The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) is an independent, non-profit service for the news media, giving journalists direct access to evidence-based science and expertise.
We aim to better inform public debate on the major issues of the day by improving links between the media and the scientific community.
US scientists report in The Lancet the first successful use of embryonic stem cells to treat eye disease (macular degeneration) in humans. The study was done on two patients with advanced eye disease, reporting some vision improvement after four months of the stem cell treatment. Below Australian and UK experts respond. read more
BACKGROUND BRIEFING - Monday January 23 at 10.45am AEDT in Sydney and online
Across the world countries are having to face the serious issue of depleting water tables as the ever-increasing thirsts of agriculture and industry compete for every drop. read more
In the ongoing debate over the benefits and harms of hormone replacement therapy, an international team of researchers has suggested that findings from the Million Women Study, which were used to establish that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) causes breast cancer, do not in fact prove a causal link.
The Russian space agency revised its predictions for re-entry of the Phobos-Grunt space probe to a 4 hour 21 minute window between 3.41am AEDT and 8.05am AEDT on Monday 16 January. According to media reports re-entry occurred over the Pacific early monday Morning Australian time. read more
US Scientists have documented cases of animal health problems which they believe have possible links to gas drilling. The report, published today in the journal New Solutions, involved interviewing the owners of animals who reported negative health effects on their animals. read more
International researchers report that the brain’s capacity for memory, reasoning and comprehension skills can start to deteriorate from age 45, which is 15 years earlier than it is normally thought to begin. They assessed the onset of cognitive decline by observing more than 7,000 men and women over a 10-year period from 1997. read more
EMBARGO LIFTED 11.00 AM AEDT Fri Jan 6 (The journal has made a special concession for Australian media on this occasion, allowing Australian newspapers to run the story on Friday as long as nothing appears online before 11am AEDT on Fri 6 Jan)
ONLINE NEWS BRIEFING - Thu Jan 5 at 10.30 AM AEDT
A series of papers to be published in the medical journal The Lancet this week puts a spotlight on the use of illicit drugs throughout the world. Focussing especially on amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, and opioids, the three part series pulls together the latest research into the social and economic costs of illicit drug abuse and the effectiveness of government policies and international treaties intended to stem the production and use of illicit drugs. read more
ONLINE BACKGROUND BRIEFING SERIES - Continuing Tuesday December 20 at 10.30am AEDT
As coal seam gas continues to gain attention and generate controversy, the AusSMC is running a series of online background briefings for journalists to help you sift through the hype and understand the facts.
Briefing 2: Water worries - Tune in to the second briefing in the series focusing on the biggest potential problems with coal seam gas extraction and groundwater read more
