By Neil J. Gostling, Associate Professor in Evolution and Palaeobiology, University of Southampton
Archaeopteryx is an icon of evolution and is often called the first bird. Scientists have long debated just how it took off from the ground but a recent study published by my colleagues and I has brought new insights to the mystery.
Our study compared Archaeopteryx with the anatomy of modern birds, and our findings suggest it generated the force needed to take off by taking several jumps forwards.
Archaeopteryx, a fossil uncovered from the Jurassic rocks of Germany, dates…
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By Shireen Kassam, Visiting Professor, Health and Wellbeing Research Group, University of Winchester
Dagfinn Aune, Research Fellow, School of Public Health, Imperial College London
More than 1.4 billion people worldwide live with high blood pressure (hypertension). It’s the single biggest metabolic risk factor for early death – driving diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and dementia.…
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By Asher Kessler, Research Fellow in AI Trust and Security, Centre for Digital Trust and Society, University of Manchester
It might seem quaint now but for many Facebook users, the introduction of this content algorithm felt like a violation of their privacy and trust.
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Monday, September 7, 2026
The ongoing war in Sudan took centre stage at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday where the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, led calls for an end to attacks on civilians in “markets, hospitals [and] fuel stations”.
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Monday, September 7, 2026
UN human rights chief Volker Türk added his voice on Monday to growing calls for greater AI controls, warning that the revolutionary technology could become an “existential risk to humanity” if left unchecked.
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By Amnesty International
Reacting to the 13-year prison sentence handed down to prisoner of conscience and human rights defender Anar Mammadli, following the lengthy prison sentences imposed on nine defendants in the Toplum TV case, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said: “Anar Mammadli has been condemned to spend thirteen years behind bars for […] The post Azerbaijan: Lengthy sentences for Anar Mammadli and other independent voices point to the shocking scale of the crackdown on dissent appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Ed Turner, Reader in Politics, Co-Director, Aston Centre for Europe, Aston University
The results of Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt state election on September 6 were far worse than feared for the country’s mainstream political parties. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) came close to winning a majority of votes, with 43.8%. This was about 4% higher than polls had suggested.
Support for the centre-right Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), on the other hand, imploded. It won 17.2% of the vote, down from 37.1% in 2021, performing substantially worse than predicted.
At nearly 78%, turnout was up substantially compared with 2021 – in a way that…
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By Carolyn Yule, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Guelph
Kaitlin Humer, PhD student, Criminology, University of Guelph
Research suggests cash bail is ineffective in ensuring those accused of crimes honour their bail conditions. Deterrence cannot be bought.
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By Eric Galbraith, Research Professor, Experimental Sciences & Mathematics, ICREA; McGill University
Exceeding 1.5 C of global warming is a giant warning flag telling us not to give up, but to redouble our efforts to slam on the brakes on climate change.
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By Crystena A. H. Parker-Shandal, Associate Professor, Social Development Studies, University of Waterloo
The very tool that generates disinformation and slop could also, when used well, be a catalyst for teaching youth to listen.
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