This research by The University of Manchester and 91ֱ�� University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) scientists is the first of its kind to show people who stop using a prescribed treatment for COPD are at significantly higher risk of exacerbations than expected for their disease.

COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is a common condition, affecting about 1 in 20 people aged over 40 in England, and is a major cause of death and disability.

People with COPD often experience ‘exacerbations’ – sudden flare-ups of breathlessness and coughing that make their condition much worse. These exacerbations are a leading cause of emergency hospital admissions.

Treatment for COPD can help slow the progression of the condition, control symptoms and prevent flare-ups. This includes taking inhalers which deliver medicine into the lungs to help make breathing easier.

91ֱ�� lead Dr Alexander , researcher in the NIHR 91ֱ�� BRC’s Respiratory Theme and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at The University of Manchester, said: “Many people with COPD use inhalers every day, but some only use them for a short time and then stop. They may feel better and think they no longer need them, they may struggle to afford them if they are not free of charge, or they may simply forget to use them. Overall, that around half of all prescribed doses are missed.”

In this new study, 91ֱ�� researchers analysed data from the 2013-2016 FLAME trial, a large international research project sponsored by Novartis which investigated how patients respond to different COPD treatments. Novartis shared these trial data as per standard data sharing practices with the independent research team in 91ֱ�� to answer additional research questions beyond the original study.

The FLAME trial compared 2 types of in more than 3,300 participants with COPD – these are effective treatments used to open up the airways and reduce inflammation in COPD.

The team found that when people with COPD stop their inhalers, they face a significantly increased risk of flare-ups for around 3 months. Importantly, during this period the risk is higher not only compared with their own usual level of risk, but also compared with people who were not taking these medicines at all.

The study followed patients for a full year after stopping treatment and showed that this increase in risk is temporary. The excess risk of flare-ups is concentrated in the first 3 months after stopping inhalers, over and above what would normally be expected following treatment discontinuation. After this period, the risk settles and does not persist beyond 3 months.

The study, published in , showed for the first time that stopping a common type of inhaler called a LAMA (long-acting muscarinic antagonist) can lead to these withdrawal effects. It also confirmed that stopping inhalers containing another medication called inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) can increase the risk of flare-ups.

Dr Mathioudakis, who is also an Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician at MFT and completed his PhD in COPD research at 91ֱ�� BRC, said: “There are situations where clinicians may need to change or stop an inhaler for specific medical reasons, and in these cases it is important to be aware that short-term “withdrawal effects” can occur.

“More importantly, many people with COPD stop their inhalers on their own, often repeatedly, without medical advice. Each time this happens, it can trigger a period of particularly high risk of exacerbations. These new findings highlight the need to clearly communicate the risks of stopping treatment to patients, to help prevent avoidable flare-ups and hospital admissions.”

• The paper “Disproportionate increase in COPD exacerbation risk for 3 months after discontinuing LAMA or ICS: insights from the FLAME trial” is available : DOI:

The agenda included a stakeholder meeting at Christie’s Bistro on The University of 91ֱ��’s campus on Wednesday 4 February, and a creative roundtable in MediaCity on Thursday 5 February, hosted by Professor of Poetry, John McAuliffe, on the role of the creative economy in innovation. 

Transport for Greater 91ֱ�� (TfGM) also hosted a meeting to showcase 91ֱ��’s transport network, providing the chance to share learnings between the two cities, before the first partnership advisory board meeting was held at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC). 

The events were attended by both the mayors of Greater 91ֱ�� and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough respectively, Andy Burnham and Paul Bristow, and the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge, Professor Duncan Ivison and Professor Deborah Prentice. Attendees also included the leaders of both city councils, Shaun Grady, UK Chair of AstraZeneca, and industry leaders from both regions.  

The visit to 91ֱ�� follows on from the launch of the partnership and the initial stakeholder visit to Cambridge last year, after £4.8 million in funding was awarded by Research England for the pioneering city-to-city collaboration.  

In October, the partnership announced its advisory board during the 2025 Innovate Cambridge Summit which brings together leaders from academia, industry and policy to guide the collaboration between the two cities. 

The partnership is led by the universities of Cambridge and 91ֱ�� and their innovation ecosystem organisations  and . The ambitious collaboration was launched to boost UK economic growth and advance inclusive innovation, while supporting the delivery of industrial strategy and local growth plans. 

The partnership is connected at every level: University to University, innovation ecosystem to ecosystem, council to council, Combined Authority to Combined Authority and business to business. This multi-layered connectivity allows ideas, talent, investment and opportunity to flow between places and organisations.   

Find out more about the partnership and get involved –   

The Research England funding has been allocated for use in three key areas: ecosystem activation and integration; growing investment; and testing and learning. 

● Ecosystem activation and integration: It will strengthen relations within and between the innovation ecosystems of the two cities, to create a vibrant and ambitious cross-city innovation network. This aims to create progressive new approach inclusive growth. 

● Growing investment: It will harness the combined strengths of both universities and partner cities to support start-ups and scale-ups to secure funding and grow, attract innovation-intensive FDI to the UK, and stimulate investment into R&D. 

● Testing and learning: It will pilot new approaches and share best practice for delivering ecosystem collaboration and inclusive growth. This will allow other cities, the wider higher education sector community, and local and national governments in the UK and internationally to learn from the partnership. 

Building on the success of the 2024 CBI Mayoral Roundtable, the summit focused on a singular mission: turning regional potential into tangible economic results. During a roundtable attendees agreed on a framework to unlock long-term private investment and enhance the UK’s regional competitiveness.

Duncan Ivison, President & Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “We are delighted to host this summit on our campus, bringing together leaders from business, government and civil society in 91ֱ��. Delivering an effective industrial strategy must be underpinned by robust academic evidence, and The University of Manchester has an important role to play in that work.

“Here in Greater 91ֱ��, we are part of a close partnership between business, policymakers and communities, and are pleased to be a helpful convenor, and contributor, to discussions and collaborations that support the UK’s future."

The summit identified three critical pillars for accelerated implementation of the Industrial Strategy with the potential to deliver transformative gains to regional growth that boost jobs, opportunities and living standards across England:

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Investable Pipelines: Creating clear, ready-to-fund projects that attract global capital.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Deepened Partnerships: Strengthening the "front door" for businesses through closer Mayoral collaboration.

·&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����;&�Բ�����; Innovation Engines: Leveraging the power of higher education to fuel local talent and R&D.

The afternoon concluded with reflections from Rain Newton-Smith (CBI), Charlie Nunn (Lloyds Banking Group), and Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater 91ֱ��), highlighting the essential role of regional leadership in the UK’s economic future.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI CEO, said: “The government has set out bold ambitions for the UK to lead the G7 in driving business investment into the UK. PWC’s recent survey of global CEOs places the UK as the second most attractive location alongside Germany and India so there is no doubt the appetite is there. Building on and championing the unique capabilities of all of our regions is essential if we’re to secure that investment and turn those bold ambitions into tangible economic growth that benefits the whole country.

“Metro mayors are our regional ambassadors in chief, and provide a single, locally-responsive, front door for that investment – helping to remove potential barriers and expedite decision-making. With the power to boost local skills delivery, accelerate critical planning and infrastructure decisions, and smooth access to market opportunities, mayors play a vital role in ensuring investment comes to the UK and is not lost to our global competitors.”

Charlie Nunn, Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group said: “Businesses are the engines of regional growth, innovation and job creation, and we want to help them succeed.  This year, we’re making available £35 billion in new finance for businesses across the regions, with one third targeted to SMEs.  We’re proud to be working in partnership across regional leaders, higher education and major infrastructure, in order to attract investment and catalyse growth.”

This event is a cornerstone of the CBI-Lloyds Industrial Strategy Roadshow, a 12-month delivery programme in partnership with DBT and HMT to help government and industry work together to deliver a successful industrial strategy.

The study, led by the University of Aberdeen in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Manchester, University College Cork and University of Birmingham, was funded by Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity, and published in .

Led by Dr Andrea Woolner, Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician & Early Pregnancy Lead at NHS Grampian, the team looked at survey responses from 116 healthcare professionals working in maternity services in the UK and Ireland.

Second trimester pregnancy loss (STPL) usually refers to pregnancy loss, or miscarriage after 12 or 13 weeks' gestation. It is estimated to occur in around 3 to 4% of pregnancies. However, this study showed the definition used to describe STPL in healthcare settings varies considerably within the UK and Ireland.

Findings revealed that there is inconsistency and uncertainty around medications used following second trimester pregnancy loss (STPL), which the authors state reflects the lack of research into this devastating type of loss.

For example, almost two thirds of healthcare professionals surveyed (63%) acknowledged they were uncertain about the optimal dosage of misoprostol - a drug that can be given following STPL to induce birth - that should be used, likely due to a lack of research in this area, according to the authors.

Researchers also found that care was given in different hospital wards and not always within maternity settings in different parts of the UK and Ireland.  The authors say this highlights the need to consider how hospitals are set up for couples experiencing STPL, and to consider what the optimal referral pathways and infrastructure needs are.  The team intends to carry out further research exploring views of those with lived experience of STPL.

Following treatment in hospital, fewer than half (45%) of respondents reported that follow-up appointments took place in a dedicated pregnancy loss clinic. Many women were offered follow up in preterm birth clinics, though the research team notes this wasn’t always universal either as not every STPL involves a preterm labour.

There is a growing body of evidence that shows structured care in a dedicated pregnancy loss clinic is the best option for couples who have experienced a stillbirth (when a baby sadly dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy), and researchers say the findings of the study underline the inconsistencies faced by families who lose a baby at different stages of pregnancy.

They also noted there was variation in the investigations and care offered in the next pregnancy after a second trimester loss.

Researchers say more work is needed to understand what the best treatments are and what universal provisions should be made for couples facing the devastation of second trimester pregnancy loss

The team is planning to gain insight from those with lived experience, with the aim of developing a clear view of what is needed to improve care for the future and understanding what research is needed urgently to address these gaps.

Dr Andrea Woolner said: “Pregnancy loss at any stage is devastating. This study showed that there is a lack of research and evidence–based clinical practice around STPL in particular.

“In this survey, we wanted to hear from the people on the ground who work with bereaved parents, to find out exactly where the disparities lie from a healthcare professional perspective and what we need to do to improve things.

“Our findings highlight the lack of standardised care – this is important because we know that pregnancy loss at any stage of pregnancy has a profound impact on couples and on their next pregnancies.

“Ensuring that evidence-based and universal recommendations for birth, bereavement and future antenatal care are offered to all couples after pregnancy loss is vital, and akin to the recommendations for care after stillbirth, we hope that this work highlights clinicians, policy-makers and researchers need to also focus on care for second trimester pregnancy loss.

Professor Alex Heazell, one of the co-authors from the University of Manchester and Director of Tommy’s Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre in 91ֱ��, said: “ which showed fragmented and inconsistent care provisions but also highlighted the number of women who present to hospital in the second trimester with various symptoms including those that may be a sign of pregnancy loss.

“We urgently need better quality data to help us provide the best care.”

Dr Jyotsna Vohra, Director of Research, Programmes and Impact at Tommy’s, said: “Losing a baby is devastating at any stage of pregnancy. When the loss happens after 12 weeks – the stage at which people are often encouraged to believe they are ‘safe’ – it can be particularly traumatic for women and families.

“This study shows we need more research and better standardised care across the NHS so that anyone experiencing symptoms of loss at any stage of pregnancy knows they will receive the most effective care, treatment and support.”

The study, led by The University of Manchester, suggests that while removing livestock from upland grasslands can increase fast-cycling carbon stored in plants and dead vegetation, it can also lead to losses of a more stable form of soil carbon. This long-lived carbon, known as mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), is bound to soil minerals and can persist for decades to centuries, making it critical for long-term climate mitigation.

Grasslands store around one-third of the world’s terrestrial carbon, with the vast majority being found in soils. As governments pursue net-zero targets, removing livestock from historically grazed grasslands has increasingly been proposed as a scalable climate solution.

Traditionally, scientists and land managers have relied on “total carbon stocks” to assess carbon removal projects. However, the new findings, published in the today, show that focusing solely on the total amount of carbon stored, rather than how securely it is stored, may be misleading.

“While ungrazed grasslands tend to accumulate more unprotected carbon in plants and litter, they are associated with lower levels of soil carbon protected by minerals, which is the form most resistant to warming-induced decomposition,” explained Dr Luhong Zhou, lead author of the study and visiting scholar at The University of Manchester. “Although high grazing intensity can negatively affect soil carbon, our results show that total grazer exclusion does not necessarily lead to greater long-term soil carbon storage.”

The team of researchers from The University of Manchester (UK), Lancaster University (UK), Yale University (USA), Fujian Normal University (China), and Leiden University (the Netherlands), analysed 12 upland grassland sites across an 800-kilometre south–north gradient in the United Kingdom, from Dartmoor to Glensaugh in Scotland. At each site, they compared grasslands that had been ungrazed for more than ten years with neighbouring areas that had been grazed over that time.

They found that ungrazed grasslands tended to accumulate more short-lived carbon in plant biomass and surface litter but generally contained lower levels of MAOC.

The decline in long-lived soil carbon is linked to changes in vegetation following the removal of grazing sheep. As a result, grass-dominated landscapes are increasingly replaced by dwarf shrubs such as heather. The roots of the shrubs form associations with a specialised fungi called ericoid mycorrhiza. These fungi slow the decay of plant litter, causing an increase in production of short-lived carbon but also stimulating the breakdown of older, more stable soil carbon, in order to gain nutrients to sustain plant growth. Wetter soils can also further weaken the minerals that normally help protect MAOC.

