The Science Media Centre is not restricted to reacting to the headlines, and has helped scientists to more proactively set the agenda by bringing new science or evidence to journalists. This comes from our regular briefings, which take a variety of forms and cover a wide range of topics. Many are background briefings introducing journalists to the best experts and science on controversial issues like nuclear waste, nanotechnology, emerging diseases, or animal research, for example. They may also be news briefings where the SMC works with scientists to give the national media a new story on developments within science, whether it’s a report on climate change, a paper on stem cells being published in a leading journal, or science funding cuts in the latest budget. In addition, the SMC encourages leading experts to ‘speak out’ to the media about developments they believe may pose a threat to scientific research – not something science has been renowned for.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics published a new report, ‘Cosmetic procedures: ethical issues’, on Thursday 22 June 2017. read more
Our ageing population has more complex health needs than ever before, and as we enter a personalised medicine era we … read more
We already know aspirin and other blood thinners can increase the risk of bleeding. Aspirin is often prescribed after a heart attack or stroke to reduce the risk of further heart attacks and strokes. read more
Researchers have turned to cannabidiol, one of the compounds found in cannabis, as a potential treatment for seizures in children with epilepsy. read more
Muscle-related symptoms linked to statins have been a controversial topic, with some observational studies reporting symptoms in up to a fifth of patients, in contrast to evidence from blinded randomised trials where rates are much lower. read more
The Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) was launched in England in 2010 to provide patients with access to anti-cancer drugs not available through the NHS because the drugs had not been appraised, were in the process of being appraised, or had been appraised but not recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). read more
After 20 May 2017, new legislation will require tobacco to be sold in standardised (plain) packaging across the UK. read more
There is mounting evidence that air pollution is bad for our health – but what actually happens inside our bodies when we breathe in particulate matter? read more
Severe depression is the number one psychological disorder in the UK and yet 30% of patients do not respond to … read more
The March budget included funding towards a future 5G network in the UK. read more
Floods are costly and traumatic for the people whose homes and livelihoods are damaged or destroyed. In the UK, they are expected to become more frequent and severe with climate change. read more
The purpose of the meeting was primarily to introduce science and health reporters to a brand new organization called Understanding Patient Data which is supported by much of the medical research community in the UK. read more
How worried about climate change are people in the UK, Germany, France and Norway and how do they view its … read more
Three neuroscientists from UK institutions were awarded the world’s most valuable prize for brain research. read more
In a Personal View article to be published in the Lancet Psychiatry, the authors explain that increasingly liberal cannabis laws in some countries and the increasing potency of cannabis worldwide mean that we need to think about whether and how cannabis can be made safer.
The nuclear energy research community in the UK has been shell shocked to learn that the Prime Minister’s Brexit Bill will also trigger the UK’s exit from the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). read more
‘What happens when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine?’ read more
The UK has been considering following in the footsteps of the US and Australia by introducing mental health screening of military personnel after they return from deployment. However, there have been question marks over whether screening works, whether it the best way of helping military personnel and whether it is worth the money. read more
The effect of vitamin D supplementation on health continues to be a subject of controversy, despite recent recommendations from SACN and PHE that everyone over the age of one should consume 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily to ensure good health. read more
Boxing and American football are under scrutiny because of head injuries causing long-term damage to the brain, but the situation is much less clear for football where heading is extremely common, but head injuries are less so. read more
