Share for Schools. 

In the afternoon, Professor Cox met with business leaders, council representatives, and local influencers, working with Oldham鈥檚 Economy Board鈥檚 and Oldham Athletic Football club with the remit to lever local business engagement to actively support education and career pathways in STEM. 

Later that evening, he hosted a Q&A session with secondary and college students at Oldham Sixth Form College, sharing insights and answering questions about science and space. 

 黑料入口 provided leadership in coordinating and hosting the events, with special focus on the primary school event that involved Professor Cox having a whistle-stop tour of 4 primary schools in Oldham, working to ignite the curiosity of hundreds of pupils. Across the town other schools received VIP visits from the Oldham Lord Mayor, industry and charity professionals. These experiences provided opportunity to incentivise schools to become involved in the University鈥檚  flagship campaign, the Great Science Share for Schools, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. The campaign encourages young people to ask, investigate and share scientific questions, elevating the prominence of practical science in the classroom. 

Professor Lynne Bianchi, FSE Vice Dean for Social Responsibility, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Director of SEERIH, said: 鈥淭he two days were powerful in bringing the town鈥檚 industry and education partners together. It鈥檚 been a real place-based approach that is starting something that will have legacy beyond these launch events. The key now is to harness the energy that spued out of each event and identify key actions that can impact on young people in the short and longer term.鈥�  

Dave Benstead, Chairman of Oldham Enterprise Trust and Oldham鈥檚 Economy Board, said: 鈥淲e set out to optimise STEM-Industry-School-College partnerships which will lead to greater exposure of a variety of STEM career options, broaden student's perspectives and help them make more informed decisions as they progress through education. Our young people need a clearer understanding of the real-world problems that STEM related careers can address and Professor Brian Cox achieved this grabbing their interest and motivation as only he can.鈥� 

With acknowledgments to: Oldham Council, Oldham Enterprise Trust, Oldham Athletic Football Club, Cranmer Education Trust, Pinnacle Learning Trust and SEERIH (黑料入口). 

Using high-resolution 3D seismic (sound wave) imaging, combined with data and rock samples from hundreds of wells, researchers from 黑料入口 in collaboration with industry, identified vast mounds of sand 鈥� some several kilometres wide 鈥� that appear to have sunk downward, displacing older, lighter and softer materials from beneath them.

The result is stratigraphic inversion - a reversal of the usual geological order in which younger rocks are typically deposited on top of older ones on a previously unseen scale.

While stratigraphic inversion has previously been observed at small scales, the structures discovered by the 黑料入口 team 鈥� now named 鈥渟inkites鈥� 鈥� are the largest example of the phenomenon documented so far.

The finding, in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, challenges scientists understanding of the subsurface and could have implications for carbon storage.

Lead author Professor Mads Huuse from 黑料入口, said: 鈥淭his discovery reveals a geological process we haven鈥檛 seen before on this scale. What we鈥檝e found are structures where dense sand has sunk into lighter sediments that floated to the top of the sand, effectively flipping the conventional layers we鈥檇 expect to see and creating huge mounds beneath the sea.鈥�

It is believed the sinkites formed millions of years ago during the Late Miocene to Pliocene periods, when earthquakes or sudden shifts in underground pressure may have caused the sand to liquefy and sink downward through natural fractures in the seabed. This displaced the underlying, more porous but rigid, ooze rafts - composed largely of microscopic marine fossils - bound by shrinkage cracks, sending them floating upwards. The researchers have dubbed these lighter, uplifted features 鈥榝loatites鈥�.

The finding could help scientists better predict where oil and gas might be trapped and where it鈥檚 safe to store carbon dioxide underground.

Prof Huuse said: 鈥淭his research shows how fluids and sediments can move around in the Earth鈥檚 crust in unexpected ways. Understanding how these sinkites formed could significantly change how we assess underground reservoirs, sealing, and fluid migration 鈥� all of which are vital for carbon capture and storage鈥�.

Now the team are busy documenting other examples of this process and assessing how exactly it impacts our understanding of subsurface reservoirs and sealing intervals.

Prof Huuse added: 鈥淎s with many scientific discoveries there are many sceptical voices, but also many who voice their support for the new model. Time and yet more research will tell just how widely applicable the model is.鈥�

This research has been published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment

Full title: Km-scale mounds and sinkites formed by buoyancy driven stratigraphic inversion

DOI:

Celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year, the campaign inspires teachers of 5-14 year olds to upskill their own knowledge and skills of teaching science enquiry - a form of science education that gives the pupils the opportunity to explore a scientific question through practical investigations linked to .  

Using innovative resources and ideas related to this year鈥檚 theme of #ConnectedScience, pupils across the UK and across the world have been taking the lead and becoming science communicators.  The theme illustrates how science is not isolated in learning, but rather, the way we think scientifically has the power to connect our ideas and successes in all areas of our lives. 

The campaign runs throughout the year, leading to registrations from 835,135 pupils sharing on or around Tuesday 17 June. With wider reach across the globe, #GSSfS inspires teachers and educators from 52 different countries to take part, with events taking place across venues such as schools, hospital schools, museums, sports venues and universities.  

This year, 黑料入口 hosted more than 35 schools from across Greater 黑料入口 in its Nancy Rothwell building.  

Some of the questions shared this year included: 

• Are all flowers the same? 
• How does wind speed affect voltage generated? 
• Which type of soil will retain the most water to help keep plants hydrated in hot weather? 
• How does the temperature of the ocean affect coral? 

The GSSfS campaign was launched by Professor Lynne Bianchi, Vice Dean for Social Responsibility at 黑料入口, to provide a unique way to elevate the prominence of science in the classroom, focussing on learner-focussed science communication, inclusive and non-competitive engagement, and promoting collaboration.  

Professor Bianchi, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been truly inspiring to witness the Great Science Share for Schools reach its 10th anniversary with such global momentum.鈥�

In 2024 and 2025, the campaign was granted the prestigious patronage of the , in recognition of its status as a beacon of excellence in science education and its pivotal role in shaping the next generation of scientists, innovators, and global citizens.  

Now in its 10^th year, the GSSfS strategy further develops to explore strategic alliances with ministries of education and schools across the world.  This year the Ministry of Education in Malta and the STEM & VET Curriculum and the Museo de Ciencias Universidad de Navarra in Spain, and the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) Unified Learning Centre in Khao Lak, Thailand have become a key focus for development. 

Grace Marson, Campaign Manager, said: 鈥淲hat Great Science Share for Schools has shown year on year, is that pupils have a thirst for science. They are naturally curious about the world around them and given the opportunity through GSSfS, they demonstrate that they can ask amazing scientific questions. This campaign puts pupils at the centre of their learning.鈥�  

The five-year multi-centre research project 鈥� supported by 拢10mn funding from Wellcome 鈥� involves researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Kent, 黑料入口, Oxford, and Imperial College London. SynHG is led by Professor Jason Chin of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology; he was also recently announced as the founding Director of the Generative Biology Institute at the Ellison Institute of Technology, Oxford, and a Professor at the University of Oxford.

A dedicated social science programme, led by Professor Joy Zhang of the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice at the University of Kent, runs throughout the project alongside the scientific development. The programme will work with civil society partners around the world to actively explore, assess and respond to the socio-ethical implications of tools and technologies developed by SynHG.

