Author Archives: Science Media Centre
the health effects of sunbeds: COMARE Report
Sunbeds and other tanning devices are widely perceived to have serious health issues, but are considered worth the risk by many. A major report into the health effects of these devices was commissioned by the four UK health departments. The work was carried out by independent experts at the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). At this briefing, the Chairman of the committee, and colleagues, announced their findings and recommendations to government. read more
expert reaction to publication of UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCP09)
The UK Climate Impacts Programme is a major government-funded report that includes projections of how climate change may impact on the UK over the course of the next century, and possible action plans for organisations and the country at large to adapt to them. read more
expert reaction to World Health Organization announcing pandemic status of H1N1 virus
The WHO has raised the status of the global swine flu situation to 6, the highest level, and officially declared the outbreak a global pandemic. read more
expert reaction to paper on nanoparticles to be published in Journal of Molecular Cell Biology
Scientists have for the first time identified a mechanism by which nanoparticles cause lung damage, and shown that such damage can be blocked with a targeted chemical compound. read more
expert reaction to Japan’s announcement on 2020 emissions targets
The Japanese government has announced its targets on limiting carbon dioxide emissions, which, at 15% over the next 11 years, have turned out to be lower than expected. read more
expert reaction to acupuncture and indigestion during pregnancy, as reported in BMJ Acupuncture in Medicine
The study concluded that acupuncture may help to relieve indigestion in pregnant women. read more
living with environmental change
A £100 million package of new research has been announced to help the UK prepare for the inevitable challenges that will result from the impacts of climate change over the next few years and decades. The funding comes from partners of the Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) partnership of UK governments, departments and research councils. Experts from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) briefed journalists about how the funding has been committed to projects including tackling the spread of infectious diseases, producing resilient designs for cities and transport systems, and address the economic impacts of our changing environment. read more
experts comment on new research into Alzheimer’s as published in Nature Cell Biology
Scientists have shown how the protein tangles in the brain that cause Alzheimer’s disease can spread within the brain – this was shown by injecting affected brain tissue from one mouse brain to another, and observing the development of tangles in the recipient mice. The researchers stressed that this does not mean that Alzheimer’s is contagious. read more
comments on National Audit Office report on autism
The comprehensive report covers a broad range of topics relating to autism in adults, including knowledge and awareness of the condition in public services and access to, and effectiveness of, services for adults with autism. read more
update on Simon Singh libel case
Simon Singh came to the SMC to update journalists on his case with the British Chiropractic Association, which is suing him for libel, and whether he plans to appeal against the latest ruling. read more
expert comments on new research into pig stem cells, as published in the Journal of Molecular Cell Biology
Scientists in China have successfully derived embryonic stem cell-like cells from pig skin and bone marrow cells. This increases the possibility of breeding pigs whose organs are suitable for transplanting into humans while lowering the possibility of immune rejection. read more
combined heat and power
When we burn fuel to produce electricity, heat is made as a by-produce, but, currently, all that heat goes to waste, even though almost half the UK’s total energy consumption is in the production of heat. A report by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) suggests that, with the current generation of thermal nuclear power stations coming to the end of their lifespans, this could be the perfect time to introduce combined heat and power (CHP) to the UK’s energy generation capabilities. Some of report’s key authors came to the SMC to discuss their findings and recommendations. read more
expert reaction to the news that an Air France airbus 330-200 has been lost over the Atlantic
The Air France flight, on its way from Rio de Janeiro to Paris with over 100 passengers and crew, went missing over the Atlantic with no immediate clues at the time as to the cause. read more
experts comment on Royal Society’s call for ocean acidification to be on agenda at Copenhagen
A joint statement from the Royal Society and sixty-nine other academies around the world has called for ocean acidification to be on the agenda for the UN climate change talks at Copenhagen in December. Ocean acidification is regarded as one of the most potentially damaging effects of climate change because of its effects on coral reefs and marine diversity. read more
expert reaction to stem cell genetic reprogramming, as published in Nature
Scientists have shown that they are able to reprogramme skin cells taken from patients with a rare inherited blood disorder to make cells that are virtually identical to embryonic stem cells, making them potentially suitable for use as a treatment. read more
expert reaction to Cambodian reports of malaria parasite resistance to drugs
Scientists in Cambodia have reported growing resistance to the artemesinin family of drugs, which currently the most effective treatments for malaria available. read more
experts comment on research into incidence of autism, as published in the British Journal of Psychiatry
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have carried out a survey of autism-spectrum conditions in Cambridgeshire, with the aim of indentifying the prevalence of such conditions, including previously unidentified cases. read more
medical research charities call for donor and government support through the recession
The Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) has issued a call on public donors and the government to take urgent measures to help their members weather the economic downturn, following a new survey which reveals that more than three quarters of their members predict that it will have a significant impact on their work. On behalf of the AMRC, the SMC invited journalists to come and hear results of the survey and to talk to representatives of three major charities about the measures they think are needed to limit the impact on their research. read more
expert reaction to fluorescent transgenic monkeys paper
Scientists in Japan have, for the first time, created transgenic animals that are capable of passing on the transgenic trait onto their offspring; in this case monkeys that have been genetically modified to glow in the dark. Such animals could be used to study inherited diseases such as Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease. read more
experts comment on NICE guidelines for lower back pain
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidelines on NHS provision of alternative and complementary therapies for lower back pain, such as acupuncture and spinal manipulation, and the evidence to support them. read more