UCL in the media
US and Chinese rovers look similar
"Conditions on both the moon and on Mars limit the technical solutions that will work at each, so there will naturally be some similarities in approach, as each mission learns from all those that went before,” said Professor Andrew Coates (UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory).
Phosphorus feels the heat
“If you heat phosphorus under different conditions, different temperatures, different pressures, strange things start to happen. You get red fibrous forms, metallic black forms, purple forms,” said Professor Andrea Sella (UCL Chemistry).
Russian anti-LGBT bills meant to rally domestic support
“The [anti-LGBT] bills allow Russia’s political leadership to talk about what they see as the non-military, values dimension of the conflict between Russia and the ‘collective West’,” said Dr Ben Noble (UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies).
Patterns of Covid
“You can see a pattern [of Covid cases] over the past two years of a peak in late October or early November - and then a large one after Christmas,” said Professor Karl Friston (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology).
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New study examines links between serotonin and depression
“This study does not provide convincing evidence that a serotonin abnormality is the cause or mechanism underlying depression, or one of the causes or mechanisms,” Professor Joanna Moncrieff (UCL Psychiatry).
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High-fibre foods are good for your microbiome
“Propionate and butyrate are produced in the intestines when dietary fibre is fermented by gut bacteria. These are short-chain fatty acids that are known to bolster the gut microbiome,” said Doctoral Researcher Alex Ruani (IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education & Society).
Plastic not so fantastic
Professor Mark Miodownik and Danielle Purkiss (both UCL Mechanical Engineering) found, after a concerted citizen science effort, that plastics labelled “compostable” usually doesn’t break down in a standard compost heap.
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New mechanism extends life of immune system
A new mechanism that slows down and may even prevent the natural ageing of immune cells – one of the nine ‘hallmarks of ageing’ – has been identified by an international team led by Dr Alessio Lanna (UCL Medicine).
What increasing interest rates means for renters and homeowners
“England has some of the weakest tenant rights in Europe,” said Laurie Macfarlane (UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose), explaining what the sharp increase in interest rates will mean for renters and homeowners in England over the near future.
Gene therapy targeting overactive brain cells could treat neurological disorders
A new treatment for neurological and psychiatric diseases, that works by reducing the excitability of overactive brain cells, has been developed by Gabriele Lignani (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology).