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.
A study published in the Critical Reviews in Food Science & Nutrition looks at the risks and benefits of vegan diets in … read more
Scientists comment on the UK Health Security Agency’s flu and COVID-19 surveillance report. Prof Antonia Ho, Professor and Honorary … read more
Scientists comment on the latest NHS data on the current flu season. Prof Ed Hutchinson, Professor of Molecular and … read more
Scientists comment on reports that campaigners are beginning legal action to halt the Pathways trial of puberty blockers. Prof … read more
A systematic review and network meta-analysis published in Lancet Psychiatry looks at antidepressant deprescribing strategies. Prof Christiaan Vinkers, psychiatrist and Professor … read more
A study published in Nature looks at fasting and hormone therapy response for breast cancer in mice. Dr Charlie Birts, Lecturer … read more
A study published in Nature looks at the gut microorganisms associated with markers of health. Dr Fred Warren, Group Leader, … read more
A study published in Ageing looks at looks at a compound found in cocoa and biological ageing. Dr Dimitrios Koutoukidis, Associate … read more
A study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research looks at outcomes from dual use of cigarettes and vapes. Prof Caitlin … read more
Scientists comment on a sperm donor carrying a cancer causing gene mutation used to conceive children. Prof Allan Pacey, … read more
A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health looks at an association between prenatal BPA exposure and early childhood behaviour. … read more
A study published in the NEJM looks at universal base-edited CAR7 T cells for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Dr Rubina … read more
A study published in PNAS looks at PFAS-contaminated drinking water and harms in infants. Dr Ovokeroye Abafe, Lecturer in Environmental Sciences, Civil … read more
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at home-based gamma transcranial alternative current stimulation for Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr Sheona Scales, … read more
Scientists comment on the US CDC vaccine panel voting to end Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for newborn babies. Dr … read more
Scientists comment on a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announcement that a new mpox strain has been identified in England. … read more
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at PFAS exposure and endocrine disruption in women. Prof Oliver Jones, Professor of … read more
Scientists comment on reports of an IT outage at Edinburgh Airport. Rimesh Patel, a member of the Institution of … read more
Scientists comment on the Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report for 2025: Infections. Professor Arne Akbar, Chair of the British Society for … read more
Scientists comment on the launch of an independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and … read more
