36 articles from SUNDAY 25.10.2020

One in five Australian scientists planning to leave the profession, survey shows

Survey reveals 17% gender pay gap and strain on industry at a time when it has been at the forefront of responding to coronavirusNearly one in five scientists in Australia are planning to leave the profession permanently, according to a new survey, which also reveals a 17% gender pay gap among those who responded.The survey, based on answers from 1,464 scientists, provides an insight into...

Starwatch: Mars shines bright beside an almost-full moon

Red planet puts on a vibrant show in celestial sea between Pisces and Cetus before Halloween blue moonThe almost-full moon comes together with Mars this week for a bright pairing in the evening sky. Mars remains red and vibrant, having recently passed its closest approach to Earth. The chart shows the view looking south-east at 9pm GMT on 29 October. Continue...

Hopes rise for approval of coronavirus vaccine by end of this year

US expert Dr Anthony Fauci says it should be known by early December if vaccine is safe to roll outCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageHopes are rising that a coronavirus vaccine will be approved by the end of the year, with healthcare workers receiving their first dose in early 2021.Dr Anthony Fauci, the US’s leading expert in infectious diseases, said on Sunday it...

Global report: Spain declares Covid state of emergency as Italians urged to stay home

Madrid government imposes nationwide curfew after country hits 1m casesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe Spanish government has declared a six-month state of emergency and ordered a nationwide curfew, while Italians have been strongly advised to stay at home as both countries impose tough limits on people’s movements in a effort to contain the second wave of the...

Relieved to Be Back at the Gym, but Is It Safe?

NEW YORK -- The coronavirus has made a routine trip to the gym feel like a health threat.Many epidemiologists consider gyms to be among the highest-risk environments, and they were some of the last businesses to reopen in New York City in early September.Now gyms must comply with a long list of regulations. Checking in requires a health screening; masks are mandatory, even during the most...

NHS denies elderly people were refused care during early Covid

Healthcare bosses rebut claims that patients thought unlikely to survive were ‘written off’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNHS bosses have denied claims that thousands of frail, elderly people were denied potentially life-saving care at the peak of the pandemic in order to stop the health service being overrun.NHS England took the unusual step on Sunday of issuing...

The dementia that can be cured

There are more than 200 subtypes of dementia. And researchers have found that in one, confusion and memory loss can be treated. But the trick is to spot it…When John Abraham began to lose his mind in late 2019, his family immediately feared the worst. Abraham had enjoyed robust health throughout retirement, but now at 80 he suddenly found himself struggling to finish sentences.“I would be...

Coronavirus symptoms: how to tell if you have a common cold, flu or Covid

Fever, runny nose, headache? Lost your sense of taste or smell? Your guide to differentiating between the three illnessesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageWith winter approaching, the UK is entering the traditional seasons for colds and flu, with the additional complication this year that symptoms of those two illnesses can be broadly similar to those experienced by...

Quarantine for Covid contacts in England may be cut as criticism grows

Move comes amid dissatisfaction with performance of test and trace systemCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageContacts of people infected with coronavirus in England may have to self-isolate for as little as seven days amid concerns in Whitehall about the levels of public compliance with the test and trace system.Officials on the UK government’s Covid-19 taskforce are...

How CBBC's 'Dr Xand' learned surviving Covid isn't child's play

TV presenter and medic tells of his own illness, government failures and how to win over the anti-vaxxersBest known as half of the twin-presenter duo of CBBC’s Operation Ouch!, Dr Xand van Tulleken’s impeccable credentials – a medical degree and qualifications in public health and tropical medicine – have also seen him front documentaries on everything from male suicide to the science of...

Carry On Coronavirus: why a vaccine trial has saucy potential | Tim Adams

Their counterparts in the Common Cold Unit found ways to flirt despite the social distancing measures they lived underThe news that the government is to fund “human challenge studies” into Covid-19, in which young, healthy volunteers will be infected with the safest possible dose and paid to be quarantined to test the efficacy of vaccines, was a reminder that this country has a unique history...

Farewell James Randi, prince of reason. Now who’ll mock the quacks and anti-vaxxers? | Catherine Bennett

The great magician dedicated his later years to exposing all forms of fake scienceA mong many tributes to the great James Randi, who died last week aged 92, one stands out. Hours after the death was announced, cutlery expert Uri Geller reacted with a tweet he piously expanded on Facebook. “How sad that Randi died with hatred in his soul. Love to you all.” One thing that the most professional...

Twenty years of the International Space Station – but was it worth it?

Has the ISS benefited society? Scientists are divided: for some, it’s a beacon of unity; for others, just a set for an action filmSpace scientists are preparing to celebrate a remarkable astronautical achievement. In a few days, they will mark the 20th anniversary of humanity’s continuous presence in outer space.For two decades, teams of astronauts have made their homes 250 miles above our...

Frustration is rising as clampdowns spread across UK: are we in grip of Covid fatigue?

A sense of unfairness has dented public confidence and compliance with fast-changing restrictionsAs the people of Sheffield prepared to join Greater Manchester and the Liverpool city region in the premier league of Covid-19 restrictions – tier 3 – there were widely differing views on whether the tough new rules about to be imposed from London were welcome, or would even work. On the streets...

Rush for results could lead to inferior Covid vaccine, say scientists

Push to roll out injections may see elderly miss out on effective coronavirus inoculations Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageScientists have warned that early adoption of a Covid vaccine with only moderate effectiveness could disrupt efforts to test and create improved versions. Immunising against the disease is not going to be a simple business of turning off the virus...

Gender, age divide in new bullying study

Students' emotional resilience is linked to their chances of being victimised, with less resilient students more likely to suffer from harassment, new research shows.Researchers at Flinders University, Australia and the University of Thessaly in Greece also found that female students display lower emotional resilience, along with older students.