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 a meningitis cases confirmed in Reading. Dr Eliza Gil, Clinical Lecturer at the London School of … read more
Scientists comment on an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Dr Anne Cori (and team*), Associate … read more
Scientists comment on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) report on nicotine pouches. Dr Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Assistant Professor of Health … read more
An updated review published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews looks at prostate cancer screening and mortality. Dr Adam Brentnall, … read more
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet looks at antidepressant use in pregnancy and the risk of autism and … read more
An unpublished conference abstract presented at the European Congress on Obesity 2026 looked at rapid versus gradual weight loss and … read more
Scientists comment on the latest hantavirus update from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on individuals returning home to complete … read more
Scientists comment on the King’s speech for the opening of parliament. Sir John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the … read more
A study in Nature looks at global obesity trends in developed and developing nations. Dr Marie Spreckley, Research Programme Manager, University … read more
An observational study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine looks at associations between maternal occupation and autism diagnoses in children. … read more
A randomised controlled trial published in Nature Medicine looks at pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT for weight loss maintenance in people with overweight … read more
A randomised controlled trial published in Nature Medicine looks at the use of Orforflipron for maintenance of body weight reduction. … read more
A study published in Environmental Sciences: Advances looks at the occurrence of PFAS in London drinking water. Prof Oliver Jones, Professor … read more
An unpublished conference abstract presented at the European Congress on Obesity looks at an association between polyphenol intake and a … read more
A study published in Nature Medicine looks at an association between GLP-1 use and breast cancer survival and recurrence. Dr Mangesh … read more
Scientists comment on reports that a French and American passenger have developed symptoms and tested positive for Hantavirus. Dr … read more
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal looks at an association between endometriosis in mothers and children born with congenital … read more
Scientists gave their comments as the MV Hondius arrived in the Canary Islands and passengers were due to be taken … read more
Scientists gave comments on the first complete sequence of the hantavirus from the current cluster related to the MV Hondius … read more
Scientists comment on a statement from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on hantavirus, travel arrangements and isolation for British … read more
