Our native language and emotions are closely woven together. Being bilingual offers an emotional detachment that can be useful for reasoning, but which also makes it easier to swear, says…Read More >
Agriculture, Food & Health
When soil and swing collide: science at the Big Band Big Lunch
On Sunday (3 June) the University brought together staff, students, and people in Reading for the Big Band Big Lunch. Jeremy Le Lean, communications officer of the Soil Security Programme,…Read More >
Jogging memories with sounds and pictures
It’s Dementia Action Week. Reading researchers are tackling the problem of dementia on all fronts, from investigating its causes to how we can improve care and quality of life for…Read More >
How Big Oil distorts climate change reality with tweaks in language
The language the oil industry uses to talk about climate change has altered over time as it attempts to distance itself from culpability, says linguistics specialist Dr Sylvia Jaworska in a new post for…Read More >
There will be another Alfie Evans. Experts need to engage
Academics have a duty to speak to the media, especially in tragic and complex cases, argues Tom Sheldon, Senior Press Manager at the Science Media Centre. “How many more Charlies and Alfies…Read More >
‘Engage openly’ during elections, academics urged
University of Reading academics should remain engaged in public debates, even while elections are imminent in the UK, says Professor Steve Mithen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor. This week there are a number of…Read More >
DNA 65 years on: light switch molecules to diagnose disease
It’s 65 years since Watson and Crick published their world-changing paper on the structure of DNA – a discovery they and Rosalind Franklin made using a technique called X-ray diffraction. To…Read More >
Smart sensors to see off falls
It’s World Parkinson’s Day. To mark it, we look at Reading research on wearable sensors that help people with Parkinson’s avoid falls. Parkinson’s disease affects 1% of people over 60….Read More >
Decolonise science
Colonialism has a lingering influence in modern scientific research – and scientists and historians must work together to ‘decolonise’ science, says Dr Rohan Deb Roy in a new post for The…Read More >
Have your say on Open Research: the future, or fool’s charter?
By Dr Phil Newton, Research Dean The University wants to open up all elements of research at Reading. But open research is controversial, and there are many different views on…Read More >