A key maths tool during the pandemic came about because of an 18th-century debate about Christianity. The lesson we can draw today is that moral philosophy mattersDo the laws of science and mathematics explain everything, without any need to bring God into it? The pious once believed that wrathful deities could unleash plagues. As reason emerged in the temple of thinking, there was a move to claim...
Researchers testing whether second dose of different vaccine could generate stronger immune responseCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMinisters are considering giving people a different type of Covid vaccine as an autumn booster, it has emerged, after early results from “mix and match” trials appeared to show promise for an enhanced immune response.Four different...
How a close and enduring relationship forged in the school playground turned my life aroundMy school bully came in an unlikely package. She was a bushy-haired, bespectacled, briefcase-carrying pocket rocket who made my life miserable for a significant portion of Year 8 when I was 12 years old. I met her on the first day at our large and rowdy comprehensive school. With all my existing friends...
Latest updates: health secretary says Delta variant appears 40% more transmissible; Lisa Nandy says robust quarantine needed for people arriving in UKTony Blair says fully vaccinated people should get greater freedoms Data on Delta variant splits scientists on lifting final Covid restrictionsShare vaccines or climate deal will fail, rich countries toldOther countries need vaccine before UK...
Under-30s to be offered jabs from next week but variant makes decision on easing rules in England ‘more difficult’Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe new Delta variant of coronavirus appears to be about 40% more transmissible than the variant it has largely replaced, Matt Hancock has said, making government decisions about whether to ease restrictions in England...
Sage group advises against easing social distancing on 21 June, but others say it is too early to assess risksCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageHealth experts remain divided over the dangers posed by the new Delta variant of Covid-19 and the risks it poses to the nation as ministers consider whether or not to lift lockdown later this month.Some argue that the new...
In the summer of 1981, public health professionals faced a terrifying crisis. Their work helped shape victories against the current pandemic – but some fear hard-won ground is lostAs Anthony Fauci marks 40 years since HIV emerged, he regrets how the extraordinary disruptions that Covid-19 have wreaked upon society have hampered efforts to tackle the major pandemic that preceded it. Related:...