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18 articles from Guardian Unlimited Science

UK scientists being drawn into 'very unpleasant' political situation

Colleagues raise concerns after Prof Neil Ferguson stepped down from advisory roleCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageScientists who advise the government on its coronavirus strategy have warned they are being drawn into politics after the leading infectious disease modeller Prof Neil Ferguson stepped down as one of the cabinet’s most prominent advisers.Ferguson, the...

The Guardian view on an NHS coronavirus app: it must do no harm | Editorial

Smartphones can be used to digitally trace Covid-19. But not if the public don’t download an app over privacy fears – or find it won’t work on their deviceThe idea of the NHS tracing app is to enable smartphones to track users and tell them whether they interacted with someone who had Covid-19. Yet this will work only if large proportions of the population download the app. No matter how...

The prurient headlines about Neil Ferguson are a huge distraction | Owen Jones

Britain’s coronavirus death rate is the worst in Europe, yet the front pages of our rightwing media focus on a scientist’s sex life• Coronavirus latest updates• See all our coronavirus coverageWhen deciding today’s front pages, newspapers had a choice: do they hold the government to account over Britain facing the highest death toll in Europe, or do they take aim at a government...

Coronavirus antibody tests: what they are and how they work

Tests have been hailed as key to helping end the UK lockdown. But what can they tell us?Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAntibody tests have been hailed as a key to understanding the spread of the coronavirus and even as a means of easing us out of lockdown. But what are they, and what can they tell us? Continue...

Heathrow to carry out temperature checks on passengers

Airport’s boss says global standard for screening is crucial to restoring confidenceCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageHeathrow will start using thermal cameras to carry out temperature checks on passengers within the next fortnight, as it called for common health screening standards around the world for air travellers.The UK’s busiest airport said it would trial...

Critical mass of Android users 'needed for success of NHS contact tracing app'

Experts point out shortcomings of coronavirus contact tracing appCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe NHS’s contact tracing app will fail unless sufficient numbers of Android phone users sign up, experts who have examined its trial use on the Isle of Wight have warned.They say that NHSX, the digital arm of the health service, is relying on an “Android herd...

It's not just Neil Ferguson – scientists are being attacked for telling the truth | Bob Ward

The media vilification of the government adviser is about far more than social distancing• Bob Ward is policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics• Coronavirus latest updates• See all our coronavirus coverageThe newspaper frenzy over Prof Neil Ferguson’s love life is just the latest example of a scientist who...

Black hole found 1,000 light years from Earth

Object found in HR 6819 system is the closest to Earth yet known – and is unusually darkAstronomers say they have discovered a black hole on our doorstep, just 1,000 light years from Earth.It was found in a system called HR 6819, in the constellation Telescopium. Continue...

Coronavirus live news: Trump wants to disband Covid-19 taskforce; Germany looks to reopen shops and restart amateur sport

President says it’s time to reopen businesses as US deaths top 70,000; number of Russian cases rises by more than 10,000 for fourth consecutive day; Spain set to extend state of emergency for two more weeksWorld map: which countries have the most cases and deaths?Trump poised to wind down taskforce as US death toll tops 70,000Top UK adviser resigns after breaking lockdown rulesUK coronavirus...

Neil Ferguson right to resign for breaking lockdown, says minister

James Brokenshire says rules still apply, and admits government made mistakes over testingCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA senior minister has urged people to stick unequivocally to the coronavirus lockdown as he said Prof Neil Ferguson was right to resign as the government’s leading epidemiological adviser after breaking the rules by allowing his lover into his...

Coronavirus UK: how many confirmed cases are there in my area?

Latest figures from public health authorities on the spread of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. Find out how many confirmed cases have been reported near youCoronavirus - live news updatesFind all our coronavirus coverage hereHow to protect yourself from infectionPlease note: these are government figures on numbers of confirmed cases - some people who report symptoms are not being tested, and are...

Millions predicted to develop tuberculosis as result of Covid-19 lockdown

With attention focused on coronavirus, undiagnosed and untreated TB cases will cause 1.4 million to die, research suggestsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe head of a global partnership to end tuberculosis (TB) said she is “sickened” by research that revealed millions more people are expected to contract the disease as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.Up to 6.3...

Tom Cruise and Nasa in talks over film to be shot in outer space – reports

Elon Musk reportedly involved in the production, which if confirmed would be first feature film ever made in spaceTom Cruise is in talks with Nasa about working on a movie shot in outer space, according to the head of the space agency.“Nasa is excited to work with Tom Cruise on a film aboard the Space Station!,” Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter. Continue...

China launches new rocket into space as it steps up Moon landing plans

Space agency tests design that is billed to replace current Shenzhou module, a copy of Russia’s Soyuz China has successfully launched a new rocket and prototype spacecraft, according to state media, in a major test of its ambitions to operate a permanent space station and send astronauts to the Moon.A Long March 5B rocket took off from the Wenchang launch site on the southern island of Hainan...

Tummy rumbles? Otters juggle pebbles when hungry, study finds

Asian otters’ playfulness with rocks a mystery but Exeter study links juggling to hungerWhether tossing pebbles between their paws or rolling stones on their chest and even into their mouth, otters are experts at rock juggling. Now researchers say the behaviour largely appears to be linked to a rumbling tummy.Many species of otters are known to toss pebbles around, often while lying on their...