The team found that growing a widely used magnetic alloy, permalloy, on ultra‑thin MoS₂ alters the film’s internal crystal structure, changing how and where energy is lost as magnetic spins move. By separating energy losses that occur at the surface of the film from those arising within its internal structure, the researchers provide new design insights for devices that use two‑dimensional (2D) materials to control magnetism more efficiently.

Crucially, the work uses large‑area, manufacturing‑compatible MoS₂, showing that these effects are not confined to laboratory‑scale samples but are relevant for real, scalable spintronic technologies.

The study, published in , demonstrates that transition‑metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) can alter the fundamental properties of magnetic films. The results highlight the importance of careful comparison with control materials when assessing the impact of 2D layers on magnetic behaviour.

Spintronics is an alternative to conventional electronics that uses not only the charge of electrons, but also their spin, to store and process information. This approach underpins emerging technologies for magnetic memory and has potential applications in energy‑efficient, high‑speed computing. A major challenge in spintronics, however, is energy loss: as magnetic spins move, some energy is inevitably dissipated as heat, limiting device speed and efficiency.

In this work, the researchers studied thin films of permalloy grown on top of large‑area MoS₂ produced using industry‑compatible chemical vapour deposition. They found that the ultra‑clean interface between permalloy and MoS₂ reduces energy loss at the surface of the magnetic film. At the same time, subtle changes within the film’s crystal structure slightly increase internal energy loss.

By clearly separating these two effects, the team was able to explain why previous studies of 2D materials and magnetism have sometimes produced conflicting results.

To reach these conclusions, the researchers used ferromagnetic resonance, a technique in which a high‑frequency magnetic field causes spins inside a magnetic material to wobble, similar to a spinning top slowing down due to friction. By measuring how quickly this wobble fades, the team could determine how and where energy is dissipated. Varying the thickness of the magnetic layer allowed them to distinguish losses occurring at the surface from those within the bulk of the film.

The results point to new routes for designing lower‑power, faster spintronic memory, where material interfaces are engineered to minimise unwanted energy loss without sacrificing performance.

“This work is exciting because the fundamental effects a two‑dimensional material can have on magnetic thin films are still largely unexplored,” said , lead author of the study and Research Associate in THz Spintronics at the University of Ұ������. “We’ve shown how these changes affect energy loss, which is a crucial property for next‑generation memory technologies.”

The study shows that 2D materials do not always increase energy loss and that, with the right interface, they can reduce it.

This research was published in the journal .

Full title: Separation of bulk and surface contributions to the damping of permalloy on large-area chemical-vapor-deposited �Ѵ�⁢S₂.

DOI:

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

Published today in , it is the first experimental observation of a half-Möbius electronic topology in a single molecule. To the scientists’ knowledge, a molecule with such topology has never before been synthesized, observed, or even formally predicted. 

Understanding this molecule’s behavior at the electronic structure level required something equally fundamental: a high fidelity quantum computing simulation. The discovery advances science on two fronts. For chemistry, it demonstrates that electronic topology - the property governing how electrons move through a molecule - can be deliberately engineered, not merely found in nature. 

For quantum computing, it is a concrete demonstration of a quantum simulation doing what it was designed to do: representing quantum mechanical behavior directly, at the molecular scale, to produce scientific insight that would otherwise have remained out of reach. 

“First, we designed a molecule we thought could be created, then we built it, and then we validated it and its exotic properties with a quantum computer,” said Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow, Vice President, Europe and Africa, and Director of IBM Research Zurich. “This is a leap towards the dream laid out by renowned physicist Richard Feynman decades ago to build a computer that can best simulate quantum physics and a demonstration where, as he said, ‘There’s plenty of room at the bottom.’ The success of this research signals a step towards this vision, opening the door for new ways to explore our world and the matter within it.

, paper co-author, Lecturer in Computational and Theoretical Chemistry at The University of Ұ������, added: “Chemistry and solid-state physics advance by finding new ways to control matter. In the second half of the 20th century, substituent effects were very popular. For example, researchers explored how the potency of a drug or the elasticity of a material changes if, for example, a methyl is replaced with chlorine. The turn of the century brought us spintronics, introducing electron spin as a new degree of freedom to play with, and transforming data storage. Today, our work shows that topology can also serve as a switchable degree of freedom, opening a new powerful route for controlling material properties. 

“The non-trivial topology of this molecule, and the exotic behavior of many other systems, arises from interactions between their electrons. Simulating electrons with classical computers is very hard – a decade ago we could exactly model 16 electrons, and today we can go up to 18. Quantum computers are naturally well-suited for this problem because their building blocks – qubits – are quantum objects, which mirror electrons. Using IBM’s quantum computer, we were able to explore 32 electrons. However, the most exciting part is this is just the start. Quantum hardware is advancing rapidly, and the future is quantum.”

A Never-Before-Seen Molecule 

The molecule, with the formula C₁₃Cl₂, was assembled atom-by-atom at IBM from a custom precursor synthesized at Oxford University, with individual atoms removed one at a time using precisely calibrated voltage pulses under ultra-high vacuum at nearabsolute-zero temperatures. 

Experiments with scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy, both techniques pioneered at IBM, combined with quantum computing to reveal an electronic configuration with no counterpart in chemistry's existing record: an electronic structure that undergoes a 90-degree twist with each circuit, requiring four complete loops to return to the starting phase. 

This half-Möbius topology is qualitatively distinct from any previously known molecule and can be reversibly switched between clockwise-twisted, counterclockwise-twisted and untwisted states — demonstrating that electronic topology is not a property to be discovered, but one that can now be deliberately engineered under specific conditions.

A Disruptive Scientific Tool: Quantum-Centric Supercomputing 

The scientists in this experiment created a molecule that had never existed. Now they had to figure out why it worked, a task which challenged conventional computers. The electrons within C₁₃Cl₂ interact in deeply entangled ways — each influencing all the others simultaneously. Modeling that behavior requires tracking every possible configuration of those interactions at once, requiring computational demands that grow exponentially and can quickly overwhelm classical machines.

Quantum computers are different by nature because they operate according to the same quantum mechanical laws that govern electrons in molecules, and they can represent these systems directly rather than approximate them. They “speak” the same fundamental language as the matter they are built to study and that distinction, once largely theoretical, can now contribute to concrete scientific results.

This capability offers tremendous potential for quantum computers to support realworld experimentation with quantum-centric supercomputing workflows. By integrating quantum processing units (QPUs), CPUs, and GPUs, quantum-centric supercomputing allows complex problems to be broken into parts that are orchestrated and solved according to each system’s strengths — achieving what no single compute paradigm can deliver alone.

Utilizing an IBM quantum computer within such a workflow, the team found helical molecular orbitals for electron attachment, a fingerprint of the half-Möbius topology. Moreover, simulation via quantum computing helped reveal the mechanism behind the formation of the unusual topology: a helical pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect.

