University College London

A fossil discovered in 1985 during a British Antarctic Survey expedition has been identified as the first dinosaur bone found in Antarctica. The vertebra belongs to a Titanosaur, a long-necked herbivorous sauropod, and provides evidence of dinosaurs in Antarctica during the Late Cretaceous period. The discovery highlights the continent's ancient temperate forests and suggests potential for more dinosaur findings as ice retreats.

A University College London study warns that school smartphone bans are viewed as punitive by young people and may lead to unintended negative consequences. The report was published as a statutory ban on smartphones in schools in England took effect, requiring schools to enforce phone-free policies.

Children who experience physical punishment from parents are more likely to struggle academically and exhibit bullying behavior, according to a UCL study. The research found physically punished children in England were less likely to pass GCSE exams, even after accounting for family background.

A University College London survey found that less than 10% of Chinese respondents worry AI will harm job prospects, with 96% using AI weekly at work. Over one-third believe AI will create more high-skilled jobs, highlighting China's 'strikingly positive' public attitude toward the technology.

London's Metropolitan Police requested access to private communications data over 700,000 times in 2025, including from tech companies like Proton and Signal, sparking concerns about surveillance and privacy. The police force obtained data from Proton's mail service users 139 times since 2024. The Met's data acquisition practices have been disputed by Proton and Signal.

A new study from the United Kingdom found that regularly visiting museums or participating in creative activities may be linked to reduced cellular aging. The research analyzed data from over 3,500 adults and found signs of slower biological aging in those who frequently engaged in arts and cultural activities. This association was particularly strong among adults over 40.

King's College London is merging with Cranfield University to create a new UK super-university, becoming the second largest mainstream university in the UK with around 47,000 students. The merged institution will rival international competitors in size and research output. The name of the new institution has not yet been formally decided.

Research from University College London suggests that engaging in arts and cultural activities can help improve health outcomes and slow down biological ageing. Participating in arts activities and attending events, such as viewing an exhibition, can lead to people staying biologically younger. This study links taking an active interest in art and culture with improved health.

A University College London Professor discusses the cons of hiring consultants, highlighting potential drawbacks and limitations. The professor's commentary provides insight into the considerations involved in hiring external experts. This expertise is crucial for informed decision-making.

Patients with stage 2 or 3 bowel cancer remained cancer-free nearly three years after receiving an experimental immunotherapy treatment. The trial involved 32 patients and used a drug called pembrolizumab before surgery. The results showed that none of the patients have seen a return of the disease after almost three years of follow-up.

A study led by University College London found that specific gut bacteria can predict Parkinson’s disease risk years before symptoms appear. The research, involving 271 Parkinson’s patients and 43 carriers of the GBA1 genetic variant, revealed distinct microbial patterns linked to the disease, with non-symptomatic carriers showing intermediate changes. Dietary diversity was associated with lower Parkinson’s risk.

A study by University College London’s Institute of Education found that grouping secondary school pupils by ability in maths classes boosts high-ability students' progress without harming less able peers. The research challenges decades of debate on mixed-ability education in England, showing no negative impact on lower-achieving students.

Social prescribing, where doctors recommend activities like fishing or art to improve health, is gaining traction globally. The UK's NHS has led the effort, with over 5.5 million referrals since 2019, while programs like Cast a Thought in Kent show benefits for conditions like depression and PTSD. Studies suggest these interventions reduce depression risk and opioid use, though evidence challenges remain.

Bellingcat has launched an updated open-source tool called the Iran Conflict Damage Proxy Map to estimate building damage in Iran and the Gulf region using satellite imagery. The tool employs Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from the Sentinel-1 satellite and a damage detection algorithm to identify structural destruction when commercial satellite imagery access is restricted.