Society press releases

A crowd of people walking on a blurred street

Researchers to look at why some human lives are valued as more important than others

Researchers at 海角社区 University are preparing to launch a new project which aims to answer the question - why and how are some human lives regarded as expendable, while others are deemed exemplary?
A VR scene of a small autonomous-style vehicle showing a bench seat inside. A grey humanoid figure stands at the doorway facing into the vehicle. Two cartoon-like robot characters鈥攐ne blue and one green鈥攁re displayed on interior screens or panels, appearing to interact with the passenger. A large bus and city street elements are visible blurred in the background.

Researchers use virtual reality to understand how people respond when self-driving taxis go wrong

What would you do if you were in a self-driving taxi and another passenger fell seriously ill? What if a fire broke out, or the vehicle stopped in the wrong place? What would you need to manage the situation with no driver to help?
A packet of cultivated (fake) beef

Moral people should support 鈥榣ab-grown鈥� meat, even if they reject conventional meat 鈥� new ethics research suggests

People who care deeply about animals, the environment and human wellbeing may have good moral reasons to support cultivated meat, according to new research.
social media icons displayed on a phone

海角社区 on online abuse of sportswomen looks at high profile case and calls for change

In recently published research, a team from the universities of 海角社区, Chester, Hull, Durham, and Manchester has investigated and is raising awareness of misogynistic online rhetoric directed at women and girls in sport.
A digital face smiling

AI in everyday life: how chatbots are quietly reshaping daily routines 鈥� new paper

A new study has examined the lives of 20 women who use the AI chatbot Replika, revealing how it has become part of daily life, helping users make chores more bearable, cope with illness and isolation, understand the world around them and structure their days.
Rachel Gadsden in front of a large white canvas with black markings on it

FEATURE: Meet the artist challenging how society views disability and chronic illness

鈥淚 want every single voice in society to be heard. If those voices aren鈥檛 heard, then we don鈥檛 really have a society.鈥�
Two plastic dinosaurs next to a fake pink brain against a light pink background

Online 鈥榖rainrot鈥� isn鈥檛 ruining children鈥檚 minds 鈥� it鈥檚 a new way of navigating the modern internet

An opinion piece by the Department of Computer Science's Professor Oli Buckley, an expert in cyber security, and PhD candidates Lilly Casey-Green and Patrick Scaife for The Conversation:

A group of four children looking at mobile phone devices

鈥淏ig tech already has the tools to protect young users online without resorting to a full ban; choosing not to use them shows children鈥檚 safety isn鈥檛 a priority鈥� warns online safety expert.

Earlier this week, Australia became the first country in the world to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media, in a move to protect them from the risks that come with using such platforms.

wheelchair users play sport

海角社区 University awarded its eighth prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education (VIDEO)

海角社区 University has been awarded the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education in recognition of its pioneering contributions to Para and disability sport.聽
An old hand on a radiator in a gloomy house

One-in-six people in the UK died in poverty last year 鈥� new report

New analysis from 海角社区 has revealed that 103,000 people died in poverty last year, around one in six of all deaths.
people walking in new york ctiy

Human biology is ill-adapted to modern cities 鈥� new study

A new study has found that modern cities are having a huge impact on our health and wellbeing.
A group of elderly friends taking a selfie with a phone

Can friendship keep you young? Scientists say your social life might slow ageing

An opinion piece written by Professor James Goodwin from the School of Design and Creative Arts for The Conversation:
An illustration with about a dozen people shown in different colours representing their diverse backgrounds

Mapping Britain鈥檚 inequalities by identity

Researchers from 海角社区 University have identified a new way to map Britain鈥檚 inequality 鈥� not by geography, but by identity 鈥� opening up new opportunities for detecting their consequences across multiple outcomes.
letter to claim state pension, pound coins and glasses on table

海角社区 expert urges focus on outcomes, not targets, in pension reform

Earlier in the week, the government announced they will bring back the Pensions Commission, as current workers face the harsh reality that they are at a greater risk of poverty in retirement than their parents.

