Lunar landing is due in about eight days and entire mission is scheduled to last 23 daysChina has launched a robotic spacecraft to bring back rocks from the moon – the first such attempt by any country since the 1970s.The Long March-5, China’s largest carrier rocket, blasted off at 4.30am Beijing time on Tuesday from Wenchang space launch centre on the island of Hainan carrying the Chang’e-5...

Latest breakthrough comes as PM says he hopes most at-risk could be immunised by EasterCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe world is moving a step closer to ending the coronavirus pandemic, the scientist behind Britain’s first vaccine has declared, as Boris Johnson said he hoped the majority of those most at-risk could be immunised by Easter.Successful trial results...

How England’s new tier system – to come into effect after lockdown ends on 2 December – compares with the old oneCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageWhile the end of the month-long Covid-19 lockdown 2.0 in England will come as welcome news to many, the strengthened tier system with which it is set to be replaced could leave some people scratching their heads as they...

Analysts say ‘lower efficacy for higher dose’ needs explaining, as results below those of rivalsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAstraZeneca shares fell after the drugmaker announced efficacy results for its Covid-19 vaccine that were below those reported by rivals Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.The shares were down 3.5% at £80.29 by Monday afternoon. Continue...

What is the UK regulator’s role in assessing the quality, safety and effectiveness of vaccines?Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was not previously an organisation many of us gave much thought to. But positive results from trials of three Covid vaccine candidates, which will need its approval, mean it has...

Health secretary says tough measures ‘will continue until the vaccine can make us safe’ as PM set to announce new tiered restrictionsOxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine has up to 90% efficacyHow a handful of scientists developed Oxford vaccine at speedEverything we know so far about Oxford vaccineUS, Germany and UK could start jabs as early as DecemberCoronavirus – latest global updates 12.23pm GMT...

Jab can be kept in fridge and is part of global initiative to distribute doses at limited costCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe efficacy of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine opens the way for a cheap and more easily transportable vaccine to be made available to some of the world’s poorest countries.Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, AstraZeneca’s...

Team’s coronavirus work built on decades of research pioneered by Sarah Gilbert and Adrian HillOxford AstraZeneca Covid vaccine ‘has up to 90% efficacy’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAt the heart of Oxford’s effort to produce a Covid vaccine are half a dozen scientists who between them brought decades of experience to the challenge of designing, developing,...

Vaccine developed in UK by AstraZeneca and Oxford University ‘will save many lives’, says scientistCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA coronavirus vaccine developed in the UK can prevent 70.4% of people from getting Covid-19 and up to 90% if a lower dose is used, according to data.Oxford University and AstraZeneca have announced their jab is effective in preventing...

Doctors, nurses, hospital leaders and infectious disease experts fear large celebrations will cause an explosion of new Covid casesDoctors, nurses, infectious disease experts and hospital leaders have united in warning Americans against traveling or gathering in large groups for Thanksgiving, a US holiday traditionally marked by bringing extended family and friends around a dinner table.Experts...