Month: September 2025

New £13m nuclear programme to boost UK energy security through sustainable graphite innovation

Stuart Mitchell

The University of Manchester 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 Manchester 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…

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TIME and the LEGO Group Partner to Celebrate Extraordinary Girls

Stuart Mitchell

TIME has revealed its first-ever Girls of the Year list, recognizing 10 young leaders who are inspiring communities around the world. The list, curated by TIME’s award-winning editorial team, has been made possible by the LEGO Group and aims to celebrate and empower girls. The 2025 TIME Girls of the Year list features 10 honorees, including: Rutendo Shadaya, 17, an advocate for young authors in New Zealand; Coco Yoshizawa, 15, an Olympic gold-medalist in Japan; Valerie Chiu, 15, a global science educator in China; Zoé Clauzure, 15, an anti-bullying crusader…

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34 leading organisations back industry action plan to accelerate sustainable mortgage lending

Stuart Mitchell

Decarbonising the UK’s homes is one of the biggest financial and logistical challenges of the net zero transition. The UK’s Climate Change Committee estimates reaching net zero in residential property alone by 2050 will require an estimated £311.5 billion capital investment – most of which is expected to come from the private sector[1]. The UK’s mortgage market – worth £242 billion a year[2], with nearly £1.7 trillion in outstanding lending[3] – plays a crucial role in deploying this investment. To accelerate action, the Green Finance Institute (GFI), in partnership with…

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Pillars of support for Derby’s biodiversity

Stuart Mitchell

Biodiversity is set to flourish in Derby as 15 new Living Pillars are installed across the city centre, bringing natural beauty into urban spaces. Living pillars are self-contained vertical habitats attach to existing lamp posts and signage columns, supporting pollinators and improving the look and feel of the city. Operatives install a Living Pillar to a lamp post in Derby Powered by solar energy, each pillar is self-sufficient, collecting and recycling rainwater to keep its plants healthy year-round. In addition to their environmental benefits, the pillars will support wayfinding throughout…

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UK and Europe wildfires a mere “glimpse of what is yet come”, warns WaterAid UK’s Chief Executive

Stuart Mitchell

With wildfires raging across the UK and Europe and more deadly heatwave alerts on the agenda, Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive of WaterAid UK, responds:  “The escalating climate crisis is no longer knocking — it’s battering down the door, with wildfires raging across the UK and Europe this week –  a glimpse of what is yet to come but a reality for most. “The climate crisis is a water crisis, with 90% of all natural disasters water-related. Decades deep in drought and mass flooding, frontline countries have always borne the worst,…

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