Author Archives: Science Media Centre
ongoing rapid reaction – Japan earthquake
Experts comment on the latest situation in Japan. read more
expert reaction to latest concerns over nuclear reactors following Japanese earthquake
Fears of a possible radiation leak following damage to reactors caused by earthquake and tsunami. read more
more expert reaction to concerns about nuclear reactor following Japanese earthquake
Further comments on the Fukushima nuclear disaster. read more
expert reaction to concerns about nuclear reactor following Japanese earthquake
Following the earthquake and tsunami in north-east Japan, experts gave their views on the latest situation of the stricken Fukushima nuclear reactor. read more
experts comment on Japan earthquake and tsunami
Several large earthquakes, the largest of which measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, caused a tsunami and widespread devastation to much of north-east Japan and caused damage and an ongoing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. read more
expert reaction to mitochondrial DNA transfer story
The Secretary of State for Health asked the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to conduct a scientific review of a Newcastle teams of scientists’ research on mitochondrial DNA transfer in IVF. read more
prisons and mental health
Experts in mental health answered questions on the types of mental health disorder found in prisons, who they affect, and whether we should be screening for them. read more
expert reaction to paper in The Lancet on tissue-engineered urethras
A landmark study in which five boys each received a urethra grown from their own cells on a dissolvable scaffold; the engineered urethras functioned well for up to 6 years. read more
you are what your mother ate – the power of epigenetics
With new research suggesting that a poor diet during pregnancy could increase offspring’s vulnerability to the effects of ageing, researchers came to the SMC to present their findings in this area and shed light on the effects of epigenetics, whereby heritable changes can occur in cells with no changes to the underlying genetic code. read more
how vulnerable are global navigation space systems and what would happen if they failed?
The authors of a new Royal Academy of Engineering report on Global Positioning Systems and their vulnerabilities came to the SMC to present their findings and fill in the background. read more
expert reaction to controversial new film on NHS treatment on very premature babies
Adam Wishart’s documentary ‘The Price of Life’ explored medical and ethical issues surrounding the treatment of very premature babies. read more
expert reaction to Joachim Boldt alleged drug research fraud
16 medical journals retracted research carried out by a German doctor at the centre of an investigation into alleged fraud and ethical breaches. read more
expert reaction to JAMA paper on genetics of type 2 diabetes mellitus
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) paper looked at specific gene variants and their link with type 2 diabetes. read more
expert reaction to banning of fish discards
The European Commission set out new plans for fisheries management. read more
expert reaction to new research on cannabis and psychosis to be published in the BMJ
Research looking at potential link between cannabis use and the risk of psychotic symptoms. read more
expert reaction to new research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry on unrecognised bipolar disorder in primary care patients with depression
The paper identified patients with bipolar disorder who were wrongly diagnosed with depression and given wrong treatments which made their symptoms worse. read more
sharing the love of science: thoughts on Beddington
There was much chatter on the blogs last week about John Beddington’s apparently unscripted outburst at the end of a … read more
expert encounter: Steve Holliday, Chief Executive of the National Grid
Steve Holliday, National Grid’s Chief Executive, delivered the Royal Academy of Engineering lecture ‘Power to the People’ on the evening of 1st March and the SMC invited him into the Centre to give his unique perspective on the challenge facing the energy industry as a whole, and answer journalists’ questions on how we can meet it in ways that are sustainable as well as affordable. read more
scientists comment on Lancet paper on HPV incidence in men
A study of nearly 1200 men in the USA, Brazil and Mexico found that approximately 50% were infected with the human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer in women and other cancers in men. read more
expert reaction to study published in the Lancet on trigger factors for heart attacks
The study examined a range of possible trigger factors for heart attacks. read more