While pollution levels from road traffic have fallen significantly thanks to policies like the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), new air pollution data from scientists at The University of Manchester, in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), University of York, Zhejiang University and National Centre for Atmospheric Science, reveal emissions from non-road mobile machinery, such as generators and heavy-duty construction equipment, can exceed those from vehicles, particularly in areas where there is a lot of building activity.

Black carbon is soot from combustion and is a component of particulate matter (PM2.5). These are very fine particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream and are known to damage human health. 

The team collected the pollution measurements from the top of the BT Tower in central London over summer and winter, using a technique called eddy covariance to track how much black carbon is released into the air and where it comes from.

The findings revealed that while pollution levels were significantly lower than cities like Beijing and Delhi, who have monitored pollution using the same method, they are not low enough to meet the . They suggest similar regulatory attention to road traffic is now needed for the construction sector. 

The study, published in the journal is the first of its kind in Europe.

At 190 metres tall, the BT Tower observatory has a specialised gas inlet system installed on the tower’s roof, which draws air into a laboratory on the 35th floor, allowing researchers to analyse pollution as it rises from streets, buildings, construction sites and nearby parks below.

The ‘eddy covariance’ method works by measuring the turbulent motion of air, also known as eddies, and the concentration of airborne substances like black carbon within those eddies.

The scientists also conducted a detailed spatial footprint analysis to pinpoint emission hotspots that were directly linked to active construction sites near the BT Tower.

The new findings suggest that further progress in improving London’s air quality will require stricter regulation of construction machinery, especially in rapidly developing areas.

added: “We compared observed emissions with emission standards for construction equipment and found that even with compliance, black carbon output from generators, machinery and construction vehicles remains significant. Our work highlights how measurement techniques like eddy covariance can fill critical gaps in our understanding of urban pollution and support evidence-based strategies to protect public health and the environment.”

This research was published in the journal Environmental Sciences: Atmospheres

Full title: Quantifying black carbon emissions from traffic and construction in central London using eddy covariance

DOI:

Led by researchers at The University of Manchester, the study reveals that invisible, odourless gases like helium and argon are slowly seeping hundreds of kilometres up through Earth’s crust, reaching underground water supplies thousands of meters beneath our feet.

For decades, scientists have believed that the vast majority of Earth’s internal gases are either pushed deep underground through tectonic activity, or escape back to the surface through volcanic eruptions.

The new research, published in the journal , challenges this understanding  and the findings could give scientists a better idea of the geological and chemical processes that take place deep inside the Earth.

“Think of it like a having small puncture in your car tyre,” said lead author Dr Rebecca Tyne, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester.

“We’ve discovered a steady trickle of gases coming from deep within Earth, even though there’s no obvious volcanic activity on the surface.

“This passive degassing of the mantle may be an important, yet previously unrecognised process and these findings will help our understanding of how our planet’s interior works  and how much gas is escaping into the atmosphere over time. It could even play an important role in the geologic carbon cycle”

The researchers analysed groundwater from 17 wells in the Palouse Basin Aquifer in the United States - a key source of drinking water in a region considered to be geologically stable.

Using advanced measurement techniques, they measured for multiple types of helium and argon and found signatures to suggest these gases had travelled up from the Earth’s mantle — the hot, dense layer between the outer crust and the core. Importantly, the helium and argon gases detected are inert, meaning they do not react chemically or affect water quality.

Co-author Dr Mike Broadley , NERC Independent Research Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: “We found evidence of mantle-derived gasses in 13 out of the 17 wells.  These gases – especially helium-3 and argon-40 – do not form in the atmosphere or in shallow rocks, they come from a layer of the mantle called the sub-continental lithospheric mantle, many kilometres deep in the Earth.”

The highest amount of gas was found in the oldest and deepest groundwater samples - some over 20,000 years old - indicating the gases have been moving slowly but steadily over a long period of time.

The researchers also found a strong correlation between the samples, suggesting they are travelling up together from the same deep source.

Their findings suggest that this kind of low-level, non-volcanic degassing may be more common – and more important – than previously thought. The team are now planning to investigate whether this is a globally consistent phenomenon by investigating groundwaters worldwide.

The research was carried out in collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (USA),  Université de Lorraine (France), University of Ottawa (Canada) and the University of Idaho (USA).

Journal: Nature Geoscience

Full title: Passive degassing of lithospheric volatiles recorded in shallow young groundwater

DOI: 10.1038/s41561-025-01702-7

Link:

As the UK strives to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, secure and permanent geological storage of CO₂ is essential to avoid the worst-case consequences of climate change.

Storage in deep geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs and saline aquifers offers a promising solution. However, these underground environments host diverse microbial ecosystems, and their response to CO₂ injection remains poorly understood.

This knowledge gap poses a potential risk to long-term CO₂ storage integrity. While some microbial responses may be beneficial and enhance mineralogical or biological CO₂ sequestration, others could be unfavourable, leading to methane production, corrosion of infrastructure, or loss of injectivity.

The new flagship project with The University of Manchester and Equinor - global leaders in geological CO₂ storage - will investigate how subsurface microbial communities respond to CO₂ injection and storage, highlighting both the potential risks and opportunities posed by these microbes.

Principal Investigator, Prof Sophie Nixon, BBSRC David Phillips and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: "Over the past 20 years, scientists have tested storing CO₂ underground in real-world conditions, but we still know little about how this affects native and introduced microbes living deep below the surface.

"Previous studies have shown that injecting CO₂ underground actively changes microbial communities. In some cases, microbes initially decline but later recover, potentially influencing the fate of injected CO₂ in geological storage scenarios. However, these studies predate the advent of large-scale metagenomic sequencing approaches. A deep understanding of who is there, what they can do and how they respond to CO₂ storage is crucial for ensuring the long-term success of carbon capture and storage."

The two-year project will collect samples from saline aquifer and oil producing sites to study how microbes living deep underground respond to high concentrations of CO₂ by combining geochemistry, gas isotope analysis, metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches.

Project Co-Investigator, Dr Rebecca Tyne, a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: “To date, Carbon Capture and Storage research has focused on the physiochemical behaviour of CO₂, yet there has been little consideration of the subsurface microbial impact on CO₂ storage. However, the impact of microbial processes can be significant. For instance, my research has shown that methanogenesis may modify the fluid composition and the fluid dynamics within the storage reservoir.”

Currently, the North Sea Transition Authority requires all carbon capture and storage sites to have a comprehensive ‘Measurement, Monitoring and Verification’ strategy, but microbial monitoring is not yet included in these frameworks. The project’s findings will be shared with industry stakeholders and published in leading scientific journals, helping to close this critical gap and shape future operational activities.

Project Lead, Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology at The University of Manchester, said: "This project will help us understand the underground microbial communities affected by CO₂ storage—how they respond, the potential risks and benefits, and the indicators that reveal these changes.

"Our findings will provide vital insights for assessing microbiological risks at both planned and active CCS sites, ensuring safer and more effective long-term CO₂ storage”.

From richer biodiversity and benefits for pollinators, to carbon storage in soils, while balancing hay yields for grazing livestock, the study published in by researchers at The University of Manchester and Lancaster University, in collaboration with the Universities of Yale and Bergen, shows that using combinations of different restoration techniques can markedly enhance the restoration of grasslands.

Given many current grassland recovery projects typically only use one type of technique, or ‘intervention’, in attempts to deliver ecological benefits, the scientists behind the study hope their findings can help boost grassland restoration initiatives across the country and elsewhere,

Grasslands cover nearly 40% of the Earth’s land surface and serve as important global reservoirs of biodiversity. They also provide a host of other benefits to people, termed ecosystem services, including food production, water supply, carbon storage, soil nutrient cycling, and tourism. Yet these critical ecosystems are increasingly being degraded, especially by overgrazing, heavy use of fertilisers, and climate change. This is undermining their ability to support biodiversity and deliver other benefits, such as carbon storage and nutrient retention.

The team of scientists show that using single restoration interventions often leads to trade-offs among key grassland ecosystem services – for example the addition of low amounts of fertiliser boosted hay yields for livestock, but suppressed plant diversity. Also, while the addition of a seed mix alone increased plant diversity and pollination, bringing benefits for nature conservation, it did not benefit hay yield or soil carbon storage. They show that using a combination of different techniques delivers better, more balanced ecological benefits than relying on one single type of intervention.

The combined approach to grassland restoration boosted plant diversity, soil health, carbon storage, pollination, flower abundance, and forage production simultaneously, offering a clear path forward for sustainable land management.

The work was based on a long-term grassland restoration experiment set up in 1989 at Colt Park Meadows, in the Yorkshire Dales, northern England. The experiment included a range of commonly used grassland restoration interventions, including the addition of farmyard manure, low-level inorganic fertiliser, a diverse seed mix, and a nitrogen-fixing red clover, which were tested individually and in all possible combinations. Over several years, between 2011 and 2014, the team measured 26 critical ecosystem functions related to hay yield, soil carbon storage, soil nutrient cycling, soil structure, water quality, pollinator visitation, and plant diversity.

Dr Shangshi Liu, the lead author of the paper from The University of Manchester and now based at Yale, said: “Single solutions are rarely enough—we need landscapes that work on many levels: for climate, for people, and for nature. By layering complementary actions that target different components of the ecosystem, we can restore a broader suite of ecosystem functions—balancing trade-offs and minimising unintended consequences.”

Professor Richard Bardgett, who initiated the study at The University of Manchester and recently moved to Lancaster, added: “These findings evidence the potential of combining interventions to boost the restoration of degraded grasslands. By combining interventions, such as adding more diverse plant seeds, small amounts of fertiliser, manure and red clover, we show that it is possible to balance hay yields for livestock as well as boosting biodiversity, carbon storage, and wild flower abundance, although each combination will need to be tailored for specific sites. These findings represent a shift from conventional approaches that typically rely on single management interventions.

“In doing so, they offer a blueprint for land managers and policymakers seeking to deliver multiple benefits from grassland restoration, which aligns the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) that calls for integrated solutions to ecological degradation.”

The researchers also call for further experimentation across different climates and grassland types, alongside policy frameworks that incentivise grassland restoration. Programmes that currently support single interventions for grassland restoration could be restructured to favour integrated approaches that deliver broader ecological returns of benefit to a wider range of land users.

Ben Sykes, Director of the Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT), who work to secure long-term experiments such as Colt Park, said: “The Colt Park Meadows long-term grassland restoration experiment, running since 1989, is one of many decades-long ecological field experiments (LTEs) across the UK that are linked via the ECT’s national register of experimental sites. These latest results from the Colt Park LTE help demonstrate the irreplaceable value of LTEs in providing the real-world scientific evidence needed to promote conservation, biodiversity restoration and future effective and sustainable land management.”

The study was funded by the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and benefits from long term support from Natural England.

The study’s findings are detailed in the paper ‘Multiple targeted grassland restoration interventions enhance ecosystem service multifunctionality’ which has been published by .

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59157-8

The findings, published in the journal ,  show that these powerful flows could be capable of traveling at speeds of up to eight meters per second, carrying plastic waste from the continental shelf to depths of more than 3,200 meters.

Over 10 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the oceans each year. While striking images of floating debris have driven efforts to curb pollution, this visible waste accounts for less than 1% of the total. The missing 99% – primarily made up of fibres from textiles and clothing – is instead sinking into the deep ocean.

Scientists have long suspected that turbidity currents play a major role in distributing microplastics across the seafloor – The University of Manchester were among the first to demonstrate this through their research on ‘Microplastic Hotspots’ in the Tyrrhenian Sea, published in the journal . However, until now, the actual process had not been observed or recorded in a real-world setting.

The latest study conducted by The University of Manchester, the National Oceanography Centre (UK), the University of Leeds (UK), and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research provides the first field evidence showing the process.

The findings pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems and highlight the urgent need for stronger pollution controls.

Dr Peng Chen, lead author on the study at The University of Manchester, said “Microplastics on their own can be toxic to deep-sea life, but they also act as ‘carriers’ transferring other harmful pollutants such as PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ and heavy metals, which makes them an environmental ‘multistressor’ which can affect the entire food chain.”

The research focused on Whittard Canyon in the Celtic Sea, a land-detached canyon over 300 km from the shore. By combining in-situ monitoring and direct seabed sampling, the team were able to witness a turbidity current in action, moving a huge plume of sediment at over 2.5 metres per second at over 1.5 km water depth. The samples directly from the flow revealed that these powerful currents were not only carrying just sand and mud, but a significant quantity of microplastic fragments and microfibres.

Further analysis found that the microplastics on the seafloor are mainly comprised of fibres from textiles and clothing, which are not effectively filtered out in domestic wastewater treatment plants and easily enter rivers and oceans.

, Geologist and Environmental Scientist at The University of Manchester, who designed and led the research, said: “These turbidity currents carry the nutrients and oxygen that are vital to sustain deep-sea life, so it is shocking that the same currents are also carrying these tiny plastic particles.

“These biodiversity hotspots are now co-located with microplastic hotspots, which could pose serious risks to deep-sea organisms.

“We hope this new understanding will support mitigations strategies going forward.”