The benefits of human genome synthesis to research and beyond 
Since the completion of the Human Genome Project at the start of the century, researchers have sought the ability to write our genome from scratch. Unlike genome editing, genome synthesis allows for changes at a greater scale and density, with more accuracy and efficiency, and will lead to the determination of causal relationships between the organisation of the human genome and how our body functions. Synthetic genomes have the potential to open up brand new areas of research in creating targeted cell-based therapies, virus-resistant tissue transplantation and extensions may even enable the engineering of plant species with new properties, including the ability to withstand harsh climate. 

To date, scientists have successfully developed synthetic genomes for microbes such as E. coli. The field of synthetic genomics has accelerated in recent times, and advances in machine learning, data science and AI showing promise, with synthesised DNA becoming more widely available. However, today鈥檚 technology is not able to produce large, more complex sections of genetic material, such as found in crops, animals and humans. 

The research team are focusing on developing the tools and technology to synthesise large genomes exemplified by the human genome. Focusing on the human genome, as opposed to other model organisms such as mice, will allow researchers to more quickly make transformative discoveries in human biology and health.

 Professor Jason Chin, Founding Director of the Generative Biology Institute at EIT, Oxford, said: 鈥淭he ability to synthesize large genomes, including genomes for human cells, may transform our understanding of genome biology and profoundly alter the horizons of biotechnology and medicine. With SynHG we are building the tools to make large genome synthesis a reality, and at the same time we are pro-actively engaging in the social, ethical, economic and policy questions that may arise as the tools and technologies advance.  We hope that Wellcome鈥檚 support for this combination of approaches will help facilitate substantive societal benefit.鈥�

A bold, ambitious project facing complex scientific challenges 
SynHG focuses on developing the foundational tools and methods required to equip more researchers in the future. This research journey will potentially catalyse new technologies in the field of engineering biology, generating exciting discoveries about how cells use their genomes even before achieving complete genome synthesis. 

The team of researchers hope to provide proof of concept for large genome synthesis by creating a fully synthetic human chromosome, which makes up approximately 2% of our total DNA. Initially, the team hope to establish methods where small changes are made to the sequence of a chromosome with minimal onward effect on the proteins that it produces. 

Setting the foundation 鈥� testing the concept, iterating the methods, and embedding ethical considerations 鈥� could alone take many years. Even as engineering biology technologies improve, reliably building a complete synthetic human genome and meaningfully applying it to human health will likely take decades.

Michael Dunn, Director of Discovery Research at Wellcome, said: 鈥淥ur DNA determines who we are and how our bodies work and with recent technological advances, the SynHG project is at the forefront of one of the most exciting areas of scientific research. Through creating the necessary tools and methods to synthesise a human genome we will answer questions about our health and disease that we cannot even anticipate yet, in turn transforming our understanding of life and wellbeing.鈥� 

Professor Patrick Yizhi Cai, Chair of Synthetic Genomics at the University of Manchester said: "We are leveraging cutting-edge generative AI and advanced robotic assembly technologies to revolutionize synthetic mammalian chromosome engineering. Our innovative approach aims to develop transformative solutions for the pressing societal challenges of our time, creating a more sustainable and healthier future for all."

Embedding global socio-ethical discussions in scientific advancements 
To effectively translate scientific ambition into meaningful and potentially profound societal benefits, it is essential that there is proactive and sustained engagement with the evolving socio-ethical priorities and concerns of diverse communities. 

Wellcome is also funding Care-full Synthesis, a dedicated social research initiative conducting empirical studies with diverse publics worldwide. Led by Professor Joy Y. Zhang and hosted by the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice (GSEJ) at the University of Kent, the project builds on GSEJ鈥檚 global network of academic, civil society, industry and policy partners to promote a new approach of science鈥搒ociety dialogue that is Open, Deliberative, Enabling, Sensible & Sensitive, and Innovative (鈥極DESSI鈥�). 

Professor Joy Zhang, Founding Director of the GSEJ at the University of Kent said: 鈥淲ith Care-full Synthesis, through empirical studies across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Americas, we aim to establish a new paradigm for accountable scientific and innovative practices in the global age鈥攐ne that explores the full potential of synthesising technical possibilities and diverse socio-ethical perspectives with care.鈥� 

Over the next five years, the team will undertake a transdisciplinary and transcultural investigation into the socio-ethical, economic, and policy implications of synthesising human genomes. The project places particular emphasis on fostering inclusivity within and across nation-states, while engaging emerging public鈥損rivate partnerships and new interest groups. 

Through the generation of rich empirical data, the team will develop a toolkit to enable effective integration of careful thinking into the management, communication, and delivery of human genome synthesis. This work aims to substantially expand the practice of accountable science and innovation, reflecting the complex realities of a hyperconnected yet ideologically fragmented world. Care-full Synthesis will achieve this by advancing a fresh approach to engaging with global communities, ensuring that fast-moving science is accompanied by robust social and legal deliberation, and identifying innovative strategies to co-ordinate regional and global governance accounting for diverse social priorities and scientific pathways.

In a boon for the future of data storage technologies, the researchers have made a new single-molecule magnet that retains its magnetic memory up to 100 Kelvin (-173 掳C) 鈥� around the temperature of the Moon at night.

The finding, published in the journal , is a significant advance on the previous record of 80 Kelvin (-193 掳C). While still a long way from working in a standard freezer, or at room temperature, data storage at 100 Kelvin could be feasible in huge data centres, such as those used by Google.

If perfected, these single-molecule magnets could pack vast amounts of information into incredibly small spaces 鈥� possibly more than three terabytes of data per square centimetre. That鈥檚 around half a million TikTok videos squeezed into a hard drive that鈥檚 the size of a postage stamp.

The research was led by 黑料入口, with computational modelling led by the Australian National University (ANU).

David Mills, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at 黑料入口, said: 鈥淭his research showcases the power of chemists to deliberately design and build molecules with targeted properties. The results are an exciting prospect for the use of single-molecule magnets in data storage media that is 100 times more dense than the absolute limit of current technologies.

鈥淎lthough the new magnet still needs cooling far below room temperature, it is now well above the temperature of liquid nitrogen (77 Kelvin), which is a readily available coolant. So, while we won鈥檛 be seeing this type of data storage in our mobile phones for a while, it does make storing information in huge data centres more feasible.鈥�

Magnetic materials have long played an important role in data storage technologies. Currently, hard drives store data by magnetising tiny regions made up of many atoms all working together to retain memory. Single-molecule magnets can store information individually and don鈥檛 need help from any neighbouring atoms to retain their memory, offering the potential for incredibly high data density. But, until now, the challenge has always been the incredibly cold temperatures needed in order for them to function.

The key to the new magnets鈥� success is its unique structure, with the element dysprosium located between two nitrogen atoms. These three atoms are arranged almost in a straight line 鈥� a configuration predicted to boost magnetic performance but realised now for the first time.

Usually, when dysprosium is bonded to only two nitrogen atoms it tends to form molecules with more bent or irregular shapes. In the new molecule, the researchers added a chemical group called an alkene that acts like a molecular pin, binding to dysprosium to hold the structure in place.

The team at the Australian National University developed a new theoretical model to simulate the molecule鈥檚 magnetic behaviour to allow them to explain why this particular molecular magnet performs so well compared to previous designs.

Now, the researchers will use these results as a blueprint to guide the design of even better molecular magnets.

We are sad to report that one of the founders of the science of radio astronomy, Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS, FRAS, FInstP, has passed away at the age of 102.

Sir Francis, or Graham as he was known to friends and colleagues, was the second Director of Jodrell Bank Observatory, taking over from Sir Bernard Lovell when he retired in 1981.

