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 PLOS Medicine looks at sleep types (REM/deep sleep) and risk of diseases. Dr Nina Rzechorzek, MRC Clinician … read more
Scientists comment on a study, published in Nature, that reports on work where scientists have transplanted human brain derived organoids … read more
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health looks at environmental exposure to air pollutants … read more
Scientists comment on an observational study in European Heart Journal on light exposure at night and changes to heart structure … read more
Scientists comment on study in JAMA Psychiatry on changes in characteristics associated with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses over … read more
Scientists comment on a study in Human Reproduction Open on paracetamol in pregnancy and ovarian development / uterine volume in … read more
Scientists comment on a prospective analysis of hot drinks and oesophageal cancer as published in International Journal of Cancer. … read more
Scientists react to study exploring potential relation between global and regional burden of colorectal cancer and Helicobacter pylori exposure, as … read more
Scientists comment on study in JAMA Neurology looking at carbon monoxide exhalations levels and risk of Parkinson’s disease Dr Michael … read more
Scientists comment on an unpublished study presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress about semaglutide and asthma attacks in people … read more
Scientist comments on an unpublished study exploring microplastic burden in lungs found in lung cancer diagnosis, as presented at the … read more
Scientists comment on news from UKHSA that an invasive mosquito species (Aedes aegypti) has been detected in east London … read more
A study published in Journal of Translational Medicine looks at shared biological mechanisms between ME/CFS, Long COVID, PTSD, Rheumatoid Arthritis, … read more
Scientists comment on a paper published in Nature exploring the effect of GLP-1R activating drug treatment on ageing and lifespan. … read more
Scientist comments on study on perinatal depression and infant mortality, as published in JAMA Network Open. Prof Stella Chan, Charlie … read more
experts comment on a United Nations Environment Programme report on overshooting 1.5C Prof Richard Betts, Chair in Climate Impacts … read more
Scientists comment on flash floods in Nepal. On the barrier lake: Prof Maria Shahgedanova, Professor of Climate Science at the … read more
A study published in Cell Metabolism looks at the Keto diet and its associated health benefits compared to other weight-loss … read more
Scientists comment on an open letter to the DESNZ Secretary of State urging strict conditions if Rosebank and Jackdaw oil … read more
An RCT published in The Lancet Psychiatry looks at a trial of Open Dialogue vs standard NHS treatments for adults … read more
