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30 articles from Guardian Unlimited Science

Trump administration drafts pact for mining on the moon

The US-sponsored international Artemis Accords has not been shared, but proposes ‘safety zones’ around future moon basesThe Trump administration is drafting a legal blueprint for mining on the moon under a new US-sponsored international agreement called the Artemis Accords, according to people familiar with the proposed pact.The agreement would be the latest effort to cultivate allies around...

New York reports 15 cases of rare illness in children possibly linked to Covid-19

More than 100 cases of unusual illness have emerged in at least six countries as 15 New York patients aged two to 15 hospitalizedCoronavirus – live US updatesLive global updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNew York City’s health department has reported 15 cases of a rare but potentially lethal inflammatory syndrome in children that may be linked to coronavirus infections.More than 100 cases...

Terrawatch: glacial erosion creates higher mountains

If an ice age took hold, the Himalayas might have even taller mountains, a study findsWould Alaska’s Mount Denali – the highest peak in the US – be as tall if it was situated on the equator instead? Might the Himalayas be even taller if an ice age took hold? Every mountain range is sculpted by rain and wind, but some mountain belts are also sliced by glaciers, producing the classic...

UK coronavirus adviser Neil Ferguson resigns after breaking lockdown rules

Key expert in coronavirus response resigns from Sage after admitting ‘error of judgment’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageProf Neil Ferguson, the epidemiologist whose modelling helped shape Britain’s coronavirus lockdown strategy, has quit as a government adviser after flouting the rules by receiving visits from his lover at his home.Ferguson runs the group of...

US government scientist files whistleblower complaint alleging he was ousted

Rick Bright alleges he was reassigned to lesser role because he resisted pressure to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquineCoronavirus – live US updatesLive global updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA US government scientist has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging he was ousted from his position after raising concerns that the Trump administration wanted to “flood” coronavirus...

Deputy chief scientist: We need to get to grips with coronavirus care home deaths

UK government science adviser says toll in care settings on rise despite falls in hospital figuresCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe government’s own science adviser has admitted it was yet to get to grips with the number of coronavirus deaths in UK care homes.Prof Angela McLean, the UK’s deputy chief scientific adviser, said there were 4,841 deaths in hospital...

UK could relax lockdown for millions if over-70s are shielded, say scientists

Plan involves beefing up protection for vulnerable people while easing controls on othersCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBritain could exit the coronavirus lockdown by relaxing restrictions on more than half of the population and beefing up protection for those over 70 and vulnerable people, scientists have said.The strategy from researchers at Edinburgh University,...

Coronavirus and airborne transmission: scientists warn Australia to be on guard

Although the science is not yet settled, researchers say government should be acting on ventilation and other measures nowSign up for Guardian Australia’s daily coronavirus emailDownload the free Guardian app to get the most important news notificationsA collective of Australian researchers across scientific disciplines will call on the government to introduce minimum requirements for building...

Number of key workers getting Covid-19 overtakes positive tests in hospitals

Figures prompt renewed calls to ensure health and social workers have PPE needed The number of key workers and members of their families who are testing positive for Covid-19 has overtaken the number of sick people testing positive in hospitals.New figures showing that 2,067 key workers had tested positive at a new daily count prompted calls for a greater focus on how and why health and social...

Even if it works, this coronavirus tracking app is no get-out-of-jail-free card | Gaby Hinsliff

Tracing the path of the virus is vital, but so is people’s continued willingness to cooperate and isolate if necessaryYour country needs you. Or to be specific, it needs your phone.The new NHS coronavirus tracing app is to be trialled from this week on the Isle of Wight and ministers are pushing it with all the fervent appeal to moral duty they can muster. Since it’s being sold as the nearest...

Norwegian Cruise Line warns of 'substantial doubt' it will survive

World’s third-largest cruise operator says coronavirus crisis threatens firm’s futureCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNorwegian Cruise Line, the world’s third-largest cruise operator, has warned there is “substantial doubt” that it will be able to stay in business.The company, which is listed on the New York stock market, said: “Covid-19 has had, and is...

Back to nature: 'secret garden' outings used to aid coronavirus recovery

Critical care patients, some on ventilators, sent outdoors for sunshine and fresh air in pioneering Devon projectCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCritical care staff are using the power of nature and the joy of being outdoors to help Covid-19 patients recover from the virus.As part of a pioneering project at Derriford hospital in Plymouth, Devon, some coronavirus...

