Exeter Uni News

Comments from ordinary users on social media platforms can be a force for good, helping others identify false information and navigate what is accurate, new research shows. However these same comments can also mislead when they are inaccurate, which makes it challenging for people to judge what can be trusted. The study shows digital media literacy is not only about telling true from false but also about evaluating the reliability of user comments. In a new book, The…

Some of the world’s most distinguished judges and academics have united to boost knowledge of human rights law across the globe. An innovative new online course takes people on a compelling journey into one of the most powerful concepts at the heart of human rights – dignity. Co-produced with the Global Campus of Human Rights, the course is designed and coordinated by renowned scholars Erin Daly, from Delaware Law School, and Catherine Dupré, from the University of Exeter Law School. It…

Human disturbance has a significant impact on the behaviour and habitat use of urban wildlife, however, in some situations urban grey squirrels may actually feel safer from predators where our activity is high. A new study from the University of Exeter, published in Oikos, reveals the paradoxical ways grey squirrels balance risk and foraging in urban environments. Researchers measured how much food squirrels left behind in standardised food patches in different places, which reflects how dangerous they perceived…

New research has unravelled the mystery of how microscopic cilia coordinate to move and propel marine creatures through water. Cilia are tiny, hair-like protrusions found in many organisms, including humans and many aquatic animals. Almost all marine plankton have a life stage where they have cilia, which act like microscopic oars,  fundamental to the organism’s  ability to feed, move and disperse through water, avoid predators, and select suitable habitats. Proper coordination of cilia is essential for the normal…

The largest-ever study on neophobia, or fear of novelty, has discovered the key reasons why some bird species are more fearful of new things than others. Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the global multi-species study was led by the University of Exeter’s Dr Rachael Miller while at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), and the University of Cambridge – with ARU funding the publication of the research – alongside a core leadership team from the ManyBirds Project. Neophobia plays…

Comedy legend Omid Djalili is this month trading jokes for oaks to celebrate the tree that powers nature in the UK. The British-Iranian comedian, actor and writer has kicked off ‘Oaktober’ – a month-long campaign by Climate Basecamp and the University of Exeter’s Nature and Climate Impact team – with a brand-new comedy sketch featuring climate activist and rapper Louis VI.  The UK’s 170,000 oaks support the life of around 2,300 species – more than any other native…

The University’s long-standing expertise in horticulture and environmental responsibility has been recognised with a double gold medal at this year’s South West Bloom Awards. As part of a coordinated effort by the City of Exeter, the University and its partners won gold in the South West Tourism Cup – one of several categories at the annual awards programme. The University’s Grounds Department was then further garlanded with a gold in the Business, Leisure and Tourism category at the…