Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: 15 October 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released provisional counts of the number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the … read more
Can the world get to net zero?
We increase the total amount of carbon in the atmosphere every year. How can the planet achieve net zero – … read more
Study looking at COVID-19 vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and rare neurological complications
Scientists undertook a self-controlled case series to investigate the risk of developing neurological complications within 28 days of a first … read more
expert reaction to study looking at rare neurological complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination
A study published in Nature Medicine looks at neurological complications after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines and after SARS-CoV-2 … read more
expert reaction to data from ONS on vaccination and self-reported long-COVID
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest estimates of the association between COVID-19 vaccination and self-reported long COVID … read more
expert reaction to the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has published its report on the state of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere based on … read more
expert comment about SPI-M-O: Summary of modelling for scenarios for COVID-19 autumn and winter 2021 to 2022, 13 October 2021
A paper from the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, Operational sub-group (SPI-M-O) has been published that summarises modelling for … read more
expert comments about booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, including what we know about whether six months is the best gap between second and booster dose
Some general comments from scientists following news that Ministers are considering cutting waiting time for COVID-19 booster vaccines from 6 … read more
expert reaction to latest batch of SAGE minutes published, ‘S181 SAGE 96 minutes’
The record of the discussion that took place at SAGE’s ninety-sixth meeting has been published. Prof Jim Naismith, Director … read more
expert reaction to latest data from the ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor … read more
expert reaction to draft NICE guideline on ‘Medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: safe prescribing and withdrawal management for adults’
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have published draft guidelines calling for healthcare professionals to use shared … read more
expert reaction to BBC/Greenpeace exposé of governments lobbying IPCC climate science
The leak of documents shows a number of countries and organisations arguing that the world does not need to reduce … read more
expert reaction to media reports about US surgeons testing attaching a pig kidney to a brain-dead human patient with signs of kidney dysfunction
There have been news reports revealing that surgeons in New York have successfully attached a kidney grown in a genetically … read more
expert reaction to government announcement that it’s secured deals on 2 COVID-19 antivirals – molnupiravir and PF-07321332 /ritonavir
The UK government has announced deals for Covid-19 antivirals molnupiravir (from Merck) and PF-07321332 /ritonavir (from Pfizer). Prof Penny … read more
expert reaction to study looking at diet and tumour growth in mice
A study published in Nature looks at diet influence on tumour growth in mice. Dr George Poulogiannis, Leader of … read more
expert reaction to current COVID-19 situation in the UK and call from the NHS Confederation to implement Plan B
The NHS confederation has called to enact ‘Plan B plus’ to avoid ‘stumbling into winter crisis’. Dr Julian Tang, … read more
expert reaction to study of retired male elite rugby players looking at concussions, length of career and cognitive function in later life
A study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association looks at concussion and long-term cognitive function … read more
expert reaction to 223 COVID-19 deaths reported on Tuesday 19th October
A comment from Dr Jason Oke and Dr Julian Tang on the latest daily COVID-19 death statistic, as published on … read more
expert reaction to study on vaping and staying off cigarettes
A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at incidence of cigarette smoking relapse among individuals who switched to e-cigarettes … read more
expert reaction to study looking at how glycoproteins on the surface of viruses may aid spread of protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative diseases
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that glycoproteins on the surface of viruses, which aid their entry into target … read more