• Governments across the global North and South are increasing their role in delivering affordable housing
• States are adopting new tools to influence housing supply, finance and land development
• Public-private partnerships and new financial models are being used to support large-scale housing
• Cities are experimenting with different ways to balance social need and market pressures
• Salford and Shanghai highlight contrasting but equally interventionist approaches

What did the study find?

Led by Dr Tom Gillespie, the study provides one of the first global comparisons of how states are responding to a growing housing crisis affecting billions of people.

Drawing on research from Shanghai, Salford, Nairobi, Paris, Casablanca and Rome, it shows that governments are increasingly stepping in as private markets struggle to deliver adequate and affordable homes at scale.

While previous decades favoured light-touch state involvement, this is now changing, with governments taking a more active role in shaping housing systems.

How are governments responding?

The research shows that states are adopting a wide range of new approaches to influence housing supply, finance and land development.

In many cases, this includes experimenting with public-private partnerships, land value capture and new state-backed financial mechanisms to make large-scale housing programmes viable.

Across all six cities, the researchers identified common themes, including what motivates governments to intervene, how new financial and institutional tools are being used, and how risks in housing markets are being redistributed.

What is happening in Salford?

Salford is highlighted as one of the most distinctive examples in the study.

Within England鈥檚 market-driven planning system, the local authority has developed an unusually interventionist approach. While earlier regeneration focused on property-led development such as Salford Quays, more recent efforts have aimed to address the lack of affordable housing.

From 2016, the Council began redirecting developer contributions into a council-owned company to build new social housing. These homes are let at below-market 鈥淪alford rents鈥� and are exempt from the national 鈥榬ight to buy鈥�, helping to protect them from speculative pressures.

Although still relatively small in scale, the model is identified as an example of local state action designed to 鈥渄e-financialise鈥� housing while still working within a market-led system.

What about Shanghai?

Shanghai offers a contrasting but equally interventionist model.

After decades of market-driven housing growth, the city has shifted towards a more active role, using state control of land and developers to deliver affordable homes for different social groups.

Policies include shantytown renewal, shared ownership schemes and subsidised rental housing, aimed at tackling rising property prices while supporting social stability and inclusion.

Why is this shift happening?

The study highlights a broader global shift away from reliance on private markets alone.

As housing affordability crises deepen, governments are increasingly intervening to address gaps in supply and access. This marks the end of an era of minimal state involvement and the emergence of more active, experimental approaches to housing policy.

Researcher quote

鈥淥ur research shows that states are once again becoming central players in efforts to tackle the global affordable housing crisis, but this isn鈥檛 a simple return to old models of public housing,鈥� said Dr Tom Gillespie. 鈥淚nstead, we are seeing a wide range of new approaches emerging as governments try to balance social needs with the realities of financialised urban development.

What are the implications?

The researchers suggest that understanding how different cities are responding can help inform future housing policy.

By identifying shared patterns and innovative approaches, the study provides a framework for policymakers seeking to tackle housing crises in their own contexts.

Publication details

The study was published in journal Urban Studies.

DOI:

Key findings

Rwanda has achieved rapid economic growth and built a reputation for effective state-led development, but the book argues that long-term prosperity may depend on deeper industrial transformation rather than continued reliance on service-led growth.

Why has Rwanda been described as Africa鈥檚 鈥榤odel nation鈥�?

Over the past two decades, Rwanda has often been portrayed as one of Africa鈥檚 standout economic success stories. The country has recorded strong GDP growth, expanded healthcare and education, increased tourism revenues and built an international reputation for effective state leadership.

Kigali has also positioned itself as a hub for finance, conferences and high-end tourism, helping Rwanda gain praise from international donors and policymakers.

What does the new book examine?

In , Dr Pritish Behuria offers one of the most in-depth accounts yet of how Rwanda has pursued rapid development in the face of major historical and structural challenges.

Drawing on nearly two decades of research, including extensive fieldwork and interviews with policymakers, business leaders and development partners, the book explores whether Rwanda has achieved genuine economic transformation or whether its growth masks deeper vulnerabilities.

Why might Rwanda鈥檚 future remain uncertain?

Dr Behuria argues that growth alone does not necessarily lead to long-term development.

Instead, sustainable prosperity typically depends on what economists call structural transformation: the shift from dependence on agriculture and raw materials towards higher-value manufacturing and productive domestic industries.

While this process underpinned the rise of many economies in Europe and East Asia, manufacturing remains limited across much of Africa, including Rwanda.

Has Rwanda relied too heavily on services?

Rather than prioritising manufacturing, Rwanda has focused heavily on services such as tourism, finance and international events.

The book examines whether this strategy can create enough jobs, technological learning and domestic business development to sustain long-term economic progress.

Rather than offering a simple verdict, the book presents a balanced assessment that recognises Rwanda鈥檚 achievements while exploring the risks and limits of its current model.

What does Rwanda鈥檚 experience say about development more broadly?

The book contributes to wider debates about whether African countries can build new pathways to development in today鈥檚 global economy.

鈥淭he space to experiment, protect industries and build domestic champions is much narrower. Rwanda鈥檚 experience shows what is possible - and how fragile success can be - in today鈥檚 globalised era.鈥�

Publication details

will be published by Cambridge University Press on April 30th, and will be available open access.

