Science Archives - Evolving Newsroom

What to ask an expert when evaluating scientific research

J.Starr / Science / Journalism, Science /

September 9, 2013

Five questions to ask experts when you’re evaluating scientific research for a news story. They come from the excellent Desk Guide for Covering Science, which is published by the Science Media Centre New Zealand and free to download.

How does this study compare with others that have come before?
How does it add to or contradict existing scientific views?
Was the study well designed?
Are the results compelling enough to recommend a change in our current behaviour/treatment/regulations?
What would be the effect of such changes versus keeping things as they are?

This graphic on the scientific process, and when to report on it, is also in the Desk Guide for Covering Science.

After 69-year wait, tar pitch drop finally caught on camera

J.Starr / Science / experiment, long, Science, tar pitch /

July 24, 2013

Hurrah!

After 69 years, one of the longest-running laboratory investigations in the world has finally captured the fall of a drop of tar pitch on camera for the first time. A similar, better-known and older experiment in Australia missed filming its latest drop in 2000 because the camera was offline at the time.