“Viewing grazer removal as a universally beneficial strategy for carbon mitigation often overlooks the continuum of carbon durability within ecosystems, and the fact that not all carbon gains contribute equally to long-term climate mitigation,” said Dr Shangshi Liu from the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture who co-led this study. “ When slow-cycling carbon declines, grassland carbon stocks may become more vulnerable to future climate change. Effective climate mitigation strategies must therefore consider  both how much carbon is stored and how durable it is”

The findings come at a critical time for environmental management policy in the UK and globally, as governments develop land-use frameworks to meet net-zero targets.  

Professor Richard Bardgett, Chair of Ecology at Lancaster University, who initiated the study while at The University of Manchester, said: “Our results suggest that maintaining low-intensity grazing in upland grasslands, which cover large areas in the United Kingdom, is important for protecting the most stable forms of soil carbon.”

The authors emphasise that their findings do not argue against reducing overgrazing. Rather, they call for more balanced grassland management approaches that account for both total carbon stocks and carbon persistence.

The study was funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the European Research Council (ERC), and Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture fellowship.

The findings are Published in PNAS

Full title: Grazer exclusion is associated with higher fast-cycling carbon pools but lower slow-cycling mineral-associated carbon across grasslands

DOI:

“At a time when many people feel overwhelmed or anxious about the future, these experiences often helped people reconnect with hope and a sense of purpose.”

“This research shows that therapy doesn’t always have to happen in a room,” said co-author Professor Terry Hanley. “For some people, being outdoors creates the space they need to reflect, heal and move forward. As mental health services face growing demand, nature-based approaches could be a valuable part of a wider, more humane response to wellbeing.”

DOI:

Developed through the Greater 91ֱ�� Civic University Agreement, the initiative enables postgraduate researchers to teach up to 20 hours per week in FE settings, providing specialist expertise in priority subjects such as engineering, STEM and digital skills. In turn, the programme offers researchers valuable, paid teaching experience while helping colleges tackle critical local and regional skills gaps.

University of Manchester President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Ivison highlighted the civic significance of the programme: “We’re putting PhD researchers into Greater 91ֱ�� colleges to teach alongside experienced staff – starting with engineering, where skills shortages are most acute. This will help colleges with specialist expertise, give our researchers valuable paid teaching experience, and create clearer pathways between further and higher education. This is the kind of collaboration that will contribute to the region’s economic growth and is exactly what a civic university should be doing.”

Professor Callum Kidd, who led the pilot programme, said: “This initiative strengthens the link between Higher Education and Further Education, creating pathways for learners and tackling regional skills gaps. It also offers PhD researchers real-world teaching experience that enhances their career prospects.”

The pilot phase of the programme was launched in 2025 at Wigan & Leigh College, where three postgraduate researchers from the School of Engineering were recruited through the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) Doctoral Academy. The project has been chaired by Professor Callum Kidd (FSE) and jointly developed by a cross-institutional team.‑institutional team

Anna Dawe, Principal of Wigan & Leigh College, added: “We are delighted to build together this partnership with The University of Manchester. Bringing PhD researchers into our colleges enriches students' learning experience and helps address the pressing need for skilled educators in technical subjects. This collaboration is a fantastic example of how Greater 91ֱ��’s education ecosystem can work together to deliver real impact.”

The programme aligns with national and regional priorities to strengthen the civic role of universities while boosting access to specialist expertise across FE colleges.

Following the success of the first phase, the project team is now developing plans to expand the programme across the full Faculty of Science and Engineering, with long term ambitions to extend it university wide. Discussions with additional Further Education colleges in Greater 91ֱ�� are underway, with participating institutions set to be confirmed later this year. A full review of the pilot phase will be completed in February 2026.‑term ambitions to extend it university‑wide. Discussions with additional Further Education colleges in Greater 91ֱ�� are underway, with participating institutions set to be confirmed later this year. A full review of the pilot phase will be completed in February 2026.

For further information please directly contact mags.bradbury@manchester.ac.uk

A byelection has been set for February 26 in the 91ֱ�� constituency of Gorton and Denton. This will be a big test for Keir Starmer’s Labour party and a temperature check on the state of multi-party politics in the North. Although Labour won the seat comfortably in 2024, some early polls are could win.

Byelections are awkward beasts and don’t necessarily follow the usual rules. What makes things harder in this case is that Gorton and Denton is a new constituency. It was in 2024 from parts of three different constituencies (Gorton, Denton & Reddish and 91ֱ�� Withington).

When we try to understand what might happen in a byelection, we rely on the constituency’s past election results as a marker, which is obviously limited to just one election in this case. Gorton and Denton is also “a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster”, .

It has an elongated shape and combines areas with huge socio-demographic differences. Its Tameside wards are predominantly white, with a sizeable working class while its 91ֱ�� wards have a much higher student and Muslim population.

Labour has everything to lose

Ordinarily, this would be a constituency which Labour should easily win. 91ֱ�� is a Labour heartland through and through. Its other five constituencies are all held by Labour MPs, it boasts all but a handful of seats on the City Council and Andy Burnham trounced his opponents in the city’s last mayoral elections .

But byelections are difficult for governments and Keir Starmer’s track record so far is not good. Labour lost a byelection in the Cheshire constituency of in May 2025 to Reform’s Sarah Pochin. Pochin won on a narrow margin of just six votes but had managed to . That makes Labour’s majority of 13,000 in Gorton and Denton look less than secure.

The real danger here is that Labour finds itself in the squeezed middle. It risks losing voters to Reform on the right and the Greens on the left. This is what happened in the in November, which saw Labour pushed back into third place behind Reform and winners Plaid Cymru.

Reform has everything to prove

Nigel Farage’s party has the momentum at the moment. Polls suggest they are outperforming Labour nationally right now and the recent high-profile defections of and have increased the size of their parliamentary group to 8 MPs.

The Reform candidate in Gorton and Denton, former university academic and GB News presenter Matthew Goodwin, may be the most recognisable candidate to voters, but his political views may not go down well throughout the constituency.

His views on the white working class being may resonate in some of Manchester’s Tameside wards, but his and what it means to be British will not play well in others, something the Greens in particular are trying to capitalise on.

Pitching the byelection as a “referendum” on Starmer’s leadership is a sensible strategy by Goodwin, especially as a recent YouGov poll showed that think the prime minister is doing a bad job. Reform may struggle to bring together enough voters ready to sign up to all the party stands for, but may be able to borrow the votes from those who nevertheless want Labour out and would benefit from a split on the left.

Victory in Gorton and Denton would not only mean that Reform will equal the SNP in party group size in the Commons, it will be a further pull for disgruntled or panicking Conservative (or Labour) MPs, ahead of the Farage has imposed on MPs thinking about defecting to his party. But there is a sizeable chunk of voters across the UK , and who could vote tactically for Labour just to keep Reform out.

Green performance could be key

The Greens did not perform brilliantly in Gorton and Denton at the 2024 elections, but nationally the party received 7% of the vote and they hold over 800 seats on local councils. Since the election, they have , Zack Polanski, who has been instrumental in raising the Green voice in the media.

Their candidate is Hannah Spencer, a councillor in the region who stood for mayor in 2024 and finished in fifth place, behind Reform.

Polanski is confident that only the Greens can beat Reform in Gorton and Denton. And while that’s a bold claim, his supporters will be buoyed by the in a Derbyshire local byelection last year.

And even if they don’t win, a solid Green performance could be very bad news for Starmer.

, Senior Lecturer in Politics
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Her achievement have also recently been marked by the award of the 2026 Hannes Alfven Medal by the European Physical Society, a prestigious international distinction recognising her “outstanding and innovative work bridging astrophysical and laboratory plasmas using analytical insights and modelling.”

Professor Browning joined what was then the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1985 as a lecturer at the age of 25, following a mathematics degree at the University of Cambridge and a PhD at the University of St Andrews.

Her career has been marked by a series of significant firsts, starting by entering Selwyn College at the University of Cambridge aged just 16 - two or three years younger than most undergraduates – and in the first year that the college admitted women.

Following her PhD and post-doc in Scotland, she moved to UMIST for her first lecturing role, where she was the only female lecturer and one of just three female academics across the science and technology disciplines. She was promoted to professor in 2009.

Reflecting on those early days, Professor Browning said that a lack of role models made it difficult for women to imagine reaching senior academic positions.

“As a woman, you didn’t really think you were going to become a professor because there were so few role models,” she said. “I was lucky to have very supportive male colleagues, but it was still difficult. Often, particularly in fusion research, I could be the only woman in the room.”

Her interest in astrophysics began in childhood, sparked by an early fascination with the moon and by watching the Apollo moon landings. While she initially pursued mathematics, that curiosity about space ultimately drew her back into astrophysics.

Over the course of her career, Professor Browning has built an international reputation in plasma physics. Her work has focused on understanding how hot, ionised gases behave and interact with magnetic fields - processes that underpin solar flares, space weather and the development of future fusion energy.

Her early research at 91ֱ�� helped pioneer the spherical tokamak, an innovative approach to magnetic confinement fusion. Philippa’s team at 91ֱ�� was among the first to develop this compact alternative to traditional ring‑shaped fusion devices, an approach that has since become central to international fusion research and now underpins the UK’s government‑backed STEP fusion energy programme.

Alongside her research, Professor Browning has been a committed teacher, supervising around 19 PhD students and teaching generations of undergraduates.

“I’ve always really enjoyed teaching,” she said. “The interaction with students, particularly in small groups, is something I’ll really miss.”

During her time at the University, Professor Browning witnessed significant institutional change, most notably the merger of UMIST and the Victoria University of Manchester. While the department grew from a small, close‑knit unit into a much larger one, she reflects that students themselves have remained much the same where their curiosity, ability and enthusiasm have always varied across a spectrum.

She has also played a significant role in University leadership and service, serving on Senate and the Board of Governors, and holding a range of departmental roles including postgraduate director and admissions tutor.

A long‑standing advocate for equality in science, Professor Browning has been heavily involved in national efforts to support women in physics. She served on the Institute of Physics’ Women in Physics and diversity committees, helping to deliver training, networking events and outreach activities in schools to improve visibility and role models for girls.

She balanced her academic career with raising her son and two step‑children at a time when childcare support was far more limited. She was involved in campaigning for and establishing the first UMIST nursery, with her son among the first children to attend.

Her achievements have been widely recognised. She is a  recipient of the Royal Astronomical  Society’s Chapman Medal for outstanding research in solar and space physics, and a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. As mentioned above, she is now due to receive the European Physical Society’s Hannes Alfvén Prize for plasma physics, a senior international award recognising her lifetime achievements in the field.

As she retires, Professor Browning will continue her research as Professor Emerita and remain active in public engagement, including talks and events at Jodrell Bank Observatory.

“Retirement feels emotional,” she said. “My identity has been so tied up with the University for so long. But I’m looking forward to having more time for music and walking and just seeing what comes next.”

Professor Browning’s department will mark her retirement with a special event, ‘Pipfest’, bringing together former colleagues and PhD students from across her career.

The appointments place 91ֱ�� researchers among a cohort of around 100 Fellows drawn from academia, business, industry and government. 

The Academy’s Fellowship will work collectively to address major national challenges including pandemic preparedness, economic transformation, national security, climate change and the safe development of artificial intelligence. 

The Fellows will continue to perform their roles at 91ֱ�� and at the other institutions they support, but will come together through the convening power of the Academy to help benefit the whole UK. Areas of focus will likely include:  

• Working with experts across government, industry and the third sector to model the impact of climate change and advise on mitigations
• Supporting cross-disciplinary modelling to prepare for future diseases and pandemics
• Developing and championing investment in the new mathematics required for ensuring AI and the quantum technologies of tomorrow work safely and to the benefit of all
• Bringing together industry, academia and educators to design maths curricula fit for tomorrow's economy and society
• Keeping the UK safe through advances in cryptography and the mathematical foundations of national security
• Guiding the UK's green energy transition, advising on everything from grid capacity and system resilience to safe, large-scale energy storage
• Helping businesses and entrepreneurs harness mathematics to drive innovation, new products and sustainable growth
• Strengthening national resilience by using mathematics to optimise infrastructure, improve public services and forecast risks 

The four 91ֱ�� appointees are: 

 FRSE, FIMA and Beyer Professor of Applied Mathematics, whose research focuses on applied dynamical systems, particularly piecewise smooth systems. A former President of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), Professor Glendinning has played a leading role in shaping the UK mathematical community and was closely involved in the design of Manchester’s Alan Turing Building. 

, Professor of Mathematical Epidemiology and Statistics and Director of the Christabel Pankhurst Institute for health technology research and innovation. Professor Hall previously led modelling work at Public Health England and played key advisory roles as part of Department of Health and Social Care's scientific pandemic influenza modelling subgroup (SPI-M), as the academic chair of the Social Care Working Group for SAGE and by supporting UKHSA Joint Modelling team and advising the Ministry of Justice. He was awarded an OBE in 2024 for services to public health, specifically epidemiology and adult social care during Covid-19. 

, Professor of Pure Mathematics, whose research focuses on semigroup theory and its connections to areas such as theoretical computer science, tropical geometry and geometric group theory. He is currently 91ֱ�� Associate Chair of the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research and also serves as Chair of EPSRC’s Strategic Advisory Team in Mathematical Sciences. 

