Rapid Reactions: responding to breaking news. The demands of the 24-hour media machine mean that news journalists often don’t have the luxury of time to track down the best scientists when a science story lands on their desks, so availability can sometimes win out over expertise. This is where the Science Media Centre steps in. When a story breaks – whether it’s the latest flu epidemic, health scare or a potential nuclear crisis – the SMC persuades leading experts to drop everything and engage with the story, then contacts journalists at all the major news outlets to offer those experts for interviews or immediate comment.
Roundups: putting new research into context. One of the other ways the SMC ensures that the media have easy access to scientists and their views is by offering journalists a variety of comments from scientists reacting to the latest research. This service differs from our ‘Rapid Reactions’ as scientists have time to react before new research is announced, rather than in response to breaking news.
With access to embargoed journals before publication, we can pick stories of most interest to journalists, asking third party experts to provide comments and information to put research into context before it appears in the media. The SMC’s unique Roundups help busy journalists critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of new research, and highlight when studies are very preliminary or display a correlation that should not be read as causation. Equally, when leading scientists are excited about a significant study this can reassure journalists that the study should feature strongly in their coverage.
Scientists comment on the extreme amber and red heat warnings issued by the Met Office for the week beginning 22nd … read more
A study published in Nature looks at base editing and the role of a key gene in embryo development. Dr Helen … read more
Scientists comment on a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Venezuela. Professor Domniki Asimaki, Chair in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Imperial College … read more
A study published in the BMJ assesses the early effects of Australia’s social media ban on adolescents’ social media use. Prof … read more
Scientists comment on France confirming an Ebola case. Prof Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine, UEA, said: “In any Ebola … read more
A study published in Nature Medicine looks at biological ageing and early-onset cancer risk. Dr John Riches, Clinical Reader in Cancer … read more
Scientists comment on the recent train crash that occurred between Bedford and London. Blane Judd CEng FIET HonFIRSE, Chief … read more
Scientists comment on an update from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the PATHWAYS trial of puberty … read more
A study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine looks at bending over during pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage. Prof Asma … read more
Scientists comment on two medical AI models, published in Nature, for patient management. Comments from our friends at SMC Spain: … read more
A cohort study published in JAMA Network Open looks at gestational exposure to environmental chemicals and birth outcomes. Prof Oliver Jones, … read more
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at use of the combined oral contraceptive pill and binge eating. Rachel Richardson, … read more
An observational study published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe looks at prevalence and diagnosis trends of ADHD. Dr Rachel Moseley, … read more
Scientists comment on the UK Government announcing a social media ban for under-16s. Dr Madeline G. Reinecke, Postdoctoral Researcher … read more
Scientists comment on speculation of a social media ban for under-16s. Dr Holly Bear Senior Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of … read more
An unpublished conference abstract presented at ENDO conference 2026 looks at anxiety behaviours of offspring rats from mothers exposed to … read more
Scientists comment on the Department of Health and Social Care (DSHC) announcing a one-off meningitis vaccination programme for young people. … read more
Scientists comment on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approving the first GLP-1 receptor agonist oral pill. … read more
Scientists comment on the latest measles figures published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Graham Blair, Chief Executive … read more
Two studies published in The Lancet look at AstraZeneca’s GLP-1 pill elecoglipron for weight loss and lowering blood-sugar in adults with and … read more
