How to find the pole star, not the brightest star in the sky, but the closest to the pole – for nowThis week, take the opportunity to identify Polaris, the north star. From many northern latitudes, the constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, never sets and it can act as a pointer. The brightest, most recognisable part of that constellation, is the asterism known as the Plough. Finding the...

Leaked documents reveal backlog of 185,000 swabs and tests sent abroad for processingCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe government’s coronavirus testing programme is dealing with a backlog of 185,000 swabs, with tests being sent to Italy and Germany as local labs are overwhelmed.Not even a week after the government was forced to apologise for continuing delays to...

Seeing meaning in the unexpected can help turn mistakes into opportunities, says researcher Dr Christian BuschDr Christian Busch has had a lucky life. He narrowly escaped a catastrophic car accident at the age of 18. The car was wrecked but he walked away without a scratch. It was just the wake-up call he needed. “I turned my life around. Before that I’d been a reckless teenager who lived in...

More than 170 teams of researchers are racing to develop a safe and effective vaccine. Here is their progressResearchers around the world are racing to develop a vaccine against Covid-19, with more than 170 candidate vaccines now tracked by the World Health Organization (WHO). Continue...

Government urges care providers to take action to stop spread of virus among residentsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageConcerns are growing over an increase in Covid-19 cases in care homes in England, prompting the government to send an alert to care providers to highlight the rising rates and to call for action.The letter, sent on Friday, urges care bosses to “take...

Despite a big rise in infections, particularly among younger people, there is no sense of panic on the streets around MadridCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAn hour or so before lunch on Thursday, Ángela Falcón stepped out of the church of Our Lady of the Assumption and on to the hot and busy streets of Parla.“I’m scared and I very seldom come out but when I do,...

Human milk grown from mammary cells could liberate breastfeeding women – but it’s a controversial sellOne of the saddest things about being diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago (it was fortunately treatable) was having to stop breastfeeding my 10-month-old baby. Unceremoniously she was shunted on to an early diet of pure solid food, which I reasoned was probably just as nutritious as...

From the Strait of Gibraltar to Galicia, orcas have been harassing yachts, damaging vessels and injuring crewScientists have been left baffled by incidents of orcas ramming sailing boats along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts.In the last two months, from southern to northern Spain, sailors have sent distress calls after worrying encounters. Two boats lost part of their rudders, at least one crew...

Charlie Russell, 27, is one of an estimated 600,000 people with post-Covid illness, a condition that may give an insight into MECoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageIt’s day 182 after being infected by Covid-19, and Charlie Russell is not doing the things that other 27-year-olds are doing.He’s not running 5km three times a week like he used to. He’s not going to the...