News archive: Research press releases 2025
Study casts doubt on ‘incestuous royalty’ in Neolithic Ireland
Posted on Tuesday 24 June 2025
New research has cast doubts over suggestions an incestuous social elite ruled over the ancient people of Ireland more than 5,000 years ago.
‘Slow pit-cooking’ likeliest method to extract animal teeth for Stone Age ornaments, study shows
Posted on Monday 23 June 2025
Prehistoric people used a culinary method, similar to slow cooking today, to carefully extract animal teeth to use in decorative crafts, such as pendant-making, archaeologists have shown.
Ethical concerns a barrier to use of AI tools in fundraising, new report shows
Posted on Friday 20 June 2025
A new report has revealed that fundraisers have concerns around the ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their work with donors.
Prestigious Lister Prize awarded to York academic
Posted on Thursday 19 June 2025
A University of York academic has been awarded the prestigious Lister Institute Research Prize in the 2025 competition, recognising exceptional early-career biomedical scientists in the UK.
Jamming with AI: Jazz trio plays live with AI-generated sound
Posted on Wednesday 18 June 2025
A recent development enabling musicians to improvise live music with AI-generated sound could be the biggest innovation since the advent of sampling, or perhaps even the invention of recorded sound, according to a researcher at York.
High levels of 'forever chemicals' found in UK rivers, study finds
Posted on Monday 16 June 2025
A University of York study into the presence of ‘forever chemicals’ in UK rivers has found some of the highest levels ever recorded.
Famous Ice Age ‘puppies’ likely wolf cubs and not dogs, study shows
Posted on Thursday 12 June 2025
New analysis of the remains of two ‘puppies’ dating back more than 14,000 years ago has shown that they are most likely wolves, and not related to domestic dogs, as previously suggested.
Mayor’s funding awarded to University of York for creative digital project with Walmgate’s communities
Posted on Monday 9 June 2025
The University of York has been awarded funding to lead Walmgate Reframed, an ambitious community heritage project that will celebrate the rich identity of the high street through the production of new-media artwork.
Time-series database offers unprecedented picture of global biodiversity change
Posted on Friday 30 May 2025
Researchers have updated the largest biodiversity time-series database on the planet to include data from over half a million locations worldwide.
Proteins from two-million-year-old teeth reveal unprecedented insights into extinct human relative
Posted on Thursday 29 May 2025
Scientists have successfully extracted ancient proteins from two-million-year-old teeth, a breakthrough providing previously unobtainable details on the biological sex and genetic makeup of an extinct human relative.
Widespread availability of crack cocaine driving high levels of use among marginalised people
Posted on Wednesday 21 May 2025
Easy access to crack cocaine is fuelling addiction and leading to a cycle of hardship, mental health issues and homelessness in deprived communities, particularly in the North of England, a new study suggests.
York professors elected Fellows of the Royal Society
Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2025
Two University of York scientists have been elected Fellows of the Royal Society in recognition of their achievements in the fields of ecology and mathematical virology.
Undervalued nursing staff doing “box-ticking” exercises forcing them out, say researchers
Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2025
A lack of recognition and the de-professionalisation of nursing is driving many to leave the profession in significant numbers, according to the findings of a new study.
World-famous Schöningen spears are 100,000 years younger than previously claimed, new research suggests
Posted on Monday 12 May 2025
Scientists have analysed amino acids locked in snail shells to establish a new age for the world’s oldest complete wooden hunting weapons.
National policing strategy needed to tackle County Lines child exploitation, study shows
Posted on Thursday 8 May 2025
There is no consistent approach to the policing of County Lines drug distribution, leaving children and adults vulnerable to exploitation and harm, according to a landmark study.
The untold story of the environmental impact of AI and big data
Posted on Wednesday 7 May 2025
Our increasingly online lives have a remarkably high energy cost and there is an untold story regarding a huge environmental impact, according to new research from the University of York.
York academics to work on Born in Bradford research programme following major funding boost
Posted on Wednesday 7 May 2025
A team of York academics are to collaborate on a new expansion of the internationally renowned Born in Bradford research programme following a £4.5 million funding boost.
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New research aims to transform treatments of aggressive blood cancer
Posted on Wednesday 30 April 2025
A new study involving researchers from the University of York is set to transform treatments for one of the most aggressive and hard-to-treat blood cancers - acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Billions made by companies involved in UK border security, study shows
Posted on Wednesday 30 April 2025
Research has revealed that over £3.77 billion in government contracts has been awarded to private companies since 2015 for managing border security and small boat crossings in the English Channel.
Study reveals skeletal evidence of Roman gladiator bitten by lion in combat
Posted on Wednesday 23 April 2025
Bite marks found on a skeleton discovered in a Roman cemetery in York have revealed the first archaeological evidence of gladiatorial combat between a human and a lion.
New report provides snapshot of human rights in the City of York
Posted on Wednesday 23 April 2025
A new report documents the impact of the recent cost-of-living crisis and over a decade of austerity measures on the lives and rights of York residents.
Driving down child poverty in Scotland - participants from York's Changing Realities project meet with Scotland's First Minister
Posted on Tuesday 22 April 2025
Parents participating in the University of York's Changing Realities project met with Scotland's First Minister for an in-depth discussion focused on tackling child poverty.
Nature-based activity is effective therapy for anxiety and depression, study shows
Posted on Wednesday 16 April 2025
Researchers evaluating a nature-based programme of activities for patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions have shown that improvements in mood and anxiety levels can be seen in as little as 12 weeks.
Professor Ahmed El Antably to lead new project in School of Architecture
Posted on Friday 11 April 2025
A new research project will examine cultural heritage of Lower Nubia; an area of Egypt submerged following the construction of the Aswan Dam in the 1960s.
Study to recover hidden history of once-banned LGBTQ+ novel
Posted on Friday 11 April 2025
The famously banned novel, The Well of Loneliness, is the focus of a new international project that will bring together generations of readers to uncover how it reached and touched so many people around the world.
Gas boilers now biggest source of air pollution in central London, study shows
Posted on Wednesday 9 April 2025
A new study has revealed a significant shift in the sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollution in central London, with gas boilers used for heating now identified as the primary contributor.
Research suggests 700,000 children could be lifted out of poverty overnight by following Scotland's approach
Posted on Thursday 27 March 2025
The Westminster government could cut child poverty in the UK by a sixth – or 700,000 children – if they were to match Scotland’s investment in social security, according to a new report.
Could a deeper understanding of the seasons and how they are changing improve resilience to climate change?
Posted on Thursday 27 March 2025
Are daffodils in bloom earlier? Does cherry blossom appear earlier these days? And are distinct, new ‘seasons’ starting to appear too? New University of York research is examining changing seasons and what this means for how we approach climate change.
Perceived 'burden' of AI greatest threat to uptake in healthcare, study shows
Posted on Wednesday 26 March 2025
The potential benefits of AI to patient care may be overlooked if urgent steps are not taken to ensure that the technologies are effective for the clinicians using them, a new White Paper outlines.
New study on medicinal plants established with York’s twin city in China
Posted on Monday 24 March 2025
Researchers are working with scientists based in York’s twin city of Nanjing to further understanding of how the mint family of plants produce therapeutic benefits.
Digitalising essential services risk widening inequalities for minoritised ethnic communities, research study warns
Posted on Friday 14 March 2025
The rapid digitisation of essential services in the UK is deepening inequalities for minoritised ethnic communities, a major three-year research project involving the University of York has found.
York first higher education institution to sign up to partnership to improve Public Involvement in Research
Posted on Monday 10 March 2025
The University of York has become the first higher education institution (HEI) to join a partnership that fosters better collaboration between researchers and members of the public.
New study to further understanding of mysterious Roman burial practice
Posted on Tuesday 4 March 2025
A new £1 million project will investigate the mysterious Roman burial practice of pouring liquid gypsum over the clothed bodies of adults and children laid to rest in stone or lead coffins before burial.
New research to tackle poor mental health in young mothers
Posted on Thursday 27 February 2025
A University of York researcher is leading a new project to identify ways to boost mental health support for young mothers and birthing parents.
Resources needed for school teachers to address challenges of online misogyny, study shows
Posted on Wednesday 26 February 2025
A new study into the ‘manosphere’ has shown that 90% of secondary school teachers and 68% of primary teachers strongly feel that schools would benefit from teaching material addressing online misogyny.
Study suggests 'local practitioners' needed for policies on coexistence with large carnivores
Posted on Monday 24 February 2025
Researchers have suggested appointing practitioners or stewards to bring together local knowledge and conservation practices to inform policies on coexistence with large carnivores such as wolves, bears and lynx.
Restoring wildlife habitats in wealthy nations could drive extinctions in species-rich regions, experts warn
Posted on Tuesday 18 February 2025
Efforts to preserve or rewild natural habitats are shifting harmful land use to other parts of the world – and this could drive an even steeper decline in the planet’s species, according to new research.
Study sheds new light on bear baiting in early modern England
Posted on Monday 17 February 2025
Archaeologists have created a new model to help identify archaeological bear baiting assemblages in England and beyond.
New £1.2 million study investigates ways to improve emergency healthcare in rural and coastal areas
Posted on Monday 10 February 2025
In a new £1.2 million study, researchers will investigate ways to improve how urgent and emergency care could be improved for patients living in rural and coastal areas.
The early roots of carnival? Research reveals evidence of seasonal celebrations in pre-colonial Brazil
Posted on Wednesday 5 February 2025
Pre-colonial people in Brazil may have gathered in summer months to feast on migratory fish and share alcoholic drinks, a new study suggests.
Climate change impacts in African mountains are greater than previously thought
Posted on Wednesday 5 February 2025
Researchers know that mountain communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change, but there is limited understanding of climate change impacts in most African mountains due to lack of data. This might be surprising given that around 288 million people live in Africa mountain regions.
Insider account of unsolved 1952 London mail van robbery documented for first time
Posted on Tuesday 4 February 2025
A University of York academic has used a series of ‘forgotten’ cassette recordings to help piece together the plot behind an infamous mail van robbery from the 1950s.
London cabbies’ planning strategies could help inform future of AI
Posted on Friday 24 January 2025
Researchers have measured the thinking time of London taxi drivers - famous for their knowledge of more than 26,000 streets across the city - as part of a study into the future of AI route-mapping.
Study to inform government on impact of smartphones and social media on young people
Posted on Thursday 16 January 2025
Researchers are to look at the links between children’s mental health and smartphone and social media use as part of a Government commissioned research project.
Study explains why some osteoporosis drugs may protect against Covid-19
Posted on Tuesday 14 January 2025
Researchers have provided the molecular explanation for why some osteoporosis drugs offer protection against Covid-19.
Scientists show how sleep deprived brain permits intrusive thoughts
Posted on Wednesday 8 January 2025
A new study has shown that sleep deprivation can inhibit the brain’s ability to suppress unwanted memories and intrusive thoughts.