Author Archives: Science Media Centre
50 years of the laser
The SMC hosted the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for this briefing celebrating the 50th anniversary of the laser, and looking at what current research is taking place with lasers and what future applications the technology may bring. read more
expert reaction to study in the Asian Journal of Andrology
Researchers in China have found evidence linking consumption of soy-based food products with reduced testosterone production. read more
reaction to Evan Harris losing his parliamentary seat
At the recent general election the Liberal Democrat science spokesman and general all-round champion for science Dr Evan Harris lost his Oxford West & Abingdon seat by a mere 176 votes. read more
further reaction to oil spill of the Gulf of Mexico
Since the explosion on the oil rig occurred on 20 April, the rate at which oil is pouring into the sea has been found to be much higher than originally thought, while there are reports that the oil has begun to wash up on the Gulf Coast. read more
expert reaction to first clinical analysis of a healthy human genome, to be published in The Lancet
A US scientist has become the first healthy person to have his entire genome sequenced and analysed for known genetic predispositions to a range of diseases. The research potentially brings forward new techniques in personalised medicine based on individuals’ genomes. read more
expert reaction to oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
An explosion on a BP-operated oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico is leaking large amounts of oil into the sea, which in turn is threatening the Gulf Coast. read more
colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide, and a major cause of death, but the value of screening programmes continues to be a source of much debate. In new research published in The Lancet, researchers have announced the findings of a UK-based trial, which started 16 years ago, to assess the merit of a single sigmoidoscopy lower bowel examination in patients aged 55-64 years to screen for colorectal cancer. read more
drama at the Royal Insitution, Simon Singh’s libel case dropped, and the principles of scientific advice
I can’t believe that I missed the drama at the Royal Institution a couple of weeks ago. While it was nice to … read more
reaction to the appointment of Paul Nurse as the new President of the Royal Society
The British geneticist Paul Nurse, currently the President of Rockefeller University in New York, has been named as the only candidate to succeed Martin Rees as the President of the Royal Society. read more
COSMOS: launch of new study to investigate long-term impacts of mobile phone use on health
A new decades-long study, the cohort study on mobile communications (COSMOS) has been launched to investigate whether there is a link between the use of mobile phones and long-term health problems such as cancer. The UK arm of COSMOS is being led by a research team from Imperial College London, who came in to the SMC to talk about the research. read more
further reaction to Icelandic volcano
Scientists answer questions on science behind safety testing for flying through volcanic ash. read more
swine flu: one year on
Swine flu was the biggest health story of last year, but for most people it only resulted in a mild illness. The SMC amassed some of the best experts in swine flu to talk various aspects of last year’s outbreak, including what we knew and didn’t know, whether the reaction was appropriate, how far we’ve come since then and whether we’re now prepared for the next big virus that comes our way. read more
further reaction to Icelandic volcano
Experts react to the ongoing volcanic ash cloud story, with comments on risk and uncertainty, and a Q&A with Channel 4 viewers. read more
launch of consultation on ethics of organ, egg and sperm donation
This briefing launched a consultation run by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics on how to respond to the high demand for human organs and tissue for donations and research, and the ethics of how to encourage more people to donate bodily materials such as organs, eggs and sperm. read more
further reaction to Icelandic volcano
Experts comment on the science of flight safety and volcanology, and provide answers to questions from Channel 4 News viewers. read more
how can we avoid a global water crisis?
An alliance including the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) has conducted an enquiry into the factors propelling us toward a global water crisis, and how engineering can help to avoid it. The resulting report, Global Water Security, looks at the various responses already being applied around the world as well as making recommendations for new approaches, both globally and UK-specific. read more
expert reaction to volcanic ash from Iceland
Further expert reaction to various aspects of the Icelandic volcano and the effects of volcanic ash. read more
reaction to the British Chiropractic Association dropping its libel action against Simon Singh
Following Simon Singh’s victory in the latest round of his libel defence on 1 April, the British Chiropractic Association has announced that it is dropping its action against him. read more
expert reaction to volcanic eruption in Iceland
After several weeks of low level activity, the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull began spilling large amounts of ash into the atmosphere, which were then distributed over much of Europe, resulting in the grounding of flights throughout Europe due to safety concerns over the effect of volcanic ash on aircraft engines. read more
expert reaction to Qinghai earthquake
The magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Qinghai province in Western China, killing nearly 600 people and injuring thousands. read more