The Ig Nobels are a reminder that Jonathan Swift was wrong about reason. Without research driven by curiosity, there would be far fewer breakthroughsIn Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift mocked the assumption that the scientific revolution had transformed European culture for the better. The satirical novel, published in 1726, has its eponymous hero stumbling upon “the Academy” in the fictional city of Lagado, and pokes fun at the idea that a scientific temperament could be useful. Swift describes pointless experiments to extract sunbeams from cucumbers and to build houses from the roof downwards. His book is laced with sardonic wit. But unorthodox, even absurd, thinking is necessary for science to progress.That point has been underlined by this week’s winners of the Ig Nobel prize, established in 1991 by an American magazine called the Annals of Improbable Research. One of the honoured investigations this year was by Robin Radcliffe, of Cornell University, who looked at whether it was safer to transport an anesthetised rhinoceros upside down airborne or lying on its side on a sledge. Prof Radcliffe showed animals’ health would not be jeopardised by being hung by their legs beneath a helicopter, a technique becoming more popular in African conservation. Continue reading...

Mark Drakeford, first minister, insists it is possible to avoid further lockdowns if people behave sensibly

The multi-national International Space Station gets it story told through the men and women who worked on itWith such strong base-level material, you could hardly go wrong, and so it proves with this history of the International Space Station, which has been orbiting the Earth 250 miles up since 1998. This is very much the authorised version, told largely through interviews with a select multi-national group of the over 200 astronauts who have spent time on it. With copious footage of rockets blasting off, the ISS streaking along above the atmosphere, and many God-shots of Earth itself, this has the awe-generators turned up to 11.The interviewees are of perhaps slightly less dramatically impressive character, despite their undoubted achievements – possessing a workable sense of humour doesn’t seem to be high on astronaut qualification lists. They are not especially well-served by the film-makers’ embellishments, with over-produced childhood-memory sequences, distracting musical choices on the soundtrack, and bland segment-introduction quotes. Still, they are empathetic enough, especially when the accent is on their personal and family experiences: standout, surely, is Cady Coleman, who went to the ISS in 1995, and her glass-blower husband Josh Simpson, who both speak movingly of the crisis of separation. Continue reading...

Prof Katalin Karikó of BioNTech says she endured decades of scepticism over her work on mRNA vaccines

Gilbert suggests extra doses should go instead to countries with low vaccination rates

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 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 makes them think

Leaked supply document reveals clauses to protect US pharma company from legal action in the event of serious side-effects

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 scientist, doctor and public servant, has become an unlikely cult hero for millions of people during the Covid pandemic. Continue reading...

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 clinical trials to stop lung cancer growing for seven months. Continue reading...

Research from the more unusual realms of science is recognised every year at this alternative awards ceremonyGroundbreaking 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 more prestigious – and lucrative – Nobel awards, to be announced from Stockholm and Oslo next month, the Ig Nobels celebrate the quirkier realms of science, rewarding research that first makes people laugh and then makes them think. Continue reading...

Government awaits JCVI decision as MHRA says third jab of Pfizer or AstraZeneca would be safe

Business founded in 2005 has won contracts worth £144m from the UK government during pandemicOxford Nanopore, whose Covid-19 technology was snapped up by the UK government and used to track variants of the virus globally, has unveiled its plans to float in one of the biggest London debuts this year.The company, a startup spun out from Oxford University, hopes to exceed a £2.4bn valuation achieved at a fundraising round in May. It has laid out plans to tap into the growing genomic sequencing market, estimated to be worth $5.7bn globally. Its revenues more than doubled to £114m last year, from £52m in 2019. It is aiming to reduce its losses to break even in the next five years. Continue reading...

Research shows there is a ‘sweet spot’ and subjective wellbeing drops off after about five hoursThe lesson of Goldilocks, that one can have too much of a good thing, even when it comes to the size of a chair, has applied in fields from astrobiology to economics. Now, it seems it may even govern our free time.Researchers have found that while levels of subjective wellbeing initially rise as free time increases, the trend does not necessarily hold for very high levels of leisure. Continue reading...

