Routine monitoring of fibre release is considered essential for designing more sustainable textiles and informing policies aimed at reducing pollution at source. However, existing methods are time consuming, prone to bias and vulnerable to contamination. 

By adapting industrial dyeing techniques used in textile manufacturing and combining them with established microplastic analysis methods, the research bridges fashion technology and environmental science to overcome these barriers. The result is a faster, more reliable way to measure microfibre emissions under real world conditions such as washing and mechanical stress. 

The researchers say the method could support better eco-design of textiles, improve testing standards and inform future regulation – including policies such as extended producer responsibility. It may also help guide the development of technologies designed to capture fibres, such as washing machine filters. 

“If we want to reduce microfibre pollution, we need reliable ways to measure it,” Dr Allen added. “This approach opens the door to routine testing that reflects what’s really being released into the environment – not just what’s easiest to see.”

The University of ԰������ has been awarded a major grant to lead a new programme that will transform the lifecycle of graphite in nuclear energy - an essential material for the future deployment of nuclear power.

The award brings together world-leading expertise led by The University of ԰������ in collaboration with the Universities of Oxford, Plymouth, and Loughborough.

Nuclear energy is expected to play a central role in the UK’s net zero goals as it emits nearly zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions – but it comes with challenges.

The five-year ENLIGHT programme (Enabling a Lifecycle Approach to Graphite for Advanced Modular Reactors) will develop critical technologies to support the deployment of next-generation nuclear energy technology and will address two of the UK’s most pressing nuclear challenges - securing a sustainable, sovereign supply of nuclear graphite and finding solutions to manage the country’s growing volume of irradiated graphite waste.

The project is supported with an £8.2m grant from UK Research and Innovation’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Higher Education Institutions, and around £5m of contributions from industry partners.

The programme of research, collaboration, and skills development aims to secure the UK’s position at the forefront of nuclear innovation and a global leader in advanced reactor technology and clean energy innovation.

Graphite is a critical component in many next-generation Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), including High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors and various Molten Salt Reactor designs - technologies key to achieving the UK’s ambition to deliver 24GW of new nuclear power by 2050.

The material accounts for around one-third of reactor build costs, yet despite its importance, the UK currently relies entirely on imports to meet demand.

With the existing Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor fleet approaching decommissioning by 2028, and more than 100,000 tonnes of irradiated graphite already in storage, ENLIGHT will pioneer new approaches to both recycling legacy material and producing new, sustainable high-performance graphite suitable for future AMRs.

Dr Greg Black, Senior Advisor at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency look forward to participating as a partner in the ENLIGHT programme. As the environmental regulator for the nuclear industry in England, we consider the ambitions of the ENLIGHT programme on 'sustainable graphite' aligns with our Regulatory and RD&I areas of interest.”

The programme will focus on three strands of work:

• Sustainable Graphite – Developing processes for decontaminating, recycling and reusing irradiated graphite from AMR deployment.
• Graphite Selection & Design – Designing new graphite materials engineered to withstand extreme conditions in AMR environments.
• Graphite Performance – Understanding how these new materials behave in novel AMR conditions to improve its lifespan.

These advances could save the UK up to £2 billion in future waste management costs and offers a pathway to strengthen the UK’s unique position as a global hub for graphite research and innovation.

, Professor of Energy Materials at the University of Oxford will lead theme two around graphite selection and design. He said: “I’m delighted to be leading Theme two (Graphite Selection & Design – Designing new graphite materials engineered to withstand extreme conditions in AMR environments) in this major project.  Materials will contribute to several work packages across the whole activity, and our initial focus will be on novel studies of mechanical damage to support the design and qualification of new nuclear graphites for advanced fission reactors.”

At Loughborough University, researchers are contributing advanced computational modelling to explore how nuclear graphite behaves under extreme conditions.

Senior Lecturer in Materials Modelling at Loughborough University, said: “This will help us predict how and when these critical reactor components may fail, guiding the design of stronger, more reliable materials for the reactors of tomorrow. Our research also supports the reuse and recycling of existing graphite, helping to make future nuclear energy both safer and more sustainable."

The University of Plymouth will bring expertise in the analysis of porous materials, which will play a critical role in evaluating the performance and suitability of repurposed graphite.

, Lecturer in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Plymouth, said: “This project is not just about scientific discovery; it's about pioneering sustainable solutions for nuclear energy, turning waste into a valuable resource and bolstering the UK's energy security for decades to come. This consortium embodies a truly cyclical and green approach to nuclear solutions, aiming for a cleaner energy transition and helping to demystify some of the traditional concepts that surround the nuclear industry. Our expertise in analysing the intricate properties of porous materials will be instrumental in ensuring the suitability of repurposed graphite for next-generation nuclear reactors, and we are particularly excited to have the opportunity to grow our relationship with The University of ԰������ – and our industrial partners across the nuclear industry – through this initiative.”

ENLIGHT will also focus on skills development to expand the national graphite research community and train the next generation of graphite scientists and engineers essential to the UK's clean energy future.

