Covering current events in science, the environment, technology and health requires a context and reliable sources that respond quickly.
When science hits the headlines, we publish reactions, explanations, and in-depth analysis from reliable sources, capturing both the evidence and the debates. Our library of science journalism resources and the briefings may be of use to you. Consult our directory of research centres.
We are on the lookout for any controversial information about science (embargoed or not), in order to react with the agility the media needs. Sign up to receive our embargoed contents, all under the Creative Commons licence. Find out more about how we work here.
Research published in PNAS shows how, in a sample of more than 1,600 racially diverse (black and white) parents in the United States, freedom of school choice, regardless of the presence of students of other ethnicities, also increases segregation. The authors attribute this to different preferences between black parents, who favour higher school ratings, and white parents, who prefer proximity to the school.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has authorised the administration of monkeypox vaccine intradermally rather than subcutaneously. This will allow more people to be vaccinated in the absence of doses, but effectiveness and safety data are limited. The Public Health Commission has decided to follow this strategy except for pregnant women and immunocompromised persons.
The report Women Researchers 2022 highlights the fact that the presence of women in decision-making positions and in scientific and innovative leadership at the CSIC has increased. Among the shadows, the persistent under-representation of women researchers and the difficulty in achieving a gender balance in all scientific ranks, especially in research professorships.
In the United States, the human papillomavirus vaccine began to be recommended in 2006 for girls aged 9-26 years. A study published in the journal JAMA Health Forum concludes that the campaign significantly reduced the risk of HPV infection in vaccinated women. In addition, herd immunity reduced the likelihood of infection in unvaccinated women.
Research published in the journal Cell has found a link between the intake of the sweeteners saccharin and sucralose with changes in the gut microbiota that may lead to altered glucose metabolism.
A study published in The Lancet finds that 44.4% of cancer deaths worldwide are due to preventable risk factors, especially smoking, alcohol consumption and being overweight.
A study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment (from Nature Research) estimates that a reduction of 686 million tonnes of carbon emissions could be achieved each year if the world followed a cycling pattern similar to that of the Netherlands (2.6 kilometres per day). This is about 20 % of the carbon emissions produced by the global passenger car fleet in 2015.
The lack of rainfall and the decrease in available water resources have caused 47% of European territory to be on drought pre-alert and 17% to be on alert. The lesser experience of northern countries in managing this phenomenon and the high vulnerability of southern regions mean that this drought is having a major impact on various economic sectors, in addition to supply cuts.
After the scientific success and popularity of the Hubble and James Webb space megatelescopes, there are other smaller telescopes with important missions. This is the case of the European Space Agency's PLATO, whose telescopes will have the challenge of searching for exoplanets by monitoring hundreds of thousands of stars.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved an updated version of the covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna that also targets the omicron variant. It is intended to serve as a booster dose for adults.