Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to association between suicide rates and the economic recession
Economic recession and rising unemployment may have driven more than 1,000 people in England to commit suicide, according to a study published in the BMJ. read more
expert reaction to natural birth triggers UCP 2 expression in mice
A study on infant mice in PLoS ONE found that natural birth triggered production of the protein UCP2, linked to development of brain circuits linked to memory, while less of the protein was made in mice delivered by C-section. read more
new data on Schmallenberg virus
Schmallenberg virus arrived in the UK last autumn and since early this year has resulted in deformities of lambs and calves born in the south and east of England.
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expert reaction to the announcement of Sir Bernard Lovell’s death
Sir Bernard Lovell, who developed the science of radio-astronomy in the UK and was director of Jodrell Bank for 30 years, giving his name to the Lovell Telescope there, died at the age of 98. read more
expert reaction to ‘neural mechanisms of decision making in hoarding disorder’
Patients with hoarding disorder exhibited abnormal activity in regions of the brain, according to a report in the Archives of General Psychiatry. read more
expert reaction to frequency of fluid injection-triggered earthquakes
Research in PNAS suggested that fluid-injection operations—such as those used in the production of geothermal power, extraction of petroleum, and disposal of fluid wastes—may cause more small earthquakes than previously reported. read more
experts react to the landing of the Mars Curiosity rover
Nasa’s Curiosity rover touched down safely in Gale Crater on Mars following a complex landing sequence, to the relief of everyone involved. read more
expert reaction to study of heat-waves and climate change
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published a study that purported to show recent heat waves and extreme summers, such as those in Texas and Oklahoma in the summer of 2011 and in Moscow in 2010, were likely caused by global warming. read more
expert comments and background information before Mars Curiosity rover landing
NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover, the latest spacecraft to be sent to our neighbouring planet, was due to land around 6.30am UK time Monday 6 August 2012. read more
expert reaction to Bradley Wiggins’ comments on bicycle helmets
Following a cyclists’ death from being struck by an official Olympics bus, gold medallist Bradley Wiggins was reported to have said he thought it should be compulsory under the law to wear a cycling helmet. read more
do the best treatments for CFS cost more?
Authors of a follow up paper to a 2011 study, that demonstrated that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) were the most effective therapies for CFS, came to the SMC to discuss a new paper which explores whether therapies that are most effective at treating CFS also the most cost-effective. read more
expert reaction to poor mental health link to reduced life expectancy
A paper in the BMJ found people with symptoms of anxiety or depression had an increased risk of death from several major causes. read more
expert reaction to astonishment at performance of Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen in the women’s 400m medley
Sixteen year-old chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen swam the Olympic women’s 400m medley in record time, beating the fastest men over the last 100m and leading to accusations of doping by American coaches. read more
expert reaction to HPA’s announcement that the whooping cough outbreak continues
The Health Protection Authority announced that cases of whooping cough, a childhood disease that has been all but eradicated, were still increasing rapidly in the UK. read more
treating mental illness via the internet and mobile phones
Authors behind studies in a special edition of the Journal of Mental Health came to the SMC to discuss the ground-breaking projects that aim to provide access to mental health services through the internet, both on computers and mobile phones. read more
expert reaction to plans for seasonal flu vaccinations to be offered to all children
The government announced plans for all children between 2 and 17 to be given annual flu vaccinations. The children will be immunised using a nasal spray, starting in 2014 at the earliest. read more