, Professor of Pure Mathematics, whose research focuses on complex dynamics and analysis. He is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society and has been awarded a Whitehead Prize and a Philip Leverhulme Prize. He is a former member of EPSRC’s Strategic Advisory Team in Mathematical Sciences and will serve as Pure Mathematics Research Lead at 91ֱ�� from February 2026. 

Professor Dame Alison Etheridge DBE FRS, the President of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences, said: “I’m delighted to welcome our inaugural Fellows – individuals of exceptional distinction who collectively advance the mathematical sciences through discovery, leadership, education and real-world application.  

“As Fellows of the Academy, they will come together in service of the wider public good: bringing independent expertise to bear on national priorities, championing excellence in mathematics education, strengthening the UK’s research and innovation base, and helping to ensure that mathematics continues to deliver opportunity, resilience and prosperity across our four nations.”&�Բ�����;

Mathematics has a long and distinguished history at The University of Manchester, from foundational contributions to modern computing to world-leading research across pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and mathematical modelling. Applied and foundational mathematical research at 91ֱ�� go hand in hand: one addresses the real-life challenges of today, in collaboration with researchers in engineering, health, social sciences and the humanities, while the other equips us to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The appointment of four 91ֱ�� researchers as inaugural Fellows reflects the University’s continued leadership in the mathematical sciences and its commitment to research with global impact.  

Alongside the four FSE-based appointees, the Academy’s inaugural Fellowship also includes several Fellows with strong connections to The University of Manchester. These include Professor David Abrahams, former Beyer Professor of Applied Mathematics at 91ֱ�� and an Honorary Professor at the University, Professor Philip Bond, whose roles have included Professor of Creativity and Innovation at the University of Manchester – in addition to Dame Celia Hoyles, who graduated from The University of Manchester 

The result marks the third consecutive year the University has secured a spot in the European Top 10 since the ranking’s launch in 2023.

The QS Europe ranking evaluates institutions using performance indicators, including academic and employer reputation, citations, research output, employability outcomes, international research collaboration, student diversity and sustainability.

The 2026 edition features 958 institutions across 42 locations, including 129 from the UK. UK universities continue to perform strongly across reputation and research metrics, with seven institutions ranked in the top 10 for Academic Reputation and six in the top 10 for Employer Reputation.

QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter said: “While Oxford reclaims the regional top spot, the latest QS Europe University Rankings confirm a stabilising hierarchy, with no new entrants among the top 10. Europe’s established academic powerhouses continue to lead the table, reflecting the region’s long-standing investment in higher education and research excellence, with leading institutions in countries such as the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland maintaining their positions at the top."

Sowter added: “Europe’s higher education sector remains a strong, underpinned by world-class research universities, strong international collaboration, and growing momentum behind transnational alliances and joint degrees. Cross-border mobility remains a defining strength. However, funding and research capacity vary widely between national systems, contributing to uneven performance and talent retention. At the same time, universities face mounting pressure to sustain research excellence, deepen industry engagement, and modernise governance and delivery models amid funding deficits and tightening policy around international mobility.”

In global rankings, The University of Manchester ranks 8 in the UK and 56 in the world in the THE World University Rankings for 2026. The prestigious rankings evaluate more than 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories. In the , The University of Manchester ranks 7 in the UK and 35 in the world, while the University also ranks first in the UK and second in the world in the .

In addition to its success in the QS Europe ranking, The University of Manchester has been ranked at 46 in the world and 6 in the UK in the

Find out further information about where the University is ranked via our World Rankings page. 

This new discovery captures the cosmic moment when a galaxy cluster – among the largest structures in the universe – started to assemble only about a billion years after the big bang, one or two billion years earlier than previously thought possible. This result, made using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope,  is described in a paper published today (28 January) in the journal 

The findings will require astronomers to rethink when and how the largest structures in the universe formed. 

 “This may be the most distant confirmed protocluster ever seen,” said Akos Bogdan of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) who led the new Nature study. “JADES-ID1 is giving us new evidence that the universe was in a huge hurry to grow up.”

The object is known as JADES-ID1 for its location in the “JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey”, or JADES. It has a mass about 20 trillion times that of the Sun. Astronomers classify JADES-ID1 as a “protocluster” because it is currently undergoing an early, violent phase of formation and will one day turn into a galaxy cluster.  

This object was first discovered and reported in an  led by The University of Manchester’s Qiong Li using deep JWST data, which was published last year  in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 

JADES-ID1 is found at a much larger distance – corresponding to a much earlier time in the universe – than astronomers expected for such systems, providing a new mystery of how something so massive could form so quickly.

Galaxy clusters contain hundreds or even thousands of individual galaxies immersed in enormous pools of superheated gas, along with large amounts of unseen dark matter. Astronomers use galaxy clusters to measure the expansion of the universe and the roles of dark energy and dark matter, among other important cosmic studies.

“It’s very important to actually see when and how galaxy clusters grow,” said co-author Gerrit Schellenberger, also of CfA. “It’s like watching an assembly line make a car, rather than just trying to figure out how a car works by looking at the finished product.”

The Chandra and Webb data reveal that JADES-ID1 contains the two properties that confirm the presence of a protocluster: a large number of galaxies held together by gravity. Webb sees at least 66 potential members that are also sitting in a huge cloud of hot gas detected by Chandra. As a galaxy cluster forms, gas falls inward and is heated by shock waves, reaching temperatures of millions of degrees and glowing in X-rays.

What makes JADES-ID1 exceptional is the remarkably early time when it appears in cosmic history. Most models of the universe predict that there likely would not be enough time and a large enough density of galaxies for a protocluster of this size to form only a billion years after the big bang. The previous record holder for a protocluster with X-ray emission is seen much later, about three billion years after the big bang.

This is yet another sign that structure in the universe is forming much quicker than astronomers had anticipated. 

After billions of years JADES-ID1 should evolve from a protocluster into a massive galaxy cluster like those we see much closer to Earth.

To find JADES-ID1, astronomers combined deep observations from both Chandra and Webb. By design, the JADES field overlaps with the Chandra Deep Field South, the site of the deepest X-ray observation ever conducted. This field is thus one of the few in the entire sky where a discovery such as this could be made. 

In an earlier study, a team of researchers led by Li and Professor Conselice at The University of Manchester found five other proto-cluster candidates in the JADES field, but only in JADES-ID1 are the galaxies embedded in hot gas. Thus, only JADES-ID1 possesses enough mass for an X-ray signal from hot gas to be expected. 

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.  The JWST work was sponsored by the European Research Council in an Advanced Grant (EPOCHS) to The University of Manchester. 

This research was published in the journal Nature

Full title: An X-ray-emitting protocluster at z ≈ 5.7 reveals rapid structure growth

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09973-1

URL: . 

Dr Wasim Ahmed, of the University of Hull, explained: “Women and girls in sport deserve environments, both online and offline, where their achievements are celebrated. Our findings highlight an urgent need for stronger protections and platform-level responsibility. Without meaningful intervention, we risk normalising behaviour that has real and harmful consequences for those targeted.”

Dr Emma Kavanagh, of Loughborough University, said: “We must act now to protect the health and wellbeing of athletes as they navigate their careers in the era of online media. Online abuse can have profound and lasting effects, and it can no longer be normalised or accepted as part of modern sport. Ensuring athletes are equipped to manage online environments and enhancing their safety is a vital step forward in advancing player care.”

Dr Maz Hardey, Professor of Business and Computing, Durham University, outlined: “We are witnessing a pivotal shift where online impunity is finally meeting real-world retribution, financially and legally, for perpetrators. However, the cost for the victims remains unacceptably high. This abuse has actively dismantled careers and forced women to withdraw from UK football culture entirely to ensure their own safety. Legal wins are crucial, but we must act faster to ensure women are not forced into professional exile just to survive the abuse.”

Dr Rosy Boardman, of the University of Manchester, added: “Our research shows how influential figures can radically shape the tone and trajectory of online conversations. When individuals with large followings use their platforms to normalise misogyny or direct hostility toward women in sport, they don’t just express an opinion - they legitimise harmful narratives that would otherwise remain on the fringes. Their words act as accelerants, fuelling polarisation and creating digital environments where abuse becomes routine.

The paper, Misogyny, Misogynoir and Violent Online Rhetoric Against Women and Girls in Sport: The Case of Joey Barton has been published in .

Barton was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in November 2025 of six counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety, and sentenced in December 2025 to six months in custody, suspended for 18 months.

The study, led by The University of Manchester, offers a rare glimpse into a period of evolution that is usually extremely difficult to study because early vertebrates had soft bodies, so any remains are usually squashed, incomplete, or difficult to interpret.

Using a synchrotron particle accelerator, the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at SLAC  National Accelerator Laboratory in California, USA, the researchers were able to map the chemistry within two tiny jawless fish called Jamoytius and Lasanius, found near Lesmahagow, south of Glasgow.

The findings, published today in , represent a huge advance in our understanding of the early stages in the development of the vertebrate lineage.

 “We decided that transitional fossils, from one of the earliest stages of vertebrate evolution, would be perfect to look at with our new methods,” explained researcher , Professor of Geochemistry at The University of Manchester. “What we were able to discover was far beyond our expectations. Not only did we identify early bone structures deep in the geological record, but we also captured the first-ever images of some of the oldest camera-type eyes. These eyes preserve even the small notch where the optic nerve connected - features that form the basis of modern vertebrate eyes today.”

University of Manchester researcher , added: “It’s been amazing to see just how much new information we can recover from fossils which are usually too poorly preserved to be useful using these new technologies. Our findings help resolve scientific debates that have been running since the Victorian era. They point to a very early origin of bones and eyes in vertebrate history, probably even predating the group appearing altogether.

“I’m also excited because these fossils are most likely the ancestors of modern lamprey and hagfish, which now lack many of these features, so we’re adding to a growing body of work that shows those organisms have a far more complex evolutionary history than previously thought.”

Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence imaging works by scanning a sample in front of the intense X-ray beam generated by the synchrotron particle accelerator. The X-rays cause atoms in the sample to emit their own X-rays (X-ray fluorescence), which the scanning system detects. The properties of the fluoresced X-rays are specific to the chemical element they originated from. As such, this technique can be used to identify and map tiny differences in chemical elements locked inside fossils and in some cases, the chemical remnants of tissues no longer visible with visible light.

Dr Nick Edwards, a Staff Engineer for the X-ray Fluorescence Imaging beam lines at SSRL, performed the X-ray imaging experiments as part of a long-standing collaboration with The University of Manchester research team, with whom he worked with for his PhD studies.

He said: “Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence imaging is a versatile technique with advantages over other types of scientific analysis that make it amenable to studying fossils. The experiments do not need special environmental conditions, and we can place relatively large objects in the instrument without the need to remove material from them. We can detect the extremely low levels of elements present in biological systems and correlate them to specific fossil tissues in a matter of hours. The results from these fossils are fascinating and further corroborate that the chemistry of extinct organisms can be preserved over huge geological time scales and be useful in interpreting the evolution of life.”

In this study, the team found traces of zinc and copper that revealed the structure of the retina and pigment layer in the ancient eyes. They also found calcium and phosphorus showing where early bone-like tissue was present.

The research has been praised internationally. Dr Pierre Gueriau of the University of Lausanne, who was not involved in the research, said: “This study not only rewrites some chapters of the evolutionary history of our early vertebrate ancestors, but also illustrates how advanced fossil imaging is not limited to CT scanning and encompasses a suite of analytical chemistry methods capable of revealing a new range of information, in some cases even considered lost to fossilisation. This is truly an exciting time to be a palaeontologist”.

Corresponding author , a palaeobiologist at The University of Manchester, added: “I love these fossil fish. They may have been dead for over 400 million years but they keep on surprising us with new hidden data about our deep origins.”

The team will now continue using this high-energy physics technology to tease out the chemical remnants of early life in other vertebrates, providing key insights into the evolution of animals such as birds, dinosaurs, mammals, and even microbial life.

This paper was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Full title: Early vertebrate biomineralisation and eye structure determined by synchrotron X-ray analyses of Silurian jawless fish.

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.2248

URL: 

As an independent intergovernmental body, IPBES aims to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services and is a leading voice in this area.

To mark this year’s meeting being held in 91ֱ��, The University of Manchester, the University of Salford and 91ֱ�� Metropolitan University will present a special evening event at the People’s History Museum on Thursday, 5 February supported by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The event will bring together academics, businesses and community organisations, as well as policymakers and regional leaders, to explore opportunities for collaboration to boost nature recovery across Greater 91ֱ�� and beyond. Focusing on Business and Biodiversity, the event will also highlight the crucial role industry, research and policy must play together in this endeavour. 

The joint project aligns with the refreshed civic mission announced last year, which saw all Greater 91ֱ�� universities reaffirm their collective commitment to improving lives across the city-region as part of the Greater 91ֱ�� Civic University Agreement (CUA).

Featuring talks from all three universities and a panel Q&A session, senior representatives are expected to take part from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Greater 91ֱ�� Combined Authority (GMCA) and DEFRA – with more to be announced.

Professor Simon Green, PVC Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Salford said: “Sustainability is at the core of what we do at Salford. Our goal is to innovate towards a more equitable, just, healthy, creative and prosperous society. This event will be a great chance to put those ambitions into practice and share knowledge and expertise across the region and country.”

PVC for Research at 91ֱ�� Metropolitan University, Professor Nick Brook, said: "With sector-leading Carbon Literacy training, consistently top People & Planet rankings, and Professor Liz Price’s UN SDG 12 Vice-Chair leadership, 91ֱ�� Met is shaping global sustainability practice while driving research-led solutions that support nature recovery and stronger communities across Greater 91ֱ��.”

