25 articles from SATURDAY 19.9.2020

Pulling the plug on the coronavirus copy machine

Key proteins used by coronavirus for its reproduction being modeled on NSF-funded Frontera supercomputer by Andres Cisneros research group of the University of North Texas. Research goals include finding ways to improve on COVID-19 therapeutic remdesivir. NSF-funded Frontera allocation awarded to Cisneros through the COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium.

The coronavirus vaccine volunteer: 'I hope this is a kick up the ass to do things better'

Both benevolence and selfishness inspired Josh McGrane to take part in the University of Oxford vaccine trialsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe world is watching the Covid-19 vaccine trials conducted by the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute closely. Australian Josh McGrane is an associate professor and educational researcher living in Oxford. He decided to...

Hands, face, space? Johnson's Covid message has got priorities wrong, scientists warn

Physical distancing, far more than washing hands, is the most critical factor in preventing spread of the virusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe latest drive to help halt the spread of Covid-19 has been criticised by senior scientists for placing insufficient emphasis on the issues of ventilation and the need to stay apart from others.They say the government’s...

The tipping points at the heart of the climate crisis

Many parts of the Earth’s climate system have been destabilised by warming, from ice sheets and ocean currents to the Amazon rainforest – and scientists believe that if one collapses others could followThe warning signs are flashing red. The California wildfires were surely made worse by the impacts of global heating. A study published in July warned that the Arctic is undergoing “an abrupt...

Underwater and on fire: US climate change magnifies extremes

America's worsening climate change problem is as polarized as its politics. The already parched West is getting drier and suffering deadly wildfires because of it, while the much wetter East keeps getting drenched in mega-rainfall events, some hurricane related and others not. Climate change is magnifying both extremes, but it may not be the only factor, several scientists told The Associated...

Bristol Myers' Opdivo with Exelixis drug cuts kidney cancer death risk - study

Bristol Myers Squibb Co's cancer immunotherapy Opdivo in combination with Exelixis Inc's Cabometyx reduced the risk of death by 40% in previously untreated patients with advanced kidney cancer, according to data from a late-stage study to be presented on Saturday. The drug combination also doubled patients' median length of time before their cancer began to worsen to 16.6 months compared to...

Medical experts v anti-vaxxers: the Covid-19 information battle

Scientists face potential struggle to convince people of vaccine safety as celebrities join misinformation chorus Full report: engagement with anti-vaccine Facebook posts treblesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOn one side is the “anti-vax” movement, a constellation of groupings drawn from across the ideological spectrum, far-right opportunists and celebrities...

If you do not snooze you lose: sleep seen as essential for the brain

Scientists are providing a fuller understanding of the essential role that sleep plays in brain health, identifying an abrupt transition at about 2.4 years of age when its primary purpose shifts from brain building to maintenance and repair. Researchers on Friday said they conducted a statistical analysis on data from more than 60 sleep studies. There are basically two types of sleep, each tied...

Victoria reports 21 new coronavirus cases and seven deaths as Brett Sutton apologises to Afghan community

State’s chief health officer says it was ‘inappropriate’ to single out migrant community in CaseyVictoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton, has apologised for comments he made singling out Melbourne’s Afghan community in relation to a Covid-19 outbreak in Casey. Sutton made the apology as the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, announced 21 new coronavirus cases and seven more deaths...

Coronavirus live news: Trump pledges vaccine for all by April as Melbourne faces more protests

Number of cases worldwide passes 30 million; Victoria announces 21 new Covid-19 cases and seven more deaths; UK faces possible second national lockdown. Follow all the developmentsMutant virus: should we be worried that Sars-CoV-2 is changing ?UK entering second wave of virus, Johnson warns‘Shocking’: Trump under fire from ex-adviser for Covid failures 1.33am BST Mexico has reported 4,841 new...

Bristol Myers' Opdivo with Exelixis drug cuts kidney cancer death risk: study

Bristol Myers Squibb Co's cancer immunotherapy Opdivo in combination with Exelixis Inc's Cabometyx reduced the risk of death by 40% in previously untreated patients with advanced kidney cancer, according to data from a late-stage study to be presented on Saturday. The drug combination also doubled patients' median length of time before their cancer began to worsen to 16.6 months compared to...