Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to new research into probiotic worm treatment of monkeys with colitis
A study, published in PLoS Pathogens, showed monkeys with chronic diarrhoea could be treated by microscopic parasite worm (helminth) eggs. The similarity of the condition to inflammatory bowel diseases provides hope for developing human treatments. read more
alcohol consumption during pregnancy
A study published in PLoS ONE suggested drinking one or two glasses of wine a week during pregnancy can have a negative impact on a child’s IQ. read more
expert reaction to new research into alcohol consumption during pregnancy
A study published in PLoS ONE suggested drinking one or two glasses of wine a week during pregnancy can have a negative impact on a child’s IQ. read more
civilian unmanned aircraft
Could Civilian Unmanned Aircraft (CUA) herald the next major aerospace revolution? Ideally suited to doing jobs that are ‘dull, dangerous or dirty’, they could help safeguard the environment, critical national infrastructure, our security and quality of life without putting aircrews at risk and at lower cost than conventional aircraft and satellite systems. read more
controlling infection through DNA sequencing
New, faster sequencing technologies have revolutionised our understanding of genomes, exemplified, for example, in the work of the ENCODE Consortium that described new exploration of the human genome. But it is in tackling infectious agents that widespread application of new sequencing technologies is likely to be used most quickly and comprehensively for healthcare improvement. read more
Schizophrenia Commission findings
Schizophrenia affects over 220,000 people in England and an estimated 1 in 6 people will experience some symptoms of psychosis at some stage in their lives. read more
expert reaction to study on drought
Simplified models of drought have led climate researchers to overestimate its severity for the last 60 years, according to a study published in Nature. read more
expert reaction to study of beating/insulting children and developing diseases in adulthood
A paper in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found adults with diseases were more likely to report they had been verbally or physically abused as children. read more
in praise of Richard Black
There was a cry of anguish from environment scientists and journalists alike at the news that Richard Black has left … read more
expert reaction to announcement of rotavirus vaccine
The Department of Health announced that babies in the UK are to be vaccinated against rotavirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, with the vaccine being made available from September 2013. read more
reaction to the Chancellor’s speech at the Royal Society
At a speech at the Royal Society in London Chancellor George Osborne announced an increased spending on space technology by £60m per year over the next two years. read more
expert reaction to the ‘dementia friends’ initiative
The Government announced plans to train one million ‘Dementia Friends’ by 2015 to help spot signs of the illness. read more
expert reaction to research on biopolar disorder treatments and pregnancy outcomes
A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) discussed how bipolar disorder treatments affect pregnancy outcomes. read more
tea consumption and prevalence of type-2 diabetes
Research examining a link between tea consumption and prevalence of type-2 diabetes was published in BMJ Open read more
human enhancement and the future of work
Technologies that enhance human functions such as memory, hearing and mobility could dramatically change how people work over the next decade, according to four of the UK’s national academies. read more
Ash dieback and other threats to Britain’s trees
Ash dieback – Chalara fraxinea – has been found in the UK and comparisons are already being made with the devastation of Dutch elm disease in the 1970s. read more
expert reaction to news that NERC will not merge BAS and NOC
NERC council announced that the proposed merger of the British Antarctic Survey and National Oceanography Centre will not go ahead and BAS and NOC will remain as NERC’s centres. read more
expert reaction to contrasting government statements about onshore wind
The energy minister, John Hayes, and the secretary of state for energy and climate change, Ed Davey, commented on wind farms in the UK. read more
what should be in the Energy Bill?
The UK government is about to publish its Energy Bill which will map out the country’s future strategy on producing and distributing energy. read more
experts anticipate Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the east coast of America, affecting New York City. read more