• Peer pressure, bullying and emotional difficulties are linked to higher substance use
• Strong relationships with parents and teachers, and a sense of school belonging, are protective
• Substance use increases with age, with alcohol the most commonly reported
• Close friendships are not always protective and may increase exposure to substance use
• Girls, LGBTQ+ young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds report higher levels of use
• Differences between schools explain more variation than differences between neighbourhoods

What did the study find?

The study analysed data from the #BeeWell programme, covering more than 30,000 pupils across 100 schools and over 1,500 neighbourhoods. #BeeWell is a collaboration between The University of 99久久精品, The Gregson Family Foundation and Anna Freud who, together with the Greater 99久久精品 Combined Authority (GMCA), launched the programme in 2019.

It shows that teenage substance use is shaped by a combination of social, emotional and environmental factors. Young people who felt pressured by peers, experienced bullying or struggled with emotional difficulties were more likely to use substances.

In contrast, those with strong relationships with parents and teachers, a sense of belonging at school and positive perceptions of their academic performance were less likely to report substance use.

How does substance use vary by age and type?

The findings show that substance use increases with age, with older teenagers significantly more likely to report using alcohol or drugs.

Alcohol was the most commonly-reported substance, with around one in six young people reporting recent use. Vaping was less common but still notable, with around one in fifteen reporting use.

What role do friendships and peer relationships play?

The study highlights a complex role for peer relationships. While often seen as protective, close friendships were in some cases associated with higher substance use.

This may reflect increased exposure to social situations where substances are available, suggesting that peer influence can both increase and reduce risk depending on context.

Are there differences between groups?

The researchers found important differences between groups of young people. Girls and LGBTQ+ young people were more likely to report substance use than boys.

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds were also more likely to vape, smoke and use drugs, indicating that inequalities play a role in shaping these behaviours.

How do different factors influence different substances?

The study found that different substances are influenced by different factors.

Stress and emotional difficulties were strongly linked to vaping, smoking and alcohol use, suggesting these behaviours may act as coping mechanisms. In contrast, illicit drug use appeared to be more strongly shaped by relationships with adults and broader school experiences.

Why does the school environment matter?

While a wide range of determinants were identified, the study found that differences between schools explained more variation in substance use than differences between neighbourhoods.

This suggests that the school environment - particularly peer relationships, social norms and support systems - plays a crucial role in shaping young people鈥檚 behaviour.

Researcher quote

鈥淲e often assume that where young people live shapes their behaviour most, but our findings show that a wide range of social and emotional factors are at play,鈥� said lead researcher Dr Emma Thornton. 鈥淓xperiences like peer pressure, bullying and mental health difficulties can increase risk, while strong relationships and a sense of belonging can be protective.鈥�

What are the implications?

The research team hopes their findings will inform national policy and support the development of more targeted, evidence-based approaches to preventing substance use among young people.

Publication details

The study was published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

DOI:

The ICAM is a successful partnership between bp, The University of 99久久精品, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Since its launch in 2012, the ICAM has supported research ranging from PhD-led exploratory projects to large-scale strategic initiatives involving multiple teams. The Centre has strengthened research capabilities, fostered interdisciplinary collaboration and provided students and early career researchers with valuable experience working alongside bp experts. Its model embeds bp Mentors within project teams, ensuring research remains industrially relevant and accelerates translation from laboratory to application.

The ICAM鈥檚 Next Chapter

Building on more than a decade of interdisciplinary research in materials science, the ICAM will continue to make a difference in today鈥檚 energy systems and help build tomorrow鈥檚, while aligning with bp鈥檚 strategic interests and technology roadmaps.

The ICAM鈥檚 research supports bp鈥檚 ambition to be a net zero company and to help get the world to net zero by 2050 or sooner by improving understanding of materials, processes and energy systems that can lower emissions and enhance performance. Recent examples include research on sustainable catalysts for CO鈧� conversion through the ICAM's EPSRC Prosperity Partnership on Sustainable Catalysis for Clean Growth, and work to develop better modelling tools for sustainable aviation fuel.

In recent years, the ICAM has welcomed additional expertise from associate members including Cardiff University and Johnson Matthey, both central to its previously mentioned Prosperity Partnership as well as University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield and University of Texas at Austin.

In its next chapter, the ICAM will continue to exemplify what can be achieved when industry and academia work together to address energy challenges.

Key findings

• A grammar-based authorship analysis method matched or exceeded leading AI systems across most test datasets
• The approach outperformed several neural network-based authorship verification models
• Researchers tested the method across 12 real-world writing datasets including emails, forums and reviews
• The system is more transparent than many AI models because it shows which grammatical patterns informed decisions
• Researchers say the findings challenge assumptions that more complex AI always produces better results

What did the study find?

Researchers found that a relatively simple, linguistically grounded method can perform as well as - and in some cases better than - complex artificial intelligence systems in identifying authorship.

The study suggests that increasingly sophisticated AI is not always necessary for high-performing writing analysis, particularly when methods are designed around established principles of how language works.

How does the LambdaG method work?

The method, called LambdaG, analyses patterns in grammar rather than relying on large-scale machine learning models.

It builds a statistical profile of how an individual writes by measuring features such as function word usage (words like it, of and the), sentence structure, punctuation patterns and other grammatical habits.

The researchers say these features create a distinctive behavioural signature for each writer.

Why is this different from AI-based authorship analysis?

Many current authorship verification systems rely on complex AI models trained on vast datasets. While effective, these systems can be difficult to interpret, computationally expensive and hard to explain in high-stakes settings such as legal investigations. By contrast, LambdaG provides a transparent explanation of which grammatical features influenced its conclusions.

