UCL in the media
Only ‘genius level’ problems solvers can find the odd car out in 19 seconds
Dr Yuntao Chen (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health) said: “It is shocking to think that the number of people living with dementia by 2040 may be up to 70% higher than if dementia incidence had continued to decline.”
UCL demography experts wins satirical Ig Nobel award
Dr Saul Justin Newman (IOE UCL’s Faculty of Education & Society) discovered some people with the longest lives hailed from places with poor recordkeeping. He investigated data on humans who live longer than most after debunking two scientific papers about extreme human ageing.
Read: The Herald; Read: New Scientist, The Guardian, NPR, Wired, Terra (Brazil), Kurier (Austria), The Conversation, Al Jazeera, Standard, MSN, ABC News (Australia)
Replacing ultra-processed foods in diet may reduce type 2 diabetes risk
People who eat more ultra-processed foods (UPF) are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but this risk can be lowered by consuming less processed foods instead, finds a new study led by Samuel Dicken and Professor Rachel Batterham (UCL Division of Medicine).
Read: Independent; More: WalesOnline, The Herald, Newsweek, Daily Mail (1), Daily Mail (2), CNN, New York Post, The Sun, Daily Record, Gulf Today (UAE); UCL News. The Times (print)
Letter: UK national renewal requires step change in public investment
In a letter to the FT, Professor Mariana Mazzucato (UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose) argues that in the upcoming Budget the government must recognises the important role that public investment must play in the decade of national renewal.
Read: Financial Times (1) (£); More: Financial Times (2) (£), Daily Mail, The National, The Telegraph (£), The Times (£); Listen: BBC Radio 4 ‘Today’ (from 44 min, 42 sec)
Donald Trump had a tough week, and not just because of the debate
Dr Thomas Gift (UCL Political Science) said: “We all know that Trump has nine lives – and then some. Any predictions that the point to his political demise, still months out from the election, are premature.”
Letter: Small really is beautiful in university science research
In a letter to the FT, Dr Luka Gebel (UCL Global Business School for Health) says that smaller teams enhance innovation by making scientific discoveries at the institutional level in basic science which consist of high-stakes innovative research with significant risk of failure.
Consequence of the pandemic: Study suggests faster brain maturation in adolescents
Professor Derek Hill (UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering) critiqued the methodology of the study: “the assumed connection between accelerated thinning and possible damage to mental health is not derived from the data of this study, but with reference to other studies”.
Will directly electing judges help Mexico fight corruption in its justice system?
Dr William A. Booth (UCL History) said that painting members of Mexico’s judiciary as aiders and abettors of a rapacious economic elite likely resonated with the ruling party’s supporters.
Keir Starmer's reform plan to plug NHS health gap
Dr Ilan Kelman (UCL Risk and Disaster Reduction) said “It's the staff of the NHS in particular who are the most vocal about saying that the NHS is not serving us,” he said. "Doctors are exhausted. Nurses are overworked. The wards are not sufficient to keep people alive.”
Snus - Hooked On Nicotine
Dr Harry Tattan-Birch (UCL Behavioural Science and Health) warns of the dangers of using nicotine pouches and gum for non-smokers. He said: “The biggest risk is people try these products who don’t smoke or vape”.
Watch: Channel 4 ‘Snus - Hooked on Nicotine’ (from 11 min, 20 sec)