UCL in the media
How fast is the universe expanding?
Professor Hiranya Peiris and Professor Andrew Pontzen (UCL Physics & Astronomy) discuss methods for measuring how fast the universe is expanding, including Professor Peiris’ work on the cosmic microwave background.
What does it mean to have a sense of meaning?
Professor Andrew Steptoe and Dr Daisy Fancourt (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) have analysed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to explore what advantage there might be to having a strong sense of meaning in later life.
Taylor Swift vs Ariana Grande: who is the better lyricist?
Professor Dominic Wyse (UCL Institute of Education) judges the relative lyric writing merits of the two artists following a dispute between fans.
Listen: BBC World Service's 'Newsday' (from 47 mins 30 secs)
Elderly people less likely to be referred for therapy
“There needs to be greater access to talking therapies” for older people suffering with depression, says Dr Rachael Frost (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care). Dr Frost is lead author on a paper that found GPs are prescribing antidepressants for too many elderly people.
Read: Guardian, More: Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Mail (2), Sun, ITV News, UCL News
Tracking the risk of early onset Alzheimer’s
Carli Pirie is taking part in UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology’s Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) research project, which is tracking the health of family members of people at risk of early onset Alzheimer’s.
Environment in multiple crises
Professor Simon Lewis (UCL Geography) says “the Institute for Public Policy Research is right to say that environmental change is happening ever-faster and threatens to destabilise society” after they claim politicians have failed to grasp the gravity of the environmental crisis.
The earliest moving organisms?
Professor Dominic Papineau and Professor Graham Shields (UCL Earth Sciences) comment on a finding scientists believe to be the earliest trace of a moving organism, found in a 2.1bn-year-old fossil.
Why trade deals after Brexit could prove elusive
Professor Piet Eeckhout (UCL Laws) explains that if the UK lowers its trade tariffs to bring down prices for consumers this would undercut its efforts to secure trade deals. In making these deals, he says, "what you have as currency is the protection of your market".
Fears grow for UK recession
As official figures show economic growth in the UK is slowing down, Professor Mariana Mazzucato (UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose) suggests a recession is likely, explaining that Brexit is “aggravating” existing problems in the UK economy.
The origins of Stonehenge
Professor Michael Parker Pearson (UCL Archaeology) comments on a new study into the origins of Stonehenge and other ancient rock structures, saying “this demonstrates absolutely that Brittany is the origin of the European megalithic phenomenon”.