By Rebecca A. Drummond, Professor, Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham
Two people have died in a bacterial meningitis outbreak in the south of England. Here’s what you need to know.
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By Gokcay Balci, Lecturer in Sustainable Freight Transport and Logistics, University of Leeds
Ebru Surucu-Balci, Assistant Professor in Circular Supply Chains, University of Bradford
The conflict in Iran has disrupted energy and commodity markets. Iran has effectively closed the narrow strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit point, attacking more than a dozen ships over the past two weeks that have tried to sail through the waterway.
Donald Trump has been pressing US allies in Europe to help secure the strait, warning on March 15 that it will be “very bad for the future of Nato” if they do not support American efforts to reopen Hormuz.…
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By Karen Middleton, Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Advertising, University of Portsmouth
Children today can encounter harmful material online with alarming ease, including violent, sexual and self-harm content. While this is often treated as a moderation failure, the deeper cause is economic.
Much of the internet is built on a business model that rewards attention above all else. In simple terms, algorithms that recommend content do not meaningfully distinguish between helpful, neutral and harmful material. Described as “topic agnostic”, their primary task is to keep…
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By Marika Jeziorek, PhD Candidate in Global Governance, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Canada’s immigration system has long played a central role in the country’s economic and social development. Immigration accounts for most of Canada’s population growth and helps address labour market shortages across sectors. Settlement services support newcomers as they build lives and communities across the country.
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By Kliti Grice, John Curtin Distinguished Professor of Organic and Isotope Geochemistry, Curtin University
A new study reveals all five fundamental nucleobases – the molecular “letters” of life – have been detected in samples from the asteroid Ryugu.
Asteroid particles offer a glimpse into the chemical ingredients that may have helped kindle life on Earth. The Ryugu samples were returned from space in 2020 by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Hayabusa2 mission.
In 2023, an…
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By Manal Mohammed, Senior Lecturer, Medical Microbiology, University of Westminster
If you are a student in the UK, news of an outbreak of meningitis affecting university students in Kent may be causing you alarm.
The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a severe infection that can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood…
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By Jiayao Lei, Assistant Professor in Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet
Shiqiang Wu, PhD Candidate, Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet
A long-term study following girls and young women for nearly two decades shows the HPV vaccine provides strong and lasting protection against cervical cancer.
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By Rachel Grant, Senior Lecturer in Bioscience, London South Bank University
For centuries, unusual animal behaviour before earthquakes has been reported worldwide. Livestock becoming restless, wildlife disappearing and snakes emerging from hibernation in the middle of winter. For a long time, scientists dismissed such observations as folklore.
In recent years, however, systematic research has begun to explore whether animals genuinely respond to environmental changes preceding major earthquakes. Although earthquakes are hard to predict…
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By Paolo Aversa, Professor of Strategy, King's College London
The first races under Formula 1’s new regulations delivered exactly what the sport’s rule-makers had hoped for: more overtaking. At the recent Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, passes on track nearly tripled compared with the previous year. At the Chinese Grand Prix over the weekend the increase was less extreme, but still noticeable.
This revealed something unexpected about Formula 1’s new generation of cars. Many of the passes did not come from the classic ingredients of racing – a driver braking later…
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By Chloé Fernandez, PhD Student in Marine Zoology , Universitat de València
Natalia Fraija Fernández, Investigadora Doctora Senior, Universitat de València
The Mediterranean Sea is home to some of the ocean’s largest animals. Among the nine species of cetaceans commonly found along its western shores are the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus, the world’s second-largest marine animal), and the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). These species can reach lengths of up to 23 and 18 metres respectively, and their populations are genetically isolated from their Atlantic counterparts.
But despite their size, these enormous animals can be difficult to spot. The sperm…
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