News archive

November 2020

Why soft skills could power the rise of robot leaders

What would the world look like if socially-skilled robots stepped into the roles normally reserved for humans?

Sea-level rise will have complex consequences

Rising sea levels will affect coasts and human societies in complex and unpredictable ways, according to a new study that examined 12,000 years in which a large island became a cluster of smaller ones.

Warming of 2°C would release billions of tonnes of soil carbon

Global warming of 2°C would lead to about 230 billion tonnes of carbon being released from the world's soil, new research suggests.

Artificial night lighting has widespread impacts on nature

Artificial night-time lighting has a diverse range of effects across the natural world and should be limited where possible, researchers say.

University of Exeter experts lead major research project into farmer wellbeing

University of Exeter experts are leading a major new study to better understand the mental and physical wellbeing issues facing agricultural workers.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study Seeks CLARITY on COVID-19 risk

A major new UK study investigating whether some patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are at increased risk from COVID-19 has been launched in the South West

Young people recruited to harness smartphones to improve mental health and wellbeing

Young people across Europe are being recruited into a trial to put their smartphone addiction to good use, via an app called MyMoodCoach

‘Cinderella’ medicinal plant could improve breast cancer treatment

A plant which had previously been dismissed as not being medically useful could prove to be a hero in disguise, after scientists discovered it not only stops the growth of breast cancer cells but does not affect normal cells – a potential first for future cancer chemotherapy treatment.

Experts urge review of maths teaching after study shows children lack spatial reasoning skills

Mathematics teaching needs to be rethought because children’s spatial reasoning skills are not developed enough, a new study says.

New scheme to boost Devon’s recovery and cut carbon emissions

The University of Exeter will play a pivotal part in a new project, which will use Artificial Intelligence to boost Devon’s economic recovery and help the environment.

New environmental intelligence tool will help protect Cornwall’s wildlife and landscape

An environmental online hub for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will help protect the region’s precious wildlife and landscape.

'Remarkable' project wins Newton Prize award

A "remarkable" project that aims to bring safe and reliable energy to informal settlements in South Africa has won the Chair's Prize in the 2020 Newton Fund awards.

Basketball fouls can be predicted by personality traits – but not the ones you’d expect

A basketball player can be dishonest or bad-tempered yet is not more likely to commit fouls, a new study has shown.

Water engineering expert launches new £10 million European water systems project

A University of Exeter academic is set to receive a share of £10 million pounds of funding for a six-year European research project, looking at designing the next generation of intelligent urban drinking water systems.

Join expert discussion on saving the oceans

Scientists specialising in the marine environment will answer questions on ocean conservation during a free online event organised by the University of Exeter.

Widespread public support for job guarantees and exam reform, survey shows

There is strong public support for job guarantees and reforms to exams in 2021 to help young people affected by the coronavirus pandemic, a new survey shows.

Green prescriptions could undermine the benefits of spending time in nature

Giving people with existing mental health conditions formal ‘green prescriptions’, may undermine some of the benefits

Business owners in South West offered free support through Peer Networks programme

The University of Exeter Business School is to offer ‘action learning’ sessions for local business owners, to help SMEs respond to COVID-19 and Brexit by building their resilience and ability to adapt to the ‘new normal’, while positioning themselves for future success.

Understanding rare type of diabetes gives insights into critical mechanisms of insulin production

Solving the genetic puzzle of why babies developed a rare type of diabetes has uncovered a new biological pathway that is fundamental to insulin production

Slow-living animal species could be disease ‘reservoirs’

Animals that live slowly – breeding less rapidly and living longer – could be "reservoirs" of diseases that could jump to new species including humans, new research suggests.

Female mongooses start battles for chance to mate

Female banded mongooses lead their groups into fights then try to mate with enemy males in the chaos of battle, new research shows.

VSimulators technology to develop footwear for active older people

A project that will use cutting-edge technology to develop safe and comfortable footwear for active older people has received a grant from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Funding boost for the next generation of environmental scientists

The University of Exeter and its partners have secured a new £3.5m Centre for Doctoral Training with funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to research chemicals in the environment.

New research identifies ‘triple trouble’ for mangrove coasts

Some of the world’s most valuable ecosystems are facing a "triple threat" to their long-term durability and survival, new research shows.

Animal groups consider multiple factors before fighting

Groups of animals consider multiple factors before deciding whether to fight rivals, researchers say.

Alumni honour former Vice-Chancellor with permanent scholarship fund

A new scholarship scheme set-up in honour of former Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Steve Smith, targeting applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, will support six students to attend the University of Exeter each year.

