Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to latest technical report on avian flu
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published* a new technical report on the risk to human health from avian … read more
expert reaction to ONS data on risk of death following COVID-19 vaccination or positive SARS-CoV-2 test in young people, England: 8 December 2020 to 25 May 2022
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released* a statistical bulletin estimating the risk of all-cause and cardiac death in … read more
expert reaction to study of teen vaping and persistent smoking in the US
A study, published in JAMA Network Open*, has looked at any link between teen vaping levels and persistent adolescent cigarette smoking … read more
expert reaction to study looking at physical exercise and cognition
A study, published in Nature Human Behaviour*, has looked at a potential link between physical exercise and cognition. Prof Eef … read more
expert reaction to Poole harbour pipeline spill
Poole Harbour Commissioners have announced* that 200 barrels of “reservoir fluid” have leaked from a pipeline into the harbour. … read more
expert reaction to the news that the government are to ban nitrous oxide/laughing gas as part of their antisocial behaviour action plan
The UK government has announced* that possession of nitrous oxide for human consumption will be made a criminal offence. … read more
expert reaction to latest ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey, UK: 24 March 2023, which is the final weekly Infection Survey release
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released* the final COVID-19 Infection Survey data set. Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter, … read more
expert reaction to precision breeding bill passed into law
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act has been granted Royal Assent and passed into law in the UK today. … read more
Brain Prize 2023 – Announcement of Winners
The Brain Prize is awarded by the Lundbeck Foundation in Denmark and is worth more than £1m (€1.3m). Awarded annually, … read more
expert reaction to US study looking at safety and effectiveness of new sperm sex selection technique in couples undergoing ICSI IVF cycles
A study published in PLOS ONE looks at the safety and efficacy of a novel sperm sex selection technique. … read more
expert reaction to review of global literature on social media use, body image and eating disorders in young people
A scoping review published in PLOS Global Public Health investigates the association between social media, body image and eating disorders … read more
Hormonal contraceptives and breast cancer incidence
While there is substantial evidence suggesting an association between the use of combined oral contraceptives, containing both oestrogen and progestogen, … read more
expert reaction to study looking at the association between hormonal contraceptive use and breast cancer incidence
A study published in PLOS Medicine looks at combined and progestagen-only hormonal contraceptives and breast cancer risk. This Roundup accompanied … read more
What has happened to alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations in Scotland since minimum unit pricing was brought in?
Minimum unit pricing for alcohol was brought in in Scotland by the Scottish government in May 2018 – a minimum … read more
expert reaction to study looking at alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations in Scotland since the minimum unit pricing for alcohol policy was introduced
An observational study published in the Lancet looks at alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations in Scotland since the minimum unit pricing … read more
expert reaction to systematic review of studies which look at viewing self harm material online and associated psychological impacts
A systematic review published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry looks at the impact of viewing self-harm images on … read more
IPCC AR6 – Synthesis Report
The Synthesis Report is the final part of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). It is fully based on the … read more
expert reaction to the AR6 synthesis report, as published by the IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have published it’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). This Roundup accompanied an SMC Briefing. … read more
expert reaction to research on giving peanut products to babies
Research published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology looks at the window of opportunity to prevent peanut allergies. … read more
Peanut allergies and babies
Peanut allergy has seen a five-fold increase in recent decades. It now affects around one in 50 children in the … read more