His career in astronomy was remarkable.

During the Second World War, Graham had been forced to interrupt his university studies in Cambridge in order to work on the development of radar. At the end of the war, he returned to Cambridge and began working alongside Martin Ryle, another wartime radar expert. There he played a key role in pioneering the new science of radio astronomy, providing some of the most accurate positions for the newly discovered sources of cosmic radio waves using interferometers.  

In 1964, he was appointed as a Professor of Radio Astronomy at 黑料入口 and moved to Jodrell Bank. He worked on some early space-based radio astronomy experiments as well as ground-based detection of cosmic rays.

However, when pulsars were discovered by Jocelyn Bell and Antony Hewish at Cambridge in 1967, his focus switched immediately to these new and important phenomena. Their study, using the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank and others, was to occupy much of the remainder of his career.

Whilst Director of Jodrell Bank, Graham was instrumental in securing funding for a significant upgrade to the MERLIN telescopes, Jodrell Bank鈥檚 own interferometer network, including the addition of a new 32-metre telescope to be sited in Cambridge. This upgrade kept MERLIN at the leading edge throughout the 1990s and paved the way for the later development to e-MERLIN and the Observatory today.

Although he officially retired in 1988, Graham continued to be an active member of Jodrell Bank鈥檚 pulsar research group, completing the latest edition of the research text 鈥楶ulsar Astronomy鈥� in his 99^th year and publishing a review of Fast Radio Bursts in only April of this year, at the age of 102.

In 1970, Graham was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. He then became Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in 1975 where he oversaw the development of the UK鈥檚 optical observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands. In 1981, he returned to Jodrell Bank to take over as Director when Sir Bernard Lovell retired. From 1975 to 1977, he was President of the Royal Astronomical Society and, from 1982 to 1990, he was Astronomer Royal. He received a knighthood in 1986.

Outside his work in research and scientific management, Graham was always a strong supporter of and participant in public engagement with science and education. For example, he delivered the 1965 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture alongside fellow radio astronomers Sir Bernard Lovell, Sir Martin Ryle and Antony Hewish. Amongst many other activities, including writing popular books and research-level texts, he played a significant role in the development and management of the public visitor centre at Jodrell Bank.

Graham was married to Elizabeth, his wife of 76 years who died in 2021.  They had four children.  He was a keen gardener and, for many years, an avid bee-keeper, an interest which he retained well into his 90s.

Selected recent books

• Pulsar Astronomy
  Lyne, A. G., Graham-Smith, F., Stappers, B. (CUP, 2022). .
•  An Introduction to Radio Astronomy
  Burke, B. F., Graham-Smith, F., Wilkinson, P. N. (CUP, 2019). .
• Eyes on the Sky: A Spectrum of Telescopes
  Graham-Smith, F. (OUP, 2016). .
• Unseen Cosmos: The Universe in Radio
  Graham-Smith, F. (OUP, 2013). .

Selected research papers

• A New Intense Source of Radio-Frequency Radiation in the Constellation of Cassiopeia
  Ryle, M., Smith, F. G., Nature (1949). .
• An Accurate Determination of the Positions of Four Radio Stars
  Smith, F. G., Nature (1951). .
• Radio Pulses from Extensive Cosmic-Ray Air Showers
  Jelley, J. V. et al (1965). .
• Characteristics of the radio pulses from the pulsars
  Lyne, A. G., Smith, F. G., Graham, D. A., MNRAS (1971). .
• Crab pulsar timing 1982-87
  Lyne, A. G., Pritchard, R. S., Smith, F. G., MNRAS (1988). .
• Statistical studies of pulsar glitches
  Lyne, A. G., Shemar, S. L., Smith, F. Graham, MNRAS (2000). .
• Pulsars: a concise introduction 
  Graham-Smith, F. , Lyne, A. G., A&G (2023). .
• A new era for FRBs
  Graham-Smith, Francis, A&G (2025). .

Recent interviews

• (BBC Science Caf茅 from 2023)
• (Jodcast from 2016).
• (Jodcast from 2015).

Obituary written by Professor Tim O'Brien.

has been selected to receive the Robert Robinson Prize, while is one of this year's three Tilden Prize recipients.

Professor Larrosa and Professor Barran are among the more than 40 Research and Innovation Prize winners, which recognises researchers who have displayed their brilliance when it comes to research and innovation.

and have earned the Technical Excellence Prize for their outstanding dedication and technical expertise in running the at 黑料入口. The prize recognises outstanding contributions to the chemical sciences made by individuals or teams working as technicians or in technical roles. 

Prof Larrosa won his prize for contributions to organic chemistry in the area of ruthenium-catalysed C鈥揅 bond formation, and receives 拢3,000 and a medal.

His investigates the development of catalytic processes that enable chemists in industry and academia to synthesise valuable molecules in a more straightforward and sustainable fashion. The main approach in the group involves the application of analytical tools to the detailed study of the modes of operation of transition metal catalysts, and then using this new knowledge to develop more powerful and efficient catalysts.

After receiving the prize, Prof Larrosa said: 鈥淚t is such an honour to receive the Robert Robinson Award, especially given its history of celebrating transformative contributions to organic chemistry. This recognition reflects the creativity, persistence and collaborative spirit of the brilliant researchers I have had the privilege to work with over the years. I am proud of what we have achieved together, and deeply grateful for the support of my colleagues, mentors and the wider scientific community.鈥�

Professor Barran was recognised with the Tilden Prize for her work on the application of ion mobility mass spectrometry to complex biological systems, and breakthroughs in biomarker discovery 鈥� notably non-invasive sampling to diagnose Parkinson's disease.

Her focuses on developing advanced mass spectrometry techniques to study the structure and behaviour of proteins and other biomolecules, with applications in understanding the fundamentals of biology, the mechanistic reasons for diseases and the development of therapeutics and diagnostics. One of our most notable achievements is the collaborative work with Joy Milne, a retired nurse who possesses an extraordinary sense of smell and noticed a distinct odour associated with Parkinson鈥檚 disease.

This observation led to research demonstrating that sebum, an oily substance secreted by the skin, contains compounds that can serve as biomarkers for Parkinson鈥檚. Using mass spectrometry, our team identified specific molecules in sebum that differ between individuals with and without Parkinson鈥檚 disease. This discovery has paved the way for the development of a non-invasively sampled and rapid diagnostic test that can detect Parkinson鈥檚 disease with high accuracy, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and treatment.

Prof Barran won 拢5,000 and a medal. 

After receiving the prize, Prof Barran said: 鈥淚 was absolutely thrilled! This prize was formally won by both my PhD advisors, Harry Kroto and Tony Stace, my undergraduate personal tutor, Dave Garner, and many other brilliant scientists. I felt totally honoured to be among these people who I have always respected. In my case, I attribute winning to the people that I have been privileged to work with. I noted that out of about 200 recipients I was the ninth female. This also made me feel pretty pleased!鈥�

Dr Muralidharan Shanmugam and Adam Brookfield are two EPSRC National Research Facility (NRF) for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy technical specialists named as the winners of one of the Royal Society of Chemistry鈥檚 team prizes, which celebrate discoveries and innovations that push the boundaries of science.

The duo have been recognised for their outstanding dedication and technical expertise in running the facility at 黑料入口. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is the spectroscopic technique that is selective and sensitive to unpaired electrons. The unpaired electrons could be intrinsic to the materials studied or could be induced via a process (e.g light/heat/chemically) to provide information on structure, kinetics and much more, with applications covering all areas of physics, chemistry, biology and materials science. The technical team at the EPSRC NRF both maintain the equipment and assist users with the design, implementation and analysis of proposed experiments.