This achievement builds on IBM’s long legacy in nanoscale science. The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was invented at IBM in 1981, for which IBM scientists Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1986. Its creation enabled researchers to image surfaces atom by atom. In 1989, IBM scientists developed the first reliable method for manipulating individual atoms. Over the past decades, the IBM team has extended these techniques to build and control increasingly exotic molecular structures.

This research was published in the journal Science 

Full title: A molecule with half-Möbius topology

DOI:  

Researchers from The University of Ұ������ suggest that during the Early Pleistocene, the arrival and presence of these early hominins drove the mosquitoes to adapt to feeding on humans.

The study, published in , uncovers how and why certain mosquitoes developed this preference, and the environmental triggers which brought about its development.

The findings could provide critical insight into mitigating the impacts of novel diseases caused by mosquito-borne pathogens, which place a significant burden on global human health, and shed light on the colonisation of Southeast Asia by early humans.

, Senior Lecturer in Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of Ұ������, said “Our findings suggest that early humans must not only have been present in Sundaland at this time, but there in substantial numbers, which is an important piece of evidence, beyond fossil records, to the broader puzzle of the colonization of hominins in insular Southeast Asia.

The team focused on the Anopheles leucosphyrus group, made up of 20 different species of mosquitoes native to Southeast Asia. Some species are extremely anthropophilic (human targeting) and very efficient spreaders of human malaria parasites. Others feed mainly on monkeys, gibbons, and orangutans in forest canopies, spreading a form of malaria that would be harmless to humans, but can be deadly for these other primates.

In the study, the researchers sequenced 38 mosquitoes - supplemented with publicly available genome data of two others - from 11 species within the leucosphyrus group.  The specimens were collected between 1992-2020 and involved sampling larvae from animal wallows hidden deep in the forest or in remote areas of Southeast Asia.

The study included species of all three subgroups (Leucosphyrus, Riparis and Hackeri), and represent all three blood-feeding behaviours - human, non-human primate, and mixed - providing a solid evolutionary framework mapping host preference within the Leucosphyrus group.

They found that the ancestors of the Leucosphyrus Group likely originated in the permanently humid conditions of Sundaland (Borneo, peninsular Malaysia, Sunda Shelf), during the early Pliocene, between 5.3 and 3.6 million years ago. These conditions favoured feeding in the canopy, so the mosquitoes most likely fed primarily on non-human primates.

However, the late Pliocene and into the Pleistocene, saw extensive environmental change, where the global climate became cooler and drier. The shift from permanent humidity to seasonal, open forest and expanding savannah, saw the arrival of a host of new mammals. This led to an adapted species of mosquitoes that could feed readily both in the canopy and on the ground.

The researchers suggest that this shift toward more flexible feeding behaviour may have been the bridge to human-feeding behaviour.

This paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports

Full title: Early hominin arrival in Southeast Asia triggered the evolution of major human malaria vectors

DOI:

Professor Ruth Itzhaki from The Universities of Ұ������ and Oxford, reveals how for many woman and girls, extreme violence, sexual attacks, killings tied to the honour of a family or clan, and female genital mutilation are a common reality.

A  leading neurovirologists who is known for her pioneering research into the role of viruses in Alzheimer’s disease, her book is the culmination of years of work published by World Scientific.

She was inspired to turn her hand to global women’s rights after reading harrowing  news reports-  and a shocking TV documentary showing Dalit women in India forced to remove human waste by hand using only straw brushes and pans.

Drawing on authoritative sources from the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and under researched government surveys, she presents a comprehensive and troubling picture of women’s rights in low and middle income countries (LMIC).

The book draws on extensive evidence from LMICs where data is available, showing abuses are widespread but nearly always under‑reported.

In some LMICs, even if the crimes are punishable by law, public opinion in general tolerates or even condones the crimes.

Professor Itzhaki said: “For millions of women and girls, their value is frequently measured solely by their ability to produce sons, forcing many into repeated pregnancies regardless of age or health.

“An innocent glance at a man can lead to punishment; dishonour can lead to violent retribution or even death, inflicted by male relatives -  sometimes, with the assent of female relatives-  who believe they are restoring family pride.

“Girls can be married long before adolescence; their education restricted or banned entirely in some countries.

“Widows can be blamed for their husbands’ deaths, accused of witchcraft, dispossessed of their homes, and forbidden to remarry.

“In one country – Afghanistan - women are even banned from speaking audibly in public.”

The book also offers practical guidance on how individuals and communities can help combat gender‑based violence and discrimination.

It emphasises the importance of supporting organisations that protect survivors, promote equal rights, and work to end violence against women.

And it urges parents and educators to help shaping children’s understanding of equality, respect, and human rights, calling for conversations that help young people reject rigid expectations of how men and women should behave.

She added: “I hope this book will inspire readers to take action, advocate for justice, and support initiatives that empower women through education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

“It shows these abuses are not isolated incidents but systemic crimes affecting vast numbers of girls and women simply because of their sex.

“But despite that,  public awareness remains dangerously low; silence allows these injustices to persist.

“Especially pertinent on international women’s day, this book is an attempt to redress that balance.”

The annual ceremony, which took  place on Wednesday  March 4 at 1:15pm, will remember the donors whose selfless gift has helped hundreds of medical, dental and science students gain a deeper understanding of human anatomy.

The donors also give surgeons a crucial opportunity to further their knowledge of anatomy in their quest to constantly improve clinical techniques and procedures.

The service, which is distinct from the final committal or funeral service of the donors, will be multi-denominational so any religious belief - or those without - are warmly welcomed.

Relatives and friends of the donors attended the ceremony alongside students, academics, technical and bequethals staff along with senior leaders at the University.

There will be a candle lighting ceremony during the service where a candle will be lit for each donor and their names read out.

Professor Margaret Kingston, Director of Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education will speak alongside Dr Bipasha Choudhury, School Lead for  Anatomy.

There will also be readings from Humanist minister Paul Costello, Methodist minister Richard Mottershead and Father Dushan, a Roman Catholic priest.

The Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Ұ������, His Majesty the King’s representative for Greater Ұ������, will be present.

Professor Nalin Thakkar,  Vice-President for Social Responsibility at the University of Ұ������ said: suggested  quote: “As a University, we would like to express our deepest thanks to those who gave their bodies to science: your final act became a beginning for countless others.

“Their generosity helps knowledge to grow, medicine and science to advance, and humanity to move forward. Their wonderful gift will not be forgotten.”

Dr Choudhury said: “We are sincerely grateful to the donors for the gift they have bestowed upon our students and staff, helping us learn human anatomy in a profoundly moving way.

“T����dzܲ��� their generosity, and the generosity of their families, future health care professionals gain a deep understanding of the form and workings of the human body.”

