• Temporary accommodation has existed in different forms for nearly two centuries

• Many of the problems seen today have deep historical roots

• Poor conditions, lengthy stays and placements away from communities have been repeated over time

• Fragmented responsibility has consistently made accountability difficult

• People living in temporary accommodation have often had limited opportunities to challenge poor conditions or unfair decisions

• Temporary accommodation has frequently operated outside the standards expected of other forms of housing

• A new enforceable framework is needed to ensure temporary accommodation is short, safe and healthy

A crisis with deep historical roots

The report identifies a long-running pattern in which certain groups have faced greater barriers to support than others, rooted in ideas about who is considered 鈥榙eserving鈥� of assistance.

It argues that while major reforms have changed the legal framework around homelessness, longstanding patterns of exclusion, unequal treatment and poor-quality accommodation have repeatedly reappeared in different forms.

The research also highlights how fragmented responsibilities across government departments, local authorities and providers have often made it difficult to identify poor practice, enforce standards or learn from successful approaches.

Lessons from nearly 200 years of history

The report calls for three major reforms:

• Make unequal harms visible - better monitoring is needed to understand who is being placed where, in what conditions and for how long, enabling policymakers to identify and address unequal outcomes.

• End fragmentation - temporary accommodation requires clearer statutory coordination, stronger oversight and greater accountability across the system.

• Create an enforceable framework - temporary accommodation should be subject to baseline national standards, backed by meaningful enforcement.

Better temporary accommodation is possible

The report also identifies examples showing that better temporary accommodation can be delivered when there is political will and investment.

One example is the 1944 Temporary Housing Programme, which funded more than 150,000 prefabricated bungalows following the Second World War. Designed with comfort, privacy and family life in mind, the programme demonstrated that temporary accommodation could provide safe and dignified housing rather than merely emergency shelter.

What the researchers say

"Many of the problems experienced by people living in temporary accommodation today have appeared again and again for nearly two centuries,鈥� said Dr Jessica Field. 鈥淲hat emerges from this research is a story of recurring patterns rather than isolated failures - poor conditions, long stays, family disruption and displacement from communities have persisted across very different political and policy contexts. Understanding how these problems developed helps us see why piecemeal reforms have often struggled to deliver lasting change.鈥�

"Temporary accommodation may seem like a current crisis, but it has been part of our lives for nearly 200 years - yet the experience for many people living in temporary accommodation today remains painfully similar to what it was in the nineteenth century,鈥� said Simon Gale, Chief Executive of Justlife.

"Poor conditions, long stays, people being moved away from their communities, and families left in uncertainty are not new problems. Lifelines shows they are part of a much longer pattern. That matters because we cannot keep responding to temporary accommodation as if each problem is new, isolated or unavoidable.鈥�

"If we are serious about ending the harm caused by temporary accommodation, we need a clear national framework, proper standards, stronger accountability and a housing policy that stops temporary solutions becoming long-term realities."

Publication

was authored by Dr Jessica Field and published by Justlife.

The list celebrates individuals who have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of people across the country, such as by creating innovative solutions or driving real change in public life.

Professor David Knowles

FREng, CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to industry and academia.

His work has focused primarily on the application of advanced materials and engineering research to address major industrial and national challenges across transport, energy, petrochemical and infrastructure sectors.

Responding to the award, Professor Knowles said: 鈥淚 feel incredibly privileged and proud to have received this honour. It is a recognition not just of my own work, but of everything that the outstanding teams and institutes I鈥檝e been fortunate to be part of have achieved together over many years.

鈥淚 would like to acknowledge the contribution of the many colleagues and collaborators I鈥檝e worked alongside across academia, industry and government. Their talent, dedication and shared commitment to innovation have been central to everything we have accomplished.

鈥淣aturally, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my family, past and present, whose encouragement and support have sustained me along the way.鈥�

Professor Luke Georghiou

, formerly Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at 51福利社, has been awarded an OBE for services to science and innovation. His current role is that of Professor of Science and Technology Policy and Management in the 51福利社 Institute of Innovation Research in the Alliance 51福利社 Business School. 

A longstanding figure in UK research and innovation policy, Professor Georghiou has played a leading role in shaping national and international approaches to science funding, collaboration and impact. Among his many contributions, he led 51福利社鈥檚 successful bid to host the Euroscience Forum and secure its designation as European City of Science, and played a key role in the foundation of Northern Gritstone, a 拢380m venture capital company supporting university spinouts across the North.

Speaking on his award, Professor Georghiou said: "It has been a privilege to support and guide so many hugely talented people and to help develop 51福利社鈥檚 outstanding innovation ecosystem.鈥�

Professor Gareth Evans

, Emeritus Professor of Medical Genetics at 51福利社 and Consultant in Medical Genetics at 51福利社 University NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded an MBE for services to cancer genetics. His work has made a significant contribution to advancing understanding, diagnosis and care in inherited cancer, benefiting patients and families in the UK and beyond.

Professor Evans said: "I'm very honoured to be mentioned in the King's birthday honours. It's the culmination of thirty six years of work on inherited cancers and I'm extremely pleased. In particular to have my work on breast and ovarian cancer and the BRCA1/2 genes recognised and my setting of a national highly specialised service for patients with NF2 related schwannomatosis."