Israel and Netherlands studies claim progress in Covid-19 antibody trials

Scientists welcome ‘initial step’ towards developing antibody to treat or prevent coronavirusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSeparate studies in Israel and the Netherlands claim to have created antibodies that can block the coronavirus infection, a potential future treatment touted as a game-changer until a vaccine becomes available.A Dutch-led team of scientists...

The world stopped another Chernobyl by working together. Coronavirus demands the same | Serhii Plokhy

The pandemic reminds me of a different invisible enemy. Once again, coordinated action is the only effective responseDeja vu. In recent days I’ve had that sense more than once. Every time I come home, remove my mask and wash my hands, I start thinking whether it is safe to keep on wearing the clothes that I had on outside. What if they are contaminated by the virus? Well, I can change clothes,...

UK can avoid Covid-19 second wave with test, track and trace, says Vallance

Chief scientific adviser says he is optimistic if UK also adheres to physical distancing Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe UK should be able to avoid a second wave of infections from coronavirus if it gets testing, tracking and tracing right alongside adhering to physical distancing measures, the government’s chief scientific adviser has said.Speaking at a meeting...

Boris Johnson boasted of shaking hands on day Sage warned not to

Advisers recommended issuing public warning on day PM said he shook hands ‘with everybody’ at hospitalCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNo 10’s scientific advisers warned that the government should tell people not to shake hands on the same day that Boris Johnson boasted about doing so “with everybody” at a hospital where there were confirmed coronavirus...

Why has eastern Europe suffered less from coronavirus than the west?

Most important reason for discrepancy appears to be implementation of early lockdownCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe coronavirus map of Europe makes one thing clear: the richer nations of western Europe have suffered more from the virus than countries in the eastern half of the EU, almost without exceptions.Comparing figures from different countries can be fraught...

Trust in scientists grows as fake coronavirus news rises, UK poll finds

Poll finds 64% of voters more likely to listen to expert advice as 51% say they have seen fake news about virusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePublic trust in the work of scientists and health experts has grown during the coronavirus pandemic, amid a surge in misinformation about the virus, a poll has found.The opinion poll by the Open Knowledge Foundation, an open...

Snubbing local expertise in favour of private Covid-19 tracing is a disaster | Donna Hall

Councils have been crucial in tackling coronavirus. It’s dangerous of the government to dismiss their expertise nowCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDuring a global pandemic, the effects we really feel are local. Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on communities, particularly poor communities. People have lost grandparents, parents and children, uncles, aunts,...

Genetics in focus after coronavirus deaths of siblings and twins

Recent deaths have stood out, but scientists say they must be interpreted with cautionAmid the steady stream of stories on the lives lost to coronavirus are cases that stand out as remarkable. In the past month, at least two pairs of twins have died in Britain and two pairs of brothers, all within hours or days of each other. But do the deaths point to genetic factors that make some more likely...

No 10 scientific advisers warned of black market in fake coronavirus test results

Sage told widespread use of antibody tests could lead to criminal behaviour, papers revealCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDowning Street’s scientific advisers feared people might intentionally seek to contract coronavirus and that a black market in fake test results could emerge if employers allowed workers to return only when they had a positive antibody test.The...

UK coronavirus live: government publishes new batch of coronavirus papers from Sage

Trial begins for new contact-tracing app while government’s top scientists are questioned by MPs Coronavirus latest: at a glanceGlobal coronavirus updates - liveSee all our coronavirus coverage 10.34am BST Back at the health committee Jeremy Hunt, the chair, turns to the death figures. He addresses Prof Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England.Q: Why does the UK’s death rate...

Coronavirus live news: Australian PM says virus 'most likely' came from Wuhan market

WHO, Fauci and intel sources reject China lab theory; global deaths pass 250,000; Hong Kong suffers deepest economic contractionCoronavirus latest: at a glanceUK coronavirus updates - liveAustralia coronavirus updates - liveSee all our coronavirus coverage 10.32am BST Germany’s main public health advisory body, the Robert Koch Institute, has reported a continuing fall in the number of new...

Australians told to look to the skies early Wednesday for best views of Eta Aquarids meteor shower

This will be a good meteor show to see from the southern hemisphere, but you’ll need to be up early, experts sayIf you want to see what happens when a piece of dust from the tail of a comet hits the earth’s atmosphere at about 60km per second, then look roughly east in the early hours of Wednesday.Between about 2am and 5am, the annual Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak during the Earth’s...