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Recent Research-TV broadcast: Tuesday 8 November 2005

March 02, 2005

Research-TV produces VNRs tailor made for TV news, radio, online and written coverage. Each story highlights groundbreaking research and/or new discoveries.

The next Research-TV broadcast will take place on Tuesday 08 November 2005, 12:15 - 12:30 GMT and featured one topical health story and one topical science story.

A Happy Marriage Helps Beat Flu

Whatever the likelihood of an outbreak of avian flu this winter, the more familiar 'flu is a regular visitor among the British population at this time of year, responsible for anywhere between 200 and 30,000 deaths annually, and the health authorities continues to stress the importance of the flu jab for the over 65's.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have completed a study into whether psychological factors have an impact on people's immune response to the flu vaccine, which gives a strong indication of how well their immune system will protect them from 'flu itself.

Carried out by the University of Birmingham's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences the study measured the antibody response to the flu vaccine through taking blood samples from 184 people over the age of 65.

They also completed a questionnaire to see whether there was a correlation between immune response and people's psychological state. There were two clear findings: people who had experienced a bereavement in the previous year showed a low immune response, and people who described themselves as happily married showed a high level of immune response, meaning that they were better equipped to fight flu.

Footage:
"¢Close up flu leaflets
"¢Flu jab syringe
"¢Flu Leaflets
"¢External shots Birmingham City Centre
"¢Pedestrians in Birmingham City Centre

Interviewees:
Dr Anna Phillips, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham

Men Are Definitely Not From Mars!

Is there life on other planets? And if so, are they the little green men of science fiction?

Professor Ian Stewart, from the University of Warwick, thinks there is life on other planets and, while it could be little and green, it's highly unlikely to be anything we would recognise as men. Despite our fascination with science fiction it seems our imagination rarely extends beyond pointed ears and different coloured skin when we picture alien races.

Now an exhibition at London's Science Museum addresses just what alien life might look like when it develops on planets with different physical and chemical properties to our own. Apply scientific principles and alien life might be very alien indeed.

As a scientist who is also a science fiction writer, Professor Stewart was one of the early advisors to the Exhibition and is uniquely positioned to comment on what alien life could really be like!

Footage:
Science Fiction Book Store
The Science of Aliens, London Science Museum

Interviewees:
Professor Ian Stewart, University of Warwick. Scientist and Science Fiction author.
Stephen Foulger, Curator, The Science of Aliens, Science Museum, London


Research-TV