The birthday honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister, senior government ministers, or members of the public.

The awards recognise active community champions, innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering scientists, passionate health workers and dedicated volunteers who have made significant achievements in public life or committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.

For the past five years, Dr Eric Lybeck has been working with communities in Southport to develop The Arcade Project, a cultural programme and community space within the town鈥檚 historic Grade II Listed Wayfarers Arcade. A community caf茅 space called The Engine Room, located within the Arcade, has become the venue for music, arts, craft and heritage activities co-developed with local people.

Now the story so far of the development of The Arcade Project is being told in a comic play called 鈥楤est Practice鈥�, exploring the challenges of trying to make things happen in an ordinary town. The performance takes place on Friday 19^th June and tickets can be booked . The play is part of a wider programme of cultural events continuing through the summer.

But, as Dr Lybeck explains, The Engine Room cafe and its cultural programme is just the start of reimagining the Wayfarers Arcade as the focal point of civic regeneration in Southport:

More information about the Arcade Project can be found .

Researchers, community organisations and entrepreneurs who want to get involved can contact Dr Lybeck.

 commissioned from , the CBI鈥檚 economic consultancy division, has revealed the enormous opportunities for UK growth, regional development and productivity that can come from aligning business needs, universities and government policy.

The report, which is based on survey and interview data from 610 businesses and university stakeholders, reveals a system that is working well in some areas with eight out of ten businesses surveyed recognise the positive contribution of working with universities. However it is also failing to make the most of talent and the ability to innovate.

Ultimately this is stunting growth, preventing new work being carried out, or forcing businesses to shift operations overseas.

The report shows that this is particularly acute in the UK鈥檚 priority 鈥榝rontier sectors鈥�, crucial for delivery of the government鈥檚 Industrial Strategy, including advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and life sciences. Compared with firms outside of these sectors, surveyed frontier sector firms are around seven times more likely to report relocating activity outside of the UK if universities were less able to supply skilled graduates or collaborate with business.

The findings also present a significant opportunity 鈥� the UK has world-leading universities, strong research capability and businesses operating at the technological frontier. The UK can build on these by strengthening talent pipelines, improving collaboration and aligning policy with business needs.

Talent and skills

Businesses reported that the constraint on talent and skills is largely one of availability, not quality.

Survey responses indicate that around one in five businesses (19%) are currently experiencing a graduate skills shortage or gap, with shortages more pronounced among firms operating in frontier sectors.

The findings show that international talent is filling targeted skills gaps rather than displacing domestic workers.

Addressing this talent gap this will require strengthening the scale and alignment of the domestic skills pipeline, while maintaining access to international talent, where gaps persist.

University-business collaboration

The other significant way in which universities and businesses collaborate is in research and innovation. This, the report finds, delivers benefits including commercial product development and productivity gains, access to specialist facilities and research expertise, that businesses would not be able to invest in themselves.

However, businesses also highlight that it is difficult to find the right contacts, and there are differing timescales and multiple funding streams which complicate engagement.

One SME described how establishing initial engagement with a university could take several months, from securing the right contact through to progressing discussions. This contrasted sharply with their experience in other countries, where similar partnerships could be initiated within days.

Recent University of 51福利社 initiatives point to the types of practical steps universities can take. This includes plans to offer all undergraduates meaningful real-world experience, such as placements, internships, live employer projects or work with public and community organisations, and the launch of the five-year, 拢5m, Future of Work Alliance with BNY, focused on responsible human-led AI.

The report calls for clearer incentives and simpler funding routes from government, with universities doing more to speed up and simplify access for businesses.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of 51福利社, said: 鈥淓conomic growth depends on our ability to turn talent and ideas into new products, services, and industries. The countries that do this best will lead the global economy.

鈥淲e need to be more ambitious, more responsive and more outward-looking in how we work with employers and entrepreneurs. The issue is not whether the UK produces highly skilled people. It is whether those skills can be connected quickly and effectively to the places, sectors, communities, and businesses that need them most.

鈥淎s this report makes clear, by strengthening skills pipelines, removing barriers to collaboration and backing innovation wherever it emerges, we can unlock far more of what universities and businesses can achieve together. This is what the country needs and what we are committed to delivering.鈥�

Adriana Curca, CBI Economics Director, said: 鈥淥ur research shows that universities are a critical part of the infrastructure that supports business growth, providing access to talent, research capability and innovation expertise. This is particularly important in the UK鈥檚 frontier sectors where firms rely on advanced skills, research capability and innovation to grow and compete.鈥�

鈥淲hile many examples of collaboration are already delivering tangible benefits, there is a significant opportunity to do more. Better connecting business needs with talent, research and innovation capability could help unlock growth in the sectors that will shape the UK's future economy.鈥�

• Just 4% of patients in the dataset were offered social prescribing between 2019 and 2024

• Patients living in the least deprived areas were significantly more likely to be offered social prescribing than those in the most deprived communities

• Women were substantially more likely than men to be offered social prescribing

• Older patients and people with multiple long-term conditions were more likely to receive offers

• More than three quarters (77.7%) of those offered social prescribing received a referral

• Ethnic minority patients were generally as likely - or more likely - to accept referrals

What else did the study find?

