Galaxy clusters are the most efficient convertors of axion-like particles to photons in the universe. I discuss the physics and phenomenology of ALPs, and describe their astrophysical implications, with particular reference to the recently observed 3.5 keV X-ray line that is a candidate for a dark matter decay line.

I describe work aimed at combining the advances in moduli stabilisation and supersymmetry breaking with that in building D-brane models with realistic chiral matter spectra. The framework is models of D3/D7 branes at del Pezzo singularities embedded in the LARGE volume scenario of moduli stabilisation. I describe the general phenomenological properties that emerge and discuss the difficulties in computing visible sector soft terms.

The Kahler metric for chiral matter fields plays a crucial role in the computation of soft supersymmetry breaking terms in string compactifications. Due to its non-holomorphic nature, this is difficult to compute in Calabi-Yau backgrounds. I describe techniques that allow the modular weights of the Kahler metric to be computed in IIB string compactifications. This is done by relating the modular dependence of the Kahler metric to that of the physical Yukawa couplings. I briefly discuss the applications to soft terms and neutrino masses.