Dr Mike Clare of the , who was a co-lead on the research, added: “Our study has shown how detailed studies of seafloor currents can help us to connect microplastic transport pathways in the deep-sea and find the ‘missing’ microplastics. The results highlight the need for policy interventions to limit the future flow of plastics into natural environments and minimise impacts on ocean ecosystems.”

The study team are now focussing on efforts to better understand the effect that microplastics have on marine organisms, for example sea turtles and deep-sea fauna.

This research was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Full title: Direct evidence that microplastics are transported to the deep sea by turbidity currents

DOI:

Published in the journal, , scientists have developed an advanced sensor that can detect volcanic gases with rapid speed and precision.

Using the sensor mounted on a helicopter, the research team measured emissions at Soufrière Hills Volcano on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat, revealing that the volcano emitted three times more CO₂ than earlier studies had estimated.

Scientists typically monitor volcanic emissions by focusing on hot vents, known as fumaroles, which release high concentrations of easily detectable acid gases like sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and hydrogen chloride (HCl). However, many volcanoes also have cooler fumaroles, where water-rich hydrothermal systems on the volcano absorb the acidic gases, making them harder to detect. As a result, CO₂ emissions from these cooler sources are often overlooked, leading to significant underestimations in volcanic gas output.

The new technology exposes those hidden emissions, offering a more accurate quantification of the volcanoes gas output.

The findings also have significant implications for volcano monitoring and eruption forecasting.

, lead researcher from The University of Manchester, said: “Volcanoes play a crucial role in the Earth's carbon cycle, releasing CO₂ into the atmosphere, so understanding the emissions is crucial for understanding its impact on our climate. Our findings demonstrate the importance of fast sampling rates and high precision sensors, capable of detecting large contributions of cooler CO₂-rich gas.

“However, it’s also important to realise that despite our findings that CO₂ emissions could be around three times higher than we expected for volcanoes capped by hydrothermal systems, volcanoes still contribute less than 5% of global CO₂ emissions, far less than human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.”

and co-author, added: “Development of high-sensitivity high-frequency magmatic gas instruments opens up a new frontier in volcanological science and volcano monitoring. This work demonstrates the new discoveries which await us. By capturing a more complete picture of volcanic gas emissions, we can gain deeper insights into magma movement, observe potential signs of impending eruptions and signs that an ongoing eruption might be ending. For the people living near active volcanoes, such advancements could enhance early warning systems and improve safety measures.”

The research was carried out in collaboration with Montserrat Volcano Observatory and the National Institute of Optics, Firenze, Italy. Now, the study team are searching for funding to make this instrument suitable for unmanned aerial vehicle platforms, opening up new opportunities for performing delicate gas measurements in challenging and hazardous environments.  

This research has been published in the journal Scientific Advances. 

Full title: Quantification of Low-Temperature Gas Emissions Reveals CO₂ Flux Underestimates at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat.

DOI:

The station, part of the UK’s programme, will monitor and provide crucial data on key climate-relevant gases, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). A new high-precision analyser for monitoring atmospheric hydrogen (H₂) is also being deployed at the site to monitor atmospheric hydrogen (H₂) generated through the growth of the UK’s hydrogen economy.   

The project is a collaboration between The University of Manchester’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group at the University of Bristol.

Simon O’Doherty, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at the University of Bristol, added: “We can only understand the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by making continuous high-quality, physical measurements of the atmosphere. The current UK network of monitoring stations set up in 2012 has been a huge success in furthering our understanding, however, the addition of the Jodrell Bank station to the network will enhance our ability to determine emissions in the north-west region of the UK.” 

Data collected from Jodrell Bank will be added to a long-term dataset collected by the UK’s Deriving Emissions linked to Climate Change (DECC) network. These measurements are combined with a computer model that represents the transport of gases from the emission sources to the measurement locations. This enables scientists to estimate the size and location of emissions for each measured gas. The total UK emissions estimated for CH₄ and N₂O using this method are included in the UK’s National Inventory Report that is submitted annually to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

As the first site in North West England, the new Jodrell Bank station will provide more granular detail on emissions from Wales and North West England. This will help to improve the accuracy of UK emission estimates and will also permit new studies focused on regional greenhouse gas emissions. Jodrell Bank is also well placed to monitor changes in atmospheric H₂) resulting from planned industrial developments near Ellesmere Port. 

Alistair Manning, Met Office greenhouse gas monitoring Scientific Manager, said: “Jodrell Bank is ideally located to monitor emissions from north Wales and the north-west of England. It complements the existing network perfectly and will enable a better spatial understanding of the emissions of greenhouse gases from these regions. The resulting information will enable the UK to better understand its current emissions and monitor its progress to net zero.” 

The GEMMA Programme is a consortium led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), which includes the Met Office, National Centre for Earth Observation, National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Bristol, University of Manchester, and others working together to create a single integrated network to monitor all sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the UK, funded by NERC and the Building a Green Future Programme. 

Richard Barker, Head of Environment, NPL, said: “With the welcome addition of Jodrell Bank, we can start to provide greater resolution of UK emissions now and also assure the UK network is better suited to the future, more challenging, demands of achieving net zero.”

Scientists from The University of Manchester used advanced X-ray imaging techniques to examine fossilised bones of the prehistoric flying reptile at the smallest scale, revealing hidden engineering solutions right in the palm of their hands…or fingers to be precise.

They discovered that pterosaur bones contained a complex network of tiny canals, making them both lightweight and incredibly strong — details of its structure that have never been seen before.

The researchers say these ancient adaptations could have the potential to start a ‘palaeo-biomimetics’ revolution—using the biological designs of prehistoric creatures to develop new materials for the 21^st Century.

The findings are published today in Nature’s .

The study’s lead author, Nathan Pili, a PhD student at The University of Manchester, said: “For centuries, engineers have looked to nature for inspiration— like how the burrs from plants led to the invention of Velcro. But we rarely look back to extinct species when seeking inspiration for new engineering developments—but we should.

“We are so excited to find and map these microscopic interlocking structures in pterosaur bones, we hope one day we can use them to reduce the weight of aircraft materials, thereby reducing fuel consumption and potentially making planes safer.”

The pterosaurs, close relatives of dinosaurs, were the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight. While early species typically had wingspans of about two metres, later pterosaurs evolved into enormous forms with wingspans reaching upwards of 10 metres. The size means they had to solve multiple engineering challenges to get their enormous wingspan airborne, not least supporting their long wing membrane predominantly from a single finger.

The team used state-of-the-art X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) to scan the fossil bones at near sub-micrometre resolution, resolving complex structures approximately 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair. 3D mapping of internal structures permeating the wing bones of pterosaurs has never been achieved at these resolutions (~0.002 mm).

They found that the unique network of tiny canals and pores within pterosaur bones—once used for nutrient transfer, growth, and maintenance—also help protect against microfractures by deflecting cracks, serving both biological and mechanical functions.

By replicating these natural designs, engineers could not only create lightweight, strong components but could also incorporate sensors and self-healing materials, opening up new possibilities for more complex and efficient aircraft designs.

The team suggests that advancements in metal 3D printing could turn these ideas into reality.

Nathan Pilli said: “This is an incredible field of research, especially when working at the microscopic scale. Of all the species that have ever lived, most are extinct, though many died out due to rapid environmental changes rather than ‘poor design’. These findings are pushing our team to generate even higher-resolution scans of additional extinct species. Who knows what hidden solutions we might find!”

Senior author of the study Professor Phil Manning, Professor of Natural History at The University of Manchester and Director of Science at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, added: “There is over four billion years of experimental design that were a function of Darwinian natural selection. These natural solutions are beautifully reflected by the same iterative processes used by engineers to refine materials. It is highly likely that among the billions of permutations of life on Earth, unique engineering solutions have evolved but were lost to the sands of time. We hope to unlock the potential of ancient natural solutions to create new materials but also help build a more sustainable future. It is wonderful that life in the Jurassic might make flying in the 21^st Century more efficient and safer.”

With the aerospace industry constantly striving for stronger, lighter, and more efficient materials, nature’s ancient flyers may hold the key to the future of flight. By looking back hundreds of millions of years, scientists and engineers may well be paving the way for the next generation of aviation technology.

Scientists discovered that even brief exposure to high concentrations of PM may impair a person’s ability to focus on tasks, avoid distractions, and behave in a socially acceptable manner.

Researchers exposed study participants to either high levels of air pollution - using candle smoke - or clean air, testing cognitive abilities before and four hours after exposure. The tests measured working memory, selective attention, emotion recognition, psychomotor speed, and sustained attention.

Publishing their findings today (6 Feb) in , researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and 91ֱ�� reveal that selective attention and emotion recognition were negatively affected by air pollution – regardless of whether subjects breathed normally or only through their mouths.

The experts suggest that inflammation caused by pollution may be responsible for these deficits noting that while selective attention and emotion recognition were affected, working memory was not. This indicates that some brain functions are more resilient to short-term pollution exposure.

Co-author Dr Thomas Faherty, from the University of Birmingham, said: “Our study provides compelling evidence that even short-term exposure to particulate matter can have immediate negative effects on brain functions essential for daily activities, such as doing the weekly supermarket shop.”

Co-author Professor Francis Pope, from the University of Birmingham, added: “Poor air quality undermines intellectual development and worker productivity, with significant societal and economic implications in a high-tech world reliant on cognitive excellence.

“Reduced productivity impacts economic growth, further highlighting the urgent need for stricter air quality regulations and public health measures to combat the harmful effects of pollution on brain health, particularly in highly polluted urban areas.”

Cognitive functioning encompasses a diverse array of mental processes crucial for everyday tasks. Selective attention, for example, helps decision-making and goal-directed behaviour, such as prioritising items on your shopping list in the supermarket, while ignoring other products and resisting impulse buys.

Working memory serves as a temporary workspace for holding and manipulating information, vital for tasks requiring simultaneous processing and storage, essential for tasks that require multitasking, such as planning a schedule or juggling multiple conversations.

Socio-emotional cognition, which involves detecting and interpreting emotions in oneself and others, helps guide socially acceptable behaviour. Although these are separate cognitive skills, they work together to enable the successful completion of tasks both at work in other aspects of life.

Overall, the study highlights the need for further research to understand the pathways through which air pollution affects cognitive functions and to explore the long-term impacts, especially on vulnerable populations like children and older adults.

The study is the first to experimentally manipulate inhalation routes of PM air pollution, providing valuable insights into how different pathways affect cognitive functions. Researchers emphasise the need for further investigation into long-term impacts and potential protective measures.

Globally, air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor to human health, increasing premature mortality. The detrimental impacts of poor air quality on cardiovascular and respiratory systems are widely acknowledged, with links to neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

PM_2.5 is the air pollutant most responsible for human health effects with some 4.2 million deaths attributed to this size of particle alone in 2015. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that 24-hour and annual limits are below 15 μg m^‑3 and 5 μg m^‑3 respectively.

The asteroid material, delivered in September 2023, contains an abundance of organic molecules, salts, and minerals, some of which have never been observed in meteorites that have fallen to Earth.

The findings, published today in two papers in and , suggest that Bennu originated from an ancient wet world, possibly from the icy regions beyond Saturn.

These discoveries shed new light on how the building blocks of life, such as water and essential chemicals, could have been delivered to Earth—and possibly other planets—by asteroids billions of years ago.

The University of Manchester received part of the sample from asteroid Bennu to support the international analysis effort. In this latest piece of research, Rhian Jones, Professor of Cosmochemistry at The University of Manchester, played a key role in examining the mineralogy of the samples and interpretation of the data.

Professor Jones said: “ is like opening a time capsule from the early solar system. We were surprised to find that the asteroid sample held such a complete library of minerals and some unique salts.

“The salt minerals discovered in the sample are similar to those in dried-up salty lakes on Earth. We think that these briny conditions played a key role in how water and the ingredients for life might have been delivered to our planet billions of years ago. There is evidence for similar brines on Saturn’s moon Enceladus and the dwarf planet Ceres. ”

In the , scientists report that they have discovered some key ingredients for life, including 14 of the 20 amino acids that living organisms use to build proteins and all five nucleobases that form DNA and RNA. They also found high levels of ammonia, a potential precursor for these compounds.

Unlike meteorites that fall to Earth and are altered by the atmosphere, Bennu’s sample was carefully preserved during its journey, with the team protecting every pebble and speck of the Bennu sample while maintaining its pristine quality. As a result, the asteroid sample is giving scientists around the world a rare glimpse at our solar system's earliest days, without having to separate or account for changes caused by exposure to Earth’s atmosphere.

Professor Jones said: “Some of the salts we have found in Bennu have never been seen in meteorites that have fallen to Earth. This is likely because these substances were broken down by exposure to Earth’s environment. Meteorites similar to the Bennu material are also very rare because they do not easily survive their journey through the Earth’s atmosphere.”

The new results are the culmination of years of international collaboration involving scientists from NASA, the Smithsonian, London’s Natural History Museum and Universities across the world.

Professor Jones added: “These results were only possible because of the extremely careful curation of the Bennu sample from the moment the capsule landed. It’s a testament to what we can achieve with international collaboration and cutting-edge technology.”

The research marks the first in-depth analysis of Bennu’s organics and minerals and more scientific results from the OSIRIS-REx team are due in the coming months.

