38 articles from SATURDAY 12.9.2020

Are Elon Musk's ‘megaconstellations’ a blight on the night sky?

Miniature satellites open up a world of technological possibility. But experts say they degrade the astronomical landscapeThe natural serenity of the night sky is a touchstone for all of us. Everyone alive today looks at the same stars no matter where they are located on the planet. But the connection is more profound because, next to our brief lives, the stars are immortal. Shakespeare saw the...

Exasperated parents in England say test and trace is still a 'shambles'

Complaints that only available tests are 600 miles away despite Matt Hancock’s pledgeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageExasperated parents in England have complained of a test-and-trace system still in “shambles”, with some struggling to book appointments for their children who have developed symptoms since returning to school.One Brighton primary school teacher,...

Pfizer, BioNTech propose expanding COVID-19 vaccine trial to 44,000 volunteers

Drugmakers racing to develop a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine pledged in July to ensure their larger clinical trials would include diverse sets of volunteers. "Diversity in clinical trials is a priority for Pfizer and is critical given that COVID-19 disproportionately impacts communities of color in the U.S.," Pfizer's Chief Business Officer John Young said in a U.S. congressional hearing...

Oxford University resumes Covid-19 vaccine trials

Trials of vaccine being developed with AstraZeneca had been paused after participant fell illCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe closely watched trial of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine, halted after a participant fell ill, is to resume in the UK.The University of Oxford, which has partnered with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to pilot the study, said that the UK...

Coronavirus: England will not exempt children from 'rule of six'; Philippines reports record daily deaths - live updates

India racks up another 97,570 infections; police disperse demonstartors in Victoria; Brazil deaths climb past 130,000. Follow all the developmentsCovid-19 vaccine gamble: where bets have been placed and why‘World-leadingly bad’: the week Covid resurged in the UKPassengers furious at airlines over voucher policyBob Woodward rejects criticism he sat on Trump ‘deadly’ virus remarks 12.39pm...

Police warn public not to party before Covid rules tighten in England

Federation chairman says people may take advantage of situation ahead of restrictionsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePeople have been urged not to have a “party weekend” before the government’s “rule of six” restrictions come into force on Monday.The call from the Police Federation came as a former chief scientific adviser urged the public to act in tune...

Wildfires are striking closer and closer to cities. We know how this will end | Alastair Gee and Dani Anguiano

The climate crisis is a factor, but so are efforts to fight fires - which have had the opposite effectWe call them wildfires, but that might not be the right word any more.In recent days, at least five whole towns have been destroyed by fire in Oregon. So has much of Malden, Washington, and swathes of Big Creek and Berry Creek, both in California. Continue...

World's largest carbon market faces revamp under draft EU plan

The world's biggest carbon trading market faces a major overhaul under European Union climate change plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions faster this decade, a draft seen by Reuters shows. Under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) factories and power plants have to buy pollution permits to cover the greenhouse gases they emit, while airlines must do so for flights within Europe. The draft...

Humpback whales stray up tropical Aussie river

A trio of humpback whales—usually bound for Antarctica this time of year—took a wrong turn, heading up a crocodile-infested north Australian river with scientists hoping Saturday they will all return to the sea safely.

China says Mars probe stable; no word on reusable spacecraft

China's Mars probe Tianwen-1, which blasted into space in July, is now more than 15 million kilometers (9 million miles) from Earth en route to the red planet, the National Space Administration said Saturday. The administration, however, has yet to release information about a mysterious reusable experimental spacecraft that returned to Earth a week ago after a two-day flight. The spacecraft...

Victoria police arrest 14 people at illegal anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne

About 100 people attended the protests, with 51 fines issued for breaching stay-at-home ordersVictoria police have arrested 14 people at illegal anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne, with 51 fines issued for breaching stay-at-home orders.About 100 people attended the protests at various locations in the city, with a large police presence outnumbering those taking part in the so-called “freedom...

Victoria's new coronavirus cases fall to lowest level since June as Australian death toll exceeds 800

Premier Daniel Andrews announces 37 new Covid-19 cases and six more deathsFollow today’s coronavirus live blogHow vaccine hesitancy could undermine Australia’s Covid response‘She deserved better’: Melbourne aged care home continued to charge Covid victim as she lay in hospitalCovid test devices rushed onto Australian market less accurate than claimed – reviewNew Victorian coronavirus...

Scientists confounded by new findings on universe's mysterious dark matter

Dark matter, mysterious invisible stuff that makes up most of the mass of galaxies including our own Milky Way, is confounding scientists again, with new observations of distant galaxies conflicting with the current understanding of its nature. Research published this week revealed an unexpected discrepancy between observations of dark matter concentrations in three massive clusters of galaxies...

Scientists find an enzyme that facilitates grafting between different family species

Nagoya University bioscientist Michitaka Notaguchi and colleagues in Japan recently found that the tobacco plant Nicotiana promotes adhesion of tissue and can maintain grafts between a broad range of species. They also identified "β-1,4 glucanases" as a key molecule in facilitating tissue adhesion of grafts. Their findings could aid crop production and lessen impact on ecosystems.

Role of protein in development of new hearing hair cells

Researchers have conducted a study that has determined the role that a critical protein plays in the development of hair cells. These hair cells are vital for hearing. Some of these cells amplify sounds that come into the ear, and others transform sound waves into electrical signals that travel to the brain.

Trout don't follow the weather forecast

Biologists studied the migration patterns of steelhead, a subpopulation of rainbow trout that migrates to the Pacific Ocean, where the growing fish hunt and feed until they return to their natal freshwater streams to spawn. Steelhead migration was triggered by the lengthening daylight of spring rather than factors like recent rains.

Scientists confounded by new findings on universe's mysterious dark matter

Dark matter, mysterious invisible stuff that makes up most of the mass of galaxies including our own Milky Way, is confounding scientists again, with new observations of distant galaxies conflicting with the current understanding of its nature. Research published this week revealed an unexpected discrepancy between observations of dark matter concentrations in three massive clusters of galaxies...