In the news
Climate change and milder winters are causing a wild breed of Scottish sheep on the island of Hirta to shrink, according to research at the University of Leeds. The wider availability of grass and warmer weather has made it easier for Soay sheep to survive and reproduce, lessening the evolutionary pressure for ‘survival of the fittest’. The study was reported in Time magazine, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, BBC News, Nature. com, the Times, the Independent, and the New Zealand Herald. “A five percent decrease in body size in such a relatively short period is astonishing,” said Professor Tim Benton (Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology). “Climate change is not just about temperatures getting a bit warmer; it’s affecting fundamental processes which are leading to significant changes in the wildlife around us.”
A new washing machine that uses only one cup of water and reusable polymer beads to suck up the dirt – leaving your clothes virtually dry – is set to go on sale next year, reported the Times, The Economist, Reuters and the Times of India. The technology was developed over 30 years of research at the University of Leeds by professor of textile chemistry Stephen Burkinshaw (School of Design), who said nylon polymers have an inherent polarity that attracts stains. University spinout company Xeros has now struck a deal with GreenEarth to distribute the technology to drycleaners throughout North America.
Leeds engineers are developing a new bulletproof vest made from ultra-strong cement which can protect against small arms and shrapnel, in the hope of opening up a new market in body armour for aid workers and other non-military personnel. “By using cement instead of high-tech alumina, we can deliver a cost-effective level of protection for many people at risk,” said Dr Philip Purnell (School of Civil Engineering), who spoke to the Mirror, CNet News, Tech Digest and the Yorkshire Post.
Debt collection agencies are increasingly hounding the wrong people and using unethical or illegal practices, as consumer debt in Britain reaches more than £1.4 trillion. Professor Nick Wilson (Credit Management Research Centre) told the Observer there were big signs that household debt was rising in 2000 and signs of stress from 2003. “It used to be a last resort to call in a debt agency, but now there’s a trend to sell off the debt quickly … Agencies will do some scary things to collect that money and the volume of debt is increasing so we’ll expect to see a big wave of households running into trouble soon.”
Professor of international law Surya Subedi (School of Law), the United Nations’ human rights envoy for Cambodia, told international media he is concerned about forced land evictions and lack of freedom of expression in the country. However, speaking to the BBC World Service and Radio Australia, he described his recent meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen as “highly constructive”, and he plans to work with the government to improve the human rights situation.
Meat production has long been blamed for harming the environment due to greenhouse gas emissions from cattle, but going vegetarian isn’t always the best option, believes Dr Evan Fraser (School of Earth and Environment). Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, he said: “If you have a choice between tofu made from soya beans that come from the Brazilian rainforests, or a piece of meat that comes from the upland pastures of the Yorkshire Dales, then you’re better off choosing the latter.”
More than 1,500 scholars descended on the University of Leeds in July for the International Medieval Congress, which questioned why the medieval period has gained such an unfair reputation for ignorance, torture, and the burning of witches and heretics, reported the Times Higher Education. “Heresy, at its core, is disagreement with the establishment,” said congress director Axel Muller (Institute for Medieval Studies), “so if you ever disagree with your boss, or participate in a protest, or even vote against New Labour, you are being a borderline heretic.”
An international team of scientists, led by Professor Tim Bishop and Professor Julia Newton-Bishop (Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine), have pinpointed the genes that influence how many moles you have – and dramatically increase your risk of developing melanoma skin cancer, reported the Daily Mail and BBC’s Look North. Professor Tim Bishop said other risk factors include significant sun exposure, red hair and freckles. The study was published in Nature Genetics, see http://tinyurl.com/ndopkw
The Independent ran a profile piece on Vice- Chancellor Professor Michael Arthur ahead of his appointment to chairman of the Russell Group in September, in which he discussed health and safety, fees and research income, and plans to redevelop the campus.
Dr Simon Lightfoot (School of Politics and International Studies) appeared on Czech television to speak about the impact of the MPs’ expenses scandal and how it affected the results of the European elections for Labour and prime minister Gordon Brown.
The Daily Telegraph reported on a new drug for rheumatoid arthritis which kills mutated B cells in the immune system that attack the joints. The study, led by Dr Edward Vial (Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine), found that nearly three-quarters of patients who initially failed to respond to Rituximab did so successfully after receiving a second dose six months later. The results were presented at the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, headed by president-elect Professor Paul Emery (Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine).
