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 Merck (known as MSD in Europe) withdrawing from its planned £1bn London research centre. Richard Torbett, … read more
A study published in JAMA compares the use of biparametric vs multiparametric MRI for prostate cancer diagnosis. Prof Freddie Hamdy, Nuffield … read more
A study published in Frontiers in Science looks at different polar geoengineering techniques. Prof Matthew Watson, Professor of Volcanoes and Climate, … read more
A cohort study published in Annals of Internal Medicine looks at CT scans before pregnancy and birth defects and miscarriage risk. … read more
Scientists comment on claims made about mRNA vaccines by Dr Aseem Malhotra at the Reform Party Conference. Prof Anne … read more
Scientists comment on the Alan Turing Institute announcing that their CEO, Dr Jean Innes is stepping down. Prof Harin … read more
A study published in Nature looks at planetary limit for geologic carbon storage. Prof Stuart Haszeldine, Professor of Carbon Capture and … read more
Scientists comment on a Government (Department of Health and Social Care) proposal to ban energy drink sales for under 16s. … read more
A study published in Brain Communications looks at a brainwave test to measure memory decline years before Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Prof Vladimir … read more
Scientists comment on the Met Office confirming that 2025 was the UKs warmest summer on record. Prof Tim Palmer, … read more
Scientists comment on a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan. Dr Brian Baptie, Seismologist at British Geological Survey, said: “The … read more
A phase III trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2025, and published in The New England … read more
Scientists comment on a press release from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) that says the chickenpox vaccination … read more
Scientists comment on UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data on childhood vaccine uptake between April 2024 to March 2025. … read more
Two studies published in BMJ Mental Health and Psychological Medicine looks at first use cannabis and mental health outcomes, childhood trauma, paranoia and cannabis … read more
A study published in Nature Medicine looks at the first pig-to-human lung transplant into a brain dead recipient. Comments gathered … read more
Scientists comment on two papers and a preprint that assess the impact of legislation on foods high in fat salt … read more
An observational study published in JAMA Oncology looks at GLP-1 receptor agonists and cancer risk in adults with obesity. Prof Paul … read more
A study published in Nature identifies a potential drug target (a neuronal polyamine transporter) for chronic pain. Dr Franziska Denk, Senior … read more
A modelling study published in Geophysical Research Letters looks at Arctic sea ice loss in the last 20 years. Dr … read more
