Research headlines
Avatar therapy for schizophrenia
Publication date: 2 July 2013
"The idea behind the therapy is to give the patient the sense of mastery over the voice they're hearing all the time," said Professor Julian Leff (UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit). Listen: BBC Radio Four's Today (from 1 hour 42 mins) More: BBC News
Breastfeeding boosts ability to climb social ladder
Publication date: 25 June 2013
“The results show that breast feeding was consistently associated with an increased chance of upward social mobility and a decreased chance of downward mobility,” said Dr Amanda Sacker (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health). Read: Telegraph More: UCL News Independent Times (£) Daily Mail Medical Daily The Conversation Huffington Post Scotsman Herald Sun TIME Irish Sun Nursing Times
What Is Death?
Publication date: 24 June 2013
Dr Nick Lane (UCL Genetics, Evolution & Environment) joins Brian Cox and Robin Ince and guests to discuss the science of death. Listen: BBC Radio 4's Infinite Monkey Cage
Funding bodies will have to force scientists to share data
Publication date: 24 June 2013
The open access movement is forcing publishers to take down paywalls,
making publicly funded research available to the public for free. But
beyond that a more important development is pacing in the wings – that
of open data, says Dr Michael Galsworthy (UCL School of Life and Medical Sciences). Read: Conversation More: The Hindu
Where did the colonial empires go to trade?
Publication date: 21 June 2013
A stunning new infographic from Dr James Cheshire (UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis) reveals the trade patterns of the great naval empires. Read: New Statesman
Scientists make world's most detailed 3D brain map
Publication date: 21 June 2013
"This three dimensional model has taken about ten years of really painstaking work by several different people around the world," said Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience). Listen: BBC Radio 4's Today (from 50 mins) Watch: Channel 4 News
Learn to shake your new tail as a virtual animal
Publication date: 20 June 2013
Virtual reality could allow us to go far beyond having longer arms or an extra limb. In principle, we could inhabit any form, says William Steptoe (UCL Computer Science). Read: New Scientist
UCL software reveals Ulster’s forgotten history in fire-damaged book
Publication date: 20 June 2013
“Before we could read about 50 per cent of the text, but now we can read around 90 per cent,” said Dr Melissa Terras (UCL Centre for Digital Humanities). Read: THE More: UCL News
Investigation Follows Trail of a Virus in Saudi Hospitals
Publication date: 20 June 2013
“Four million pilgrims from 182 countries are coming to Saudi Arabia in two months’ time. I am worried, as a physician,” said Professor Ali Zumla (UCL Research Department of Infection). Read: New York Times More: Health Canal
Doing Arnie impressions can activate your brain
Publication date: 20 June 2013
Dr Carolyn McGettigan (UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience) writes about her recent investigation into how the brain controls vocal modulations during accents and impersonations. Read: The Conversation
Everest's final frontier: Life without oxygen
Publication date: 19 June 2013
A team from the UCL Centre for Altitude, Space & Extreme Environment Medicine (CASE) recently spent several weeks on Everest studying hundreds of trekkers, climbers and Sherpas. The research will further our understanding of how our bodies adapt to low oxygen levels. Read: New Scientist
Study sheds new light on hidden mysteries of leprosy
Publication date: 19 June 2013
“Human genetics influences susceptibility to leprosy to some extent and better nutrition and better housing are also possible reasons for the overall decline,” said Dr Helen Donoghue (UCL Division of Biosciences). Read: The Conversation
Saffron Walden Castle had foundations plundered
Publication date: 18 June 2013
"Once the building became a ruin it becomes like a standing stone quarry," said Trevor Ennis (UCL Institute of Archaeology). Read: BBC News
Funding freeze is hitting hard, say UK researchers
Publication date: 18 June 2013
“We were quite frankly surprised by just how much scientists are struggling to cope in the current climate of managed decline in funding," said Dr Jennifer Rohn, a biologist at UCL and founder of Science is Vital. Read: Nature More: THE (£)
Scientists uncover clues to cancer's spread
Publication date: 17 June 2013
"(This) suggests an alternative way in which cancer treatments might work in the future if therapies can be targeted at the process of interaction between malignant and healthy cells," said Prof. Roberto Mayor (UCL Cell & Developmental Biology). Read: Telegraph More: UCL News io9 Science Business
Big data meets the Bard
Publication date: 16 June 2013
"The past 200 years of humanities has been the lone scholar. But for work in the digital humanities, you need a programmer, an interface expert, and so on,” said Dr Melissa Terras (UCL Centre for Digital Humanities). Read: FT (£)
Half of prostate cancer cases may be missed
Publication date: 14 June 2013
"At UCLH we have been
using MRI, followed by a guided biopsy for several years, but there are only
a handful of hospitals in this country which currently do this, and that
needs to change,” said Professor Mark Emberton (UCL Research Department of Urology). Read: Telegraph More: Daily Mail Independent Telegraph (2)
Scientists challenge patent ban for embryonic stem cell research
Publication date: 14 June 2013
Professor Pete Coffey (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology) joins calls by scientists and lawyers in Britain challenging a European ban on the patenting of embryonic stem cells. Read: Independent
Having low levels of vitamin D could raise your risk of high blood pressure
Publication date: 11 June 2013
"Our study strongly suggests that some cases of cardiovascular disease could be prevented through vitamin D supplements or food fortification," said Dr Vimal Karani (UCL Institute of Child Health). Read: Daily Mail More: Express Mirror
Wrist sensor may be better measure of blood pressure
Publication date: 10 June 2013
"(Blood) pressure when someone is asleep is a strong predictor of heart disease. This (device) almost certainly gives a better measure than blood pressure in the arm," said Prof. Bryan Williams (UCL Cardiovascular Science). Read: BBC More: On Medica
Bacterial apocalypse – the bugs are getting cleverer, and we are doing little to stop them
Publication date: 10 June 2013
The time is now to develop new antibiotics, but serious barriers stand in our way, said Dr Jenny Rohn (UCL Clinical Physiolog). Read: Guardian
Speed cameras cut number of serious road crashes
Publication date: 7 June 2013
"There has been controversy about interpreting this data, and that made me get down to it," said Professor Richard Allsop (UCL Engineering).
Listen: BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast (from 22 mins) More: BBC Radio Northampton Breakfast (from 1 hour, 20 mins)
Injured Scottish children dying needlessly
Publication date: 7 June 2013
Dr Pia Hardelid (UCL Institute of Child Health) said: “What we found was, particularly for children aged ten to 18, increasing differences in injury deaths between the countries,” she said. “England was consistently the lowest, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland significantly higher.” Read: Scotsman
Nine ways the sunshine can boost our health
Publication date: 6 June 2013
Researchers from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London recently did tests on mice that showed improved vision and fewer signs of aging in eyes after the mice had been given vitamin D supplements. Read: Mirror
How binge drinking when young can cause heart disease in middle age
Publication date: 6 June 2013
Surveys show that university students aged between 18 and 25 have the
highest rates of binge drinking, with more than half indulging on a
regular basis, according to a recent study by University College London. Read: Mirror