The wife of one of our donors said: “We were moved by the serious gratitude expressed in the words of the service. The candle and name card represent the fact that the last resting place of John’s body is not under a gravestone or in a casket but it the brain and memory of each student for whom this was his final teaching role.”

• For more details about donating your body to education and science, visit the University’s bequethals webpage .

The full conference programme and ticket information can be found at , or you can follow @fm44conference on X (Twitter) and @fm44conference.bsky.social on Bluesky. 

Conference sponsors: British Commission for Military History (BCMH), Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS) and The University of Ұ������’s Student Enhancement Fund.

At a time of interconnected global crises, this partnership is grounded in two-way learning: MSF’s frontline operational experience will inform research-led teaching at Ұ������, while the University’s interdisciplinary expertise will support critical reflection, enquiry-based learning, and innovation in humanitarian practice.

This partnership will deepen the relationship between the two institutions, developing associated teaching and research collaborations, improving awareness of mutual expertise, and expanding the networks which facilitate cooperation.

Operating in over 75 countries, such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan, MSF provide life-saving medical humanitarian assistance where it is needed most and use their expertise to ease the suffering of those in crisis situations around the world.

For the next four years, the University will continue to take on cohorts of MSF staff for blended learning through its Leadership Education Academic Partnership (LEAP) Programme in Humanitarian Practice, a collaboration between the University’s Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (), the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and MSF.

The new partnership aims to build on the benefits of staff exchange, stimulating academic input in research and development projects at MSF, and the creation of joint seminars and events, with staff from both organisations holding a mutual presence on steering committees and bodies such as MSF’s internal think tank, Centre de Réflexion sur l'Action et les Savoirs Humanitaires (CRASH).

Professor Nicolas Lemay-Hébert, Executive Director of HCRI, said: “The HCRI is committed to bringing together a broad range of expertise to facilitate positive global change and improve worldwide crisis response.

“Our part in helping to train MSF’s leaders through our multi-disciplinary approach to humanitarian solutions is an essential part of this mission. This partnership will benefit from a sharing of valuable expertise and resources and will work to accelerate that global change.”

The partnership also builds on what is an already-strong student engagement with MSF through Friends of MSF Ұ������, a student-led society for students interested in international crises, health equity and humanitarian work.

This new arrangement will allow the University to influence humanitarian activity by providing world-class research and resources to support MSF’s global humanitarian work in crises such as the civil war in Sudan, or widespread malnutrition, while gaining insight from MSF’s operations across the globe.

This March, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) at The University of Ұ������ is marking International Women’s Month through a focused campaign celebrating women leaders, founders and practitioners within the MEC entrepreneurial community, alongside two dedicated events designed to inspire and support women across the University. 

Supporting Women in Entrepreneurship 

While the UK is one of Europe’s leading startup ecosystems, gender imbalance persists. Around 20% of UK startups include women founders, and all-female teams receive less than 2% of venture capital investment. Women also remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles and continue to face barriers to funding, networks and visibility. 

MEC’s International Women’s Month activity responds to these challenges by combining reflection, practical skills development and direct engagement with experienced women entrepreneurs.

Our Activities

5th March | Female Founders Vision Boarding | #MECIWD26 

4:00–6:00pm | Alliance Ұ������ Business School 

To mark International Women’s Day, this hands-on workshop invites participants to pause, reflect and confidently envision their next steps. Through open discussion and a creative vision-boarding activity, attendees will explore entrepreneurial aspirations, identify potential challenges and translate ambition into action. 

The session creates space to discuss confidence, access and visibility while connecting participants to MEC’s wider support ecosystem. Pizza will be provided.

24th March | Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship 

4:00–6:30�賾 

This panel event brings together women founders, programme leaders, students and professionals to explore leadership journeys, venture growth and inclusive professional environments. 

Through shared experiences and interactive discussion, participants will gain practical insight into navigating challenges, building networks and strengthening their impact across business and academia.

2nd – 30th March | Social Media Campaign: Read. Lead. Inspire. #MECIWD26 

Alongside our two flagship events, MEC will run an interactive Instagram campaign throughout International Women’s Month. From 2–30 March, Read. Learn. Inspire. invites students, staff, and alumni to celebrate women in entrepreneurship. 

• Read: Leaders and academics share their favourite books written by women, with reflections on leadership and entrepreneurship.
• Learn: Take a fun quiz to discover the women inventors and entrepreneurs behind products we use every day.
• Inspire: Celebrate the vital role of women in the economy, society, and science. Follow @uom_mec, get involved throughout the month, and share the campaign. #MECIWD26 

Through polls, book-inspired features, and interactive content, join the conversation, discover new role models, and celebrate bold, women-led ventures. By amplifying these stories, we inspire future founders to step forward and see entrepreneurship as a space where they belong.

About the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre 

The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) at The University of Ұ������'s, supports students, graduates and researchers to develop entrepreneurial skills, launch ventures and engage with innovation through structured programmes, competitions and ecosystem partnerships. 

Through initiatives including Ұ������ Venture Builder, Venture Further Awards and the Female Founders Network, MEC is committed to fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and ensuring talented individuals have the confidence, capability and networks to transform ambitious ideas into impactful ventures.

If you would like to learn more and get involved with any of the above activities, please contact entrepreneurship@manchester.ac.uk

Self-harm has become increasingly common among young people in the UK. It can be a significant concern for young people themselves, their families, and the services that support them, and is associated with a range of other psychological difficulties in both the short and long term. This trial follows previous research suggesting that CAT may show promise in helping adults who self-harm.

Dr Peter Taylor, from The University of Ұ������ and co-lead of the trial, said: “We know that difficulties with self-harm often begin during adolescence, and for some people they can have a lifelong impact. Talking therapies can help. We believe CAT has potential here, but further research is needed.”

Professor Stephen Kellett, from Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust and the other co-lead, added:“CAT is different from many therapies currently used for self-harm, as it focuses more on the relationships young people have with others and with themselves, and how these patterns can contribute to self-harm.”

RELATE-YP is a feasibility trial, meaning it is an early step in testing whether CAT is a suitable treatment for young people who self-harm. The study will explore whether young people find CAT helpful and whether a larger trial would be appropriate.

The trial is currently running across three NHS Foundation Trusts:

1.                  Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

2.                  Greater Ұ������ Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

3.                  Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust

The study is recruiting young people through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Cameron Latham, a co-investigator who also has personal experience of self-harm, commented on why this research is needed: “Self-injury affects the lives of so many people and a brief, effective, available therapy for young people would be a valuable addition to treatment. Throughout this trial part of my role is to further ensure the well-being of those who self-injure and through PPI involvement ensure the voices of patient, parents and carers are heard.”

As the UK prepares for a rapid expansion of tidal energy, (not)NOISY (Propagation of NOISe generated by tidal arraYs and its environmental impacts) will develop the first advanced tools capable of predicting the cumulative underwater noise produced by tidal turbine arrays before they are built.

