Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to ketamine metabolite and depression in a mouse model
A study in mice published in the journal Nature has reported that a metabolite from the breakdown of ketamine is responsible for antidepressant effects of the drug. read more
expert reaction to two papers studying human embryo development
Mouse models of embryo development have told us a great deal about the early stages of life, but until now attempts to model these stages using human embryos have been unable to take us beyond the first few days of development, past the stage where the embryo implants itself into the womb. Now, in parallel papers in Nature and Nature Cell Biology, two international teams report the development of a technique that allows scientists to culture human embryos further than ever before, up to day 13 of development, the limit allowed by law. read more
expert reaction to unpublished work on pyrethroids and autism in New York state – conference poster from the American Association of Pediatrics
Unpublished work presented at American Association of Pediatrics conference has reported an association between a certain type of pesticide and autism and developmental delays in children. read more
expert reaction to the effects of different neonicotinoids on bumblebees
There is growing concern over the impact of the neonicotinoids to insect pollinators and how their loss may limit the ecosystem services that are vital to our food production (globally worth US$215 billion) and the stability of our natural environment. In a new study, published in Scientific Reports, researchers directly relate the effects of three neonicotinoids, at the level of individual brain cells to their impact on whole colonies of bumblebees placed at 5 different sites across Scotland. read more
new study on neonics and impact on bumblebees
There is growing concern over the impact of the neonicotinoids to insect pollinators and how their loss may limit the ecosystem services that are vital to our food production (globally worth US$215 billion) and the stability of our natural environment. In a new study, published in Scientific Reports, researchers directly relate the effects of three neonicotinoids, at the level of individual brain cells to their impact on whole colonies of bumblebees placed at 5 different sites across Scotland. The conclusions from this study demonstrate that these three neonicotinoids must be considered individually for their risk to bees. Most importantly, the research asks whether they are all toxic (when exposed chronically to field-relevant levels) to bumblebees under the conditions of a field experiment. read more
expert reaction to new report on e-cigarettes and public health
A report by the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians has looked at the effect of e-cigarettes on smoking and nicotine use in the UK. read more
expert reaction to ‘Air Quality’ report from the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has produced a report into air quality in the UK which calls for action to reduce the risk of diseases caused by air pollution. read more
expert reaction to study investigating morning versus afternoon flu vaccine administration and vaccine effectiveness
Vaccines are used to offer protection against a number of diseases and so ensuring their effectiveness is important, and a study published in the journal Vaccine has reported that flu vaccines given in the morning brought about a greater immune (measured by antibody levels) response than those given in the afternoon. read more
expert reaction to study commenting on Mediterranean diet, Western diet, and risk of heart attack and stroke in people with existing heart disease
Publishing in the European Heart Journal, a group of researchers have examined the effect of diet on patients with coronary heart disease and report that greater consumption of healthy foods (such as in a typical Mediterranean diet) may be more important than avoidance of unhealthy foods (such as in a typical Western diet) for prevention of further instances of heart disease. read more
expert reaction to Nornex report on ash dieback
A group of researchers have reported the identification of ash trees which are tolerant to ash dieback, a disease which is spreading through the UK. read more
expert reaction to report on diesel vehicle emissions testing programme
The Department of Transport (DfT) has published its research into emissions levels from diesel cars following a scandal which revealed that several companies had been manipulating emission controls. The DfT report that, for all vehicles which they tested, nitrogen oxide conditions were higher in real world conditions than in laboratory conditions. read more
Future of Psychiatry – Professor Jeffrey Lieberman
Professor Lieberman was President of the American Psychiatric Association for DSM-5, the latest edition of the controversial diagnostic manual used in the US that caused a transatlantic row, he was involved in the early development of the antipsychotic drug Clozapine, led world-leading studies into treatments for schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s and worked on the US government’s Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. read more
house of lords report: EU membership- good or bad for UK science?
The EU Referendum continues to dominate the airwaves as Britain prepares itself to vote on the 23 June, and there has been a lot of back and forth about what impact an exit could have on the UK and what a post-EU Britain would look like. Science and innovation is a major thread in this debate. On Wednesday 20 April, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee published its report on the relationship between EU membership and the effectiveness of UK science. The committee inquired into how a possible British exit from the EU would impact on UK science and the scientific community, including how research funding, collaborations, and regulation might have to change. read more
expert reaction to UK dementia rates
In a new study, published in Nature Communications, researchers compared the actual number of dementia cases in the UK to earlier decades and previous predictions. They report a 20% drop in incidence of dementia between their two samples (1989-1994, 2008-2011) which they attribute mainly to a reduction in men. read more
dementia rates in the UK
As ageing populations increase, fears of a dementia ‘tsunami’ have grown, with some suggesting that dementia will be the main threat to future health and leading the Prime Minister to announce his dementia 2020 challenge. However, recent research has suggested that the number of cases may be more complicated than we initially thought. read more
expert reaction to today’s clarification of the anti-lobbying clause
The government has clarified in the House of Lords that it does not intend for the proposed anti-lobbying clause to cover academic researchers funded through the Department for Business Innovation & Skills, the research councils or national academies, and will consult further and make another announcement by May 1st. read more
expert reaction to the Environmental Audit Committee’s report on EU and UK Environmental Policy
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has published its third report on the EU and UK environmental policy in which they say that EU membership has a positive effect on the UK’s environmental policy. read more
expert reaction to IL-33 protein for dementia in mice
Finding the causes of, and treatments for, Alzheimer’s disease is important to reduce the burden of ageing, and the authors of a paper published in the journal PNAS report the use as a therapy of a particular protein which is involved in inflammation. read more
expert reaction to earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador
Two large earthquakes have struck in Japan and Ecuador, with dozens and hundreds dead, respectively. read more
Tributes following the death of Professor Sir David MacKay
We are sad to hear that Professor Sir David MacKay, the University of Cambridge’s Regius Professor of Engineering and former Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, died yesterday aged 48. read more