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 Cochrane review looks at calorie labelling and food choices. Dr Sally Moore, Lecturer in Nutritional Science; Registered Dietitian; … read more
Data published by the Met Office looks at the carbon dioxide forecast for 2025. Prof Kevin Anderson, Professor of … read more
A global commission published in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology looks at the definition and diagnosis of clinical obesity. Prof Simon … read more
Scientists comment on the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Louis Barson, Director of … read more
Scientists comment on Copernicus data that says 2024 is the warmest year on record and the first year to exceed 1.5 degrees. … read more
Scientists comment on Los Angeles wildfires. Prof Apostolos Voulgarakis, Professor in Global Climate and Environmental Change, Imperial College London, … read more
A study published in Nature Communications looks at dietary patterns in women and the risk of colorectal cancer. Dr David Nunan, … read more
A study published in Science Signalling looks at brain tissue injury in a dish, and the reactivation of latent HSV-1 virus that … read more
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at maternal antidepressant and anti-Inflammatory medications and levels of nutrients in human breast milk. … read more
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics looks at the link between fluoride exposure and children’s IQ scores. Prof Kevin … read more
Scientists comment on cases of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) reported in China. Prof Antonia Ho, Professor and Hononary Consultant of … read more
Scientists comment on high numbers of hospitalisations from flu, as reported by NHS England. Punam Mangtani, Professor in Epidemiology … read more
A study published in Wiley Cancer looks at the link between drinking coffee or tea and risk of head and neck … read more
Experts commented on the Government’s plans to completely ban neonicotinoids. Dr Philip Donkersley, Senior Researcher in Ecology and Evolution … read more
A study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia looks at the link between gut infection and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. … read more
A study in JAMA Network Open looks at self-reported physical function in long Covid patients after participating in an outpatient rehabilitation … read more
Scientists comment on the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment. Dr Lisa Norton, Agro-ecologist, senior scientist, UK Centre for Ecology & … read more
A study published in the European Heart Journal looks at wine consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Rachel Richardson, … read more
A network meta-analysis published in the Lancet looks at pharmacological, psychological, and neurostimulatory interventions for ADHD in adults. Prof Philip Shaw, … read more
Scientists comment on the IPBES Nexus Report on Biodiversity. Prof John Spicer, Professor of Marine Zoology, University of Plymouth, … read more