NASA has also stored 70% of the sample at Johnson Space Center's curation lab for study by the broader research community, including by scientists who have yet to be born and who will study it with instruments that do not exist today.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provided overall mission management, systems engineering, and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, Tucson, is the principal investigator. The University leads the science team and the mission’s science observation planning and data processing. Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, built the spacecraft and provided flight operations.

The extinction of the Dinosaur was a tumultuous time that included some of the largest volcanic eruptions in Earth’s history, as well as the impact of a 10-15 km wide asteroid. The role these events played in the extinction of the dinosaurs has been fiercely debated over the past several decades.

New findings, published today in the journal , suggest that while massive volcanic eruptions in India contributed to Earth’s climate changes, they may not have played the major role in the extinction of dinosaurs, and the asteroid impact was the primary driver of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.

By analysing ancient peats from Colorado and North Dakota in the USA, the researchers – led by The University of Manchester – reconstructed the average annual air temperatures in the 100,000 years leading up to the extinction.

The scientists, including from the University of Plymouth, Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and Denver Museum of Nature and Science in the USA, found that volcanic CO₂ emissions caused a slow warming of about 3°C across this period. There was also a short cold “snap” — cooling of about 5°C — that coincided with a major volcanic eruption 30,000 years before the extinction event that was likely due to volcanic sulphur emissions blocking-out sunlight.

However, temperatures returned to stable pre-cooling temperatures around 20,000 years before the mass extinction of dinosaurs, suggesting the climate disruptions from the volcanic eruptions weren’t catastrophic enough to kill them off dinosaurs.

Dr Lauren O’Connor, lead scientist and now Research Fellow at Utrecht University, said: “These volcanic eruptions and associated CO₂ emissions drove warming across the globe and the sulphur would have had drastic consequences for life on earth. But these events happened millennia before the extinction of the dinosaurs, and probably played only a small part in the extinction of dinosaurs.”

The fossil peats that the researchers analysed contain specialised cell-membrane molecules produced by bacteria. The structure of these molecules changes depending on the temperature of their environment. By analysing the composition of these molecules preserved in ancient sediments, scientists can estimate past temperatures and were able to create a detailed "temperature timeline" for the years leading up to the dinosaur extinction.

Dr Tyler Lyson, scientist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, said: “The field areas are ~750 km apart and both show nearly the same temperature trends, implying a global rather than local temperature signal. The trends match other temperature records from the same time period, further suggesting that the temperature patterns observed reflect broader global climate shifts.”

Bart van Dongen, Professor of Organic Geochemistry at The University of Manchester, added: “This research helps us to understand how our planet responds to major disruptions. The study provides vital insights not only into the past but could also help us find ways for how we might prepare for future climate changes or natural disasters.”

The team is now applying the same approach to reconstruct past climate at other critical periods in Earth’s history.

As extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and freezes become more common due to global heating, understanding how soil microbes – critical for healthy ecosystems – respond is crucial.

These microbes play a key role in natural processes like carbon cycling, which helps determine how much carbon is stored in the soil and how much is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, a major driver of global heating.

Researchers from The University of Manchester, working with a network of scientists across Europe, collected soil samples from 30 grasslands in 10 countries. They experimentally exposed the samples to simulated extreme weather events under controlled laboratory conditions to find out how the microbes would respond.

The team found that microbial communities in soils from different parts of Europe each reacted in unique ways to the extreme events. For example, soils from cooler, wetter climates were particularly vulnerable to heatwaves and droughts, while soils from dry regions were more affected by floods.

However, the scientists also found encouraging patterns and signs of consistency. In particular, microbes that can "pause" their activity and go dormant—essentially waiting out tough conditions—in any weather condition.

The findings are published today in the journal .

, Senior Lecturer in Earth and Environment Sciences at The University of Manchester, said: “Soil microbes are vital for our ecosystems. Their ability to adapt or struggle with climate change has a direct impact on soil health, plant growth, food production and carbon storage.

“By understanding the microbes’ ‘survival strategy’, we can better predict and possibly mitigate future impacts of these extreme weather events, giving us crucial insights to safeguard vulnerable regions.

“But our research highlights just how complex and varied the effects of climate change can be. The fact that local conditions play such a huge role in how vulnerable soils are means that a "one-size-fits-all" approach won’t work when it comes to protecting soil ecosystems, suggesting tailored strategies will be key.”

Each sample site represents the diversity of biogeographic regions present in Europe: alpine (Austria), subarctic (Sweden), Arctic (Iceland), Atlantic (Oxford and Lancaster, UK), boreal (Estonia), continental (Germany), Mediterranean (Spain and GR, Greece) and steppe climate (Russia).

The research offers a key first step in predicting how microbial communities respond to climate extremes, helping inform conservation efforts and climate policies around the world.

, who conducted the research while at The University of Manchester, now a Professor of Earth Surface Science at the University of Amsterdam, added: “This study is one of the largest of its kind. By working across multiple countries and ecosystems, we have been able to provide key insights that could guide future research and environmental management strategies ensuring the health of our ecosystems in the face of increasing climate challenges.”

The Moon, like the Earth, has been bombarded by asteroids and comets since its formation, leaving behind craters and basins. However, the exact timing and intensity of most of these events, notably the oldest and largest basin on the Moon, have remained unclear to scientists—until now.

By analysing a lunar meteorite known as Northwest Africa 2995, a team led by scientists at The University of Manchester have investigated the age of the formation of the massive South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin – the Moon’s oldest confirmed impact site, which is located on the far side of the Moon and stretches more than 2,000 kilometres.

The proposed date is around 120 million years earlier than what is believed to be the most intense period of impact bombardment on the Moon.

The finding, published today in , provides a clearer picture of the Moon’s early impact history.

, Royal Society University Research Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: “Over many years scientists across the globe have been studying rocks collected during the Apollo, Luna, and Chang’e 5 missions, as well as lunar meteorites, and have built up a picture of when these impact events occurred.

“For several decades there has been general agreement that the most intense period of impact bombardment was concentrated between 4.2-3.8 billion years ago - in the first half a billion years of the Moon’s history.  But now, constraining the age of the South-Pole Aitken basin to 120 million years earlier weakens the argument for this narrow period of impact bombardment on the Moon and instead indicates there was a more gradual process of impacts over a longer period.”

The Northwest Africa 2995 meteorite was found in Algeria in 2005 and is what geologists refer to as a regolith breccia, which means it contains fragments of different rock types that were once a lunar soil and have been fused together by the heat and pressure involved in an impact event.

By analysing the amount of uranium and lead found in a range of mineral and rock fragments within the meteorite, the researchers were able to determine the materials dated back to between 4.32 and 4.33 billion years ago.

The team, which included The University of Manchester, the Institute of Geology and Geophysics – Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm, and the University of Portsmouth, then compared these results to data collected by NASA’s Lunar Prospector mission, which orbited the Moon studying its surface composition between 1998 and 1999. The comparison revealed many chemical similarities between the meteorite and the rocks within the SPA basin, confirming their link and enabling the new age estimate.

, Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester, said: “The implications of our findings reach far beyond the Moon. We know that the Earth and the Moon likely experienced similar impacts during their early history, but rock records from the Earth have been lost. We can use what we have learnt about the Moon to provide us with clues about the conditions on Earth during the same period of time.”

This new understanding opens new avenues for future lunar exploration.

from The University of Manchester, said: “The proposed ancient 4.32 billion year old age of the South Pole-Aiken basin now needs to be tested by sample return missions collecting rocks from known localities within the crater itself.”

The study, published in by scientists at The University of Manchester and led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), has found that currents sped up, slowed down, changed direction, and sometimes reversed direction completely, depending on the varying and uneven surfaces and features found on the ocean floor.

Previous models suggested that these currents would be continuous and steady. These findings will help scientists to understand the deep-sea pathways of nutrients that sustain deep-sea ecosystems, as well as assessing where microplastics and other pollutants accumulate in the ocean.

By better understanding how deep-sea currents interact with the seafloor, scientists can now more accurately interpret the deposits they leave behind. Those deposits act as long-term recorders of past climate change and can provide important clues about the potential impacts of future ocean changes. 

The seafloor is the final destination for particles such as sand, mud, organic carbon that provides food for seafloor organisms, and even pollutants. Accumulations of these particles in the deep sea are used to reconstruct past climates, natural hazards and ocean conditions. This provides valuable archives of climate change that extends far beyond historical records.

The lead scientist on the project, Dr Mike Clare of NOC, said: “It is important to understand the behaviour and pathways of currents that operate in the deep sea, to determine pathways of natural and human-made particles. This information helps identify where pollution is coming from, which ecosystems it will interact with, and how to make sense of the records preserved in deposits.

“However, there have been very few direct measurements made of currents that flow across the seafloor in deep waters. Most are made high above the seafloor, over short timescales, and only at individual locations. Until now we have not understood how dynamic seafloor currents can be in the deep sea.”

The new study, which involved researchers from the UK, Canada, Germany and Italy, analysed data from an extensive array of sensors to determine the variability in seafloor currents over four years. Thirty-four deep sea moorings were deployed in up to 2.5 km water depths, equipped with high-frequency Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers - likened to an underwater speed camera that measures seafloor currents.

The study’s lead author, Dr Lewis Bailey, formerly of NOC and now at University of Calgary, said “The ocean bottom currents offshore Mozambique are far more variable than we expected. Just like currents in the upper ocean, their intensity changes between seasons and can even flip backwards and forwards over the course of several hours.”

from The University of Manchester, and a co-author of the study, added: “Seeing how these currents behave is a bit like observing the weather in 91ֱ�� - always changing and often surprising. But observing change in the deep sea is really challenging and, until now, we have had a poor understanding of what background conditions are like in the deep-sea.”

Professor Elda Miramontes from the University of Bremen, also a co-author of the study, said: “These are the first measurements of deep-sea currents across such a large area, long duration and so close to the seafloor. This makes them extremely valuable as they will help improve our models for reconstructing past changes related to climate change in the ocean.”

Dr Mike Clare of NOC, added: “The deep sea can be extremely dynamic and this study underlines the importance of sustained observations, which provide critical information on understanding the ocean. More detailed observations are critical for understanding the important role bottom currents play in transporting sediment, carbon and pollutants across our planet.”

The full study “Highly variable deep-sea currents over tidal and seasonal timescales” was published in Nature Geoscience: .

Antibiotics are given to kill bad bacteria, however with just one mutation a bacteria can evolve to become resistant to that antibiotic, making common infections potentially fatal.

The new research, published today in the journal , used high-performance computing to simulate more than 8,000 years of bacterial evolution, allowing scientists to predict mechanisms that control mutation rates. They then made more than 15,000 cultures of E. coli in lab conditions to test their predictions - that’s so many that if you lined up all of the bacteria in this study, they would stretch 860,000km, or wrap around the Earth more than 20 times!

The tests revealed that bacteria living in a lowly populated community are more prone to developing antibiotic resistance due to a naturally occurring DNA-damaging chemical, peroxide. In crowded environments, where cells are more densely packed, bacteria work collectively to detoxify peroxide, reducing the likelihood of mutations that lead to antibiotic resistance.

The finding could help develop "anti-evolution drugs" to preserve antibiotic effectiveness by limiting the mutation rates in bacteria.

Lead researcher from The University of Manchester, said: "Antibiotic resistance presents an existential challenge to human health. Bacteria rapidly evolve resistance to the antibiotic drugs we use to treat infections, while new drugs aren’t being developed fast enough to keep up.

“If we can’t keep antibiotics working, routine surgery could be a life-or-death encounter, with common infections becoming untreatable.

“By understanding the environmental conditions that influence mutation rates, we can develop strategies to safeguard antibiotic effectiveness. Our study shows that bacterial mutation rates are not fixed and can be manipulated by altering their surroundings, which is vital on our journey to combat antibiotic resistance."

Peroxide, a chemical found in many environments, is key to this process. When E. coli populations become denser, they work together to lower peroxide levels, protecting their DNA from damage and reducing mutation rates. The study showed that genetically modified E. coli that is unable to break down peroxide had the same mutation rates, no matter the population size. However, when helper cells that could break down peroxide were added, the mutation rate in these genetically modified E. coli decreased.

The research builds on previous findings by group, which indicated that denser bacterial populations experience lower mutation rates. The current study uncovers the specific mechanism behind this phenomenon, highlighting the role of collective detoxification in controlling mutation rates.

The research team, part of the Microbial Evolution Research in 91ֱ�� (MERMan) collective, conducted this extensive study with contributions from researchers at all career stages. The lab work was primarily carried out by a PhD student, alongside six undergraduate and master's students, under the guidance of four lab group leaders.

Experts have identified the bones found on a beach in Somerset as belonging to the jaws of a new species of enormous ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile. Estimates suggest the oceanic titan would have been more than 25 metres long.

Father and daughter, Justin and Ruby Reynolds from Braunton, Devon, found the first pieces of the second jawbone to be found in May 2020, while searching for fossils on the beach at Blue Anchor, Somerset. Ruby, then aged 11, found the first chunk of giant bone before searching together for additional pieces.

