UCL in the media
‘Neurobics’ to keep brains healthy
Professor Robert Howard (UCL Psychiatry) explains the benefits of ‘neurobics’: doing things that exercise a wide range of mental processes and senses in unexpected ways, such as brushing your teeth with your other hand.
Trump reopens government at cost to Republicans
Thomas Gift (UCL Political Science) writes that Donald Trump has emerged from the record-length government shutdown “in perhaps the weakest and most demoralised position of his entire presidency”.
Early cancer detection
Professor Sam Janes (UCL Medicine) speaks about the findings of his new study, a genetic sequencing of precancerous lung lesions, and the potential for very early detection of lung cancer.
Listen: BBC Radio 5 Live ‘5 live Science’ (from 18 mins 29 secs), More: UCL News
Meg Russell comments on Theresa May’s next steps
Professor Meg Russell (UCL Constitution Unit) explains that if the Prime Minister wants to hold a general election, she will need the House of Commons to agree by a two-thirds majority.
Listen: BBC Radio 4 ‘Westminster Hour’ (from 46 mins 5 secs)
Gilet Jaunes make move into government
Professor Philippe Marlière (UCL School of European Languages, Culture and Society) comments on the surprise move of a splinter group of the anti-establishment Gilet Jaunes movement to name candidates for the European parliament.
How to globalize the circular economy
Professor Raimund Bleischwitz (UCL Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources) writes that industry must rethink its approach to resources by setting up an international platform to share data and experiences.
Record-setting ice hole drills 1.3 miles through Antarctica’s ice sheet
Professor Peter Sammonds (UCL Earth Sciences) is part of a team working on a radical hot water drilling technique in West Antarctica. Instruments will record water pressure, ice temperature and deformation, helping to understand how the region will respond to a warming climate.
Neanderthal hunting spears could kill at a distance
Dr Annemieke Milks (UCL Institute of Archaeology) led the study, which saw javelin athletes throw replicas of a 300,000 year-old Neanderthal spear at targets at different distances. The results suggest Neanderthals were more effective hunters than previously thought.
Read: The Conversation, More: Daily Star, BBC News, Forbes, Daily Mail, Newsweek, The Atlantic, UCL News, Times (£), Sun, Telegraph (£), Science, Irish Independent, Yahoo! News, Listen: BBC Radio 4 'Six O'Clock News' (from 27 mins 59 secs), BBC Radio Scotland 'Newsdrive' (from 2 hours 21 mins 48 secs), USA Today, El Pais, The Hindu, CBC.
Refugees and family migrants more likely to feel British than other immigrants
Research Associate Stuart Campbell (UCL Institute of Education) explores perceptions that some migrant groups in the UK lack a sense of belonging, finding that these groups are much more likely to feel they have a British national identity than economic migrants.
Antony Gormley explores how art began
Artist Antony Gormley, alumnus of the UCL Slade School of Fine Art, explains why he believes art being ignored is "a tragedy and a travesty" ahead of new BBC Two film 'How Art Began'.