Author Archives: Science Media Centre
following the money misses the point
Speaking on Radio 4’s PM about Owen Paterson’s GM speech last week, food campaigner Joanna Blythman attacked the SMC for … read more
expert reaction to Ian Brady mental health tribunal
Moors Murderer Ian Brady spoke publicly for the first time in 47 years as he appeared before a mental health tribunal at Ashworth Hospital. read more
expert reaction to NICE guidance on preventative breast cancer drugs for ‘at-risk’ women
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said the NHS should now give tamoxifen or raloxifene as preventative drugs to women with a family history of breast cancer. read more
Nuffield Council on Bioethics report, ‘Novel neurotechnologies: intervening in the brain’
New technologies that intervene in the brain offer potential to help people with conditions that affect the brain such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, stroke, chronic pain and depression. Members of a Working Party, convened to write a report on the ethical issues raised, presented recommendations about the development, regulation, use and communication of novel neurotechnologies in a number of settings. read more
expert reaction to Owen Paterson’s speech on GM
Environment minister Owen Paterson gave a speech at Rothamsted Research, calling for the UK to adopt the use of genetically modified crops. read more
expert reaction to new research into prenatal alcohol exposure and childhood balance ability
The BMJ Open published research which suggested moderate drinking during pregnancy does not seem to harm foetal neurodevelopment, as indicated by the child’s ability to balance. read more
why I accepted an OBE
I met my future husband at a protest outside BBC Broadcasting House in 1989, called to mark the first anniversary … read more
expert reaction to study finding pesticides may harm more than bees
A new report published in the Journal of Applied Ecology indicated that a neonicotinoid pesticides, which have been linked to bee decline, may be harming other wildlife species. read more
expert reaction to mate choice and the origin of the menopause
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology reports that menopause is an unintended outcome of natural selection caused by the preference of males for younger female mates. read more
expert reaction to press release from FotE and GM Freeze about glyphosate in urine
Friends of the Earth and GM Freeze press released the results of laboratory tests on the urine of 182 volunteers across Europe, which found traces of the weed killer glyphosate. read more
expert reaction to science ministers’ speech on antibiotic resistance at G8 meeting
David Willetts, the science minister, is to propose measures to clamp down on the overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture at a meeting of the G8 science ministers in London. read more
expert reaction to MHRA announcement on regulation of electronic cigarettes
The MHRA announced that all nicotine-containing products (NCPs), such as electronic cigarettes, will be regulated as medicines. read more
GM pig feed and stomach inflammation
A study published in the Journal of Organic Systems appeared to show that pigs fed on genetically modified soy and corn developed stomach inflammation at greater rates than those fed a conventional diet. read more
expert reaction to new study on GM pig feed and stomach inflammation
A study published in the Journal of Organic Systems appeared to show that pigs fed on genetically modified soy and corn developed stomach inflammation at greater rates than those fed a conventional diet. read more
Surgical Outcomes Data – what are we to make of it?
This summer the surgical profession will for the first time begin publishing data around the individual performance of surgeons across a wide range of operations. Data on such a large scale present huge challenges along with the obvious benefits, so this briefing allowed science and health journalists to get to grips with some of the complexities of this new system before its introduction. read more
pregnancy advice: trying to be helpful
This is a guest post by Tom Sheldon, Senior Press Officer at the SMC. As a society we look … read more
expert reaction to new research into multiple sclerosis treatment
A paper published in Science Translational Medicine reported a successful Phase I clinical trial which tested a treatment to “reset” the immune systems of multiple sclerosis patients, finding it reduced their antimyelin immune responses by 50 to 75%. read more
expert reaction to central European flooding
Rising river waters caused by days of torrential rain have caused havoc across central Europe. read more
experts comment on forthcoming spending review
Further quotes to accompany a briefing held at the SMC on the scientific community’s thoughts on the science budget in the run up to the Spending Review. read more
why should the science budget be protected in the Spending Review?
The Science Media Centre assembled a cast of the great and good from the science world to share their thoughts on the science budget in the run up to the Spending Review. read more