News archive
February 2021
Social distancing over 50% more likely among highest earners, study finds
The highest earners in the US are much more likely to engage in social distancing, mask wearing, hand-washing and other protective measures against COVID-19, a new study has found.
2021 assessment changes mean teachers need “extensive support” to avoid unconscious bias, experts urge
The cancellation of 2021 exams mean teachers need “extensive guidance” on how to minimise the threat of unconscious bias while assessing pupils’ work, experts have said.
Improved model estimates impact of ozone on soy crops
The impact of ozone on soybean production can be predicted more accurately thanks to improvements to a computer modelling system.
University of Exeter students affected by coronavirus given £1 million in hardship and emergency funds
The University of Exeter has distributed £1m in hardship and emergency funding to students most significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Sustainability at the heart of the new SWIoT centre
Sustainability is at the heart of one of the University’s newest buildings, currently under construction on the Streatham Campus.
Dementia rates higher in men with common genetic disorder haemochromatosis
New research has found that men who have the Western world’s most common genetic disorder are more likely to develop dementia, compared to those without the faulty genes
Pioneering collaboration praised in prestigious national awards
The pioneering collaboration between the Centre for Future Clean Mobility (CFCM) at the University of Exeter and SC Innovation-Global has secured the runner-up spot in a prestigious national award.
DIGIT Lab announced to help businesses close ‘digital transformation gap’
Large organisations will be helped to adapt to the digital transformation of society as part of a new research initiative, led by the University of Exeter Business School.
$1.2 million to find new treatment for rare cancer
A new grant of $1.2 million (£880,000) from The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) is funding a collaboration involving the University of Exeter to find the cause of a rare form of cancer, and unlock new treatment pathways
Internationally renowned artist J.R. Carpenter joins the University for a special online poetry reading
This February, the Humanities department at the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus are delighted to be joined by internationally renowned artist, writer, researcher, and performer J.R. Carpenter for a virtual public reading of a selection of her poetry works.
Marine-i supports pioneering 3D printing innovation for floating offshore wind
Expert support from Marine-i is helping 3D printing specialist J-Supplied to develop large scale technology to produce bespoke parts for the floating offshore wind industry, such as custom-designed turbine blades.
Healthy oceans need healthy soundscapes
Oceans were once filled with the sounds of nature, but overfishing, climate change and human noise have fundamentally changed the natural underwater "soundtrack", researchers say.
Birds living in natural habits can help inform captive care
Bird species that live in their natural habitats can help zoos learn how to manage those in captivity, according to a new review.
Health and wellbeing benefits of walking on the South West Coast Path valued at over £75 million per year
Latest research has calculated health and wellbeing benefits of over £75 million for people walking Britain’s longest National Trail.
New research studies “domino effects” and synchrony in brain activity
Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in the quest to understand the intricate processes that occur in the brain during seizures that are the key symptom of epilepsy.
People would prefer to vote online than by post in UK 2021 elections during pandemic, research shows
More people would prefer to vote online than by post during the bumper set of covid-disrupted local, mayoral and national elections this year, research shows.
Higher excess COVID-19 death risk in middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes raises vaccine prioritisation questions
A largescale analysis led by the University of Exeter has found a disproportionately higher COVID-19 death risk in middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes
Lord Myners to retire as Chancellor of the University of Exeter after five years
Lord Myners of Truro will retire as Chancellor of the University of Exeter after five years in the role, it has been announced.
University of Exeter partnership develops novel algorithms with the power to transform the use of quantum computers
Dr Oleksandr Kyriienko, lead of the University of Exeter’s Quantum Dynamics, Optics, and Simulation group (QuDOS) is working in close partnership with Dutch start-up Qu & Co to develop quantum software with the potential to transform the way we use the huge power of quantum computers in industry.
‘Thinking style’ dictates how we use social media and our engagement with fake news, study finds
Our thinking style can have a huge impact on the way we use social media, including on whether we engage with ‘fake news’, a new study has shown.
Study proves strong link between political bias and social tie formation on Twitter
Twitter users are three times more likely to follow back the accounts of strangers if they share the same political views, according to a new study that sheds light on the phenomenon of ‘echo chambers’ on social media.
NHS degree apprenticeships with University of Exeter go from strength to strength – despite COVID-19
The NHS has within a year become the top employer working with the University of Exeter on its degree apprenticeships programmes, in a statement of the university’s commitment to public service and improving access to higher education.
Ancient Amazonian farmers fortified valuable land they had spent years making fertile to protect it from conflict
Ancient Amazonian communities fortified valuable land they had spent years making fertile to protect it from conflict, excavations show.
Ground-breaking beaver project launched
The Dorset Wildlife Trust has released two beavers into an enclosed site in west Dorset. This landmark project is the first of its kind for the county and welcomes beavers back to Dorset for the first time in over 400 years.
CSM experts play lead role in pioneering UNESCO Lecture Series
Geologists from the Camborne School of Mines are taking part in a high-profile lecture series, designed to highlight the pivotal role Earth materials such as minerals can play in developing a sustainable global society.
‘Learning works best with play’, declares founder of The Playful University project
Learning through play can perform a crucial role in higher education by removing barriers to creativity and improving wellbeing, argues a group of academics advocating the development of ‘playful universities’.
Methods of recording, investigating and learning from deaths following use of force by the police across Europe can be critically lacking, new report warns
Methods of recording, investigating and learning from deaths following use of force by the police across Europe can be “lacking in critical respects”, a new report warns.
Family ties explain mysterious social life of coral gobies
The strange social structure of tiny fish called emerald coral gobies may be explained by family loyalty, new research shows.
Common pipistrelle bats attracted to wind turbines
One of the most abundant bats in Europe may be attracted to wind turbines, a new study shows.