Realising they had discovered something significant, they contacted leading ichthyosaur expert, , a palaeontologist at The University of Manchester. Dr Lomax, who is also a 1851 Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, contacted Paul de la Salle, a seasoned fossil collector who had found the first giant jawbone in May 2016 from further along the coast at Lilstock.

Dr Dean Lomax said: “I was amazed by the find. In 2018, my team (including Paul de la Salle) studied and described Paul’s giant jawbone and we had hoped that one day another would come to light. This new specimen is more complete, better preserved, and shows that we now have two of these giant bones - called a surangular - that have a unique shape and structure. I became very excited, to say the least.”

Justin and Ruby, together with Paul, Dr Lomax, and several family members, visited the site to hunt for more pieces of this rare discovery. Over time, the team found additional pieces of the same jaw which fit together perfectly, like a multimillion-year-old jigsaw.

Justin said: “When Ruby and I found the first two pieces we were very excited as we realised that this was something important and unusual. When I found the back part of the jaw, I was thrilled because that is one of the defining parts of Paul's earlier discovery.”

The last piece of bone was recovered in October 2022.

The research team, led by Dr Lomax, revealed that the jaw bones belong to a new species of giant ichthyosaur that would have been about the size of a blue whale. Comparing the two examples of the same bone with the same unique features from the same geologic time zone supports their identifications.

The team have called the new genus and species Ichthyotitan severnensis, meaning “giant fish lizard of the Severn.”

The bones are around 202 million years old, dating to the end of the Triassic Period in a time known as the Rhaetian. During this time, the gigantic ichthyosaurs swam the seas while the dinosaurs walked on land. It was the titans’ final chapter, however—as the story told in the rocks above these fossils record a cataclysm known as the Late Triassic global mass extinction event. After this time, giant ichthyosaurs from the family known as Shastasauridae go extinct. Today, these bones represent the very last of their kind.

Ichthyotitan is not the world’s first giant ichthyosaur, but de la Salles’ and Reynolds’ discoveries are unique among those known to science. These two bones appear roughly 13 million years after their latest geologic relatives, including Shonisaurus sikanniensis from British Columbia, Canada, and Himalayasaurus tibetensis from Tibet, China.

Dr Lomax added: “I was highly impressed that Ruby and Justin correctly identified the discovery as another enormous jawbone from an ichthyosaur. They recognised that it matched the one we described in 2018. I asked them whether they would like to join my team to study and describe this fossil, including naming it. They jumped at the chance. For Ruby, especially, she is now a published scientist who not only found but also helped to name a type of gigantic prehistoric reptile. There are probably not many 15-year-olds who can say that! A Mary Anning in the making, perhaps.”

Ruby said: “It was so cool to discover part of this gigantic ichthyosaur. I am very proud to have played a part in a scientific discovery like this.”

Paul de la Salle said: “To think that my discovery in 2016 would spark so much interest in these enormous creatures fills me with joy. When I found the first jawbone, I knew it was something special. To have a second that confirms our findings is incredible. I am overjoyed.”

Further examinations of the bones’ internal structures have been carried out by master’s student, Marcello Perillo, from the University of Bonn, Germany. His work confirmed the ichthyosaur origin of the bones and revealed that the animal was still growing at the time of death.

He said: “We could confirm the unique set of histological characters typical of giant ichthyosaur lower jaws: the anomalous periosteal growth of these bones hints at yet to be understood bone developmental strategies, now lost in the deep time, that likely allowed late Triassic ichthyosaurs to reach the known biological limits of vertebrates in terms of size. So much about these giants is still shrouded by mystery, but one fossil at a time we will be able to unravel their secret.”

The new research has been published today in the open access journal PLOS ONE.

Ruby, Justin and Paul’s discoveries will soon go on display at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

Mountain ranges covering vast areas of the world are warming much faster than surrounding lowland areas, triggering huge reductions in snow cover and rapid upward movement of dwarf-shrubs, such as heather.

Scientists at The University of Manchester have found that these changes are disrupting the timing of crucial alpine ecosystem functions performed by plants and soil microorganisms.

The research, published today in the journal and funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council, shows that high mountain ecosystems may be less capable of retaining the important nutrients needed to sustain plant growth and maintain biodiversity in these harsh environments.

Every year, seasonal changes in mountain ecosystems prompt large transfers of nutrients between plants and microbial communities in alpine soils. Following snowmelt in spring, plants start to grow and compete with soil microbes for nutrients, thereby triggering a shift in the storage of nutrients from soil to plants. This transfer is reversed in autumn, as plants die back, and nutrients are returned to the soil within dead leaves and roots.

During alpine winters, snow acts like an insulating blanket that allows soil microbes to continue functioning and store nutrients in their biomass and enables plants to survive cold alpine winters. Climate change is predicted to cause an 80-90% loss of snow cover by the end of the century in parts of the European Alps and advance the timing of snowmelt by five to 10 weeks.

Prof Michael Bahn, a collaborator on the project from the University of Innsbruck, said: "Declining winter snow cover is one of the most obvious and pronounced impacts of climate change in the Alps. Its effects on the functioning and biodiversity of alpine ecosystems are a major concern for people living in Alpine regions and beyond.”

The scientists from The University of Manchester, in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, carried out the work on a long-term field experiment in the European Alps. The findings highlight the detrimental effect of climate change on seasonal transfers and retention of nutrients between plants and soil microbes.

For scientists, understanding how ecosystems respond to multiple simultaneous climate change impacts remains a major challenge. Interactions between direct and indirect climate change factors, such as snow cover change or less obvious ones such as dwarf-shrub expansion, can lead to sudden and unexpected changes in ecosystem functioning. These effects are impossible to predict by studying climate change factors in isolation.

Mr Khan, who has represented 91ֱ�� Gorton in Parliament since 2017, also toured the 91ֱ�� Air Quality Supersite – one of the largest locations in the UK dedicated to air quality research – and took part in a roundtable discussion with senior academics.

Supported by the University’s endowment fund, the Firs upgrade delivered state-of the-art greenhouse facilities that support expert research on food security and climate change. They comprise 14 climate controlled growing compartments which simulate an assortment of different growing environments around the world ranging from tropical to sub-arctic.

The 91ֱ�� Air Quality Supersite, also located on the University’s Fallowfield campus, is home to a mobile research laboratory that gathers detailed data on the contents of harmful urban air pollution.  It is one of three air quality supersites across the UK established as part of a £6 million investment by the Natural Environment Research Council. 

Mr Khan was welcomed by , Professor , Professor and Dr Oliver Hughes, who all joined the roundtable discussion.

Professor Coe, a Professor of Atmospheric Composition and Director of the 91ֱ�� Environmental Research Institute, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Mr Khan and lead the tour of the 91ֱ�� Air Quality Supersite which has the capability to work out where the gases and particles that pollute our air are coming from and how they form.

“We are immensely proud of the role The University of Manchester plays in this area of academic research and the potential this work has to reduce air pollution on a global scale.”

Professor Cruickshank, a Professor in Biomedical Sciences and Public Engagement, recently published an on the Policy@91ֱ�� website addressing how better community engagement can encourage more people to use modes of ‘active transport’ – such as walking and cycling - and reduce air pollution in high risk areas.  

She said: “My colleagues and I regularly engage with policymakers.  Having an opportunity to brief Mr Khan on our ongoing activities and exchange ideas was a useful part of this process.

“My article, published by Policy@91ֱ��, highlights the way that involving and empowering communities can identify key priorities to tackle pollution in neighbourhoods to enhance their lives.

“Greater 91ֱ�� has among the worst levels of pollution in the UK, with poor air quality estimated to contribute to around 1,200 premature deaths each year in the city region.

“That is a shocking statistic which underscores how important it is to involve local communities in the drive to reduce the impacts of air pollution.” 

Afzal Khan MP said: “It was a privilege to visit the Firs Environmental Research Station and the 91ֱ�� Air Quality Supersite which are shining beacons in climate change and air quality research.

“My roundtable meeting also provided a fascinating insight into the many research activities taking place on-site.

“We face huge global climate challenges, and it is heartening to see the work going on here in 91ֱ�� to formulate evidence-based solutions to help address them.       

“I thank the University’s policy engagement unit, Policy@91ֱ��, for putting such an interesting programme together.”

91ֱ�� is the recipient of five awards, including:

• , Senior Lecturer in Chemical Biology and Biological Chemistry of the , and , Professor of Polymer Science at the Henry Royce Institute, who are a Co-Investigators on a Mission Hub led by the University of Portsmouth. The mission Hub is looking into how engineering biology can tackle plastic waste.
• , Professor of Geomicrobiology, from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, is involved in a Mission Hub led by the University of Kent, and also leads a Mission Award, both of which will be looking at ways to use engineering biology to process metals, including for bioremediation and for metal recovery from industrial waste streams.
• , , and of the 91ֱ�� Institute of Biotechnology, received a Mission Award for a project that will engineer biological systems to enable economical production of functionalised proteins including biopharmaceuticals and industrial biocatalysts.
• , Chair in Evolutionary Biology, from the Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, and Professor Patrick Cai of the 91ֱ�� Institute of Biotechnology, are looking into engineering phages with intrinsic biocontainment to develop new treatments against drug-resistant bacterial infections.

The hubs are funded for five years through UKRI and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and are a collaboration between academic institutions and industrial partners. The Mission Award Projects are funded for two years. These projects will expand upon our current knowledge of engineering biology and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

Announcing the funding the Science, Research and Innovation Minister, Andrew Griffith, said: “Engineering biology has the power to transform our health and environment, from developing life-saving medicines to protecting our environment and food supply and beyond.

“Our latest £100m investment through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund will unlock projects as diverse as developing vaccines…preventing food waste through disease resistant crops, reducing plastic pollution, and even driving efforts to treat snakebites.

“With new Hubs and Mission Awards spread across the country, from Edinburgh to Portsmouth, we are supporting ambitious researchers and innovators around the UK in pioneering groundbreaking new solutions which can transform how we live our lives, while growing our economy.”

Engineering biology has the potential to tackle a diverse range of global challenges, driving economic growth in the UK and around the world, as well as increase national security, resilience and preparedness.  The University of Manchester has a broad range of expertise in engineering biology across its three Faculties and is also home to the international centre of excellence, the 91ֱ�� Institute of Biotechnology.

Atmospheric chemists from the , University of Manchester, and University of York are working together to quantify the gases and aerosols that come from stoves in people’s homes. 

Wood burners - the biggest sources of small particulate matter nationwide

The popularity of using wood burners has increased in recent years, in response to severe cold snaps and the rising cost of gas and electricity. 

In the UK, wood burning in homes is the main direct source of airborne particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (known as PM2.5), and accounts for a high fraction of particles with carcinogenic potential in urban areas. 

Exposure to PM2.5 particles can result in serious health impacts - especially for elderly people and people with respiratory illnesses. 

Stove in a lab - a scientific test facility to capture wood burner emissions

Scientists are using a state-of-the-art test facility, in a 91ֱ��-based laboratory, to study emissions from domestic heating stoves. 

By using a wood burner in a controlled environment alongside specialised pollution monitoring equipment, researchers are replicating a range of conditions and real-life scenarios.

Dr Marvin Shaw, research scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the University of York, said: “Recent studies of combustion in household woodburners suggest that operational conditions, such as ignition, reloading, maloperation and use of unconventional fuels are a large and unaccounted for source of pollution in the UK. This project brings together national expertise in order to understand how the operation of these wood burners affects the emissions of gas and particulate pollutants.”

The high-resolution data they are collecting will begin to build a detailed insight into real-time emissions during stove operation in people’s homes. 

, a research scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and The University of Manchester, explained: “Currently emissions predictions assume that wood burners are operated correctly and the appropriate fuels are used. However, we suspect that many wood burners are not used correctly, with people likely to overstack fuel or burn unseasoned woods. Our laboratory experiments will investigate the effects of gas emissions that condense in the air and form particulate matter after they are emitted." 

The air pollution research project they are working on, known as CondensabLe AeRosol from non Ideal Stove Emissions - CLARISE, brings together expertise in biomass burning experiments, emissions monitoring, atmospheric complexity analysis, and regional modelling.

The initiative, funded by a Defra Air Quality Grant, seeks to understand the motivations behind burning solid fuels in homes and gardens, improve community knowledge and influence behaviour and improve public health in Greater 91ֱ��.

Smoke from log burners, domestic fires and garden bonfires contain tiny particles called particulate matter (PM2.5) that can damage people’s health, increasing the risk of respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and lead to more serious health conditions. 

The study – led by The University of Manchester on behalf of Greater 91ֱ��’s 10 councils – aims to understand the link between household burning practices (indoor and outdoor) and local air quality.

Over the next two years, the research partnership will help inform a public health campaign across the city region to raise awareness around the negative impacts of domestic burning, with the aim to reduce particulate matter emissions through reduced and cleaner burning habits.

The survey will run until February 2024 and invites both people who burn at home and those that do not to take part.

Those that complete the survey can enter a draw to win one of five food vouchers. The link to the survey can be found

In conjunction with the study, Greater 91ֱ�� has launched an to educate residents about the health impacts and regulations surrounding domestic burning. Over 40 air quality monitors will be strategically placed across the region to better understand the link between domestic burning and PM2.5 air pollution.

