Half of U.K. universities have committed to divest from fossil fuel
Seventy-eight of the U.K.’s 154 public universities have joined the divestment campaign, either divesting or pledging to divest hundreds of millions from the fossil fuel industry.
Science & academia
This archive covers milestones and breakthroughs from the scientific and academic world — researchers, universities, and institutions whose work advances human knowledge. Stories here highlight discoveries, studies, and scholarly efforts that point toward a better future.
Scientists develop ultra-high capacity lithium-sulphur battery
Scientists at Monash University in Australia have developed a battery with a capacity five times higher than that of lithium-ion batteries that could lead to drastically cheaper electric cars and grid energy storage.
Israeli scientists find way to treat pancreatic cancer in 14 days
A new treatment developed by Tel Aviv University could induce the destruction of pancreatic cancer cells, eradicating the number of cancerous cells by up to 90% after two weeks.
Researchers create AI system that predicts epileptic seizures with 99.6% accuracy
The system will give people suffering from epilepsy warning that a seizure is imminent, enabling them to take medication—or alert a friend, relative or medical professional.
New drugs improve late-stage melanoma survival rate in the U.K. from 5% to 52%
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and kills nearly 2,300 people each year. Doctors said this new intervention marked an extraordinary and rapid transformation in care.
Human organs can be stored for three times as long in major breakthrough for transplants
Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have developed a method to preserve livers for 27 hours, using a super-cooling method which ‘freezes’ the organ at -4C.
Malaria breakthrough as scientists find ‘highly effective’ way to kill parasite
Malaria research has taken a genuinely hopeful turn, with Kenyan scientists at KEMRI identifying a bacterial derivative that kills Plasmodium falciparum through a mechanism the parasite hasn’t yet learned to resist — a critical advantage as drug resistance spreads. Building on earlier trials showing ivermectin-treated patients had blood lethal to mosquitoes, this research opens a new line of attack, originated by African scientists and designed around pregnant women and children from the start. Human trials still lie ahead, and that path is long — but the science points toward tools the world urgently needs.
Scientists in South Africa discover a cure for the deadliest strain of tuberculosis
The new drug regimen tested has shown a 90% success rate against a deadly plague, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.
Researchers develop method to convert heat into light that could significantly boost solar efficiency
Recycling the thermal energy from solar cells using carbon nanotube technology could increase the efficiency from 22% to 80% according to the researchers.
Israeli scientists develop novel nano-vaccine for melanoma
Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a melanoma vaccine that prevents the development of melanoma and treats primary tumors and metastases in mouse models.