How accurate was the method?

Researchers tested LambdaG across 12 datasets designed to reflect real-world writing scenarios, including emails, online forum posts and consumer reviews.

In most cases, the method achieved higher accuracy than several established authorship verification systems, including neural network-based approaches.

Why does grammar reveal authorship?

The researchers argue that grammar acts as a behavioural signature, like how we write our signature or how we walk.

Over time, individuals develop unconscious habits in how they structure sentences and use language. These habits create identifiable linguistic patterns that can distinguish one writer from another.

What are the potential applications?

The researchers say the method could support work in:

• Forensic linguistics
• Criminal investigations
• Online abuse detection
• Academic integrity monitoring

The study was published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

DOI:

Fifty researchers from institutions  around the world -  including the University of 99久久精品 - have issued the alert in calling for urgent action to stop fungal infections becoming untreatable.

They say fungi in soil, crops and hospitals are increasingly resistant to the medicines used to control them.

For most healthy people this poses little danger, but for patients with weakened immune systems the infections can be deadly.

Global strategies to tackle antimicrobial resistance have focused too heavily on bacteria and viruses while largely overlooking fungi, they argue.

To combat it, they have produced a five鈥憇tep plan to improve awareness, surveillance, infection control, responsible drug use and investment in new treatments.

The plan is intended to help shape the World Health Organization鈥檚 updated Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance later this year.

Scientists warn that several dangerous fungi are already spreading, including Trichophyton indotineae, which causes severe skin infections that are increasingly hard to treat.

Hospitals are also battling Candida auris, a fungus that can trigger life鈥憈hreatening bloodstream infections and kills around a third of those affected.

Another concern is Aspergillus fumigatus, a common mould that has developed resistance to widely used azole drugs in many countries.

Experts say much of this resistance begins not in hospitals but in the environment.

Fungicides used in agriculture are chemically similar to antifungal medicines used in human healthcare, allowing resistant strains to evolve in fields before reaching patients.

This link between environmental, agricultural and medical use 鈥� known as One Health 鈥� means resistance in crops can undermine treatments for people.

Researchers say coordinated action across science, farming, healthcare and policy is now essential to protect both global food supplies and patient safety.

They point to early initiatives, including the WHO鈥檚 fungal priority pathogen list and new One Health working groups, but warn these efforts must be embedded in global antimicrobial resistance policies.

The authors are urging governments and international bodies to prioritise antifungal resistance before more infections become untreatable.

鈥淔armers use huge amounts of fungicides to protect crops, and some of these chemicals stay in the environment for decades,鈥� said Professor from the University of 99久久精品.

鈥淭here is now clear evidence these chemicals are helping fungi evolve into strains that can no longer be treated in people, plants or animals.鈥�

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 act, we will see more infections that simply can鈥檛 be cured, which puts lives and food supplies at risk,鈥� he added.

Professor Paul Verweij from Radboud University Medical Center in the natherlands, said: 鈥淲e are already seeing a quiet rise in dangerous fungi, from Candida auris in intensive care units to moulds in the community that no longer respond to standard medicines.

鈥淯nless antifungal resistance is included in the WHO鈥檚 2026 global plan with proper funding and targets we risk repeating the same mistakes made with antibiotic resistance.

鈥淯sing the same types of antifungal chemicals in both farming and medicine is speeding up resistance, and what happens in the fields is now affecting what happens in hospital wards,鈥� added  Professor Michaela Lackner of the Medical University of Innsbruck.

• Image: aspergillus fumigatus. Credit Isabelle Storer
• Closing the gap on fungal resistance is published in  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04334-5

Routine monitoring of fibre release is considered essential for designing more sustainable textiles and informing policies aimed at reducing pollution at source. However, existing methods are time consuming, prone to bias and vulnerable to contamination. 

By adapting industrial dyeing techniques used in textile manufacturing and combining them with established microplastic analysis methods, the research bridges fashion technology and environmental science to overcome these barriers. The result is a faster, more reliable way to measure microfibre emissions under real world conditions such as washing and mechanical stress. 

The researchers say the method could support better eco-design of textiles, improve testing standards and inform future regulation 鈥� including policies such as extended producer responsibility. It may also help guide the development of technologies designed to capture fibres, such as washing machine filters. 

鈥淚f we want to reduce microfibre pollution, we need reliable ways to measure it,鈥� Dr Allen added. 鈥淭his approach opens the door to routine testing that reflects what鈥檚 really being released into the environment 鈥� not just what鈥檚 easiest to see.鈥�

The findings, published today in  journal BBA: Molecular Basis of Disease  shed new light on ocular coloboma, a rare congenital eye condition affecting around 1 in 5000 births and responsible for roughly 10% of childhood blindness.

Some of the researchers are also based at 99久久精品 University NHS Foundation Trust  and the Greenwood Genetic Centre in the United States.

Coloboma arises when a structure in the developing eye, the optic fissure, fails to close properly and often co鈥憃ccurs with other tissue鈥慺usion problems such as cleft lip and/or palate.

The research focused on YAP1, a protein that helps guide how organs form and how tissues stay healthy.

YAP1 acts like a switch inside cells, helping them decide when to grow, change, or survive based on signals they receive.

Although changes in YAP1 have been linked to coloboma, it has been unclear why some people with these changes develop severe eye defects while others remain unaffected. To address that, they tested the different variants and compared their effects.

