Fermented foods have become very popular because of the growing awareness of the importance of gut health. While fermentation is one of the oldest forms of food preservation, much has still to be learned about the specific health benefits of fermented foods for our physical and mental health.

Now researchers at APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre at University College Cork and Teagasc have shown that two varieties of kefir had similar effects on the gut microbiome of mice, yet had different effects on their immune systems and behaviour.

Social distancing measures and remote working potential favours occupations located in Dublin and the provincial cities, a University College Cork report has found.

The study - Covid-19, Occupational Social Distancing and Remote Working Potential in Ireland by Dr Frank Crowley and Dr Justin Doran - uses occupational data and economic indices to examine what occupations have the most potential to adhere to social distancing measures and what occupations have the potential to carry on working remotely.

Occupations across Ireland’s economy are examined at sector and regional level within the analysis, with the report stating that a one size fits all economic policy approach to the crisis, is unlikely to resolve regional inequalities across Ireland.

University College Cork (UCC) is offering free courses so that workplaces across all sectors of Ireland’s economy are ready to resume operations under the Government’s phased roadmap. 

First full picture of Covid-19 restrictions' impact on Ireland’s pollution levels revealed

An expert on disease control has received an AXA Research Chair award to University College Cork worth €1m to bring the fight against malaria one step closer to eradication, while, at the same time, fostering improved management of wildlife areas in Africa.

• IMI in the Customised Executive Education Global Rankings for a 12^th successive year. This year IMI is ranked 66^th in the world for customised executive education, and 10^th in the UK & Ireland.
• IMI retains its place in the Open Enrolment Global Rankings, for a 3^rd successive year. IMI has maintained its position in 67^th place globally and is ranked 7^th in the UK & Ireland for open enrolment programmes.

The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT) at UCC has created a dedicated Hub for families, researchers and healthcare professionals to find factual, up-to-date, and accessible information that relates to COVID-19 during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood.

A postdoctoral researcher and poet at UCC has been identified as one of Ireland’s most promising young artists, and is earmarked as the potential successor to icons such as Eavan Boland, Seamus Heaney and John Montague.

Dr Seán Hewitt from the School of English and Digital Humanities in the College of Arts Celtic Studies and Social Sciences featured in the Sunday Times’ "30 under 30: Ireland’s most promising artists" article along with world-famous names such as Hozier, Saoirse Ronan, and Sally Rooney.

University College Cork has been awarded significant funding to research the impact Covid-19 public health measures have had on the people of Ireland, and to also study the genetic makeup of the viruses circulating across the country

The projects are two of 26 proposals awarded as part of a €5m Rapid Response Research, Development and Innovation programme established by the Health Research Board (HRB), Irish Research Council (IRC), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

The Programme was introduced to fund research that will provide evidence for the national and global efforts to deal with the virus outbreak.

A multi-million selling US author, whose works incorporating world mythologies have spawned big screen adaptations, is now studying Irish legend and tradition at University College Cork.

New York Times #1 Bestseller Rick Riordan - whose Greek myth-inspired ‘Percy Jackson’ series has been adapted into two blockbuster movies - says he now plans to incorporate Irish legend into his works.