The researchers analysed anonymised NHS primary care records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), one of the largest healthcare datasets in England.

The study explored which groups of patients were offered social prescribing and which went on to receive referrals after offers were made.

Social prescribing schemes aim to support people whose health may be affected by wider social issues such as loneliness, poor housing, financial stress or isolation by linking them with non-medical community services through dedicated NHS link workers.

Clear inequalities

Patients in more affluent areas consistently had higher odds of being offered social prescribing than those in deprived areas, despite evidence that poorer communities often experience worse health outcomes and greater levels of long-term illness.

Women were also more likely to be offered referrals than men across almost every age group examined.

The study found strong links between long-term illness and social prescribing access, with patients suffering multiple health conditions far more likely to receive offers and referrals.

Why it matters

Researchers say the findings are significant because social prescribing has become a major part of NHS plans to reduce pressure on healthcare services and improve public health.

Since 2019, thousands of social prescribing link workers have been recruited across England through the NHS Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme.

The researchers warn that unequal access to these services could risk widening existing health inequalities if patients in deprived communities are less likely to benefit. However, the study also found encouraging signs once offers had been made.

Patients from ethnic minority backgrounds were often more likely than white patients to accept referrals, while deprivation itself did not appear to reduce uptake after an offer was made.

Researchers say this suggests the key inequality may lie in access to offers rather than willingness to engage.

Men and older patients less likely to engage

The study also found important differences between being offered social prescribing and accepting referrals.

While older patients were more likely to be offered support, they were less likely to go on to receive referrals once offered. Male patients were consistently less likely than women to both receive offers and proceed to referral.

Researchers say more work is needed to understand why some groups may be underrepresented or less likely to engage with social prescribing services.

What the researchers say

鈥淚t is concerning that the patients most likely to benefit from social prescribing support appear to be among the least likely to be offered it,鈥� said Research Fellow Anna Wilding. 鈥淧eople living in deprived communities are more likely to experience long-term illness, financial hardship, isolation and poor mental health - the very issues social prescribing is designed to help address.鈥�

鈥淥ur findings suggest the biggest challenge is not whether people will engage with social prescribing once offered support, but ensuring disadvantaged communities are not left behind in the first place.鈥�

Publication details

The study was published in journal PLOS One.

DOI:

The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) has committed 拢50 million over five years to drive forward the vital research led by clinicians, researchers, and communities across the consortium marking the most significant step forward in maternal health research in a generation.

The launch comes at a pivotal moment for maternity care in the UK, with national attention increasingly focused on improving safety, equity and women's experiences of care.

The 51福利社-led part of the research will involve improving and reducing inequalities in maternity care pathways. The focus will be on major contributors to maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly cardiometabolic complications (obesity, hypertension, gestational diabetes (GDM), perinatal mental health, and complications in early maternal recovery after birth.

Dr Debbie Smith, Co-Lead of the Perinatal mental health and wellbeing work, said: 鈥淚 am really excited that 51福利社 are co-leading the perinatal mental health and wellbeing work as part of this consortium and look forward to co-producing equitable behavioural interventions with key stakeholders over the next few years鈥�.

The Government's renewed Women's Health Strategy highlights the need to improve care before and between pregnancies for marginalised communities, against this backdrop, the consortium will generate the evidence, interventions and research capacity needed to help translate national ambition into practical, equitable improvements for women, babies and families.

鈥淭his funding represents a critical opportunity to make the step change we need to improve outcomes for women and their babies. Alongside the research, the Consortium will be investing in tomorrow's research leaders today to ensure we have the capacity to deliver on improving pregnancy outcomes, access to, and experience of, care鈥�, says Professor Judith Rankin OBE, Consortium Co-lead for Research and Capacity Development, Newcastle University.

鈥淣ational attention on maternity safety and equity has never been greater, but ambition must now be matched by evidence and implementation. Through this consortium, we will work across the UK to understand what works, for whom and in what contexts, and to ensure that research leads to practical changes in care for the women, babies and families who need them most,鈥� says Professor Joht Singh Chandan, Consortium Co-lead for Research, University of Birmingham.

• Elite football increasingly relies on investment from fossil fuel-rich states and companies, including sponsorships and ownership models linked to Gulf nations and energy firms.
• FIFA鈥檚 partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco is singled out by the authors, who claim football has become central to a wider strategy of sportswashing by fossil fuel interests.
• The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 Men鈥檚 World Cup will significantly increase emissions due to the greater number of matches and the vast travel distances across North America.
• The tournament will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities spanning the entire continent. The last Men鈥檚 World Cup in 2022, Qatar, saw 64 matches played across the 32-team tournament.
• FIFA鈥檚 environmental policies are scrutinised, with the research team accusing the organisation of promoting sustainability rhetoric while simultaneously expanding competitions and strengthening ties with fossil fuel sponsors.

The study highlights concerns over future tournaments, noting that Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup while the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement under President Donald Trump.

Why this matters

The researchers say the expanded 48-team format for the 2026 Men鈥檚 World Cup will significantly increase emissions due to the greater number of matches and the vast travel distances across North America.

