By Stuart Jones, Professor of Sedimentology & Geoenergy, Durham University
Andrew Crossland, Professor in Practice, Department of Engineering, Durham University
Chris Groves, Professor, Director of Education in the Department of Engineering, Durham University
Every time Britain has a still, grey week in winter, something invisible happens behind our plug sockets: gas power stations fire up to keep the lights on. That gas is often imported, with prices set by volatile global markets. This is one reason why energy bills surged during the cost-of-living crisis, despite the low cost of available renewable energy.
On very windy days, we have a different problem. The grid can’t always use all the electricity our wind farms generate, so we pay them to switch off. In…
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By Luicer Anne Ingasia Olubayo, Visiting Researcher at Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand
Francesc Xavier Gomez-Olive Casas, Research Manager at MRC/Wits Agincourt Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand
The Lancet HIV Commission on Ageing’s 2026 report highlights how profoundly the global HIV epidemic is changing.
In 2025, an estimated 11.5 million (29%) people living with HIV were aged 50 years and older. This is projected to increase…
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By Oludayo Tade, Professor of Sociology (Criminology, Victimology and Security Studies), University of Ibadan
The prevalence of fraud in both the public and private sectors in Nigeria has been widely acknowledged. Fraud includes obtaining money by false pretence, and diversion of money into unauthorised private use. But things are changing too. For instance, digital-payment fraud losses fell by 51%, from N52.26 billion (about US$38 million) in 2024 to N25.85 billion (US$19 million) in 2025.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration established the
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By Brendon J. Cannon, Associate Professor, Khalifa University
East Africa, a region that has been working to deepen economic integration for more than 25 years, has a history of disagreements about the location of energy infrastructure. Uganda discovered oil in 2006 with the potential to pump an estimated 210,000 to 230,000 barrels of oil per day at peak production. Back in 2014, Kenya and Uganda agreed…
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By Ikechukwu Opara, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Stellenbosch University
Frederic Isingizwe, Research Scientist - eResearch Office, University of the Western Cape
South Africa must focus not just on food production but on preserving what is produced through improved cold chain infrastructure.
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By Richard Lowrie, Reader in Homelessness and Inclusion Health, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to bring people who are sleeping rough in England into temporary accommodation for Christmas. While this is a good move, and should be happening across the rest of the UK, more needs to be done quickly to help people who are homeless.
Winter is a dangerous time for people to be living on the streets. So while it’s not perfect, Burnham’s…
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By David Henshall, Professor Physiology and Medical Physics and Director of FutureNeuro, the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Sciences, hosted at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Annamaria Vezzani, Head of the Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS
Rossella Di Sapia, Researcher Acute Brain and Cardiovascular Injury, Laboratory of Epilepsy and Therapeutic Strategies, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS
New research suggests epilepsy may alter the brain systems that regulate temperature, raising questions about how patients respond to heat.
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By Sarah A. Son, Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies, University of Sheffield
In 2026, Korean film is considered some of the most innovative and highly regarded of world cinemas. in 2016, it wasn’t quite the same.
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By Conor Boland, Assistant Professor of Materials Science, Deputy Director of Innovation at the RAPID Institute, Dublin City University
There is something slightly ridiculous about using a kitchen blender to make graphene. This is, after all, the “wonder material” associated with futuristic technologies. You might reasonably expect its production to involve equally futuristic equipment. Often, it does.
Producing graphene in liquid form can rely on purified graphite (better known to many as the “lead” in pencils), specialist solvents or additives, ultrapure water and carefully controlled processing. Our…
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By Ataharul Chowdhury, Associate Professor of Capacity Development and Extension, University of Guelph
Khondokar H. Kabir, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph
Ranjan Datta, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair, Department of Humanities, Mount Royal University
Producers often turn to online peer networks and experts when something goes wrong. However, online misinformation is drowning out the legitimate advice.
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