They will share 拢3,000 and receive a trophy.

 After receiving the prize, Adam Brookfield said: 鈥淏oth Murali and I are over the moon that our contributions have been recognised by the RSC with this award.

"We're both nosey scientists at heart, we want to provide the best instrument access and knowledge to our users to enable their world-class science. We're in a unique position where we get to see and adapt the facility to the trends and hotspots in research areas, alongside training the next generation of scientific leaders.鈥�

The Royal Society of Chemistry鈥檚 prizes have recognised excellence in the chemical sciences for more than 150 years. This year鈥檚 winners join a prestigious list of past recipients in the RSC鈥檚 prize portfolio, 60 of whom have gone on to win Nobel Prizes for their work, including 2022 Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi and 2019 Nobel laureate John B Goodenough.

Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: 鈥淭he chemical sciences cover a rich and diverse collection of disciplines, from fundamental understanding of materials and the living world, to applications in medicine, sustainability, technology and more. By working together across borders and disciplines, chemists are finding solutions to some of the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges.

鈥淥ur prize winners come from a vast array of backgrounds, all contributing in different ways to our knowledge base, and bringing fresh ideas and innovations. We recognise chemical scientists from every career stage and every role type, including those who contribute to the RSC鈥檚 work as volunteers. We celebrate winners from both industry and academia, as well as individuals, teams, and the science itself.

鈥淭heir passion, dedication and brilliance are an inspiration. I extend my warmest congratulations to them all.鈥�

For more information about the RSC鈥檚 prizes portfolio, visit .

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, has released a series of extraordinary images, which show millions of galaxies, stars in the Milky Way and thousands of asteroids, all in unprecedented detail.  

These images, captured in just 10 hours of observations, offer a glimpse of what鈥檚 to come from Rubin鈥檚 forthcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) - a 10-year mission to build the most detailed time-lapse map of the night sky ever attempted.

The UK is playing a major role in the global collaboration, as the second-largest international contributor to the project, supported by a 拢23 million investment from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

The UK will host one of three international data facilities to support management and processing of the unprecedented amounts of data that Rubin will produce.

Among the UK scientists closely involved is Professor Chris Conselice, Professor of Extragalactic Astronomy at 黑料入口. Professor Conselice sits on the UK:LSST/Rubin Board and has contributed to key scientific analyses for preparation of the data, including techniques to detect very diffuse light around galaxies and how the data from Rubin can be used with Euclid - another international satellite mission to map the dark universe.

The images have been taken with the LSST Camera - the world鈥檚 newest and most powerful survey telescope, equipped with the largest digital camera ever built and feeds a powerful data processing system.

Over the next decade, it will repeatedly scan the sky to create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our Universe that will bring the sky to life with a treasure trove of billions of scientific discoveries. The images will reveal asteroids and comets, pulsating stars, supernova explosions, far-off galaxies and perhaps cosmic phenomena that no one has seen before.

Already, the camera has identified more than 2000 never-before-seen asteroids in our Solar System.

The project will generate the largest dataset in the history of optical astronomy. The amount of data gathered by Rubin Observatory in its first year alone will be greater than that collected by all other optical observatories combined.

The dataset is expected to reach around 500 petabytes and catalogue billions of cosmic objects with trillions of measurements that will help scientists make countless discoveries about the Universe and will serve as an incomparable resource for scientific exploration for decades to come.

Now live across five berths in North Harbour鈥攚ith additional capacity to expand鈥攖he installation is expected to reduce up to 60,000 tonnes of CO鈧� equivalent over the next 20 years. This saving is equivalent to removing approximately 2,140 cars from the road each year. also sets out how UK Government policy changes could support faster deployment of shore power at other ports.

The success of the project not only helps Aberdeen advance its ambition to become the UK鈥檚 first net zero port by 2040 but also demonstrates the crucial role university research plays in real-world climate solutions. Dr Bullock and the Tyndall team鈥檚 sustained involvement from early research to full deployment highlights the lasting value of academic contributions to national decarbonisation efforts.

The project, known as Shore Power in Operation, is part of the UK Department for Transport鈥檚 Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition, delivered through UK SHORE and Innovate UK. With 拢4 million in funding and extensive collaboration between industry and academia, it represents a landmark public-private investment in cleaner port infrastructure.

Port of Aberdeen led the initiative in partnership with a broad consortium including OSM Offshore, Tidewater Marine UK Ltd, Connected Places Catapult, and researchers from the Tyndall Centre based in the University of Manchester, with support from Buro Happold and Energy Systems Catapult. PowerCon, a global leader in shore power solutions, delivered the on-site infrastructure.

As nations around the world aim to meet climate targets set by the Paris Agreement, the researchers highlight that without careful planning, effort to cut emissions could unintentionally maintain or widen existing regional gaps in access to services, such as how energy and water are distributed.

To help address this, the team have developed a framework, published in the journal , which uses artificial intelligence tools combined with detailed country-scale digital twin simulators to help identify infrastructure intervention plans that reduce emissions while fairly managing access to vital services like electricity and water, and improving food production.

The approach aims to help achieve sustainability and climate targets, particularly in countries with complicated interdependencies between sectors and inequitable access to services. It helps ensure that no region or community is left behind in the journey to net zero and supports UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Using a case study of Ghana, the research shows that reaching a fairer, low-carbon energy transition will not only require increased investments in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure but also more informed social, economic, and environmental planning. Countries must consider who benefits from infrastructure investments 鈥� not just how much carbon they cut.

This research was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Full title: Delivering equity in low-carbon multisector infrastructure planning

DOI:

Link:

Our research is at the forefront of the energy transition. Guided by our innovative spirit and interdisciplinary outlook, we work to mitigate climate change while transforming our energy system, to enable a just and prosperous future for all. Find out more about our energy research. 

John Whittaker, Engineering Director at the , is delighted to announce his appointment to the international advisory board of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in 2D Materials of Tomorrow (2DMoT CDT). The new CDT builds on the legacy of Manchester鈥檚 pioneering Graphene NOWNANO CDT and is designed to shape the next generation of leaders in the fast-evolving field of 2D materials.

Reflecting on his new role John said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real privilege to be part of this initiative. The 2DMoT CDT doesn鈥檛 just focus on academic excellence - it brings research to life by connecting it with industry, impact, and innovation. I鈥檓 excited to work alongside these emerging researchers and help create a space where science and real-world application go hand in hand.鈥�

Funded by the EPSRC, the 2DMoT CDT will welcome its first student cohort in September 2025. The programme is a collaboration between 黑料入口 and the University of Cambridge, with initial training and the majority of research projects based in 黑料入口. The CDT offers an intensive four-year PhD that focuses on the science and application of the rapidly growing family of two-dimensional (2D) materials. It provides a unique training environment that blends academic excellence with industry collaboration and innovation opportunities.

The CDT aligns closely with the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE)鈥檚 vision and the University鈥檚 ambition to define the role of a great civic university in the 21st century. Advanced materials is one of FSE鈥檚 core research beacons, and the CDT builds on this by promoting employability, interdisciplinary training, and values-driven partnerships. Rooted in innovation and a strong sense of purpose, the programme reflects our commitment to global impact, local engagement, and an inclusive student experience.

