Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to teenage girl’s ingestion of liquid nitrogen
Gaby Scanlon had her stomach removed after drinking a cocktail made with liquid nitrogen while celebrating her 18th birthday. read more
Sir John Gurdon – winner of 2012 Nobel prize in medicine or physiology
The 2012 prize went in part to Sir John Gurdon of Cambridge University for the part he played in the development of induced pluripotent stem cells, which provide an alternative to embryonic stem cells. read more
expert reaction to EFSA initial review of GM maize
The European Food Safety Authority conducted a review of the recent paper that purported to show rats developing tumours after eating GM maize. They found the study was of insufficient scientific quality to be considered as valid for risk assessment. read more
a short film about the SMC
As part of the celebration of our 10 year anniversary, a special film was commissioned about the Science Media Centre. Featuring some of the top scientists, journalists and press officers who have worked with us in the last decade, the film covers how and why the SMC was set up and the methods by which the Centre works from day-to-day. read more
views from the front line – essays on the SMC
As part of the Centre’s 10th anniversary celebrations, a collection of essays on key moments for science and the media … read more
10 year anniversary
Here is a collection of content put together to celebrate our 10th anniversary.
a lesson from the last 10 years: ‘take courage’
When a House of Lords Inquiry on science recommended a new initiative to sit on the ‘front line’ between science and the … read more
expert reaction to new research into hypoallergenic milk from a GM cow
Researchers writing in PNAS* used RNA interference, a process that inhibits the expression of certain genes, to engineer a dairy cow capable of producing high-protein milk with hypoallergenic qualities. read more
expert reaction to threatened closure of British Antarctic Survey
Growing concern was expressed over the merging of the British Antarctic Survey with the National Oceanography Centre. read more
expert reaction to whooping cough vaccine for pregnant mothers
The Department of Health announced that the vaccine for whooping cough would be offered to all pregnant mothers. read more
bloodhound: start your engines
On 3rd October 2012, the hybrid rocket at the heart of the Bloodhound land speed record attempt will be fired at a site near Newquay airport. This is the biggest rocket test in Britain for 20 years and marks a milestone in the building of the vehicle which will attempt to reach a speed of 1000mph in 2014. read more
consultation report
Following the founding of the Advisory Council of the SMC, a panel recruited Fiona Fox to lead the Centre along … read more
expert reaction to new coronavirus identified in UK patient
A patient flown from Qatar to the UK, suffering from acute respiratory illness, was found to have contracted a new SARS-like coronavirus. read more
expert reaction to bisphenol A and reproductive health in monkeys
Pregnant rhesus monkeys exposed to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) during the equivalent of the human third trimester developed altered mammary glands, according to a study in PNAS. read more
MMR report
The controversy over the MMR vaccine was in full swing during the founding of the Science Media Centre. Despite the overwhelming … read more
mental health consultation report
In May 2010 the SMC recruited a new press officer dedicated to mental health. A consultation into mental health research … read more
10 best practice guidelines for reporting science & health stories
Following Fiona Fox’s written and oral evidence to the Leveson Inquiry, the Science Media Centre was challenged to act on the assertion … read more
evidence to the Leveson Inquiry
From our unique position between science and the media, the SMC was well placed to submit evidence from the science community’s perspective … read more
why 3,000 middle-aged men die by suicide each year
In 2010 Samaritans identified that men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s – particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds – are at higher risk of dying by suicide. Figures released on 10 September 2012 appeared to confirm these findings. But so far the reasons for these men being so vulnerable have been unknown. read more