Geraint Rees

Long pair of flights today so twenty-eighth book of 2025 also finished!

On my way back from Beijing, twenty-seventh book of 2025 finished. Just terrific - a highly readable reflection on the China (and the America) of today.

Twenty-sixth book of 2025 finished - what a book! Short, punchy, packed with irony - a guide to the present

Twenty-fifth book of 2025 finished - just in time for my trip to Beijing this week

Is academic research becoming too competitive? Nature examines the data Applications for European research grants increased in 2025. Scientists say they’re feeling the competition.

Is academic research becoming too competitive? Nature examines the data www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Good luck to everyone taking part in the Royal Parks Half this morning. Not me this year, but was my first half so remember it fondly!

@profgeraintrees.bsky.social chaired a private breakfast roundtable at #Lab25 with Dr Anne Lane @uclb.bsky.social, @chriscurtis94.bsky.social and @uclpolicylab.bsky.social on Euston as a place — and how we unlock inclusive growth through innovation.

Knowledge exchange activities drive economic growth and boost innovation across the UK. "These results show the real value of universities like UCL working side by side with business, government, the NHS and the public to translate ideas into real-world impact" - @profgeraintrees.bsky.social
#KEF5

Crick chief: UK and Europe have ‘duty’ to welcome US scientists - Research Professional News New head of flagship biomedical institute notes “tragic opportunity” stemming from US cuts to research

Crick chief: UK and Europe have ‘duty’ to welcome US scientists www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

Congratulations to my amazing colleagues who have worked so hard to deliver the research, innovation and knowledge exchange that underlies this rating. @ucl.ac.uk is one of the most entrepreneurial universities in the world, sitting at the heart of London's @knowledgequarter.bsky.social

Twenty-fourth book of 2025 finished - curious part-autobiography, part-biography (of David Starr Jordan, founding President of Stanford)

University Challenge 202526 - Durham University

I guess it's not often someone from UCL senior leadership says "Go Durham!" But if you check out this @durham-university.bsky.social page I think you'll find out why #prouddad
www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

Why Merck and AstraZeneca may regret turning their back on Britain The pair may have gone cold on the UK but start-ups and university spinouts here are using AI to revolutionise drug discovery

Could these companies be turning their backs at precisely the wrong moment?, asks @profgeraintrees.bsky.social after US firm Merck put the brakes on a £1 billion London research centre & AstraZeneca said it would pause a £200m investment to expand its research and development arm in Cambridge

Personally, I’d wager culture. Execution of a policy is more challenging than announcing a policy.

When a parrot wanted to connect with a distant friend, a touchscreen showed a selection of other birds available online. The parrots learned to activate the screen, designed specially for them, by touching it gently with their tongues rather than pecking aggressively with their beaks. "We had 26 birds involved," said Hirskyj-Douglas. "They would use the system up to three hours a day, with each call lasting up to five minutes." The interactions ranged from preening and playing with toys to loud vocal exchanges. "When we went through the data, we found that most of these parrots had favourite friends," said Hirskyj-Douglas.

Pet parrots which typically live alone (whilst those in the wild live in large flocks) were given the technology to call each other. They would use it for up to three hours a day, and developed favourite friends 💔
on.ft.com/3K05vhS

AI ‘hit squad’ set up to drive Whitehall efficiency struggles to hire top talent The Incubator for Artificial Intelligence unit spent less than half of its budget last year because of recruitment delays

on.ft.com/4pgD6UR AI ‘hit squad’ set up to drive Whitehall efficiency struggles to hire top talent

Great to see this @ucl.ac.uk spinout doing so well!

Interesting no link to cerebellum size, only neortical size.

Longer thumbs, bigger brains

This study reveals a significant relationship between relatively longer thumbs – a key feature of precision grasping - and larger brains across 95 fossil and extant primates.

www.nature.com/articles/s42...

This is a really interesting finding!

The Californian Ideology hits harder than ever

Promising new drug for people with stubborn high blood pressure A new treatment has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure in people whose levels stay dangerously high, despite taking several existing medicines, according to the results of a Phase III cl...

Marvellous to see this important new clinical trial finding from colleagues UCL - and its historical link to the discovery of aldosterone at UCL over seventy years ago www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/au...

Delighted that we have been able to appoint two incredibly talented colleagues to lead this new Grand Challenge at UCL

Twenty-third book of 2025 finished - epic space opera…

Happy World Entrepreneur's Day! So proud of our amazing entrepreneurial community at UCL and the amazing people in my team that support them. Ten years in and we are still growing strongly, with the potential for even more entrepreneurial impact...watch this space!

Twenty-second book of 2025 finished - managed to squeeze in another just on the last day of my vacation!

Twenty-first book of 2025 finished - and possibly the last of my vacation. Great physics-focused primer on the void… say 15 minutes beforehand

A level results are out! And as many have reported, there was an overall improvement in the proportion of students gaining the top grades.

But its not good news for everyone: with London & the South East continuing to pull away from the rest of the country, and boys slightly ahead of girls.

Trump’s chief science adviser faces a storm of criticism: what's next? US researchers were hopeful when Donald Trump appointed Michael Kratsios to a top science position, but many say he has contributed to the chaos. Can he turn things around?

Trump’s chief science adviser faces a storm of criticism: what's next? www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Twentieth book of 2025 finished - great sense of place and atmosphere, but the plot twist was visible a mile off…