Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to glucose and aggression in married couples
A PNAS study of married couples reported that decreased blood glucose altered the way participants acted in activities such as sticking pins into a doll representing their spouse. The authors suggested low blood glucose is therefore correlated with increased aggressive behaviour between married couples. read more
expert reaction to new study on salt reduction and health
Researchers publishing in BMJ Open report the 15% fall in dietary salt intake over the past decade in England is likely to have had a key role in the 40% drop in deaths from heart disease and stroke over the same period. read more
salt reduction and health
Researchers publishing in BMJ Open report the 15% fall in dietary salt intake over the past decade in England is likely to have had a key role in the 40% drop in deaths from heart disease and stroke over the same period. read more
expert reaction to IPCC AR5 WG3
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its third and final report of the current series, looking at strategies for mitigating global warming and recommending a rapid move away from fossil fuels. read more
expert reaction to Public Health England estimates of mortality associated with air pollution
Public Health England (PHE) released estimates of the number of deaths in UK local authorities that can be attributed to long term exposure to air pollution. read more
Tamiflu and Relenza for treatment and prevention of influenza
The Cochrane Collaboration published an evidence review of Tamiflu (the antiviral drug oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) trials, reporting that Tamiflu shortens symptoms of influenza but other claims made for the drugs were not well supported by evidence from clinical study reports. read more
expert reaction to Cochrane Review on Tamiflu and Relenza for treatment and prevention of influenza
The Cochrane Collaboration published an evidence review of Tamiflu (the antiviral drug oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) trials, reporting that Tamiflu shortens symptoms of influenza but other claims made for the drugs were not well supported by evidence from clinical study reports. read more
wind energy: what are the limits?
The Royal Academy of Engineering’s new report, Wind energy: implications of large-scale deployment on the UK energy system, assesses the potential for wind energy to help meet the government‘s own target of 15% of the UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020 and 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. read more
new study on effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza
Authors of the latest updated ‘Cochrane Review: Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children’ came came to the SMC to outline their findings about the effectiveness of Tamilflu and Relenza. read more
expert reaction to dog cloning
Korean company Sooam Biotech produced the UK’s first cloned dog for the winner of a competition. read more
expert reaction to proposed removal of practical aspects of science examinations
The exam regulator Ofqual ruled that science experiments will no longer count towards final A-level grades. read more
paying heroin addicts to be vaccinated
Around ¼ million people in the UK are injecting drug users and it is estimated that 50 – 60,000 of them are infected with hepatitis B (HBV), which can cause liver cancer or cirrhosis in chronic carriers of the virus. Researchers, publishing in The Lancet, have been assessing the benefit of paying heroin addicts to be vaccinated for HBV. read more
expert reaction to new research into painkillers and risk of irregular heartbeat in older adults
A large observational study in the journal BMJ Open found current and recent use of painkillers may be linked to a heightened risk of an irregular heartbeat among older adults. read more
expert reaction to glucosamine supplementation and life span in nematode worms and mice
A study published in Nature Communications found the widely used dietary supplement D-glucosamine, taken by patients with arthritis, extends the life of nematode worms and of ageing mice.
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expert reaction to Princess Anne’s comments on gassing badgers
Princess Anne is reported to have told the BBC’s Countryfile programme that gassing badgers is “the most humane way” to control their numbers. read more
expert reaction to high levels of air pollution in England
The Southeast of England has continued to experience high levels of air pollution. read more
expert reaction to Owen Paterson statement on badger culls and bovine TB eradication
In response to an Independent Expert Panel’s report on controlling bovine TB through badger culling, Environment Minister Owen Paterson announced the culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset culls would be continued over two more years with badger vaccination implemented around edges of infected areas, but no new culls would be started. read more
expert reaction to Government announcement on plain cigarette packaging
Following publication of the Chantler Review* the Government announced it will move ahead with standardised plain packaging for cigarettes. read more
using ketamine for depression
In the search for new treatments for depression the spotlight has fallen on the class B drug ketamine. Experts came to the SMC to talk about the first UK research which investigates its safety and efficacy in a small trial and the implications of their findings. read more
expert reaction to Chile earthquake
A 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern Chile. read more