It's good to plan, especially when you are competing for space in a high-impact academic journal read by scientists the world over. But sometimes pure accident plays an influential part in achieving your ambitions: a chance observation that morphs into a major clue that leads to a brand-new view of the world

Embracing Neurodiversity is a crucial part of creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of their cognitive style. That’s why we have developed an internal Neuroinclusive Communications Guide as part of our Understanding, Valuing and Celebrating Neurodiversity Project. Read on for four top tips from our guide that anyone can adopt to promote Neuroinclusive communication.

James Piercy, communications and engagement officer, works with our scientists to share their work and research with different audiences, including engaging school groups with plant and microbial science. He is also passionate about nature and in this blog, hot on the heels of the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year 2024, he shares the trees that he loves most in Norwich.

Microbes are found almost everywhere on Earth, and have evolved over the past 3.5 billion years to survive and thrive in diverse habitats, including in and on plants. The relationship between plants and microbes is complex; some microbes are beneficial, whilst others can cause devastating diseases.

One day, a few years ago, a local teacher found something strange in his garden. The story that follows is one of plants, beer, bacteria, insects and ZOMBIES! For this Halloween special edition blog Dr Sam Mugford, research assistant, reveals the strange science of phytoplasmas, a group of plant-infecting bacteria with very peculiar properties, and how he made his own delicious zombie beer…