Life Solved

In this special festive episode of Life Solved, Robyn Montague speaks with Dr Karen Middleton about her research into the social power of advertising. If you’re currently overwhelmed by festive advertising, you might also have noticed some subtle shifts in the way brand and organisations are positioning their products and values. Brands have long sought to gain our trust and loyalty through emotiv...

The railways are part of our country’s heritage – and for many of us, a regular part of our lives. What can we learn from the past to ensure train travel is safer than ever in the 21st century?   In the last in the current series of Life Solved, Dr Mike Esbester explains how a growing historical database of railway accidents, going back over 150 years, could create safer journeys and be a use...

University of Portsmouth researchers are using techniques, normally reserved for athletes, to help aid weight loss and address the challenges of diabetes. In the latest episode of Life Solved, Dr Ant Shepherd takes us through a unique project to investigate how altitude and temperature could be of benefit to millions of people in the UK. The project is currently taking place in the 'Extreme Enviro...

University of Portsmouth researchers are using the latest digital technology to help more of us uncover the secrets of our seas. In the latest episode of Life Solved, Dr Ann Coats takes us through a cutting-edge project to investigate shipwrecks around the UK coastline and reveal more about our maritime past. By drawing together research from across different disciplines, the Unpath’d Waters Proje...

It’s possible there’s a fifth form of matter out there, and you might be using it right now. University of Portsmouth research stretches across the disciplines to help us understand our world better. And in today’s episode of Life Solved we hear from one academic who might be about to transform our concept of reality! Dr Melvin Vopson thinks he might have found the missing piece to understanding m...

You might not give a second thought to a well-fitting piece of sports clothing, but when your kit isn’t up to scratch, it can be a real disadvantage to your game. That’s what Dr Jenny Burbage and her team have been addressing through their innovative research in breast health and biomechanics here at the University of Portsmouth. In this episode of Life Solved Jenny shares how inconsistent pr...

How can a background in mapping cause you to end up tracking illegal gold miners, and using drones to assist in humanitarian crises? Professor Richard Teeuw is a geomorphologist and remote sensing scientist at the University of Portsmouth. In this episode of Life Solved he explains how his work in geoinformatics and disaster risk reduction has led him to work on tackling challenges here on earth....

In a special edition of Life Solved, we’re celebrating the work of researchers across the University of Portsmouth, by chatting to some of the brilliant minds featured in the new edition of SOLVE magazine. Our magazine shares in-depth articles and research highlights from across campus and in this episode Dr Nils Niederstrasser explains the link between chronic pain and physical activity and how w...

Every year in the UK alone, 155,000 people go missing. Why do they go missing and how can we protect our vulnerable loved ones better? There are many misconceptions about what it means when a person goes missing, and how you should respond and report this. But one research group from the University of Portsmouth is working to reshape public knowledge and support the services that all play a part i...

If you thought VR was just for computer games, then think again! A groundbreaking new centre here at the University of Portsmouth is helping businesses and organisations from every sector transform the way they work. From defence training to medicine, construction and even curing spider phobias, the University’s Centre for Creative and Immersive Extended Reality (CCIXR) is enabling more people to...

Life Solved is back this Autumn with a brand new series, and to kick us off, we unpick the complex world of nuclear power plants. As we look to a future of renewable energy options, nuclear energy is back on the table for discussion. Its low carbon footprint presents a greener alternative to fossil fuels, but how does it measure up to wind and solar power when you’re looking at costs, waste and en...

Have you heard of the Blue Economy? What has the sea got to do with national economies? What does the ocean mean to different nations? And how does the deep, blue sea hold the key to solving some of the most important issues facing our planet today? In the final episode of the series we meet up with Professor Steve Fletcher to explore a step-change in the way we’re thinking about the oceans as a n...