This vision is brought to life through the work of the GEIC, where John serves as Engineering Director. As one of the UK鈥檚 leading centres for the commercialisation of 2D materials, the GEIC transforms early-stage research into real-world applications, helping businesses navigate the crucial 鈥榤iddle ground鈥� of technology readiness (TRLs 4鈥�7). With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, industrial partnerships, and translational focus, the GEIC plays a central role in the advanced materials ecosystem. John鈥檚 involvement in the CDT advisory board strengthens the pipeline between research and industry - ensuring doctoral students gain not only technical excellence, but the commercial awareness needed to drive innovation from lab to market.

The CDT鈥檚 impact also extends into 黑料入口鈥檚 wider innovation landscape through Unit M - a bold, University-led initiative to accelerate discovery, innovation, and inclusive economic growth. Unit M connects research, industry, investors, and civic partners to unlock the full potential of the region鈥檚 innovation ecosystem. By developing skilled researchers and fostering academic鈥搃ndustry collaboration, the CDT plays a valuable role in supporting Unit M鈥檚 mission to drive prosperity across Greater 黑料入口 and beyond.

This collaborative spirit is further exemplified by the new 黑料入口鈥揅ambridge partnership, with the CDT as one of its early flagship initiatives. By linking two of the UK鈥檚 most dynamic innovation economies, the partnership brings together 黑料入口鈥檚 strengths in industry-facing innovation with Cambridge鈥檚 academic excellence and world-class startup culture. Together, they represent a new model for university collaboration 鈥� one rooted in purpose, people, and place 鈥� that challenges traditional boundaries and redefines what鈥檚 possible when research, talent, and enterprise move hand in hand.

As John steps into this advisory role, his appointment is a reflection not only of his leadership at GEIC but of the broader vision to ensure that materials science remains one of the UK鈥檚 greatest engines of innovation.

Desalination of seawater and brackish water is one of the essential solutions to the increasing global challenge of water scarcity. Yet, widespread deployment of desalination technologies remains limited due to high upfront costs and intensive energy requirements. Moreover, current desalination systems use fossil fuels contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

To address these challenges, the EU-funded project AQUASOL brings together a multidisciplinary team of seven partners from six countries to explore and develop innovative solutions to facilitate green transition in desalination processes. To achieve this, the consortium will develop a technological platform that will enable the integration of renewable energy sources into desalination technologies and provide disruptive solutions for seawater and wastewater treatment.

, a researcher at 黑料入口, will develop graphene-based membranes designed to treat seawater and brackish water more efficiently. The goal is to increase membrane durability and reduce energy demands, offering practical improvements over current desalination systems.

The partners, comprising of research institutions, universities and small and medium businesses, met in Barcelona to officially launch the project, which started earlier this month.

AQUASOL, which stands for Advanced Quality Renewable Energy-Powered Solutions For Water Desalination In Agriculture And Wastewater Recycling, has a total budget of over 鈧�3.6M and will run for 3 years. 黑料入口 joins six other partners: Instituto Tecnol贸gico de Canarias (Spain), Strane Innovation (France), Ferr-Tech B.V. (Netherlands), farmB (Greece), and Aarhus University (Denmark).

Acknowledgements

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

We鈥檙e home to 700 materials experts, revolutionising industries by developing advanced materials that unlock new levels of performance, efficiency, and sustainability. Supported by the 拢885m campus investment over the last 10 years, our researchers are at the forefront of materials innovation, creating game-changing solutions. From healthcare to manufacturing, we鈥檙e tackling global challenges and ensuring the UK's reputation as a technology 鈥榮uper power'. Find out more about our advanced materials research.

The team designed a two-dimensional (2D) manganese-oxide/graphene superlattice that triggers a unique lattice-wide strain mechanism. This approach significantly boosts the structural stability of the battery鈥檚 cathode material, enabling it to operate reliably over 5,000 charge-discharge cycles. That鈥檚 around 50% longer than current zinc-ion batteries.

The research, published in , offers a practical route to scalable, water-based energy storage technologies.

Atomic-level control over battery durability

The breakthrough centres on a phenomenon called the Cooperative Jahn-Teller Effect (CJTE). A coordinated lattice distortion caused by a specific 1:1 ratio of manganese ions (Mn鲁鈦� and Mn鈦粹伜). When built into a layered 2D structure on graphene, this ratio produces long-range, uniform strain across the material.

That strain helps the cathode resist breakdown during repeated cycling.

The result is a low-cost, aqueous zinc-ion battery that performs with greater durability, and without the safety risks linked to lithium-ion cells.

鈥淭his work demonstrates how 2D material heterostructures can be engineered for scalable applications,鈥� said , lead and corresponding author from University of Technology Sydney and a Royal Society Wolfson visiting Fellow at 黑料入口. 鈥淥ur approach shows that superlattice design is not just a lab-scale novelty, but a viable route to improving real-world devices such as rechargeable batteries. It highlights how 2D material innovation can be translated into practical technologies.鈥�

Towards better grid-scale storage

Zinc-ion batteries are widely viewed as a promising candidate for stationary storage, storing renewable energy for homes, businesses or the power grid. But until now, their limited lifespan has restricted real-world use.

This study shows how chemical control at the atomic level can overcome that barrier.

Co-corresponding author from 黑料入口 said, 鈥淥ur research opens a new frontier in strain engineering for 2D materials. By inducing the cooperative Jahn-Teller effect, we鈥檝e shown that it鈥檚 possible to fine-tune the magnetic, mechanical, and optical properties of materials in ways that were previously not feasible.鈥�

The team also demonstrated that their synthesis process works at scale using water-based methods, without toxic solvents or extreme temperatures - a step forward in making zinc-ion batteries more practical for manufacturing.

This research was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Full title: Cooperative Jahn-Teller effect and engineered long-range strain in manganese oxide/graphene superlattice for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

DOI: 

We鈥檙e home to 700 materials experts, revolutionising industries by developing advanced materials that unlock new levels of performance, efficiency, and sustainability. Supported by the 拢885m campus investment over the last 10 years, our researchers are at the forefront of materials innovation, creating game-changing solutions. From healthcare to manufacturing, we鈥檙e tackling global challenges and ensuring the UK's reputation as a technology 鈥榮uper power'. Find out more about our advanced materials research.

The is a world-leading graphene and 2D material centre, focussed on fundamental research. Based at 黑料入口, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field 鈥� a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by 拢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.

The results have been published in the journal .

Using a new two-step fabrication method, the researchers demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to create and monitor, 鈥榓s they switch on鈥�, individual Group-IV quantum defects in diamond鈥攖iny imperfections in the diamond crystal lattice that can store and transmit information using the exotic rules of quantum physics. By carefully placing single tin atoms into synthetic diamond crystals and then using an ultrafast laser to activate them, the team achieved pinpoint control over where and how these quantum features appear. This level of precision is vital for making practical, large-scale quantum networks capable of ultra-secure communication and distributed quantum computing to tackle currently unsolvable problems.

Study co-author , Department of Materials at the University of Oxford, said: 鈥淭his breakthrough gives us unprecedented control over single tin-vacancy colour centres in diamond, a crucial milestone for scalable quantum devices. What excites me most is that we can watch, in real time, how the quantum defects are formed.鈥�

Specifically, the defects in the diamond act as spin-photon interfaces, which means they can connect quantum bits of information (stored in the spin of an electron) with particles of light. The tin-vacancy defects belong to a family known as Group-IV colour centres鈥攁 class of defects in diamond created by atoms such as silicon, germanium, or tin.