Home to the and a core partner in the , The University of ԰������ is uniquely positioned to lead the ENLIGHT programme. The University brings together cutting-edge facilities from the Irradiated Materials Laboratory and the .

ENLIGHT will also build on ԰������'s role in flagship activities and initiatives including, the , the and

The results have been published in the journal .

Using a new two-step fabrication method, the researchers demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to create and monitor, ‘as they switch on’, individual Group-IV quantum defects in diamond—tiny imperfections in the diamond crystal lattice that can store and transmit information using the exotic rules of quantum physics. By carefully placing single tin atoms into synthetic diamond crystals and then using an ultrafast laser to activate them, the team achieved pinpoint control over where and how these quantum features appear. This level of precision is vital for making practical, large-scale quantum networks capable of ultra-secure communication and distributed quantum computing to tackle currently unsolvable problems.

԰������ co-author , Department of Materials at the University of Oxford, said: “This breakthrough gives us unprecedented control over single tin-vacancy colour centres in diamond, a crucial milestone for scalable quantum devices. What excites me most is that we can watch, in real time, how the quantum defects are formed.”

Specifically, the defects in the diamond act as spin-photon interfaces, which means they can connect quantum bits of information (stored in the spin of an electron) with particles of light. The tin-vacancy defects belong to a family known as Group-IV colour centres—a class of defects in diamond created by atoms such as silicon, germanium, or tin.

Group-IV centres have long been prized for their high degree of symmetry, which gives them stable optical and spin properties, making them ideal for quantum networking applications. It is widely thought that tin-vacancy centres have the best combination of these properties—but until now, reliably placing and activating individual defects was a major challenge.

The researchers used a focused ion beam platform—essentially a tool that acts like an atomic-scale spray can, directing individual tin ions into exact positions within the diamond. This allowed them to implant the tin atoms with nanometre accuracy—far finer than the width of a human hair.

To convert the implanted tin atoms to tin-vacancy colour centres, the team then used ultrafast laser pulses in a process called laser annealing. This process gently excites tiny regions of the diamond without damaging it. What made this approach unique was the addition of real-time spectral feedback—monitoring the light coming from the defects during the laser process. This allowed the scientists to see in real time when a quantum defect became active and adjust the laser accordingly, offering an unprecedented level of control over the creation of these delicate quantum systems.

԰������ co-author  from the University of Cambridge, said: “What is particularly remarkable about this method is that it enables in-situ control and feedback during the defect creation process. This means we can activate quantum emitters efficiently and with high spatial precision - an important tool for the creation of large-scale quantum networks. Even better, this approach is not limited to diamond; it is a versatile platform that could be adapted to other wide-bandgap materials.”

Moreover, the researchers observed and manipulated a previously elusive defect complex, termed “Type II Sn”, providing a deeper understanding of defect dynamics and formation pathways in diamond.

԰������ co-author , Professor of Advanced Electronic Materials at The University of ԰������, said: “This work unlocks the ability to create quantum objects on demand, using methods that are reproducible and can be scaled up. This is a critical step in being able to deliver quantum devices and allow this technology to be utilised in real-world commercial applications.”

The study ‘Laser Activation of Single Group-IV Colour Centres in Diamond’ has been published in Nature Communications: 

Announced today, the research programme aims to address the challenges of plastic waste in healthcare settings by exploring the relationship between social practice, material selection, reuse, and recycling while maintaining high-quality clinical outcomes. In response to complex sustainability challenges in the sector, the work will explore circular pathways, identify barriers and unintended consequences, and unlock opportunities to minimise the environmental impacts of materials in healthcare settings.

The three-year partnership brings together two organisations striving for authentic environmental sustainability, backed by innovative research and real-world practice. The collaboration is co-funded by an EPSRC Prosperity Partnership award, UKRI’s flagship co-investing programme building business and academic research collaboration.

Professor Mike Shaver, Director of Sustainable Futures and academic lead for the new partnership said: “We are thrilled by the opportunity to work with Bupa on this ambitious new project, extending our systemic understanding of plastics, waste management, social practice and environmental impacts to reshape material provision in healthcare. These collaborations are essential to translating our research efforts into real world impact.”

A key challenge for a sustainable future is the way we use and dispose of materials. Over 60% of countries have implemented bans or taxes on household waste, particularly plastics, yet healthcare is much more complex. The sector’s reliance on single-use items (SUIs) for infection control, consistency, and cost efficiency has led to significant environmental and health challenges, with SUIs contributing to carbon emissions, waste, and plastic pollution.

The crucial new interdisciplinary collaboration will tackle four key urgent areas:

• Understanding social practice in medical practices - Understand the interconnectedness between social practice and material selection, use, segregation and disposal.
• Reuse and sterility - Understand the relationship between material selection, sterilisation and reuse to improve environmental sustainability
• Mechanical and chemical recycling - Establish high volume clinical waste streams to create value in mechanical recycling and chemical depolymerization.
• Environmental sustainability assessment - Quantify environmental impacts and develop materials hierarchies in the provision of healthcare.

