Retractions by two of the world’s leading journals could do lasting harm in an environment where many already distrust scientistsPublic trust in science may have been shaken by the publication of academic papers based on false data in leading medical journals, according to world-renowned infectious disease doctors and former advisers to the World Health Organization.The director of Australia’s...

Over-60s should use medical-grade masks and all others three-layer fabric ones, health body saysCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePeople over 60 or with health issues should wear a medical-grade mask when they are out and cannot socially distance, according to new guidance from the World Health Organization, while all others should wear a three-layer fabric mask.The...

Your questions answered on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageYes. Different types of mask offer different levels of protection. Surgical grade N95 respirators offer the highest level of protection against Covid-19 infection, followed by surgical grade masks. However, these masks are costly, in limited supply,...

Major study of thousands of patients led by University of Oxford shows drug is ineffectiveCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageHydroxychloroquine does not work against Covid-19 and should not be given to any more hospital patients around the world, say the leaders of the biggest and best-designed trial of the drug, which experts will hope finally settle the question.“If...

Public health experts like me know the only conclusive trial of masks will come from them being rolled out in the real worldTrish Greenhalgh is a professor of primary care health sciences at Oxford UniversityCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDespite disagreement among scientists, we will soon have to wear cloth face coverings on public transport. The policy could be...

Many more will die unless we fix structural problems that have blighted Britain’s response, say scientistsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLeading medics and scientists have called on Boris Johnson to order a public inquiry to prepare Britain for a second wave of the coronavirus this winter, warning that many more will die unless the country improves its response.The...

Scientists in Netherlands explore possible link between deficiency and Covid-19 deathsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePatients who have died or been admitted to intensive care with Covid-19 have been found to be deficient in a vitamin found in spinach, eggs, and hard and blue cheeses, raising hopes that dietary change might be one part of the answer to combating the...

Stargazing under threat as pristine skies over New Zealand and Australia are clogged with hundreds of Starlink satellitesAstronomers in the southern hemisphere have warned that the wonders of the night sky are at risk from hundreds of satellites that have been shot into space by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX.The night skies of Australia and New Zealand are globally renowned for their clarity,...

Covid-19 is is still a threat to most in Britain. If we allow it to spread now, a deadly second wave in winter could be the result Dr Rupert Beale heads the cell biology of infection laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute in LondonCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe lockdown approach to combating Covid-19 has been undeniably effective. The surge in cases was...

The pandemic’s future will be decided by human action and several unanswered questions about the nature of the virusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageRestaurants are opening, parks are full and people are getting back to work: parts of Europe, Asia and much of the Middle East are enjoying the benefits of flattened coronavirus curves. Meanwhile, parts of the US, India...

New York urges protesters to get tested; Turkey announces weekend lockdown in 15 cities; US jobless claims pass 42mBrazil infections pass 600,000 as death toll passes Italy’s South Africa sees record jump in casesUK coronavirus updates – liveAustralia coronavirus updates – liveCoronavirus latest: at a glanceSee all our coronavirus coverage 9.10am BST Surgical masks are washing up in growing...

The now retracted paper halted hydroxychloroquine trials. Studies like this determine how people live or die tomorrowThe Lancet is one of the oldest and most respected medical journals in the world. Recently, they published an article on Covid patients receiving hydroxychloroquine with a dire conclusion: the drug increases heartbeat irregularities and decreases hospital survival rates. This result...

Sunetra Gupta believes we may be underestimating how many people have fought off Covid-19Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageIt was the moment the scientists veered off script. As ministers moved to ease the lockdown in late May, a handful of the government’s advisers from Sage (the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) went public with their fears. The virus was...

Our universities fail stupendously when they don’t teach ethical and moral responsibilityWhat does it take to blow something up? My field, mathematics, is certainly useful. Computer science, and the numerical methods it allows, is handy. Several years of chemistry and physics are essential. Geology and operations management will go a long way too. Many other topics will also be helpful but...