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 PM’s decision to abolish NHS England. Prof Azeem Majeed FMedSci, Head of the Department of … read more
Scientists comment on a WHO report on the number of measles cases in Europe in 2024. Prof Helen Bedford, … read more
A study published in Psychological Medicine looks at self-reported experiences with antidepressants. Prof Sarah Bailey, Professor of Neuropharmacology and Engagement, … read more
A report published by the British Geological Survey looks at the UK’s demand for critical minerals. Prof Joan Cordiner … read more
A study published in BMJ Mental Health looks at the change in rates of ADHD prescriptions from April 2019-March 2024. … read more
A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology looks at the possibility of microplastics contributing to AMR. Prof Shilpa Chokshi, … read more
A study published in PNAS looks at the potential relationship between microplastic pollution and photosynthesis activity. Prof Richard Lampitt, Research … read more
Scientists comment on the collision between a cargo vessel and an oil tanker in the North Sea. Simon Bray, … read more
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine looks at butter and plant based oils intake and mortality. Prof Sarah Berry, … read more
Scientists comment on Copernicus data reporting global sea ice cover is at a record low, and that February was the third warmest … read more
An observational study published in PLOS One looks at menopause symptom severity and late-life cognitive function and behavioural impairment. … read more
A study published in Nature suggests that Asprin enhances the immune response against cancer metastasis in mice. Dr Harvey Roweth, a … read more
A cohort study published in JAMA Network Open looks at the association between vaping and smoking cessation rates. Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, … read more
An unpublished preprint uploaded to BioRXiv looks at gene editing in mice to create woolly mammoth-like hair phenotypes. Dr … read more
Scientists comment on the potential of a second norovirus wave. Dr Damien Tully, Associate Professor at the Medical Research Council/Uganda … read more
A modelling study published in Nature suggests that Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may withstand climate extremes. Dr Alessandro Silvano, Oceanographer, … read more
New research published in Cell found a bat-infecting coronavirus can enter human cells in a similar way to COVID-19. Dr … read more
Scientists comment to an unknown disease breakout in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Dr Amanda Rojek, Senior Clinical … read more
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looks at continuous glucose monitors in people without diabetes. Dr … read more
Scientists comment on the Seventh Carbon Budget, published by the Climate Change Committee. Prof John Barrett, Professor in Energy … read more