  This time, hear how one researcher here at Portsmouth is taking a closer look at a pathogen that might be doing some mysterious  good  in our ecosystems. Christina Scott had a career in water testing before returning to Portsmouth to study bacteria. Her background in marine biology and interest in the environment has caused her to ask the question: why is Legionella in our environ...

It’s now 4 decades since the rapid escalation and resolution of the Falklands War, where over 900 soldiers were lost through sea, air and land conflict in the South Atlantic Ocean. In this episode, top historians and researchers from the University of Portsmouth discuss the pattern of events of 1982 and ask whether such a conflict could happen again. Ben, Matthew and Melanie share their take on ch...

The UK Space Sector is experiencing one of its most exciting periods in history as businesses, technology and industry seize upon the opportunities presented by science. Professor Adam Amara shares an inspirational chat about why he loves astronomy, from dark matter to pub-table debates and discovering planets. He’s passionate about sharing space science with everyone, and helping everyone turn th...

January 2022 brought a very exciting moment for interwar historians – professional and amateur alike. The 1921 Census includes a survey of 38 million people living in England and Wales. This period followed a global pandemic and saw economic instability between two world wars. A team of hundreds of conservators have been working to conserve and digitise these 30,000 bound volumes of documents...

Cybercrime is now one of the most prevalent and due to its international scope, can be difficult to track and prosecute for. So how vulnerable are individuals and businesses from attacks? And is cyber crime also being used in warfare and state-backed activity?  In this episode of Life Solved, hear insights from Professor Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, a Reader in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity on...

This episode’s guest may have started his career as "the world’s worst commercial fisherman", but Dr Ian Hendy soon found his calling as a conservationist.   As a Tropical Marine Ecologist and Course Leader for Marine Biology here at the University of Portsmouth, he’s leading innovative research into how restoration of ecosystems can help us fight climate change and biodiversity loss, by lock...

Can schools cope under the strain of increased social need? And where are the UK’s health and care systems failing the most vulnerable in society? Dr Bethany Simmonds and Dr Emma Maynard share their insights, perspectives and solutions on two vital areas of social support in the UK. Amidst funding restructures, privatisation and the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK’s public services are increasingly unde...

This time, Dr Lisa Sugiura opens up the conversation on how technology is enabling domestic abuse and coercive control, and what needs to happen to put a stop to it. In Life Solved we feature cutting-edge research from the University of Portsmouth. Dr Sugiura explains how her team collaborated with other organisations to explore the extent to which social media and online platforms, technology and...

In this special episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, Glenn Harris speaks to academics for their insight on current world events. Dr Tom Smith, Academic Director of the Royal Air Force College and Principal Lecturer in International Relations at Portsmouth joins Dr Paul Flenley, a Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics at the University, to explain some of the...

In this episode of Life Solved from the University of Portsmouth, meet Dr Leanne Proops (and her cast of animal helpers) Leanne’s a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Psychology here at Portsmouth, and she’s been looking into the relationships that exist between humans and animals. From dogs to cats to horses, hear how Leanne’s been gathering ideas and insights into how much they really understand abo...

Life Solved S7 E04 Football: Clearing Up Corruption in Football In the second of our football specials, University of Portsmouth researchers share surprising insights into the balance books of the beautiful game. Christina Philippou and Dr Adam Cox tell Life Solved how mismanagement and corruption can often mean funds end up in the wrong places, creating conflicts of interest and instability in cl...

In the first of this two-part special on the state of football, researchers from the University of Portsmouth explore how football in the UK is moving towards becoming a fairer game, and look at the challenges still faced. Dr Tom Webb shares insights into his research around match officials: how this group has been marginalised and is subject to abuse at every level. He compares this to work he’s...

Have you heard about the reported benefits of swimming in cold water and cold water immersion? Wondering if there’s anything in it? On this episode of Life Solved, Dr Heather Massey explains what happens to the body’s physiology in cold water and shares her tips for how you can dip your toe in the hobby and still stay safe. From mental health benefits, new friendships and increased wellbeing to ea...