Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to insomnia and heart failure
A study in the European Heart Journal followed 54,279 people for an average of over 11 years, and found that those who suffered from from insomnia had an increased risk of developing heart failure. read more
expert reaction to baby successfully treated for HIV
Virologist Dr Deborah Persaud presented evidence that a baby girl in the US appeared to have been cured of HIV, after very early treatment with standard drug therapy, at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta. read more
expert reaction to the WHO Fukushima health risk report
The World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report on health risks associated with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) disaster in Japan, concluding that for the general population the predicted risks are low but estimated risk for specific cancers in certain subsets of the population in Fukushima Prefecture has increased. read more
expert reaction to new study into brain-brain information sharing in rats
Results showing a brain-to-brain interface that allows the direct transfer of information between the brains of two rats were published in Scientific Reports. read more
expert reaction to new research into the relationship between sugar and diabetes
The results of a large epidemiological study published in PLOS ONE, which examined data on sugar availability and diabetes rates from 175 countries over the past decade, suggested sugar could be linked to diabetes independently of obesity read more
new research into the relationship between sugar and diabetes
The results of a large epidemiological study published in PLOS ONE, which examined data on sugar availability and diabetes rates from 175 countries over the past decade, suggested sugar could be linked to diabetes independently of obesity. read more
expert reaction to link between narcolepsy in children and swine flu vaccine
A study published in the BMJ found an increased risk of narcolepsy in children and adolescents who received the Pandemrix influenza vaccine during the 2009 pandemic in England. read more
expert encounter: should boxing be banned?
The advances of modern neuroscience mean we know more than ever about chronic brain damage in boxers since it was first described nearly a century ago. But has this knowledge really changed anything and is long-term brain injury from contact sport a ticking time bomb? read more
expert reaction to BPA and isolated neurons
Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used widely in plastics, may suppress a gene vital to nerve cell function and to the development of the central nervous system, according to a study of cortical neurons in mice, rats and humans, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. read more
expert reaction to UK cases of coronavirus
One British man died after contracting the coronavirus that has apparently originated from the middle east. Two other members of his family have also caught the virus. read more
our nutrient world: food, pollution and agriculture
A new report commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlights how humans have massively altered global cycling of nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients. While this had huge benefits for world food and energy production, it has also created a web of water and air pollution that is damaging human health, causing toxic algal blooms, killing fish, threatening sensitive ecosystems and contributing to climate change. read more
leading vet comments on aspects of horsemeat story
More reaction to the horsemeat scandal, on topics concerning veterinary science. read more
expert reaction to landing of large meteor in Russia
A large meteor crashed in Russia’s Ural mountains, causing damage to buildings and injuring people. read more
expert reaction to the continuing horsemeat story and bute (phenylbutazone)
Defra announced the latest results in testing slaughtered horses for bute (phenylbutazone). The presence of bute was confirmed in 8 samples out of 206 tests. read more
expert reaction to continuing horsemeat story
The scandal over horsemeat has carried on after raids on two British meat plants uncovered evidence that kebabs and burgers were being adulterated with horse. read more
horsemeat – bute (phenylbutazone) and DNA testing
The SMC asked a number of food science and equine experts to come and talk about the scientific aspects of the current horsemeat scandal, including issues around food safety, traceability, toxicology and DNA testing. read more
expert reaction to alcohol pricing and alcohol-related deaths
A study in the journal Addiction showed the percentage of deaths caused by alcohol in British Columbia, Canada dropped more than expected when minimum alcohol price was increased, while alcohol-related deaths increased when more private alcohol stores were opened. read more
is the UK doing enough to protect itself from solar superstorms?
Explosive eruptions of energy from the Sun that cause minor solar storms on Earth are relatively common events. Superstorms, by contrast, occur very occasionally – perhaps once every century or two. A new report by the Royal Academy of Engineering brings together engineering and scientific experts from across many disciplines to identify and analyse the impact of solar superstorms on the UK’s engineering infrastructure. read more
expert reaction to vote on EU Common Fisheries Policy
MEPs voted through reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy, including measures to protect endangered stocks and a ban on “discards”, the practice of throwing unwanted dead fish back into the sea. read more
expert reaction to air pollution and birth weight
A large study, using data from UK, Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia, found that pregnant mothers exposed to air pollution are more likely to have smaller babies. The research was published in Environmental Health Perspectives. read more