Author Archives: Science Media Centre
statins for cardiovascular health?
Exploring questions surrounding the use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs statins to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, and the evidence for their effectiveness. read more
experts respond to judicial review of Home Office animal research
In a judicial review brought by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, the High Court ruled that the Home Office had acted unlawfully in the licensing of brain experiments at Cambridge University. read more
extreme weather in the UK
Experts from the Met Office briefed journalists on recent extreme weather events and their potential causes, and on developing science to improve forecasting and weather prediction. read more
experts comment on a Lancet study linking cannabis use to an increased risk of psychosis
The paper reported that cannabis users are 40% more likely than non-users to suffer a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia. read more
do mobile phone masts affect health? Study results published
Researchers from the University of Essex announce the results of their three-year study into whether the symptoms reported by people who experience sensitivity to mobile phone technology are really associated with the effects of emissions from mobile phone masts. read more
experts respond to a newly published study on electrosensitivity.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, found evidence that electrical signals, such as those from mobile phone masts, are not responsible for the adverse health effects reported by sensitive individuals. read more
experts respond to news of further severe flooding in the UK
Dr Roland Fox FHEA, Plant Pathologist and Lecturer in Crop Protection, University of Reading, said: “The potential health hazards associated … read more
experts respond to news of further severe flooding in the UK
Professor David Lerner, Director of the Catchment Science Centre, University of Sheffield, said: “Don’t forget that most of the time … read more
experts respond to news of further severe flooding in the UK
Professor Alastair Borthwick, Professor of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, said: “The rainfall events last Friday were unusual in that … read more
scientists react to new research on annual rainfall and climate change as published in Nature
Dr Chris Huntingford, Climate Modeller, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, said: “It has now been confirmed that the burning of … read more
why we need the best journalism on public health stories
My favourite bit of Sunday is when I finally get to sneak away to a quiet corner of our house … read more
scientists react to Chief Medical Officer’s announcement on organ donation
Sir Liam Donaldson called for the law to be changed to allow a system of presumed consent for organ donation. read more
scientists respond to a report on pollutant toxicity published in the journal Science
This paper published by scientists in Canada showed that the concentration of a large number of organic chemical pollutants was higher in the bodies of animals higher up in the food chain. read more
Dolly for dinner? Cloned animals in the food chain
It is over 10 years since the birth of Dolly the cloned sheep was announced. Since then, research in the field has advanced quickly and it is predicted that cloned meat will enter the foodchain, somewhere in the world, in the next 5 years. Before then it is likely that the offspring of cloned animals will be introduced. The Science Media Centre invited experts on animal cloning and biotechnology to brief the media on issues including how soon cloned meat could enter the food chain and what the potential benefits of this could be in terms of the cost and environmental impact of food. read more
farming and climate change
The Science Media Centre invited five of Europe’s leading agricultural scientists to brief the media about how farming can be made into a tool to mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change and how plant science is being developed to ensure that our crops (and those of the developing world) can adapt to a changing climate. read more
media briefing with the Centre for Alternative Technology
The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) presented ‘zerocarbonbritain’, a blueprint for Britain to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2027. The report draws on CAT’s 35 years of experience and consultations with world-renowned experts in climate science, climate policy and renewable energy technologies. zerocarbonbritain is based on a reading of the most recent science and is driven by bold new policies. Using only existing and proven technologies, the report maps a potential scenario that could arise from these policies and integrates solutions to the intimately connected issues of climate change, energy security and global equity. read more
comments on the effect of complementary therapy on the success of IVF treatment
An expert in complementary medicine responds to a study presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology which suggested that complementary therapy adversely affected the success rate of IVF treatment. read more
new study on preimplantation genetic screening
Scientists commented on work presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology which cast doubts on the effectiveness of preimplantation genetic screening. read more
a potential treatment for endometriosis
An expert in reproductive science comments on findings presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology that a class of drugs known as dopamine agonists form an effective treatment for the gynaecological condition endometriosis. read more
scientists react to news of birth from matured, frozen eggs
The birth of a baby girl, now one year old, from an egg which had been matured in vitro and frozen before being fertilised was announced at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. read more