E-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are alternatives to traditional tobacco that have grown in popularity in recent years. Proponents claim that they serve to "reduce harm" and help quit smoking, while opponents claim that there is no evidence of benefit and that they can introduce young people, non-smokers and ex-smokers to tobacco.

Journalists are not the only generators of information content, but they certainly are the ones who are trained to select, channel, and amplify truthful information and combat misinformation. In crisis situations, where scientific evidence guides decision-making, science communication to society takes on an almost strategic role. Here are some key points for scientists talking to journalists at such times.

Every day, all over the world, hundreds of press releases about scientific studies travel from the communication offices of research centres to the computers of journalists. Their mission is to attract the attention of their recipients and eventually get their stories published by the media. Here are some tips on this process.

Arriving at an interview without nerves helps to convey messages clearly and, if the topic calls for it, with some emotion. Communication is human: the warmer it is, the more powerful. It is worth taking a moment to prepare. 

More and more scientists are becoming aware of the need to improve the relationship between the public and science, and of the fact that contributing to improving the scientific culture of society is for the good of all of us. The popularisation of science is experiencing a magnificent golden age. It is, however, a different activity from science journalism. Here we explain why. 

The European spacecraft that was to investigate whether Mars harboured life in the past will no longer fly. The satellite that was to study dark energy in the universe is delayed and a robotic telescope at the Teide Observatory stops working. Europe used to spend tens of millions of euros on scientific collaboration with Russia. But no more.  

Today the International Space Station (ISS) is completely dependent on Russia to keep it in orbit. Space X spacecraft, which NASA contracts, carry astronauts but cannot propel the ISS to maintain its altitude. A new American spacecraft, Cygnus, which has already conducted a successful propulsion test, is expected to be able to do so.

The Joint European Torus (JET) has achieved a relevant scientific milestone related to energy production from nuclear fusion reactions. The results confirm some of the technological options selected for the large international ITER experiment. Spain has proposed to build a scientific facility in Granada to develop materials with which to build future reactors.

More than two million doses of the vaccine from US company Novavax are expected to arrive in Spain soon. Nuvaxovid, or NVX-CoV2373, became the fifth vaccine approved in Europe against covid-19 on 20 December. We tell you how it differs from those already available, how it is produced and why it is especially important for countries with fewer resources.

The WHO recommends keeping an eye on the BA.2 variant of Omicron because it is spreading, but it does not appear to cause more serious disease or escape vaccination. Don't be fooled by its evocative nickname: it is perfectly detectable. The misconception that tests do not identify it was propagated by a headline that was corrected.