The research will support industry, regulators and policymakers to strengthen the evidence base used in environmental assessments and enable informed, proportionate decision-making as the sector grows.

Tidal energy is emerging as a key part of the UK’s renewable energy mix. Unlike wind and solar power, which depend on weather conditions, tidal power is highly predictable and can deliver a steady, reliable source of energy day in, day out, making it the perfect complement to other renewable energy.

As the sector scales-up and larger turbine arrays, with 10 devices or more, are planned for deployment, understanding their environmental impacts is becoming increasingly important, particularly potential collision risks with marine macro-fauna and underwater noise. Modelling suggests turbine noise could travel up to 8 km through the ocean.

Lead researcher , Research Fellow in the Department of Civil Engineering and Management at The University of Ұ������, said: “Tidal stream energy has enormous potential to support the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, but its long-term success depends on our ability to accurately assess and manage environmental impacts, hence accelerating project permitting and licensing.

“Noise generation is one of the biggest uncertainties facing tidal projects today but tools to estimate cumulative acoustic outputs with high confidence do not yet exist. With tidal arrays expected to grow in number and size, we need tools that can predict their cumulative acoustic footprint prior to deployment. (not)NOISY will provide exactly that.”

The research team will develop advanced high-fidelity computer models and AI-assisted rapid tools that closely replicate real world tidal stream site conditions, allowing researchers to quantify how noise from tidal turbines travels through real marine environments. The model will be applied in both near- and far-wake regions, across different turbine types (floating and bottom-fixed) and environmental conditions at four major European sites – EMEC and in Scotland, Raz Blanchard between France and the Channel Islands and Morlais in Wales.

The findings will lead to the development of PyTAI (Python Tidal-Array Induced acoustics), an open-source, AI-driven tool that will enable rapid prediction of tidal turbine noise under a wide range of operating conditions. The tool will support future environmental impact assessments and contribute to the development of evidence-based policy and regulatory guidance.

Dr Ouro added: “By improving confidence in marine noise prediction, we hope this project will help accelerate the next generation of tidal-stream developments, supporting clean energy growth while protecting marine ecosystems, in order to  foster an industry of national importance.”

(not)NOISY is funded by UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Impact hub and brings together a strong international consortium, including three European turbine manufacturers, UK and French tidal project developers, policymakers and academic partners, ensuring close collaboration between research, industry and regulation.

Published in , the study was mainly funded by the Medical Research Council. Respondents were members of a long-term project on police health at Imperial College London, which also provided infrastructure support for the survey. 

Most UK police officers wear an ear-piece in one ear. The devices are capable of high sound levels so that they can be heard over background noise. Past reports have emphasised that officers must choose low volume-control settings to protect their hearing. 

Until now, there has been no research into the volume settings actually used, or their effects on hearing health. 

The University of Ұ������ researchers asked 4,498 UK police personnel about their volume-control settings, patterns of ear-piece use, immediate after-effects, and long-term hearing symptoms. 

Over 45% of ear-piece users reported experiencing signs of temporary hearing loss (muffled hearing or ringing in their ear) immediately after using an ear-piece. These after-effects were more common in police who used higher volume-control settings. 

Even more important were links to long-term hearing problems. Ear-piece use accompanied by immediate after-effects more than doubled an officer’s risk of having tinnitus (spontaneously ringing ears, which can indicate permanent hearing damage). It also raised the risk of having diagnosed hearing loss by 93%. 

Crucially, symptoms were much more common in the ear with the ear-piece than the opposite ear, increasing the likelihood that hearing problems were directly linked to ear-piece use. 

The project’s senior advisor, Professor Chris Plack of The University of Ұ������, said: “It’s not unusual to experience signs of temporary hearing loss after being in extremely noisy environments, such as nightclubs or concerts. For police to experience these after-effects in the workplace is concerning.” 

The lead researcher, of The University of Ұ������, said: “We were surprised that ear-piece use with after-effects was so strongly linked to long-term hearing symptoms. And the fact that symptoms tended to appear in the exposed ear, rather than the opposite ear, is a particularly telling finding.”

But Dr Guest cautioned: “It’s important not to over-interpret our results, since they are based on survey responses. Going forward, laboratory hearing tests are needed to confirm whether ear-piece users have measurable differences between their ears.

“These should include standard clinical hearing tests, like those used by NHS audiologists, but also tests that are sensitive to the early warning signs of hearing damage.”

Professor Plack said: “We also need to understand why officers choose such high volume-control settings. This knowledge could help us find ways to reduce risks to police hearing, such as improved ear-piece technology, training for officers on safe use, and increased monitoring of hearing health.

“Our data aren’t the final word, but they are a notable discovery that warrants further investigation. They point to the need not only for follow-up laboratory testing but also for practical steps to reduce long-term risk.”

Dr Guest added: “We are pleased that key groups within UK policing - including the Disabled Police Association and the Police Chief Medical Officer - have been open to discussing our findings and are keen to explore measures to protect police hearing.”

• The paper, Leveraging monaural exposures to reveal early effects of noise: Evidence from police radio ear-piece use, is published at
• Simple visualisations of the key study findings are available for media professionals and the public at

The researchers found the same pattern of seasonal variation in the highest quality sperm in two very different climates— Denmark and Florida— suggesting that seasonality affects male fertility more than temperature alone.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal and has practical implications for male fertility care.

Understanding seasonal patterns, for example, could help clinics optimise the timing of treatment and fertility testing to provide better guidance to couples trying to conceive.

Though scientists have long known that many human biological processes change with the seasons, previous studies on the quality of semen at different times of the year have provided conflicting results due to small sample sizes or differences in climate and laboratory methods from study to study.

To address that, this new study analysed semen samples from 15,581 men applying to be sperm donors between 2018 and 2024.

The men were aged 18 to 45 and lived near Cryos International clinics in Denmark and Florida.

All samples were analysed within an hour using the same computer assisted system to ensure consistent measurement.

The team examined sperm concentration, sperm motility (how well sperm can swim and move forward), and ejaculate volume across all months of the year.

They also looked at outdoor temperatures during the month the sperm was collected and two months earlier, when early sperm development begins.

Advanced statistical models were used to identify seasonal trends while accounting for the man’s age, outdoor temperatures, and long-term changes across the study period.

The results revealed strong and consistent seasonal variation in the concentration of progressively motile sperm.

Fast‑moving sperm were most abundant in June and July in both Denmark and Florida.

Levels were lowest in December and January, even though Florida remains warm year round.

The study found no seasonal changes in total sperm concentration or ejaculate volume, suggesting the number of sperm produced does not vary by season, though their ability to move effectively does.

The number of motile sperm per ejaculate also followed a seasonal pattern, even after accounting for temperature, indicating that factors other than heat—such as variation in lifestyle, daylight, or environmental exposures—may influence sperm motility.

