Author Archives: Science Media Centre
Expert reaction to study explaining technique behind first mitochondrial replacement therapy baby
Published in Reproductive Biomedicine Online, scientists have described the technique they used to create the first live birth after oocyte spindle transfer to prevent transmission of the mitochondrial disease, Leigh syndrome. read more
expert reaction to PHE’s new guidelines on sugar reduction and reformulation by the food industry
Public Health England (PHE) have published new guidelines for industry to reduce sugar in everyday food eaten by children. read more
expert reaction to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Researchers publishing in Occupational and Environmental Medicine report that repeated exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields could increase risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). read more
5G in the UK
The March budget included funding towards a future 5G network in the UK. read more
expert reaction to the development of a human reproductive tract and menstrual cycle in a dish
Scientists publishing in Nature Communications report that they have developed a mini working replica of the female reproductive tract using human and mouse tissue. read more
expert reaction to study investigating the role of random mutations in DNA replication in many types of cancer
Publishing in Science a group of researchers studied the relationship between the number of normal stem cell divisions and the risk of 17 cancer types in 69 countries. They reported a strong correlation between cancer incidence and normal stem cell divisions in all countries, regardless of their environment. read more
expert reaction to study reporting the effect of a potential anti-ageing peptide therapy in mice
A paper published in Cell investigated the effects of a peptide to target senescent cells in mice and reported improved kidney function and restoration of fur, suggesting that this could lead to a therapy with potential to reverse certain aspects of ageing. read more
expert reaction to research on moderate drinking and heart conditions
A new population-based cohort study published in the The BMJ investigates the association between moderate alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease. read more
expert reaction to study reporting no weekend effect on mortality in emergency surgery
A paper published in the British Journal of Surgery suggests that there is no difference in short or long-term mortality following emergency general surgery at the weekend compared to mid-week. read more
expert reaction to genetic markers for predicting risk of Alzheimer’s
Researchers publishing in PLOS Medicine have developed a polygenic hazard score (PHS) as a possible way of quantifying the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease. read more
expert reaction to how receiving navigation directions impacts on the brain
Publishing in Nature Communications scientists from UCL explore the potential effects a satellite navigation system could have on the brain. read more
expert reaction to the World Meteorological Organisation’s State of the Global Climate in 2016 report
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has published their State of the Global Climate in 2016 report. read more
expert reaction to diabetes and rising temperatures
Researchers published in Open Diabetes Research & Care claim that the diabetes incidence rate in the USA and prevalence of glucose intolerance worldwide increase with higher outdoor temperature. read more
Expert reaction to study looking at health of arteries of the Tsimane group in South American
A new cross-sectional cohort study published in The Lancet reports the Tsimane, a forager-horticulturalist population of the Bolivian Amazon with few coronary artery disease risk factors, have the lowest reported levels of coronary artery disease of any population recorded to date.
nuff said about “Fake News”
I don’t know of a single fake news story in science or health. Not one – or not in national news media anyway. Yet everywhere I go people are discussing this new scourge, even in science and media circles where fake news is a non-issue. read more
expert reaction to news that the HFEA has approved a licence application for Newcastle University to use mitochondrial donation therapy
The HFEA has approved a licence application for Newcastle University to use mitochondrial donation therapy in treating mitochondrial disease. read more
expert reaction to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Committee for Risk Assessment not classifying glyphosate as a carcinogen
Glyphosate has not been classified as a carcinogen by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). read more
Natural flood management – how effective is it?
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
expert reaction to research on natural climate variability and Arctic summer sea ice
New research published in Nature Climate Change estimates to what extent changes in atmospheric circulation explain the observed sea-ice loss of the past few decades. read more
expert reaction to five new artificial yeast chromosomes
Researchers publishing in Science have created five new synthetic yeast chromosomes with DNA from chemicals in a lab. read more