Group-IV centres have long been prized for their high degree of symmetry, which gives them stable optical and spin properties, making them ideal for quantum networking applications. It is widely thought that tin-vacancy centres have the best combination of these properties鈥攂ut until now, reliably placing and activating individual defects was a major challenge.

The researchers used a focused ion beam platform鈥攅ssentially a tool that acts like an atomic-scale spray can, directing individual tin ions into exact positions within the diamond. This allowed them to implant the tin atoms with nanometre accuracy鈥攆ar finer than the width of a human hair.

To convert the implanted tin atoms to tin-vacancy colour centres, the team then used ultrafast laser pulses in a process called laser annealing. This process gently excites tiny regions of the diamond without damaging it. What made this approach unique was the addition of real-time spectral feedback鈥攎onitoring the light coming from the defects during the laser process. This allowed the scientists to see in real time when a quantum defect became active and adjust the laser accordingly, offering an unprecedented level of control over the creation of these delicate quantum systems.

Study co-author  from the University of Cambridge, said: 鈥淲hat is particularly remarkable about this method is that it enables in-situ control and feedback during the defect creation process. This means we can activate quantum emitters efficiently and with high spatial precision - an important tool for the creation of large-scale quantum networks. Even better, this approach is not limited to diamond; it is a versatile platform that could be adapted to other wide-bandgap materials.鈥�

Moreover, the researchers observed and manipulated a previously elusive defect complex, termed 鈥淭ype II Sn鈥�, providing a deeper understanding of defect dynamics and formation pathways in diamond.

Study co-author , Professor of Advanced Electronic Materials at 黑料入口, said: 鈥淭his work unlocks the ability to create quantum objects on demand, using methods that are reproducible and can be scaled up. This is a critical step in being able to deliver quantum devices and allow this technology to be utilised in real-world commercial applications.鈥�

The study 鈥楲aser Activation of Single Group-IV Colour Centres in Diamond鈥� has been published in Nature Communications: 

Over 2000 scientists, veterinarians, technicians, and regulators from across Europe and beyond converged on Athens for the sixteenth FELASA Congress to hear BSF Director Dr Maria Kamper鈥檚 vision on transformational leadership. 

The Congress is held every three years in different European cities to advance excellence in laboratory animal science. 

FELASA - the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations - develops guidelines and policies on all aspects of laboratory animal science, including training programs, welfare standards, and scientific best practice. 

Representing professionals in over 28 countries across Europe, this year's Congress took place between June 2 and 5 at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre. 

Dr Maria Kamper, Director of the BSF, spoke to a packed audience about how exceptional leadership creates excellence in laboratory animal science.

 Drawing from her philosophy that "people are the heart of our work," Dr Kamper challenged the traditional approach to facility management. 

"We don't just ask our staff to follow protocols," Dr Kamper told the Congress. "We inspire them to see themselves as guardians of breakthrough discoveries. 

鈥淓very refinement they create could spare suffering for thousands of animals. They go to work knowing they are advancing human knowledge while honouring every heartbeat in their care," she added. 

The BSF's Dr Jo Stanley and Mike Addelman from the University's Directorate of Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment also addressed the Congress on the University's sector-leading openness agenda in animal research. 

The University - officially recognized as a Leader in Openness - has developed an award-winning website and engagement programme that has become a trailblazer for the sector, demonstrating how transparency fosters public trust, enhances research integrity, promotes collaboration, and exemplifies ethical rigor in the responsible use of animals in research. 

Dr Kamper said: "Being part of FELASA was an extraordinary privilege and represents the kind of strategic leadership that looks beyond daily operations toward future possibilities.

鈥淲e are proud of the culture of excellence we have cultivated at 黑料入口 - where our teams don't just meet standards, they set new ones.

 鈥淥ur hope is that the transformational approach we've developed here will inspire colleagues across Europe and beyond to lead their teams toward excellence that serves both scientific advancement and compassionate animal care.鈥� 

• Dr Stanley's attendance was supported by a LASA (Laboratory animal science association) bursary
• To view the presentation by Dr Kamper, click
• To view the presentation by Dr Stanley and Mike Addelman click

, Reader in Engineering for Net Zero, is one of ten finalists to be awarded 拢100,000 in seed funding to develop his solution for this year鈥檚 .  

In its second year, the 黑料入口 Prize is looking for researchers with the most impactful and innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solution enabling the UK to accelerate progress towards net zero.  

Although AI technologies are advancing rapidly, their adoption in clean energy systems has not kept pace. The 黑料入口 Prize aims to accelerate progress by encouraging the development of AI solutions that support the UK in achieving its ambition to lead the world in clean energy. 

Dr Papadopoulos鈥� solution, Grid Stability, uses AI to accelerate the analysis performed which ensures electrical power systems meet the specified stability, security and reliability criteria. 

Electrical power systems worldwide are going through unprecedented changes to achieve decarbonisation targets. This drive calls for new technologies, such as renewables, electric vehicles and heat pumps, which increases the complexity and uncertainty in power system operation. System stability is the cornerstone of power system operation, and if not carefully considered, it can lead to blackouts with high economic impact and fallout.  

The tool replaces slow, complex simulations with rapid, AI-driven assessments, enabling real-time monitoring, faster decision-making, and more confident planning. This helps grid operators maintain reliability while scaling up clean energy solutions and cutting emissions. 

Dr Papadopoulos aims to work closely with utility companies to enable safe and useful implementations of Grid Stability. 

Speaking about his solution, Dr Papadopoulos said: 鈥淕rid Stability uses machine learning to help bring lower, or zero, carbon technologies onto the grid faster and at the scale we need to hit net zero, but without compromising system stability.

鈥�Being named a finalist for the 黑料入口 Prize is a huge boost; it not only validates the impact of our work but also gives us a platform to accelerate progress and collaborate more widely across the energy sector.鈥�

Dr Papadopoulos recognised that the computational cost and complexity of assessing stability and security made it difficult to support real-time awareness, decision-making and optimisation. As a result, system dynamics are often neglected or oversimplified. Grid Stability, using machine learning, offers a promising solution to addressing this challenge. 

The 黑料入口 Prize will pick its winner in Spring 2026, and the winning innovator will receive a 拢1 million grand prize to continue developing their solution. The winning solution must demonstrate not only technical innovation, but also an evidenced road map to near-term (2030) adoption and scale.  

Announced and launched in 2023, the 黑料入口 Prize is multi-million-pound, multi-year challenge prize, which is funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology. The Prize seeks to reward UK-led breakthroughs in AI for public good and continues to secure the UK鈥檚 place as a global leader in cutting-edge innovation. 

The 黑料入口 Prize is named after the world鈥檚 first stored programme computer, nicknamed 鈥楾he Baby鈥�, which was built at 黑料入口 in 1948. AI research at The University continues to build on this legacy, as shown by Dr Papadopoulos鈥� achievement. 

While pollution levels from road traffic have fallen significantly thanks to policies like the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), new air pollution data from scientists at 黑料入口, in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), University of York, Zhejiang University and National Centre for Atmospheric Science, reveal emissions from non-road mobile machinery, such as generators and heavy-duty construction equipment, can exceed those from vehicles, particularly in areas where there is a lot of building activity.

Black carbon is soot from combustion and is a component of particulate matter (PM2.5). These are very fine particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream and are known to damage human health. 

The team collected the pollution measurements from the top of the BT Tower in central London over summer and winter, using a technique called eddy covariance to track how much black carbon is released into the air and where it comes from.

