advanced materials

Advanced materials addressing health risks from exposure to benzene

By Martin Schröder and Sihai Yang Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, Urban, Work Posted: December 2, 2024

Benzene, a volatile organic compound (VOC) with widespread industrial applications, poses severe health risks to humans even at trace levels. Its genotoxic effects, which involve direct damage to cellular DNA and genetic material leading to mutations, are strongly linked to cancer and blood disorders, making its control a critical priority for workplace safety and environmental […]

Unjamming the (bio)printer: how can regulatory reform unleash new and advanced biomaterials?

By Marco Domingos Filed Under: Health and Care, Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 4, 2024

3D bioprinting technologies hold huge potential to transform patient care and treatment, delivering the next generation of personalised medicine. But current legislative boundaries are poorly defined, and the pathways to approval are unclear, creating unnecessary delays and costs in getting these new technologies to patients. Here, Dr Marco Domingos from the Bioprinting Technology Platform argues […]

Not immaterial: Why the UK must play to its strengths in quantum technology

By Richard Curry Filed Under: British Politics, Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: April 14, 2023

The UK Science and Technology Framework has recently been announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with Quantum Technologies (QTs) identified as one of five critical technologies. But what is needed to realise this vision – and should the UK invest everywhere, or target its areas of expertise? Here, Professor Richard Curry outlines how the country […]

Could concrete save the planet? It’s not as crazy as it sounds…

By James Baker Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: November 8, 2021

The COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow has been hailed as ‘the last best chance’ to commit nations to the actions needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. In this blog, James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester – explains how a new concrete product, developed at The University of Manchester, could be the solution to a […]

Taking the lead in hydrogen: next steps

By Phil Withers and Robert Sorrell Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: June 22, 2021

The deployment of new and existing materials will play a critical role in delivering the growth of the hydrogen sector, identified as a cornerstone of the UK Government’s net zero ambitions. In this blog, Professor Phil Withers and Dr Robert Sorrell, from the Henry Royce Institute, lay out the research priorities on the path to […]

Graphene providing a firm foundation for a more sustainable construction industry

By James Baker Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: September 21, 2020

If we want to achieve a zero carbon world we literally need to build it in a different way. Here, James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester talks about the need to support and accelerate graphene innovation to help make building materials much more sustainable in a bid to meet regional and national net zero targets. Greater […]

New advanced UK research agency shares ethos of Manchester model of innovation

By James Baker Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: April 30, 2020

In this blog, James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester, reflects upon how a change in the UK’s approach to research and innovation, particularly when it comes to advanced materials, could support the economy to get back on its feet in the wake of Covid-19. In recent weeks, Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has gone […]

Graphenes innovation could give UK economy a positive charge

By Craig Dawson Filed Under: Science and Engineering Posted: December 10, 2019

This week, The University of Manchester is hosting a Graphene Industry Showcase. Ahead of this Dr Craig Dawson – Application Manager at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre shines a light on how, as the UK looks to build a globally leading carbon neutral economy, The University of Manchester is providing an innovation flagship for energy […]

Innovation: why we need to fail more often, in order to succeed

By James Baker Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: October 24, 2019

In this blog James Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Graphene@Manchester, explores the UK approach to innovation and finding the next ‘Big Thing’ to stay competitive at a global level. North America continue to produce a succession pioneers who have delivered innovation through highly disruptive products and services. The UK approach to innovation is different with […]

Innovation on the frontline: rebuilding bodies with ‘Bone Bricks’

By Paulo Bartolo, Andy Weightman and Glen Cooper Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: October 17, 2019

In this blog a team from the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at The University of Manchester introduce their innovative pilot project ‘Bone Bricks’ which demonstrates how advanced materials can play a key part in providing solutions to global challenges. The Bone Bricks pilot project was born, seeking a solution to the kinds […]