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The Guardian
24-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Cohesive communities built on work and charity
Your editorial rightly argues that collective belonging is rooted not only in place but also in shared purpose, and the dignified structures of mutual support that have too often been dismantled (The Guardian view on strengthening social cohesion: we can learn from the working-class past, 17 July). Our work at the University of the West of England engages directly with these concerns through research into how light industry – historically a binding force in working-class towns – might be reintegrated into the heart of our communities in a sustainable manner. The disappearance of production from everyday urban life has not simply meant the loss of jobs; it has also eroded identity, civic pride and interdependence. Industrial activity, once visible and valued, has been pushed out of sight, out of mind, and often out of reach. The result is a built environment that is increasingly monotone, functionally segregated and lacking the social and cultural layering that once reflected the richness of everyday life. Our New Industrial Urbanism project, which we are developing with colleagues in the university's college of arts, technology and environment, explores how new forms of small-scale, clean and socially embedded production can return to the high street, the town edge or the repurposed civic building. We are working with communities to understand how productive infrastructure – combined with walkability, sustainability and shared space – can reknit the social and economic fabric of places hollowed out by the relocation of industry to faceless business parks on the urban fringe. What is needed is not nostalgia for the past, but a reimagining of how making, crafting and producing can be civic acts. Social cohesion is not built through consumption but through participation – through people shaping their environments and economies together. I applaud your focus on the importance of belonging. We must ensure that future towns do not just house people; they must empower them to make, contribute and Piers TaylorProfessor of knowledge exchange in architecture, University of the West of England As one of the recently appointed commissioners to the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, I read your editorial with interest. In my personal opinion, many of the answers to issues that are challenging for all communities – urban and rural, communities of interest and of place – are likely to be found in building trusted relationships, encouraging regular, honest communication and collaborative working. Effective partnerships between charities, community groups, voluntary associations and decision makers and funders are invaluable in supporting civic engagement. I would draw particular attention to the unique way in which the voluntary sector is regarded as a trusted partner in Wales. The existence of the Third Sector Scheme, setting out key roles and responsibilities between the sector and Welsh government, is envied across the UK and farther afield. Both the organised and informal networks of charities and voluntary organisations have the opportunity to work alongside the public sector, influencing policy and practice. Sustainable engagement with the third sector is likely to support the development of better connected and more cohesive communities. Formal structures such as those in Wales can help achieve a renewed sense of common MarksFormer CEO, Wales Council for Voluntary Action Thank you for your editorial. You hail the reopening, post-refurbishment, of the Durham Miners' Hall as a community hub and note that 'cultivation of communal memory in post-industrial regions can play an important role in evoking a sense of solidarity and belonging'. Deep is my respect for these cultural memories of the industrial north-east. I am filled with similar pride reading about the role of cotton workers in the north-west during the cotton famine (1861-65). Some 70 years before the American civil war, the first ever petition advocating an end to slavery was delivered to parliament in 1788. A second in 1792 came with 20,000 signatures from the people of Manchester. Lancashire imported its raw cotton from the US southern states. Its mills employed 440,000 workers. From 1861, Abraham Lincoln's north blockaded the cotton-exporting ports of the south. The cotton workers went, suddenly, from being the most prosperous workers in Britain to being unemployed. Despite hardships, their support for the north, and its struggle to end US slavery in the south, remained undimmed. These hopes were expressed in a letter to Lincoln, drafted after a meeting at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester in December 1862. Within three weeks, Lincoln replied expressing gratitude for the workers' 'Christian heroism' in accepting their suffering in solidarity with the southern slaves. Lincoln's words are displayed on his statue in Lincoln Square, Manchester. Several of my ancestors worked in the mills. I swell with pride. If only these stories were better John HullSheffield Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Can mushrooms really talk? Study suggests fungi have a vocabulary of 50 words
For decades, the concept of communication has largely been reserved for humans, animals, and occasionally plants. From birdsong to bee dances, the idea that living organisms can share information is well-established. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, a groundbreaking study has opened the doors to a new realm of communication—one that takes place underground, in the hidden world of fungi. Until now, we've marveled at robotic chefs and AI-driven food technologies. But few could have imagined that mushrooms—yes, the same kind you might toss into your salad—could potentially "talk" to one another using a language-like system. This might sound like science fiction, but recent research conducted by Professor Andrew Adamatzky from the University of the West of England challenges our understanding of intelligence in non-human life forms. By analyzing the electrical signals passed through fungal networks called mycelium, Adamatzky found patterns that closely resemble the structure and complexity of human language. According to the study, these signal patterns can be grouped into "words" and may serve as a form of communication between fungi. The findings, published in Royal Society Open Science, propose that mushrooms may not only be sentient in some form but could also possess a rudimentary vocabulary of up to 50 distinct "words." The implications of such a discovery are immense, potentially redefining how we perceive intelligence, communication, and life itself in the natural world. Do mushrooms have a language? 