UCL in the media
Abrupt climate change drove early South American population decline
Abrupt climate change some 8,000 years ago led to a dramatic decline in early South American populations, according to a study by Dr Philip Riris and Dr Manual Arroyo-Kalin, both UCL Institute of Archaeology.
Bank of England’s next boss must think outside the box
Professor Mariana Mazzucato and Dr Josh Ryan-Collins (UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose) say Britain’s long-term economic challenges demand that the next governor of the Bank of England be capable of thinking differently rather than being a safe pair of hands.
Getting creative really does boost your mood
Getting creative, either through art or music, can help avoid stress, free up mind space and improve self-development – and the effect isn’t related to talent, according to a study led by Dr Daisy Fancourt (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care)
Read: BBC News, More: iNews, Daily Mail, Daily Mail (2), Listen: BBC Radio 4’s ‘Front Row’ (from 22 mins 16 secs), More: BBC World Service's 'Newsroom' (from 17 mins 57 secs)
Brazil’s Bolsonaro keeps it in the family
Dr Malu Gatto (UCL Institute of the Americas) comments on the power wielded by President Jair Bolsonaro’s sons, explaining that they are seen as representing their father by many in government.
Scotland’s referendum: how many votes?
Dr Alan Renwick (UCL Constitution Unit) suggests the Scottish government hold a referendum on the principle of independence, with a further confirmatory vote when the detail of a deal with the rest of the UK is known.
When the things start to talk
Professor Yvonne Rogers (UCL Computer Science) comments on the “creepy” data collection of the Internet of Things, where personal data is collected and analysed without users being aware.
Listen: BBC World Service’s ‘The Documentary’ (from 9 mins 53 secs)
Immune system captured making 'bullet holes' in bacteria
The immune system kills bacteria by making "bullet holes" – a process filmed by Dr Edward Parsons (UCL London Centre for Nanotechnology) and Professor Bart Hoogenboom (UCL London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL Physics & Astronomy and UCL Structural & Molecular Biology).
End to Aids in sight as UCL study finds drugs stop HIV transmission
An end to the Aids epidemic could be in sight after a landmark study led by Professor Alison Rodger (UCL Institute for Global Health) found that men whose HIV infection was fully suppressed by antiretroviral drugs had no chance of infecting their partner.
Read: Guardian, More: Telegraph, Independent, iNews, HuffPost, BBC News, Sky News, Evening Standard, Daily Star, Business Insider, Daily Mail, FT, UCL News, Listen: BBC Radio 4 'Today' (from 49 mins 20 secs), BBC Radio 5 'Morning Reports' (from 3 mins 6 secs), BBC Radio 2’s ‘The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show’ (from 59 mins 18 secs), BBC World Service’s ‘Newshour’ (from 49 mins 48 secs), BBC World Service’s ‘Newsroom’ (from 5 mins 13 secs), BBC World Service’s ‘World Update’ (from 26 mins 37 sec)
A pill to turn back time
The FT asks whether it makes sense to treat ageing as a disease. Professor David Gems (UCL Biosciences) says one of the big peculiarities about ageing is that it’s viewed as not a disease, yet "ageing is not fixed; it can be altered."
The low-key smart tech that works for cities
A project to upgrade the sewer system in Kansas City is a low-key but effective example of the smart-city movement. Dr Duncan Wilson (UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis) says in value-for-money terms, it is hard to beat the modest business of LED street lighting.