Look back at our top research stories of 2024

As we wrap up an incredible year at Queen Mary University of London’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the groundbreaking research and remarkable achievements of our academics. These stories, ranging from quantum transistors to dinosaur discoveries, have reached audiences worldwide, shining a spotlight on our faculty’s excellence.?

Here’s a festive roundup of some of our most memorable highlights from 2024:?

?? Pushing the boundaries of innovation?

• On January 1st, Professor Viji M. Draviam Sastry was featured on BBC’s Today Programme discussing how AI is revolutionising drug discovery.??

• Professor Jan Mol and Dr James Thomas had their cutting-edge work on quantum transistors published in Nature Nanotechnology. This research received acclaim in outlets like IEEE Spectrum.?

• Queen Mary team, led by Professor Hazel Screen , awarded ￡7 million grant to to establish an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies and train next generation of organ-on-a-chip scientists and bioengineers.

• Dr Katy Clough discussed wormholes on BBC Radio 4, providing insights into these fascinating cosmic phenomena.?

?? Research tackling global challenges?

• Dr Axel Rossberg ’s research revealed how climate change threatens fish stocks, drawing attention in Newsweek.??

• Dr Caroline Roney 's work on digital twins for heart treatments was discussed in The Economist, exploring how virtual models can enhance patient care.?

• Queen Mary’s data centre heat recovery system project was spotlighted by Construction Management and Energy Live News.?

• Dr Maria Crespo represented Queen Mary at The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, sharing insights into our groundbreaking work on sustainable battery materials, featured on the BBC World Service.?

?? Exploring the wonders of nature?

• Dr David Hone contributed to major discoveries about the T. rex, featured in The New York Times and other outlets like Sky News. Dr Hone also contributed to a study on a well-preserved fossil of a newly identified species of pterosaur, Skiphosoura bavarica, discovered in Bavaria, Germany. This finding, featured in Reuters, provides significant insight into the evolutionary transition from early long-tailed pterosaurs to later short-tailed giants.?

• Professor Lars Chittka ’s Nature paper on innovative bumblebee behaviour captivated audiences from Scientific American to BBC Radio 4.?

• Professor Andrew R. Leitch ’s work on the baobab tree’s genetics made waves in The New York Times and the Smithsonian Magazine.?
• Dr Alexandre Mendoza Soler’s study has demonstrated the ability to recreate a mouse without its original DNA, offering profound implications for developmental biology and regenerative medicine, covered in The Washington Post and Forbes.?

?? AI, music, and society?

• Professor Maria Liakata secured a ￡4.38 million grant to address the risks of generative AI in healthcare and law.??

• Centre for Digital Music at QMUL 's PhD student Madeline Hamilton conducted an analysis of prominent melodies in the US Billboard top five from 1950 to 2022, revealing a trend towards simpler song melodies. Her findings were featured in The New York Times and The Independent.?

• Dr Dr Gary Ian Britton ’s study on the mental health effects of fantasy football sparked conversations in outlets like The Independent and the Evening Standard.?

• Dr Linus Wunderlich 's analysis of Olympic medal distributions was featured in The Economist.?

As we step into 2025, we are immensely proud of our faculty’s accomplishments and their contributions to addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year: our researchers, collaborators, and the wider Queen Mary community.?

Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and an inspiring New Year! ????