Author Archives: Science Media Centre
scientists respond to Commons report on obesity
Experts responded to the publication of the House of Commons Health Committee report on obesity. read more
scientists comment on study of aspirin and rat sexual behaviour
Comments on a study of rats suggesting that expectant mothers taking aspirin may produce sons with unusually low libidos. read more
scientists comment on finding of prions in sheep, as published in Nature Medicine
An expert commented on research in Nature Medicine showing that sheep muscle contains a very low level of infectious prion agent. read more
scientists react to Lord Sainsbury’s announcement on animal research
Responses to the UK Government’s proposal to establish a national centre to promote best practice and the use of the ‘3Rs’ in animal experimentation. read more
vCJD scare – Rapid Reaction
We located experts to comment on results of tests conducted on appendix and tonsil samples which, when extrapolated to the whole population of the UK, suggest that 3,800 Britons may harbour vCJD. read more
The Day After Tomorrow – science fact or science fiction?
20th Century Fox’s latest blockbuster “The Day After Tomorrow” promises to be great entertainment but how much of it is science fact? We welcome leading climate change experts including David King, Chief Scientific Advisor, to comment on the film scenario and the real impact of global warming. read more
debate heats up on global warming flick
Reaction from the scientific community to 20th Century Fox’s latest blockbuster, the global-warming extravaganza, ‘The Day After Tomorrow’. read more
the transit of venus across the sun – a very rare astronomical event
On Tuesday 8th June we will be able to witness the first Venus transit capable of being seen in its entirety in the UK since 1283. Three distinguished speakers talk about the past, present and future of this key astronomical event. read more
diet and cancer – can what we eat really reduce our risk of getting cancer?
Leading experts present what they believe is overwhelming evidence that people can control their risk of cancer through changing their diet. read more
new Research on Malaria
Progress by the global community to halve the malaria death toll by 2010 as part of the Roll Back Malaria initiative is scandalously slow. We welcome Dr David Molyneux and Dr Vinand Nantulya to outline their research on new approaches for tackling malaria, to be published in the BMJ, and to call for a radical shift in current malaria control strategies. read more
background briefing on open access and the future of science publishing
The scientific community is involved in serious debate over the future of scientific publishing. We welcomed new research by the Wellcome Trust into the costs of open access publishing and staged a discussion on the pros and cons of the issue. read more
replacements to animal research
As Lord Sainsbury prepares to make a major announcement in response to the House of Lords recommendations on the 3Rs (Reduction, Replacement and Refinement), where are we in terms of developing alternatives to animal research and does this herald the end of using animals in science? read more
the launch of VARE
In association with the Research Defence Society we welcome people who have been subject to attacks by animal rights extremists to give their testimonies. This marked the launch of the support network Victims of Animal Rights Extremism (VARE). read more
the science behind obesity
As rates of obesity soar, we move on from alarming statistics to focus on possible solutions presented by science. Experts discuss research into genetic predisposition, hormonal triggers for hunger and the interplay between diet and hormones to give a taste of the future. read more
scientists respond to ‘Mice Without a Father’ paper published in Nature
As a laboratory mouse is born by virgin birth, the first case of successful parthenogenesis in a mammal, experts respond. read more
livestock disease: the consequence of our global farm?
We are living on a global farm. Speed of movement of animals and people and even factors like global warming mean that we can no longer be complacent about the threats posed by diseases in livestock. As the BBSRC commit £9 million to research into these diseases, experts discuss the major threats and what is being done. read more
amazon deforestation – Rapid Reaction
Experts to comment on the rate of deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon jungle as scientists voice fears of its effects on the global climate and the threat it poses to unique plant and animal species. read more
foiled chemical terrorist attack – Rapid Reaction
Chemists able to explain what osmium tetroxide is as it is implicated in a foiled terrorist attack. read more
scientists respond to publication of rat genome
The work on the rat genome was conducted by an international team, led by scientists at the US Baylor College of Medicine, and reported in the journal Nature. read more
microbicides – preventing HIV Infection
Microbicides offer a possible new way to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in the form of a cream or gel. Prior to a conference next week, scientists consider this potential. read more