UCL MEDIA RELATIONS

Professor Dimitri Kullmann (UCL Clinical & Experimental Epilepsy) and Dr Laura Mantoan (UCL Institute of Neurology) talk about a new technique known as optogenetics, which involves using light to stimulate neural activity in the brain. Listen: BBC R4 Today (from 1hr 22m) More: BBC News

“Rather than focusing on ear and eye in reading, the authors rightly point out that hand and eye are critical players,” says Professor Uta Frith (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience). “This [might explain] why many people with dyslexia also have very poor handwriting and not just poor spelling.” Read: Nature

“The whole surgical community will look forward to the results with interest because, if it works, the benefits will be enormous,” says Professor John Kelly (UCL Research Department of General Surgery). Read: Daily Mail

Professor Paul Ekins (UCL Energy Institute) talks about how the government’s commitment to long-term carbon cuts may lead investors to import new wind and solar farms rather than open plants to build them in Britain. Read: NY Times

“[The study] does not present a convincing mechanism by which pollutants could affect the developing brain to result in autism,” says Professor Uta Frith (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience). Read: BBC News More: Times (£) Metro

“He is at an age when most people are starting to contemplate retirement yet he’s not actually started the job he has spent his adult life preparing for. That is burdensome,” says Professor Robert Hazell (UCL Constitution Unit). Read: Daily Mirror More: Daily Mail

“You can see structures inside the organs and in that way you may be able to direct the surgery more accurately, for example excise a tumour with better margins or protect a blood vessel or nerve from accidental damage,” said Dr Danail Stoyanov (UCL Computer Science). Read: The Engineer

Professor Patrick Wolfe (UCL Statistical Science) talks about trying to keep humans on top in a world of dizzying digital data. Listen: BBC World Service The Forum More: The Forum podcast

Hamish Stewart (UCL Development & Alumni Relations) talks about their innovative fundraising campaign, which involved sending out flat-packed paper lantern of Bentham’s head to alumni, along with a mock letter from the philosopher. Read: NY Times

The Costa judges have caught up with graphic novels. But they are only one way that storytelling is changing, says Professor John Sutherland (UCL English Language & Literature). Read: Times (£)