Co-author P from The University of Ұ������ said: “We were struck by how similar the seasonal pattern was in two completely different climates.

“Even in Florida, where temperatures stay warm, sperm motility still peaked in summer and dipped in winter, which tells us that ambient temperature alone is unlikely to explain these changes.”

He added: “Our study highlights the importance of considering seasonality when evaluating semen quality. It also shows that seasonal variation in sperm motility occurs even in warm climates. These findings deepen our understanding of male reproductive health and may help improve fertility outcomes.”

Medical director at Cryos international, Anne-Bine Skytte said: “These data suggest that the month of the year when a man first attends a clinic to be evaluated as a sperm donor, will impact on the quality of the sample he produces and therefore may influence the chances of him being accepted as a donor.

“Having an ejaculate that contains a high number of swimming sperm is one of the main characteristics we look for when deciding whether he is suitable or not.

• The paper Seasonal trends in sperm quality in Denmark and Florida is available https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-026-01537-w

The University of Ұ������ and Calgary researchers publish their study today in the Journal of Health Economics amid a backdrop of dwindling numbers of GPs practice owners-known as partners.

That, say the researchers, puts the managerial and financial burden of operating a practice on increasingly smaller numbers of GPs, with a heightened consequential risk of burnout and stress.

It is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit (PRU) in Health and Social Care Systems and Commissioning.

Practices in the UK are generally owned and operated by one or more self-employed independent contractors referred to as partners.

Under most general practice contracts with the NHS, there must be at least one General Practitioner (GP) partner at a practice; however, not all partners need to be GPs.

One potential way to provide a sustainable alternative structure for general practice they say, could be non-clinical ownership with practice managers as partners.

The managers, responsible for administration, HR, and financial management, typically handle the business and operational aspects of the practice and do not usually have medical training.

By 2022, the number of practices reporting they had a manager partner had grown to 335, from 0 in 2015, serving 7% of patients registered at general practices in England.

Based on analysis of data from England’s 37,660 practice-years from 5,026 general practices between 2015 and 2023, the researchers use a range of sources to investigate the impact of non-clinical ownership stakes on key primary care outcomes.

They found that appointing a manager partner leads to significant increases in full-time equivalent (FTE) direct patient care staff, excluding GPs and nurses, as well as administrative staff numbers and total patient list size.

Practices that appoint a manager partner were found to be more sustainable because they were less likely to subsequently merge or close.

There were no significant impacts on numbers of GP or nurse staff, GP turnover, quality of care, patients’ satisfaction and access. And income from reimbursement for non-core services, such as local or direct enhanced service, quality outcome framework payments, and medication administration payments,  were higher following appointment of a practice manager as a partner.

Co -author from The University of Ұ������ said: “Our study shows shared GP and manager partnership has the potential to reduce risk of closure of practices while easing GP partners financial and administrative burden.”

“This ownership model is feasible within many other healthcare systems, where physicians may seek to share with non-clinical colleagues the financial and administrative burden associated with operating practices.”

Co-author Dr Sean Urwin from The University of Ұ������, said: “As the number of GP partners continues to decrease, the managerial and financial burden of operating a practice is placed upon an increasingly smaller number of GPs.

“While not a like-for-like substitute for GPs, we argue that non-GP partners can alleviate some partnership burdens and offer additional managerial skills.

“Our analysis also indicates that manager partners offer a potential route for smaller practices to retain their independence rather than being integrated into larger organizations.”

Co-author Dr Ben walker from the University of Calgary, Canada, said: “The appointment as of practice managers as partners may offer a number of benefits.

“The increase in direct patient care staff in practices that appoint manager partners could be indicative of the manager’s efforts to improve the organisational efficiency and performance of the practice.

“With expertise in business planning, they may be better placed and more incentivised to maximise income, leaving more time for GPs to concentrate ion patient care and even potentially slowing the decline in GP partner retention.

“But also, manager partners’ skills in HR and financial planning may improve staff organisation and recruitment.”

• The paper Shared Stakes in English General Practice: The Impact of Practice Managers as Partners on Outcomes is available  

Although focused on Mexico, the findings have global relevance as countries accelerate restoration pledges and international initiatives led by organisations such as the United Nations. The researchers hope their work will help policymakers to design fairer, more effective restoration strategies, ensuring that efforts to restore nature also strengthen communities and deliver lasting benefits for people and the planet.

DOI:

The , authored by the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub at The University of Ұ������, explores the consequences of terminology choices on end-of-life solutions for plastic waste. While recycling has long been touted as a solution for plastic sustainability - it comes in many forms, and can sometimes serve as a smokescreen for genuine discussions around sustainability.

The researchers, Seiztinger, Lahive, and Shaver, find directional terms - such as ‘upcycling’ and ‘downcycling’ - to be poorly defined as value propositions, and that their use can skew perceptions of the benefits, potentially posing barrier to circularity.

‘Downcycling’, for instance, implies the production of a less favourable or ‘less good’ material as the end product of the recycling process, while ‘upcycling’ has positive connotations. However, despite what these terms suggest, a ‘downcycled’ stream may produce a high value product, while an ‘upcycled’ path may have a greater negative environmental impact than alternative routes.

Using these terms assigns disproportionate value to certain end-of-life plastic solution strategies, and can be used by supporters or detractors of different recycling technologies to obscure genuine evaluation of their environmental impact.

The study, published in the journal , suggests that plastic waste solutions consistently fail to live up to their marketed messaging, and that clearer communication of the true value of the product from a recycling process is essential to drive investment in proper plastic waste management. Corresponding author, Professor of Polymer Science at The University of Ұ������, said: “The confused terminology surrounding the fate of waste plastic often lacks a consideration of value and unintended consequences. As these terms are now being used to promote technologies outside of a sustainable system, we felt it important to argue for clarity and caution when presuming quality from this directional terminology.”

The researchers argue that no single solution offers a quick fix, and that it is wrong for the terminology to suggest otherwise. They call for greater clarity over how we value end-products. They suggest a ‘spiral system’ of reuse, in which plastic materials are treated as complex mixtures that, like crude oil, can be chemically deconstructed at the end of their life and transformed to become a huge range of longer-lasting products over their lifetime.

For example, a yoghurt pot could be reconstituted into car parts, and then after that into a park bench. Ultimately, after many years of service, it could be chemically deconstructed, and turned back into a yoghurt pot. As the polypropylene in such simple packaging is already used in cars, hard shell suitcases, garden furniture, appliances, and plumbing, a cross-sector approach to reuse of plastic waste could generate more value than an approach focused solely on single-use packaging.

By moving away from direction-loaded terminology, researchers suggest that plastic waste solutions can be judged on the measurable environmental and economic value of the end-products, rather than an assumed or subjective value based on language, that is not always supported by full life-cycle assessment or economic analysis.

