Author Archives: Science Media Centre
the perils of turning Greenland green
On 16 September we were alerted to a flurry of activity on the CRYOLIST discussion group. Glaciologists around the world, it seemed, … read more
expert reaction to George Osborne’s announcement on funding for graphene research
The Chancellor announced £50m in funding for research in technologies based on graphene. read more
expert reaction to 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine
This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly Bruce A. Beutler and Jules A. Hoffmann “for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity” and to Ralph M. Steinman “for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity”. read more
genetic medicine: what do we want & what can we expect?
Ahead of further expected developments in the field of genetic medicine, the Science Media Centre arranged a background briefing in which four experts identified what they regarded as the key issues in the field, and discussed what to look for when these stories break. read more
expert reaction to research on alcohol-related behaviour changes and the immune system, as published in the British Journal of Pharmacology
Research from the University of Adelaide using mice suggested that immune cells in the brain may contribute to behavioural responses to alcohol. read more
‘flu season’ – strains, vaccines and epidemics
In advance of the 2011/12 flu season, this Science Media Centre and Society for General Microbiology briefing involved five experts in various aspects of seasonal and pandemic influenza, who discussed topics including virology, pathology, vaccine development, public health and surveillance. read more
cost of mental disorders
A new study by leading epidemiologists and health economists covering 30 countries investigated the cost of mental disorders throughout Europe. read more
club drugs – treating problem use
Experts from Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust launched a new approach to help treat problematic club drug use and help address changing patterns of drug use in the UK. read more
expert reaction to measurements of neutrino speed
Consternation reigned at CERN and the OPERA particle physics facility in Italy as experiments appeared to show neutrinos travelling faster than the speed of light. read more
expert reaction to announcement of human embryonic stem cell trial for macular degeneration
American biotechnology company Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) announced the launch of a clinical trial for a stem cell treatment for Stargard’s Disease, a condition that causes progressive blindness. read more
expert reaction to trial of seismologists in Italy for negligence
Six leading Italian scientists and one government official stood trial for manslaughter for alleged negligence following the deaths of over 300 people when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the city of L’Aquila in March 2009. read more
expert reaction to PNAS paper on pubertal delay in nonhuman primates (Macaca mulatta) treated with methylphenidate
A study in male rhesus monkeys found that long-term administration of the drug commonly known as Ritalin was associated with delay of signs associated with the onset of puberty. read more
expert reaction to Times Atlas publication showing Greenland to have lost 15% of its ice cover
Several scientists wrote a letter to the Times expressing concern over publicity material for the Times Atlas which suggested that Greenland had lost a significant amount of ice cover to a degree that was not supported by evidence. read more
expert reaction to Defra approval of aphid-resistant wheat trial to be carried out by Rothamsted Research
Defra granted consent to Rothamsted Research to conduct a trial on GM wheat in 2012 and 2013. read more
economic costs of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME: new research
New research presented at the British Science Festival in Bradford investigated the costs of CFS/ME to the UK economy. read more
the SPICE geoengineering research project
The planned SPICE geoengineering project would see the launch of a balloon tethered to a 1km-long pipe, allowing scientists and engineers to spray water droplets into the atmosphere as part of a larger project to investigate the feasibility of solar radiation management. Researchers behind the project briefed journalists on their plans. read more
launch of Alcohol Research UK
This briefing at the British Science Festival in Bradford launched Alcohol Research UK, an independent charity which will fund research into reducing alcohol-related harm and provide research-based evidence to help guide policy and practice. read more
expert reaction to explosion at nuclear facility in France
An explosion occurred at a nuclear fuel processing facility in France. Although one person was killed, there was no leak of radioactivity and damage was limited. read more
expert reaction to BMJ paper on mortality gap for those with serious mental illness
A retrospective study found that people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder were more likely to die of other serious medical conditions . read more
expert reaction to production of mouse sperm cells in the lab, as published in Nature Communications
In this study researchers succeeded in producing mouse sperm cells, allowing the process of sperm formation to be studied in the laboratory. read more