Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

September 17, 2025 at 8:27 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Netflix uses AI effects for first time to cut costs

The streaming firm says AI allowed The Eternaut to complete a sequence faster and cheaper.

July 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Teachers can use AI to save time on marking, new guidance says

For the first time teachers in England are receiving guidelines on how they should and shouldn't use AI.

June 11, 2025 at 5:58 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

The people who think AI might become conscious

With a leap in the evolution of large language models, some leading thinkers are questioning whether AI might become sentient

Student Nursing Times Awards 2025 winners revealed | Nursing Times

May 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Reposted by Professor Neil Withnell

Liz Burns

@lizjburns.bsky.social

Wow 🤩 FIVE big #salforduni wins #STNA - Teaching Innovation of the Year; Nursing Associate Training Programme Provider of the Year; Placement of the Year:
Community; Student Nursing Associate of the Year; & Post-Registration Learner of the Year 🏆 @salfordsnas.bsky.social @neilwithnell.bsky.social

Nursing Times @nursingtimes.bsky.social · May 2

The winners of the 2025 Student Nursing Times Awards have been announced.

Find out who won what here: www.nursingtimes.net/education-an...

#SNTA

Find out who won what at the 2025 Student Nursing Times Awards, which celebrate excellence in nursing and midwifery education.

www.nursingtimes.net

May 3, 2025 at 11:42 AM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Scientists claim to have discovered 'new colour' no one has seen before www.bbc.com/news/article...

Scientists claim to have discovered 'new colour' no one has seen before

"Olo" is said to be a saturated blue-green - but some say the existence of a new colour is "open to argument".

Students call for clarity over university free speech rules

April 19, 2025 at 4:27 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Students want free-speech clarity but universities fear catch-22 www.bbc.com/news/article...

Clearer advice is needed on how to make campuses inclusive without falling foul of free speech regulations, the National Union of students has said.

www.linkedin.com/posts/profes...

March 29, 2025 at 6:18 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Professor Margaret Rowe Professor Naomi Sharples Natalie Yates-Bolton &… | Professor Neil Withnell

Professor Margaret Rowe Professor Naomi Sharples Natalie Yates-Bolton & karen Heggs from the School of Health & Society The University of Salford in China with…

www.linkedin.com

March 13, 2025 at 11:17 AM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... great work by @drandrewrowland.bsky.social et al @uos-health-society.bsky.social

Doctors back total ban on smacking children in England

Smacking is legal in some cases in England and Northern Ireland, but is banned in Scotland and Wales.

Three Surrey schools to trial social media blackout scheme

March 7, 2025 at 7:12 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Schools to trial social media blackout scheme www.bbc.com/news/article...

Three secondary schools in Surrey want pupils to reduce phone use in a bid to improve their health.

Health chiefs warn of potential second norovirus wave

March 4, 2025 at 6:33 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Health chiefs warn of potential second norovirus wave www.bbc.com/news/article...

A different strain of the winter vomiting virus is now on the rise, UK health experts say.

Epilepsy AI tool detects brain lesions doctors miss

February 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Epilepsy AI tool detects brain lesions doctors miss www.bbc.com/news/article...

One in five epilepsy patients has uncontrolled seizures due to brain abnormalities too subtle for doctors to spot.

Maths and English requirement dropped for adult apprentices

February 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Fantastic to see so many shortlisted

School of Health and Society @uos-health-society.bsky.social · Feb 21

Delighted to announce we're shortlisted an incredible 18 times in the @nursingtimes.bsky.social Student Nursing Times Awards! 🌟

We're so proud of the amazing achievements of our students and lecturers - congratulations to the whole nursing and midwifery team!👏

www.salford.ac.uk/news/salford...

February 21, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

Maths and English skills ditched for adult apprentices www.bbc.com/news/article...

The Department for Education says rule change means 10,000 more courses could be completed every year.

February 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

UK and US refuse to sign international AI declaration

It follows a warning from US Vice President JD Vance that excessive regulation could

NHS to offer 'groundbreaking' sickle cell gene therapy

February 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

NHS to offer 'groundbreaking' sickle cell gene therapy www.bbc.com/news/article...

The gene therapy Casgevy, which will now be offered to some patients in England, could help people live disease-free, experts say.

30 years ago Tomorrow's World predicted 2025 - how did it do?

February 2, 2025 at 12:28 PM

Professor Neil Withnell

@neilwithnell.bsky.social

30 years ago Tomorrow's World predicted 2025 - how did it do? www.bbc.com/news/article...

From space junk gel to hologram surgery, the team had lots of intriguing predictions. Which, if any, came true?