Climate change has made some types of floods more likely. In a recent post for The Conversation, Professor Hannah Cloke writes that people should be empowered to prepare for the…Read More >
Patchwork EU Member State laws hamper free movement for ‘rainbow families’
When same-sex couples and their children cross borders within the EU, established legal ties can cease to exist, benefits can disappear, and some children cannot get citizenship and are left…Read More >
How the world’s largest Samuel Beckett collection came to Reading
Manuscripts, notebooks and papers relating to world-famous novelist and playwright Samuel Beckett go on display at the University library today to mark its official re-opening. Beckett’s biographer Professor James (Jim)…Read More >
Anxiety in autistic children – why rates are so high
Children with autism can be over-responsive to things like loud noises or clothing fabrics, which can develop into lifelong phobias. Writing for The Conversation, Dr Keren MacLennan explains that early…Read More >
Climate change means longer take-offs and fewer passengers per aeroplane – new study
Warmer, less dense air and weaker winds thanks to climate change result in more difficult take-offs for aeroplanes – and that means carrying fewer passengers for the same amount of…Read More >
Brain cells long thought of as passive play key role in memory – study in mice
Microglia – cells long thought to be solely the brain’s support network – may actually play a key role in retaining memories, a new study in mice shows. Writing for…Read More >
Roman Catholic priests have been celibate for a thousand years – but this could change
For almost a thousand years, Roman Catholic priests have been required to be celibate. But this age-old practice is now under fire, with the suggestion that the rules should be…Read More >
Autism: stem cell clinics are offering treatments despite lack of evidence it works
Regenerative medicine specialist Dr Darius Widera debunks claims that autism can be treated with stem cell therapy and asks whether autism needs to be ‘cured’ at all in a recent…Read More >
Malnutrition is on the rise in older adults – how to spot the signs
Chronic disease, low income, depression, difficulty in cooking for themselves or in getting to the shops are all contributing to poor nutrition in the elderly. Reading PhD student and dietician…Read More >
Daffodils and snowdrops are here – but what happens next?
If you’ve braved the outdoors recently you may have noticed that snowdrops and daffodils are beginning to show their faces. Professor Richard Ellis and Rosemary Newton explain what happens to…Read More >