Dr Claire Seitzinger added: “Building a circular plastics economy means looking at the whole system, not isolated solutions pitched against each other. Policy, industry, innovation and collaboration across sectors are essential for a sustainable future. The next time you eat a yoghurt, where do you want the pot to end up? Should it become another yoghurt pot? A park bench? A car? What is best? And what should you, the packaging producer, or the government do to make that to happen?”

Paper details:

Journal: Cambridge Prisms: Plastics 

Full title: Up, down and back again: Value judgements in polymer recycling

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/plc.2026.10041.pr1

DOI:  

A short report for national government will be produced following the event, drawing on the insights of all participants. It will set out what linked administrative data can achieve, what infrastructure already exists across the North to support it, and what policy action is needed to scale it nationally.

In a new study by University of Ұ������ scientists published in , researchers aimed to uncover why these treatments fail for some individuals. To do this, the team analysed blood samples from people living with MG and compared them to those of healthy volunteers to understand the underlying cellular differences that drive standard therapy resistance.

A Pattern of Immune Imbalance
The study revealed distinct immune system abnormalities in patients with refractory MG. These patients showed an overactive adaptive immune response, specifically involving increased numbers of memory B cells.

At the same time, the researchers found that regulatory T cells—which normally act as a ‘braking system’ to suppress excessive inflammation—were markedly reduced. This combination of an overactive attack and a weakened braking system contributes to significant immune dysregulation.

The research also identified changes in the innate immune system, including reduced dendritic cells and increased monocytes, along with heightened activity of the complement system, all pointing to ongoing immune-mediated damage at the neuromuscular junction.

Predicting Treatment Response
The team also examined a small group of refractory patients treated with rituximab, a drug designed to remove B cells. Although B cells were successfully reduced in all patients, only some showed meaningful clinical improvement.

The study found that those who did not respond appeared to have a version of the disease driven by long-lived plasma cells and particularly high complement activity. This discovery suggests that these specific patients may benefit more from therapies that target the complement pathway rather than just B cells.

“For patients whose symptoms do not improve with existing treatments, the lack of clear answers can be incredibly frustrating,” said , Neurology Consultant at Ұ������ Centre for Clinical Neuroscience. “Our findings help explain why some therapies work for certain patients but not others, and point toward more personalised approaches that could improve outcomes in the future.”

“Our study identifies a distinct immune signature associated with treatment-resistant myasthenia gravis,” said , UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the  and lead author of the paper. “Understanding these immune differences brings us closer to predicting how patients will respond to therapy and to developing more targeted, personalised treatment approaches.”

• Lymphocyte alterations and elevated complement signaling are key features of refractory myasthenia gravis published in . DOI: 

The second half goes here

Published in the journal European Urology Oncology today (20/02/26), the researchers show men with learning disabilities are 35% more likely than similar aged men without learning disabilities to have prostate cancer symptoms but 34% less likely to have a diagnostic PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test. 

The study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Greater Ұ������ Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC). The research team is supported by both the NIHR GM PSRC and the NIHR Ұ������ Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). 

Following an elevated PSA, referrals are 17% less likely, biopsies 46% less likely and prostate cancer diagnoses 49% less likely. 

They were almost six times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer on the date of death, 79% more likely to present with metastatic disease at an advanced stage and had a two-fold increased risk of death following diagnosis. 

And they were also 61% more likely to have missing Gleason scores, the grading system used to evaluate prostate cancer based on how cancer cells look under a microscope. 

However, when prostate cancer was diagnosed at a localised stage and deemed to require treatment, men with learning disabilities received curative therapies at similar rates to those without. This suggests that the benefits of early diagnosis apply equally to this group.

The study population comprised 29,554 men with a learning disability compared to 518,739 men with no recorded diagnosis of a learning disability, linked to hospital, mortality, and cancer registry data. 

Lead author Dr Oliver Kennedy a clinical lecturer from The University of Ұ������ and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust said: “Learning disabilities are increasingly recognised as a hidden driver of cancer mortality. However, evidence on prostate cancer care in this population is limited. 

“This study is the first to identify specific points along the prostate cancer diagnostic and treatment pathway that may contribute to poorer outcomes for patients with a learning disability.” 

And co-author , director of the NIHR Greater Ұ������ PSRC and professor at The University of Ұ������, said: “Learning – or intellectual - disability is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterised by significant impairments in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour, with onset in childhood. 

“In the UK, 1.5 million people have a learning disability. This group frequently encounters barriers within healthcare services, including communication difficulties, not doing enough to remove barriers, and the overshadowing of new symptoms on existing  health conditions. 

“Men with a learning disability face disparities across the prostate cancer care pathway, from investigation of relevant symptoms to survival after diagnosis. Targeted interventions are needed to address these inequities.”

Dr Kennedy added: “Addressing these health disparities has been recognised as a priority by the NHS Long Term Plan, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, and the Learning from Lives and Deaths programme in England.

“We hope our study provides strong evidence that prostate cancer should be part of that conversation

Jon Sparkes OBE, Chief Executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: “Too many men with a learning disability are being let down by a health system that doesn’t spot their cancers early enough or support them to navigate complex treatments.

“This important research into what is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK should be a wake-up call: with the right reasonable adjustments, accessible information and specialist support, these inequalities are not inevitable.

“T����dzܲ��� we’re working with health partners across the UK to get more people on the Learning Disability Register. Being on the register means they’ll receive free annual health checks and support in the way they need it, so health problems can be spotted and treated earlier.

“But we can’t do this alone. We need the NHS, government and cancer services to join us in making inclusive health a priority – acting on this evidence and putting the right support in place at every stage of the cancer pathway.”

Natalia Norori, Head of Data & Evidence at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "The results of this paper are deeply concerning. It sheds light on the stark inequalities men with learning disabilities face at every stage of the pathway - from diagnosis, to treatment and even death.

"This issue goes beyond prostate cancer, but by understanding the impact of these inequalities in the most common cancer in the UK, we can begin to tackle it.

"More work now needs to be done to understand more about why these men are facing so many obstacles to accessing care and how to prevent them. That's why Prostate Cancer UK's TRANSFORM screening trial has been specifically designed to evaluate the impact of screening in all men, including those with learning disabilities, to ensure no man is left behind."

• The paper Prostate Cancer Care in Men with an Intellectual Disability: A Population-Based Cohort Study of Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Survival is  available DOI : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euo.2026.01.004

From the 23rd to the 27th February 2026, a new exhibition will showcase the exciting work of ' and its' digital research activity.

Focusing on its five research themes - Digital Cultures, Digital Economy, Digital Health, Digital Society and Digital Worlds, and two capability themes - Digital Skills and AI@Ұ������, the exhibition will present a series of posters and the existing multidisciplinary strengths at The University of Ұ������.