The study is one of many research projects at the University which is looking into the

Residents who do need to burn this winter are being encouraged to follow these guidelines:   

• Find out if you are in a – if so your stove needs to be Defra-exempt and you must only use approved fuel.    
• Only burn clean seasoned wood with a moisture content of less than 20% or dried for a minimum of two years, or use ‘Ready to Burn’ approved manufactured solid fuels.   
• Do not burn rubbish or general waste.   
• Get your chimney swept each year and your stove checked.   
• Do not let your fire smoulder overnight. 

Take part in the survey

A small tornado recently passed through the town of Littlehampton on England’s south coast. Strong winds smashed windows, moved cars and left .

You might associate tornadoes with the plains of the central US, but they’re surprisingly common in the UK too – albeit smaller and weaker. In fact, my former PhD student Kelsey Mulder found that the UK has about 2.3 tornadoes per year per 10,000 square kilometres. That’s a higher density than the US, which as a whole has just 1.3 per 10,000 square km.

The numbers are higher for American states in “Tornado Alley” such as Oklahoma (3.6) or Kansas (11.2). Nonetheless, a random location in the UK is more likely to experience a tornado than a random location in the US.

Mini Tornado Littlehampton

— eddie mitchell (@brightonsnapper)

The data isn’t perfect, however. Tornadoes cannot be observed by satellites and need to be close to weather radars, which can detect the rotation. Thus, most observations are made by humans who then have to report them to the relevant weather service. “Storm-chasers” follow most tornadoes on the American plains, but underreporting may be an issue elsewhere.

Most tornado research has focused on the US, where forecasting and early-warning systems are advanced. There is considerably less research on UK tornadoes. Over the past 12 years, my research group has tried to address this by shedding light on , what causes the and how we can .

England has three ‘tornado alleys’

Whereas many tornadoes in the US plains occur within a few weeks during the spring, UK tornadoes can occur throughout the year. The UK’s tornado alley is really three regions, most in southern England: an area south of a line between Reading and London with a maximum near Guildford, locations southwest of Ipswich and a line west and south of Birmingham.

These regions have probabilities of experiencing a tornado within a 100 square km area of somewhere between 3% and 6% per year, meaning they could see one as often as every 15 to 30 years.

_{Tornadoes between 1980 and 2012, mapped by Dr. Kelsey Mulder and the author. ,}

These tornadoes aren’t as violent as the more extreme ones in the US, but the damage can still be substantial. In July 2005, a large tornado in Birmingham caused £40 million in damages and . Fortunately, no one was killed. People have died in the past though, for example a strong tornado in South Wales in 1913 .

Although the Birmingham tornado was the most damaging tornado on that day, two others were recorded across the British Isles. Indeed, around 70% of UK tornado days have at least two reports, and 13% produce three or more.

We refer to such days as tornado outbreaks, with the largest-ever UK tornado outbreak occurring on 23 November 1981, producing from Anglesey to Norwich.

What causes tornadoes

We still don’t know exactly why the UK has so many weak tornadoes. We do know that “supercells” – rotating thunderstorms tens of kilometres across – form the largest tornadoes in the US but occur less frequently in the UK. Instead, tornadoes in the UK tend to be formed from lines of storms along cold fronts.

_{The largest tornadoes are formed from supercell storms, like this one in Kansas. GSW Photography / shutterstock}

Although millions of dollars have been spent researching supercell thunderstorms in the US, there is an increasing awareness that these linear storms also require investigation on both sides of the Atlantic. Our group has been trying to understand what causes some of these parent storms to begin to rotate and eventually spawn tornadoes.

So far, my former PhD student Ty Buckingham and I have been able to identify certain conditions where the wind direction changes abruptly. In such cases, an instability may develop where small perturbations grow into , regularly spaced along the front. Such vortices are thought to be the precursor for tornadoes.

Identifying the conditions for this so-called “horizontal shearing instability” should mean we can better predict when and where the parent storms that produce the tornadoes form. But understanding this instability is not the only answer. Other tornado-producing storms do not appear to be associated with this instability, so we still have more to learn.

The next step is understanding how the tornadoes themselves form. For that, we will need both fortuitous observations of such tornadoes forming close to Met Office radars and powerful computer programs that are able to model the atmosphere down to a scale of tens of meters.

Recent advances in computing and our collaborations with colleagues in engineering may yet reveal the secrets of UK tornadoes.

, Professor of Synoptic Meteorology,

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Researchers from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), including those from The University of Manchester, compared standard jet fuels with several different blends of sustainable aviation fuel, including fuels supplied by Neste.

They monitored the emissions produced by two different engines, included those used on the FAAM Airborne Laboratory's BAe-146-301 aircraft using CFS Aero facilities at Hawarden Airport.

The aviation sector was responsible for more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, but sustainable aviation fuel has the potential to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions - such as carbon dioxide - in aviation by up to 80% when compared to standard jet fuel. It also has the potential to benefit local air quality.

Findings from the research found that emissions of ultrafine black carbon at low thrust, which directly impacts local air quality, was 45% less in number and 80% less in mass for every kilogram of blended sustainable aviation fuel burnt.

The results could help reduce the climate warming effects of aviation globally.

Dr Paul I Williams, NCAS research scientist based at The University of Manchester, said: “As aviation and the UKRI funding bodies move towards carbon neutral, it is important to understand what effects these alternative fuels have. This study is really important to understand these effects and to provide the UK with capability to make these assessments in the future as new fuels and technologies are developed.”

Sustainable aviation fuel is made from renewable biomass and waste resources and can be used as a direct replacement for jet fuel sourced from crude oil. These fuels are blended with standard jet fuels so they are compatible with all current aircraft, including the FAAM aircraft.

The goal is by 2050, all Jet fuels will be 100% synthetic and not from fossil fuels.

The ground-based engine testing enabled the team to detect a range of air pollutant emissions created by the combustion of blended aviation biofuel and HEFA fuel - to compare emissions between fuels from sustainable and non-sustainable sources. 

The chemical and physical properties of emitted gases and particles - such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and suspended small particles - were evaluated. 

Using a sample probe developed by SCITEK, and equipment from The University of Manchester, Cardiff University and York University, emissions were measured within the engine exhaust. 

Dr Williams added: “As part of the ground-based engine testing we sampled emissions of ultrafine black carbon, also known as non-volatile particulate matter. Non-volatile particulate matter emissions from aircraft engines at low thrust directly impact local air quality near the earth’s surface, and the people who live and work nearby airports. The testing shows that at low thrust, for every kilogram of blended sustainable aviation fuel burnt, there is approximately 45% less in number and 80% less in mass of non-volatile particulate matter.

“At cruise thrusts, we found that there were also lower amounts of non-volatile particulate matter being emitted from the burning of sustainable aviation fuel. This indicates that while an aircraft is cruising there would be less non-volatile particulate matter produced, which in turn impacts contrail formation. This could have the potential to reduce the climate warming effects of aviation globally.” 

Using sustainable aviation fuel, as well as adopting a range of other sustainable practices, is a quick way to reduce carbon emissions from aviation, which includes the UK research aircraft and operations. 

The study follows on from the world’s first in-flight emissions study, which recently made its first flight using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel.

Alan Woolley, Head of the NCAS-managed FAAM Airborne Laboratory, said: “For NCAS and the FAAM Airborne Laboratory, the results from this emissions-testing work will inform decisions around investment and the use of sustainable aviation fuel for future airborne science missions around the world.

“The aviation sector will be able to use our data to improve sector-wide understanding of the gases and particles released from gas turbine engines - of the size used on the FAAM Airborne Laboratory’s research aircraft.”

The engine tests for monitoring sustainable aviation fuel emissions were made possible by a partnership with NCAS and its FAAM Airborne Laboratory*, Cardiff University, Neste, Rolls-Royce, CFS Aero, SCITEK, University of Manchester, and University of York. 

The study is just one way that The University of Manchester is working to reduce climate change caused by the aviation industry. Research conducted at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at 91ֱ�� has been used to drive policy changes in the shipping and aviation sectors, bringing greenhouse gas emissions targets more in line with the Paris Agreement.

*The FAAM Airborne Laboratory’s research aircraft is owned by UK Research and Innovation and the Natural Environmental Research Council. It is managed through the National Centre for Atmospheric Science, and leased through the University of Leeds. The aircraft is supported, modified and upgraded by BAE Systems, operated by Airtask Group, and maintained by Avalon Aero. It is hangared in Bedfordshire, with Cranfield Airport at Cranfield University.

The sample was collected as part of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which returned to earth today, Sunday, 24 September.

It is NASA’s first mission to collect a sample from an asteroid sample and is the largest asteroid sample ever returned to Earth, estimated to hold around 250g of Bennu's material - rocks and dust collected from the asteroid’s surface.

NASA’s Johnson Space Center will release 25% of the sample to a cohort of more than 200 members from more than 35 globally distributed institutions, including a team of scientists from The University of Manchester’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, to analyse the sample.

Over two years, the team will work to understand the history of the asteroid, its components and its precursors.

The findings will ultimately help scientists to understand more about the origin of the Solar System and of organics and water that could have led to life on Earth. The data collected also aids our understanding of asteroid impacts on Earth.

Dr Sarah Crowther, Research Fellow in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of Manchester, said: “It is a real honour to be selected to be part of the OSIRIS-REx Sample Analysis Team, working with some of the best scientists around the world. We’re excited to receive samples in the coming weeks and months, and to begin analysing them and see what secrets asteroid Bennu holds.

“A lot of our research focuses on meteorites, and we can learn a lot about the history of the Solar System from them. But meteorites get hot coming through Earth’s atmosphere and can sit on Earth for many years before they are found, so the local environment and weather can alter or even erase important information about their composition and history.

“Sample return missions like OSIRIS-REx are vitally important because the returned samples are pristine, we know exactly which asteroid they come from and can be certain that they are never exposed to the atmosphere so that important information is retained.”

Asteroid Bennu is rich in carbon, meaning it could contain the chemical building blocks of life. Every few years, it flies close to Earth, crossing Earth’s orbital path, making it accessible to a mission like OSIRIS-REx. Bennu also has a (very small) chance of hitting Earth next century, meaning studying Bennu can help us learn how to be prepared to defend against an impact.

The spacecraft launched on 8 September 2016 and arrived at Bennu in December 2018, and, after mapping the asteroid for almost two years, collected a sample from the surface on 20 October 2020 before landing today, 24 September.

OSIRIS-REx released its sample return capsule into the atmosphere as it flew by Earth. The capsule descended by parachute, landing in the Utah western desert before being transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, from where it will now be dispatched to scientists around the world.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will  to explore asteroid Apophis, which it will take six years to reach, while the sample from Bennu will continue to offer generations of scientists a window into the time when the Sun and planets were forming about 4.5 billion years ago.

A University of Manchester academic has won the inaugural Royal Meteorological Society Education Award in recognition of his long record of teaching excellence.

David Schultz, Professor of Synoptic Meteorology, was nominated for the award that celebrates people and teams who have made outstanding and exceptional contributions to meteorology and related disciplines. 

The award citation states that Prof Schultz was the “most worthy recipient of the Royal Meteorological Society’s Education Award” and that “his commitment to the teaching of meteorology, and to furthering the careers of young people has drawn praise from many generations of students.”

Prof Schultz has a long record of innovation and producing materials and tools that benefit the wider educational community as well as his own classes. He authored the book , to help atmospheric scientists with communication skills.

He also led the development of , which was the first freely accessible real-time weather and air-quality forecasting portal for the UK, as well as the development of an online open course called .

Prof Schultz has been recognised by his students and colleagues on a number of occasions. He won School and Faculty Teaching Awards ten times, the University Teaching Excellence Award three times and the Student Union’s Outstanding Research Supervision award.

Prof Schultz will accept the award at a ceremony later in the year.

He said: “I am extremely honored to receive the first Education Award from the Royal Meteorological Society. Throughout my life, I wanted to be a teacher and a mentor to others. This award is a testament to all those who supported my efforts to achieve that: my parents encouraged my curiosity, my teachers pushed me to be a better student, and my wife shares my passion for excellent teaching.

“Importantly, I want to recognise my PhD thesis advisors Lance Bosart and Dan Keyser who—through their teaching and mentorship—inspired me to teach through active-learning methods, which better engage students in their own independent learning.  

“The development of the web-based tools, as well as my textbook, would not exist without their inspiration and guidance. Finally, I want to thank all my students over the years who have provided feedback to help me develop into a better educator."

The Royal Meteorological Society’s awards reflect the breadth of work in the meteorological community. The Education Award is bestowed annually for weather and climate teaching excellence, in recognition of significant and sustained commitment to the delivery and/or support of teaching and learning, or the development and use of innovative teaching or training resources related to weather, climate and related applications.

The final was held at the EAGE Annual Conference in Vienna in June 2023, a small group of teams, selected from over 30 teams competing from around the world, had their opportunity to impress the judges with their design for a geothermal development in the Vienna Basin. 

