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Plastic bottles without bottle caps.

The Plastic Problem: moving from a linear to a circular economy.

Thomas Franklin By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted:

Plastics have enabled society to progress at an unprecedented pace and have facilitated momentous advances in technology. However, it is the inherent durability of plastic which largely accounts for both its success and the plastic waste problem we now face. Our behaviour and choices as consumers or producers of plastic waste are of great importance […]

A swarm of asteroids in front of the Milky Way galaxy

Space rocks: the need for an international approach to space resource utilisation

photo of Katherine Joy wearing a black top By and Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

Extraction of Earth’s resources is vital for the advancement of modern infrastructure and technology. However, Earth’s resources are limited, and their continued use for the expansion and growth of humanity has resulted in their depletion. Mining is often destructive, we have little control over the global distribution of economically viable reserves of rare materials, and […]

A space brick.

Green space: off-world habitation could stimulate sustainability on Earth

Image of Aled Roberts By Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted:

NASA’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2025, before establishing a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by the end of the decade. This so-called Lunar Gateway will then be used as a staging point for future missions to Mars. With estimated project costs approaching $100 billion, a criticism of […]

Busy commuters in station

A nuclear society: rebuilding perceptions of nuclear energy

Adrian Bull with beard By Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The nuclear industry has historically had a fairly tumultuous relationship with wider society. Early perceptions of nuclear energy were generally positive, with it viewed as a beacon of how technology went hand in hand with increasing prosperity. However, a history of highly-publicised leaks, discharges and assorted incidents have created a legacy of societal mistrust of […]

An astronaut floating in space with the Sun and Earth pictured behind them

How can understanding astronaut psychology benefit us all?

Nathan Smith By and Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

Plans are underway for a permanent base on the Moon and human missions to Mars. These missions will be challenging for crew members and supporting the search for ways to maintain physical and psychological wellbeing and promote high performance is key. In this blog, Professor Emma Barrett and Dr Nathan Smith outline their recommendations for […]

satellite

Making space sustainable: can very low Earth orbits enable a more resilient space environment?

Image of Peter Roberts By Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The use of space-based infrastructure to support life on Earth has become one of the successes of the industry. Whether it be the delivery of global communications, navigation using GPS, or remote sensing information to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, satellites have become an indispensable part of our modern world. However, space is becoming […]

Turning gadgets into productivity

Bart van Ark By Filed Under: All posts, Digital Futures, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, Levelling up, OnProductivity, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted:

The Industrial Revolution brought about great economic success in the north of the United Kingdom that translated into a social, cultural and urban transformation. However, the Digital Revolution of today has not had the same impact on the UK, and particularly, the north. In this blog, Professor Bart van Ark explores how and why productivity […]

Global partnerships: How can international research collaborations boost our health and economy?

By , and Filed Under: Health and Care, Research and development, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted:

The University of Manchester is a founding partner of the Kenya-UK Healthcare Alliance, which aims to share best practice and reciprocal training between the two nations, particularly in the area of cancer care. In this article, from our On Cancer publication, Professor Keith Brennan, Dr F. George Njoroge, and Professor Rob Bristow outline how these […]

Fighting the war with drugs: How can psychedelic-assisted therapies help veterans?

By , and Filed Under: British Politics, Health and Care, Research and development, Science and Technology Posted:

Around 17% of recent military veterans in the UK report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and currently available treatments don’t work for many of these. Here, Professor Jo Neill, Dr Verity Wainwright, and Frances Smith report the findings of a new study into the role that psilocybin (the active constituent of so-called ‘magic’ mushrooms) […]

Advancing cell and gene therapies: Levelling-up life sciences investment in the North-West

By and Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Levelling up, Research and development, Science and Technology Posted:

Life sciences – including new cancer treatments – forms a central pillar of the UK Government’s post-Brexit plan for science and technology. But how could this focus also play a role in another key tenet of British policymaking; the levelling-up agenda? In this blog, adapted from our On Cancer publication, Professor Fiona Thistlethwaite and Professor […]

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Articles give the views of the author, and are not necessarily those of The University of Manchester.

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