The exhibition will be at based in space B2 on the Ground Floor of The Nancy Rothwell Building all week. Visit us to learn more and explore new ways to shape our digital future!

The landmark licensing agreement was announced at a celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Cypriot university this week (18 Feb) in Limassol.

The University of Ұ������’s School of Medical Sciences programme will be used as a model to develop a new offering to teach undergraduate medical students at a new medical school in 2028, with a new building planned at the Limassol campus.

The agreement is testament to the quality of medical education at Ұ������ which can trace its roots way back over 250 years.

It is also reflects the university’s commitment to  social responsibility by helping to reduce the global deficit of health professionals.

The University of Ұ������ will provide training to support staff at Frederick University working with two private hospitals in Limassol: Ygia hospital and the Mediterranean Hospital of Cyprus to deliver clinical placements for the Frederick University medical students.

The programme is being thoughtfully adapted to reflect the healthcare priorities, regulatory framework, and cultural context of Cyprus, ensuring that graduates are prepared to meet local and regional medical needs while benefiting from an internationally respected academic framework.

The programme, which is still being finalised, will be submitted to the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education.

Ұ������, one of the UK’s leading centres for medical education, research, and clinical excellence, will provide ongoing support and training for each academic year.

Deputy Dean and Deputy Vice President of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Ұ������, Professor Allan Pacey and Professor Margaret Kingston,  Director of Undergraduate Medical and Dental Studies, were at the celebration.

Professor Pacey said: “As one of the United Kingdom’s largest and most innovative medical schools, we are delighted to announce this partnership.

“Based in one of Europe’s largest healthcare hubs in Ұ������, our medical students benefit from early patient contact, world-class teaching hospitals, and a curriculum grounded in innovation, compassion, and evidence-based practice.

“Graduates leave not only as highly skilled clinicians, but as leaders ready to shape the future of global healthcare.

“We are delighted to be able to share our experience with Frederick University so they will be able to nurture their own world class medics in Cyprus.”

Professor Tony Heagerty, Head of the School of Medical Sciences said: “The University of Ұ������,  founded as a civic university, has had a historic focus on social responsibility and this partnership has been built on a foundation of those shared values.  

“Our agreement between School of Medical Sciences and Frederick University  reflects our part in helping to reduce the global deficit of health professionals.

“And It aligns with the university's commitment to ensuring teaching can make a positive, ethical, and lasting impact on society.

“In Frederick, we recognise a partner which is also focused on making a difference in Cyprus and the rest of the world.”

President of the Council of Frederick University, Natassa Frederickou said: “We are honoured to partner with The University of Ұ������ in this landmark collaboration, which marks an important milestone for Frederick University and for the development of medical education in Cyprus.

“The establishment of the first Medical School in Limassol reflects the shared long-term vision of Frederick University and The University of Ұ������ to advance medical education and research in the region. This partnership is grounded in a common commitment to academic excellence, social responsibility, and global impact.

“By sharing the curriculum approach, academic philosophy, and rigorous standards associated with one of the world’s leading medical schools, we will offer education of international calibre. Together, we aim to educate future doctors who combine scientific expertise with compassion, while strengthening healthcare systems and advancing medical research for the benefit of society. This partnership is built on shared values, and we are proud to take this significant step forward together.”

The briefing – drawing on research and insights from academics at The University of Ұ������– finds that healthcare in prisons is fragmented across the health and justice departments, with responsibility split between multiple agencies and service providers and no single body in charge. Poor coordination between the Department of Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Justice and healthcare providers continues to undermine the quality and continuity of care available to prisoners.

This lack of joined-up working is compounded by severe pressures in the prison system itself. Overcrowding, staff shortages and an ageing, crumbling prison estate are making it harder to deliver basic healthcare and are contributing to poor health outcomes among prisoners. On average, people in prison have a life expectancy more than 20 years lower than the general population. While around 70% of prisoners are estimated to need mental health support, only around 10% are recorded as receiving treatment.[1]

Supporting people’s underlying health needs has been identified as a critical component of reducing reoffending. Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, highlighted offending and reoffending are strongly linked to health, with the greatest risks occur at moments of transition: entry into prison, transfers between facilities, and after release.[2]

The pressures within the system are only set to get worse, due to an ageing prison population. Nearly 1 in 4 prisoners is now aged 50 or over, a group with complex and chronic health needs that prisons were never designed to meet.[3] Deaths from natural causes among older prisoners have increased over the past decades, yet access to appropriate care, including palliative and end-of-life support, remains inconsistent.

The SMF warns that without reform, the prison health system will continue to miss the chance to break cycles of ill health, disadvantage and crime.

To address these challenges, the Social Market Foundation sets out four key priorities for government, including:

• establishing a sustainable, long-term funding settlement for prison healthcare;
• improving coordination and integration between health services, justice agencies and service providers;
• prioritising prevention and early intervention; and
• strengthening cross-government oversight of prisoner health.

Jake Shepherd, Senior Researcher at the Social Market Foundation, said: "Healthcare is a human right – that includes people in prison. Many prisoners enter custody in poor health, and weaknesses in the system mean health outcomes in prison are consistently worse than in the wider population. While investing in prison health may not be politically popular, it brings wider public health benefits and can help reduce reoffending, leading to long-term savings. Prison health is therefore not just a moral issue, but a practical one”.

“The Government should start by investing more, focusing on prevention, and improving how organisations work together on prisoner healthcare, to make prisons safer places that support healthy lives and rehabilitation.”

, Senior Research Fellow in Social Care and Society at The University of Ұ������ said: “This report from Policy@Ұ������ and the Social Market Foundation identifies the systemic barriers that prevent people living in prison from accessing the health and social care they need. Health and social care in prisons should be on an equivalent footing to services provided in the community, but research at The University of Ұ������ shows this is consistently not the case. 

“Poor health amongst people living in prison is the product of overstretched systems, deteriorating environments, and long‑standing inequalities that follow people into prison. Crucially, this work highlights the growing health needs of older people and women of all ages living in prison. Addressing these issues will deliver benefits far beyond the prison walls, and policymakers should act on the evidence-led recommendations this report provides.” 

• The SMF report will be published at   

[1] Mental Health in Prison.

[2] The Health of People in Prison, on Probation, and in the Secure NHS Estate in England (Department of Health and Social Care and Ministry of Justice, 2025).

[3] ^cx The Health of People in Prison, on Probation, and in the Secure NHS Estate in England.

Earth-observation satellites are increasingly relied upon to support efforts to meet the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing critical data on issues like land use, urban development, ecosystems and disaster response. However, the rapid growth of satellite missions is also making Earth’s orbits more crowded and hazardous, increasing the risk of collisions and the creation of long-lasting space debris.

There are currently around 11,800 active satellites in orbit, but some predictions suggest that number could rise to more than 100,000 by the end of the decade. Collisions in space can generate large amounts of debris, threatening satellites, astronauts and the long-term usability of key orbital regions.

