6,446 articles from FEBRUARY 2021

Letters: Sir Arnold Wolfendale obituary

Sir Arnold Wolfendale wrote an article on John Harrison and the invention of his maritime clock (2008) for The Historian, the members’ journal of the Historical Association. On making his acquaintance, I discovered that, along with being a physics professor and astronomer royal, he attended the lectures and other activities of the Historical Association branch in Durham.Trevor JamesIn 2000...

20 million people in UK have had first dose of coronavirus vaccine

Health secretary hails latest inoculation figures as ‘magnificent achievement for the country’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMore than 20 million Britons have received their first coronavirus vaccine dose, the UK government has said.In a video uploaded to his Twitter profile, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said it was a “magnificent achievement for the...

Green pass: how are Covid vaccine passports working for Israel?

As hotels and gyms reopen in Israel, governments elsewhere are considering a similar certificate scheme – raising ethical concernsFour key questions on a Covid certification scheme in EnglandCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAs the UK and other governments consider whether to give Covid-vaccinated people certificates that allow entry to bars, hotels, and swimming...

'The Earth could hear itself think': how birdsong became the sound of lockdown

When the pandemic hit, the song of birds offered joy and hope. The author of a new book recalls that glittering spring and explains the science behind bird calls and how to identify themIt’s six in the morning and still dark, 24 March 2020. I wake early and, knowing the children will soon be up, decide to steal half an hour’s solitude in the park. From the dense latticework of trees and shrubs...

I have tested positive for Covid – and I feel really guilty

At first I felt relieved that my symptoms aren’t too grim. Then I felt bad about my relief, as if I’d failed a basic solidarity dutyIt started with a text that was doing the rounds from Lambeth council’s director of public health: the South African variant of Covid had been discovered in a tiny box of postcodes that included our house, and we were all encouraged to get tested. I forwarded it...

Vulnerable children 'forgotten' in Covid vaccine rollout, say UK charities

Ministers urged to help families struggling to protect children with underlying health conditionsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThousands of the UK’s most vulnerable children are being “forgotten” in the coronavirus vaccine rollout, charities have said, as they urged ministers to help struggling families.The country has met its target of vaccinating the most...

Under threat: the birthplace of Darwin’s historic theory

Groups including the Geological and Linnean societies say government’s 3,000% rent rise could force them to quit their Burlington House premises after 167 yearsSome of Britain’s most distinguished learned societies say they may be forced to leave their central London premises because the government has imposed rent rises of more than 3,000% over the past few years.Last week the Geological...

If oestrogen can save women from the worst of Covid, they should be given it | Kate Muir

There is mounting evidence that HRT can help menopausal women recover from the virus, but little action is being takenCoronavirus - latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage‘To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle,” wrote George Orwell, and seeing in front of our masks in this endless pandemic turns out to be even harder. Take the compelling case of the effect of...

Covid vaccine does not affect fertility but misinformation persists

Scientists emphasise safety but younger women still hesitantCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAmy Taylor was chatting to friends over a Zoom drink when the conversation took an unexpected turn. One of the group – all in their early 30s, mostly university-educated and in professional jobs – mentioned that she had concerns about the Covid vaccine because she wanted to...

'Silent epidemic of grief' leaves bereaved and bereavement care practitioners struggling

Major changes in bereavement care have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, amid a flood of demand for help from bereaved people, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The first major study of pandemic-related changes in bereavement care has found that the switch to remote working has helped some services to reach out, but many practitioners feel they do not have capacity...

CUHK unveils balance between two protein counteracting forces in hereditary ataxias

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD), describes the most common form of dominantly inherited ataxia in many populations worldwide, including Hong Kong and mainland China. SCA3 or MJD patients often present problems with gait and balance, blurred vision, and speech difficulties. The symptoms are progressive, and patients may eventually decline into a...