Reading in the news - Tue 29 Aug

Moon race: The Sunday Times and The Times (online) quote Professors Michael Lockwood and Chris Scott (Meteorology) on the new race to explore the moon. Also in the Daily Star.

Health and wellbeing:

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biological Sciences) writes for The Conversation about face masks, after the emergence of a new Covid variant (republished by The Hindu, Big News Network, The Siasat Daily, IFL Science and Foreign Affairs).
• New Scientist (in print) quotes Professor Carien Van Reekum (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) on how dwelling on negative events is associated with depression and anxiety.  
• The Goa Spotlight quotesProfessor Ciara McCabe (Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences), originally from The Conversation, regarding anhedonia – the absence of enjoyment. 
• Radio Carmarthenshire and Radio Pembrokeshire highlight research from Reading showing daydreaming is good for your mental health.  
• The Telegraph reports on a study by RHS and researchers from Reading finding healthy houseplants made people feel better. Also republished by Yahoo! Sports.  

Food and farming: 

• BBC Radio 4 programme On Your Farm mentions a study by the University of Reading highlighting the sustainability of growing beans.  
• Lab Manager, ScienceDaily, Scitechdaily, Bhaskar Live, Investing.com, Lokmat Times, YubaNet, The Weekly Voice, Glamsham and others highlight University of Reading research on the health benefits from fruit smoothies. Also covered by BBC Berkshire, who interviewed Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences). Read our news story.
• Daily Mail quotes Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on how ultra-processed foods increase the risk of diseases, but other lifestyle factors could also be to blame. Republished by WhatsNew2Day, Sound Health and Lasting Wealth, MSN and Web Times.
• The Times (Ireland) (in print) reports research from the University of Reading explaining how widespread organic farming would produce 40 per cent less food.
• Professor Glenn Gibson (Food and Nutritional Sciences) is quoted in The Daily Mail on beneficial gut bacteria easing IBS symptoms. Also republished by Sound Health and Lasting Wealth, WhatsNew2Day, Web Times and The Mail on Sunday (Scotland).
• Daily Mail features a £22 loaf of bread, quoting Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences). Also republished by Web Times, Today Headline and Business Telegraph.
• Yahoo! Sport and Pet News 2Day republish a story by Euronews, which quotes Dr Lizzie Rowe (Agri-Food Economics and Marketing) on why some rescue hens lack feathers.  

Culture and heritage:

• Dr Rohan Deb Roy (History) is quoted in WDC TV News on how modern science benefited from the exploitation of millions of people.  
• Ananova and Spectroscopy quotes Dr Annemieke Milks (Archaeology) on how discoveries of wooden tools help understanding of early human behaviours, after a 300,000-year-old hunting weapon was found. 
• The Telegraph report that a new ‘Archaeological and Research Collection’ facility is being built by the British Museum in Berkshire, who are in partnership with the University of Reading. Republished by Yahoo! Sports.
• In a report about fonts by The Hustle, Professor Gerry Leonidas (Typography and Graphic Communication) is quoted on the difficulty for alternative models to grow in a market with one very large player and lots of smaller ones.  

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment 

• The Times quotes Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology) on British summertime weather, comparing the extreme heat of 1976 to present day.  
• Times Higher Education reports that the University of Reading and Imperial College London are developing a proposal for a doctoral training programme in ecosystem engineering for the living planet. Also republished by Reuters Today and Daily Star News Today.  
• Reading Chronicle (in print) and Bracknell News (in print) report on weather condition across the UK influenced by the jetstream. Dr Rob Thompson (Meteorology) is quoted.  
• Professor Mathew Owens (Meteorology) warns that a once-in-a-century solar storm could fry power grids and knock out satellites, Natural News reports. Also republished by NewsR. 
• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) is quoted in Times of India, explaining how rainfall will continue in Maharashtra due to the break in monsoon system.  

Other Coverage: 

• LBC spoke to Professor Jo Phoenix (Law) on sexual assault cases within hospitals.  
• Opera News republish a story by Wokingham Today regarding the University of Reading breaking their acceptance record for undergraduate courses. Also reported on by Greatest Hits Radio and The Business Magazine.  
• Voices of Islam Radio spoke to a student at the University of Reading, who will be studying neuroscience.  

Alumni: 

• Lt Gen Sir Roland ‘Roly’ Walker, the incoming head of the British Army, earned a University of Reading degree in land management from the Royal Agricultural College, The Telegraph reports. Also republished by Yahoo! News and MSN. 
• CityWire reports on LGT Wealth Management CEO, Ben Snee, who studied Management and Business.
• Global Atlanta reports that Chibamba Kanyama received his MSc in Development Finance from the University of Reading.
• The Daily Mail (in print) mentions associate classics professor and antiquities dealer Dr Ittai Gradel.
• John Amson was offered a scholarship to study maths at the University of Reading, The Times reports.