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Thought Leadership

Deepfake porn: why we need to make it a crime to create it, not just share it

Sharing deepfake pornography is a criminal offence but creating it isn't. Professor Clare McGlynn, from Durham Law School, has worked with many victims and explains why the law needs to change to protect others from suffering the same fate.
A hand on a laptop

Comet 3A and how medieval chroniclers interpreted celestial events

Many people in the UK have been gazing skyward during October, as Comet 3A, dubbed the 'comet of the century' became visible for the first time in 80,000 years. Our scientists scrutinise the cosmos in great detail. But how did medieval chroniclers interpret the skies and their wonders? Giles Gasper from our Department of History and Brian Tanner from our Department of Physics investigate.
Stars in the solar system depicting a celestial event

Julian Assange: how British extradition law works

As Julian Assange waits to learn whether he can appeal his extradition to the US, Gemma Davies, from Durham Law School, explains how the extradition law is applied in Britain.
Protestors wearing masks in support of Julian Assange in 2012

Governance and leadership of a modern university

Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien, opens a new, comprehensive and far-reaching collection of essays by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), discussing the digital landscape of a modern university and making the case to elevate digital transformation to a strategic level.
Our Vice-Chancellor Karen O'Brien with a background of books

How a balloon-borne experiment can do the job of the Hubble space telescope

Results have shown that balloon-borne experiments to explore space can be just as useful as those launched by rockets, while costing a fraction of the price. Dr Fionagh Thomson and Professor Richard Massey, from our Physics Department, explain how they are also ideal training for the next generation of technology leaders.
SuperBIT waiting for launch while its giant helium balloon is inflated

The mystery of consciousness shows there may be a limit to what science alone can achieve

Science is rightly celebrated, but as the problem of consciousness is revealing, there may be a limit to what we can learn through science alone, argues Professor Philip Goff in our Department of Philosophy.
A picture of a head with colourful tiles inside

Ukraine war: Pope Francis should learn from his WWII predecessor’s mistakes in appeasing fascism

Following recent comments made by Pope Francis, South College Principal, Professor Tim Luckhurst, takes a look back at the actions of Pope Pius XII during World War Two.
Pope Francis on board some transport while a crowd watches

Satellites are burning up in the upper atmosphere – and we still don’t know what impact this will have on the Earth’s climate

100 Starlink satellites will be sent to burn up in the atmosphere, but does this present bad news for the ozone layer? Dr Fionagh Thomson from our Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy in our Physics department has taken a deeper look to assess whether there should be concerns for the environment.
A view of the Earth from Space

Longer sentences for ‘rough sex’ killers may not deliver justice for victims

After the Government announced longer sentences for rough sex killers, Dr Hannah Bows, who works in our Law School, has explained why she remains sceptical on whether this will provide justice for victims.
Hands in handcuffs

Journalism in a post-truth world

Social media, AI and 'fake news' are among the many challenges facing journalism today. South College Principal, Professor Tim Luckhurst, who has a decades-long career in journalism, shares his views on journalism in a post-truth world ahead of an event at South College where expert panellists will discuss the issue.
A close up of a computer tablet on top of a newspaper

Why forgetting is a normal function of memory – and when to worry

Professor Alexander Easton, who works in our Psychology department, explores at what point you should start to feel concerned if you or a loved one start to forget things.
A brain with jigsaw pieces representing memory loss

Looking back to build a better future

Ita Mac Carthy is Professor of early modern Italian literature and art in our School of Modern Languages and Cultures. She also directs the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) with Professor Richard Scholar. She recently took part in an Ideas Forum as part of 'UP North Culture + Knowledge: Growing Opportunities in the North East’. Here she discusses why Research Institutes like IMEMS can help us build a better future together for the North East of England.
Lindisfarne Gospels c.715 - 720