The tournament will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities spanning the entire continent. The last Men鈥檚 World Cup in 2022, Qatar, saw 64 matches played across the 32-team tournament.

FIFA鈥檚 environmental policies are also scrutinised, with the research team accusing the organisation of promoting sustainability rhetoric while simultaneously expanding competitions and strengthening ties with fossil fuel sponsors.

The study also highlights concerns over future tournaments, noting that Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup while the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement under President Donald Trump.

What the researchers say

Lead researcher, Dr Mark Doidge, Reader in Sociology of Sport at Loughborough University, said: 鈥淔ootball is the world鈥檚 most popular sport, and probably the most popular activity. It is for this reason that football authorities, like FIFA, continue to exploit it for commercial profit."

鈥淔ootball is also a cultural powerhouse with millions of fans, volunteers, and players trying to make the sport better. Football can, and should, use its influence to mitigate against climate change.鈥�

Dr James Jackson, Lecturer at 51福利社, said: 鈥淒espite the last World Cup offering a preview of what football would be like in a significantly warmer world, FIFA has remained indifferent to better regulation. Rather than being proactive and ensuring football helps mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change, they are - at best - pursuing meagre adaptation measures for things which affect fans and players."

Dr Oscar Berglund, Senior Lecturer in International Public and Social Policy at the University of Bristol, said: 鈥淔IFA has made elite men鈥檚 football the primary target of Petrostate sportswashing. This World Cup, with the ridiculous Trump Peace Prize and having Saudi Aramco, the world鈥檚 largest polluter, as its main sponsor, reaches new levels.

鈥淚t has been a key strategy of Petrostates to use football鈥檚 unrivalled cultural influence globally. They don鈥檛 need to convince us that fossil fuels are good, just that they are inevitable. So, as we watch and love our beautiful game, we come to accept the necessary evil of fossil capital.鈥�

Club sustainability and commercial pressure

As part of the study, researchers interviewed sustainability managers working in football clubs across Europe, many of whom described tensions between environmental targets and the commercial demands of the modern game.

According to the report, sustainability initiatives are often only approved if they do not disrupt football鈥檚 core product, including the scheduling and broadcasting of matches.

Some interviewees said clubs remained more focused on increasing revenues than reducing environmental costs, despite the growing financial risks posed by flooding, heatwaves and fixture disruption.

Recommendations

The investigation proposes a series of recommendations aimed at reducing football鈥檚 environmental impact.

• FIFA should stop awarding tournaments to Petrostates.
• Restrictions should be placed on fossil fuel ownership of clubs.
• Fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship should be banned in football.
• Football authorities should halt the expansion of competitions.
• Sustainability managers should be embedded into all levels of club decision-making rather than operating in isolated compliance roles.

FIFA response

FIFA has previously defended its sustainability strategies and said major tournaments can drive investment, infrastructure and development in host nations. The organisation has also said that expanding competitions increases global participation and opportunities for smaller footballing nations.

Publication details

To read the full report, . The findings will form part of Football and Climate Change: The Unsustainability of the Beautiful Game, due to be published in 2027.

, a new model for low鈥憀ight image enhancement (LLIE), was created by Computer Science undergraduate Alexandru Brateanu during his third-year project, working with academic supervisors.

The model outperforms comparable compact systems, recovering detail and clarity from images that would previously have been considered unusable.

The advancement has significant implications for photography, security, and a wide range of computational imaging tasks.

Low鈥憀ight image enhancement seeks to restore natural visibility, colour fidelity, and structural detail in scenes captured under poor illumination. While recent LLIE models have achieved impressive results, many rely on heavy architectures with large parameter counts, resulting in high computational cost and limited real鈥憈ime applicability. Efficiency has therefore become a central research challenge: how to enhance images more effectively while dramatically reducing model size.

In the work presented at the IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition 2026, the team proposes a structured solution grounded in classical colour vision theory and implemented using modern neural components within the Retinex framework. Retinex, a foundational approach in image enhancement, decomposes an image into illumination (light) and reflectance (colour) components to better handle low鈥憀ight scenes.

The design motivation behind Multinex is to extract as much useful information as possible from low鈥憀ight images using a highly compact architecture. By prioritising enhancement over reconstruction and leveraging lightweight neural operations, Multinex achieves strong illumination correction, detail recovery, and colour fidelity while using only a fraction of the parameters required by existing approaches.

The model is released in both a lightweight version (45K parameters) and an extremely compact nano version (0.7K parameters), each offering substantial reductions in computational load. Comparison to corresponding lightweight models such as PairLIE (330K parameters) and ZeroDCE (80K parameters) Multinex shows a significant performance improvement.

Like other LLIE techniques, Multinex still faces challenges in scenes with severe spectral distortions, lens flares, or mixed artificial and natural lighting. The team aims to extend the framework to these complex cases, exploring alternative formulations such as tone鈥憁apping or multiplicative residuals, and applying Multinex principles to related domains including intrinsic image decomposition, colour constancy, underwater enhancement, and haze removal.

The researchers demonstrate that Multinex delivers state鈥憃f鈥憈he鈥慳rt performance at real鈥憈ime cost, highlighting the power of combining analytic priors with modern lightweight design.