The new model, which links satellite mission objectives with collision risk as a key first step in mission design, is presented in the journal .

Lead author , PhD researcher at The University of Ұ������, said: “Our research addresses what is described as a “space sustainability paradox”, the risk that using satellites to solve environmental and social challenges on Earth could ultimately undermine the long-term sustainability of space itself.

“By integrating collision risk into early mission design, we ensure Earth-observation missions can be planned more responsibly, balancing data quality with the need to protect the orbital environment.”

Many applications that support the SDGs rely on very high-resolution satellite imagery. To achieve this level of detail, satellites often operate at lower altitudes, which reduces their field of view. Alternatively, they can operate at higher altitudes but must be larger and heavier to carry bigger optical systems. This increases their exposure to space debris and makes collisions more likely and potentially more damaging.

The new modelling framework allows satellite performance requirements and collision risk to be considered together during mission design, rather than being assessed separately or late in development.

The approach links mission requirements, such as image resolution and coverage, with estimates of satellite size, mass, the numbers of satellites in a constellation, and the level of debris present in different regions of low Earth orbit. This allows designers to explore how different mission choices affect both data quality and collision risk.

Using the model, the researchers found that collision risk does not simply peak where debris is most concentrated - satellite size also plays a major role. For example, for a satellite designed to deliver 0.5 metre resolution imagery, collision probability was highest between 850 and 950 kilometres above Earth - about 50 kilometres higher than the peak in debris density.

The study also found that although higher orbits require fewer satellites to achieve coverage, those satellites carry a greater individual collision risk because they are much larger. Lower orbits need more satellites, but each one can be smaller and therefore less hazardous.

Dr , Lecturer in Aerospace Systems at The University of Ұ������, said: “As satellite use continues to grow, our method offers a practical way to ensure that space remains safe, sustainable and usable for generations to come, while still delivering the data needed to address the world’s most pressing challenges.”

, Professor of Space Technology at The University of Ұ������, added: “The method could also be adapted for different Earth-observation systems and expanded to include more detailed space-environment impacts. In future work, we could account for how long debris fragments stay in orbit, how likely they are to hit other satellites, and the wider environmental effects of satellite re-entry. This would allow mission designers to evaluate trade-offs across the full sustainability picture.”

This research was published in the journal Advances in Space Research

Full title: Collision risk from performance requirements in Earth observation mission design

DOI:

“Faster access to emergency funding, more resilient supply chains and better disaster planning could help prevent payment delays from turning into job losses and business failures.” 

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The test, say the researchers, could identify individuals at risk of the condition which is typified by loss of muscle mass and strength as well as an overall poorer quality of life. 

The study, published in the journal PLOS Med today (12/02/26) and  funded by Kidney Research UK and the Donal O'Donoghue Renal Research Centre”, is the first large scale study to demonstrate the viability of the test -  called  creatinine muscle index (CMI) in CKD. 

The researchers created CMI by combining two routine blood tests, creatinine and cystatin C. 

While both tests used to assess kidney function, creatinine levels are influenced by how much muscle a person has, whereas cystatin C is not. 

By comparing the two, the researchers were able to use this difference to estimate a person’s risk of muscle loss and therefore sarcopenia. 

Because kidney disease affects how creatinine is processed, scientists did not know if CMI would work well in people with CKD. 

However, the study shows that CMI remains independently associated with both muscle function and survival. 

The test could enable earlier detection of sarcopenia, allowing patients to start proven interventions—such as resistance exercise training and protein supplementation—sooner, and potentially lower their risk of death.

The study included 2,930 adults with non-dialysis CKD from 16 kidney centres across the UK  between July 2017 and September 2019.

Participants had their CMI and muscle function in terms of grip strength and walking speed measured and were followed up for a median of 50 months.

In both men and women, lower CMI  - indicating lower muscle mass-   was linked to weaker hand grip strength, slower walking speed and a higher risk of sarcopenia.

Higher CMI was also linked to a lower risk of death. The average CMI in men and women was 864 mg/day and 704 mg/day. For every 100 mg/day per 1.73 m² increase in CMI The risk of death fell by 15% in men and 23% in women.

And CMI outperformed other cystatin C–creatinine–based measures in predicting mortality and sarcopenia.

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

He said: “Sarcopenia, in people with chronic kidney disease is  associated with increased mortality, poorer self-reported health-related quality of life, and reduced functional status.

“Simple identification of sarcopenia should be routinely undertaken in people with CKD, not only because of its association with adverse outcomes but also due to the availability of interventions that can reverse it in people with CKD.

“That could have significant implications on patient wellbeing.

“Our findings also highlight CMI’s superiority over alternative tests, and provides exciting evidence for  its potential as a blood-based biomarker of sarcopenia and mortality risk.”

NURTuRE-CKD is a prospective, multicentre cohort study of people with non-dialysis CKD in the U.K

The paper Associations of Creatinine Muscle Index with Markers of Sarcopenia and Mortality in 1 Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study is available

The global list recognises individuals whose work is transforming the future of medicine and public health.

Professor Bigger, now based at The University of Edinburgh, is internationally regarded for pioneering a novel gene therapy for Hunter syndrome, a rare and potentially life‑threatening inherited condition that affects young children.

The disease causes a progressive, dementia‑like decline alongside severe deterioration of organ systems, placing immense emotional and physical strain on families.

For decades, congenital genetic diseases like Hunter syndrome have faced limited treatment options.

Because they affect relatively small numbers of children, they have historically received less attention from drug developers, leaving families with few therapeutic avenues and little hope for long‑term improvement. However, Professor Bigger’s research helped shift the  landscape.

His work focuses on delivering a missing gene—responsible for producing a critical enzyme—into patients' own blood stem cells, which engraft in the bone marrow and brain. The enzyme is also tagged with a peptide to improve uptake into the brain where it is needed, a challenge that has long hindered progress in treating neurodegenerative childhood disorders.

The therapy aims not only to slow the disease but to fundamentally alter its trajectory.

In February 2025, a boy from California became the first patient in the world to receive infusions of the gene therapy developed in Bigger’s laboratory as part of an early‑stage clinical study.

Now three years old, he has shown sustained improvement, offering new optimism for families affected by the condition and marking a milestone in the field of paediatric gene therapy.

Professor Bigger said: “It came as a tremendous surprise and honour to receive this recognition from TIME. I am humbled to be included in such an esteemed group of innovators and leaders, who are impacting and advancing the world of health.

“This recognition really belongs to the hard work of so many colleagues in Ұ������ and Edinburgh, as well as collaborators, patient organisations and families, scientists and clinicians, academia and industry, working together to make our stem cell gene therapies for childhood dementia a reality.

“I hope this recognition will mean that we can help more families with these devastating diseases through innovative stem cell and gene therapies for dementia and beyond.”

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