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 react to reports that some countries have delayed approving the IPCC budget. Professor Ian Hall, Research Professor in Paleoclimate … read more
Scientists comment on an abstract of Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial results of an individualised mRNA vaccine for resected stage … read more
Scientist comment on a draft guidance and evidence generation plan from NICE on AI technologies to help detect prostate … read more
Scientists react to the first ever human infected with Shamonda virus. Prof Heather Ferguson, Professor of Infectious Disease … read more
Scientists react to the PHP cybersecurity issue that led to website being taken offline worldwide. Prof Raj Rajarajan, … read more
Scientists comment on a case-cohort study, published in European Urology, identifying circulating proteins associated with future prostate cancer diagnosis. … read more
Scientists comment on a cohort study, published in JAMA, investigating childhood cancer risk after assisted reproductive technology. Prof Jason … read more
Scientists comment on a study of vascular function and cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults who vape, as published in … read more
Scientists react to government approval of Jackdaw gas field. Dr Mark Ireland, Senior Lecturer in Energy Geoscience at … read more
Scientists comment on a study looking at habitual tea drinking and risk of cardiovascular disease, as published in the Journal … read more
Scientists comment on an observational study, which was published in British Journal of Psychiatry, on ‘circadian subtype’ of depression. … read more
Scientists comment on a press release from the Menopause Society about testosterone therapy and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women, … read more
Scientists comment on a study, published in Lancet Digital Health, testing an AI tool using a face photograph to predict … read more
Scientists comment on a study, published in JAMA Network Open, looking at ultraprocessed food intake and body fat and visceral adipose tissue, … read more
Scientists comment on a US study investigating colorectal incidence and total ultra-processed food intake, as published in PLOS Medicine. … read more
Scientists comment on an observational study, published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, investigating caffeine consumption in adolescents, sleep and … read more
Scientists comment on a study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, linking GLP-1s to reduced need for acute psychiatric care for … read more
Scientists comment on the independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism: final report and recommendations. Prof … read more
Scientists comment on a press release and analysis about cancer cases in the under 50s in England from the World … read more
Scientists react to media reports of Russian researcher dying of suspected plague bacteria. Prof Piero Olliaro, Professor of Poverty-Related … read more