Tickets for the evening event, ‘From evidence to action: Mobilising Greater 91ֱ��’s science, business and policy partnerships for nature’ are available via .

The University ranked in the top 50 globally for four subjects, including Arts & Humanities (41), Business & Economics (41) and Social Sciences (32). The University received its highest ranking for Engineering, taking 5^th place in the UK ranking and 48^th globally.

The University saw its ranking improve in 3 subjects compared to the previous rankings, including Social Sciences (by 5 to 32), Arts & Humanities (by 2 to 41) and Physical Sciences (by 4 to 51).

The THE subject rankings cover 148 individual disciplines under broad subject areas. The methodology judges universities based on five core pillars of evaluation: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.

Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research at The University of Manchester, said of the latest rankings: “This global subject ranking is testament to the high level of teaching and research excellence this University prides itself on. We use global rankings to inform our evaluation of our current offering and strategic plans to ensure we are providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in their chosen fields, both at the University and beyond.”

Professor Jenn Hallam, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students at The University of Manchester added: “Following the recent launch of our 2035 strategy, we are collectively working to meet our big ambitions of making learning flexible, personalised and digitally-enabled, and allowing students to co-create their study on their own terms. These rankings are useful in demonstrating where we are, and where we would like to be, to ensure we keep building on the high-quality teaching we deliver to our talented students.”

Right now The University of Manchester ranks 8^th in the UK and 56^th in the world in the THE World University Rankings for 2026. The prestigious rankings evaluate more than 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories. 

In the QS World University Rankings 2026, The University of Manchester ranks 7^th in the UK and 35^th in the world, while the University also ranks first in the UK and second in the world in the .

A leading academic and thought leader in environment, climate, energy policy and politics, Rebecca will also bring a team of highly regarded researchers and academics to join her at the University. Rebecca leads the Climate Citizens research group, which investigates public engagement and citizenship. She is a co-investigator for the Centre for Joined-Up Sustainability Transitions (JUST), the Energy Demand Research Centre, and a new initiative, PACT (Production and Consumption Transformations) which provides decision support to government departments.  

Rebecca Willis has previously been a professor at Lancaster University and is an expert advisor to the Climate Change Committee and Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Initiative.  

Speaking on her appointment, Rebecca said: “The wealth of expertise based here at 91ֱ�� is highly valued around the world. I am excited to be part of a community working on global challenges with practical outcomes for people, planet and society. 

Professor Claire Alexander, Head of the School of Social Sciences added: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome Rebecca and her team to the University of Manchester. Rebecca brings significant insight and expertise in terms of applying policy to innovation in the challenging fields of energy and climate governance. She will be working closely with colleagues in the Sustainable Consumption Institute, a collaboration between the School of Social Sciences and Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School, who are leading the way in terms of the economic and social and policy dimensions of climate justice and environmental sustainability.”&�Բ�����;

Professor Sarah Cartmell, Head of the School of Engineering said: “Through the Tyndall Centre, Rebecca will strengthen our capacity to link cutting-edge engineering, climate science, social science and governance insights with policy that works in practice. Her expertise will help accelerate the impact of our work, deepen our partnerships and enhance 91ֱ��’s role as a leading contributor to the UK and global climate policy landscape.”&�Բ�����;

Claire Costello, Chief People and Inclusion Officer at Co-op explained: “Our Co-op believes everyone, whatever their background, should be able to access opportunities in the arts and creative sector throughout Greater 91ֱ��. Apprenticeships can provide a ‘stepping stone’ for future careers, that’s why Co-op is encouraging Greater 91ֱ�� employers to share unspent apprenticeship levy funds to raise £3 million over 3 years to support 200 new apprenticeships in the arts and creative sector throughout Greater 91ֱ��.”&�Բ�����;

The inquiry’s findings are being launched on January 26^th at an event at the Whitworth Art Gallery at The University of 91ֱ�� in collaboration with research platform Creative 91ֱ��, where the Mayor of Greater 91ֱ��, Andy Burnham, is due to speak.  

The report can be downloaded .

Read the full research report . 

The research – funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater 91ֱ�� (ARC-GM) - explores how being unable to attend healthcare appointments during normal working hours affects the health and wellbeing of employees.

It found that jobs lacking flexibility for workers to attend healthcare appointments are linked with significantly lower health-related quality of life. This was driven mainly by effects on physical health rather than mental health, with workers who have long-term conditions being the most affected.

In the UK, there is no statutory requirement to allow employees to attend healthcare appointments during working hours, however some employers choose to allow this type of flexibility.

The research team, led by academics from The University of Manchester, suggest that to move towards a more prevention focused health system, people need to be able to access routine GP appointments and cancer screening before the point of serious illness.

, Research Fellow in Health Economics at The University of Manchester, said: “Working full time presents challenges for many workers whose jobs don’t offer the flexibility needed to take time away to attend healthcare appointments. This has significant implications for early diagnosis and management of long-term conditions.

“The findings of our research make it clear that population health could be significantly improved by removing barriers during typical working hours to allow workers to access primary care services, such as GP and screening appointments.

“While positive steps have been taken to address this access issue through the offer of out-of-hours appointments, there’s a wider discussion to be had about the role employers can play in supporting their employees’ health by permitting flexibility around healthcare appointments – without having to take paid leave or forego income.”

Dr , Deputy Theme Lead for Economic Sustainability at ARC-GM, and Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at The University of Manchester, said: “Work shouldn’t be a barrier to remaining healthy. But this research shows that for some people working in inflexible jobs where they aren’t able to attend healthcare appointments during the typical working day, it can have an impact on their physical health. These challenges are particularly pressing in the context of our ageing population and the more frequent need for routine healthcare among older age groups.

“We’d welcome further investigation into the impact of this barrier to accessing healthcare, and the cost-effectiveness of different policy approaches.”

Researchers used data from the National General Practice Patient Survey in England, which is a large national survey targeting random samples of individuals registered with each general practice. Data from six waves of the survey (2013-2017) was used in which a measure of health-related quality of life was collected. The measurement of health-related quality of life covers five domains: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.

The sample used was restricted to individuals aged between 18 and 64 years and only included those in full-time employment.

• The full study - ‘Impact of Constrained Access to Primary Care on Health-Related Quality of Life’ - has been published by the Value in Health journal. You can read the report and its results DOI

Today, the red kangaroo is the largest living hopping animal and weighs around 90kg. But during the Ice Age, some kangaroos grew more than twice the size of that - some reaching up to 250kg.

For years, researchers believed these giants must have abandoned hopping, as earlier studies suggested that hopping would become mechanically impossible above about 150kg. Those conclusions were largely based on simply scaling up modern kangaroos, which scientists from The University of Manchester, in collaboration with the University of Bristol and the University of Melbourne suspected might be misleading.

Now, by combining measurements from living kangaroos with direct evidence from fossil bones, the new study, published today in the journal finds that giant kangaroos may have been capable of hopping.

Lead researcher Megan Jones, Postgraduate Researcher at The University of Manchester, said: “Previous estimates were based on simply scaling up modern kangaroos, which may mean we miss crucial anatomical differences. Our findings show that these animals weren’t just larger versions of today’s kangaroos, they were built differently, in ways that helped them manage their enormous size.”

The team examined two potential limiting factors for hopping - the strength of the foot bones and the ability of the ankle to anchor the powerful tendons that drive a hop.

Their analysis show that the giant kangaroos had shorter, thicker foot bones capable of withstanding landing forces and their heel bones were broad enough to support much thicker ankle tendons than those of modern kangaroos.

However, these giants probably did not bounce across the landscape like today’s red kangaroos.

“Thicker tendons are safer, but they store less elastic energy,” explained s, Royal Society Research Fellow at The University of Bristol. “This likely made giant kangaroos slower and less efficient hoppers, better suited to short bursts of movement rather than long-distance travel. But hopping does not have to be extremely energy efficient to be useful, these animals probably used their hopping ability to cross rough ground quickly or to escape danger.”

The fossil analysis also revealed a range of locomotion strategies among the extinct species. Some giant kangaroos may have mixed hopping with other forms of movement, including walking upright on two legs, or moving on all fours, suggesting that hopping was just one part of a broader “movement repertoire”.

But the diversity of prehistoric Australia extends beyond just movement.

, Senior Lecturer in Evolution, Infection and Genomics at The University of Manchester, said “Our findings contribute to the notion that kangaroos had a broader ecological diversity in prehistoric Australia than we find today, with some large species grazers like modern kangaroos while others were browsers – an ecological niche not seen in today’s large kangaroos.”&�Բ�����;

The findings provide the most comprehensive assessment to date of the mechanical feasibility of hopping in giant extinct kangaroos.

This paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports

Full title: Biomechanical limits of hopping in the hindlimbs of giant extinct kangaroos

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-29939-7

URL:

People who have had a stroke are more likely to develop infections such as pneumonia. These infections can slow recovery and make brain injury worse. Understanding why the immune system becomes weaker after stroke could help doctors prevent these infections and improve patient outcomes.

Earlier studies by Dr Laura McCulloch and Dr Barry McColl at the University of Edinburgh found that in animal models, stroke activates the system behind the fight-or-flight response, which includes the release of the chemical noradrenaline.

This activation quickly impairs a group of immune cells called B cells, reducing their ability to produce protective antibodies, and was associated with vulnerability to infection. Until now, it was unclear whether the same thing happens in stroke patients.

In this study, carried out at the University of Manchester in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh team, researchers analysed blood samples from patients 24 - 48 hours after an ischaemic stroke and compared them with samples from individuals who had not had a stroke (‘controls’).

They found that stroke patients had fewer B cells than control patients and that these remaining cells were also less effective at producing antibodies and special signalling proteins called cytokines, both of which are essential for fighting infections.

“Findings from this collaborative study confirm that after someone has had a stroke important immune cells that help to fight infection are reduced, limiting the patient’s ability to make protective antibodies. Revealing these changes opens opportunities to develop new treatments that could help reduce the incidence of infection after stroke,” said Clinical 91ֱ�� Lead Prof Craig Smith from The University of Manchester. 

The teams also tested B cells from healthy volunteers. When these cells were exposed to noradrenaline, they showed the same responses as seen in stroke patients: increased cell death and reduced antibody production.

These findings suggest that activation of the fight-or-flight response itself, not just stroke, can impair immune function. Stress, illness, or extreme physical exertion may all influence how well B cells work.

Reduced numbers of immune cells (B cells) were found in the blood of patients 24–48 hours after an ischaemic stroke. When B cells were stimulated with bacterial proteins (mimicking an infection), they were less able to produce protective antibodies and signalling proteins called cytokines.

The researchers are now studying how these immune changes after stroke may affect long-term recovery, including thinking and memory, as well as further damage to the brain’s blood vessels.

They are also exploring new treatments aimed at protecting or restoring B cell function after stroke, with the goal of reducing infections and improving recovery.

This research was a collaboration between the University of Manchester (Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre and the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation), the 91ֱ�� Centre for Clinical Neurosciences (part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust) and the University of Edinburgh (including the UK Dementia Research Institute).

This work was funded by the Medical Research Council, NIHR, Wellcome Trust, The Royal Society, The Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research, Leducq Foundation Transatlantic Network of Excellence StrokeIMPaCT and UK Dementia Research Institute.

• Read the full paper in

Scientists have long known that inherited neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or motor neurone disease, can be traced back to genetic mutations. However, how they cause the diseases remains unanswered.

In today’s issue of the journal Current Biology Professor Andreas Prokop revealed that so-called ‘motor proteins’ can provide key answers in this quest.

The research by the Prokop group focusses on nerve fibres, also called axons. Axons are the delicate biological cables that send messages between the brain and body to control our movements and behaviour. Intriguingly, axons need to survive and stay functional for our entire lifetime!

To survive long-term, axons harbour complex cellular machinery. This machinery crucially depends on the transport of materials from the distant nerve cell bodies which is performed by motor proteins running along thin fibres called microtubules.

If mutations in motor protein genes abolish their ability to transport cargo, this causes axonal decay, and many inherited neurodegenerative diseases can be traced back to such mutations. However, another class of mutations also linking to neurodegeneration, causes motor protein hyperactivation, meaning that motor proteins are constantly active, unable to pause.

“So far, it has been difficult to explain why both disabling and hyperactivating mutations can cause very similar forms of neurodegeneration.” said Professor Prokop.

“To find answers, we use fruit flies, where research is fast and cost-effective and where many of the relevant human genes have close equivalents and perform similar functions in nerve cells. Capitalising on these advantages, we could show that disabling as well as hyperactivating mutations cause a very similar pathology in axons: straight microtubule bundles decay into areas of disorganised microtubule curling, similar to dry versus boiled spaghetti.”

Further investigations revealed that hyperactivating and disabling mutations work through two different mechanisms that eventually converge to induce this curling:

Even under normal conditions, cargo transport along microtubules generates damage, like cars cause potholes – and this requires maintenance mechanisms to repair and replace microtubules. The balance between damage and repair is disturbed if motor proteins are hyperactivated or if maintenance machinery fails - both leading to microtubule curling as a sign of axon decay.

Prokop said: “In this scenario, disabling mutations could be assumed to cause less curling because there is less damaging traffic. However, less traffic depletes supply to the axonal machinery, and this triggers a condition referred to as oxidative stress. We could show that oxidative stress affects microtubule maintenance and leads therefore to the same kind of microtubule curling as observed upon motor hyperactivation.”

