Author Archives: Science Media Centre
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
expert reaction to editorial on saturated fats
In an editorial for the journal Open Heart Dr James DiNicolantonio argued that diets low in saturated fat don’t curb heart disease risk or help you live longer. read more
expert reaction to new WHO sugars guideline to undergo public consultation
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a public consultation on its draft guideline on sugars intake, which aims to reduce public health problems like obesity and dental caries. read more
expert encounter – Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
The UN’s top climate official, Christiana Figueres, came to London to meet with business leaders about agreeing a new and universal climate agreement by COP-21 in Paris, December 2015. She came to the SMC to meet journalists in advance of the next part of IPCC AR5. read more
expert reaction to how addictive sugar is, following news reports of comments by Dame Sally Davies
Chief medical officer for England Dame Sally Davies told a committee of MPs she believed research will find sugar is addictive. read more
expert reaction to two new studies looking at dietary protein, health and longevity
Two groups of researchers publishing in Cell Metabolism each suggest that low protein intake may be a key factor in leading a long and healthy life; one found a correlation between consuming moderate to high levels of animal protein and an increase in cancer risk and mortality in adults, while the other found that a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet led to a shorter lifespan in mice. read more
expert reaction to proposed new laws on medical records
In response to public concerns about the care.data scheme health minister Jeremy Hunt announced legislative plans including providing a legal guarantee that confidential medical data will not be sold for commercial purposes and that patients’ rights to opt-out will be respected. read more
expert reaction to BBC exclusive on badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset
The BBC reported that an independent scientific assessment, commissioned by the government, of the previous year’s pilot badger culls concluded that they were not effective. read more
expert reaction to Government announcement on mitochondrial DNA transfer
The Government has launched a consultation on draft regulations for the use of new techniques to prevent mothers passing on serious mitochondrial diseases to their children. read more
expert reaction to new study into BPA in urine following the handling of till receipts
A study in JAMA found participants who handled till receipts printed on thermal paper continuously for 2 hours without gloves had increased levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine compared to participants who wore gloves. read more
expert reaction to new paper modelling climate engineering
A modelling study in Nature Communications suggested the implementation of climate engineering technologies as a last ditch effort to combat climate change had the potential to worsen the effects. read more
engineering a way out of the flooding
As the impact of winter flooding becomes clear, senior engineers and academics came to the SMC to talk about what engineering can (and can’t) do to prevent and reduce the impact of flooding in the UK. read more