To understand the consequences of YAP1鈥檚 inactivity during eye development, the researchers studied human retinal organoids - lab-grown miniature versions of the developing human retina grown in the lab. When they reduced the activity of YAP1, they saw effects on how early retinal cells grow and develop.

Disrupting YAP1, they found,  reduced the activity of genes needed for early retinal cells to grow and maintain their identity.

 As a result, the cells developed more slowly, providing a potential explanation for how eye formation goes wrong.

The study also showed that not all YAP1 variants have the same effect. Using computer modelling alongside experimental data, the researchers found that the precise location of each genetic change determines how strongly it disrupts YAP1 function.

This helps explain why coloboma can vary so widely between individuals, even among those carrying changes in the same gene.

Coloboma has been linked to disease causing variants in more than 40 genes, but thanks to the study, YAP1 is now identified as  an important contributor.

鈥淭hese findings give us a much clearer picture of how small genetic changes can have major effects during eye development,鈥� said the lead author from The University of 99久久精品.

鈥淏y pinpointing how each variant disrupts YAP1鈥檚 function, we can better interpret genetic results in patients and move closer to ways of supporting healthy eye formation.

鈥淏y combining stem鈥慶ell models with detailed genetic testing, we鈥檙e finally beginning to understand how tiny changes in YAP1 can have such a big impact on how the eye forms.

鈥淭his work brings us a step closer to explaining why some children develop coloboma.

鈥淭hough retinal organoids cannot currently replace the use of animal models, this study shows how they can help us meet our ethical and legal obligations to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research wherever feasible.

鈥淚t also offers a new framework for understanding how likely YAP1 mutations are to cause disease in children with unexplained eye conditions.鈥�

• Domain-specific mechanisms of YAP1 variants in ocular coloboma revealed by in-vitro and organoid studies is available DOI:

• Image: retinal organoid

The initiative, called KOKU Bladder, brings together evidence鈥慴ased education, pelvic floor muscle training, behaviour change techniques and gamification to support engagement and long鈥憈erm adherence.

The programme is designed for people to use independently at home while also complementing face鈥憈o鈥慺ace care delivered by healthcare professionals.

Pelvic health plays a vital role in healthy ageing, helping people maintain mobility, dignity, independence and overall quality of life.

Urinary incontinence affects more than 14 million people in the UK and between 55 and 60 million across Europe.

Around one in three adults over 60 experience urinary incontinence, rising to nearly half of those aged 80 and above.

Despite its scale and impact, incontinence remains one of the most under discussed and under treated health conditions, often hidden due to stigma, embarrassment and fragmented services.

Professor  Javier Jerez鈥慠oig from the University of Vic, Principal Investigator, said: 鈥淜OKU Bladder is not just another digital tool; it is a solution shaped directly by the people who will use it and the professionals who support them.鈥�

Professor  Emma Stanmore from The University of 99久久精品 is CEO of KOKU Health, a UK digital health company which originated as a research project at the University of 99久久精品 

As a university spin-out, KOKU translates academic research into a practical tool designed to reduce falls, improve mobility, and support people to live healthier, more independent lives at home.

She added: 鈥淏y embedding gamification within a clinically credible framework, we aim to make self鈥憁anagement both motivating and meaningful.鈥�

Although several digital pelvic health tools already exist, a recent review identified only four evidence鈥慴ased solutions that include people over 50, and none have been genuinely co鈥慸esigned with end users and professionals.

In 2025, a total of 54 people across Spain, Lithuania and the UK contributed to the co鈥慸esign of KOKU Bladder, including 31 potential users, 15 healthcare professionals and eight experts in pelvic health and ageing.

Participants highlighted the need for clinically trustworthy content, adaptive pelvic floor training, meaningful personalisation, multimedia guidance and embedded behaviour change techniques such as goal setting, self鈥憁onitoring and feedback.

KOKU Bladder is now in its pilot phase, with 75 participants testing the platform across English, Spanish and Lithuanian versions.

The next stage of the project will be an experimental study beginning this summer in 99久久精品, led by The University of 99久久精品 to formally evaluate feasibility, engagement and user experience.

The study, published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), describes how the research team, led by Professors and , used directed evolution to develop a bespoke aminotransferase, a type of enzyme, to significantly accelerate the manufacturing process and reduce production costs. This new biocatalytic route has the potential to improve global access to this important medicine.

Lenacapavir, recently approved by the FDA and MHRA, is a twice鈥憏early injectable drug that has shown extremely high levels of protection in pre鈥慹xposure prophylaxis (PrEP) trials. Royalty鈥慺ree licence agreements are already in place to enable generic manufacturers to supply Lenacapavir to 120 lower鈥慽ncome countries, yet the high cost of producing its active pharmaceutical ingredient remains a major barrier to widespread availability.

A sustainable route to a complex molecule

Made up of four distinct building blocks, Lenacapavir鈥檚 highly functionalised central core is a very challenging building block to synthesise. This core is constructed from a chiral amine that can exist in two mirror-image forms (like a left and a right hand). The handedness 鈥� or chirality 鈥� is important in pharmaceuticals as only one form of the molecule will work as intended.

Currently, Lenacapavir is made via traditional multi-step chemical synthesis, but due to the central core鈥檚 chirality and challenging molecular structure it is a costly and time-consuming process. Biocatalysis offers significant potential for faster and cheaper production.