“These findings suggest a circular relationship which we called the “dependency cycle of axon homeostasis”, proposing that axon maintenance requires a microtubule- and motor protein-based machinery of transport which, itself, is dependent on this transport.”

Any gene mutations affecting axonal machinery in ways that cause oxidative stress, or that disturb the balance between microtubule damage or repair, can break this cycle. This can explain a long-standing conundrum in the field: why almost any class of neurodegenerative disease can be caused by mutations in a wide range of genes linking to very different cellular functions.

He added: “Parallel work by my group strongly supports the dependency cycle model. Importantly, since the fundamental genetic makeup of fruit flies and humans is surprisingly similar, it is very likely that our findings are replicated in humans – and there are good indications already.”

New Windows on Fundamental Physics: from tabletop devices to large-scale detectors (19–23 January 2026) unites experts from particle theory, particle physics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular physics and selected areas of astrophysics. The five-day meeting is designed to accelerate collaboration, stimulate new research ideas and create new partnerships within the global quantum science and engineering research community. 

, Research Associate in Particle Theory, the Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics (QTFP) lead, and the workshop chair explains: “By bringing together world experts across theory and experiment, we are creating space for the next generation of joint projects. In keeping the workshop intentionally small and focused, we aim to foster the kind of deep discussions that aren't always possible at larger, more formal conferences.”&�Բ�����;

The programme comprises: 

• a one-day UK Astroparticle Phenomenology (UK-APP) workshop featuring contributed talks, and
• a four-day specialist workshop with invited and contributed talks.   

The workshop will have a particular emphasis on tabletop detectors and quantum technologies for fundamental physics (QTFP), covering topics including precision metrology and quantum sensing, cold atoms and molecules, quantum analogues, atom interferometry, fifth-force tests, axion/WIMP dark matter and dark energy, neutrinos, gravitational-wave detectors, high-frequency gravitational waves and emerging tabletop detection techniques. 

, a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and The University 91ֱ�� representative to the Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry collaboration, and workshop co-organiser, adds: “There is a near-term opportunity to build partnerships that will shape the future of this exciting multi-disciplinary area of research and capture support through the next wave of funding programmes.”&�Բ�����;, Head of the Photon Science Institute and Nuclear Physics Group continues: “Our aim is to enable researchers to share emerging work, explore new directions and identify opportunities for joint initiatives.”&�Բ�����;

Professor Sarah Sharples, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering underscores: “This workshop is a reminder of what can be achieved when we bring people together with a shared curiosity. By creating space for open exchange and collaboration, 91ֱ�� is helping to connect expertise from across the world in ways that move this field forward. It’s a collective endeavour; one that grows stronger when we work across boundaries and advance knowledge together.”&�Բ�����;

The event reflects wider momentum in quantum science at 91ֱ��, supported by a series of strategic hires, including multiple new Chairs in Quantum Science. These appointments bring new researchers into an environment defined by growing interdisciplinary activity, strong international partnerships – from the University of Washington to Nanoco – and access to world-leading capabilities such as the P-NAME instrument and the facilities at the Henry Royce Institute. 

Event details 

Workshop: New Windows on Fundamental Physics: from tabletop devices to large-scale detectors Dates: 19-23 January 2026 Location: The University of Manchester 

Full list of speakers and more information:  

• 65,000 staff and students will receive full Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training as The University of Manchester becomes the world’s first university to offer universal provision across its entire community.     
• The University-wide rollout will equip students with future-ready skills, strengthen teaching and research, and help address the emerging digital divide through equitable access to the advanced AI tools within Microsoft 365 Copilot.
• Today’s announcement builds on 91ֱ��’s 76-year AI legacy, from Alan Turing to today’s ground-breaking research, positioning the University as a leader in ethical, responsible AI adoption.   

The University of Manchester has announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, becoming the first university in the world to give Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training to every student and colleague. 

The landmark agreement will see 65,000 students, academics and colleagues benefit from the full Microsoft 365 Copilot suite, alongside training to support effective and responsible use.  

This initiative forms part of the University’s wider digital and AI transformation programme, which focuses not only on tools, but on building long-term AI literacy, and ensuring the responsible integration of emerging technologies.

It will support learning, research and professional work, and graduate employability. It addresses the emerging digital divide by ensuring that all students – regardless of personal means – can benefit from advanced assistive and productivity tools. 

The announcement comes 76 years after Alan Turing published his seminal ‘Turing Test’ paper while working at the University, one of the first on artificial intelligence, and reflects 91ֱ��’s continuing leadership in AI, with more than to understand and shape the technology. 

The Microsoft 365 Copilot rollout, to be completed by summer 2026, will equip 91ֱ�� students with future-ready skills and enable researchers to accelerate interdisciplinary discovery and analysis at scale.   

• Through access and training, 91ֱ�� graduates will be well prepared for the modern workplace, where employers increasingly expect graduates to be confident users of AI technologies. Students will also be able to use Microsoft 365 Copilot to support their studies in line with the University’s policies on the responsible use of AI.
• Universal access will help address the emerging digital divide by ensuring that all students can benefit from advanced assistive and productivity tools, regardless of personal means.
• Researchers across the University will be able to use Microsoft 365 Copilot to reduce time spent on routine tasks and explore ideas beyond their immediate disciplines. It enhances evidence gathering by navigating wider and more diverse literature, strengthens understanding through fast and accurate synthesis, and accelerates data analysis to unlock insights sooner. 91ֱ�� researchers are already using AI to advance breast cancer treatment and improve menopause care, transform crop productivity, and reduce waste in the fashion industry.
• For academic and professional services colleagues, Microsoft 365 Copilot will support more efficient ways of working and free up time for higher-value, strategic activity. A pilot conducted between 2024 and 2025 demonstrated strong engagement, with 90 per cent of licensed users adopting the tool within 30 days and around half using it several times a week.   

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “AI is now part of everyday life. Our responsibility is not only to make these tools available to all our students and staff on an equitable basis, but to use the depth of expertise across our university to shape how AI is developed and applied for public good.   

“By embracing the AI transformation early, we are working with students, colleagues and partners to maximise the benefits and manage risks responsibly. The great universities of the 21st century will be digitally enabled – this partnership represents a significant step on that journey for 91ֱ��.”

Darren Hardman, CEO, , said, “As someone who grew up in 91ֱ��, I’m proud to see the University extending access to Microsoft 365 Copilot across its entire community, helping 65,000 students and staff build the skills they’ll need to thrive in an AI‑enabled economy. This is a powerful example of how we can pair 91ֱ��’s deep AI heritage with responsible, ethical adoption that helps to close the digital divide and equip people to learn, research and work more effectively.”&�Բ�����; 

The strategic collaboration with Microsoft is one of the first major developments following the launch of the University’s new strategy, From 91ֱ�� for the world, demonstrating its ambition for research impact, world-class teaching and learning, and responsible leadership in digital transformation and innovation in action.  

The rollout will be delivered in partnership with the Students’ Union, trade unions and staff networks. The University is working closely with Microsoft to ensure transparency around environmental and wider impacts, and to promote best practice in responsible and sustainable AI adoption.  

Microsoft’s long-standing commitments to sustainability were an important consideration for the University in partnering with them. These include being committed to becoming carbon negative, water positive and zero waste by 2030. 

Professor Jenn Hallam, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, said: “Every student deserves access to the best AI tools to enable them to thrive in their studies – no matter their circumstances or background. AI is an enabler for teaching and learning, not a replacement. It’s not just supportive in the classroom, but in wider productivity and future life skills and we’re giving students the tools and training to use it in the right way, ethically and appropriately. We’re not just preparing graduates who can go out and get good jobs, we’re preparing the next generation of citizens. That’s the mission of Manchester – you'll get a great degree, but we’ll also prepare you for a fast-changing world.”&�Բ�����;

Kanishka Narayan, Minister for AI and Online Safety, said: "When we bring a technology like AI together with the peerless expertise of UK universities, the potential is enormous. Whether supporting students in their studies, opening new avenues of research, or slashing the time spent on routine tasks, the benefits are transformative.   

"This partnership between The University of Manchester and Microsoft will help our brightest minds do what they do best – innovate. Meanwhile, initiatives like the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's Spärck Scholarships will attract high-potential AI talent to top universities like 91ֱ��." 

The study found that wellbeing programmes worked best when led by senior school leaders but shaped collaboratively by staff and pupils. Initiatives such as ‘keep, tweak or ditch’ reviews helped teachers cut unnecessary workload, while pupil wellbeing ambassadors and parent workshops extended the benefits beyond the classroom.

“This research highlights the power of schools working as communities - not just institutions that deliver lessons, but places that nurture people,” added Dr MacQuarrie. “The schools we studied created a sense of belonging, where staff and pupils alike feel heard and supported.”

Dr Hennessey concluded: “Wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. Schools that invest in the health and happiness of their staff and students aren’t just improving education - they’re shaping stronger, kinder communities.”

The cloud of iron atoms, described for the first time in , just fits inside the inner layer of the elliptically shaped nebula - a colourful shell of gas thrown off by a star as it ends the nuclear fuel-burning phase of its life. It is familiar from many images including those obtained by the James Webb Space Telescope at infrared wavelength.

The bar’s length is roughly 500 times that of Pluto’s orbit around the Sun and, according to the team, which includes researchers from The University of Manchester, its mass of iron atoms is comparable to the mass of Mars.

The iron cloud was discovered in observations obtained using the Large Integral Field Unit (LIFU) mode of the - a new instrument installed on the Isaac Newton Group’s 4.2-metre William Herschel Telescope. 

The LIFU is a bundle of hundreds of optical fibres.  It has enabled the team of astronomers to obtain spectra (where light is separated into its constituent wavelengths) at every point across the entire face of the Ring Nebula, and at all optical wavelengths, for the first time. 

Lead author Dr Roger Wesson, based jointly at University College London and Cardiff University, said: “Even though the Ring Nebula has been studied using many different telescopes and instruments, WEAVE has allowed us to observe it in a new way, providing so much more detail than before. By obtaining a spectrum continuously across the whole nebula, we can create images of the nebula at any wavelength and determine its chemical composition at any position.

“When we processed the data and scrolled through the images, one thing popped out as clear as anything – this previously unknown ‘bar’ of ionized iron atoms, in the middle of the familiar and iconic ring.”

Co-author , Professor of Astrophysics at The University of Manchester, added: “We selected the Ring Nebula as an early target because it is bright, well studied and ideal for testing the instrument’s capabilities. However, when the data were analysed, we noticed something entirely unexpected - a bar of highly ionised iron that had gone unnoticed in decades of previous observations. Discoveries like this show how many surprises there still are to be found in even the most familiar objects in the night sky.”

How the iron bar formed is currently a mystery, the authors say.  They will need further, more detailed observations to unravel what is going on. There are two potential scenarios: the iron bar may reveal something new about how the ejection of the nebula by the parent star progressed, or the iron might be an arc of plasma resulting from the vaporisation of particles of iron dust embedded in the Ring Nebula. 

Co-author Professor Janet Drew, also based at UCL, advises caution: “We definitely need to know more – particularly whether any other chemical elements co-exist with the newly-detected iron, as this would probably tell us the right class of model to pursue.  Right now, we are missing this important information.”

The team are working on a follow-up study, and plan to obtain data using WEAVE’s LIFU at higher spectral resolution to better understand how the bar might have formed.

WEAVE is carrying out eight surveys over the next five years, targeting everything from nearby white dwarfs to very distant galaxies. The Stellar, Circumstellar and Interstellar Physics strand of the WEAVE survey, led by Professor Drew, is observing many more ionized nebulae across the northern Milky Way.

“It would be very surprising if the iron bar in the Ring is unique,” explains Dr. Wesson. “So hopefully, as we observe and analyse more nebulae created in the same way, we will discover more examples of this phenomenon, which will help us to understand where the iron comes from.”

Professor Scott Trager, WEAVE Project Scientist based at the University of Groningen, added: “The discovery of this fascinating, previously unknown structure in a night-sky jewel, beloved by sky watchers across the Northern Hemisphere, demonstrates the amazing capabilities of WEAVE.  We look forward to many more discoveries from this new instrument.”

This research paper was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Full title: WEAVE imaging spectroscopy of NGC 6720: an iron bar in the Ring

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staf2139

URL:

The study is published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism today (15/01/26) and is the first of its kind to compare alcohol treatment outcomes for all adolescents aged 11 – 17 seeking specialist treatment for alcohol problems in England.

It included data of marginalised groups, like those who are NEET, homeless, experiencing sexual exploitation and registered with social services.

Almost 26% of NEETs and 18% of adolescents with a child protection plan - which indicates risk of significant harm through neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse - did not complete treatments.

Older adolescents and those with higher alcohol use at treatment start were also at greater risk of dropping out of treatment compared with other vulnerable groups.

They also found that early onset alcohol use, mental health problems and substance use among family or household members reduced the chance of stopping drinking (becoming abstinent), by the end of treatment.

Adolescent alcohol abuse can lead to developmental problems, higher risk of addiction, accidents and injuries, mental health problems and poor performance at school.

Treatment typically involves psychosocial interventions including psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, family therapy and safeguarding.

A 2023 Government report showed that 5% of all school pupils said they usually drank alcohol at least once per week. The proportion increased with age, from 1% of 11 and 12 year olds to 11% of 15 year olds

There were also 14,352 children and young people aged 17 and under in alcohol and drug treatment between April 2023 and March 2024, a 16% increase from the previous year.