New technique could revolutionise accuracy and ease detection of biomechanical alterations of cells and tissues

Scientists have developed an optical elastography technique that could revolutionise the accuracy and ease to which health professionals can detect biomechanical alterations of cells and tissues.

A few kilograms weight loss nearly halves the risk of diabetes, large scale research study finds

Providing support to help people with prediabetes make small changes to their lifestyle, diet and physical activity can almost halve the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

University of Exeter Business School ranks among world’s best in prestigious global MBA rankings

The University of Exeter Business School’s internationally accredited MBA programme, The Exeter MBA, has ranked in the top four programmes for the UK and Europe in the Corporate Knights’ Better World MBA Rankings 2020.

Puzzled otters learn from each other

Asian short-clawed otters learn from each other when solving puzzles to get food, a new study shows.

Pioneering new Circular Economy Centre in Technology Metals announced

The University of Exeter will lead a pioneering new research centre, designed to revolutionize how crucial metals are extracted, used and reused in clean and digital technologies across the UK.

Slow down to avoid falls when wearing masks

Older people wearing face masks need to take extra care to make sure they don’t trip over obstacles when walking.

Scientists unravel how and why Amazon trees die

A huge new study has unravelled what factors control tree mortality rates in Amazon forests and helps to explain why tree mortality is increasing across the Amazon basin.

Evolution favours new diseases of 'intermediate' severity

New epidemic diseases have an evolutionary advantage if they are of "intermediate" severity, research shows.

University of Exeter and Medicines Discovery Catapult combine to industrialise academic medicines research

Today (November 12^th 2020) the University of Exeter and Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) announce their strategic partnership to accelerate medicines Research & Development (R&D), creating value for the sector and enhancing translational skills.

Community action and a higher profile in schools key to growth of Cornish language

Community activism and a higher profile in schools will be essential for the numbers speaking Cornish to increase, an expert in the language has said.

Academics in favour of universities refusing funding from nations connected to human rights concerns, survey shows

Academics are in favour of universities refusing funding from foreign organisations and individuals or nations linked with human rights concerns, a new survey of over 1,500 social scientists based in UK universities shows.

Experts urge new campaign to stop acrimonious family court battles during relationship breakdowns

A permanent change in cultural attitudes is needed to steer separating parents away from acrimonious legal proceedings during family breakdowns, experts have said.

Study reveals physical demands of two-hour marathon

Elite runners need a specific combination of physiological abilities to have any chance of running a sub-two-hour marathon, new research shows.

Chemical clues in leaves can reveal ash tree resistance to deadly disease

Naturally occurring compounds in ash leaves could be linked to susceptibility of individual trees to the fungal disease ash dieback (ADB), new research shows.

Tropical peatland conservation could protect humans from new diseases

Conservation of tropical peatlands could reduce the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the likelihood of new diseases jumping from animals to humans, researchers say.

Migrating animals 'live fast and die young'

Animals that migrate "live fast and die young", new research shows.

New funding for research on parent carers in crisis

University of Exeter researchers have been awarded £239,000 to explore suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, and self-harm in parent carers

New app allows people to explore some of Europe’s most historic cities from their own homes

People can step back in time to Renaissance Italy or Elizabethan England as part of a new app which allows people to take exciting tours of some of Europe’s most historic cities from their own homes.

£800k funding to investigate treatments for devastating lung disease

Researchers at the University of Exeter have won more than £800,000 in funding to study a deadly lung disease – idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Nearly a third of hospitals in England reached maximum ventilator bed capacity during first wave of Covid-19 pandemic

Thirty percent of hospitals in England reached their maximum occupancy levels for beds with mechanical ventilation support during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic

Pacific project will build a circular economy to target plastic pollution

Scientists aim to tackle plastic pollution in the Galapagos Islands and wider Eastern Pacific in a major project based on cooperation with local researchers and communities.

Teaching and complex tools 'evolved together'

The human ability to teach and our use of complex tools may have evolved together, according to new research.

University alliance urges G20 leaders to prioritise net zero

A coalition of leading climate research universities is calling on world leaders to prioritise net zero carbon emissions.

Exeter experts recognised as being among world’s most influential scientists

Leading academics from the University of Exeter have been recognised as being amongst the world’s most influential researchers, according to a prestigious new ranking.

Sexual orientation of men is new ‘STEM gap’, study finds

Men in same-sex relationships are significantly less likely to have a degree in a STEM subject than men in different-sex couples, a new study has shown.