The team from 91ֱ�� - “Geocreate” - consisted of Jinan Irbah Salsabila , Nisa Sukkee and Tara Anisa from MSc Petroleum Geoscience, Yasser Omer from MSc Geoscience for Sustainable Energy and Masenesa Shniab from MSc Sustainable Engineering. 

Six teams from five continents were selected as finalists to present their development plan to a team of judges. Tara said “It was fascinating how each of the 6 teams from all around the world came up with really different development plans. It was really rewarding after all the efforts and long hours we put into this challenge. It is also amazing how much transferrable skills and knowledge that I got from my MSc, and how much new knowledge that I learnt about geothermal energy and development from my talented teammates. We thank Prof Mads Huuse for introducing the challenge to us and helping us throughout the competition, and PhD David Johnstone for his amazing insight on the geothermal development during our numerous discussions and of course the EES department of The University of Manchester for all their support every step of the way”. 

Nisa added “I was so grateful and proud to be part of our team and this challenge. It was such a great time to know all amazing and talented people from multinational companies and universities. I have learned a lot beyond my field and interest.” 

Our MScs use the skills developed on their courses, but undertake this competition in their own time, which is no mean feat during such a busy 12 month MSc course. Congratulations for their remarkable performance! 

The FIELD Challenge – a Fully Integrated Evaluation and Development task, now also known as the “Laurie Dake” Challenge was inaugurated in 2011. Each year about half of the active EAGE student chapters in the worldwide pit their skills for a grand prize and all the recognition provided by EAGE, the EAGE Student Fund and the data set sponsors. 

Laurence Patrick (Laurie) Dake was a preeminent scientist and renowned author, paving the way for the education of new generations of reservoir engineers. He made great contributions to the petroleum engineering profession, and in evoking his exceptional creative spirit, EAGE is pleased to name the FIELD Challenge after him. 

The Laurie Dake Challenge is created with the aim to promote cross-disciplinary geoscience and engineering integration within universities. Each participating university will have a multi-disciplinary team of full time geoscience and petroleum engineering students, with a maximum of one PhD student per team. 
 

The researchers have been awarded £1.8 million to carry out a novel observational campaign in southern England to evaluate turbulence in the atmosphere.

The campaign, named WesCon - Observing the Evolving Structures of Turbulence (WOEST), is being led by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science to complement the Wessex Convection (WesCon) Experiment led by the Met Office. Its results hope to improve how we predict the weather on a day-to-day basis and manage risks from severe weather more effectively.

Dr Emily Norton, Scientist at the Centre for Atmospheric Science at The University of Manchester, said: “Weather models currently rely heavily on theoretical knowledge to simulate turbulence in our atmosphere, and this could be a large source of potential errors in weather predictions.

“The Met Office model has made many improvements over the last decade, but it still has some long-term biases and is prone to forecasting too much rain at the wrong time in convective conditions. 

“Working together, our goal is to build a complete picture of turbulence in our atmosphere how the processes leading up to an extreme weather event evolve.”

Throughout the summer months, The University of Manchester will be part of the team to set up and operate meteorological instruments, including wind profilers, drones, radars and lidars positioned at different locations within Southern England and will provide a unique insight of the state of turbulence in the atmosphere at any given time.

After the campaign, the team will begin analysing the data from all of the measurements to better understand the atmospheric conditions near the surface of the Earth leading up to the formation of thunderstorms.

Researchers from all organisations will combine observations from every angle to help them describe turbulence in the atmosphere, and ultimately, will use the observations to improve the high-resolution weather forecasts.

 Dr Ryan Neely III, lead researcher from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Leeds, said: “Turbulence is easy to see in our daily lives, if you look closely at clouds in our sky, you might notice how air swirls in random fluctuations around their edges.

“But how do you quantify chaos? Our observational campaign sets out to do just that. We have brought together a world-leading team, and state-of-the-art technology to answer a question that has intrigued me since I was a kid.”

Turbulence in our atmosphere is best described as chaotic motions of the air, and can cause irregular fluctuations in the wind, temperature, humidity and composition of the atmosphere.

Although turbulence plays a key role in thunderstorms, the ability to measure turbulence and how it impacts on our weather has been a longstanding challenge for researchers and there have been very few observations dedicated to evaluating turbulence in the sky.

The WOEST campaign, which also includes scientists from the University of Reading, University of Oxford and Imperial College London, will aim to capture real-world data about how turbulence near the Earth’s surface develops over time, and to produce three dimensional estimates of turbulence in convective clouds.

Some of these weather radar will be powered by HVO fossil-free biofuel diesel generators, instead of diesel fuel sourced from crude oil, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%. 

The field campaign was made possible by the £1.8m funding award from the

Observations made by scientists at The University of Manchester found that the primary source of urea – a nitrogen-rich compound, vital for the growth and development of living organisms - comes from the ocean.

The observations reveal an important but unaccounted for source of reduced nitrogen and offer the first-ever observations of gaseous urea in the air.

The research, published in the journal , also reveals that urea can be transported over long distances through the atmosphere to benefit other environments that may be nutrient-deficient.

The results could have far-reaching consequences for marine productivity and climate stability.  

Emily Matthews, Atmospheric Scientist at The University of Manchester, said: “Our observations provide new insights into the complex interactions between the atmosphere, ocean and ecosystems.

“Understanding the behaviour and impact of urea in the atmosphere is vital for advancing our knowledge of how chemicals and substances are transferred through our environment and can help us to inform strategies to address climate change.”

The observations of gas-phase urea in the atmosphere were collected over the North Atlantic Ocean using the , a UK airborne research facility managed by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and owned by UK Research and Innovation and the Natural Environmental Research Council.

Measurements made during these flights provide detailed data on the composition and properties of aerosols and gases in the atmosphere. Scientists from The University of Manchester and NCAS have identified unique species important to the marine reduced nitrogen cycle, including the first observations of gas-phase urea in the atmosphere.

The researchers say that the findings have significant implications for our understanding of the nitrogen cycle and calls for a revision of current models.

Emily Matthews added: “The ocean plays an important role in maintaining a stable climate through biological activity occurring near the surface of the water and contributes to oceanic uptake of carbon dioxide.

“We now know that it is also a significant source of urea in the atmosphere throughout most of the year, which means we need to modify the processes and factors involved in the nitrogen cycle to account for the newfound importance of urea.”

The nitrogen cycle is the process during which nitrogen moves through both living organisms and physical environments including the atmosphere, soil, water, plants, animals and bacteria. It is central to the composition of the Earth System and changes of the natural environment through interactions such as aerosol formation, ozone production and as a supply of essential nutrients to living organisms. 

The explanation for the observations of gas phase urea remains a mystery and further research is needed to fully understand biogeochemical coupling of nitrogen between the ocean and atmosphere.

The research findings represent an important pathway for long range transport of nitrogen to fertise nitrogen poor regions of the surface ocean. Revising this knowledge better helps to understand how the ocean biosphere will respond to future changes.

Dr Sophie Nixon, a BBSRC David Phillips and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Research Fellow in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, won the award for Sustainable Development, while Dr Kara Lynch, who was recently awarded an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Research Fellowship in the Department of Physics, won the award for Physical Sciences.

The national award works to support post-doctoral women scientists and overcome gender-driven inequalities. It offers a number of opportunities designed to help further establish women’s research careers. 

Dr Nixon and Dr Lynch are two of only five post-doctoral women scientists to win the 2023 award, which includes a grant of £15,000 each to spend on whatever they need to continue their research.

Dr Nixon's  research broadly looks how microbial communities in the environment cycle carbon, and how we can harness community-scale metabolism to help remedy global environmental issues, such as climate change and plastic pollution.

The project she will pursue with her award looks to microbial communities in hot springs for novel approaches to converting waste CO₂ emissions into value-added products in order to achieve a Net Zero future as soon as possible - an ambitious but potentially powerful nature-based solution to the CO₂ emissions crisis.

She said: “It was a big milestone to even be shortlisted for this notoriously competitive award, but to win was just wonderful.

“Awards and programmes like this one are really important for putting a spotlight on women in STEM – we need more talent in STEM but also need to showcase and celebrate the talent we already have. One problem we have is lack a of role models, but another is peer support. This programme champions this talent and creates a really strong alumni network that will be invaluable going forward.

“For me, the most powerful part of this award is the flexibility the grant allows. A significant part of my grant will go towards the cost of childcare - I’ve been working condensed hours since the cost of childcare for our daughter has risen. The extra time and money this will buy me allows me to pursue some extra personal development training, some career and leadership coaching, and also attend events or conferences.

“I wouldn’t be able to achieve any of this if I couldn’t find a way to subsidise the cost of childcare. It has opened many doors and I’m extremely grateful.”

Dr Lynch's research revolves around nuclear physics and using laser spectroscopy and decay spectroscopy to understand the properties of exotic nuclei. Her upcoming research project will measure the shape of proton-emitting nuclei, which is a new and exciting opportunity to test and improve understanding of the nucleus.

She said: “The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Rising Talent Programme is a really innovative and refreshing way of supporting women in science, as it allows you to use the grant in whichever way is most beneficial to your research and your career.

“Programmes highlighting and supporting women in science are very important, so we can encourage more women to pursue scientific careers as well as support those already in science. The postdoc years can be particularly challenging as we try to forge our own independent research career, so having a network of support is invaluable.

“I feel very lucky and proud to be alongside the wonderful and inspiring women who were shortlisted for this award, and to win was just a wonderful surprise.”

Dr Lynch will use the grant to buy research equipment that will allow her to perform the first laser spectroscopy studies of proton-emitting nuclei, which she hopes will kick-start her research programme in an unexplored area of nuclear physics. 

She will also use the grant for childcare to allow her to travel to CERN-ISOLDE – a radioactive ion beam facility - to perform her experiments outside of her normal working pattern.

Dr Lynch added: “Having just returned to physics research after a career break to start a family, the grant will uniquely support my desire to blend primary caregiving with my re-started academic career.

“I'm very grateful to L’Oréal and UNESCO for the opportunity to be part of this amazing network.”

All shortlisted candidates were invited to 10 Downing Street to discuss support for women in STEM. They met with George Freeman MP, Minister of State in the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, along with Angela McClean, Chief Scientific Advisor. They also received media training and had professional photographs taken at the Royal Society before attending the award at a ceremony at the House of Commons on Monday, 24 April 2023.

, Reader in Isotope Geo- and Cosmochemistry in the at The University of Manchester, has been awarded the prestigious 2023 Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) Price Medal. 

The is in recognition of her outstanding contributions in a series of closely linked investigations using chondritic meteorites to understand the composition and formation of the first planetary bodies in the Solar System. 

Dr Jones is a world-renowned expert in how some of the first formed rocky building blocks of our Solar System – mm-sized melt droplets known as chondrules – were formed and then incorporated into larger rocky bodies we now know as the chondritic asteroids. She is a highly skilled analyst using a variety of different analytical techniques to investigate the mineralogy, texture, chemistry and isotopic compositions of chondrules in different types of chondritic meteorites. 

These combined studies have revealed crucial insights into the different temperature and pressure conditions that existed in the early Solar System and have proven fundamental to understanding geophysical and geochemical processes in protoplanetary discs and the origins and transport of fluids in early formed asteroids. 

Dr Jones’ expertise has been recognised in having an asteroid named after her (5366 Rhianjones) and she is currently a member of the Japanese Space Agency’s asteroid sample return mission Hayabusa 2 Science Team. 

A respected mentor and teacher, Dr Jones openly shares her extensive knowledge and passion for meteoritics, cosmochemistry and mineralogy with peers and students alike. This is well-demonstrated by the numerous review papers and book chapters on chondrules and chondritic meteorites she has authored over the years, many of which are the ‘first stop’ for experts and early career-researchers in this area of meteoritics and planetary science research.

By creating a flexible and accessible alternative to traditional learning models, this online version of a long-established on-campus MSc aims to strengthen the global workforce as we face the imminent threat of a climate catastrophe.

A dramatic increase in severe weather events and unprecedented levels of air, water and plastic pollution are stark reminders that our planet is in trouble. The world is waking up to the fact that the climate crisis is in full swing, and leaders are under increasing pressure to not only set ambitious targets, but to ensure those targets are met.

The recent COP27, in November 2022, has built momentum for change and highlighted the severity and urgency of the environmental challenges – and the social, economic and political implications – we face as a global community.

As the world’s best university for action on sustainable development  (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, 2022), The University of Manchester recognises the increasing demand for highly-skilled environmental scientists and associated professionals, as work to stabilise our climate gains pace.

The launch of its online MSc in Pollution and Environmental Control aims to mobilise a new generation of environmental scientists who can lead the world into a cleaner and greener era, arming them with sought-after specialist knowledge, advanced qualitative and quantitative skills and real-world experience.

Course Director, Dr Andrew Lowe said: “The online MSc in Pollution and Environmental Control opens up the floodgates for a new generation of highly-qualified, well-prepared and globally-informed experts with the professional toolkit to influence people and policy, manage pollution and mitigate environmental impact across the world. ”

This twinned course is the first of its kind from The University of Manchester – an online version of the long-established on-campus MSc with the same name. Both are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and focus on real-world application covering topics such as the use of measurement and prediction; the environmental impact of humans on biosphere; pollution management and flood prevention; modelling pollutants and how these are mobilised and transported; as well as the wider socio-economic fallout caused by pollution.