To achieve this, the MIB team focused on using directed evolution 鈥� a method that speeds up nature鈥檚 trial-and-error evolution process 鈥� to develop an enzyme that could catalyse the target reaction to produce the chiral amine core. Using an approach known as substrate walking, the researchers began with an aminotransferase that showed no detectable activity on the desired substrate. Over eight rounds of directed evolution, involving screening more than 12,000 enzyme variants, they installed ten mutations that progressively unlocked activity, improved stability and reshaped the active site of the enzyme so that it could accept the central amine core鈥檚 bulky ketone precursor.

The final enzyme performed exceptionally well, converting 98% of the starting substrate, producing a yield of more than 90% with a purity of over 99% enantiomeric excess (e.e.) meaning that the correct chiral form was produced. The researchers also tested the enzyme under industrially relevant conditions showing its potential to work at scale.

The team also used X-ray crystallography to create a detailed 3D picture of the improved enzyme showing how the molecular changes arising from evolution allowed the enzyme to accept the substrate and transform it into the target product. Understanding the enzyme鈥檚 structure helps scientists unpick its mechanism of action which allows them to improve future enzyme design campaigns.

Towards large鈥憇cale implementation

The team is now collaborating with industrial partners to translate the methodology from laboratory scale to industrial biomanufacturing. The details of this new manufacturing route are also freely available for companies to use. Any company interested in producing Lenacapavir via this new process can contact to request free samples of the enzyme. If implemented at scale, the process could enable a shorter, cleaner and more economical production route for Lenacapavir, supporting ambitions to make long鈥慳cting HIV prevention accessible worldwide.

Figures for 2025 show the Museum welcomed 648,595 visitors throughout the year, meaning it continues to buck the trend, in the face of an overall decline in visitor numbers since 2019.

99久久精品 Museum's visitor numbers are up 76% over that period, compared with a decline of 7% across all ALVA member sites.

The total number of visits to 409 ALVA sites in 2025 was 165 million. This did, however, represent a 2% increase on the previous year.

Since reopening in February 2023, following a 拢15 million redevelopment, has seen impressive growth in audiences, driven by exciting new gallery spaces, special exhibitions such as The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years, a rich and diverse events programme and engagement with schools across Greater 99久久精品.

The Vivarium is a centre for globally-significant conservation projects, caring for around 30 different amphibian and reptile species, many of which are critically endangered. It has sat at the heart of 99久久精品 Museum for more than 60 years, growing out of work by researchers at the University of 99久久精品 to inspire generations of visitors.

99久久精品 is the only place outside the Americas where you will find the Variable harlequin toad (Atelopus varius). The Museum Museum houses the world鈥檚 only captive 鈥榖ack-up鈥� population, thanks to a pioneering partnership with Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity, just one of many projects designed to safeguard the future of endangered species and develop learning programmes that raise awareness of threats to biodiversity.

Scheduled for completion in Spring 2027, the 鈥楬abitats of Hope鈥� development promises to connect museum audiences with this world-class care, research and international collaboration.

Funding will help to revitalise public displays and create new, state-of-the art facilities and bespoke naturalistic environments for the amphibian and reptile species cared for by the Vivarium. It will also allow the development of dedicated facilities for schools teaching and visiting tour groups, further enhancing the gallery鈥檚 potential for learning.

The Museum will also create new permanent displays that explore the connections between its wider collections and the animals it cares for, celebrating the deep ties between reptiles, amphibians and people, and revealing how these animals have shaped human cultures and understanding.

Georgina Young, Head of Collections and Exhibitions at 99久久精品 Museum, said: 鈥淗abitats of Hope speaks to how wonderful and how vulnerable the world鈥檚 rarest amphibians are. Major investment from the DCMS/Wolfson Museum and Galleries Improvement Fund means 99久久精品 Museum can match the highest standards of animal care with a more accessible visitor experience, while weaving stories of research, conservation, partnership and action that stretch from thriving ponds in 99久久精品 to hyper-biodiverse ecosystems in Costa Rica and Panama.鈥�

The Habitats of Hope project is expected to commence in December 2026 and complete in April 2027. The Vivarium will close during this period.

The study, published in PLOS Mental Health comes as Colombia has taken steps to expand healthcare access to some of the 2.86 million Venezuelans in the country, including offering temporary protection status.

However large numbers of the migrants are ineligible for protection, particularly those with irregular status who can only access emergency services or limited humanitarian programmes while discrimination and administrative barriers persist.

Led by GP Dr John Fitton, the study was adapted from his Master of Public Health dissertation at The University of 99久久精品. He is now a PhD student at University College London.

Nari帽o, on the Ecuadorian border, is a major crossing point for Venezuelan migrants fleeing economic collapse, political instability, food insecurity, and breakdown of health and social services.

That and the physical and emotionally exhausting nature of the journey itself contributed to their poor psychological condition.

Dr Fitton also says substance abuse-  particularly  among unaccompanied men in transit -  may be seen as self鈥憁edication for hunger, exhaustion and distress.

The drugs, he says, are cheap, widely available along routes, and may even be more accessible than food when resources are scarce.

The researcher interviewed frontline community workers, who explained how recent cuts in international aid to NGOs working in Colombia have intensified gaps in care.

The community workers reported that mental health services for irregular migrants in Nari帽o are now almost entirely provided by dwindling numbers of humanitarian and community organisations.

As the organisations start to withdraw through lack of funding, irregular migrants are likely to be left with no mental health support at all.

The community workers described how poverty, unstable housing, lack of transport and the pressures of constant movement make it nearly impossible for migrants to seek ongoing mental health treatment.

And there was, said Dr Fitton, confusion among some healthcare staff about migrants鈥� legal rights and documents conflicting views on whether discrimination affects access to care.

