Science press releases

Pictured are women that feature in the Faces of Women in Mathematics short film.

Loughborough academic behind novel film featuring 243 female mathematicians from around the world announced as Association for Women in Mathematics Fellow

A Loughborough University academic that put female mathematicians in the spotlight in a novel film has been announced as 2021 Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM).

Loughborough maths professor honoured with prestigious Suffrage Science Award

Mathematician and physicist Professor Sara Lombardo has been chosen to receive a prestigious award celebrating the achievements of women in STEM.

Loughborough research leads to potential Covid-19 diagnosis with a non-invasive breath test that provides almost instant results

Initial findings from a new study led by Loughborough University – published by The Lancet – have shown how Covid-19 can be detected via a non-invasive breath test, providing almost instant results.
Presidential podium in the White House.

New white paper published: Loughborough expert part of network working with journalists to improve the quality of US election coverage

The upcoming US Presidential election poses unprecedented challenges to journalists in the States and around the globe.

vector of a man running

Buttock size matters: Researchers reveal a large gluteus maximus is key for sprint speed and performance after examining the anatomy of elite athletes

A Loughborough University study examining the muscle size of elite sprinters has revealed a large gluteus maximus (the muscle that forms the backside) is key to achieving top speeds on the track.

Retracing the first human steps out of Saudi Arabia: Scientists use footprints to recreate 120,000-year-old comfort break at prehistoric lake

Scientists have pieced together the movements of a small group of early humans as they journeyed out of Africa and into the Arabian Peninsula for the first time – more than 120,000 years ago.
Illustration of pregnant woman

The emotional stress caused by COVID-19 will lead to smaller babies being born, predicts Loughborough scientist

Being pregnant is a wonderful experience, but at the same it can be incredibly stressful – throw a global pandemic into the mix and those nine months may see an expecting mother go from happy and joyful, to fearful and concerned.

Government funding helps advanced ceramics take shape in the Midlands

Government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship ‘Strength in Places Fund’ has helped unlock plans to put the Midlands on a unique footing as a global centre for advanced technical ceramics.
London city landscape

Is humanity doomed because we can’t plan for the long term? Three experts discuss

While the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are still unclear, it is certain that they are a profound shock to the systems underpinning contemporary life.

New forensic technique for identifying semen in sexual assault cases could revolutionise rape investigations

A pioneering new technique for detecting semen on evidence from the scenes of sexual attacks will make evidence gathering faster and more reliable for police as well as less stressful for victims.
A child playing a video game

Lockdown and loot boxes: Experts issue vital advice for parents of young gamers about risks of in-game purchases in response to recent screen-time concerns

Researchers from Loughborough and Newcastle Universities and the national charity Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) have teamed up to help parents and carers understand why, and control how, their children buy in-game items such as loot boxes.
A person receiving rehab

Academic experts come together to push forward innovation in clinical rehabilitation

COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of effective rehabilitation post serious illness or injury – saving lives is only one part of an overall care journey which necessarily needs good rehabilitation if a patient is to stand a chance of returning to their former selves.

Illustration of an older woman with a younger woman

New study further supports that age-related hearing loss in patients taking cognitive tests may result in misdiagnoses of dementia

The early and correct diagnosis of a cognitive impairment – such as dementia – is crucial as it allows interventions and treatments that may slow the progression of a patient's symptoms to be quickly put in place.

a scientific image of a runner

SURVEY: Destined for greatness? Do your genes give you a head start in sport?

Researchers from Loughborough University are investigating the role genetics play in sport – and they need your help.

Illustration of a woman in a face mask on the phone

Coronavirus scams: the science of how to spot and deal with nuisance callers

Most of us have experienced unwanted calls at home. This is in spite of efforts by regulators, including the Information Commissioner’s Office and Ofcom, whose most recent report shows that around half of the UK population still receive nuisance calls.

The future of free, portable energy: Wearable technology that powers your devices as you move

Small, flexible generators which convert movement into electricity could soon be the future of free and unlimited energy thanks to a breakthrough in energy harvesting technology.
Footballers analysed using AI tech. Original image courtsey of Ben Lumley Photography.

AI technology developed at Loughborough University could reveal the next big names in football as it takes player performance analysis to a new dimension

Computer scientists at Loughborough University have developed novel artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that are set to transform the way football clubs analyse team and individual players’ performances on the pitch.
Turtle trapped in a net

FEATURE: Pushing the boundaries of drone engineering to protect marine life from extinction

Commercial drone pilot Melissa Schiele has joined Loughborough University’s Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering – and she has big plans.
Pictured is the Hazelrigg Building.

Loughborough University staff are using their skills and expertise to help with the fight against COVID-19

Staff, students and the wider Loughborough University community have been working hard to help protect and assist those fighting the coronavirus pandemic head-on.
Thermometer on fire.

Global warming now pushing heat into territory humans cannot tolerate

The explosive growth and success of human society over the past 10,000 years has been underpinned by a distinct range of climate conditions.

Illustration of old people taking a survey at home during the pandemic.

Survey launched in a bid to understand how coronavirus restrictions affect osteoarthritis risk in over 60s

Researchers at Loughborough University are investigating how changes in physical activity that are a result of the global health pandemic are related to osteoarthritis development and symptoms.

Stone Age climate change which led to a boom in Scandinavian population and resources could tell us more about the future of global warming

As global temperatures increased after the end of the last Ice Age, sea levels rose and the land bridge which tied together Denmark and Sweden disappeared, turning the region into a series of islands and shallow fjords that have characterised it ever since.
Coronavirus graphic showing it impacting the economy

Economic recovery will come with high levels of unemployment: how should governments respond?

Two key factors distinguish the economic consequences of coronavirus from those of previous crises.

Lakes shaped like the globe.

New study finds lakes have tripled the amount of carbon they bury in response to human disruption of global nutrient cycles

A new study led by Loughborough University has revealed that lake burial of organic carbon has increased three-fold over the last 100 years in response to human disruption of global nutrient cycles.

woman asleep illustration

Coronavirus: How to sleep better during the lockdown

We are all facing restrictions in a bid to minimise the transmission rate and impact of COVID-19, but there is no denying that life in lockdown is hard.