Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to outbreak of Ebola in Guinea
Guinea has experienced one of the biggest outbreaks of Ebola in recent times. read more
future cities
The combined pressures of a bigger and older population, a changing climate and the need for a low-carbon economy will determine the cities of the future. What must scientists, engineers, architects and planners do to make sure we stay cool, healthy, dry, fed and housed? Will we live, work and travel differently – and what technologies should we adopt? And is anyone ever going to invent a flying car? Four senior experts came to the SMC to give their reflections on the cities of the future, where the problems might arise, and what we need to do to ensure a sustainable future for citizens. read more
UK climate impacts
The publication date of the next instalment of the IPCC Assessment Report – Working Group 2: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability is Monday 31st March 2014. Scientists came to the SMC to put the UK’s situation into the context of a warming world. read more
expert reaction to WHO estimate that 7 million deaths annually are linked to air pollution
The WHO released estimates that in 2012 around 7 million people died – one in eight of total global deaths – as a result of air pollution exposure, more than doubling previous estimates. read more
expert reaction to violent video games and aggression in children
A study in JAMA Pediatrics looked at 3,034 children, finding a habit of playing violent video games was associated with long-term, self-reported aggressive behaviour regardless of parental involvement, age, sex and initial aggressiveness. read more
expert reaction to WMO annual statement on the status of the global climate
The World Meteorological Organisation published its annual report, reporting 13 of the 14 warmest years on record occurred this century, and that 2013 was the hottest year ever in Australia and floods, droughts and extreme weather occurred elsewhere around the world. read more
submission to review of the liverpool care pathway (lcp)
In April 2013, the Science Media Centre contributed to a review looking at how the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) is … read more
evidence to select committee on clinical trials
In May 2013, the Science Media Centre contributed to a review by the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee about … read more
evidence to select committee on climate change
In June 2013, the Science Media Centre contributed to an inquiry held by the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee … read more
expert reaction to decision on meningitis B vaccine
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended to government that a vaccine for meningitis B should be introduced in the UK. read more
expert reaction to australian search for potential debris from the missing Malaysian Airlines aircraft in the Indian Ocean
The search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 took a new turn when satellite images showed debris in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Australia. read more
expert reaction to two studies investigating children’s screen time and health
Two studies in JAMA Pediatrics investigated children’s use of electronic media; one reported associations between screen time and some measures of child emotional wellbeing, the other between maternal monitoring and body mass index (BMI) in children. read more
expert reaction to new experimental evidence of gravitational waves
Gravitational waves have been directly detected for the first time by a US team at the south pole’s BICEP detector. Predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, the waves are a product of the big bang and provide strong evidence for ‘cosmic inflation’. read more
expert reaction to Commons debate on badger cull
The House of Commons debated whether to continue with the controversial badger culls, and overwhelmingly voted to halt the cull. read more
expert reaction to Council for Science and Technology’s new report on GM
The Council for Science and Technology have produced an extensive report on the progress and development of GM crops, potential future applications, and recommendations for their use in a beneficial and sustainable way. read more
Council for Science and Technology new report on GM
The Council for Science and Technology, the body that advises the Prime Minister on science policy issues, asked a group of independent scientists to produce a report which records the progress of the first generation of GM crops, the potential applications coming through the pipeline and the regulatory challenges. read more
expert reaction to early pregnancy, alcohol intake and birth outcomes
A study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, based on responses to questionnaires by 1,264 women at low risk of birth complications, suggested alcohol consumption in the first 3 months of pregnancy may heighten the risk of having a premature or small baby. read more
expert reaction to new study on ozone-depleting gases
Small amounts of four newly detected ozone-depleting substances started to emerge in the atmosphere in the 1960s, according to a study published Nature Geoscience. read more
expert reaction to new study on solar forcing
Research in Nature Geoscience looked at seafloor sediments as a measure of how changes in the sun’s energy output may have contributed to natural climate change in Europe over the last 1000 years. read more
expert reaction to new report on climate sensitivity published by the Global Warming Policy Foundation
A report published by the Global Warming Policy Foundation argued that observational evidence indicates the climate is less sensitive to greenhouse gases than climate models estimate. read more