Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to induced/augmented childbirth and autism
An analysis of birth and educational record in JAMA Pediatrics suggested that induction and augmentation (increasing the strength, duration, or frequency of uterine contractions) during childbirth appears to be associated with increased odds of autism diagnosis in childhood. read more
expert reaction to new study in rats of neurophysiology and the dying brain
A PNAS study found electrical activity in the brains of rats for a brief period after their hearts had been stopped, which the authors suggested could shed light on reports of near-death experiences in humans. read more
expert reaction to signs of MERS CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) in camels
Research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, found antibodies specific to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus virus in dromedary camels, suggesting they may be one reservoir of the virus that is causing MERS in humans. read more
why engage with the news media?
The news media could be described as one of the worst ways to explain science, given its fast turnover, tight deadlines and … read more
advice for researchers experiencing harassment
All researchers should expect their work to be scrutinised by the public, policy makers and campaigners. However, some researchers working on high-profile subjects … read more
expert reaction to journal correspondence on plans for gain-of-function experiments on H7N9
Plans for ‘gain-of-function’ experiments on the H7N9 bird-flu virus were announced by prominent influenza-virus researchers in both Nature and Science. read more
expert reaction to paper on person-to-person transmission of H7N9
The first report of probable person to person transmission of the H7N9 avian flu virus in Eastern China was published … read more
expert reaction to first public tasting of lab-grown cultured beef burger
Scientists from the Netherlands presented the world’s first lab-grown burger made from strips of muscle grown from cow stem cells. read more
expert reaction to intestinal cell protection and chemotherapy in mice
A study published in Nature has suggested that treating intestinal stem cells with certain substances may enhance tolerance to aggressive chemoradiotherapy in mice.
expert reaction to substance found in broccoli, metabolism and ageing
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that diets rich in glucosinolates, such as glucoraphanin found in broccoli, may benefit metabolism. read more
expert reaction to fertility problems in women and cancer risk in their children
A study published in the International Journal of Cancer suggests that the children of women who experienced fertility problems may have an increased risk of cancer in childhood and young adulthood.
read more
expert reaction to train crash in Galicia, Spain
A train derailment in Galicia, Spain on Wednesday 24th July kills over 70 people. read more
the true cost of brain disorders
NHS spending frequently makes headline news, but whilst the Government’s attention has focussed largely on cancer and heart disease, a new piece of research reports how much the UK spent per person, and per disorder on both the direct and indirect costs of around 45 million diagnoses. read more
expert reaction to a new study refuting the evidence for VSELs
A study published in Stem Cell Reports has refuted the evidence and clinical potential for Very Small Embryonic-like Stem Cells (VSELs). read more
communicating the slowdown
This is a guest blog by Tom Sheldon, Senior Press Officer at the Science Media Centre. This week at the SMC… read more
expert reaction to the JCVI interim position statement on meningitis B vaccination programme
The JCVI release an interim position statement on meningitis B vaccination programme saying they will not recommend the programme be introduced. read more
volatile solvent abuse – the forgotten problem
Glue-sniffing seems a long-solved problem, but volatile solvent abuse still kills more people each year than legal highs. Researchers have been tracking the problems for years, striving to work out just how bad this forgotten problem is, why certain unexpected groups are prone to abuse and what needs to be done in the future. read more
what’s happened to global temperatures?
The rise in global average surface temperatures appears to have slowed down over the last 10-15 years. Five senior climate scientists came to the SMC to discuss the past, present and future of warming. read more
expert reaction to photoreceptor transplantation into retinas of mice from mouse embryonic stem cells
A study published in Nature Biotechnology has shown that photoreceptor cells, grown in the lab from mouse embryonic stem cells, can be transplanted into mice retinas and successfully integrate there, illustrating that some types of blindness might be responsive to cell therapy. read more
nicotine, addiction and harm reduction: what does the science say?
Smoking and nicotine addiction are rarely out of the headlines, from the MHRA’s announcement that e-cigarettes be regulated as medicines, to the row about cigarette packaging. The SMC invited several leading experts to brief the media on the science behind nicotine, addiction and harm reduction. read more