Reading in the news - Tue 11 Mar

North sea collision: The Daily Mail features Dr Alex Lukyanov (Mathematics and Statistics) discussing the multiple factors influencing the North Sea oil spill after a tanker collision. Additional coverage includes reports from NewScientist, France24, Insider Media, Inverness Courier, Breaking News, Eastern Daily Press, York Press, Lancashire Telegraph, Swindon Advertiser, South Wales Argus, Watford Observer, Warrington Guardian, News and Star, Worcester News, The Argus, Evening News 24, Daily Echo, Glasgow Times, The Independent, The Telegraph and Argus, Dorset Echo, Echo News, East Anglian Daily Times, PA via Daily Mail, Bucks Free Press, The Bolton News, Yahoo News UK, Evening Standard, Irish News, AOL UK, Manchester Evening News, Belfast Telegraph, Express UK, inkl, The Journal, The Sun Online, and Herald Scotland.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• SheThePeople, NewsLaundry, and Yahoo News feature research by Ankit Bhandekar (Research Student) and Dr Laura Wilcox (Meteorology) on how weather patterns and geography contribute to Delhi’s extreme air pollution.
• Scientific American features Professor Mathew Owens (Meteorology) discussing how flickering loops in the sun’s corona could help predict solar flares earlier.
• ECMWF highlights the development of EarthCARE’s ACM-CAP algorithm, which began at the University.
• Mirage News features research by Professor Richard Allan (Meteorology) on the "dirty mirror" effect and climate change.

Health and wellbeing

• A TED-Ed documentary features Dr M. Alejandra Perotti (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) discussing Demodex mites and exploring their impact on skin health.
• Essential Flavours highlights a University study showing that mushroom consumers perform better cognitively across multiple domains than non-consumers.
• Green Queen features insights from Professor Parveen Yaqoob (Food and Nutritional Science) on a Harvard study about replacing butter with plant-based oils.
• A finger-prick test for platelet function, developed by Professor Jon Gibbins and his team, is reported by Diagnostics World. From our news story: Blood test paves the way for better heart attack prevention.

Food and farming:

• The Times, Hort News features Dr Chris Wyver (Agriculture, Policy and Development), highlighting findings on fruit tree flowering patterns across Britain. From our news story: Public match experts in blossom watch - now help track 2025.
• Poultry News highlights a Defra-funded project on regenerative, dual-purpose poultry involving Dr Elizabeth Rowe (Agri-Food Economics and Marketing).

Business and society:

• Personnel Today features the findings of a new study by Mental Health First Aid England and Henley Business School, highlighting a decline in psychological safety at work.

Heritage and culture:

• Reading Chronicle highlights that Professor Michael Fulford (Archaeology) will deliver a series of talks on the history of the ancient Roman town of Silchester.
• A book by Professor Anne Lawrence-Mathers (History), which discusses magic in medieval manuscripts is reviewed by Kirkus Reviews.

Other stories:

• An article by Gizmodo about biologically based technology mentions recent work at the University of Reading where scientists taught hydrogels to play Pong. From our news story: Hydrogel brain learns to play pong.
• Commenting on recent experiments to introduce mammoth-like genes into mice, Dr Louise Johnson is quoted by PET.

Alumni:

• The Windsor Express, Maidenhead Advertiser, and Slough Express pay tribute to former Conservative councillor David Hilton, who graduated from the University before working in the engineering sector.
• Clint Raine, a graduate of Henley Business School, is giving a talk about the global polyurethane industry, published by PU daily.
• In an article about his row with Nigel Farage, the Spectator mentions that Reform MP, Rupert Lowe went to the University of Reading.