50 'words' found in fungal signals At the heart of this discovery lies mycelium, a vast network of fungal threads that not only facilitate nutrient exchange but may also serve as a communication superhighway. Often likened to the internet for plants, mycelium connects various organisms across forest ecosystems. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It is through this web that fungi transmit electrical impulses—signals that are now believed to carry complex information. To explore these signals, Professor Adamatzky and his team monitored the electrical activity of four mushroom species: Enoki (Flammulina velutipes) Split gill (Schizophyllum commune) Ghost fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis) Caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps militaris) Using a set of microelectrodes inserted into the mycelium, researchers recorded electrical spikes over several days. They then used computational models to analyze the data, identifying spike clusters that resembled word-like structures. Remarkably, some of these patterns shared statistical properties with human language, including average word length and recurrence of certain "core" signals. The research revealed that: The fungi produced spike clusters resembling up to 50 distinct "words". The average word length was 5.97 characters, compared to 4.8 characters in English. The core vocabulary—the most frequently used signals—consisted of 15 to 20 recurring patterns. Electrical activity increased when fungi encountered food sources or damage, suggesting the signals could indicate environmental status or alert other fungi. This structured communication implies a level of complexity not previously attributed to fungi. While not equivalent to human language, the findings suggest that fungi might share information about resources, environmental conditions, or danger—fundamental aspects of any form of intelligent communication. Mushroom communication: Fascinating insight or scientific overreach? Despite the groundbreaking nature of the study, Professor Adamatzky himself remains cautious. He acknowledges that while the patterns resemble human speech statistically, there's no definitive evidence that fungi are conscious or possess language as we define it. 'I do not claim they are talking in the same way humans do,' Adamatzky stated. 'But there are lots of similarities in information processing.' Skepticism is natural with a discovery this bold. Some researchers argue that calling these electrical spikes "words" is misleading and anthropocentric. Fungal communication, they argue, could be a byproduct of basic biological processes, rather than deliberate messaging. Others believe the study is a significant first step, but caution that further peer-reviewed work is essential to validate these conclusions. Fungi talk? Rethinking intelligence and consciousness If fungi can indeed communicate using a vocabulary-like system, it challenges our traditional definitions of intelligence and consciousness. It also raises ethical and philosophical questions about how we interact with the natural world. Could forests be engaging in silent dialogues below our feet? Understanding fungal communication could inspire new bio-mimetic technologies. Electrical signal-based messaging systems in fungi might pave the way for environmentally sensitive AI, sustainable agriculture practices, and even new forms of computing modeled on biological substrates. What comes next? Future research and exploration The study has already prompted calls for deeper investigation into fungal intelligence and cross-species communication. Future research may include: Real-time monitoring of fungal networks in natural ecosystems. Exploring whether fungal signals influence plant behavior. Decoding the "syntax" or order of fungal words. Investigating potential responses to music, light, or human speech. With thousands of mushroom species still unstudied in this context, the field of fungal linguistics is only just beginning.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Hours before a solar eclipse, spruce trees 'talk' to each other
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Spruce trees retain ancient memories of their environment and communicate with one other in the hours preceding a solar eclipse, a new international study suggests. "We now see the forest not as a mere collection of individuals, but as an orchestra of phase correlated plants," Alessandro Chiolerio, Italian Institute of Technology and University of the West of England, and the study co-leader, said in a statement. An interdisciplinary team consisting of researchers from Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain and Australia built custom sensors and placed them across a forest in the Dolomite mountains in Italy. Using the sensors, the team recorded simultaneous bioelectrical responses from the spruce trees. Before and during the eclipse, electrical activity from individual trees became "significantly" more synchronized, the researchers found. This phenomenon, they say, is evidence the forest is a unified living system. "By applying advanced analytical methods — including complexity measures and quantum field theory — we have uncovered a deeper, previously unrecognized dynamic synchronization not based on matter exchanges among trees," Chiolerio said. The older trees in the forest had an early response to the eclipse that was more pronounced, the authors say. This suggests the old trees hold ancient memories they can access. When events are coming up, the old trees "remember" and inform younger trees. "Basically, we are watching the famous 'wood wide web' in action!" Monica Gagliano, Southern Cross University, Australia, and study co-leader, said in the statement. Gagliano said the findings about the older trees in particular emphasize the importance of preserving these trees. Related Stories: — The sun might be spitting out particles that create water on the moon — World's largest solar telescope gains powerful new 'eye' to study the sun's secrets — The epic total solar eclipse of 2024 caused some birds to stop singing "The fact that older trees respond first — potentially guiding the collective response of the forest — speaks volumes about their role as memory banks of past environmental events," Galiano said. "This discovery underscores the critical importance of protecting older forests, which serve as pillars of ecosystem resilience by preserving and transmitting invaluable ecological knowledge," she added. The study was published on April 30 in the journal Royal Society Open Science. A documentary on the research, Il Codice del Bosco (The Forest Code), is set for release in Italy this month. You can check out the official trailer here.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pluckley hauntings researcher is 'distant cousin' of Kent ghost
An academic discovered he was the distant cousin of a rumoured ghost when researching the folklore of a "haunted" Moreton, a researcher at University of the West of England in Bristol, has published research on the origins of more than a dozen ghost mysteries in including the Hanging Schoolmaster and the Screaming Man of the Clay Pit first earned the Kent village its reputation as England's "most haunted" in the 1950s."My late father's ancestors came from the village, so the research has been a personal as well as a professional journey," Dr Moreton said. He added: "Over the course of the research I even discovered that one of the alleged ghosts is a distant cousin - Sarah Sharp, the Watercress Lady."Ms Sharp burned to death in August Moreton scoured newspapers, birth, marriage and death records and parish papers to piece together the origins of Pluckley's folklore. The associate professor of creative economies found 10 of the ghost stories were first recorded by local man Frederick Sanders in self-published books on ghost hunting, letters to the local press, and newspaper least four stories can be traced to real events including the Lady of Rose Court, Mary Ann Bennett, who killed herself in 1862 and the Screaming Man of the Clay Pit, Richard Bridgland, who died in a quarry accident in 1899."Storytelling is a fundamental human behaviour and, whether or not you believe in ghosts, Pluckley's reputation demonstrates how fascinated we are with tales with a spooky edge to them," Dr Moreton said."What's exciting about this research is that it's been possible to demonstrate how one person with a passion for these kinds of story was able to shape, for better or worse, the identity of a whole village through his storytelling."He added: "It reminds us there are real people and real places behind these stories, both of which deserve our respect."A mention in the 1989 Guinness Book of World Records, although not an actual award, bolstered the village's spooky also featured in the 1990s TV adaptation of HE Bates's novel The Darling Buds of May and its sequels, starring David Jason and Pam Ferris.
The Independent
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Secrets of England's ‘most haunted village' revealed in new research
An academic claims to have solved the mysteries surrounding England's "most haunted" village, Pluckley. For over 70 years, the Kent village has held the chilling title of England's scariest village, with claims of over a dozen resident ghosts. Dr. Simon Moreton, an associate professor of creative economies at the University of the West of England, delved into the village's history to uncover the source of its spooky reputation. Among the reported spirits are the Hanging Schoolmaster and the Screaming Man of the Clay Pit. Dr Moreton's extensive research, including archival materials, newspapers, vital records, and parish documents, has revealed the origins of Pluckley's ghostly folklore. 'I've been fascinated by the ghost stories of Pluckley since I was a child,' he said. 'My late father's ancestors came from the village, so the research has been a personal as well as a professional journey. 'Over the course of the research I even discovered that one of the alleged ghosts is a distant cousin – Sarah Sharp, the Watercress Lady.' Pluckley, on the northern edge of the Weald between Maidstone and Ashford, was an Anglo-Saxon settlement and boasts several historic buildings including a 14th century church. It found fame in the 1990s as the setting for the hit TV adaptation of HE Bates's novel The Darling Buds of May and its sequels, starring David Jason and Pam Ferris. The village is rumoured to be home to anything between 10 and 17 ghosts. The most haunted title was first given to the village in 1950 and bolstered by a mention – although not an actual award – in the 1989 Guinness Book of World Records. 'Storytelling is a fundamental human behaviour and whether or not you believe in ghosts, Pluckley's reputation demonstrates how fascinated we are with tales with a spooky edge to them,' Dr Moreton said. 'What's exciting about this research is that it's been possible to demonstrate how one person with a passion for these kinds of story was able to shape – for better or worse – the identity of a whole village through his storytelling.' Dr Moreton's research has discovered that 10 of Pluckley's ghost stories were first recorded by local man Frederick Sanders in self-published books on ghost hunting, letters to the local press, newspaper articles and ghost hunts. At least four ghost stories can be traced to real events. Sarah Sharp, who burned to death in August 1911, is remembered as the Watercress Woman, while Mary Ann Bennett killed herself in 1862 and is remembered as the Lady of Rose Court. Richard Bridgland died in an accident at the Pluckley Brick and Tile Works quarry in January 1899, and is remembered as the Screaming Man of the Clay Pit, while the Hanging Schoolmaster was a papermaker named Henry Edgar Martin who killed himself in August 1919. 'The way these stories get told and retold can tell us a great deal about how we use the past to understand ourselves and the places we live,' said Dr Moreton. 'Local rumours take on a life of their own. Personal tragedies become salacious gossip, and sometimes social prejudices obscure the real lived experiences of the people the stories relate to. 'Finally, it reminds us there are real people and real places behind these stories, both of which deserve our respect.'