However, the numbers of young people in alcohol and drug treatment are 41% lower than at peak in 2008/09. Over this period concerns have been raised about cuts to funding and changing trends in alcohol consumption.

This study suggests among those who do access treatment, outcomes vary significantly based on socioeconomic disadvantage and early life adversity.

The researchers analysed National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) data of 2,621 adolescents whose publicly funded alcohol treatment took place between April 2018 and March 2023 in England.

Lead author Dr Mica Komarnyckyj from The University of Manchester said: “Alcohol abuse is a serious problem among young people and can lead to lifelong consequences.

“So understanding which people struggle with treatment is crucial as it could help services provide more tailored support for those at higher risk.

“Many challenges that put adolescents at risk of being NEET -  such as lack of parental support, economic inequalities or emotional difficulties – may be the same barriers that make it harder for them to complete treatment.”

She added: “Young people with child protection plans also had greater risk of dropping out of treatment. Many have experienced neglect or abuse, and some use alcohol to cope with trauma. Embedding trauma-informed approaches in services is essential”

Co-author Dr Stephen Kaar, Addiction Psychiatrist from The University of Manchester said: “Treatment services for adolescents with alcohol problems need to be appropriately funded, multi-disciplinary with a professionalised workforce, have access to mental health expertise and receive multi-agency support to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations”.

An embargoed copy of the paper Associations between childhood risk factors and alcohol treatment outcomes in adolescence is available here

For many years, I lived in the Indian city of Chennai where the summer temperatures can reach up to 44°C. With a population of 4.5 million, this coastal city is humid and hot.

Its suburbs are home to 600 Hindu temples and there’s a wildlife reserve called Guindy national park in the heart of the city. of the streets but green parks are few and far between – as is the shade.

As and the rest of , urban forests become more vital. These clusters of trees in parks, gardens, public spaces and along roads and rivers have multiple benefits – from cooling the surrounding air to providing homes for wildlife and creating space for people to enjoy nature. Yet they are often overlooked by city developers.

shows that, in Chennai, there are 26 square miles of tree and other vegetation cover, mainly accounted for by formal green spaces such as Guindy wildlife reserve. On the outskirts of this city, an area of nine square miles of unused land is ideally suited to creating more urban forest. Similarly, there is more potential space for urban forests in other fast urbanising Indian cities like Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli.

recommend having at least 30% tree cover in urban areas. suggests that cities should allow for nine square metres of urban tree cover per person. Most Indian cities .

Improving urban forests in India has been a challenge for many years due to high land prices, lack of urban planning and little public participation .

Policies introduced by the Indian government to “green” urban areas often equate tree planting with cooling cities and building climate resilience. But it’s not that simple. The success of urban forests depends on factors such as rainfall, understanding interactions with local wildlife and people’s needs.

A warns that in hot, dry cities with limited water availability like Chennai, trees slow the cooling process by water evaporation from leaves and instead contribute to urban heat. Urban heat comes from the reflection and absorption of sunlight by buildings and land surfaces. This is particularly high in smaller Indian cities with populations of 1 to 5 million.

Planting trees with the sole aim of cooling cities could negatively affect wildlife too. Not all birds, bugs and mammals depend on trees for food or shelter. A from researchers in Bengaluru, India, shows that non-native tree species contribute little to bird richness. Meanwhile, urban grasslands and marshlands that are often misclassified as “waste land” support wildlife and help regulate flooding.

In India, cities and villages have open “common” land where people graze their cattle or harvest fuelwood from trees that grow naturally there – tree-planting initiatives in these open land areas can displace poorer communities of people who rely on open lands for grazing and fuel wood collection.

Design with nature

Urban forests can be planned to meet the needs of people, birds and other wildlife.

In 1969, Ian McHarg, the late Scottish landscape architect and urban planner came up with the concept of “design with nature”, where development has a minimal negative effect on the environment. His idea was to preserve existing natural forests by proposing site suitability assessments. By analysing factors such as rivers and streams, soil type, slope and drainage, to identify which areas suit development and which are best preserved for nature.

This approach has advanced with new technology. Now, geographic information systems and satellite imagery help planners integrate environmental data and identify suitable areas for planting new trees or conserving urban forests.

Using the principles of landscape ecology, urban planners can design forest patches in a way that enhances the connectivity of green spaces in a city, rather than uniformly planting trees across all open spaces. By designing these “ecological corridors”, trees along roads or canals, for example, can help link fragmented green spaces.

Planting native tree species suited to dry and drought-prone environments is also crucial, as is assessing the local community’s needs for native fruit-bearing trees that provide food.

Growing urban forests

By 2030, one-third of India’s electricity demand is expected to come from cooling equipment such as . Increasing urban forests could help reduce this .

National-level policies could support urban forest expansion across India. In 2014, the government of India released its urban greenery and flagship urban renewal programmes such as the have tried to increase tree cover. But guidelines often overlook critical considerations like ecological connectivity, native species and local community needs.

In 2020, the government of India launched (a scheme to improve tree cover in cities) with a budget of around US$94 million (£70 million). It aims to create urban forests through active participation of citizens, government agencies and private companies. But there is little evidence that urban forest cover has improved.

Urbanisation reduced tree cover in most Indian cities, and much of it was rather . But by protecting and planting more trees, citizens can live in greener, cooler cities. By shifting urban forest policy from counting trees to designing landscapes, plans that enhance climate resilience, nature conservation and social equity can be put into practice.

, Postgraduate Researcher, Climate Adaptation,
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

DOI:

The first study of its kind, published in the journal Communications Psychology  and funded by Wellcome Trust, also showed that stable light exposure across a week and uninterrupted exposure during a day had similar effects.

Participants in the study experienced improved subjective sleepiness, the ability to  maintain focused attention and 7-10% faster reaction speeds under bright light when compared to recent dim conditions.

Compared with their peers who went to bed later, participants with earlier bedtimes tended to be both more reliably wakeful under bright morning light - and sleepy under dimmer evening -light.

Lead author Dr Altug Didikoglu from The University of Manchester said: “Our findings show that outside controlled laboratory conditions, where participants continue their daily routines, both recent and long-term light exposure positively influences cognitive performance.

“The beneficial effects were associated with short-term bright light and habitual light exposure patterns characterized by brighter daytimes, earlier bedtimes, and higher consistency in light exposure.”

“These improvements in cognitive performance may have practical implications for health, safety, and work efficiency, particularly in low-light workplaces, during extended work hours, or night shifts.”

Being exposed to bright, stable daytime light was linked to enhanced and more sustained attention in a visual search task in which participant were asked to find a specific target on a page.

Higher daytime light exposure and less switches between light and dark were linked to improved cognitive.

And higher daytime light exposure and earlier estimated bedtimes were also associated with stronger relationships between recent light exposure and subjective sleepiness.

However, neither the time of day nor time awake significantly impacted cognitive performance; the effect of light was stronger than the effect of time of day.

The effects, argue the scientists, are likely initiated by activation of the ipRGC system in the thin layer of light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that converts light into signals we interpret as vision, known as the retina.

Special photosensitive retinal cells in the ipRGC system containing the photopigment melanopsin are particularly sensitive to blue-green light and are  responsible for non-image-forming functions, such as regulating circadian rhythms, the pupillary light reflex, and mood.

The effects of personal ambient light exposure were measured in a sample of 58 adults over seven days of daily life.

The participants wore a special daylight exposure monitor on their wrists which effectively told the scientists how well light exposure influenced their internal body clock.

In addition, a smartphone app called Brightertime, developed at the University of Manchester, provided data on human cognitive performance compared to light exposure in their everyday life.

Forty-one of the  participants also attended a lab session which investigated how their eye pupils responded to light and compared actual light levels and their perception of light. However, this does not directly predict how light affects cognitive performance in everyday life

Dr Altug added:“Light is a fundamental environmental cue that governs numerous biological processes in humans, including body clocks, sleep, and cognition

“However, despite substantial findings from controlled laboratory studies, little is known about how these effects translate to real-world environments, where light exposure is dynamic and intertwined with daily routines.

“We think this study is an important addition to our understanding of this area of research.

”  Scientists already know that exposure to electrical light at night is known to disrupt sleep quality and delays the biological clock.

“Our new study paper now shows that bright daytime light is also critical by supporting cognitive function.”

• The paper Relationships between light exposure and aspects of cognitive function in everyday life published in Communications Psychology is available . DOI:
• The study authors previously led a on recommended healthy lighting levels: bright light during the day, dim light before sleep, and darkness at night. They also previously that meeting recommended light levels support our sleep .The current results align with these recommendations and suggest that following them long-term may also support cognitive performance.

The appointment, which began on 1 January 2026, follows a year-long sabbatical spent at Monash University and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, and reflects a shared ambition to deepen collaboration between the UK and Australia in advanced materials research and manufacturing.

In line with this, Professor Withers will also take up responsibility for identification and establishment of Strategic Research Partnerships at the .

Reflecting on the new role, said: “During my time in Melbourne, I saw enormous potential for deeper collaboration between UK and Australian universities, particularly in Advanced Materials Manufacturing. Working across these two world-class institutions, and more broadly between our two countries, offers significant opportunities for innovation and impact. Furthermore, this three-way appointment also allows me to build on the strong national platform that the Royce has established over its first decade, by helping to develop and sustain robust international academic and industrial partnerships.”

The University of Manchester is home to more than 700 materials experts whose research is revolutionising industries through the development of advanced materials that unlock new levels of performance, efficiency and sustainability. Supported by the University’s £885 million investment in its campus over the past decade, researchers are at the forefront of materials innovation, delivering game-changing solutions across sectors from healthcare to manufacturing, tackling global challenges and reinforcing the UK’s reputation as a technology ‘superpower’.

Over the next five years, Professor Withers’ joint appointment will support collaborative research programmes between 91ֱ�� and Monash, enable greater researcher and student exchange, and strengthen engagement with industry partners across both countries, particularly in the area of advanced materials manufacturing.

, Vice Dean and Head of School of Natural Sciences at The University of Manchester said: “This is an excellent opportunity to build on our existing links with Monash and the exciting future that this collaboration will deliver.  Phil’s joint appointment will enable us to create multiple strands of activity across a wide range of materials science and engineering and beyond.”

Professor Mahmoud Mostafavi, Head of Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Monash University, added: “Regius Professor Withers, FRS is a world-renowned materials scientist and engineer and a leading international figure in key subjects. We are extremely delighted that he will be joining Monash at this critical time for Australia. In addition to his extraordinary research leadership, Professor Withers will be acting as a bridge between materials research in Australia and UK, Europe, and the rest of world, particularly through his affiliation with the Henry .”&�Բ�����;

Professor Withers is the inaugural Regius Professor of Materials and his research focuses on understanding how engineering materials perform, particularly in demanding environments, and on developing new materials with improved durability and performance. He is internationally recognised for his pioneering use of X-ray imaging techniques to create three-dimensional images of materials, revealing their microstructure and identifying defects or damage in engineering components.

In recognition of this work, the Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility (HMXIF), established by Professor Withers, was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2014. The HIMXIF, has since grown into one of the most extensive suites of 3D X-ray imaging facilities in the world and now host the.

Professor Withers is a Fellow of both the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering and Academia Europea as well as a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Indian National Science Academy. In 2012, he became the inaugural Director of the BP International Centre for Advanced Materials, which focuses on understanding and developing materials for the energy sector. As Chief Scientist at the Henry Royce Institute, he leads the development of the Institute’s research strategy - all expertise he will bring to his joint appointment with Monash University.

“AI will revolutionise the care we provide, enhance diagnostics and care pathways and free up time for our clinicians to do what they do best: caring for our children and young people. This is a great example - a practical tool directly focused on better care for children with cerebral palsy” – Lead Clinician, Professor Daniel Perry (surgeon at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and NIHR Research Professor).

Children with cerebral palsy are at high risk of developing hip problems, with the ball of the hip moving out of the socket. This movement can cause the child severe pain, problems sitting down, and difficulties with personal care. The dislocation, however, can be prevented through regular X-ray measurements and prompt intervention with reliable procedures if a problem is spotted.

The system, developed in conjuncture with clinicians at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, is intended to be integrated into the Cerebral Palsy Integrated Pathway (CPIP), the national framework used to monitor the musculoskeletal systems of children with cerebral palsy. CPIP involves affected children receiving regular assessment, physical examination and regular hip X-rays, which are then examined by medical experts in order to identify changes and predict risks. 

This process, however, is not nationally standardised, and uptake differs between regions. Due to the large amount of clinician time it consumes, and the extra costs and delays involved, levels of CPIP uptake are often limited by the resources available to a particular region. This means that the standard of care for a child with cerebral palsy may be higher in one area of the country than another.

This new tool, however, will help to change that - by automating the process of hip x-ray interpretation, data capture and monitoring, enabling more patients to benefit from early detection and prevention as a result.

Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR Scientific Director for Innovation, said: "This project demonstrates the NIHR’s commitment to transforming healthcare for all of society, adults and children. We are already supporting research that embeds innovation directly into NHS services and tools like this automatic AI system have real potential to reduce waiting lists, improve long‑term outcomes for children with cerebral palsy, and help clinicians make better decisions at earlier stages of care.

Dr Claudia Lindner, who co-leads the project with Prof. Cootes, states, “This software can be used to ensure prompt and consistent diagnoses. We want to make sure that every child with cerebral palsy in the UK receives the same high level of care.”

