Reading in the news - Wed 8 Apr

Octopushed: A discovery by Dr Thomas Clements (Biological Sciences) about a fossil mistaken as the world’s oldest octopus was featured in , , , , , , , ITV News, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio Berkshire, , , , and others. From our story: ‘Oldest octopus’ fossil is no octopus at all, scans reveal.

Spin-out success: BBC Radio Berkshire, , , and reported on research which found a faster way to treat UTIs, quoting Dr Oliver Hancox, CEO of University-founded company Astratus. From our story: Rapid urine test could select UTI antibiotics within hours

Moon mission: Professor Mike Lockwood (Meteorology, pictured) spoke to (from 10:55) and LBC about the NASA’s Artemis mission. Further coverage from , , and . From our expert comment: 'Artemis mission cannot lead to interplanetary Wild West’

Business and society:

• , , , , , and more than 100 others provided further coverage of comments from Professor Michael Schmitt (Law) on the escalation of the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
• Professor Radu Tunaru (Henley Business School) wrote for (republished by ) on how the war in Iran could affect financial markets.
• highlighted a talk from Professor Gianluca Marcato (Henley Business School) at the latest INREV Academy course.
• republished an written by Professor Benjamin Laker (Henley Business School) about use of AI.

Other coverage:

• reported that Accounting and Business students won the Student Body of the Year for the PQ Magazine Awards 2026.
• Student Ahmed Gilani will be taking part in the Futurebuild 2026 panel discussion, reports .

Alumni:

• Agri-economics graduate Colin Markham, the Agriculture Sustainability Manager for Müller, was interviewed by .
• and reported on an upcoming exhibition from artist Stella Sevastopoulos.
• Tiago Cruz Alexandre, Finance graduate, was appointed General Manager of Global Treasury for Banco do Brasil, reports .
• reported that the National University of Córdoba has awarded Agronomist Alejandro Castillo, who studied at Reading, an honorary doctorate.
• An upcoming exhibition from artist Niya Pushkarova was featured by .