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UCL in the media
Kent Covid-19 variant could 'sweep the world'
Professor Greg Towers (UCL Infection & Immunity) warns that the more transmissible variant of Covid-19 first identified in Kent could become the dominant strain worldwide.
The divided views of citizens in the contested Donbas region
Nearly seven years into the division of the formerly Ukrainian Donbas region, researchers including Professor Kristin Bakke (UCL Political Science) survey citizens in both parts of the region on the conflict and the future of the Donbas.
“Gamechanger” drug for treating obesity cuts body weight by 20%
One third (35%) of people who took a new drug for treating obesity lost more than one-fifth (≥20%) of their total body weight, according to a major global study involving Professor Rachel Batterham (UCL Medicine).
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Hotel quarantine scheme is too little, too late
Introducing a quarantine for arrivals into the UK to prevent new variants entering the country is unlikely to be effective, as the variants in question have already been imported into the UK, says Professor Andrew Hayward (UCL Epidemiology & Health).
10% of teenagers have tried hard drugs by age 17
Almost a third of 17-year-olds have tried cannabis and one in 10 have tried harder drugs, with similar rates of experimentation regardless of parents’ education level, finds a new study by Professor Emla Fitzsimons and Dr Aase Villadsen (both UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies).
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The erosion of the work-life balance
The deterioration of work-life balance is mostly down to the pressure and insecurity created by employers’ increased use of tracking software, which “leaves employees feeling like they’re being watched every minute,” says Professor Anna Cox (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences).
Wider lockdown key to preventing Covid-19 surge if schools reopen
Wider restrictions must remain in place if schools reopen in March to keep the epidemic’s R number below 1 in the UK, finds a study led by Dr Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths (UCL Epidemiology & Health) and Professor Russell Viner (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health).
Queen’s consent is not a veto power
While the Royals may have influence which some may think is undue, it is misleading to describe this influence as a veto, as parliament is free to carry on legislating even if consent were refused, says Honorary senior research associate Paul Evans (UCL Constitution Unit).
Explaining Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial
Dr Julie Norman (UCL Political Science) explains the impeachment trial of former US President Donald Trump, as well as what the Democrats hope to achieve when the two thirds majority needed to convict seems impossible.
Could eating eggs affect long-term health?
A study which found eating one egg a day could raise the risk of an early death is “well conducted” but doesn’t affect the advice that eggs are fine for most people in moderation as part of a balanced diet, says Professor Riyaz Patel (UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science).
