2026 news

takeaway coffee handed out

Your morning coffee might protect your brain as you age – here’s the sweet spot

An opinion piece authored by Professor Eef Hogervorst, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University.
three people sat behind a desk

Loughborough University signs landmark partnership with Team England

Loughborough University has agreed a landmark partnership with Team England ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
A pregnant woman holds a small teddy next to her belly

Surrogacy laws need to be updated to protect children, parents and surrogates – new report

The law around surrogacy needs to be updated to protect children, parents and surrogates, according to a new report.
A group of palm trees being blown about in a storm surrounded by grey skies by the coast

Weakness in Sri Lanka’s planning led to increased damage after Cyclone Ditwah, research finds

New research into Cyclone Ditwah, a catastrophic tropical cyclone that hit Sri Lanka in November and December 2025, has found the extent of the damage and the weaknesses in Sri Lanka’s planning that intensified the destruction.

Skyline in downtown Hong Kong

City skylines need an upgrade in the face of climate stress

An opinion piece authored by Dr Mohamed Shaheen, Lecturer in Structural Engineering, from the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, for The Conversation platform.
Chris Gill is shaking hands with the University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Jennings

Largest philanthropic donation to Loughborough University supports establishment of new Research Academy

Alum Chris Gill has given the largest philanthropic donation in Loughborough’s history to create a new Research Academy at the University.
A crowd of people walking on a blurred street

Researchers to look at why some human lives are valued as more important than others

Researchers at Loughborough University are preparing to launch a new project which aims to answer the question - why and how are some human lives regarded as expendable, while others are deemed exemplary?
Professor Sian Adiseshiah

Professor recognised with Fellowship of the English Association

Professor Siân Adiseshiah has been elected as a Fellow of the English Association in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the discipline.
law hammer

“Misconduct in public office holds a maximum sentence of life imprisonment but securing a conviction is difficult, so Peter Mandelson may never face prosecution" warns law expert.

Yesterday, it was announced that Lord Mandelson will step down from the House of Lords, after reports of alleged misconduct in a public office, from emails that suggest he was forwarding internal government information to convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein, when he was business secretary in 2009.

A VR scene of a small autonomous-style vehicle showing a bench seat inside. A grey humanoid figure stands at the doorway facing into the vehicle. Two cartoon-like robot characters—one blue and one green—are displayed on interior screens or panels, appearing to interact with the passenger. A large bus and city street elements are visible blurred in the background.

Researchers use virtual reality to understand how people respond when self-driving taxis go wrong

What would you do if you were in a self-driving taxi and another passenger fell seriously ill? What if a fire broke out, or the vehicle stopped in the wrong place? What would you need to manage the situation with no driver to help?
loughborough lightning players in a huddle

boobydoo named official sports bra partner of Loughborough Lightning Netball and Loughborough Sport

Loughborough Lightning Netball and Loughborough Sport is proud to announce its official partnership with sports bra experts boobydoo, championing positive breast health in elite performance sport.
projection of someone creating something on ai

GROK CONTROVERSY: “The real challenge will be how clearly a law defines the offence, and it is enforced in practice,” warns expert.

Earlier this week, the UK government announced it will look to criminalise the creation of non-consensual deepfakes, following the scandal involving Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok.
A Danish Navy ship patrols the seas around Greenland

Whether or not US acquires Greenland, the island will be at the centre of a massive military build-up in the Arctic

An opinion piece written by Professor Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, from the department of International Relations, Politics and History.
Semi-automated manufacturing of battery-electrolyser test cells in the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, funded by the East Midlands Freeport.

Loughborough University’s battery electrolyser system shortlisted for Hydrogen UK Awards

Loughborough University, the only standalone university among this year’s finalists, has been shortlisted in the Innovation Project category at the Hydrogen UK Awards for its pioneering battery electrolyser system.
the london stadium from the outside

Loughborough University becomes custodian of the Spirit of 2012 archive

Spirit of 2012 has announced an exciting new chapter for its legacy as it approaches its planned closure later this month, with Loughborough University confirmed as the official custodian of its extensive archive.
a man lying awake in bed

Your body clock matters for brain health in later life – and could even be linked to dementia risk

An opinion piece authored by Professor Eef Hogervorst, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University.
Frost on window

“We don't have to be substantially subzero to be able to die from the cold. Sustained damage can happen at zero degrees.”

Temperatures across the country have plummeted this week. With weather warnings in place for most of the country and the threat of the first named storm of the year set to bring heavy snowfall, we spoke to Dr Simon Hodder, a Professor in Environmental Ergonomics about the harm cold temperatures can have on our bodies and the best ways to keep warm.  
A person holding a smart meter

Urgent reforms needed to protect terminally ill people from fuel poverty

Energy tariff reform, income support and climate-sensitive policies must be introduced urgently to protect terminally ill people from the growing risk of fuel poverty, according to Dr Elaine Robinson.
a cheese board

Can eating high fat cheese and cream reduce dementia risk, as a new study suggests?

An opinion piece authored by Professor Eef Hogervorst, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University.
Two plastic dinosaurs next to a fake pink brain against a light pink background

Online ‘brainrot’ isn’t ruining children’s minds – it’s a new way of navigating the modern internet

An opinion piece by the Department of Computer Science's Professor Oli Buckley, an expert in cyber security, and PhD candidates Lilly Casey-Green and Patrick Scaife for The Conversation:

an aerial shot of lightning netball players in a huddle

Period underwear provider hustl. partners with Lightning Netball

Loughborough Lightning and hustl. are delighted to announce a key partnership ahead of the 2026 Netball Super League campaign.
Rehearsal of the play The BBC's First Homosexual

Lost BBC documentary on homosexuality inspires new stage play for LGBT+ History Month 2026

A new play is set to celebrate the remarkable rediscovery of the BBC’s first ever documentary on homosexuality, a programme so controversial at the time it was banned, shelved and eventually lost in the BBC archives.
a legal marijuana shop on Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok

Loughborough University launches global centre to support fairer drug market reform

A new global research centre examining how drug markets are changing has launched at Loughborough University.
a female athlete running

Loughborough University academic co-authors landmark update on female athlete health

Loughborough researcher Dr Emma O’Donnell has played a pivotal role in a landmark update to the Female Athlete Triad Coalition Consensus Statement.
A school boy and three school girls laugh and walk together

How to involve men and boys in tackling misogyny? Start by treating them not just as perpetrators

Almost half (45%) of teachers across primary and secondary schools in the UK describe misogynistic attitudes and behaviour among boys as being a problem, according to a YouGov survey in 2025. Additionally, 54% of secondary school teachers indicate that boys very or fairly often openly express misogynistic attitudes or behaviour in school.