Researchers at the University of East London are launching a new River Thames monitoring project to investigate how microplastic pollution is changing across the river system and help inform future environmental policy. Led by Dr Ria Devereux, the study will combine new sampling data from locations between Teddington and Southend with more than three years of existing monitoring research. The project will examine how environmental and climate-related pressures may influence pollution levels and aims to support discussions around wastewater management, river protection and plastic pollution regulation. The research team will also work with stakeholders including the Environment Agency, DEFRA, the Port of London Authority, water companies and environmental organisations, with findings contributing to future policy briefings and a dedicated sustainability workshop hosted at UEL.

A review into food waste in Australia’s quick service restaurants has found order mistakes are the biggest driver of food waste, with better staff training a key part of the solution.

An analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older patients with an advance directive that had been uploaded into the electronic health record at least six months before death were 25% less likely to experience potentially burdensome end-of-life care and 31% less likely to have died in the hospital.

A study published in Economic Inquiry provides new evidence that universal free school meals can meaningfully reduce out‐of‐school suspensions in both elementary and secondary schools.

The Strategic Materials Accelerator & Research Testbed (SMART) will serve as a national hub for cutting-edge biotechnology research, providing organizations with tools to develop, test and scale breakthrough technologies, accelerating solutions that directly strengthen national defense and power the innovations of tomorrow.