Tocilizumab reduces deaths in patients hospitalised with COVID-19
An anti-inflammatory treatment routinely used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis has been found to reduce death risk in hospitalised patients with COVID-19
Play and meaty food reduce hunting by cats
Domestic cats hunt wildlife less if owners play with them daily and feed them a meat-rich food, new research shows.
Cell biology specialist joins fungal research team
A specialist in cell biology and genetics is set to join the University of Exeter’s leading fungal research centre.
New research identifies biological causes of muscle weakness in later life
A new largescale genetic analysis has found biological mechanisms that contribute to making people more susceptible to muscle weakness in later life, finding that diseases such as osteoarthritis and diabetes may play a large role in susceptibility
Beardless dandies of the 18th century actually had heavy stubble, study shows
The 18th century gentlemen may often be viewed as perfectly groomed and bewigged, but in reality he only shaved once or twice a week, and probably often had heavy stubble, new research shows.
£4 million Deep Digital Cornwall project launched to unlock underground environment
The underground environment is the subject of a major new £4 million project launched to create a world-leading cluster of research-intensive digital businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Exeter 'leading the way' on carbon targets
The University of Exeter's carbon reduction targets are among the most ambitious set by UK universities and colleges, according to rankings published by Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK).
Tropical paper wasps babysit for neighbours
Wasps provide crucial support to their extended families by babysitting at neighbouring nests, according to new research by a team of biologists from the universities of Bristol, Exeter and UCL published today [15 February] in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
Large-scale study finds genetic testing technology falsely detects very rare variants
A technology that is widely used by commercial genetic testing companies is “extremely unreliable” in detecting very rare variants
Farmer mental health hit during Covid focus of new research
Farmers mental health and resilience and the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic will be the focus of a major new research project.
Leading experts in public health and social mobility made fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences
Leading University of Exeter experts in public health and social mobility have been made fellows of the prestigious Academy of Social Sciences.
Survey finds beavers establishing strong presence in City of Perth
Beavers in Scotland are establishing a strong presence in Perth, according to researchers conducting the most comprehensive ever survey of the animal in Scotland.
Helping people with Parkinson’s and freezing of gait take the first step: VSimulators technology supporting novel, low-cost community interventions
Research aiming to train people with Parkinson’s to shift their balance and overcome ‘freezing of gait’ (a feeling that one’s feet are stuck to the floor), has received funding from Parkinson’s UK.
Major new history of the novel in French shows its impact from the medieval period to current day
A major new study shows the development and impact of the novel in French from the pre-history of the art form in the late medieval period to the present day.
Experts offer roadmap for Biden administration to calculate social cost of carbon in new analysis
The Biden administration should reinstate the estimated economic cost of CO2 emitted to $50 a ton, a group of leading researchers has said.
Far-right political parties are ambivalent rather than sceptical about Europe, analysis shows
Far right political parties have acted in an ambivalent rather than overtly sceptical way towards Europe, analysis shows.
Using human rights laws may be most effective way of harnessing international legislation to protect the Amazon, study shows
Using laws governing human rights may be the best way of harnessing international legislation and tribunals to protect the Amazon, a new study shows.
New drug molecules hold promise for treating fatal child disease
Scientists have identified a way to “rescue” muscle cells that have genetically mutated, paving the way to a possible new treatment for rare childhood illness such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Changes in writing style provide clues to group identity
Small changes to people's writing style can reveal which social group they "belong to" at a given moment, new research shows.
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Recycle anaesthetics to reduce carbon emission of healthcare, study concludes
New research has highlighted the value of recycling general anaesthetic used in routine operations
From taking exams in Afghanistan to training to be a teacher during a pandemic – a new type of tour of duty for University of Exeter student
Royal Marine Dave Mason was so determined to fulfil his dream of becoming a teacher he sat exams while serving in Afghanistan.
How rehabilitation could help people with COVID-19 recover – evidence reviewed
Progressive exercise and early mobilisation are among the elements of rehabilitation programmes that may improve recovery for people who are hospitalised with severe COVID-19
Research shows how single celled algae rotate as they swim towards the light
Scientists have made a pivotal breakthrough in the quest to understand how single-cell green algae are able to keep track of the light as they swim.
A-maze-ing pheasants have two ways of navigating
Pheasants fall into two groups in terms of how they find their way around – and the different types prefer slightly different habitats, new research shows.
Chimpanzees and humans share overlapping territories
Chimpanzees and humans "overlap" in their use of forests and even villages, new research shows.
A. G. Leventis Foundation funds new Chair in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter
Classics teaching and research at the University of Exeter will benefit for years to come, thanks to additional support from the A. G. Leventis Foundation.
International Women's Day: Leading business women to address pandemic and ‘reset and recovery’ agenda in panel event
Five of the South West’s leading business women will discuss the impact of the pandemic and the role women can play in the region’s economic recovery in a special panel event for International Women’s Day, hosted by the University of Exeter Business School’s Centre for Leadership.
University of Exeter donates computers to help Devon pupils learn at home
University of Exeter staff have donated computers to Devon schools to help pupils learning at home.
“Stark warning”: Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic
Eminent scientists warn that key ecosystems around Australia and Antarctica are collapsing, and propose a three-step framework to combat irreversible global damage
Viva la Circular Revolution! New centre for sustainable business models launched for Wales
The University of Exeter has helped to design and deliver a new circular economy innovation centre for Wales – the first business-led hub in the UK focused on sustainable ‘circular’ approaches where fewer resources are used and more waste materials reused.
Exeter researcher writes book for Attenborough series
A University of Exeter scientist has written a book to accompany a new Sir David Attenborough TV series.