The global carbon cycle in a changing climate

by Heather Graven in Climate Science

Humans have increased the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere; that is clear. This CO2 is the main cause of global warming, but what is less widely acknowledged are the many ways that CO2 affects our planet. Imperial College physicist Heather Graven tells us about them.

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Captain America and the state of US politics

by Jason Dittmer in Human Geography

For decades, Captain America stood at the centre of the liberal consensus in the United States. As political unity began to unravel, so too did the fictional hero’s bipartisan position. In times of political turmoil, what can Captain America tell us about the state of US politics?

A philosopher’s take on Global Basic Income

by Hillel Steiner in Philosophy and Economics

Inequality and poverty are bad — almost everyone agrees on that. The solution? A basic income guaranteed to everyone on Earth. Renowned political philosopher Hillel Steiner explains why and how we should implement it.
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What are we about?

Know it Wall (KiW) is a place for inquisitive minds. From the sciences to the humanities, let world-class researchers excite your curiosity.


Based at UCL and Imperial College London, KiW works with academics to make audio and video documentaries, as well as short articles, that explain what is cool or interesting about the subjects they dedicate their lives to. From Stegosaurus to Shakespeare, protons to pandemics, there’s no limit to what you could encounter! Learn more

Am I crazy or is it physics?

by Katy Clough in Physics

How do physicists know what will happen in situations that haven't been tested? How sure can we be that physical laws are constant? Katy Clough explains how we are pushing the limits of what we know about the universe.

The science of attraction

by Carlota Batres in Psychology

Our choice of romantic partners has a huge bearing on our future well-being. But what makes certain people more attractive than others? According to psychologist Carlota Batres, there are two fundamental concepts shaping our preferences: symmetry and masculinity/femininity.

The woman who unmasked the forger

by Mary Wellesley in Art History

In the 19th century, a forger of medieval art created works that today are more valuable unmasked than they would be if they were still thought to be originals. Medieval culture scholar Mary Wellesley takes us through the detective-like story of the woman who uncovered his deception.

Why do we have a brain?

by Alejandro Galvez-Pol in Neuroscience

Movements and perceptions are often thought to stand independently from each other — on the contrary, the human brain is always performing a multitude of cognitive processes. Alejandro Galvez-Pol reveals the complexity of the human mind to answer the overwhelming question: why do we have a brain?

The stem cell hotel

by Davide Danovi in Medicine

We normally think cells in our body have their own specific functions, but stem cells are different — they have the potential to become any type of cell. Davide Danovi takes us through the science of stem cells, and introduces us to their new home: the stem cell hotel.

The invisible killer of World War I: Blast injury

by Emily Mayhew in Bioengineering and History of Science

Warfare has given rise to an invisible killer, one that was first discovered in World War I, attacking soldiers even after they had returned home to their families. Historian of science Emily Mayhew takes us to Paris in the early 20th century to tell the story of the woman who pioneered research on this invisible killer.

Can we cure neurological disorders by modifying the genome?

by Gabriele Lignani in Neuroscience

Imagine if we could correct genetic mutations as easily as correcting a typo in Microsoft Word, and thereby cure Alzheimer's, depression and other neurological disorders. Sounds like the plot of a sci-fi film, right? According to neuroscientist Gabriele Lignani, this is now a reality.

What can facial movement tell us about emotional expression?

by Eva Krumhuber in Psychology

One of the most complex and finely-tuned ways of communicating emotion in humans are facial expressions. Social psychologist Eva Krumhuber fills us in on the latest research and takes us from the Oscars to the quest to create ever more realistic robots.

Why Martin Luther King had the US Constitution on his side

by Adam Smith in History

Racism and discrimination are at the forefront of today's political controversies in America. Both have, at one point or another, been confirmed or dismissed upon the wording of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. UCL historian Adam Smith discusses the past and future of the Amendment that Donald Trump and others want to repeal.

The migrant crisis, Spanish America and the right to travel

by Alexander Samson in History

The general public has been debating immigration with seemingly modern notions of economics, identity and conflict, but is this debate really so modern? Surely our forbears have little to add to the discussion in our globalised world? Alexander Samson doesn't think so.

Get Involved

If you are an academic — or know one — whose research is too interesting to be confined to academic circles, then just get in touch. Our community of academics spans PhDs in mathematics to lecturers in philosophy — there’s really no subject we’re not interested in. The process is simple: the academic sends us the text, and we do the rest. So drop us a line at team@knowitwall.com with your details, institution and area of research.

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