Scientists use powerful new instrument in outback WA to map three million galaxies in 300 hours, unlocking deepest secrets of the universe A powerful new telescope developed by Australian scientists has mapped three million galaxies in record speed, unlocking the universe’s deepest secrets.The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (Askap) broke records as it conducted its first survey of...

The solutions to today’s puzzlesEarlier today I set you the following chess-themed conundrums:1. The quintet of queens. Continue reading...

Increase in women being diagnosed with depression partly behind rise in useAn increase in women being diagnosed with depression is partly behind a significant rise in prescriptions of the antidepressant sertraline – sold under the brand name Zoloft – which is in the list of Australia’s most commonly prescribed drugs for the first time.On Tuesday Australian Prescriber published its annual...

Program solves scientific problem in ‘stunning advance’ for understanding machinery of lifeHaving risen to fame on its superhuman performance at playing games, the artificial intelligence group DeepMind has cracked a serious scientific problem that has stumped researchers for half a century.With its latest AI program, AlphaFold, the company and research laboratory showed it can predict how...

More than 300,000 farmers head to capital for ‘decisive battle’ with governmentHundreds of thousands of Indian farmers have marched upon Delhi and set up vast camps blocking entry into the city in protest at agriculture laws they say will destroy livelihoods.More than 300,000 farmers marched from the states of Punjab and Haryana – on foot and in convoys of tractors – at the weekend to...

Our success with mass flu vaccination bodes well for getting Covid-19 under controlCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe first death from Covid-19 was confirmed on 11 January 2020. In less than a year, we have not one but three promising vaccines. Subject to regulatory approval, the focus will be on the next phase: getting the frontrunner vaccines to the people who need...

US company submits data kickstarting approval process with regulators around the worldCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageFinal results from the trials of Moderna’s vaccine against Covid-19 confirm it has 94% efficacy and nobody who was vaccinated with it developed severe disease, says the company, kickstarting the approval process with regulators around the world.The...

George Eustice says up to 100 Tory MPs have concerns over post-lockdown tier systemCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUp to 100 Conservative MPs are concerned at England’s new coronavirus tiers, meaning the government may have to rely on Labour votes to get the system approved by parliament, the UK environment secretary, George Eustice, has said.Amid increasing Tory...

Puzzles to have you in piecesThanks to the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, chess is having a moment. Today’s three puzzles are in homage to world-class female players, both fictitious and real.1. A quintet of queens. Continue reading...