Reading in the news - Weds 11 Mar

The truth behind the Mary Celeste: Dr Richard Blakemore (History) helped solve a maritime mystery for Channel 5 documentary . 

Why you shouldn’t wash raw chicken: Dr Andreas Karatzas (Food and Nutritional Sciences) spoke to (republished by BBC News , and ) about the dangers of washing chicken.

Health and wellbeing:

• Dr Mark Dallas (Pharmacy) was quoted by in response to a study on links between pollution and Alzheimer's.
• BBC Radio Berkshire trailed an upcoming interview with a University professor about decision-making.

Food and farming:

• Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) wrote a letter to The Lancet (published on his ) about ultra-processed food research.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• mentioned Reading research into the accuracy of weather predicting apps.
• (republished by and ) featured quotes from Dr Rob Thompson (Meteorology) on how UK snowfall often turns to rain.
• Further comments from Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) on acid rain in Iran were featured by , , , , , and various outlets (republished by , , and ).
• Professor Emily Black (Meteorology) was quoted by about global crop droughts.
• A study into how melting polar ice impacts Himalayan winter storms, involving Reading scientists, was featured by .

Business and society:

• Professor Niaz Asadullah (Economics) was listed by as a speaker at a recent event reviewing Bangladesh’s economy.
• quoted Dr Yoshikatsu Hayashi (Biomedical Engineering) on a neuron-powered computer chip learning to play videogames.

Heritage and culture:

• BBC Radio Newcastle reported on the University-produced play Glitch, mentioning Dr Elizabeth Conaghan (Law).
• Professor Anne Lawrence-Mathers (History) was mentioned by on an exhibition showing The Reading Rota, a medieval music manuscript.
• (republished by and ) quoted Professor Steve Mithen (Archaeology) on his research into the language of prehistoric humans.
• reported on a new Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) centenary exhibition at The Museum of English Rural Life.

Other coverage:

• , and provided further coverage on the inquest of international relations student Fintan Feltham, who died in Oxford in 2024.
• Research into making interior spaces feel more open was mentioned by .
• Professor Suzanne Graham (Education) was listed by as a new fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. 

Alumni:

• featured three poems by Law graduate Pavlos Andreou.