The study led by the Indian Childhood Collaborative Leukaemia (ICiCle) group, which includes University of 51福利社 researchers, treated over 3000 children with acute B鈥慶ell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at six major centres across India.

ALL is a fast鈥慻rowing blood cancer that starts from very early B鈥慶ells in the bone marrow. It is the most common form of ALL, especially in children.

Publishing in the Lancet Regional Health 鈥� Southeast Asia, the researchers compared the standard four鈥憌eek continuous steroid course with a pulsed schedule given in weeks one, two and four.

Children on the pulsed schedule had far fewer early deaths, with rates falling from 3.5% to 1.3%.

Most leukaemia related early  deaths are currently caused by severe infections linked to continuous steroid use - a major challenge in low鈥� and middle鈥慽ncome countries.

Crucially, the shorter steroid exposure did not affect how well treatment worked, with remission rates of around 98% in both groups.

Survival outcomes were also similar, showing that the safer approach does not compromise cure.

The trial also found that using a powerful and highly effective class of chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines early in treatment increased the risk of treatment鈥憆elated deaths.

The findings come from the ICiCle鈥慉LL鈥�14 trial, the first multicentre randomised paediatric oncology trial conducted in India.

Childhood leukaemia now has survival rates above 90% in many wealthy countries.

But children in low鈥� and middle鈥慽ncome countries still face far higher risks of dying during treatment, often because infections strike early on.

Since 2013, the ICiCle group team has been working to bring a consistent, modern treatment approach to children with leukaemia across India, rolled out to centres across India.

Professor Vaskar Saha from 51福利社 and Tata Medical Center, is lead author and founder of the ICiCle group.

He said: 鈥淲e show for the first time that a simple change in how we give steroids can save lives. By reducing continuous exposure, we appear to lessen the risk of severe infections without compromising the effectiveness of treatment. This is a practical, low鈥慶ost intervention that could be adopted widely, particularly in settings where treatment鈥憆elated mortality remains high.鈥�

Professor Venkatraman Radhakrishnan of the Cancer Institute (WIA) said: 鈥淭he study provides robust randomised evidence that steroid scheduling itself is a modifiable determinant of induction mortality. The lack of any detriment in MRD response or survival makes this a particularly compelling practice change.鈥�

The study was funded by the National Cancer Grid, Indian Council of Medical Research, DBT-Wellcome India Alliance and Tata Consultancy Services.

The participating centres were:

• BR Ambedkar Rotary Cancer Hospital 鈥� All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
• Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER Chandigarh 鈥� Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
• Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS New Delhi 鈥� All India Institute of Medical Sciences
• Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai 鈥� National cancer centre
• Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Tata Medical Center Kolkata 鈥� Tertiary paediatric cancer service
• Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA) Chennai 鈥� One of India鈥檚 oldest cancer institutes

Professor Michael Garrett, the Sir Bernard Lovell Chair of Astrophysics, chaired a global effort to update the long-standing 鈥減ost-detection protocols鈥� used by researchers involved in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The updated guidelines have now been formally ratified by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

The revised Declaration of Principles marks the first major update to the protocols in more than 15 years and reflects a media landscape transformed by social media, artificial intelligence and the 24-hour news cycle.

Acknowledging that any credible detection of extraterrestrial technology would be a transformative event for humanity, the new Declaration establishes a rigorous framework for verification, transparency and global risk communication.

"The information environment we operate in today is vastly more complex than it was in 2010," said Professor Michael Garrett, Chair of the IAA SETI Committee. . "In an era of deepfakes, automated misinformation, and instant global connectivity, a single unverified claim could trigger confusion or panic. These new protocols ensure that scientists maintain the highest standards of evidence before making announcements to the world."

Adapting to a new era of SETI research

SETI and Technosignature research have expanded significantly since the previous protocols were adopted in 2010. Scientists now investigate the entire electromagnetic spectrum, including excess infrared heat signatures from megastructures, optical laser emission, and even multi-messenger signals. The updated Declaration explicitly recognises this broader approach.

It also addresses other modern challenges, including protections for researchers, acknowledging that scientists involved in potential detection could face harassment, doxxing, or intense media scrutiny.

It also acknowledges the risk of viral rumours, ensuring verified data is distinguished from hoaxes or terrestrial interference.

Verification before announcement

At the heart of the new rules is a reaffirmation of a core scientific principle: 鈥渆xtraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence鈥�.

Under the revised protocols, no public announcement should be made until a signal or artifact has been rigorously authenticated by independent organisations using different instrumentation.

"We do not shout 鈥渁lien鈥� the moment we see a strange blip," Professor Garrett added. "The scientific method demands we check, check again, and then ask others to check. Only when we have reached a consensus that a signal is credible do we bring it to the world."

The 'No Reply' Consensus

While the protocols outline how to share news of a discovery, they remain firm on one critical restriction: No reply should be sent.

The Declaration reaffirms the enduring principle that transmitting a response to an extraterrestrial intelligence is a decision that belongs to all of humanity and should only take place following international consultations, specifically through the United Nations.