The AI algorithm has been trained using thousands of X-ray images and is capable of automatically locating the outline of children’s hip bones, and is able to detect cases where the hips are just beginning to dislocate, through to full dislocation. The accuracy of the tool has been thoroughly tested and was found by researchers to be similar to that of human medical experts, while taking a fraction of the time to perform the analysis.

91ֱ�� Imaging Ltd will take the AI algorithm developed at the University of Manchester and build a Medical Device that will be integrated into hospital systems, making it easy for clinicians to use.

The medical device will be used to monitor hip movement, picking out areas of concern in hip X-rays and flagging up areas where a serious problem is likely to occur, identifying when preventative intervention is likely to be needed.

The researchers say that by using the tool, clinicians will save significant amounts of time and will improve patient outcomes by speeding up the treatment process. 

Professor Timothy Cootes, who works on the research, said this, “We hope that by automating this process, we can standardise our level of care across the board, and ensure that the CPIP can be fully integrated throughout the NHS.”

By using this tool to processes thousands of images across the country, X-ray image data will be automatically entered into the national CPIP database. This will enable new research to better understand the course of the disease and the benefits of monitoring. 

Dr Steve Cooke, national orthopaedic lead for CPIP, remarks, “With nearly 14,000 children on CPIP there is a huge opportunity for ground-breaking research, but we need more and better data. An accurate, streamlined tool that automates what is currently a labour-intensive task will transform the way we monitor the hip in children with cerebral palsy.”

Dr Tom Williams, Chief Technical Officer at 91ֱ�� Imaging Ltd, commented, “We are excited to be furthering our working relationships with our esteemed academic and clinical colleagues. We look forward to bringing our expertise in translating leading-edge AI algorithms into devices that directly benefit patients, ensuring real-world impact from cutting-edge research.”

The study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 91ֱ�� Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is published in the journal today

The findings, based on the analysis of four linked national datasets comprising over 24,000 patients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, hold true even when accounting for the different complexities and durations of the surgery.

The data showed late-morning surgery was linked to an 18% higher risk of death - almost one fifth - from heart related causes compared with early-morning surgery.

And the most common surgical start time was 07:00–09:59- early morning - accounting for 47% of all surgeries.

Though complication rates and readmissions were unaffected by the time of day, the findings still pose questions about the best time to schedule heart surgery.

They also give an important insight into the potential influence of the body clock - a set of 24-hour biological cycles present in our cells and organs – on surgery as a whole.

Lead author is Dr Gareth Kitchen, Clinical Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester. He is also part of the Respiratory Theme and Co-Lead for Industry and Commercialisation at the NIHR 91ֱ�� BRC.

He said: “Given that over 25,000 heart operations are performed across the UK every year with around a 2.7% mortality, even small improvements in timing-related outcomes could have significant benefits to patients.

“This research shows a slightly higher risk of heart related mortality is likely to occur when heart surgery starts in in late morning.

“However, though the risk is statistically significant, it is relatively modest and patients can be reassured that most people will almost certainly be unaffected.

“It is though, our duty as clinicians to ensure the best possible outcomes, and moderating timings is a potentially inexpensive method to achieve that.”

The researchers compared four starting times for the 3 to 5 hour operations: early morning (07:00 to 09:59); late morning (10:00 to 11:59); early afternoon (12:00 to 13:59); and late afternoon (14:00 to 19:59).

The main outcomes they examined were hazard of death from cardiovascular disease and time to hospital readmission for heart attack or acute heart failure.

Secondary outcomes included duration of postoperative hospital stay, occurrence of major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

The researchers accounted for potential bias by taking into account key mortality predictors such as age, sex, diabetes and urgency of surgery.

Dr Kitchen added: “Integrating body clock biology into the planning of heart surgery could support a more personalised, precision medicine approach.

“As some people’s body clock makes them early birds and others makes them night owls, it is worth exploring tailored operative times through further research.

“With more understanding of how body clock biology varies between individuals, precision and personalised scheduling of cardiac surgery may one day allow us to achieve better patient outcomes.”

• The paper Time of Day and Outcomes Following Cardiac Surgery in the UK: A Secondary Analysis of Linked National Datasets is available . doi.org/10.1111/anae.70125

The review including 21 studies involving more than 6,000 patients who underwent blood tests for procalcitonin, a biomarker that becomes elevated during bacterial infections, is published in the journal today (9/01/26). 

The analysis was undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded Applied Research Collaboration Greater 91ֱ�� (ARC-GM), the NIHR 91ֱ�� HealthTech Research Centre in Emergency and Acute Care and the NIHR 91ֱ�� Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), in collaboration with The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and 91ֱ�� University NHS Foundation Trust. 

It revealed that health professionals who used procalcitonin tests as part of their decision making were able to safely stop antibiotics about two days earlier than when they were not used, without increasing risk of death. 

The review findings suggest that more, higher-quality studies are still needed to determine whether another test, known as C-reactive protein is safe to use when deciding about antibiotic use in these patients. 

The results are an important milestone in the care of sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body’s response to infection damages its own tissues, leading to organ failure and death. 

Treatment for the condition, one of the leading causes of death worldwide, usually involves 7-10 days of antibiotics. 

But using antibiotics for too long can cause serious problems, including antibiotic resistance, bacterial infections that no longer respond to medicine, a global health crisis which kills millions globally.

Reduction in antibiotic use could also provide significant cost savings to health systems and limit unwanted drug side-effects.

UK health authorities, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), have not recommended routine use of these blood tests in hospitals because earlier evidence was limited and lacked UK trial data.

However, the review addresses the gap in knowledge and includes recent clinical trial data from the UK ADAPT-Sepsis trial, also led by University of Manchester researchers.

In their review, the researchers assessed randomised controlled trials which compared procalcitonin tests with standard care and C-reactive protein tests with standard care, where antibiotics are given according to international, national, or local clinical guidelines, without biomarker testing.

In patients with sepsis, the findings show that procalcitonin tests may help healthcare professionals stop antibiotics about two days earlier than standard care and may reduce the risk of death by 5%.

However, it is still unclear whether using procalcitonin tests prevents people from getting sick again or leads to longer hospital stays.

91ֱ�� co-author, Professor Paul Dark, is Vice Dean for health and care partnerships at the University of Manchester and Professor of critical care medicine at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

He said: "Our findings show that using a procalcitonin test can help healthcare professionals safely stop antibiotics for people with sepsis more quickly. This is exciting because it supports safe care whilst reducing the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections in the future.

“This will be better for patients, who will experience more limited side effects, and better for health care systems by providing significant cost savings.”

He added: “Our  recent cost effectiveness that was part of the ADAPT-Sepsis trial also suggests that implementing daily procalcitonin measurement into routine NHS sepsis care would likely be cost effective.

“This approach supports the UK’s 10-Year Health Plan to tackle antibiotic resistance and could inform future NICE sepsis guidelines, paving the way for routine use of these blood tests in sepsis care.

• The paper Clinical effectiveness of procalcitonin- or C-reactive protein-guided antibiotic discontinuation protocols for adult patients who are critically ill with sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis  is available

Her three-year Fellowship will focus on understanding how the most aggressive type of womb cancer called p53-abnormal (p53abn) womb cancer, develops, who is most at risk, and whether early changes can be targeted to prevent it.

Womb cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer, and the fourth most common cancer in women. It affects 9,700 women and people with gynae organs each year in the UK. There are four main subtypes, and p53abn womb cancers are the most aggressive. They are more likely to spread, more likely to return after treatment, and have worse outcomes than other types of womb cancer. They are also more common in Black women.

Despite the impact these cancers have, we still don’t know what causes them to develop, whether early warning signs can be detected, or how we might prevent them. Dr Sarah Kitson hopes to change this. She aims to improve our understanding of how these cancers develop, find out whether the process is the same for all p53abn womb cancers, and learn about the risk factors that make someone more likely to develop it. Her hope is that this research will reveal ways to prevent these cancers from developing and help save lives.

To do this, Sarah will invite 50 women undergoing surgery for p53abn womb cancer to donate blood, womb tissue and a cervical screening sample. She will use these samples to look for the earliest gene changes that signal a cancer is forming, examine how the cancer grows and changes over time, and explore how the body’s own defence system responds during the early stages. She hopes this information could allow researchers to identify individuals at a high risk of p53abn womb cancer long before symptoms appear. This would hopefully open the door to future screening tests or ways to prevent it developing.

If successful, this project could point towards potential new drug treatments to try stop p53abn womb cancers from developing. The research team would then need to develop and test these treatments in the laboratory before moving on to clinical trials with people at a high risk of developing this type of womb cancer.

Dr Sarah Kitson, Eve Fellow and Principal Investigator said: “I am extremely honoured to have been awarded The Eve Appeal/North West Cancer Research Fund Fellowship to learn more about how p53abn womb cancers develop and to explore ways in which we could try and stop these aggressive cancers from forming. The two charities have contributed greatly to cancer research and gynaecological cancer prevention, and it will be a huge privilege to join their world-leading groups of researchers.”

Athena Lamnisos, CEO of The Eve Appeal said:  “p53-abnormal womb cancers are the most aggressive of the womb cancer subtypes, and we urgently need answers about how they develop and how we can prevent them. Sarah’s work will take us a step closer to reducing one of the biggest inequalities in gynaecological cancers, that Black women are twice as likely to die from womb cancer as their White peers. We are incredibly proud to support her, and we believe this project could help change the future of this aggressive form of womb cancer.”

Alastair Richards, CEO of North West Cancer Research said: “We are incredibly proud to once again partner with The Eve Appeal to co-fund another outstanding research Fellow. Together, our charities have now invested more than £1.2 million in pioneering gynaecological cancer research. In the North West, womb cancer rates continue to rise, and aggressive cases like p53abn cancers pose a real challenge for women in our region. Dr Kitson’s project is especially important because it seeks to understand how these cancers begin—and how we might stop them. This is exactly the kind of ambitious, high-impact research we are committed to supporting.”

Principal Investigator Dr Imelda McDermott said: “Our evaluation shows how different independent prescribing models were expected to work (or not) and achieve their intended outcomes.”

Under the NHS 10 year health plan, community pharmacies will become better integrated with primary care and general practice; pharmacists are becoming increasingly clinically qualified, many with the ability to prescribe.

In anticipation of the change , NHS England is running the Independent Prescribing in Community Pharmacy Pathfinder , which was evaluated by the researchers.

The programme allows community pharmacist prescribers in around 200 ‘pathfinder’ sites to deliver prescribing models as part of integrated primary care clinical services.

Participating pharmacists reported significant increases in job satisfaction and many felt the programme "saved" them from leaving the sector by allowing them to use their full clinical skills.

The pathfinder sites tested three different clinical models to examine how pharmacist prescribing can be incorporated into community pharmacy clinical services:

• Existing services, including acute minor illnesses and contraception
• Long-term conditions, including prescribing for cardiovascular diseases (e.g. hypertension, lipid optimisation), respiratory diseases, and women's health.
• Novel services, including reducing over prescribing, reviewing antidepressants and menopause

For the Long-term condition models, a ‘joint partner’ approach between the pharmacist prescriber and the local GP practice was fundamental, to ensure joined up collaboration for improved patient access and care.

However the implementation and long-term viability of an IP service were found to be dependent on five key areas as laid out by Stephen  , Minister of State for Care: clinical governance, clinical supervision, optimal skill mix, digital infrastructure and a financially viable funding model.

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) -  the regional NHS organisation in England responsible for planning and funding local health services - were instrumental in guiding sites through assurance processes, developing clinical governance, and fostering stronger relationships between GPs, community pharmacy and other stakeholders.

However, securing clear indemnity to deliver pharmacist prescribing in community pharmacy was challenging due to insurance companies’ lack of familiarity with the new model.

Clinical supervision, something which is traditionally scarce in community pharmacy, was usually provided by a GP through regular one-to-one sessions and was highly valued by pharmacist prescribers as it helped to build their confidence and GP’s trust.

The researchers also found:

• Commissioning strategies were needed to generate predictable patient volumes to ensure a financially viable service
• Having read-only access to patients’ medications and limited details of their medical histories made holistic patient care more challenging. Those IP pharmacists who had read/write access to patient records found it easier to collaborate in a timely fashion with GPs and other GP practice based healthcare professionals.
• A good skill mix is needed across the wider pharmacy team to ensure pharmacist prescribers have the capacity to deliver the service.

The unrest poses the most serious challenge to  since 2022. That year, nationwide protests erupted over the death of 22-year-old  in police custody after she was arrested for violating hijab rules. Those  were ultimately suppressed through force.

Iran’s political establishment has for decades defined itself through permanent confrontation on multiple fronts: with , the  and what it sees as global imperialism. This posture has reshaped domestic life by subordinating the economy, governance and social stability to ideological resistance.

What the latest protests reveal is not simply frustration with the hardship that has accompanied this political stance. They seem to reflect a growing consensus among Iranians that this order  into something functional and must therefore be replaced.

This has been apparent in the language used by the protesters. Many demonstrators have linked their daily hardships to the regime’s foreign policy priorities, expressed perhaps most clearly  that has echoed through the streets of various Iranian cities in recent days: “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran.”

The slogan is a rejection of the regime’s official stance that sacrifice at home is necessary to fulfil ideological goals of “resistance” abroad. Iran has long pursued a policy of supporting militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah to counter the influence of the US and Israel in the Middle East.

Chants of  – a reference to Iran’s ageing supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – are yet more evidence of the broad rejection of the political order among the Iranian population. They signal that many Iranians now view their economic survival as inseparable from fundamental political change.

