Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to poll indicating that people struggle to see the benefits of R&D
The results of a poll by the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) as part of their Discovery Decade project … read more
Net zero aviation fuels
A new Royal Society policy briefing explores the resource and infrastructure requirements, environmental impacts, and outstanding research questions for the … read more
expert reaction to news reports that a Northern Ireland Brexit deal has been agreed between the UK government and the EU
The new deal was announced by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President of the European Commission Ursula von der … read more
expert reaction to study looking at an artificial sweetener (erythritol) and cardiovascular disease events
A study published in Nature Medicine looks at the artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk. Prof Nita Forouhi, … read more
expert reaction to mouse study on mechanisms of head injury and risk of brain cancer (and observations from human dataset)
A study published in Current Biology looks at mechanisms of head injury and risk of brain cancer. Dr Mark … read more
expert reaction to study looking at the association of frequent aspirin use with ovarian cancer risk
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at aspirin use and risk of ovarian cancer. Marie-Claire Platt, Head … read more
expert reaction to US study looking at the association of long-term exposure to particulate air pollution with cardiovascular events
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at long-term exposure to particulate air pollution in California and cardiovascular events. … read more
expert reaction to the H5N1 situation following the death of a girl in Cambodia
It has been reported that an 11-year-old girl in Cambodia has died after being infected with H5N1 avian influenza virus. … read more
expert reaction to study looking at making an electrically conducting soft polymer in a living tissue
A study published in Science looks at in vivo fabrication of substrate-free organic bioelectronics. Prof Tara Spires-Jones, President-elect of the … read more
expert reaction to conference presentation on the possibility of a UK prostate cancer screening programme
A poster abstract (not a peer-reviewed paper) presented at the ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium looks at prostate cancer screening. … read more
evidence to DCMS select committee on misinformation and trusted voices
In July 2022, the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation launched an … read more
expert reaction to reports that £1.6 Billion of R&D funding has been returned to the Treasury
A press release from the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) states that Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy … read more
ChatGPT and other language models: are journalists out of a job?
This was a joint briefing with The Alan Turing Institute. ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI that … read more
expert reaction to electrical stimulation of the spinal cord for upper limb recovery after stroke in 2 patients
A study published in Nature Medicine looks at the use of epidural stimulation of the spinal cord for post-stroke upper-limb … read more
expert reaction to Prof Dame Angela McLean being appointed as the next UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser
The Cabinet Secretary has announced the appointment of Professor Dame Angela McLean as the new Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GSCA). … read more
expert reaction to study on association between alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy and children’s face shapes
A study, published in Human Reproduction, has investigated a possible association between alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy and children’s … read more
expert reaction to NICE draft guidance for tixagevimab-cilgavimab (Evusheld) for preventing COVID-19
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published draft guidance on the drug Evusheld for adults who … read more
expert reaction to modelling study of Antarctic/Greenland ice sheets and sea level rise
A study published in Nature Communications models changing Antarctic/Greenland ice sheets and future sea-level projections. Dr Robin Smith, National … read more
expert reaction to study on association of long term exposure to air pollution and depression in later life
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at long-term exposure to air pollution and late-life depression in older adults … read more
avian influenza – a devastating pandemic for birds and threat for global health?
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) has been causing outbreaks in wild birds and farmed poultry for decades. In … read more