What happens next

With the updated Declaration ratified by the IAA Board, the aim is to see the document lodged with other stakeholders, including the United Nations. A formal technical presentation of the protocols to the wider community, including the scientific press, will take place at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) later this year in T眉rkiye.

The IAA SETI Committee will also establish a permanent Post-Detection Sub-Committee, bringing together experts in social science, law, and ethics, to advise on the longer-term societal implications of a confirmed discovery.

The full document is available here: 

Professor Woodward is a geomorphologist and geoarchaeologist whose research spans river systems, microplastics in river catchments, Mediterranean geomorphology, Ice Age environments and long-term environmental change. His work explores how landscapes and river systems respond to environmental pressures over timescales ranging from the deep past to the present day.

The group, backed by House of Lords peer Baroness Natalie Bennett, say the UK urgently needs a new national strategy to tackle fungal antimicrobial resistance 鈥� a growing and often overlooked threat to human health, food production and the environment.

In a new paper published in Nature NPJ Antimicrobials and Resistance, they reveal how widespread use of fungicides in agriculture could be undermining life鈥憇aving medicines used to treat patients.

Calling for sweeping changes, including a powerful cross-government body to coordinate action, they argue for a nationwide system to monitor resistance in both the environment and clinics, and stricter regulation of fungicides linked to resistance.

Dr Michael Bottery, co-author of the study from 51福利社, said: 鈥淔ungal resistance is a silent and underestimated threat. The same substances helping to protect crops are also reducing the effectiveness of essential medicines. If we fail to act, we risk losing critical treatments and putting lives at risk.鈥�

The concern centres on so鈥慶alled 鈥渄ual-use鈥� fungicides 鈥� chemicals used in both medicine and farming. In the UK, these are applied to around 94 per cent of arable crops, exposing fungi in the environment to the same compounds relied upon in hospitals.

Over time, this exposure allows fungi to evolve and develop resistance, making infections harder to treat when they infect humans. Some resistant strains have already been detected in clinical settings, raising fears that treatments could become increasingly ineffective.

Fungal infections already pose a major global threat, killing an estimated 2.5 million people each year. They disproportionately affect vulnerable patients, including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplants, or intensive care treatment.

Despite this, researchers warn that the UK鈥檚 current response is fragmented, with responsibility split between agriculture, healthcare and environmental regulators, and limited coordination between them.

They argue that without better surveillance, dangerous resistance trends may go unnoticed until it is too late. More coordinated data-sharing, they say, could allow earlier intervention and more effective policymaking.

Speaking in parliament Baroness Bennett added that tackling the issue requires recognising the close links between human health, farming and ecosystems.

Dr Bottery added: 鈥淲ithout urgent action, the UK risks sleepwalking into a crisis that could threaten not only public health, but also food security, as resistance undermines crop protection and agricultural productivity.鈥�

The full paper, 鈥淎ddressing the Dual-Use of Antifungals and Fungal Antimicrobial Resistance (fAMR) through a One Health Approach鈥�, is open-access and .

• The image was created with AI

• Psychological therapy is often assessed using research models originally developed for medicines

• Unlike drugs, therapy is typically personalised, open-ended and shaped by the therapist鈥揷lient relationship

• Heavy reliance on RCT evidence may narrow treatment options in public healthcare and insurance systems

• Short-term symptom measures may miss broader outcomes such as improved relationships, stability and self-understanding

• A broader evidence base is needed, including real-world outcomes and patient experience

Why this matters

RCTs are commonly used to decide which treatments receive funding, policy backing and public provision.

The editorial argues that this has had significant consequences in mental healthcare, where therapies with strong trial evidence - particularly CBT - have become dominant in many systems.

In England鈥檚 NHS Talking Therapies programme, only a small minority of high-intensity practitioners offer non-CBT approaches, according to evidence discussed in the article.

Why therapy is different from drugs

The article highlights key differences between medicines and psychological therapies.

While drugs can typically be standardised and tested under controlled conditions, therapy is more fluid. Sessions evolve in response to the individual, progress can be non-linear, and meaningful change may include outcomes that are harder to quantify.

What current evidence may miss

The editorial argues that many therapy studies are relatively short, often capturing early symptom improvement but missing longer-term change, setbacks or deeper psychological development.

It also suggests that recovery is often more complex than a single score or endpoint, and may involve ongoing change over time.

To illustrate this, the author uses a fictional case study showing how different therapy models can lead to very different long-term outcomes, even where short-term symptom improvement appears similar.

Towards a broader understanding of evidence

Rather than rejecting trials altogether, the editorial calls for a more pluralistic approach to evidence, including:

• Real-world service data from routine NHS and community settings

• Research into how therapy works, including the role of relationships and context

• Greater emphasis on patient perspectives and lived experience

What the researcher said

鈥淲e have become so used to treating Randomised Controlled Trials as the gold standard that we rarely stop to ask whether they are the right tool for every intervention,鈥� said Dr Sahanika Ratnayake, philosopher of psychiatry at 51福利社.

鈥淭his editorial is not based on a new experiment, but on analysing the strengths and limits of the existing evidence base. Therapy is not a pill - it is a human relationship shaped by trust, timing, context and individual need.

Why it matters now

Demand for mental health support is rising, while services face pressure over waiting times, staffing and budgets.

