Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to record greenhouse gas concentrations as announced by the WMO
The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) announced the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a new record high in 2012. read more
expert reaction to Ritalin and addiction
A rat study in Nature Communications found the active component in Ritalin, methylphenidate, can enhance the way the brain responds to further exposure to the drug and can cause increased amphetamine-seeking behaviour. read more
expert reaction to analysis paper on whether ADHD is being over-diagnosed
Scientists writing in the BMJ made the case that a broader definition of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has contributed to a steep rise in diagnosis and prescriptions, particularly among children. read more
expert reaction to launch of animal research public consultation
A public consultation was announced to gather opinions about a concordat on openness in animal research, signed by over 50 bioscience organisations. read more
expert reaction to HPV screening versus cytology (smear test) screening for cervical cancer
A paper in the Lancet found screening for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) provides 60–70% greater protection against invasive cervical cancer than the ‘smear-test’ screening currently used in most countries. read more
expert reaction to new paper on the potential impacts of a sugary drinks tax
A study in the BMJ suggested a 20% tax on sugar sweetened drinks would reduce the number of UK adults who are obese by 180,000 and who are overweight by 285,000. read more
expert reaction to PHE report on shale gas and public health
Public Health England (PHE) reviewed the literature on the potential public health impacts as a result of shale gas extraction, concluding the potential risks to public health are low if extraction is properly run and regulated. read more
expert reaction to non-exercise physical activity and cardiovascular health
Research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggested DIY and gardening can cut heart attack/stroke risk by 30% and prolong life … read more
expert reaction to article linking swaddling to hip abnormalities
A paediatric orthopaedic surgeon writing in the Archives of Disease in Childhood warned about the resurgence of traditional swaddling of babies since the technique is known to be linked to developmental hip problems. read more
expert reaction to breast cancer radiotherapy and heart disease
Among patients with early stages of breast cancer, those whose hearts were more directly irradiated with radiation treatments on the left side in a facing-up position had higher risk of heart disease, according to research in JAMA Internal Medicine. read more
expert reaction to poverty in childhood affecting neurodevelopment
Children who grow up in poor families may have smaller hippocampus and amygdala volumes according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics. read more
expert reaction to a neuropeptide, cellular synchrony and jet lag in mice
A study in PNAS found that mice were able to adjust to a new time zone more quickly if they had been given an injection of a neuropeptide the previous day. read more
expert reaction to omission of women scientists from BBC’s ‘100 Women’
In a letter to The Times, a group of professors attacked the BBC for failing to include a scientist in its … read more
expert reaction to the news of Lisa Jardine stepping down from HFEA
The HFEA announced that in January 2014 Lisa Jardine will be standing down as Chair. read more
expert reaction to new research into anaesthesia and consciousness
Researchers publishing in Science Translational Medicine showed that measuring slow-wave activity in an individual’s brain while they are under anaesthetic offers the clearest picture yet of degrees of perceptual awareness in the brain during the period of anaesthesia. read more
expert reaction to press release offering dog cloning as a competition prize in the UK
South Korean firm Sooam Biotech announced a competition for UK dog owners to have their pet cloned. read more
expert reaction to study on triggering human hair follicle growth
Researchers publishing in PNAS have triggered the development of human hair follicles from dermal papilla cells in 3D culture conditions in the laboratory. read more
expert reaction to announcement of new nuclear build at Hinkley Point
The government announced the UK’s first new nuclear station in a generation will be built at Hinkley Point in Somerset by a consortium lead by EDF Energy. read more
expert reaction to the IARC classifying air pollution as carcinogenic
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organisation, announced that it had classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans. read more
expert reaction to announcement from NHS England regarding their communications strategy for Care.data
NHS England and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) announced that every household in England will be sent information about care.data – an NHS project to collect patient records from all GP surgeries. read more