The findings revealed that while pollution levels were significantly lower than cities like Beijing and Delhi, who have monitored pollution using the same method, they are not low enough to meet the . They suggest similar regulatory attention to road traffic is now needed for the construction sector. 

The study, published in the journal is the first of its kind in Europe.

At 190 metres tall, the BT Tower observatory has a specialised gas inlet system installed on the tower鈥檚 roof, which draws air into a laboratory on the 35th floor, allowing researchers to analyse pollution as it rises from streets, buildings, construction sites and nearby parks below.

The 鈥榚ddy covariance鈥� method works by measuring the turbulent motion of air, also known as eddies, and the concentration of airborne substances like black carbon within those eddies.

The scientists also conducted a detailed spatial footprint analysis to pinpoint emission hotspots that were directly linked to active construction sites near the BT Tower.

The new findings suggest that further progress in improving London鈥檚 air quality will require stricter regulation of construction machinery, especially in rapidly developing areas.

added: 鈥淲e compared observed emissions with emission standards for construction equipment and found that even with compliance, black carbon output from generators, machinery and construction vehicles remains significant. Our work highlights how measurement techniques like eddy covariance can fill critical gaps in our understanding of urban pollution and support evidence-based strategies to protect public health and the environment.鈥�

This research was published in the journal Environmental Sciences: Atmospheres

Full title: Quantifying black carbon emissions from traffic and construction in central London using eddy covariance

DOI:

Led by researchers at 黑料入口, the study reveals that invisible, odourless gases like helium and argon are slowly seeping hundreds of kilometres up through Earth鈥檚 crust, reaching underground water supplies thousands of meters beneath our feet.

For decades, scientists have believed that the vast majority of Earth鈥檚 internal gases are either pushed deep underground through tectonic activity, or escape back to the surface through volcanic eruptions.

The new research, published in the journal , challenges this understanding  and the findings could give scientists a better idea of the geological and chemical processes that take place deep inside the Earth.

鈥淭hink of it like a having small puncture in your car tyre,鈥� said lead author Dr Rebecca Tyne, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at 黑料入口.

鈥淲e鈥檝e discovered a steady trickle of gases coming from deep within Earth, even though there鈥檚 no obvious volcanic activity on the surface.

鈥淭his passive degassing of the mantle may be an important, yet previously unrecognised process and these findings will help our understanding of how our planet鈥檚 interior works  and how much gas is escaping into the atmosphere over time. It could even play an important role in the geologic carbon cycle鈥�

The researchers analysed groundwater from 17 wells in the Palouse Basin Aquifer in the United States - a key source of drinking water in a region considered to be geologically stable.

Using advanced measurement techniques, they measured for multiple types of helium and argon and found signatures to suggest these gases had travelled up from the Earth鈥檚 mantle 鈥� the hot, dense layer between the outer crust and the core. Importantly, the helium and argon gases detected are inert, meaning they do not react chemically or affect water quality.

Co-author Dr Mike Broadley , NERC Independent Research Fellow at 黑料入口, said: 鈥淲e found evidence of mantle-derived gasses in 13 out of the 17 wells.  These gases 鈥� especially helium-3 and argon-40 鈥� do not form in the atmosphere or in shallow rocks, they come from a layer of the mantle called the sub-continental lithospheric mantle, many kilometres deep in the Earth.鈥�

The highest amount of gas was found in the oldest and deepest groundwater samples - some over 20,000 years old - indicating the gases have been moving slowly but steadily over a long period of time.

The researchers also found a strong correlation between the samples, suggesting they are travelling up together from the same deep source.

Their findings suggest that this kind of low-level, non-volcanic degassing may be more common 鈥� and more important 鈥� than previously thought. The team are now planning to investigate whether this is a globally consistent phenomenon by investigating groundwaters worldwide.

The research was carried out in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (USA),  Universit茅 de Lorraine (France), University of Ottawa (Canada) and the University of Idaho (USA).

Journal: Nature Geoscience

Full title: Passive degassing of lithospheric volatiles recorded in shallow young groundwater

DOI: 10.1038/s41561-025-01702-7

Link:

The breakthrough, , the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, brings researchers one step closer to discovering forces or particles beyond the Standard Model of physics.

This result represents the most precise measurement ever made at a particle accelerator anywhere in the world, and could help unlock the secrets of the universe.

What is the Muon g-2 Experiment?

The Muon g-2 experiment investigates the subtle 鈥渨obble鈥� in the motion of muons, particles similar to electrons but with 200 times more mass, as they move through a magnetic field.

This wobble, known as the muon鈥檚 鈥榓nomalous magnetic moment鈥�, or g-2, provides one of the most sensitive and precise tests of the Standard Model of particle physics, the theory that explains how fundamental particles and forces interact.

Landmark results

This announcement reveals the experiment鈥檚 third and final measurement, which confirms earlier results, but with a much better precision of 127 parts-per-billion, surpassing the original experimental design goal of 140 parts-per-billion.

These results now stand as the world鈥檚 most accurate measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly.

Representing more than a decade of work, this milestone is expected to stand as the definitive benchmark for testing the Standard Model for years to come.

Critical UK contribution

Scientists from the Universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Liverpool, and University College London were central to the experiment, which brought together 176 researchers from 34 institutions across seven countries.

The UK-built straw tracking detectors were essential in tracing the motion of the muon beam, a critical part of the analysis that enabled this unprecedented level of precision.

黑料入口 was responsible for mapping the vertical oscillations in the beam motion using the detectors and in the theory prediction for the measured value.

Professor Mark Lancaster, Principle Investigator of the UK groups from 黑料入口, said: 鈥淭his is the most precise measurement ever made at a particle accelerator and the culmination of over a decade鈥檚 work. The motion of the muon beam was exquisitely traced by the UK-built straw tracking detectors and was a key part of the analysis. That we now have a measurement to a precision of 0.1 parts per million and a theoretical prediction, to 0.5 parts per million, is a remarkable achievement from the work of hundreds of people.鈥�

STFC鈥檚 Professor Sinead Farrington, Director of Particle Physics, added: 鈥淲hat鈥檚 really fascinating about this result is the way it has illustrated the interplay between theoretical predictions and experimental results - each can lead the other, and make demands on the precision of the other.  

鈥淭he UK has played critical roles of which we can be proud, both in leadership and in developing the straw tracking detectors, in this highly international collaboration.鈥�

Read the at the Fermilab website.

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

In September 2023, scientists observed a bizarre series of global seismic signals, which appeared every 90 seconds over nine days 鈥� and then repeated a month later.

Almost a year later, two scientific studies proposed that the cause of these seismic anomalies were two mega tsunamis which were triggered in a remote East Greenland fjord by two major landslides which occurred due to warming of an unnamed glacier. The waves were thought to have become trapped in the fjord system, forming standing waves (or seiches) that undulated back and forth, causing the mystery signals.

Until now, there have been no observations of these seiches to confirm this theory.

Now, using a brand-new type of satellite altimetry, a team of researchers have confirmed the theory and provided the first observations of these waves whose behaviour is entirely unprecedented.

The new research is published today in the journal .

, Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics at 黑料入口, who carried out the research in Oxford, said: 鈥淚t's impressive to see that machine learning plays an important role in identifying these trapped waves. This research demonstrates how advancements in technology are enabling new observations and datasets, and also importantly, changing our approach to extracting scientific insights from large-scale data.鈥�

Using data from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, the research team were able to capture the wave activity for the first time. SWOT launched in December 2022 to map the height of water across 90% of Earth鈥檚 surface. It is equipped with the cutting-edge Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) instrument, which uses two antennas to measure ocean and surface water levels across a swath 30 miles wide.

