news 2025

An international team of scientists has produced the clearest three-dimensional view yet of the Ring Nebula - one of the night sky's most iconic celestial objects. The Ring Nebula is perhaps one of the most photographed objects in the night sky, dating back to its first image in 1886, but its intrinsic structure has been debated for as long as it has been observed.

Poorer cardiovascular health in childhood and adolescence may be linked to early differences in brain structure, particularly in areas of the brain known to be affected in dementia in later life, according to a new study co-led by a UCL researcher. Obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure) and physical inactivity are known to be cardiovascular risk factors for dementia in middle age but, so far, little is known about the links between heart and brain health much earlier in life.

New research finds that PCT (procalcitonin) blood test does not lower antibiotic treatment duration for hospitalised children . A study led by the University of Liverpool, in collaboration with Cardiff University's Centre of Clinical Trials Research, has found that despite previous promising analysis, a blood test used to diagnose infection and sepsis did not reduce the time children spend on intravenous antibiotics in hospitals.

Poorer cardiovascular health in childhood and adolescence may be linked to early differences in brain structure, particularly in areas of the brain known to be affected in dementia in later life, according to a new study co-led by a UCL researcher. Obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure) and physical inactivity are known to be cardiovascular risk factors for dementia in middle age but, so far, little is known about the links between heart and brain health much earlier in life.

New genetic risk factors for depression have been identified across all major global populations for the first time by a team co-led by UCL researchers, allowing scientists to predict risk of depression regardless of ethnicity. The world's largest and most diverse genetic study ever into major depression, published in Cell , has revealed nearly 300 previously unknown genetic links to the condition.

Oxford researchers have unveiled a new blood test, powered by machine learning, which shows real promise in detecting multiple types of cancer in their earliest stages, when the disease is hardest to detect. Named TriOx, this innovative test analyses multiple features of DNA in the blood to identify subtle signs of cancer, which could offer a fast, sensitive and minimally invasive alternative to current detection methods.

Friendly germs armed with their own biological syringes and poisons could hold the key to overcoming the antimicrobial resistance crisis, according to a new study by biologists at the Universities of Manchester and Basel. The study of special bacteria, which have evolved nanoscopic syringes -Type 6 Secretion Systems (T6SSs) - that inject cocktails of deadly toxins into rival microorganisms, is published today in the journal PNAS.

A study of occupational status published in Nature Human Behaviour identifies 106 genetic variants, the importance of the interplay of genetics and family environment, childhood educational and occupational aspirations, and differences across the life course and links to health.

Poorer cardiovascular health in childhood and adolescence may be linked to early differences in brain structure, particularly in areas of the brain known to be affected in dementia in later life, according to a new scientific study. Obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure) and physical inactivity are known to be cardiovascular risk factors for dementia in middle age but, so far, little is known about these links between heart and brain health much earlier in life.

Chimpanzees bear genetic adaptations that help them thrive in their different forest and savannah habitats, some of which may protect against malaria, according to a study by an international team led by UCL researchers. Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, sharing over 98% of their DNA with humans, and the scientists say that their findings, published in Science , can not only teach us about our own evolutionary history, but also about the biology of malaria infection in humans.

A new study has found that the composition of your gut microbiome helps predict how likely you are to succumb to potentially life-threatening infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae, E.coli and other bugs - and it may be altered by changing your diet. Our results suggest that what we eat is potentially very important in controlling the likelihood of infection with a range of bacteria.

A series of more than 100 small earthquakes in Surrey in 2018 and 2019 might have been triggered by oil extraction from a nearby well, suggests a new study by UCL researchers. The earthquakes, which occurred in Newdigate and surrounding areas from April 2018 until early 2019, were recorded as being between 1.34 and 3.18 magnitude, and were linked to cracks in walls and ceilings and other damage to people's homes, with reports of houses and beds shaking.

Scientists have developed a new mathematical model to help people understand the risks posed by AI and assist regulators in protecting privacy. AI tools are increasingly being used to track and monitor people both online and in person, posing challenges for anonymity and privacy. For example, AI tools are being trialled to automatically identify individuals from their voices in online banking, their eyes in humanitarian aid delivery, or their faces in law enforcement.

Genetic differences that contribute to how long a person will live and their risk of Alzheimer's disease have been identified by researchers at UCL and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI). The study, published in Brain , found that genetic variations in brain cells, particularly the immune cells in the brain (microglia) and the cells that support nerve cells (oligodendrocytes), are linked to both ageing and Alzheimer's.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in collaboration with the West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences (WBUAFS), explored antibiotic use in chicken farming in eastern India, revealing how poultry companies play a significant role in influencing the way antibiotics are used during food production compared to chicken farmers.

Researchers from our top-rated Computer Science department have made an exciting discovery that could improve how doctors treat dangerous heart rhythms, like those seen in cardiac arrest. Their work offers a way to better understand and predict how to stop irregular electrical waves in the heart, a process called quenching.

Researchers have found that a combination of dietitian and peer-supported weight management may help improve symptoms in people with both Long Covid and overweight - however, the study leads stress it was a complex intervention and further research is required. The results of the ReDIRECT trial - led by the University of Glasgow and published in Nature Medicine - found that a digitally-focussed, remotely-delivered structured weight management programme was effective in reducing the Long Covid symptoms that matter most to participants.

AI tools are increasingly being used to track and monitor us both online and in-person, yet their effectiveness comes with big risks. Computer scientists at the University of Oxford have led a study to develop a new mathematical model which could help people better understand the risks posed by AI and assist regulators in protecting peoples' privacy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help doctors identify follicles that are most likely to lead to the birth of a baby during IVF treatment. During IVF treatment, doctors use ultrasound scans to monitor the size of follicles - small sacs in the ovaries containing eggs - to decide when to give a hormone injection known as the 'trigger' to prepare the eggs for collection and ensure that they are ready to be fertilised with sperm to create embryos.

Women may be missing a diagnosis of a potentially deadly heart condition due to guidelines that don't account for natural differences in sex and body size, according to a new study led by UCL researchers. The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and funded by the British Heart Foundation, details how current guidelines might be changed after showing a new personalised approach improves diagnosis accuracy.