Designed for working professionals, the new course is delivered completely online, through a personalised virtual learning environment (VLE). Students set the pace for their own learning, accessing podcasts, video lectures, instructor-led labs and virtual field trips whenever and wherever is most convenient for them.

The flexibility of this online model, which is also available on a part-time basis, makes it hugely accessible. It opens up the course to a multitude of enthusiastic and motivated individuals across the globe who aren’t able to – or would prefer not to – relocate, take time out from existing commitments, or compromise their income.

A range of scholarships and bursaries are available to support more individuals to access the online MSc, particularly those from developing countries and the Global South who are witnessing the brutal effects of pollution and climate change first hand. They recognise the urgency of building a next-generation workforce and have the potential to use this course to transform the future for their local and global community.

Dr Lowe adds: “By providing an accessible and flexible option for study, The University of Manchester is giving many more people across the world the opportunity to take on environmental challenges, strengthening our collective power to overcome them, and bolstering the global effort to protect our planet and its people for the long-term.”

Visit the course page to discover more about the MSc in Pollution and Environmental Control (online).

The organised active event saw students gather on campus and visit various landmarks and venues from Whitworth Park to Piccadilly Garden as part of global action led by the Save Soil Movement of Conscious Planet.

Harry Moss, a third year student at The University of Manchester organised the event after volunteering for Save Soil.

“I got involved through wanting to be a part of an effort to bring 3.5 billion people together to help revive and bring a minimum 3-6% organic content back into the soil.” said Harry.

As well as hugely impacting upon increasing an increasing humanitarian food crisis, drastic soil degradation across the world can also impact; water scarcity, loss of bio-diversity, loss of livelihood and of course, the climate crisis.

Currently taking place (9 May to 20 May) is the UN’s fifteenth conference of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This year’s theme is, ‘Land. Life. Legacy: From scarcity to prosperity', which is hoped to be a call to action to ensure land, the lifeline on this planet, continues to benefit present and future generations.  ​

How can I help contribute?

• TWEET & SHARE #SaveSoil
• EARN A CERTIFICATE FOR YOUR CV @
• JOIN THE ART EXHIBITION @
• BECOME AN EARTH BUDDY @

Visit to find out more.

The University of Manchester is delighted to announce an exciting new scholarship scheme aimed at widening access for students applying to its and courses. 

Launched by the family of local businessman Graham McKenna-Mayes, the Graham McKenna-Mayes Memorial Fund seeks to support access, success and progression for underrepresented groups in Higher Education, particularly in the Greater 91ֱ�� area. 

The bursaries specifically aim to address obstacles faced by students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and to offer the first stepping-stone to a successful career after graduation in Law or EES. They will offer eligible applicants an annual grant of £2,000, funded by the Graham McKenna-Mayes Memorial Fund. 

"I am immensely proud to initiate this bursary scheme, which pays tribute to my lifelong friend and colleague Graham," says John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ R&R UK. "Graham and I both grew up in Bury, where we went to school and college together before he went to study Law at The University of Leeds and York Law School. 

"Graham had a huge intellect coupled with tremendous drive, which he used to help shape our company to become one of the leading recycling and waste management companies in the UK. Graham was never happier than when he was mentoring or coaching people within the business to be the best that they could possibly be, both professionally and personally. 

"It is a fitting tribute therefore that we remember him by creating a bursary to help people from the 91ֱ�� area who share his passion in the areas of law and the environment." 

Bursaries are available to eligible students who are underrepresented in Higher Education and who require additional support to help them flourish and fulfil their academic potential at 91ֱ��, regardless of their background. 

Microbial Molecular Mechanism of ISA Degradation (M3ISA) 

In this project will be 'hopping' from EES to the to work on radioactive waste management. Chemical hydrolysis of cellulose in radioactive wastes releases isosaccharinic acid (ISA), which is a harmful by-product – but bacterias exist that can degrade it. 

To explore this further the enzyme needs to be purified and the function of the genes identified, so Dr Bassil is going to use the discipline hop to collaborate with experts in molecular microbiology and biochemistry. This project will form a research hub connecting biological sciences, and EES, and bring collaborators from other disciplines to projects, who will bring new ideas and points of view. 

Spatio-temporal analysis of the immune system of wild mice 

In this project Dr Iris Mair is 'hopping' from the to the Department of Geography to look at the immune system of mice in their natural environment. 

Laboratory studies show that factors such as diet, age and condition influence immune responses, but it is not known how these factors combine to shape the immune system in an uncontrolled natural environment. 

These individual traits are tied to ecological variables such as seasonal changes, climate, habitat and local population density, so Dr Mair will collaborate with geographer and ecologist to use remote sensing and create spatio-temporal models to understand individual and population level variation in immune function, and for the prediction of responses to environmental change that will form the basis for potential future predictive models, allowing the simulation of a population's response to environmental change.

This will include carbon capture, biodiversity and greenhouse gas mitigation, and minimising potentially harmful ecosystem disservices, such as the risk from Lyme disease and other pathogens.

The MEaSURE project is a multidisciplinary programme of research that brings together the Universities of Manchester, Glasgow and Salford, and will transform the way in which plant diversity is managed and manipulated to maximise beneficial ecosystem services.

MEaSURE focuses on understanding the value of plant diversity for ecosystem services in urban environments across the UK, and focuses on multiple scales, from individual 'patches' of green infrastructure to interconnected patches in a city region (such as Greater 91ֱ��).

It will integrate knowledge of biodiversity-ecosystem service relationships into urban planning tools to enhance the quality of urban environments, and make them more resilient to climate change.

of The University of Manchester said: "Enhancing biodiversity is known to positively affect the way ecosystems function, but this knowledge has not been fully exploited in urban environments.

"MEaSURE is unique in bringing together a multidisciplinary team of scientists to integrate knowledge of how biodiversity can enhance ecosystem services into mainstream urban planning tools.

"We will work across the UK but have a focus on the Greater 91ֱ�� city region to help develop a sustainable and resilient approach to urban greenspace planning."

Professor Lucy Gilbert, the University of Glasgow, added: "This is a unique opportunity for University of Glasgow scientists to contribute their expertise on potential ecosystem disservices, such as tick-borne diseases, into urban greenspace planning tools."

Led by Imperial College London, the collaborative project – entitled 'Aquifer thermal energy storage for decarbonisation of heating and cooling (ATESHAC): Overcoming technical, economic and societal barriers to UK deployment' – involves the Energy Futures Lab and the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London; the British Geological Survey; and EES at 91ֱ��.

The project will develop innovative technology to decarbonise the heating and cooling of buildings, which is a major contributor to carbon emissions in the UK.

It is led by Professor Matt Jackson at Imperial College London, and involves 91ֱ�� researchers and . The project has been awarded a £1.5 million grant by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)).

The proposed technology has already been widely applied in countries such as the Netherlands, but there remain technical, economic and societal hurdles to UK deployment.

Known as 'aquifer thermal energy storage', or ATES, the technology captures the waste heat and cool that is produced when buildings are heated in winter and cooled in summer. This is then stored as warm or cool water in an underground aquifer, with heat or cool pumped – when needed – back to the surface.

Affordable and clean energy is one of the key Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The energy transition, whereby a move to low carbon and renewable energy is delivered, is an important part of the roadmap to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

Geoscientists have a key role to play in helping to deliver this, and their skills and expertise will be required in a range of sectors.

Graduates of the Geoscience for Sustainable Energy programme will be able to demonstrate a broad understanding of all subsurface geoscience applications, alongside an in-depth technical knowledge of sedimentary geoscience and geophysics, rock mechanics, fluid flow and pore evolution.

This will equip students for employment or further study within the energy sector, including in the fields of energy, heat and hydrogen storage, geothermal energy, geological carbon sequestration, gas/compressed air storage, environmental governance of hydrocarbon extraction, and nuclear waste disposal.

The programme content has been designed following consultation with key players in the energy industry, and the programme will be supported by an industrial advisory board from a diverse range of sub-surface disciplines/energy providers.

The duo are joined by fellow University of Manchester researcher of the Faculty of Humanities, and are among 97 of the UK's most promising science and research leaders being to help commercialise their innovations.

Dr Wolz is a Presidential Fellow at the , part of the , and specialises in cosmology with radio surveys – particularly the mapping of the large-scale structure of the cosmic web via radio emission from cold gas in and around galaxies.

Her project title is 'Mapping the cosmic web with neutral hydrogen during the era of the Square Kilometre Array'. A key goal of cosmology is to understand the accelerated expansion of the Universe, believed to be driven by a force called Dark Energy. Mapping the distribution of galaxies throughout the Universe's lifetime can measure the expansion and help better understand the nature of Dark Energy.

In the past decade a new method called HI intensity mapping has emerged, which uses the radio emission of gas to trace the galaxy distribution. With the support of the UKRI Fellowship, Dr Wolz will prepare the upcoming HI intensity mapping observations by the Square Kilometre Array, the largest radio observatory ever built, and analyse its recent pathfinder data. These new radio surveys will allow for unique insights into the evolution of the Universe, inaccessible to optical telescopes.

She said: "I am incredibly excited and grateful to receive the Future Leaders Fellowship at such a critical time – both in terms of my career and the field of radio cosmology, where first large and high-quality data are now available."

Dr Polacci is a Senior Lecturer in Volcanology in the . Her project is entitled: '4DVOLC: Magma storage and ascent in volcanic systems via time-resolved HPHT X-ray tomographic experiments and numerical modelling of eruption dynamics'.

She said: "I am very happy to be one of the new UKRI Future Leaders Fellows. For the next four years I will combine time-resolved HPHT X-ray microtomography experiments on magma kinetics, numerical modelling of magma ascent and natural observations to study magma storage, ascent and eruption dynamics.

"The outcome of the project will change our current understanding of volcanic processes and volcanic eruptions, and will put the UK into a cutting-edge position for the study and prediction of volcano system behaviour."

Congratulations to both, and the best of luck with their projects!

John had an illustrious career as both a leading cloud physicist and also an acclaimed, prize-winning poet. He is renowned for a series of groundbreaking discoveries in the field of atmospheric electricity that form the basis of our understanding of charge transfer in thunderstorms to this day, and for his work on the role of clouds in delaying planetary warming due to increasing carbon dioxide.

John hypothesised that when different sized ice particles collide, the one growing fastest by vapour diffusion is charged positively and the other negatively, and these are transported to different parts of the cloud, leading to the development of an electric field and lightning.

His research also explained for the first time how, in warm clouds with no ice, rain could develop in as rapidly as 20 minutes due to mixing of dry air to some regions of the cloud. John recognised very early the importance of global warming and the profound impact it would have on the planet.

His concern led him to propose the idea that marine clouds could be brightened by decreasing the size of individual water droplets, thus increasing the number of cloud droplets for the same mass of water and thereby reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the Earth.

He published this work in Nature in 1990, a concept that is still being actively examined as a potential way of undertaking climate repair. John was awarded the Royal Meteorological Society's L. F. Richardson Prize in 1965, the Hugh Robert Mill Medal in 1972 and the Symons Memorial Medal in 1980. He served as President of the International Commission on Atmospheric Electricity from 1975-1983.

John wrote six collections of poetry, several plays broadcast on Radio 4 and a novel "Ditch Crawl". He won a number of awards for his poetry, including his title poem from "Professor Murasaki's Notebooks on the Effects of Lightning on the Human Body", which was awarded second prize in the UK's 2006 National Poetry Competition.

John was a wonderful wordsmith and was able to bring together science and poetry in an insightful, moving and often humorous way. Latterly, his work explored ageing and memory, so very poignant as his dementia worsened over the last years of his life.

John obtained his PhD from Imperial College under the supervision of Sir B.J. Mason FRS (who later became Chancellor of UMIST) and became a lecturer at UMIST in 1961, becoming Professor and subsequently the Head of Department. He left UMIST in 1988 to work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO, USA where he was highly influential and much admired.

He supervised 26 PhD students during his time at UMIST, many of whom are leading atmospheric physicists themselves. His insight, intellectual wonder and enthusiasm were contagious and he inspired many who knew him both as a scientist and as a poet. He enjoyed sport, being a member of the UMIST cricket team, being involved in intramural football and taking part in the annual Bogle Stroll.

John married Ann Bromley in 1961; they were amicably divorced in April 1992. He was predeceased by two sons, Rob and Mike. He is survived by a son and daughter, David Latham and Rebecca Brewer, seven grandchildren (Samuel, Shane, Jessica, Natasha, Molly, James and Evie) and one great grandchild (Tamara), our sincere condolences to his family.

John Latham, scientist, born 21 July 1937; died 27 April 2021.

On 7 June 2021 MERI gathered over 60 participants from a range of backgrounds to hear about the restoration projects - in which it has played an active role - and to delve into the range of benefits that nature restoration can yield, from improving biodiversity to sequestering carbon, to benefiting local communities and economies.

The first half of the event focused on scale; tackling restoration locally, regionally, and internationally. Dr Joanne Tippett started the event by talking about her work developing a National Nature Reserve in Wigan, before Dr Emma Shuttleworth discussed her work on peatlands in the Peak District, and Professor Richard Bardgett talked through his work on soil restoration in Africa and Tibet.