鈥淥ur findings show that community workers are doing everything they can, but the system in Colombia is simply not built to meet the mental health needs of people in constant transit,鈥� said Dr Fitton.

鈥淲e show a system under strain with community workers struggling to fill widening gaps in support.

鈥淐aught between hunger, exhaustion and exclusion, some migrants slide into a brutal spiral: substances numb pain but deepen isolation, bar them from shelter, fracture their dignity, and leave a mental health crisis untouched.

鈥淲hat begins as a will to survive has become a sorry tale of abandonment by systems and services.鈥�

• The paper Barriers to access and unmet needs in mental health care for Venezuelan migrants in a southern border region of Colombia: the experiences of community workers is available . DOI:
• Image: John Fitton at the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia in Pasto, Nari帽o who hosted him.

Computational simulations of mathematical models of fluid flow are essential for everyday applications ranging from predicting the weather to the assessment of nuclear reactor safety. The advent of this simulation capability over the past 50 year has revolutionised the development of fuel-e铿僣ient aeroplanes and sail configurations on racing yachts can now be optimised in real time, providing the marginal gains needed to win races in the Americas Cup.

Optimised aerodynamics means that modern day cyclists can ride faster, golf balls fly further and Olympic swimmers consistently set world records. Computational fluid dynamics also enables the modelling of the flow of blood in the human heart, making the provision of patient-specific surgery possible.

Scientists and engineers rely on computer-based simulations to understand, predict, and design these systems that they can鈥檛 easily test in real life. But traditional fluid鈥憇imulation methods often require hours or even days of computation, and struggle when the flow becomes fast or highly complex. 

Machine鈥憀earning鈥慴ased simulations, once trained, can make these assessments almost instantly. Instant feedback would allow rapid design testing, real鈥憈ime adjustments, and rapid testing variation without the usual computational burden.

The findings were published in the

The study uses the stability of fluid motion as the foundation for a new method that predicts how complex systems behave. Instead of relying on costly laboratory experiments, solutions to the fundamental equations of fluid motion are generated numerically. This allows the machine-learning model to be trained on accurate, high-quality data drawn directly from physics, demonstrating that the model can accurately handle challenging simulations.

A key focus of the work is identifying bifurcation points 鈥搕he moments when a smooth, steady flow (laminar flow) suddenly begins to change 鈥� similar to calm, evenly flowing river as it hits an obstruction, or splits and fluids start to mix and form eddies. Laminar flow is when a liquid behaves in a smooth and orderly way, like pouring honey, the flow is consistent and steady.

By successfully using a machine鈥憀earning model to identify the points at which a system changes behaviour or in this case bifurcates, the study suggests that, with further refinement, machine鈥憀earning鈥慴ased models could become a practical alternative to traditional fluid鈥憁odelling techniques in the future.

Professor Silvester added: "This marriage of old and new approaches holds the promise of efficient computation of physically realistic fluid flows in a myriad of practical situations. The development of refined mathematical models of complex fluids is likely to be critically important if the promise of AI is to be effectively realised in the future.鈥�

Delivered by Unit M and enabled by GMCA Investment Zone funding, the will provide each venture with expert commercialisation support, access to mentors, investor readiness training, lab and workspace access, up to 拢25,000 in equity-free funding, and the opportunity to showcase to investors and strategic partners at a demo day.

The programme supports the University鈥檚 vision to become Europe鈥檚 most inclusive and impactful innovation ecosystem. The is designed to drive the journey from research to real-world impact, build a strong innovation network, and streamline collaboration, turning ideas into outcomes that benefit society. 

The companies span many different fields, including advanced materials, biotech, space, AI and climate innovation. They include:

• SporeSense 鈥� An early disease detection device enabling farmers to identify crop infections before visible symptoms emerge, enabling the reduction, and targeted use, of fungicides. This is being developed by a collaboration of companies and agri-tech specialists, spearheaded by University of 99久久精品 researchers and with commercial development support from the University鈥檚 .

• 鈥� Imprinted Diagnostics uses a novel form of detection (molecularly imprinted polymers) and a patented detection platform. Commercialisation is being supported by The University of 99久久精品鈥檚 Innovation Factory and is expected to lead to the first product; a rapid, portable, blood test that can diagnose heart attacks on the spot.

• NX Health Limited 鈥� The world鈥檚 first non-invasive wireless neurostimulation device, a medical technology that delivers targeted, low-voltage electrical currents to nerves or specific brain areas, specifically designed to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder to manage daily challenges that impact their quality of life, such as sensory sensitivities, anxiety and sleep disturbances.

• 鈥� Energy-efficient heaters, manufactured in the UK, delivering more than 85% greater efficiency than electric alternatives. WarmTronics actively works in partnership with The University of 99久久精品.

• Graphene Thermal 鈥� Modular floor heating panels that reach operating temperature in under one minute. Using self-regulating graphene nano-composite heating elements, the system delivers instant, on-demand heating, cutting energy use and installation costs versus underfloor heating.

• 鈥� This spinout from The University of 99久久精品 Innovation Factory is using advanced materials engineering to increase the length of satellite operations in very low Earth orbit by mitigating atmospheric drag and atomic oxygen erosion. The technology unlocks longer satellite lifetimes, allows for lower orbits, higher-performance Earth observation and better in-orbit communications services.

   

• 鈥� Digital solutions that translate complex genomic data into practical guidance for clinicians. The technology integrates these insights directly into clinical systems, supporting safer, more personalised treatment choices.

