Author Archives: Science Media Centre
G8 Dementia Summit: what the researchers want
Dementia is a hot topic – it affects over 800,000 people in the UK and one in three people aged over 65 will die with a form of dementia. To coincide with the G8 Dementia Summit we brought together some of the leading experts to discuss where the research community want to happen. read more
expert reaction to study on gender differences in brains
A study in PNAS looked at gender-specific differences in brain connectivity, suggesting male and female brains might be structured differently. read more
expert reaction to pre-invasive breast cancer and a molecular marker for whether the lesion will become invasive
A new biomarker could help identify abnormal breast cells that will develop into tumours, according to research published in Clinical Cncer … read more
expert reaction to new research into epigenetic transfer of experience in mice
Nature Neuroscience published research demonstrating that mice biologically inherit information learned by their grandfathers by training mice to fear a cherry blossom-like smell and then allowing them to mate. read more
expert reaction to the proposed freezes in energy prices and the Ed Miliband announced Green paper
Ed Miliband published a green paper on energy, including details of Labour’s plan for a 20-month price freeze.
read more
expert reaction to reports of a request for Gilles-Eric Séralini to withdraw his paper on the effects of GM maize on rats
The journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, has reportedly requested for Gilles-Eric Séralini to withdraw the study that purported to show that GM maize and the pesticide Roundup could lead to a high incidence of cancer in rats. read more
expert reaction to announcement of new review into plain packaging for cigarettes
The Government announced plans to introduce plain-packet cigarette packaging in an attempt to reduce the number of children drawn into smoking. read more
expert reaction to article on gene circuit to combat obesity
Nature Communications published a paper on a synthetic gene circuit that adjusts production of an appetite suppressing hormone. read more
sexual attitudes & lifestyles: findings from NATSAL
Researchers have completed the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL) which assesses whether people are practising safe sex, which age group actually has the most unplanned pregnancies and how our attitudes and satisfaction impact on our physical and mental health. read more
expert reaction to news of the death of Fred Sanger
Dr Frederick Sanger, a Cambridge scientist whose work pioneered research into the human genome and won him two Nobel prizes, died aged 95. read more
One Medicine – learning from animals as patients
Learning from animals as patients – an approach called ‘Comparative medicine’ or ‘One Medicine’ – is one of the big new trends in science and is being pioneered at universities throughout the UK and supported by medical research funders. The SMC invited four of the leading pioneers in this area to brief journalists about how the approach is now being applied to the big challenges of our time including ageing cancer and heart disease. read more
expert reaction to new study suggesting global warming has not ‘slowed down’ as much as we thought
A study in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society suggested that the global surface temperature record since 1998, which show a ‘pause’ or ‘hiatus’ in warming, have not taken account of rising temperatures in the Arctic.
read more
tin hats on: we’re discussing breastfeeding
This is a blogpost by Tom Sheldon, Senior Press Officer at the SMC. This week the SMC ran a … read more
expert reaction to HFEA change of policy on multiple births
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority decided that from January 2014, IVF clinics will no longer be subject to a condition on their licence that they keep their multiple births rate below the HFEA target. read more
expert reaction to the WMO provisional State of the Climate report
The World Meteorological Organization’s provisional annual statement on the Status of the Global Climate stated that 2013 is currently on course to be among the top ten warmest years since modern records began. read more
expert reaction to expansion of dog breeding facility being rejected
B&K Universal, who breed dogs for research, have had plans for expansion of their premises in East Yorkshire rejected. read more
is big bad?
Intensive farming has a bad name with plenty of assumptions about poor animal welfare and putting commercial gain above environmental damage. The SMC invited leading experts to brief journalists on the views of agricultural scientists and vets on this controversial area. read more
expert reaction to launch of feasibility study paying mothers to breastfeed
The SMC hosted the launch of a feasibility study to assess whether giving shopping vouchers to mothers who start and continue breastfeeding from the birth of their child could raise breastfeeding rates. read more
paying mothers to breastfeed
Despite numerous attempts to encourage new mothers to breastfeed their babies, rates remain stubbornly low in parts of the UK. A feasibility study is starting in which shopping vouchers will be issued to mothers who start and continue breastfeeding from the birth of their child. read more
expert reaction to corrections to IPCC’s AR5 summary for policymakers
The IPCC revised estimates of historical greenhouse gas emissions from their AR5 summary for policymakers, but said the errors did not affect overall conclusions. read more