Dr Joanna Tippett: Towards a post-industrial National Nature Reserve in Wigan

Dr Emma Shuttleworth: Restoring the peatlands of the Peak District

Professor Richard Bardgett: Harnessing ecological knowledge to restore degraded grasslands

The second half was a panel discussion on 'Restoration in Practice', with panellists taking a look at the restoration projects they have been involved in, and discussing the factors that make restoration projects successful.

Panellists included:

• John Sanders, Strategic Planning Director at Mersey Rivers Trust
• Dianna Kopansky, Coordinator of the Global Peatlands Initiative in the Biodiversity and Land Management Branch at UN Environment Programme
• Tim Thom, Peat Programme Manager at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
• Dan Abrahams, Lead Adviser on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) at Natural England

Key messages from the discussion were:

Evidence - the right questions need to be asked and a strong knowledge base established before starting a restoration project. It is important to share when a project goes well, and, importantly, when it doesn't so that lessons can be learnt.

Co-creation - it is always preferable to design and introduce restoration projects with communities and local stakeholder involvement. Ecosystem restoration is about people, so they need to be on-board and taken with the project.

Engagement - We cannot do this on our own. Successful projects engage people, and their involvement needs to be part of the design from the outset. It is important for the community to feel a sense of ownership and that project information is conveyed in a common language.

, German research centre , , SAF producer  and The University of Manchester, have teamed up to start the pioneering ‘Emission and Climate Impact of Alternative Fuels’ (ECLIF3) project looking into the effects of 100% SAF on aircraft emissions and performance.

Findings from the study - to be carried out on the ground and in the air using an Airbus A350-900 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines - will support efforts currently underway at Airbus and Rolls-Royce to ensure the aviation sector is ready for the large-scale use of SAF as part of the wider initiative to decarbonise the industry.

Fuel-clearance engine tests, including a first flight to check operational compatibility of using 100% SAF with the aircraft’s systems, started at Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse, France, this week. These will be followed by the ground-breaking flight-emissions tests due to start in April and resuming in the Autumn, using DLR’s Falcon 20-E ‘chase plane’ to carry out measurements to investigate the emissions impact of using SAF. Meanwhile, further ground tests measuring particulate-matter emissions are set to indicate the environmental impact of SAF-use on airport operations.

The University of Manchester has been heavily involved in the development of the newly introduced regulations of non-volatile Particulate Matter (nvPM) from aircraft engines and has vast experience in measuring the currently unregulated volatile particulate emissions. Whilst the main focus of the work will be to determine the impacts of SAF on the regulated nvPM, the University will look to measure and understand the impacts of SAF on the volatile fraction. This is a key area of research as aviation regulators are examining whether the volatile PM should be subject to regulation.

Dr Paul Williams, Senior Research Fellow, The University in 91ֱ�� is working on the ground-based emissions study as part of the project: “This is an exciting opportunity to get a glimpse of the future emissions from aviation. SAF is going to be an important component of the aviator sector in the future, and being involved in ECLIF3 allows the University to assess the impacts, and hopefully the benefits.” he said.

Both the flight and the ground tests will compare emissions from the use of 100% SAF produced with HEFA (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids) technology against those from fossil kerosene and low-sulphur fossil kerosene.

The SAF will be provided by Neste, a leading worldwide supplier of sustainable aviation fuel. Additional measurement and analysis for the characterisation of the particulate-matter emissions during the ground testing will be delivered by the UK’s University of Manchester and the National Research Council of Canada.

“SAF is a vital part of Airbus' ambition to decarbonise the aviation industry and we are working closely with a number of partners to ensure a sustainable future for air travel,” said Steven Le Moing, New Energy Programme Manager, Airbus. “Aircraft can currently only operate using a maximum 50% blend of SAF and fossil kerosene; this exciting collaboration will not only provide insight into how gas-turbine engines function using 100% SAF with a view to certification, but identify the potential emissions reductions and environmental benefits of using such fuels in flight on a commercial aircraft too."

Dr Patrick Le Clercq, ECLIF Project Manager at DLR, said: “By investigating 100% SAF, we are taking our research on fuel design and aviation climate impact to a new level. In previous research campaigns, we were already able to demonstrate the soot-reduction potential of between 30 and 50% blends of alternative fuels, and we hope this new campaign will show that this potential is now even greater.

“DLR has already conducted extensive research on analytics and modelling as well as performing ground and flight tests using alternative fuels with the Airbus A320 ATRA research aircraft in 2015 and in 2018 together with NASA.”

Simon Burr, Director Product Development and Technology, Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, added: “In our post-COVID-19 world, people will want to connect again but do so sustainably. For long-distance travel, we know this will involve the use of gas turbines for decades to come. SAF is essential to the decarbonisation of that travel and we actively support the ramp-up of its availability to the aviation industry. This research is essential to support our commitment to understanding and enabling the use of 100% SAF as a low-emissions solution.”

Jonathan Wood, Neste’s Vice President Europe, Renewable Aviation, added: “We’re delighted to contribute to this project to measure the extensive benefits of SAF compared with fossil jet fuel and provide the data to support the use of SAF at higher concentrations than 50%. Independently verified analysis has shown 100% Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel delivering up to 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil jet fuel use when all life-cycle emissions are taken into account; this study will clarify the additional benefits from the use of SAF."

Energy is one of The University of Manchester’s research beacons - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

Chris who is currently at Imperial College, is a University of Manchester alumnus having studied his Geology BSc and PhD here. With his research focusing on the application of geophysics to understand a wide range of geological processes, from sedimentary to magmatic, he will be fundamental in further strengthening our carbon capture and storage research, leveraging his extensive industrial experience.

Chris also has the honour of presenting one of this year's for BBC Four. In his lecture Chris will show us how the planet’s oldest rocks and fossils tell a story of radical climate changes throughout history and how the Earth’s finely balanced tectonic system – volcanoes – has controlled the level of carbon dioxide in the air. Now though, for the first time, humans are tipping this balance.

After completing a BSc and PhD in Geology at the University of Manchester, Chris lived in Bergen, western Norway, where he tried his hand at ice-climbing, sea kayaking, and sparsely bolted rock climbing routes. He then returned to the UK to take a full-time academic position at Imperial College.

His academic position has not limited his opportunities for further travel and adventure, with his geological fieldwork taking him to remote, and physically and mentally challenging locations, including the Argentinian Andes, the Borneo rainforest and the Sinai Desert in Egypt.

Chris is a passionate teacher and communicator with an abundance of ideas about blended learning and crucially about how we can extend the reach of our science to the widest possible audience, helping us to achieve our widening participation initiatives.

Chris will be joining the University in February 2021.

The online events will take place throughout the week commencing Monday, 14 December as part of wider celebrations across The University of Manchester. They will provide an opportunity for both staff and students to mark winter graduation after physical ceremonies were postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

FSE graduation celebrations will be spread over the week, with events held for mathematics; mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering (MACE) - technical; MACE - management of projects; physics and astronomy; electrical and electronic engineering; international fashion retailing; materials science and engineering; chemical engineering and analytical science; earth and environmental sciences; computer science; and chemistry.

The move online means students will be able to celebrate regardless of where they are currently situated. It shows that while they may not be in the city at the moment, 91ֱ�� is behind its graduates as they take their next steps out into the world.

Each subject area will celebrate in its own unique way - either via YouTube or Zoom. Dates and times - and links to those on YouTube - are provided below:

School of Engineering

• - Wednesday, 16 December, 11.30am
• - Wednesday, 16 December, 9am
• - Thursday, 17 December, 11.30am
• - Friday, 18 December, 12pm
• - Friday, 18 December, 10am

School of Natural Sciences

• Chemistry - Thursday, 17 December, 11am (link available soon)
• Earth and environmental sciences - Monday, 14 December, 10am (link available soon)
• Materials: International fashion retailing - Wednesday, 16 December, 2pm (link available soon)
• Materials science and engineering - Tuesday, 15 December, 2pm (link available soon)
• Mathematics - Wednesday, 16 December, 10am (link available after the event) 
• Physics and astronomy - Tuesday, 15 December, 11am (link available after the event)

A huge congratulations to all of our FSE graduates, and the best of luck for the future!

, a Lecturer in the , has delivered the keynote address at the .

Entitled 'Changing times, biodiversity, freshwater quality and protection', the lecture explored the changing times in view of how we can effectively protect our planet and our environment in ways that are inclusive and integrative.

Without effective measures to conserve and protect biodiversity and its components in a sustainable manner, the future we seek for ourselves and the generations to come could be bleak. Dr Medupin's keynote address explored the sensitivity of aquatic macroinvertebrates (considered important organisms in the aquatic ecosystem), their ability to inform aquatic health and the challenges posed by human impact on the assemblage structure and composition.

By dimensioning existing management options, the talk provided insight into strategies needed to sustainably manage, protect, or restore biodiversity, including freshwater aquatic organisms for the future - including the role of public engagement and inclusion.

Dr Medupin's expertise is in understanding and managing water quality and ecology of urban watercourses - and her talk drew much praise from participants on Twitter. Extracts included:

-"I appreciate Dr Medupin linking the need for peace and the sustainability goals with biodiversity and ecology work. These connections in our work are so important in science/life and it's great to hear it said out loud."

-"Just wanted to say thank you for an inspiring talk - we really need to do more to invite more people into our circle. Loved the idea of inviting students from other disciplines to have a go at fieldwork. Who doesn't like a pond dip?"

-"It was so inspirational, thank you!"

-"Wonderful talk!"

Read more about Dr Medupin's address on the .

Operations at the Preston New Road shale gas site led to a venting of around 4.2 tonnes of methane gas to atmosphere that was detected at a nearby monitoring station installed by researchers from The University of Manchester. The research team was led by Prof Grant Allen, and reported in the

Elevated methane (CH₄) concentrations in the air were measured at an atmospheric monitoring station near the Preston New Road (PNR) shale gas site over a one-week period in January 2019. Analysis showed this to be a result of the release of non-combusted methane from the flare stack at the shale gas site following operations to clean out the 2.3 km deep shale gas well. During the emission event, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were deployed to map the vertical and horizontal extent of the methane plume.

Professor Grant Allen, Professor of Atmospheric Physics and leader of the project at The University of Manchester, said: “Our work shows that atmospheric monitoring of shale gas activity is crucial to meaningfully assess any role that the industry may have in the UK’s future energy mix and whether it can (or cannot) be consistent with the UK’s stated aim of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2015.

“This work informs that debate and provides new data on emissions from well-clearing activities that must be captured in industry life cycle assessments, and should be used to inform regulatory oversight and industrial practices surrounding venting activities such as the event quantified here. Such emissions should be avoided wherever possible.”

Identification of the methane emissions from the site was made by comparing the data with two years of baseline measurements, taking into account variability due to season and wind direction. The baseline monitoring was carried out by The University of Manchester as part of a -led environmental monitoring project and supported by the (BEIS).

Three different methods were used to estimate the methane release rate. Peak release rate was estimated to be approximately 70 g s^-1, with an average over the whole week of 16 g s^-1. The estimated total mass of methane emitted during the event was 4.2 (± 1.4) tonnes. In terms of greenhouse warming potential, this is equivalent to 143 tonnes CO₂ using the default 100-year time horizon conversion factor (GWP100), the annual electricity demand of 166 UK homes, or 142 London-New York flights.

Dr Jacob Shaw, Research Associate from The University of Manchester and lead author of the paper says: “The dangerous consequences of global warming are now beginning to become evident. Routine monitoring and scrutiny of the fossil fuel industry is crucial if we are to curb impacts, and also if we are to meet the UK Government’s Net Zero targets.”

The research found that independent estimates of methane emissions during the early stages of hydrocarbon development are not routinely made, nor are they generally understood for well development, well-unloading and well-stimulation activities. This may mean that greenhouse gas emissions are currently under-represented in lifecycle analysis of the overall carbon footprint of unconventional gas as an energy source. It will be important to include such processes in future greenhouse gas evaluations.

Professor Rob Ward, Policy Director at British Geological Survey said: “This study demonstrates the importance of establishing effective monitoring at oil and gas sites to establish the baseline and then enable detection and quantification of any emissions that might arise. Not only is this important for managing what might be a hazardous situation, it is also important for properly assessing greenhouse gas emissions.”

is one of The University of Manchester’s - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

The online events took place throughout the week commencing Monday, 27 July as part of wider celebrations across The University of Manchester. They provided an opportunity for both staff and students to mark summer graduation after physical ceremonies were postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 12 FSE graduations were spread over the week, with events held for mathematics; mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering; physics and astronomy; electrical and electronic engineering; fashion business and technology; materials science and engineering; chemical engineering and analytical science; earth and environmental sciences; computer science; and chemistry.

The move online meant students were able to celebrate despite being situated all across the globe. It showed that while they may not be in the city at the moment, 91ֱ�� is behind its graduates as they take their next steps out into the world.

Each subject area celebrated in its own unique way - as shown in the recorded videos below:

School of Engineering

School of Natural Sciences

A huge congratulations to all of our FSE graduates, and the best of luck for the future!