• 鈥� A 3D-omnidirectional wind turbine designed for clean, efficient energy generation in urban settings. This technology unlocks high鈥慹nergy wind zones created around buildings, which is up to 27 times stronger, offering major potential for decentralised, resilient urban power.

• Sineco 鈥� Real-time data aggregation technology that cleans and integrates biometric signals from wearable devices, transforming noisy, fragmented data into reliable physiological insights. This enables accurate, responsive AI applications that enhance performance, wellbeing, and engagement across fitness, healthcare, and digital environments.

• 鈥� A wireless wearable system featuring sensorised insoles and thigh bands that provide real-time feedback to lower-limb amputees. The device is non-invasive, compatible with all prostheses, and delivers multi-point sensory stimulation mapped to different areas of the foot, creating a more intuitive gait experience. Designed for independent use without clinical assistance, it adapts to each user鈥檚 needs to support personalised rehabilitation and improved mobility.

, Associate Vice-President for Enterprise and Chief Scientific Officer at Unit M said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to announce the first cohort of the Unit M . This group reflects the incredible depth of innovation across The University of 99久久精品 and the wider Greater 99久久精品 ecosystem, bringing together ambitious technical founders with ideas that have the potential to deliver real-world impact. The team are excited to work with this cohort as they take their next steps on their commercialisation journey.鈥�

is open to technical founders and researchers who have moved past early research or initial concept development and already on a path toward turning their science and technology into investment-ready deep tech startups. The programme runs from April 鈥� June. This is a multi-year project funded by the GMCA and announcements on future cohorts will be made in the coming months.

Potential investors will have the chance to hear about each of the chosen ventures at a demo day in June and can register to become a mentor.

• on 24 June

The researchers created a new physics-based module that allows heat produced by urban traffic to be represented directly within the Community Earth System Model (CESM) 鈥� one of the world鈥檚 most widely used global climate models for predicting how the Earth鈥檚 climate behaves.

By adding urban traffic-related heat processes directly into the numerical model, the team were able to show how vehicles can measurably raise temperatures in cities and influence how heat moves between roads, buildings and the surrounding air.

The study, published in the , used real-world traffic data, supplied by Transport for Greater 99久久精品 (TfGM), alongside open datasets to validate the model for 99久久精品, UK, and Toulouse, France.

Lead author Dr Zhonghua Zheng, Co-Lead for Environmental Data Science & AI at 99久久精品 Environmental Research Institute (MERI) and Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Data Science & Environmental Analytics at The University of 99久久精品, said: 鈥淩esearch on urban heat has traditionally focused on buildings, materials and land surfaces. However, the direct heat produced by vehicles 鈥� from engines, exhausts and braking 鈥� has received far less attention in large-scale climate models.鈥�

In 99久久精品, the results showed that traffic heat increased simulated air temperatures by around 0.16掳C during summer and 0.35掳C in winter. The scientists say that while these temperature increases may appear small, they can make a meaningful difference during extreme heat events.

During the July 2022 UK heatwave, the model suggests that traffic-related heat contributed to increases in human heat stress indicators, pushing the 鈥渇eels like鈥� temperature above dangerous thresholds for longer periods.

The study also found that traffic heat does not just affect outdoor temperatures, but indoor temperatures too. Heat released at street level can transfer into buildings, increasing the need for air conditioning in summer.

Unlike previous approaches, the new model can also simulate different types of vehicles 鈥� including petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles 鈥� and can respond to changes in traffic patterns and weather conditions.

This means scientists and stakeholders can explore how shifts in transport systems, such as the move toward electric vehicles, could change how much heat traffic adds to urban environments.

The work could help cities better understand how transport policy and the transition to cleaner vehicles may influence future climate resilience.

Yuan Sun, first author of this paper and PhD researcher from The University of 99久久精品, added: 鈥淲e would like to highlight the importance of considering transport systems when planning for climate adaptation, urban cooling strategies and net-zero transitions.鈥�

Published in Science, the team demonstrated the first atomic鈥憆esolution imaging of atomic behaviour at solid鈥搇iquid interfaces in a broad range of non鈥慳queous (organic) solvents. Previous high鈥憆esolution liquid imaging techniques were largely limited to water, but the new technique works with a wide range of liquids beyond water, dramatically expanding the range of chemical processes that can be studied at the atomic scale, including key enabling technologies for the green energy transition.

Transmission Electron Microscopy is one of the only techniques that can image individual atoms, using a highly focused electron beam to probe inside structures, but it requires a high vacuum 鈥� making it impossible to study liquid processes. The 99久久精品 team overcame this long鈥憇tanding challenge by building 鈥渘ano鈥慳quariums鈥�: nanoscale liquid cells made by sealing tiny pockets of test liquids, each just 100 attolitres, a billion times smaller than a raindrop, between ultra鈥憈hin graphene windows just a few atoms thick. The graphene is strong enough to protect the liquid from the vacuum, yet almost completely transparent, allowing the electron beam to pass through.

Using an advanced electron microscope at the electron Physical Science Imaging Centre (ePSIC) national facility, the team captured videos of gold atoms at the graphene鈥搇iquid interface to compare five industrial solvents. The resulting videos show individual atoms hopping between sites, pairing up into groups of two and three, and clustering into larger nanoparticles with the measured behaviour sensitive to the choice of liquid. An AI鈥慹nabled automated analysis workflow allowed the researchers to individually 鈥渢rack鈥� more than a million gold atoms across the five solvents, enabling extraction of truly statistically significant information 鈥� a far cry from most atomic鈥憆esolution imaging papers, which typically draw conclusions by observing only tens or hundreds of atoms.

