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14 articles from Guardian Unlimited Science

Starwatch: the moon pays a spring visit to Virgo

This week our satellite passes close to Spica, the constellation’s only bright starThe moon visits one of the spring constellations this week by traveling through the faint constellation of Virgo, the virgin. On 1 and 2 June, our natural satellite will pass close to Virgo’s only bright star, Spica. Memorise its position and then return in the days to come to pick out the constellation’s...

Elon Musk’s SpaceX to launch first astronauts from US soil since 2011

Falcon 9 rocket to make history as billionaire seeks to commercialise space travelElon Musk’s SpaceX company hopes to make history on Wednesday by launching the first astronauts into space from US soil in nine years, as the billionaire takes the next step in his dream to commercialise space travel.Donald Trump will be among the spectators at Kennedy space centre in Florida to witness the launch,...

Did Dominic Cummings break the law on lockdown rules?

Whether PM’s chief adviser contravened regulations depends on definition of ‘reasonable excuse’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOn 23 March, the prime minister announced a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus. “I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home,” said Boris Johnson. Dominic Cummings certainly...

In the fight against coronavirus, there can't be one rule for people like Dominic Cummings, and another for everyone else | Devi Sridhar

The very message that was at the core of the government’s plan to suppress Covid-19 – stay at home – has been underminedThe lockdown was a nationwide policy: everyone was expected to follow the same rules. It has nevertheless exposed some stark inequalities. Elites have been able to endure the period in comfort, often in remote, spacious holiday homes. Those with office jobs have found...

Coronavirus live news: Wuhan lab had bat viruses but not Covid-19 strain; Russia reports highest daily death toll

Lab says none of three bat viruses match Covid-19; new witnesses cast doubt on UK advisor’s lockdown claims; WHO says pandemic ‘taking different pathway’ in AfricaWuhan lab says its bat strains were not Covid-19 as US nears 100,00 deathsNew witnesses cast doubt on Dominic Cummings’s lockdown claimsUK coronavirus updates - liveCoronavirus latest: at a glance 12.25pm BST Dominic Cummings,...

Why does medicine treat women like men?

Women’s bodies are different from men’s from cellular level upwards, yet the same treatments are usually prescribed for both sexes – to the detriment of women. Dr Alyson McGregor raises the alarmTowards the end of her training in emergency medicine at Brown University, Rhode Island, Dr Alyson McGregor was asked what her “specialism” would be.“You are expected to have a niche so my...

Briton held in Indian prison over breaching lockdown rules

Exclusive: Sohail Hughes accused of spreading Covid-19 and violating visa regulationsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA British man has been detained in an Indian prison after being accused of breaching the country’s strict coronavirus lockdown rules.Sohail Hughes, 29, had been on an extended holiday to visit family in the Gujarat region before undertaking a...

Scratching the surface: drones cast new light on mystery of Nazca Lines

An aerial search in the Peruvian desert has revealed intriguing figures of humans and animals that predate the nearby Unesco world heritage siteA faded decades-old black-and-white photograph was the only lead Johny Isla had when he set out on the trail of a sea monster.The Peruvian archaeologist spotted the image at a 2014 exhibition in Germany about the Nazca Lines, the vast and intricate desert...

Sweden 'wrong' not to shut down, says former state epidemiologist

Scientist who oversaw the response to Sars says country has failed the vulnerableCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe predecessor of Sweden’s state epidemiologist has broken her silence on the country’s controversial coronavirus strategy, saying she now believes the authorities should have put in place tougher restrictions in the early stages of the pandemic to...

Elon Musk's Crew Dragon puts America back in the space race

The launch of the billionaire’s vessel will be the first manned US flight since shuttle missions were shut down nine years agoWhen American astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley arrive at the International Space Station this week, they will find an unusual message waiting for them. On the inside of the hatch where their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock, a small stars and...

UK scientists want to infect volunteers with Covid-19 in race to find vaccine

Trials could be speeded up by using risky strategy of deliberately introducing the virus Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageScientists have warned there could be major delays in producing a Covid-19 vaccine if current UK infection rates remain low and lengthy waiting times are needed to show if candidate products are working. As a result, some researchers insist that...

Everyone wants to 'follow the science'. But we can't waste time on blame

The Royal Society president says scientists must not be made scapegoats for policy failuresCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageIn 1981, a virus that had jumped the species barrier some decades earlier to infect humans began to wreak havoc among the gay community in San Francisco and New York. A taskforce was set up to study the cause of this disease, and it took a few...