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UCL in the media
No alternative to a national lockdown
The Covid-19 infection rates within the UK are so high that there is currently no alternative to a national lockdown, but the test & trace system must be improved during the time gained by locking down, says Professor Deenan Pillay (UCL Infection & Immunity).
Listen: BBC Radio 5’s ‘5 Live Breakfast’ (from 6 mins 45 secs)
Vast majority of concussions cause no problems if treated correctly
In a discussion about the safety issues around heading footballs, Professor Mike Loosemore (UCL Surgery & Interventional Science) says that 99 per cent of concussion causes no problems if treated correctly, and urges hospital trusts to develop specialist concussion clinics.
Technology and touch
Professor Carey Jewitt (UCL Institute of Education) details the numerous ways in which technological advances can replicate touch, with uses including deepening virtual reality experiences and helping distanced couples to ‘send’ touch to one another.
Listen: BBC World Service’s ‘Anatomy of Touch’ (from 6 mins 47 secs)
Cells transform themselves in male worms to improve mating
A cell in worms that transforms itself into a completely different type of cell when males mature, to play a key role in mating behaviour, has been recently discovered by a team led by Dr Richard Poole and Dr Arantza Barrios (both UCL Biosciences).
The pros and cons of home education
Professor Amelia Roberts (UCL Institute of Education) joins a discussion on the merits and drawbacks of home education, an option that has been forced into the mainstream by the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.
Listen: BBC Radio 4’s ‘Bringing Up Britain’ (from 9 mins 5 secs)
What is the legacy of Trump’s 2016-2020 term?
Dr Julie Norman (UCL Political Science) discusses the events of Trumps 2016-2020 presidential term, including his foreign policy in the Middle East and his domestic policies including tax reform and rollbacks of environmental rules and regulations.
Listen: Times Radio’s ‘Mariella Frostrup show’ (from 39 mins 5 secs)
Phasing out gas boilers is not a short term priority
The shift from gas boilers to either electric heating or hydrogen boilers is likely to take place through the late 2020s and 2030s, and improving home energy efficiency is a more pressing priority, argues Professor Jim Watson (UCL Bartlett School Environment, Energy & Resources).
National lockdown was ‘inevitable’ due to rate of Covid-19 spread
The total lockdown announced by the government was ‘inevitable’ as cases are currently rising too quickly for lesser measures to have the impact needed, says Professor Christina Pagel (UCL Mathematics).
Read: Mail Online, More: Times (£), BBC News, Yahoo! News, Sun, BBC Afrique (French), Mirror
New drone technology improves ability to forecast volcanic eruptions
Specially-adapted drones developed by a team led by Dr Emma Liu (UCL Earth Sciences) have been gathering data from never-before-explored volcanoes that will enable local communities to better forecast future eruptions.
Read: Times (£), More: Express, MSN News, Russia Today, Agenzia (Italy), Live Science, Meteoweb (Italy), Al Khaleej Today (UAE), Watch: UNTV News (Philippines), UCL News
Driving less only way to avoid post-lockdown gridlock
Whilst alternative modes of transport may be less convenient for many, but this discomfort is “our tiny share of the vast price that needs to be faced up to to reduce emissions,” says Emeritus Professor Richard Allsop (UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering).
