UCL in the media
Urban forests can store almost as much carbon as tropical rainforests
New research by Dr Mat Disney & Dr Phil Wilkes (UCL Geography) shows that urban forests can store as much carbon as tropical rainforests. The team used cutting-edge laser scanning techniques to assess 85,000 trees in the London Borough of Camden.
Read: Metro, More: The Conversation, BBC 1 London (from 16 min 34 secs), Huffington Post, Ham&High.How To Hunt Like A Neanderthal
Dr Annemieke Milks (UCL Archaeology) comments on new research, led by Johannes Gutenberg-University in Germany, which finds that Neanderthals were 'sophisticated hunters' who used wooden spears to stab their prey at close range.
Read: Daily Mail, More: Discover Magazine, The Conversation, New Historian, USA Today.Here's a better way to think about identity politics
Dr Timothy Oliver explores the meaning behind the phrase 'identity politics' and why it is important to understand identity politics.
Read: The Conversation, More: IndependentiReadMore app improves reading ability of stroke patients
Stroke patients have achieved "significant" improvements in reading skills by using a smartphone app designed by UCL's Aphasia Lab. Dr Zoe Woodhead, (UCL Institute of Neurology) said: "This reading therapy significantly improves people's ability to relearn and remember words."
Read: Evening StandardBetter phone battery can hold twice as much power
Professor Dan Brett (UCL Chemical Engineering) comments on the chance discovery of a new carbon called OSPC-1Material, which could potentially double the life of lithium batteries used in smart phones.
Read: Daily Mail; The Times; The Sun, GuardianCall to allow use of medicinal cannabis
A letter signed by Professor Val Curran (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) states: 'As medical and academic scientists, we strongly urge the government to remove cannabis and all related cannabinoids from Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations Medicines Act and put them into Schedule 2. This would allow medical doctors to prescribe cannabis and/or cannabinoid products to patients who they think will benefit from this treatment based on the available scientific evidence.'
Read: The TimesThird of athletes suffer tooth decay problems
Half of Britain's top athletes have such bad tooth decay that it is affecting their performance, according to a study by UCL's Eastman Dental Institute. The research, led by Professor Ian Needleman, analysed 350 sportsmen and women from nine Olympic teams, along with Team Sky, England Rugby and Reading FC, and found half had untreated tooth decay.
Read: The Independent; The Times; Daily Mail; Reuters; New York Times; Daily TelegraphPsychology and self-analysis help make better fund managers
Professor Adrian Furnham (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) is helping wealth management consultancies to hire the most suitable candidates for the job. He uses psychology to examine the link between investors' performance and their background and behaviour.
Read: Financial Times (£).Barnier risks damaging prospects for a deal on internal security
Dr Nick Wright (UCL Political Sciences) comments that EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier seems to be pushing a maximalist position in discussions, but this apparent lack of flexibility risks damaging prospects for a deal on internal security which the UK seems willing to explore.
Read: GuardianWhat motivates graffiti artists?
Dr Rafael Schacter (UCL Anthropology), author of award-winning World Atlas of Street Art and Graffiti, comments that graffiti artists are motivated by the social rewards from being part of a subculture, and are individuals totally committed to their collective and practice.
Read: Guardian.