UCL in the media
New XEC Covid variant starting to spread
Professor Francois Balloux (UCL Genetics Institute) said that although XEC has a "slight transmission advantage" over other recent Covid variants, vaccines should still offer good protection.
Read: BBC News; More: iNews (£), WalesOnline, Mirror, Evening Standard, Independent (£), Express (1), Express (2), Express (3), Express (4), Deutsche Welle (Germany), The Guardian (Nigeria), Finance Express (India), The Indian Express (India)
Could EU Commissioner's resignation be a win for Elon Musk?
Professor Anil Doshi (UCL School of Management) said: "Any governing body is susceptible to internal conflict and politicking—that is to be expected. But the EU's regulatory institutions are robust and will persist beyond any one individual."
Use of long-range missiles by Ukraine inside Russia
Professor Mark Galeotti (UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies) discusses what appears to be a shift in the position of the US and the UK in regard to the restrictions placed on the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine inside Russia.
The diet change around ultra-processed foods that can dramatically improve your health
A UCL study has shown that replacing ultra-processed foods with foods that are less processed may reduce your risk of developing diabetes. According to the findings, every 10% increase in the amount of UPFs in a person’s diet is linked with a 17% increase in diabetes risk.
Read: Independent; More: WalesOnline, The Herald, Daily Mail (1), Daily Mail (2), New York Post
Tried for double murder and adored by the French left: the violent life and crimes of Pierre Goldman
Professor Philippe Marlière (UCL School of European Languages, Culture and Society) said: “The years around 1968 were a period of deep radicalisation for the European left... But for some reason, in France it didn’t produce a militant moment. Only Goldman came close.”
New screening trial could save thousands from prostate cancer
Professor Caroline Moore (UCL Surgery & Interventional Medicine) will launch a “scan-in-a-van” service at a site in west London this year, where MRI scans in a mobile centre will be offered to black men over 45 to test for possible signs of prostate cancers.
Can you tell an AI voice from a real human?
Professor Carolyn McGettigan’s (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) study that found people are unable to tell if a voice speaking to them is that of a real person or an AI clone. She said: “when it comes to a stranger’s voice, they’re basically guessing”.
Russia-tied ship carries explosive power similar to Hiroshima atomic bomb
Professor Andrea Sella (UCL Chemistry) said that while there are plenty of concerns about ammonium nitrate because of its "rather disastrous history," he isn't worried about the Ruby because there are large quantities of it being moved around all the time.
Should Donald Trump ditch Laura Loomer? Experts weigh in
Dr Thomas Gift (UCL Political Science) said Laura Loomer is damaging Trump, though he also noted that many non-politically engaged Americans are likely unaware of the controversy.
Doctor tries ultra-processed food diet for experiment and is horrified by what happens
Dr Chris van Tulleken (UCL Infection & Immunity) has claimed that one popular food type is more deadly than smoking, after adopting a diet high in ultra-processed foods in the name of science.