Science news

Blue, pink and green graphic with text information about the Festival

Loughborough researchers making science accessible to all at the British Science Festival 2022

Loughborough University is hosting a series of events as part of the British Science Festival which takes place in Leicester from Tuesday 13-Saturday 17 September.

Revolutionary forensic fingerprint technique could help fight against fraud

Forensic examiners can now determine whether a fingerprint was placed on a piece of paper before or after any text was printed on it.
Man picking up litter from grass and putting it in bag.

We studied 40,000 pieces of litter to find out where it all comes from – here’s what we discovered

Litter is perhaps the most tangible of all environmental problems. And it’s not just a disrespectful few who are responsible for it.

Snowpiercer’s ‘eternal engine’ inspires the next generation of ultraprecise atomic clocks

UK scientists have created an ‘eternal engine’ to keep the next generation of atomic clock ticking.
Man on a treadmill with an exoskeleton leg support

Revolutionising rehabilitation: Discussing a new £100m transformational centre and why people are looking to axolotls for answers…

Around the world, an estimated 2.4 billion people are currently living with a health condition that benefits from rehabilitation, and the need for such services and interventions is predicted to increase globally, says the World Health Organisation.

Illustration of a phone saying 'extreme heat' with a red toned landscape in the background

Scientists share tips and tricks for staying cool in this week's extreme heat

The UK will experience two days of unprecedented heat this week, says the Met Office, and there’s a 90% chance the current temperature record will be broken.

Nail varnish remover, shampoo and even fabrics, the surprising everyday items that originate from fossil fuels

What would a world without fossil fuels look like? To visualise this, a group of Loughborough University researchers have compiled a gallery of images revealing the surprising items we use every day that are sourced from fossil fuels - and the alternatives we might replace them with.

Scones with jam and cream

Music to your ears (and mouth): Study explores if cooking with sound could produce more environmentally-friendly jam and cream

Planning an afternoon tea to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee? Have you got your jam and cream in?
Illustration of a lorry driver in a red hat sat behind the wheel of a lorry driving down the road.

‘SHIFT’ it: New research suggests health education, Fitbits, and cabin workouts can improve activity levels of lorry drivers

A targeted health programme, including health education sessions, Fitbits, and lorry cabin workouts, can improve the activity levels of long-distance heavy goods drivers in the short term - according to new research led by Loughborough University.
Landing of Italian Troops in Tripoli, Libya in October 1911. (Image supplied by the Illustrations Bureau (Whitefriars, London)).

Photos of wartime Europe still shape views of conflict – here’s how we’re trying to right the record

A war in Europe instantly creates parallels with the world wars for people in the UK and other European countries. This connection represents what most people know and are taught about conflict on the continent. The media coverage and response to the war in Ukraine have also invoked familiar images of the second world war, in particular those of bombed buildings, armed soldiers and civilians, and children clinging to their parents.
A child doing timestables

More maths testing could be good for primary schoolchildren – if done in the right way

Recently published UK government plans proposed that by 2030, 90% of children leaving primary school in England should reach the expected standards in reading, writing and maths, compared with 65% in 2019.

Ocean of thoughts - New theory on how the brain recognises patterns

New research shows that our ability to recognise and differentiate between objects is caused by a complex pattern of brain waves interacting with each other.

Study aims to learn more about the links between physical activity and mood, stress and arousal

Researchers are hoping to learn more about the relationship between physical activity and a healthy mind.
man with long nose surronded by technology and covid illustrations

Not calling out friends’ and family’s COVID-19 vaccine falsehoods on WhatsApp can further the spread of misinformation – here’s why we don’t correct them

When people see COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on online personal messaging platforms and don’t speak up, this can boost the legitimacy of false claims and further their spread. So why don’t we correct our peers?
A child with their head against a board showing maths equations.

Being anxious about studying maths doesn’t mean you’re not good at it, but it can result in negative outcomes, says expert

Have you ever felt stressed or anxious while staring at your maths homework? Did the idea of your maths teacher asking you a question in class fill you with dread?

Photograph of Italian troops in Libya in October 1911. It was taken by journalist and reporter Victor Forbin for several French newspapers. (Image from the Service Historique de la Défense (2K34-161) form the Rumpf archival fonds.)

“Historical photographs of armed violence can impact our view of present conflicts”: New project to use AI to collate overlooked war images

“When we focus too much on the First and Second World Wars, this has an impact on our view of present conflicts.
Exercise kit with breast cancer ribbon

Exercise improves physical and mental side effects of breast cancer treatments, new study finds

Exercise helps breast cancer patients with the physical and mental side effects of treatment, a new Loughborough University study has found, and ultimately it may improve disease prognosis.

Faster analogue computer could be based on mathematics of complex systems

Researchers have proposed a novel principle for a unique kind of computer which would use analogue technology in place of digital or quantum components.

New AI model will speed up document analysis for the banking, financial and insurance industries

Researchers have developed an AI-based solution which can automatically analyse and extract large amounts of information from computer documents.
Students walking

Loughborough University degree programmes receive Society for Natural Sciences accreditation

Loughborough University is among the first group of institutions whose degree programmes have been accredited by the Society for Natural Sciences (SNS).
Man in suit holding mobile

COVID misinformation is a health risk – tech companies need to remove harmful content not tweak their algorithms

Many worldwide have now caught COVID. But during the pandemic many more are likely to have encountered something else that’s been spreading virally: misinformation. False information has plagued the COVID response, erroneously convincing people that the virus isn’t harmful, of the merits of various ineffective treatments, or of false dangers associated with vaccines.

Loughborough to play key role in new programme which puts the Midlands at forefront of hydrogen innovation

Loughborough University experts are part of a new programme designed to support, foster, and accelerate the hydrogen economy in the Midlands.
Images of 3D bones with implants on them

Bone-building cells favour different orthopaedic implant designs and this can be exploited to create devices that promote faster healing, new study finds

New orthopaedic implant devices that promote faster healing and ultimately reduce the strain on the NHS could be available in the future thanks to new research by Loughborough University engineering experts that reveals which structures best promote bone healing.

Santa walking

It could take 12 hours of walking to burn off your Christmas dinner

Overeating at Christmas time is almost like a tradition. Many of us look forward to piling our plates full of festive foods, snacking on chocolate throughout the holidays or sipping on festive drinks. Even if you were trying to eat healthier, indulgent foods are often displayed more prominently in supermarkets and shops during the holidays, making it difficult to pass up on our favourite foods and drinks.
Ashleigh Filtness

Senior Lecturer announced as part of the Foundation of Science and Technology Future Leaders 2022

Dr Ashleigh Filtness, a Senior Lecturer in Human Factors and Transport Safety, has been selected to be a part of Foundation Future Leaders 2022.