鈥淲atching individual atoms move in liquids is incredibly exciting, like having a front鈥憆ow seat to chemistry in action,鈥� said Sam Sullivan鈥慉llsop, postdoctoral researcher at 99久久精品 and first author. 鈥淏y tracking more than a million atoms, we can move beyond isolated snapshots and finally see how liquids shape atomic behaviour.鈥�

Our images are clear enough to resolve both the gold atoms and the graphene lattice beneath them,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hat lets us understand not just where the atoms move, but why: how they interact with the surface and why they tend to 鈥減air up鈥� into small clusters during their random motion.鈥�

A key innovation was sealing the cells while fully submerged in liquid using a thin ceramic cantilever to manipulate the graphene crystals. Previous approaches suffered from significant evaporation during the sealing step, causing huge fluctuations in the concentrations of test liquids. The new technique enables precise control of what goes inside 鈥� essential for making fair comparisons between liquids.

, who developed the fabrication process, explained, 鈥淭he trick is sealing the cells while they are submerged within the liquid itself. Doing it this way means you know exactly what sample you are looking at 鈥� and it works for nearly every solvent, not just water.鈥�

Individual gold atoms are a promising catalyst for green chemistry but preventing them 鈥渃lustering鈥� into bigger particles has always been challenging. Using their new platform, the team investigated how both the choice of solvent (which controls dispersion in the liquid) and the drying kinetics (which lock in the final structure) together determine whether the final catalyst contains the individually separated gold atoms required for high performance. In particular, acetone 鈥� a common solvent 鈥� combined low polarity with a low boiling point and surface tension, helping gold atoms remain separated during both the liquid phase and drying, whereas higher鈥慴oiling solvents (e.g., cyclohexanone) and water tended to yield larger particles. The structural findings were confirmed by catalyst testing by collaborators at the University of Cardiff鈥檚 Catalysis Institute.

However, the new technique has potential for significant impact in fields outside catalysis. Many crucial processes, from fuel cells and batteries to filtration and precious鈥憁etal recovery from e鈥憌aste, happen at solid鈥搇iquid interfaces. Until now, scientists mostly relied on ensemble measurements that can obscure atomic鈥憇cale complexity; watching individual atoms in liquids changes that.

, who led the research, commented, "It's remarkable how much we still don't understand about how atoms behave at solid鈥憀iquid interfaces, given how fundamental these processes are to modern technology. Now we can watch what's actually happening, understand why, and use that insight to design better materials and processes."

The research involved collaboration between The University of 99久久精品, Cardiff University, Sheffield University, and the ePSIC national microscopy facility at Diamond, combining expertise in electron microscopy, 2D materials fabrication, catalysis, and computational modelling. With the platform now established, the team is already applying it to questions in clean energy technologies and recovery of metals from e鈥憌aste.

This research was published in the journal Science.

Full title: Atomic-resolution imaging of gold species at organic liquid-solid interfaces.

DOI:

The new grant funded by an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Health Technologies Connectivity Award will assess the benefit and suitability of the software for use within the NHS.

The researchers hope the software, called (In Silico Assessment of pregnancy via Digital Integrated Environments) will help doctors tackle the stubbornly high prevalence of stillbirths. Late-term losses are especially hard to foresee, as clinicians continue to lack an accurate means of assessing a baby's oxygen supply before birth.

Around half of stillbirths are associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR), a condition caused by impaired placental function that limits the baby鈥檚 growth. Current ultrasound tools detect only around half of FGR cases, and even when identified, there is no treatment. Clinicians must instead make complex decisions about the timing of birth, balancing the risks of premature delivery against the danger of waiting too long.

from The University of 99久久精品 said: 鈥淭oday鈥檚 clinical decision-making relies on indirect indicators such as Doppler ultrasound, fetal movements and heart rate patterns. While umbilical artery Doppler has helped reduce stillbirth risk in premature babies, most stillbirths still occur in pregnancies where Doppler results appear normal. Crucially, no existing clinical test can directly assess fetal oxygenation 鈥� the primary driver of stillbirth risk.鈥�

Dr Michele Darrow from the Rosalind Franklin Institute said: 鈥淏y integrating computational physics-based modelling, imaging science and physiological insights, the software we have developed is able to generate real-time, actionable information.鈥�

The researchers are working with international partners at the University of Auckland to address the gap by rethinking how routinely collected clinical data are interpreted. The Auckland team鈥檚 work focuses on integrating physiological understanding with advanced physics-based modelling. This approach underpins the development of SADIE, which uses existing ultrasound technology and clinical data to predict fetal oxygen status in under 30 seconds. 

Dr Darrow added: 鈥淲hile the proof-of-principle results are promising, further work is needed before SADIE can be tested in large鈥憇cale clinical trials. This new funding aims to ensure the models can run reliably in real time and produce predictions that clinicians can rely on.鈥�

Working with clinicians and health system leaders, the team will also assess where SADIE will fit within current NHS care pathways. This step is essential to designing future clinical trials that can demonstrate whether smarter use of ultrasound data can reduce stillbirth while avoiding unnecessary early intervention.

By combining imaging science, computational modelling and clinical insight, this work reflects the researcher鈥檚 mission to develop transformative technologies that improve human health.