Science news

Seventh year running for ‘best university in the world for sports-related subjects’ title

Loughborough has been crowned the best university in the world for sports-related subjects for the seventh year running by the global QS higher education league table.
Man picking litter on the beach

Exploring how beach litter has changed over the past 50 years using drones and phone apps

Loughborough University researchers will assess how coastal litter from the ocean has changed over the past half-century in a unique project that brings together local heritage, drones, and mobile phone apps.

Jumpers for Goalposts exhibition now open – here’s a look inside!

An exhibition that brings together art, design, science, and football-related research from across Loughborough University is now open to the public – and you can have a peek inside thanks to a new teaser video.
A group of school children talking to one of the PhD researchers at the SlowCat exhibition stand

Loughborough’s researchers inspire the next generation of scientists at London Schools’ Climate Kick-Start Event

A Loughborough team of scientists and engineers who are designing and preparing catalysts for a greener future took part in a London-wide schools programme to empower young people to help tackle climate change.
A field showing before and after climate change, on the left it is green and luscious, on the right it is dry and cracked.

Infographic: What difference can the COP27 climate change negotiations make?

A new infographic created by a Loughborough University physical geographer explores how negotiations made at the Conference of the Parties (COP) may impact weather and temperatures in the East Midlands.

Illustration of a woman in a pink jumper sat cross-legged, meditating.

Exercise toolkit looks to improve physical and mental wellbeing of patients in secure psychiatric facilities

A new physical activity toolkit for patients and staff in secure services has been launched by Loughborough University academics.

Loughborough COP27 written on a yellow and blue background

A climate change expert’s simple guide to COP27

This November, COP27 will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – but what actually is COP and why should we care about it?
Flood damage to a home in Whalley (2015), the floor is muddy and possessions are stacked on tables, etc

Previsico accelerates IoT rollout in the UK following flood mitigation success

Loughborough University spinout Previsico has launched the nationwide roll-out of innovative IoT technology that enables individuals and communities to build resilience against the impacts of flooding. This follows success across the UK, including Whalley in Lancashire, which was devasted by flooding in 2015 and 2020.
Photograph of Pooja Goddard, sitting in an open plan learning space

Dr Pooja Goddard awarded Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowship

Dr Pooja Goddard is among this year’s cohort of just 16 UK academics to be awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowship.
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, fitness trackers, and cabin workouts can improve activity levels of lorry drivers

A targeted health programme, including health education sessions, fitness trackers, 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.