Exeter part of UK-wide genomics consortium in £12.2million funding boost

A £12.2 million funding boost will help scientists at the University of Exeter and the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Trust contribute to national efforts to map how COVID-19 spreads and evolves

International team to examine critical role of culture in building peace and preventing conflict

An international team will embark on a major project to expose and build on the critical role of culture in enhancing possibilities for sustainable peace and preventing conflict.

COVID-19 is just one factor impacting wellbeing of employees working from home, study finds

A new study on work-life balance has found that the COVID-19 crisis is a crucial factor – but not the only one – behind low levels of wellbeing among employees working from home.

Liver cancer ten times more likely in men with common genetic disorder haemochromatosis

Men who have the Western world’s most common genetic disorder, haemochromatosis, are ten times more likely to develop liver cancer

Reform of UK company takeover rules would boost productivity and investment, Parliamentarians told

Reforms to company takeover rules could boost UK productivity, increase investment opportunities and limit inefficient management, politicians have been told.

Pioneering health research at the University of Exeter to continue thanks to renewed Wellcome funding

Pioneering University of Exeter work on worldwide health challenges will continue thanks to renewed funding for a unique research centre.

New anthology of powerful pieces about the climate crisis from writers and scientists

Writers from around the world and climate scientists have penned powerful and thought-provoking pieces about the climate crisis for a new anthology.

Bacteria and 3D printers could help restore coral reefs

A team of University of Exeter students are using genetically engineered bacteria to produce a material that could help repair degraded coral reefs.

Indonesian wildfires a 'fixable problem'

Indonesian wildfires that cause widespread air pollution and vast carbon emissions are a "fixable problem", according to the leader of a project set up to help tackle the issue.

Exeter students raise more than £136,000 through Movember challenges

Students from the University of Exeter have raised more than £136,000 for charity through a series of hair-raising challenges and events.

Plant evolves to become less visible to humans

A plant used in traditional Chinese medicine has evolved to become less visible to humans, new research shows.

University of Exeter, Dorset Museum and Dorset History Centre mark pioneering research

Experts from the University of Exeter, Dorset Museum and Dorset History Centre have celebrated their pioneering research, including on the life and work of the novelist and poet Thomas Hardy.

New guide on using drones for conservation

Drones are a powerful tool for conservation – but they should only be used after careful consideration and planning, according to a new report.

Pioneering Renewable Energy project shortlisted for prestigious award

A pioneering project involving the University of Exeter, which is seeking to develop the next generation of offshore renewable energy leads has been nominated for a prestigious award.

The danger of Z-drugs for dementia patients

Strong sleeping pills known as ‘Z-drugs’ are linked with an increased risk of falls, fractures and stroke among people with dementia

Nutrition scientist wins British Nutrition Foundation stepping stone funding boost

A registered nutritionist and researcher at the University of Exeter has been awarded a British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) prize.

Waste fishing gear threatens Ganges wildlife

Waste fishing gear in the River Ganges poses a threat to wildlife including otters, turtles and dolphins, new research shows.

Exeter’s pioneering approach to sustainability secures prestigious Guardian award

Pivotal work conducted by staff and students to transform the University of Exeter’s approach to sustainability has won a prestigious Guardian University Award.

Exeter team leads Cochrane Review on physical activity for people with congenital heart disease

A team led by the University of Exeter has carried out a detailed review of evidence on physical activity interventions for people with congenital heart disease.

Space worms experiment reveals gravity affects genes

Living at low gravity affects cells at the genetic level, according to a study of worms in space.

Participants wanted for most in-depth brain study of early Alzheimer’s disease

Exeter researchers are seeking local volunteers to take part in the world’s most detailed study into the onset and development of Alzheimer’s disease

The Exeter hip: 50 years of making healthcare better

An innovative hip stem developed in Exeter 50 years ago today has now been implanted in more than two million patients across the globe

Call for 'debt driving licence'

People borrowing money for the first time should only be given small amounts until they have proved their competence, a new study says.

Innovative virtual field trips secure award in ‘Oscars of Higher Education’

Inspirational and innovative software that provides virtual field trips to almost anywhere in the world, developed by academics at the University of Exeter, has won a prestigious national award.

Brain’s ‘speedometer’ could help solve part of dementia puzzle

Nearly one million people in the UK have dementia

Public can explore hundreds of new prehistoric, Roman and medieval archaeological sites identified through aerial reconnaissance

The public can explore hundreds of new prehistoric, Roman and medieval sites discovered in Romania by archaeologists using aerial reconnaissance.