Author Archives: Science Media Centre
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
experts comment on new research regarding Community-Acquired MRSA and pneumonia, as published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases
The paper identifies the emerging threat of cases of necrotising pneumonia caused by community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections. read more
industrial biotechnology
Industrial biotechnology encompasses a huge number of applications both within industry and in our everyday lives, including bioplastics to prolong the shelf life of food, enzymes in washing powder for use at lower temperatures, production of insulin for diabetics, and refinement of bioethanol from factory waste. The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team (IB-IGT), an independent body of experts from academia and industry established in November 2007, published their report to government this month, and key contributors presented their findings at the Science Media Centre. read more
expert encounter with Simon Singh
Science writer and broadcaster Simon Singh is involved in a legal action with the British Chiropractic Association, who are suing him for libel over an article published in the Guardian last year. Following a major development in the case, the SMC invited Simon to brief journalists on the background to the case and the latest developments. read more
recycling: the case for
Recycling has simultaneously been touted as the great environmental success story of our time and slammed for making no real difference. Our recycling rate has tripled over the last eight years, rising from 11.2% to 34.5%. But is there any point if it’s all just smoke and mirrors with no real evidence that it actually makes a difference? This briefing allowed advocated of recycling to discredit common myths about recycling, and to present evidence from different sectors to support claims about its value. read more
synthetic biology: scope, applications and implications
Synthetic biology means designing and building biological organisms to make them behave in new ways. This new technology has potential for major societal benefit and wealth creation in such areas as healthcare, energy and the environment. To coincide with the publication of a new report from the Royal Academy of Engineering on the next steps to build on the UK’s position in the field, key contributors to the report came to the SMC to present their findings. read more
experts comment on today’s EU Parliament plenary vote, which was passed in favour of revising EU Animal Testing Directive 86/609
The Directive has been criticised by scientists for its overly stringent regulatory measures, and that it may create a culture of over-regulation and bureaucracy that could stifle research. read more
expert reaction to new research suggesting global warming is unlikely to remain below 2C without tight limits on CO2 emissions, as published in Nature
Two analyses published in Nature suggest that global CO2 emissions are driving global warming inexorably toward 2C, and that current emissions limits are insufficient to prevent this. read more
more swine flu Q&A from scientists
Scientists answer more frequently asked questions from journalists on swine flu. read more
how to reduce UK CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050
The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) is launching the results of an ambitious independent study looking at how this can be achieved, while also dealing with anxieties about energy security. The report’s authors discussed what achieving the target will mean for different low-carbon technologies, the environment, our lifestyles and the development of a shockproof energy system. read more
experts comment on swine flu
The WHO has raised the pandemic threat level from 4 to 5, one short of the maximum, meaning that, according to this scale, a pandemic is imminent. read more
more swine flu Q&A
Scientists answer more of journalists’ questions on the swine flu outbreak – click below to download. read more
scientific study of Boots anti-ageing cream
Researchers at the University of Manchester have carries out the first randomised controlled trial of an over-the-counter cosmetic product, Boots No. 7 ‘Protect and Perfect’ anti-ageing skin cream. Members of the research team came to the SMC to brief journalists on their findings. read more