A shot of the front of the BBC building. There are a series of revolving doors and sign above them reading BBC

BBC Verify largely factchecks international stories 鈥� what about UK politics?

An opinion piece written by Dr Nathan Ritchie, University Teacher and Researcher in Sociology at 海角社区 University, and Professor Stephen Cushion, of Cardiff University, for The Conversation platform:
3 children sat working together at school

鈥淧arents鈥� understanding of their children is often belittled and children are rarely asked what they need" - 海角社区 expert argues need to fully focus on children's rights in SEND system reform

As part of this week鈥檚 Spending Review (June 25), Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed over 拢1bn in support for children's social care and the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. Of this, 拢760m will go towards making the SEND system "more inclusive and improve outcomes for all children and young people."
A man on his smartphone

New national benchmark reveals what UK households need to be digitally included in 2025

A new report has set out a national benchmark for what UK households need to feel digitally included in 2025.
ornament houses on a table

"Housing investment needs to be backed up by concrete detail about delivery, rather than this investment simply delivering more 鈥榓ffordable鈥� housing, which is anything but for many households."

Rachel Reeves unveiled billions for social and affordable housing in today's Spending Review (11 June 2025), in what some are calling 'the biggest cash injection for affordable housing in half a century'.

A man with white hair does his finances with a calculator

Costs for minimum retiree needs have fallen while moderate and comfortable standards see modest rises

The latest update of the Retirement Living Standards (RLS) shows a decrease in the cost of the minimum retirement lifestyle, down to 拢21,600 per year for a two-person household, due to the impact of lower energy prices and changes in the public鈥檚 expectations for this standard.
Primary age children sitting around a teacher

It costs 拢1,000-a-year to send your child to state primary school and 拢2,300 for secondary school - new report

New research reveals that families in the UK must now cover minimum annual education costs of over 拢1,000 for a primary school child and nearly 拢2,300 for a secondary school pupil 鈥� a sharp rise that far outpaces inflation and earnings growth since 2022.
strawberry milkshake in a cup

鈥淔or 鈥榮ugar tax鈥� to be truly effective, it must be part of a greater food reform鈥� 鈥� expert calls for bigger changes within 鈥榦verwhelmingly complex and often misleading food environment鈥�

The government announced last week that they are consulting on proposals to extend the sugar tax that is currently applied to fizzy drinks, to include pre-packaged milk-based drinks, as well as non-dairy substitutes such as oat or rice milks.

a child and woman smile at each other

How dentists could help tackle obesity in children

As a specialty registrar in paediatric dentistry, I鈥檝e seen first-hand the pain children experience because of poor oral health. Tooth decay happens when teeth are damaged by acids produced by oral bacteria breaking down sugar from foods and drinks 鈥� and although it鈥檚 largely preventable 鈥� it鈥檚 the most common reason for聽hospital admission聽in children aged between five and nine in England.
a child, head bowed, with phone in hand

Hit TV series Adolescence: 鈥測our child could receive these types of online messages. It's not out of the ordinary鈥� 鈥� 海角社区 University expert says (VIDEO)

The hit Netflix series, Adolescence, which delivers a hard-hitting storyline around a social media-fuelled killing and the influence of incel subculture, has highlighted the very real concerns children and young people face navigating the online world.聽
Woman checking bill sat wrapped up warm

Energy bills and debt are rising yet again 鈥� here are three things that would help vulnerable households

Energy prices are rising faster than benefits, wages or pensions, meaning the amount that UK households owe to energy suppliers 鈥� their energy debt 鈥� is also likely to grow.
close up of person using a wheelchair

鈥淒isabled people are already financially disadvantaged 鈥� health-related benefits are essential to many that receive them" - Living standards expert explains the implications of planned welfare cuts

The government has now confirmed their plans, unveiled last week (18 March), to deliver 拢4.8 billion in savings by making changes to the welfare system. These changes are presented as the largest reform to the country鈥檚 welfare system for a generation.