The protests have spread across wide sections of Iranian society. What began as strikes by bazaar merchants and shopkeepers in Iran’s capital, Tehran, quickly drew in students, professionals and business owners elsewhere in the country. Protests have  in Qom and Mashhad, cities whose populations have traditionally been loyal to the state.

The state’s initial response to the protests was muted. The government recognised the protests and  to the “legitimate demands” of the demonstrators. However, despite a warning from US president Donald Trump of US intervention should security forces “kill peaceful protesters”, at least 36 people have . Over 2,000 more people have been detained.

Donald Trump posts on his Truth Social media platform in response to the protests in Iran. 

Post-war paralysis

The protests come six months after Iran’s brief but destabilising war with Israel. This conflict severely strained the state’s capacity to govern, with Khamenei largely withdrawing from public view since then due to heightened fears over his safety. Major decisions in Iran require Khamenei’s approval, so his absence has slowed decision-making across the system.

The effects of this have been felt nationwide. Universities and schools have been hampered by repeated closures, shortened schedules and the sudden suspension of in-person classes. Transport networks have faced repeated disruption and economic planning has become nearly impossible.

Prices are . The official annual inflation rate stands at around 42%, with food inflation exceeding 70%. The prices of some basic goods have reportedly risen by more than 110% compared with a year ago, and are  further in the coming weeks.

Iran’s authorities have also intermittently suspended routine daily and weekly activities since the end of the war, such as school days, public office hours, transport services and commercial operations. They , pollution or security concerns as the reasons for doing so.

Underlying these disruptions is a governing system braced for the possibility of renewed war, either with Israel or possibly the US. The regime is operating in a prolonged state of emergency, which has pushed Iranian society itself deeper into crisis.

Iran’s governing paralysis has been strained further by intensifying competition within the ruling elite. The war with Israel led to the deaths of several senior Iranian military and security figures, which has created gaps in networks of power.

With authority fragmented, rival political, military and security factions have sought to position themselves for influence in a post-Khamenei order. Networks associated with figures such as former president Hassan Rouhani, former foreign minister Javad Zarif and current president Masoud Pezeshkian are pursuing negotiations with western powers to address Iran’s foreign policy challenges.

But others appear to be engaging in talks aimed at securing backing from ideological allies such as Russia and China. These include people in security and intelligence circles, along with figures ideologically aligned with Khamenei like his second-eldest son Mojtaba, current speaker of parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and conservative clerics such as .

These rival strategies have not produced coherent governance. Instead, they have reinforced perceptions among the Iranian public that the system is preoccupied with survival rather than addressing everyday breakdowns in basic administration, public services and economic coordination.

Iran stands at a crossroads. One path leads toward deeper militarisation, elite infighting and prolonged paralysis. The other points towards a reckoning with a political order that large segments of Iranian society no longer believe can deliver stability or welfare.

The protests suggest that the central question for many Iranians is no longer whether the system can be repaired, but whether continuing to live under it is viable at all. What is clear is that Iran is at a critical political moment, with significant changes likely to unfold in the weeks and months ahead.

, Research Fellow at the Global Development Institute
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Knee osteoarthritis - the most common reason for replacement surgery- affects around one in five people over 50 in the UK, with over 120,000 people having a knee replacement each year. 

“Osteoarthritis causes pain and limits normal daily activities, like walking or climbing stairs. Knee replacement surgery is one of the only definitive treatments. But how much better does physical activity, like walking, get after a knee replacement?”, said Professor Will Dixon who is leading the research. 

“To make informed decisions about whether to have surgery or not, we need to know this - yet the current evidence is patchy.”&�Բ�����;

The 91ֱ�� research team are asking for the help of people who have already had a knee replacement to develop and test this way of conducting health research. 

They want to make use of data that has already been collected, inside and outside of the health service, and piece it together.

Prof Dixon added: “All of the data needed to understand how activity improves after knee replacement surgery already exists.

“Millions of people in the UK routinely track their step count using their smartphone or fitness tracker. In fact, over 95% of adults now own a smartphone.

“By joining together step counts from people’s smartphones and wearables with information about their surgery, we can understand how much physical activity improves after knee replacement.”

The PAPrKA study (which stands for Physical Activity Patterns after Knee Arthroplasty) wants to recruit UK adults who had a knee replacement surgery between January 2017 and December 2023, and who used an iPhone, Apple Watch, Fitbit or Oura ring before and after their surgery.

Interested people can visit the study website at to donate their activity data, which will be securely transferred from the University to the National Joint Registry where it will be linked with data about their operation.

This will allow the researchers to examine how activity patterns change following surgery, including how this differs by levels of activity before surgery, types of operation, patient age and more.

Matt’s story

In November 2022, former Iron Man Triathlete Matt Barker had a partial knee replacement following years of increasing pain and reduced mobility. Before surgery, even standing became painful and his job as a teacher was getting progressively harder.

“Colleagues would worry about me and ask if I was alright” Matt recalls. “This was especially difficult as I still saw myself as fit and active, but the reality became impossible to ignore.”

Since having surgery, his physical activity improved dramatically - no longer experiencing the previous swelling and pain. He was able to resume much of the daily activity he was doing before his knee issues developed.

Matt concludes: “Most of us base our activity on what we have to do and what we feel able to do. The availability of data from our devices can really bring home the extent to which your mobility is changing. Post operation, they have been a great motivator to view improvement, as well as alerting me to my limits. My hope is that PAPrKA can give people like me a clearer understanding before surgery of how much better their activity is likely to get.”

The PAPrKA study is part of the Health Research from Home programme funded by the Medical Research Council [grant number MR/Y003624/1]

• If you are eligible to take part and would like to contribute to this study or want more information, visit

The book tells a deeply human story of hope and heartbreak. It shows how moral ideas about family, work and responsibility are being tested as young people face shrinking opportunities and elders grapple with impossible choices between survival and legacy.

Lockwood, a Hallsworth Research Fellow in Political Economy at 91ֱ��, brings a journalist’s eye for storytelling to his anthropological research. His work has previously been published in leading journals, and he co-curated Nairobi Becoming (2024), an ethnographic portrait of the Kenyan capital.

Peasants to Paupers is published by Cambridge University Press as part of the prestigious International African Library series and is freely available online under open access, ensuring that readers in Kenya and around the world can engage with its findings.

 The analysis – featured in the journal Clinical and translational medicine  – revealed molecular signals that in one case prompted re-examination of archived fallopian tube tissue and led to the retrospective identification of a pre-invasive or very early cancerous lesion. 

“This is important as it is now known most ovarian cancers don’t start in the ovary itself. Instead, they start from pre-cancer lesions which develop in the fallopian tube before spreading to the ovary and beyond,” said Dr Christine Schmidt, Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester’s Division of Cancer Sciences. 

The findings from the  study could in the longer term  form the basis for future approaches aimed at informing ovarian cancer risk assessment and  contributinge to less invasive interventions for some high-risk women. 

Surgery to remove the tubes and ovaries is often currently used to reduce risk for high-risk women. 

However, the study raises the prospect of delaying  risk-reducing surgery for some women, preserving their fertility. 

This could be particularly beneficial for the women in the UK who are at high genetic risk of ovarian cancer because they carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.

Though uncommon in women with an average risk, existing shows that roughly half to three-quarters of women with a high genetic risk of ovarian cancer currently choose surgical removal of the ovaries.

Despite evidence suggesting a prolonged window between pre-cancer lesions inside the fallopian tube and more serious cancer in the ovaries and other tissues, there are currently no clinical tests available to help detect these early pre-cancer changes without invasive surgery.

However, the team in 91ֱ�� have shown that fluid washed through the inside of the fallopian tube could be used to test for broad patterns of molecular changes associated with early tumour development using a technique known as proteomic analysis.

The researchers used the approach in an exploratory study of the fallopian tubes of 27 women who had had them surgically removed.

The women were divided into different groups. The first group were either high-risk BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation carriers or they had an abnormal ovarian growth. A second group had other gynaecological conditions unrelated to ovarian cancer.

The researchers took the samples from the soft, frilly, finger-like edge at the open end of the tube next to the ovary known as the fimbriae.

They were able to detect different patterns of proteins in the washes from high-risk fallopian tubes and tubes associated with ovarian cancer compared to normal.

Some of these proteins overlap with previously proposed biomarkers for advanced disease stages and some may form the basis for future exploratory studies to identify potential targets for ovarian cancer prevention.

Dr Schmidt added: “While further exploration and validation in larger cohorts is needed, our findings point to a promising direction for less invasive ovarian cancer risk management strategies that could – in the longer term –  help reduce reliance on invasive prophylactic surgeries while preserving fertility in some high-risk women.”

“We look forward to taking this novel approach forwards and hope that one day the findings can contribute to the development of an approach that cmight eventuallyan be used in the clinic.”

• The study was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) programme.
• The  paper, Fallopian tube lavage sampling towards early detection of pre-invasive ovarian cancer, is available

May



May saw the launch of a major new partnership with the Bank of England which will see existing teachers offered free training to deliver A Level economics alongside their core subject. The three-year programme, which will be piloted in the North West before eventually being rolled out across the UK, aims to make the subject more accessible to students from a wider range of backgrounds.

Also in May, the Government announced changes to the Winter Fuel Payment after being presented with research from The University of Manchester which found that their plans were going to leave many more older people in poverty, putting their health and wellbeing at risk. The month also saw 91ֱ�� being officially recognised as one of the UK’s new Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (PACE), as part of a national initiative to embed world-class research into frontline policing and community safety.

June



June brought two major archaeology stories - firstly, experts from 91ֱ�� played a leading role in the rediscovery of the ancient city of Imet in Egypt’s eastern Nile Delta, uncovering multi-storey dwellings, granaries and a ceremonial road tied to the worship of the cobra goddess Wadjet. This story received widespread coverage. The month brought news of a new project to explore the discovery of Wales’ first complete ancient chariot.

The same month also saw the launch of two reports into children's mental health - one found that while teens from disadvantaged neighbourhoods do face lower life satisfaction, they don't actually face more emotional problems. The other found that physical activity is critical for children's happiness.

July



July brought the extremely sad news that Lord David Alliance CBE had passed away. Lord Alliance’s belief in the power of philanthropy, education and research to drive positive change inspired generations of students, staff, alumni and partners. The renaming of Manchester Business School to Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School in 2015 stands as a testament to Lord Alliance’s transformative impact and support for The University of Manchester and its students over many years.

The month also saw Alliance 91ֱ�� Business School's Professor Timothy Michael Devinney being elected as a Fellow of the British Academy, the UK’s leading national body for the humanities and social sciences.

Also during this month, several Humanities academics were leading policy conversations about major issues - including Professor Jamie Woodward who spoke at Westminster about the impact of microplastic pollution on our environment, and Professor Pamela Qualter who co-authored a World Health Organization (WHO) report calling for urgent action to tackle loneliness and social disconnection around the world.

August



During August, an historian from The University of Manchester was named as one of six authors shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, which celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe. Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction by Professor Sadiah Qureshi was named as one of the finalists at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

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

There was also media interest in a study which found that a single sheet of 1,100-year-old parchment may have been used to heal a dangerous royal rift in Ancient England.

September



The start of the new academic year was marked by the appointment of three academics from The University of Manchester as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Liz Richardson, Professor David Richards and Professor Anupam Nanda were named in recognition of their excellence and impact, and their advancement of social sciences for the public good. 

The month also saw The University of Manchester being appointed as the UN's Academic Impact Vice-Chair for SDG10 research, meaning the University will play an essential role in advancing the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Some major research was also launched in August which found that ‘Levelling Up’ left many southern areas behind, a mentoring programme was giving a big mental health boost to LGBTQIA+ teens, and cities needing to do more to support older people who want to stay in their own homes as they age.

October



October saw three major pieces of research into schools - studies were published into school isolation rooms damaging pupil wellbeing, a third of new teachers quitting within five years of qualifying and the discovery of a significant and lasting link between the subjects young people study in school and their political preferences. 

Also during October, a study was launched by Dr Louise Thompson which found that outdated rules in the House of Commons shut smaller parties out of key decisions, leaving millions of voters effectively unheard. This led to several of those parties - including the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Reform - raising the issue, as well as media coverage across the UK. 

November



The University’s Professor Hilary Pilkington was one of the authors of the final report of the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice,  which in November called for a comprehensive overhaul of the UK's counter-terrorism policies. This received widespread media coverage across the country.

The University also launched new research as part of the N8 Child of the North campaign in November, which found that the post-Covid school attendance crisis is hitting disadvantaged children hardest - the story led to regional and national media coverage.

The month also saw studies into Buddhism in mental health care, stronger communities being linked to better health, and the rise of ‘authoritarian peacemaking’ and its implications for Ukraine. 

December



The final month of the year saw the launch of a major new collaboration with the University of Oxford which will bring together an expert team of textual scholars, book historians, computer scientists, library data experts and research software engineers to explore whether computers ‘see’ books and prints the same way as people do, and asks whether the AI algorithm can be made to see in the same way as humans. 

A major global study led by Dr Francesco Rampazzo also found that younger generations around the world are embracing a more diverse and fluid understanding of sexual identity than ever before. The research - which analysed data from over 900,000 users of the queer women’s and nonbinary dating app Zoe - offered one of the first truly global pictures of how people identify their sexuality in 122 countries, from the UK and the US to Brazil, South Africa and Taiwan.

These stories reflect the Faculty's commitment to addressing global challenges through its research, education and social responsibility.