UCL in the media
Brexit threatens UK-led cancer and climate trials
Analysis by the UCL European Research & Innovation Office shows the number of big European research collaborations led by British universities is shrinking. Professor Michael Arthur (UCL President & Provost) says UK institutions are playing a reduced role in research networks.
Lesbian penguin parents illustrate ‘widespread’ animal homosexuality
Two lesbian penguins at Sea Life London have been given their own chick to raise. In ‘Homosexual Behaviour in Animals: An Evolutionary Perspective’ Professor Volker Sommer (UCL Anthropology) writes that ‘homosexual activity is widespread' in some animal species.
Women with UTIs pay the price for poor tests
Professor James Malone-Lee (UCL Division of Medicine) explains that many women who have chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) are denied treatment because of poor standard tests. He assesses alternative diagnostic methods, including DNA analysis and microscopy.
UCL welcomes 200 young climate change experts of the future
For the first London Climate Action Week, UCL Grand Challenges joins Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan to host 200 children at a school climate conference on 3 July. The day features workshops and talks to help children change the debate on climate action in their communities.
What lies beyond the hypothetical edge of the universe?
In a mind-bending discussion about whether the universe is infinite, Dr Andrew Pontzen (UCL Physics & Astronomy) considers the possibilities of life outside the limits of the hypothetical edge and whether somewhere with similar laws of physics to our own could exist there.
New film tells story of groundbreaking cancer trials at UCL
Trials of CAR T-cell therapies led by Dr Martin Pule (UCL Cancer Institute) are the focus of a new BBC Two documentary entitled ‘War in the Blood’.
Watch: BBC Two 'War in the Blood', Read: Times (£), More: Daily Mail, UCL News, Guardian
Why Boris might win the race but not the keys to No 10
Professors Robert Hazell and Meg Russell (UCL Constitution Unit) explain how even if he beats Jeremy Hunt to the Tory leadership, Boris Johnson would “not necessarily” become Prime Minister if MPs withdraw their support and prevent him from commanding a House of Commons majority.
Dietary supplements do nothing to boost brain health
B vitamins, omega-3, gingko biloba or other so called ‘memory supplements’ have no effect on the brain and don't prevent or delay dementia. Professor Gill Livingston (UCL Psychiatry) says to prevent dementia, people should instead get their blood pressure and hearing checked.
Heat and humidity can be a lethal combination
Scientists predict global warming and a weaker North Atlantic jet stream will make heatwaves more frequent in Europe. Professor Chris Rapley (UCL Earth Sciences) says humidity and heat combined increase people's risk of overheating and can lead to "organ failure quite quickly."
The tricky art of predicting if a bike scheme will be a success
Data produced by James Todd, Oliver O’Brien and Dr James Cheshire (UCL Geography) to predict the success of bike schemes suggests having more bikes doesn’t necessarily mean more trips are taken. Other factors such as cost, condition of roads and having bike lanes are crucial too.