Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study on depression and social media
Research published in EClinicalMedicine highlights potential issues with greater social media use in relation to young people’s mental health. Prof Peter Fonagy, Head … read more
expert reaction to smokers’ perceptions of vaping
Research published in Addiction claims that a large proportion of UK smokers and ex-smokers overestimate the relative harmfulness of e-cigarettes … read more
expert reaction to new guidance on children’s screen time
Reactions to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health published guidance on screen time. Prof Stephen Scott, Director of … read more
expert reaction to review study looking at non-sugar sweeteners and health
A review of trials and studies published in the BMJ argues that there was little evidence that showed health benefits of non-sugar sweeteners. Prof Tom Sanders, Professor emeritus of … read more
expert reaction to study looking to develop a scavenging molecule to protect against nerve agent poisoning in rats
Research published in Science Translational Medicine demonstrates the use of a molecule that provides resistance to nerve agent poisoning in … read more
expert reaction to Indonesian tsunami
Reactions to the news of a tsunami in the Sunda Strait area of Indonesia. Prof Bill McGuire, UCL, said: ‘Volcanic … read more
expert reaction to gatwick airport drone
Comments on the recent disruption at Gatwick airport caused by a drone. Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal, Fellow of the Royal Academy of … read more
CMO’s annual report: What health could and should be like in england in 2040
The Chief Medical Officer briefed journalists on her annual report at the SMC. The report is an aspirational and strategic … read more
expert reaction to an improved stem cell approach that could aid fight against Parkinson’s
Reactions to research published in European Journal of Neuroscience that describes a possible new treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Dr Alena Pance, Senior Staff Scientist, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: … read more
expert reaction to new government policy on the disposal of radioactive waste
Reactions to the new Government policy on the disposal of radioactive waste. Dr Shaun Fitzgerald, Director of the Royal Institution, … read more
expert reaction to research claiming ‘pause’ in global temperature increase never existed
Research published in Environmental Research Letters shows that there is little evidence for a lack of trend in global mean surface … read more
expert reaction to Defra’s resources and waste strategy document
Reactions to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (defra) strategy on waste and resource management. Prof Richard Thompson, Head … read more
expert reaction to report on nicotine and toxicant exposure in vapers and smokers
Research published in JAMA Network Open demonstrates that exclusive use of e-cigarettes results in less exposure to tobacco-related toxicants than cigarette smoking. read more
the biology of chronic fatigue
Despite tentative evidence that the immune system might play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) the underlying biology of … read more
expert reaction to study looking at further evidence for the transmission of amyloid beta pathology
Research published in Nature demonstrates a potential association between batches of human growth hormone contaminated with amyloid-β protein and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. read more
expert reaction to study on workplace exposure to metals and pesticides and cardiovascular disease
Research published in Heart suggests that working with metals and pesticides could be risk factors for cardiovascular disease specifically among Hispanic/Latino workers. read more
expert reaction to study looking at statins dose/adherence and cardiovascular deaths
Research published in JAMA Network Open demonstrates that lowest cardiovascular risk was seen among patients with high intensity statin treatment and good adherence. read more
expert reaction to study looking at long-term function of genetically modified pig hearts transplanted into baboons
Research published in Nature demonstrates that baboons implanted with genetically modified pig hearts have been able to survive for up to 195 days. read more
expert reaction to the Carbon Budget 2018
Reactions to an assessment of carbon dioxide emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean and land (the ‘global carbon budget’) as published in Earth System Science Data. read more
UK set to sequence 100,000 whole genomes in the NHS
The UK leads the world in harnessing the huge potential from understanding our DNA and genes. The 100,000 Genomes Project – launched in 2012 – is now poised to achieve its sequencing goal. read more