PhD student and former soldier Ashleigh Percival-Borley is exploring the untold stories of World War II's Special Operations Executive. She has recently been announced as a BBC New Generation Thinker for 2025. We caught up with Ashleigh to find out more about this, her research and how being a military veteran informs her work.

All eyes have been on women’s football, and on the England team as the winners of the UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland. The players are often held up as role models but is the pressure to inspire greater on women compared to men? Professor Stacey Pope from our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences has looked into this.

A new report from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership shines a spotlight on the North of England’s innovation ecosystem, exploring its role in driving productivity and unlocking future economic potential. The report is co-authored by Professor Kieran Fernandes, Executive Dean of Durham Business School. Here he delves into how the region can harness its innovation strengths to fuel long-term growth and prosperity.

Professor Guillaume Chomicki from our Biosciences department reveals that some tropical plants in Fiji build special structures to house ants which is cleverly designed to stop them from fighting.

The UEFA Women’s Euros is in full swing, but a recent YouGov survey showed that interest in women’s football still lags well behind the men’s game. What does this mean in terms of gender equality in the sport? Expert on women, football and inequalities, Professor Stacey Pope, explains.

Thousands of new electricity pylons are to be built across parts of England under the government’s plans to decarbonise the electricity. And some people aren’t happy. Professor Simone Abram from our Department of Anthropology and Director of Durham Energy Institute, explores why electricity pylons can evoke such powerful feelings.

The UK Government has promised to stop using hotels to house asylum seekers by 2029. Professor Jonathan Darling from our Department of Geography takes a look at the details behind the plans.

A team of researchers, including Dr Rachel White from our Department of English Studies, has presented new evidence about one of the most famous insults in English literature – the phrase ‘upstart crow’ aimed at William Shakespeare.

Dr Sian Waters of our Department of Anthropology and Tracie McKinney of the University of South Wales explore the damaging impact of humans feeding monkeys in tourist hot spots.

One thing new parents will talk about a lot is how their baby is sleeping, or not sleeping. Professor Helen Ball, Director of our Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre and a world-leading baby sleep expert, talks us through the science behind it.

Professor of Neuroscience Amanda Ellison explains the science behind a new TikTok trend for handling migraines.

A service rich in symbolism, Leo XIV’s inauguration mass this Sunday (18 May) will mark the start of what is likely to be a highly consequential papacy. Dr William Crozier, Duns Scotus Assistant Professor in Franciscan Studies, in our Department of Theology and Religion/Centre for Catholic Studies, tells us more.