The researchers then made elevation maps of the Greenland Fjord at various time points following the two tsunamis. These showed clear, cross-channel slopes with height differences of up to two metres. Crucially, the slopes in these maps occurred in opposite directions, showing that water moved backwards and forwards across the channel.

To validate their findings, the researchers linked these observations to small movements in the Earth鈥檚 crust recorded thousands of kilometres away, allowing them to reconstruct the characteristics of the wave, even for periods which the satellite did not observe. They also reconstructed weather and tidal conditions to rule out alternative explanations such as wind or tides.

Lead author (DPhil student, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford) said: 鈥淐limate change is giving rise to new, unseen extremes. These extremes are changing the fastest in remote areas, such as the Arctic, where our ability to measure them using physical sensors is limited. This study shows how we can leverage the next generation of satellite earth observation technologies to study these processes.

鈥淪WOT is a game changer for studying oceanic processes in regions, such as fjords, which previous satellites struggled to see into.鈥�

Co-author (Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford) said: 鈥淭his study is an example of how the next generation of satellite data can resolve phenomena that has remained a mystery in the past. We will be able to get new insights into ocean extremes such as tsunamis, storm surges, and freak waves. However, to get the most out of these data we will need to innovate and use both machine learning and our knowledge of ocean physics to interpret our new results.鈥�

This research was published in the journal

Full title: Observations of the seiche that shook the world

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59851-7

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

As the UK strives to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, secure and permanent geological storage of CO鈧� is essential to avoid the worst-case consequences of climate change.

Storage in deep geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs and saline aquifers offers a promising solution. However, these underground environments host diverse microbial ecosystems, and their response to CO鈧� injection remains poorly understood.

This knowledge gap poses a potential risk to long-term CO鈧� storage integrity. While some microbial responses may be beneficial and enhance mineralogical or biological CO鈧� sequestration, others could be unfavourable, leading to methane production, corrosion of infrastructure, or loss of injectivity.

The new flagship project with 黑料入口 and Equinor - global leaders in geological CO鈧� storage - will investigate how subsurface microbial communities respond to CO鈧� injection and storage, highlighting both the potential risks and opportunities posed by these microbes.

Principal Investigator, Prof Sophie Nixon, BBSRC David Phillips and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at 黑料入口, said: "Over the past 20 years, scientists have tested storing CO鈧� underground in real-world conditions, but we still know little about how this affects native and introduced microbes living deep below the surface.

"Previous studies have shown that injecting CO鈧� underground actively changes microbial communities. In some cases, microbes initially decline but later recover, potentially influencing the fate of injected CO鈧� in geological storage scenarios. However, these studies predate the advent of large-scale metagenomic sequencing approaches. A deep understanding of who is there, what they can do and how they respond to CO鈧� storage is crucial for ensuring the long-term success of carbon capture and storage."

The two-year project will collect samples from saline aquifer and oil producing sites to study how microbes living deep underground respond to high concentrations of CO₂ by combining geochemistry, gas isotope analysis, metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches.

Project Co-Investigator, Dr Rebecca Tyne, a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at 黑料入口, said: 鈥淭o date, Carbon Capture and Storage research has focused on the physiochemical behaviour of CO₂, yet there has been little consideration of the subsurface microbial impact on CO₂ storage. However, the impact of microbial processes can be significant. For instance, my research has shown that methanogenesis may modify the fluid composition and the fluid dynamics within the storage reservoir.鈥�

Currently, the North Sea Transition Authority requires all carbon capture and storage sites to have a comprehensive 鈥楳easurement, Monitoring and Verification鈥� strategy, but microbial monitoring is not yet included in these frameworks. The project鈥檚 findings will be shared with industry stakeholders and published in leading scientific journals, helping to close this critical gap and shape future operational activities.

Project Lead, Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology at 黑料入口, said: "This project will help us understand the underground microbial communities affected by CO鈧� storage鈥攈ow they respond, the potential risks and benefits, and the indicators that reveal these changes.

"Our findings will provide vital insights for assessing microbiological risks at both planned and active CCS sites, ensuring safer and more effective long-term CO鈧� storage鈥�.

Biotechnology is enabling us to find new and more sustainable ways to produce chemicals, materials, and everyday products, by understanding and harnessing nature鈥檚 own processes and applying them at industrial scales. Supported by the 黑料入口 Institute of Biotechnology, our 400+ experts are innovating solutions in environmental sustainability, health and sustainable manufacturing. Find out more about our biotechnology research.  

Led by GKN Aerospace, the consortium includes experts from 黑料入口, the University of Birmingham, Newcastle University, and the University of Nottingham, working in collaboration with industry partners Parker-Meggitt, Intelligent Energy, Aeristech, and the Aerospace Technology Institute. Together, we鈥檙e addressing the technical challenges of delivering hydrogen-fuelled regional and sub-regional aircraft, which emit only water vapour.

Aviation is a major contributor to climate change, responsible for around 7% of the UK鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022 alone, the UK aviation sector emitted the equivalent of 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO鈧�). Transitioning to hydrogen-powered flight, which emits zero CO鈧� and NOx, is seen as critical to reducing the sector鈥檚 environmental footprint.

The collaborative research is being delivered through three projects:

• H2GEAR 鈥� A 拢54 million programme developing hydrogen-fuelled, cryogenically cooled, all-electric aircraft for short-haul flights.
• HyFIVE 鈥� Backed by 拢40 million, this project focuses on scalable liquid hydrogen fuel system technologies.
• H2flyGHT 鈥� A 拢44 million initiative to scale hydrogen-powered aircraft technologies to support larger, commercial-scale aircraft.

At the core of these innovations are hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity from cold, liquid hydrogen without combustion. Unlike rocket engines that burn hydrogen, these systems convert hydrogen鈥檚 flow into electric power, offering a quieter, cleaner and more efficient means of propulsion.

A crucial aspect of the H2GEAR programme is being led by 黑料入口, where Professor Sandy Smith and his team are pioneering the use of cryogenic cooling to increase energy efficiency. Their research leverages the extreme cold of liquid hydrogen (below -250掳C) to supercool electrical components (below -200掳C), significantly reducing electrical resistance. This results in hyperconducting systems, capable of powering electric propulsion motors with over 99% efficiency. Unlike superconductors, which rely on exotic materials and complex conditions, hyperconducting systems use more conventional conductors to deliver superior performance more rapidly and cost-effectively.

Russ Dunn, Chief Technology Officer at GKN Aerospace, said: 鈥淗ydrogen-powered aircraft offer a clear route to keep the world connected, with dramatically cleaner skies. The UK is at the forefront of this technology, and the H2GEAR project is an example of industry, academia and Government collaboration at its best.鈥�

Launched in 2020 with support from the Aerospace Technology Institute and industrial partners, the H2GEAR programme is set to conclude in 2025. A small-scale demonstrator of the hydrogen-powered propulsion motor is currently undergoing testing at 黑料入口, with full integration of hyperconducting electric systems projected for as early as 2035.

The UK Hydrogen Alliance estimates that hydrogen-powered aviation could contribute over 拢30 billion annually to the UK aerospace sector. With this collaborative research leading the way, the UK is set to become a global leader in sustainable aviation innovation.

Our research is at the forefront of the energy transition. Guided by our innovative spirit and interdisciplinary outlook, we work to mitigate climate change while transforming our energy system, to enable a just and prosperous future for all. Find out more about our energy research.