Author Archives: Science Media Centre
scientists react to Prince Charles’ comments on GM
The Prince of Wales, among other comments, described GM as potentially “the biggest environmental disaster of all time” and industrial farming techniques as producing “dysfunctional conurbations of unmentionable awfulness”. He also linked GM crops with climate change. A number of top scientists set him straight. read more
an expert comments on the story of the UK’s first baby born from a fast-frozen embryo
The baby was born following IVF treatment using a technique that involves the fast-freezing of embryos to reduce damage caused by the freezing process, and was reported as being the first case of its kind in the UK. read more
experts comment on research into causes of joint symptoms in post-menopausal women, as published in The Lancet Oncology
The research draws a link between obesity, HRT and treatment with aromatase inhibitors, which together may amount to an increased risk of joint symptoms in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. read more
experts comment on research into a link between poor coordination in childhood and obesity in later life, as published in the British Medical Journal
The study suggested that children with poor coordination could be at higher risk of becoming obese later in life. read more
experts react to BMJ papers on infertility treatments found to be unlikely to improve fertility
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have found that two commonly used fertility treatments, intra-uterine insemination and the drug clomid, are unlikely to improve the likelihood of pregnancy. The study is published in the British Medical Journal. read more
experts comment on the Kingsnorth power plant in advance of the Climate Camp beginning Sunday 3rd August
The proposed Kingsnorth coal fired power station has added to the debate over the role of coal in the UK’s energy supply, and of new technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. read more
mother earth naked – a modern masterpiece
This briefing, run with the British Geological Survey, unveiled some of the early results from the world’s biggest ever geological mapping project, OneGeology, which will produce the first digital geological map of the world on the internet. read more
water footprinting
With all the recent discussion about human impact on the environment through carbon and the use of fuel, another key resource has often been overlooked: water. Water is becoming increasingly scarce, and there are profound implications for this in the future as the world’s population grows. This briefing explored the issues surrounding the strategic importance of this most precious of natural resources. read more
GM field trials – what future after latest trials destroyed?
As Government ministers call for the re-opening of the debate on GM crops, various questions have been raised over whether GM technology can deliver on its potential without a negative impact on biodiversity and the wider environment. After his recent trial of nematode-resistant potatoes was destroyed by anti-GM activists, the SMC invited Prof Atkinson to discuss his work and how his research has been set back by this. read more
experts comment on advice given by Ronald Herberman on mobile phone use and cancer risk
Dr Herberman, the director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, advised employees that they should limit their use of mobile phones because of the potential link to some types of cancer. read more
exciting advance in cancer research: new drug treatment unveiled
This briefing, run in collaboration with the Institute for Cancer Research, announced groundbreaking research revealing a drug that rapidly treats an aggressive and almost always fatal type of common prostate cancer. read more
Home Office annual report on the statistics on the use of animals in scientific research
The Home Office, in conjunction with the Science Media Centre, held this briefing to announce the annual statistics on the use of animals in research, including details of the numbers of animals used and the numbers of procedures carried out. read more
independent cancer experts comment on the ICR/Royal Marsden announcement on research into a new prostate cancer therapy
Independent experts react to the announcement of a new treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer, which took place at the Science Media Centre. read more
scientists react to Ofcom’s ruling on Channel 4’s The Great Global Warming Swindle
After a lengthy period of consideration, Ofcom ruled that the programme was in breach of broadcasting rules over impartiality and treated its interviewees unfairly, but that it did not mislead audiences ‘so as to cause harm or offence.’ read more
the best of neuroscience: research from this year’s Forum of European Neuroscience
The possible benefits of nicotine, the biological reason why one becomes a drug addict, the link between our genes and the way we behave, and repairing the brain… New research on each of these topics was announced at this year’s Forum of European Neuroscience (12 – 16 July), and the researchers came to the Science Media Centre to talk about their research beforehand. read more
is the model for assessing which kids foods are healthy enough to be advertised on TV working?
This briefing coincided with a review of the Nutrient Profiling Model, which was set up by the Food Standards Agency to establish a standard to determine which children’s foods are healthy enough to be advertised on television. The FSA has set up another panel to carry out this review, and two members of the panel discussed their findings and the broader issues involved. read more
UK’s leading nuclear physicists ‘seriously concerned’ by crisis in university research funding
Nuclear physicists react to the ‘long-term impact’ on the lack of funding for nuclear research among UK universities. They say that research programmes are unable to continue by UK researchers due to the cuts in funding. read more
experts comment on the DEFRA announcement on Bovine TB
The Government has decided not to press ahead with plans for a cull of badgers to control bovine tuberculosis, following advice from the Independent Scientific Group, which was set up to examine evidence on the issue. read more
experts comment on the Nature paper forecasting aftershocks in the Sichuan basin
Following on from the devastating earthquake in the Chinese province of Sichuan, scientists writing in Nature have predicted the possibility of significant aftershocks, following on from the initial impact. read more
‘Who Owns Science?’ Launch of the new Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation
Sir John Sulston, the Nobel prize-winning geneticist who lead the UK project to decode the human genome, has, together with bioethicist John Harris, established a new Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation. The new Institute will address issues surrounding the ethics and commercial treatment of science, and the role of science and innovation in society. John Sulston and John Harris came to the Science Media Centre to explain their current concerns about the commercialisation of science with a particular focus on issues like the use of patents in genetics and other areas of science. read more