Author Archives: Science Media Centre
what exactly is “well-being”?
Well-being’ is a term that’s been much used by Government over the last few years. But is well-being a meaningful term in the sphere of mental health?
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expert reaction to BMJ/BBC study on lack of evidence for claims made for sports products
A joint investigation by the BMJ and BBC Panorama found “a striking lack of evidence” to support claims about improved performance and recovery for many sports products like drinks, trainers and protein shakes. read more
expert reaction to new research on iron fertilisation
Nature published a paper suggesting carbon could potentially be transported to the bottom of the ocean, and stored there, by sinking microscopic phytoplankton following iron fertilization. read more
expert reaction to study of binge drinking and cognitive decline
A study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2012 (AAIC 2012) in Vancouver suggested consistent heavy drinking appeared to have a negative impact on cognitive decline. read more
expert reaction to health effects of Fukushima
A study in the journal Energy & Environmental Science suggested thousands of people could potentially still die as a result of the Fukushima nuclear accident. read more
drugs in sport
The Olympics and performance-enhancing drugs seem inseparable. We regularly find and punish drug cheats, yet some athletes persist in using banned substances and science is locked in an arms race with the next generation of performance-enhancing methods.
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expert reaction to government/RCUK response to the Finch report on scientific publishing
The government announced plans to make publicly funded scientific research available for anyone to read for free by 2014, following publication of a report by Dame Janet Finch into academic publishing. read more
expert reaction to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s £6.4 million grant to genetically modify cereals to associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria
The John Innes Centre in Norwich won a £6.4million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to develop genetically modified crops capable of taking nitrogen from the air, meaning they need little or no fertiliser. read more
explaining or exposing: it’s more exciting than that
Heard the row about ‘explainers’ versus ‘exposers’ or between the ‘boat-rockers’ versus the ‘cheerleaders for science’? No? My goodness guys … read more
engineering the Olympics
Behind the scenes at the Games is an incredible array of engineering and technology, creating a world class environment of construction, infrastructure, transport, hospitality, tourism and more.
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expert reaction to French avalanche
An avalanche in the French Alps claimed the lives of 9 climbers including 2 Britons. Information about the mechanics behind avalanches was provided by experts. read more
expert reaction to vaccines recombining to form viruses
A study in Science found different vaccines used to control an infectious disease in chickens have been able to recombine to generate new virus strains. The resulting new viruses have been responsible for significant outbreaks of disease and death in farmed chickens. read more
legal highs…and lows
So called ‘legal highs’ have caught lawmakers on the hop because they are often created by altering illegal psychoactive molecules just enough to fall outside the law.
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expert reaction to study of bisphenol A (BPA) and cross-species breeding in fish
The chemical BPA was found to impact the mating choices of fish when released into rivers, a study in Evolutionary Applications found. By altering an individual’s appearance and behavior, BPA exposure led to inter-species breeding. read more
alcohol consumption and rheumatoid arthritis risk
A study in the BMJ indicated that moderate consumption of alcohol by women for at least 10 years is associated with a reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to non-drinkers. read more
publication of annual statistics on number of animals used in research
The annual Home Office statistics on the number of animals used in research came as the government is preparing to implement the first revision of the laws on animal research in over 20 years.
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State of the Climate 2011 and detection and attribution of extreme events
Every year the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS) publish their State of the Climate Report. The Global chapter of this report assesses global climate throughout 2011, and this year, for the first time, the publication also included an Attribution Supplement.
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expert reaction to annual Home Office animal research statistics
The Home Office releases its annual statistics on the numbers of procedures carried out on animals for research purposes. read more
expert reaction to study of alcohol consumption and rheumatoid arthritis risk
A study in the BMJ indicated that moderate consumption of alcohol by women for at least 10 years is associated with a reduced risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to non-drinkers. A Before the Headlines analysis was also sent out. read more
book review: The Geek Manifesto – Why Science Matters
The news that the Government had moved to ban all research on human-animal hybrid embryos came late in December 2006, just as … read more