Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to leak of IPCC AR5 WG1
A climate sceptic blogger leaked part of a draft version of the IPCC’s Assessment Report 5 by Working Group 1, … read more
expert reaction to resumption of fracking in the UK
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey announced that exploratory hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas can resume in the UK, subject to new controls to mitigate the risks of seismic activity. read more
expert reaction to review of effectiveness of Sativex (cannabis extract) for MS
A review in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin called into question the evidence backing the use of cannabis extract in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). read more
expert response to new Climate Change Committee report
The Climate Change Committee launched a report assessing the impact of carbon budgets on energy bills and confirms that annual household energy bills could increase by £100 in 2020 to support development of low-carbon technologies. read more
expert reaction to new research on a drug which may reduce some symptoms of autism
Research published in Translational Psychiatry suggested the diuretic bumetanide may mitigate some of the behavioral abnormalities associated with autism. read more
expert reaction to new research into loneliness and the onset of dementia
Feeling lonely was linked to an increased risk of developing dementia in later life, according to research published in the … read more
expert reaction to the end of the HFEA mitochondria consultation
Launched at an SMC briefing in September 2012, the public consultation into emerging techniques designed to prevent mitochondrial disease closed on the 7th December. read more
expert reaction to announcement of NHS DNA database
David Cameron announced plans to launch a clinical DNA-reading service, focusing on patients with cancer and rare diseases, as part of efforts to open National Health Service data to medical research. read more
expert reaction to the death of Sir Patrick Moore
Sir Patrick Moore, astronomer, author and long running presenter of The Sky at Night, died at the age of 89. read more
experts comment on the winding up of COP-18 in Doha
The 2012 climate change conference, COP-18, held in Doha closed after a week of debate about how the world should tackle climate change. read more
expert reaction to new research into benzodiazepines and pneumonia
Commonly prescribed sedatives were linked to an increased the risk of contracting pneumonia by as much as 50%, according to research published in the journal Thorax. read more
childlessness and mortality rates
A large study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that childless couples who had been treated for infertility, and in particular women, were more likely to have shorter lifespans. read more
stem cells and new drugs for hard-to-treat conditions
While we are used to hearing about exciting new breakthroughs involving the use of stem cells to regenerate damaged tissue, some scientists think the really exciting thing about stem cells is their ability to revolutionise the process of discovering and testing new drugs. read more
expert reaction to the autumn statement
In his autumn statement, chancellor George Osborne announced an increase of £600m to the science budget. read more
survival and health outcomes in premature babies
Babies born before 26 weeks face a huge fight for survival and many go on to live with long-term health complications such as lung problems, learning difficulties and cerebral palsy. What’s more, the rates of premature birth are on the rise in many European countries and are particularly high in the UK. read more
expert reaction to research into number and quality of sperm
Research in the journal Human Reproduction suggested that the concentration and quality of sperm in a sample of 26,600 French men has been in steady decline between 1989 and 2005. read more
after the Leveson inquiry, what future for science coverage?
This article originally appeared on the Guardian website here. If anyone wonders why the Science Media Centre gave evidence to the Leveson … read more
satellite measurement of ice loss in Greenland and the Antarctic
Ice sheet loss from Greenland and the Antarctic will contribute to sea level rise. A new study published in Science combines multiple satellite data to estimate the mass balance of Earth’s polar ice sheets and its effect on sea level. read more
expert reaction to the Energy Bill
The energy minister Ed Davey unveiled the government’s Energy Bill, paving the way for making the UK a low-carbon economy. read more
risk factors for anxiety and depression in adolescents
10% of children (5-16) in Great Britain have a mental disorder of some kind including conduct disorder, emotional disorder or hyperactivity, and adolescence is a critical period for the development of depression. read more