Reading in the news - Tue 12 May

Health and wellbeing:

• Dr Simon Clarke (Biomedical Sciences) spoke to Talk TV and Talk Radio about the spread of hantavirus.
• quoted Dr Oliver Hancox, CEO of University-founded company Astratus, about a new effective way to treat UTIs. From our story: Rapid urine test could select UTI antibiotics within hours

Food and farming:

• Research from Professor Julie Lovegrove (Food and Nutritional Sciences) found that eating apples lowers risk of heart disease, reports .
• Dr Andrea Monteagudo-Mera (Biological Sciences) was quoted by about food which impacts iron levels.
• Comments from Professor Gunter Kuhnle (Food and Nutritional Sciences) responding to a study about fruit and healthy aging were featured by , , , Vision Australia Radio, (republished by , , , and ) and others.
• reported on a study co-authored by Dr Stephen Elmore (Food and Nutritional Sciences) on the production of wheat with reduced levels of asparagine.

#PlanetPartners: working with global partners to protect the environment

• Professor Emily Black (Meteorology) was quoted by about the climate effects of an upcoming El Niño event.
• , BBC London News and BBC Radio Berkshire provided further coverage of Dr James O’Donoghue (Meteorology) winning the 2026 Carl Sagan Medal for space science research. From our story: Carl Sagan medal for scientist who took millions to space
• Dr Akshay Deoras (Meteorology) was quoted by on predicting monsoon activity.
• The climate stripes, developed by Professor Ed Hawkins (Meteorology), were mentioned by .
• quoted Dr Matt Greenwell (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) on his research into colour-changing katydids. From our story: Bright pink insect stands out to blend in, scientists say

Business and society:

• Professor Rosa Freedman (Law) was quoted by about Jewish identity.
• Research from Professor Andrew Kakabadse (Henley Business School) about trust and morale in the UK civil service was mentioned by .
• , , , , , and other global outlets quoted Dr Rita Fontinha (Henley Business School) about the health benefits of four-day working weeks.
• , , , , and various global outlets reported on a recent talk from Professor Nada Kakabadse (Henley Business School) at the Future of Governance International Conference.
• republished an article from , quoting Dr Ruvi Ziegler (Law) about an upcoming rally opposing antisemitism.
• Justin Cross (Henley Business School) spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire explaining the use of pass keys.

Heritage and culture:

• , , , , (republished by , and ) and others provided further coverage of research from Professor Duncan Garrow (Archaeology) on an artificial island older than Stonehenge.
• featured a discovery made by Dr Thomas Clements (Biological Sciences) about a fossil mistaken as the world’s oldest octopus. From our story: ‘Oldest octopus’ fossil is no octopus at all, scans reveal.

Other coverage:

• reported on an upcoming public lecture about the University’s animal research, quoting Andrew Cripps, Technical Head of Reading’s Bioresource Unit. From our story: Learn how llamas, mice and fish help us fight human diseases

Alumni:

• Economics graduate Gary Mazzotti has been appointed Chairman of Accolade Investment Group, reports and .
• announced the retirement of Sir Richard McMahon, Bailiff of Guernsey, who studied Law at Reading.