UK Research and Innovation

10/09/2026

10/01/2026

A toilet helped solve a mystery in the Bayeux Tapestry story?🤔🚽

If you’ve seen the Bayeux Tapestry, you might remember the famous scene showing the death of King Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

But did you know his palace appears in the tapestry too? Early scenes show him at Bosham, a village in West Sussex.

Nearly 1,000 years later, research led by found that evidence from a medieval en-suite toilet confirmed the palace’s location.

Now the team will scientifically date the site at Bosham for the first time, to understand how the site evolved over time and uncover new evidence of England’s past before the Norman Conquest.

Their work also features in the ‘s online Bayeux Tapestry experience in scenes 3 and 4 - head to the link in our bio!



📸Credits:

00.01 Bayeux Tapestry fabrique image(s) of scene 2 and 3. Credit: La Fabrique de Patrimoines en Normandie / Antoine Cazin

00.02 Bosham at 1066. Harold Godwinson’s private residence can be seen to the right, carved out of the existing monastic precinct. Godwinson’s fleet can be seen departing the harbour, a scene also depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry. Credit: Pighill Heritage Graphics and Duncan Wright.

00.27 Medieval timbers at Bosham. Credit: Michael Shapland.

01.06 Medieval building at Bosham. Credit: Michael Shapland.

All other images sourced via Getty Images.

09/24/2026

Caitlin was just 11 when she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). She had no idea how much it would shape the next 16 years of her life.

JIA is an immune-mediated disease (IMID), where the body mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissue.

Living with it hasn’t just meant managing pain and uncertainty, its affected Caitlin’s mental health, education and independence too.

Right now, there’s no cure for conditions like this. Only treatments to manage symptoms. For people like Caitlin, whose disease started in childhood, that can mean a lifetime of treatment ahead.

That’s why we’re supporting research to better understand what causes IMIDs.

Researchers at the new MRC Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) for Restorative Immunology will study how healthy tissue becomes diseased, develop new treatments to restore damaged tissue, with the goal of finding a cure.

This could mean a future without the need for lifelong medication, helping to improve the lives of the millions of people living with autoimmune diseases.

Head to the link in our bio to watch the full animation of Caitlin’s story.

09/21/2026

Could technology help people with dementia stay safely and independently at home for longer?🏠

Researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute, in collaboration with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, have developed MinderCare. An in-home monitoring service that uses discreet sensors to help spot early signs that someone may need extra support.

These sensors don't use cameras or microphones, they're placed around the home - including doors, appliances and even under the mattress - to detect movement and monitor breathing and heart rate.

The data they collect is sent securely via the cloud to a dedicated team of NHS doctors, nurses and clinicians who use it to spot changes to health or care needs, so they can intervene sooner if needed and support faster recovery.

For example, detecting subtle signs of a urinary or respiratory infection earlier, or how someone is responding to medication.

Not only helping to improve the quality of life for the person living with dementia but also providing families and care givers with a greater peace of mind.

MinderCare is currently being trialled in 100 homes across North West London, with hopes to expand it further across the NHS.



📸Images:
0:12, 0:17 UK Dementia Research Institute.
0:23, 0:26, 0:30, 01:02 Thomas Angus, Imperial College London.
0:47 David Tett, Centre for Ageing Better / Age Without Limits (used for illustrative purposes).

📸📽All other imagery and footage sourced via Getty Images and used for illustrative purposes only.

09/15/2026

These socks could improve the way we look after people with dementia.

Designed by Dr Zeke Steer, they look and feel just like normal socks but can read tiny changes in sweat, pulse and movement.

These readings can detect early signs of agitation, pain and an increased risk of falls, which can be flagged to a carer via an app, allowing them to step in and provide support earlier.

The socks are currently being trialled in care homes, exploring how they can support carers and improve care.

People living with dementia aren’t always able to tell us how they feel, so these socks could be a game changer in the way we care for those we love.

09/11/2026

Our galaxy, like we’ve never seen it before 🌌

Each horizontal line on this graph represents a spectrum captured by MOONS (a.k.a. the Multi-object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph).

Astronomers can extract information from these lines about what a star is made of and how it’s moving in space.

MOONS’ superpower is that it allows us to gather this information from hundreds of stars or galaxies in a single observation.

MOONS was a truly international effort, with teams from the UK, Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Chile and European Southern Observatory all taking part.

Images and footage:
01.10 Emission nebula: European Southern Observatory, CC BY 4.0
01.14 Centre of Milky Way: European Southern Observatory, CC BY 4.0
Images and footage of MOONS: STFC

09/01/2026

Sending your little one off to school can feel daunting - especially when you’re not quite sure what school looks like these days!

But here’s the good news: while school has changed over the years, it’s changed for the better.

From finding new ways to learn to read, to making science more accessible, to letting your summer baby start a year later, while still joining reception, research is making a big difference.

And the best bit? It’s thanks to you

UK public-funded research has helped drive these improvements, and there’s so much more to come.

08/25/2026

Here we go again – our challengers at try three more questions from our Science or Sci Fi quiz!

All the science featured is funded by UK government through UKRI.

08/18/2026

Have scientists really done this? Or is it from a galaxy far far away? Let’s see if fans at Swindon know!

Which is your favourite costume?

All the science featured is funded by UK government through UKRI.

Come back soon for part 2!

08/14/2026

We’re back with part 2!

Can beat our quiz?🏀

Stay tuned to the end to see how they get on - and don’t forget to play along in the comments👇