The article argues that policymakers need evidence systems that better reflect how therapy is actually practised, and what patients themselves value from care.

Publication details

The editorial was published in BJPsych.

DOI:

The research found that large-scale tree planting, restoration schemes and expanding plantations have likely transformed woodland cover across parts of the country over the past decade.

But the study also warns that headline gains can hide a more complicated picture, with native woodlands still being lost in some areas even as overall tree cover increases.

Key findings

• India gained around 2.1 million hectares of tropical dry woodland between 2014 and 2024

• Government forest lands saw major gains linked to restoration and afforestation programmes

• Many woodland increases outside government lands appear likely to be linked to timber and tree-crop plantations

• Researchers also recorded continued woodland loss in some important native forest areas

• Scientists say national tree-cover figures can mask important differences between natural forests and plantations

What did the study find?

The study mapped changes in India鈥檚 tropical dry woodlands - which cover vast areas of the country, but have received far less scientific and conservation attention than tropical rainforests - over a ten-year period using high-resolution satellite imagery.

The researchers found a large overall increase in woodland cover across the country, driven partly by major government-backed restoration efforts including the Green India Mission, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund and the National Afforestation Programme.

The findings suggest these schemes are having a visible impact on the landscape.

Where are the new woodlands appearing?

The study found contrasting patterns inside and outside government-managed forest land.

Within state-administered forest areas, researchers say gains are likely linked to restoration and conservation programmes aimed at increasing forest cover and meeting climate goals.

Outside government lands, however, many gains appear to come from commercial timber plantations and tree crops in agricultural landscapes.

Why this matters

India鈥檚 tropical dry woodlands are among the country鈥檚 most important but overlooked ecosystems.

They support wildlife, store carbon and provide livelihoods for millions of people, especially in poorer rural regions.

Researchers say understanding exactly what kind of woodland is increasing - and where - matters for biodiversity, climate policy and local communities.

Tree cover is not always the same as forest recovery

The researchers warn that national statistics showing rising tree cover do not always mean natural forests are recovering.

Some native dry woodlands inside protected or government-managed areas continued to experience losses during the study period.

Scientists say plantations can provide economic and climate benefits, but they may not fully replace the biodiversity and ecological value of long-established natural woodlands.

How researchers tracked the changes

The team used satellite imagery to reconstruct changes in woodland cover across India between 2014 and 2024 at very high detail.

This allowed them to identify where woodland was expanding, where it was being lost, and how those patterns differed across landscapes and land ownership types.

What the researchers said

鈥淥ur study shows that India has seen substantial gains in dry woodland cover over the past decade,鈥� said lead author Dhanapal Govindarajulu. 鈥淎 lot of this appears linked to major restoration and afforestation programmes, which demonstrates the scale of change that government policy can achieve - but we also found that not all woodland gains are the same.鈥�

Why it matters now

Countries around the world are pledging large-scale tree planting and forest restoration as part of climate and biodiversity targets.

Researchers say the study highlights the importance of looking beyond headline numbers to understand whether restoration efforts are protecting natural ecosystems, supporting wildlife and benefiting local communities.

Publication details

The research was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

DOI:

Professor Z眉hlke is also honorary professor at 51福利社 and Vice President of the South African Medical Research Council.

The award was given in  recognition for her work with children with heart conditions especially rheumatic heart disease (RHD) that disproportionately affects children living in poverty.

Zuhlke鈥檚 research repositioned RHD as a socio-political issue tied to health system deficiencies and inequities.

In a press release, UNESCO said her dedication to scientific excellence, leadership in global health, and capacity building activities have improved the lives of vulnerable children with cardiovascular disease.

The five researchers will be recognized for their pioneering contributions to life and environmental sciences ON  11 June at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

This year's selection highlights their major roles in tackling global health and environmental challenges, from revolutionary tissue engineering and genomic research to agricultural innovation and the impact of nutrition on mental health.

The programme, now in its 28^th year, reflects the growing excellence of women in science worldwide.

The Laureates were selected from a record 504 nominations representing 89 countries, and now join the more than 5,000 women who have been recognized by the programme.

That includes 142 International Award Laureates, among whom seven have received a Nobel Prize in science.

This selection was conducted by an independent international jury chaired by Professor Brigitte L. Kieffer, Research Director Emeritus at the National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) France, Member of the French Academy of Sciences and former Laureate of the L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards.

Professor Z眉hlke  said: 鈥� I am deeply humbled by this immense honour. Childhood-onset heart disease remains not only globally neglected but also serves as a stark barometer of inequality and inequity, with profound differences in survival, outcomes, and quality of life. My sincere thanks go to all those working tirelessly in this field, as well as to the exceptional support from my academic institutions, including the University of 51福利社, and to my collaborator of over a decade, Professor Bernard Keavney. This equitable partnership has really extended our work and improved our science, but also served as a source of capacity development for all in the team鈥�.

BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine , a longterm collaborator with Prof Z眉hlke at 51福利社, said: 鈥淭his well-deserved award reflects Liesl鈥檚 huge contributions to the cardiovascular health of children and young people in poor countries. Liesl is a truly remarkable and inspiring woman.鈥�

As part of the University鈥檚 ongoing civic commitment, festivalgoers can experience the best of research, teaching, and culture at the event on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

Discover, create and connect

From atoms to art, calligraphy to computing, and music to medicine there鈥檚 plenty to discover and do. With over 90 hands-on stalls, visitors will be encouraged to explore what makes for a greener, healthier and fairer world.

Find out how diverse cultures, creativity and wellbeing come together, discover fascinating stories of space, technology and engineering, or take a journey through the body and learn what makes us human.

Get moving with outdoor sporting challenges, featuring a range of fun activities designed to get everybody active and involved. Enjoy a quiet moment at the University Community Allotment, hosted in partnership with Ardwick Climate Action, a space to connect with nature.

Find out more about 51福利社 as a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning and hear how the University is a key partner in helping to create a healthier and more inclusive city.

See the Flash Bang Show - a dazzling display of colour changes, flashes and the occasional bang.

Meet up with a heritage specialist to tour the campus on foot and hear how the University鈥檚 work has shaped innovation and society.

Vibrant cultural institutions

Visitors can take part in a lively mix of creative drop-in workshops hosted by the University鈥檚 cultural institutions in partnership with local community organisations. The Jodrell Bank engagement team are joining the University on campus to help answer some of the biggest questions about the universe. At the Whitworth, festivalgoers can immerse themselves in playful and artful spaces 鈥� get ready to build, explore and reimagine. Pop along to 51福利社 Museum to follow a language trail around the enchanting collections and stop off for a selfie with Stan the dinosaur.

Bee Curious

Our Bee Curious programme features thought-provoking talks and performances for all ages. Audiences will have the chance to meet with leading academics and explore curious questions ranging from What are asteroids made of? To How can we save the world鈥檚 frogs? And can you master the psychology to win The Traitors? Visitors can also join Afrocats musician Godfrey Pambalipe, in an entertaining and rhythmic drumming session. No experience needed 鈥� just bring your enthusiasm and have a go!

Find out more

Find out more about the free Universally 51福利社 Festival at 51福利社鈥檚 Oxford Road Campus on Saturday, June 13, from 11am to 4:30pm.

Take a look at the full programme here:

The NHS programme called 鈥淗ealthy Living for people with type 2 diabetes鈥� is a website containing written articles, videos, self-assessment quizzes and tools.

It supports people to live well with T2D by providing information and advice about eating well, becoming more active, living with diabetes, and emotional wellbeing.

Published today in PLOS One, the study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The research team analysed data from people with T2D who activated a Healthy Living account and found they experienced better health outcomes at one year than those who did not take part.

They examined who was most likely to use the programme (uptake) and how engagement related to changes in HbA1c 鈥� a blood test used to measure average blood sugar levels - blood pressure, body mass index, insulin use, and completion of essential diabetes care processes.

The findings show, uptake of the programme was highest among women, people from least deprived areas (vs. most deprived areas), and people of White ethnicity, and current smokers (vs. never smokers).

To assess clinical outcomes, the study compared 4,940 Healthy Living users with 24,685 similar individuals who did not register for the programme. After a year, Healthy Living users saw an average HbA1c drop of 1.3 mmol/mol, alongside small but steady dips in BMI and blood pressure, all pointing to better day鈥憈o鈥慸ay control of their diabetes.

They were also 1.6 times more likely to complete the routine yearly MOT that helps spot problems early, keeping on top of the vital checks that protect the eyes, feet, heart and kidneys in the long run.

However, the study highlights that even small average improvements can translate into meaningful reductions in T2D鈥憆elated complications when applied across large populations.

It also underscores the need to address inequalities in uptake, with notably lower participation among Asian and Black communities despite higher T2D prevalence.

Lead author Dr said: 鈥淲hat this study shows, in the plainest possible terms, is that a free, nationally available NHS educational programme can help people with T2D make measurable improvements to their health, even when used in the complex reality of everyday life.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a silver bullet, but it is a practical tool that works 鈥� and the challenge now is ensuring that everyone who could benefit has the opportunity to do so.鈥�

鈥淲e feel Healthy Living offers a scalable, accessible option for supporting type 2 diabetes self鈥憁anagement, particularly for people who face barriers to attending in鈥憄erson diabetes education programmes.

鈥淚mproving uptake among underserved groups will be essential to ensuring the programme reduces existing health inequalities.鈥�

Co-author , Principal Investigator and an Honorary Reader at 51福利社 said: 鈥淧eople鈥檚 outcomes were better for those who attended more of the Healthy Living programme, so it would be worthwhile for the NHS to find ways to encourage people to attend for longer, such as improved signposting and motivational messages鈥�

• The paper Examining the uptake, retention, and effectiveness of a national online type 2 2 diabetes self-management intervention in England (Healthy Living): a retrospective 3 cohort study is available DOI

鈥淢ore young people are reporting good wellbeing, loneliness is falling and emotional difficulties are reducing 鈥� which are encouraging findings 鈥� but the picture is not the same for everyone. Significant inequalities remain, particularly for LGBTQ+ young people and those with special educational needs, and that remains a major challenge.鈥�

Report details

The latest #BeeWell findings report can be found .