news 2014

03 Sep 2014 A 1,500 year-old papyrus fragment found in The University of Manchester's John Rylands Library has been identified as one the world's earliest surviving Christian charms. The remarkable document uniquely contains some of the earliest documented references to the Last Supper and 'manna from heaven'.

Academics from The University of Nottingham have designed a new online linguistics tool that will help researchers and students to study the language used in novels from the 19 th Century. Professor Michaela Mahlberg from the University's Centre for Research in Applied Linguistics (CRAL) is leading a project team to develop the CLiC online interface — this can be used to employ computer-assisted methods to study literary texts, which will in turn lead to new insights into how readers perceive fictional characters.

Research led by the University of Leicester, working with the University of Cambridge, Loughborough University and University Hospitals of Leicester, has finally uncovered the truth about Richard III's spinal condition. The physical deformity produced by Richard's scoliosis was probably slight as he had a well-balanced curve of the spine Dr Piers Mitchell Historical and literary references to the physical deformities of Richard III, who ruled England from 1483-1485, are well-known, but debate has raged for centuries over the extent to which these descriptions are true.