118 articles from FRIDAY 10.9.2021

Dame Sarah Gilbert: UK Covid booster jabs not necessary for all

Oxford jab scientist suggests extra doses should go instead to countries with low vaccination ratesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOne of the leading scientists behind the Oxford vaccine for Covid-19 has said she does not support a widespread booster jab campaign in the UK as immunity among fully vaccinated people is “lasting well”.Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, who...

Upside-down rhinos and nose-clearing orgasms: 2021's Ig Nobel winners announced – video

Groundbreaking studies into how well beards soften punches to the face, the benefits of transporting rhinoceroses upside down, and orgasms as a nasal decongestant have taken out one of the most coveted awards in science: the Ig Nobel prize. Not to be confused with Nobel awards, the Ig Nobels celebrate the quirkier realms of science, rewarding research that first makes people laugh and then...

Pfizer accused of holding Brazil ‘to ransom’ over vaccine contract demands

Leaked supply document reveals clauses to protect US pharma company from legal action in the event of serious side-effectsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePfizer has been accused of holding Brazil “to ransom” over demands to shield itself from possible vaccine side-effect lawsuits in its contract to supply the country with 100m Covid jabs.In its $1bn (£700m) deal...

‘Maybe the guy’s a masochist’: how Anthony Fauci became a superstar

The US diseases expert has been spoofed by Brad Pitt and lauded as the ‘sexiest man alive’. Now the pop culture phenomenon is the focus of a documentaryBeer and bobbleheads. Candles, colouring books, cupcakes and cushions. Dolls, doughnuts, hoodies, mugs and socks. T-shirts and yard signs that declare “Dr Fauci is my hero” and “In Fauci we trust”.Anthony Fauci, an 80-year-old...

Details of rare bronze age coffin found in golf course pond revealed

Size of telephone box, coffin thought to be 4,000 years old and includes well-preserved axe among remains Golfers are forever trying to avoid everything from bunkers, the rough and water to other players’ putting lines. In Lincolnshire the hazard was almost an incredibly rare telephone box-sized early bronze age coffin.Historic England on Friday revealed details of a remarkable discovery as...

‘Revolutionary’ lung cancer drug made available on NHS in England

Patients in England first to benefit from Sotorasib after drug proven to halt growth of tumours for seven monthsLung cancer patients in England will become the first in Europe to benefit from a “revolutionary” new drug that can halt the growth of tumours by targeting the so-called “Death Star” mutation.The medication, Sotorasib, will be fast-tracked to NHS patients after it was proven in...

How to photograph the moon on your phone or camera with the right settings

Guardian Australia picture editor Carly Earl explains the dos and don’ts of taking pictures of the moonWhen a full moon rises, many people will pull out their mobile phones to try and take an Instagram-worthy picture, but unfortunately the moon is really challenging to get a great photo of.Two reasons: it is very far away and unless you have a telephoto lens (which makes the moon appear closer...

Reconfigurable metasurfaces provide nanoscale light control

Researchers have designed electromechanically reconfigurable ultrathin optical elements that can be controlled and programmed on a pixel-by-pixel level. These versatile metasurfaces could offer a new chip-based way to achieve nanoscale control of light, which could lead to better optical displays, information encoding and digital light processing.

Upside down rhinos and nose-clearing orgasm studies win Ig Nobel prize

Research from the more unusual realms of science is recognised every year at this alternative awards ceremony Groundbreaking studies into how well beards soften punches to the face, the benefits of transporting rhinoceroses upside down, and orgasms as a nasal decongestant were honoured on Thursday night with one of the most coveted awards in science: the Ig Nobel prize.Not to be confused with the...