Anna Russell, Director of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Bupa, said: “This partnership with The University of ԰������ is groundbreaking for our sector. Tackling healthcare’s environmental challenges requires bold thinking and collaboration, and this partnership is a fantastic opportunity to lead the way in creating sustainable, industry-wide solutions. By combining cutting-edge research with Bupa’s real-world expertise, we can drive meaningful change that reduces the healthcare sector’s impact on the planet while maintaining the highest clinical standards. This is a vital step forward in our journey to help create a greener, healthier future.”

This new partnership has been recognised by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for bringing together The University of ԰������’s interdisciplinary collaborative researchers and knowledge-base, with data from and access to more than 500 Bupa dental practices, clinics, care homes and The Cromwell Hospital. The necessity of tackling these challenges was highlighted by The University’s research platform and Bupa. These are challenges which can only be tackled by marrying academia and industry.

This new collaboration was kick-started by , The University of ԰������’s recently announced innovation capability tasked with supercharging the region’s innovation ecosystem. Unit M is now live and actively engaging with entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers eager to shape the future of the region.

Professor Lou Cordwell, CEO of Unit M said: “Ahead of the formal launch of Unit M, the founding leadership team has been working to develop this partnership with Bupa to highlight the benefits of organisations engaging with Unit M to drive real-world impact and innovation. The collaboration has taken shape over the past two years to establish a long term, University wide innovation partnership.”

The new collaboration builds on the shared commitment of both the University and Bupa to the region. Last month, The University of ԰������ reaffirmed its status as a global leader in sustainability by retaining its position in the top 10 worldwide in the . Meanwhile, Bupa was one of the first healthcare companies to set science-based CO2 reduction targets and an ambitious 2040 net zero pathway.

Find out more about Unit M:

 

Just like the proteins in our muscles, which convert chemical energy into power to allow us to perform daily tasks, these tiny rotary motors use chemical energy to generate force, store energy, and perform tasks in a similar way.

The finding, from The University of ԰������ and the University of Strasbourg, published in the journal provides new insights into the fundamental processes that drive life at the molecular level and could open doors for applications in medicine, energy storage, and nanotechnology.

The artificial rotary motors are incredibly tiny—much smaller than a strand of human hair. They are embedded into polymer chains of a synthetic gel and when fuelled, they work like miniature car engines, converting the fuel into waste products, while using the energy to rotate the motor.

The rotation twists the gel’s molecular chains, causing the gel to shrink, storing the energy, much like winding like an elastic band. The stored energy can then be released to perform tasks.

So far, the scientists have demonstrated the motor’s ability to open and close micron-sized holes and speed up chemical reactions.

Professor Leigh added: “Mimicking the chemical energy-powered systems found in nature not only helps our understanding of life but could open the door to revolutionary advances in medicine, energy and nanotechnology.”

Plastics play a crucial role in healthcare, but the current linear model of using and then incinerating leads to significant waste and environmental harm. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), materials experts at ԰������ will work in collaboration with Vernacare – specialist manufacturers of infection prevention solutions – to investigate how the sustainability of plastics can be improved through the creation of more circular products from waste polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC).  

A 24-month project, led by an interdisciplinary team from The University of ԰������ and Vernacare, aims to create new insight into the behaviour of real-world polypropylene and polycarbonate products during mechanical recycling. The team will be led by experts including Dr Tom McDonald, Dr Rosa Cuellar Franca, Professor Mike Shaver, Simon Hogg, and Dr Amir Bolouri. It also will advance knowledge on the selection, characterisation and use of plastic to optimise recyclability, while developing understanding of the complex environmental impacts of product design and supply chain. 

Finally, life cycle assessment will be used to evaluate the sustainability for different approaches to the circularity of these plastics. This project will involve the knowledge transfer of the academic team’s expertise in plastics recycling, plastics circularity and rigorous life cycle assessment. 

Alex Hodges, CEO of Vernacare, explained: “Through this project we aim to change how plastics are viewed and used in healthcare. Our work with ԰������ will ensure we’re at the forefront in sustainable single use healthcare product research. It will enable us to embed product lifecycle, environment assessment capability and materials research and development into our business culture so that we’re in pole position, able to lead the market in the development and testing of future solutions. It will also help Vernacare economically, by offsetting a portion of our £7m annual polypropylene costs while also broadening their appeal to eco-conscious customers.” 

The research will be conducted through the (SMI Hub), a cutting-edge facility dedicated to sustainable plastic solutions. The SMI Hub is part of the Henry Royce Institute at The University of ԰������ and is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund.                                                                                           

Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships  funding support innovation by matching businesses with world-leading research and technology. Projects are focused on delivering a strategic step change in productivity, market share and operating process by embedding new knowledge and capabilities within an organisation. Delivered through the Knowledge Exchange Partnerships team, part of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange, The University of ԰������ has collaborated on more than 300 KTPs and in the last five years alone, has supported 42 KTPs with a total research value of £11 million. 

By working together, The University of ԰������ and Vernacare aim to lead the way in sustainable healthcare products, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.