27 articles from SATURDAY 18.9.2021

Ministers told to bar EU from UK trial data in vaccines row

England’s deputy medical chief asked for data to be withheld unless British vaccine guinea pigs allowed to travel abroad• Coronavirus – latest updates• See all our coronavirus coverageEngland’s deputy chief medical officer asked ministers to withhold all UK clinical trial data from the EU if European countries continued to deny entry to British vaccine trial volunteers, the Observer can...

Nike and Amazon among brands advertising on Covid conspiracy sites

Household names may have unwittingly helped spread fake news, investigation revealsDozens of the world’s biggest brands, including Nike, Amazon, Ted Baker and Asos, have been advertising on websites that spread Covid-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories, it has emerged. The companies, as well as an NHS service, are among a string of household names whose ads appear to have helped fund...

Seven simple steps to sounder sleep

How I overcome my chronic insomnia with scienceEverything about our day impacts our sleep. How many minutes we spend outside, what and when we eat, what’s happening with our hormones, our habits, emotions, stress and thoughts – all this feeds into the sleep we end up with at night. All of which I was completely oblivious to when battling chronic insomnia for years on end.Sleep anxiety can...

UK headteacher threatened with legal action by own governor over student Covid jabs

Teachers targeted by anti-vaxxers as schools prepare to vaccinate pupilsSecondary schools in the UK have been plunged into the centre of the row over Covid vaccines for 12- to 15-year-olds, with anti-vaxxers at school gates and a headteacher threatened with legal action by one of his own governors.Letters circulated by campaign groups and parents are accusing schools of sanctioning “medical...

Yeast and bacteria together biosynthesize plant hormones for weed control

Plants regulate their growth using hormones, including a group called strigolactones that prevent excessive budding and branching. Strigolactones also help plant roots form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms that allow the plant to absorb nutrients from the soil. These two factors have led to agricultural interest in using strigolactones to control the growth of weeds and root parasites,...

Yeast and bacteria together biosynthesize plant hormones for weed control

Plants regulate their growth and development using hormones, including a group called strigolactones that prevent excessive budding and branching. For the first time, scientists led by UC Riverside have synthesized strigolactones from microbes. The work is published in the open-access journal, Science Advances.

Could gene editing chickens prevent future pandemics?

Rearing virus-resistant birds could benefit humans too, say scientists, and Covid may have made us more open to the controversial technologyDiseases such as avian flu trigger the culling of millions of birds each year. But that need not be the case for much longer.Vaccines are one preventive strategy employed in some countries, but they do not stop birds from being infected, getting mild versions...

People with chronic conditions among most at risk from Covid even after jabs

Research finds those with Down’s syndrome, Parkinson’s and other conditions may benefit from booster doseCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePeople living with chronic conditions such as Down’s syndrome and dementia remain among the most vulnerable to Covid-19 even after vaccination, research has found.The study, based on data from more than 6.9 million vaccinated...

Australia Covid live news update: NSW reports 1,331 cases and six deaths; Victoria records 535 cases and one death as police move to block protests; ACT has 15 new cases

One new case in Queensland as Melbourne CBD turned into no-go zone and police prepare to disrupt protest planned in SydneyNew Doherty modelling advises ‘medium’ Covid restrictions until 80% vaccination target reachedYouth corrections officer dies from CovidCovid vaccine rollout and rates tracker; Cases, trends and data trackerGet our free news app; get our morning email briefing 3.25am BST...