Covid vaccine production is now so high that millions of doses risk going to waste while poorer countries struggle for supplies

Creators of next-generation genome sequencing take science’s most lucrative awardTwo British researchers have won the most lucrative prize in science for work that dramatically improved the speed and reduced the cost of reading DNA, the molecular instructions for life.Sir Shankar Balasubramanian and Sir David Klenerman, both professors at the University of Cambridge, share the $3m (£2.2m) Breakthrough prize in life sciences with Pascal Mayer, the founder of the French firm Alphanosos, for creating next-generation genome sequencing, or NGS. Continue reading...

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is recommending that a third jab be offered to people with weakened immune systems but the programme and rollout are different to the Covid vaccine boosters expected to be discussed by the JCVI later on Thursday. Shivani Dave speaks to Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, and the Guardian science correspondent Nicola Davis about the distinctions between booster jabs and third jabs

Crew in Russian segment report smoke and smell of burnt plastic possibly linked to battery rechargeFire and smoke alarms went off at the Russian segment of the International Space Station in the early hours of Thursday, and the crew reported noticing smoke and the smell of burnt plastic.Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, said the incident took place in the Russian-built Zvezda module and occurred as the station’s batteries were being recharged. Continue reading...

How contagious is the Delta Covid variant? Take charge of this interactive and watch how small changes in isolation or reproduction rates of Covid-19 can affect our battle against it.One important characteristic of viruses and other pathogens is how contagious or infectious they are. One key measure of this is the R0, or basic reproduction number, which indicates how many new cases one infected person generates.

I thought these delicacies were just a well-kept Croatian secret, but it seems ‘the chicken of the woods’ has been growing nearer to home all the timeI have an excellent mushroom supplier in Croatia. Her name is Meri and she is well into her 70s. It’s really good gear she gets me, I promise you. I would put you in touch, but I want to keep this precious source to myself. These aren’t magic mushrooms, by the way, but these mushrooms are magic. They have a texture as meaty as any meat I remember eating back when I ate meat. They are known as vrbovača after the (willow) tree they grow on. She buys them in the spring in Osijek, in eastern Croatia, freezes them and brings them to the coast in the summer.I always assumed these were a little-known local secret, but it turns out these devastatingly delicious things are everywhere, which begs the question: why aren’t we eating them all the time? Laetiporus sulphureus is, strictly speaking, a bracket fungus, and it is more commonly known as chicken of the woods. I have only ever come across it once in the UK, as a starter in a fancy restaurant in west London. I was disappointed with the tiny threads I was served; my Meri’s Laetiporus sulphureus are bigger than the plate this starter was served on. Continue reading...

Rock core, along with other samples, could one day be destined to Earth for analysisNasa’s Perseverance rover has successfully collected its first rock sample from Mars. If all goes to plan, this sample, along with many others, could one day be brought back to Earth for analysis. Continue reading...

Australian National University researchers find no evidence of airborne transmission for pathogens such as Covid in public bathrooms

In early 2020, we snapped into crisis mode to respond to emerging disaster. Now, 18 months on, some are reaching their limitTasmanian premier Peter Gutwein has just reduced his work commitments to focus on his health and has handed over several portfolios to colleagues. “Basically, after working 46 days straight, which culminated in the finalisation and delivery of the budget, it’s as simple as this – my body’s not a machine. I hit the wall and I was quite unwell,” he said.Last year, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews fronted the media for conferences for 120 days straight. He paused briefly once Victoria entered a swing of doughnut days, and in a more protracted and catastrophic manner after breaking ribs and fracturing vertebrae in a fall. Continue reading...

When Dr Andrew Hill’s team questioned the efficacy of ivermectin, the reaction from the anti-vaccination movement was shockingDr David Bauer reports that the anti-vaccination movement is distorting his scientific results (As a virologist I’m shocked my work has been hijacked by anti-vaxxers, 7 September).My Covid-19 research team is also experiencing serious problems. Recently, our results questioned the clinical benefits of a drug called ivermectin. Anti-vaxxers claim that this drug is effective, and so can be used as an alternative to vaccines. However, several of the clinical trials suggesting benefits appear to be fraudulent. There is no evidence for clinical benefits when only high quality clinical trials are included. Continue reading...

Low-grade ventilation system at indoor carnival in Gangelt leading factor in outbreak among partygoersAirborne viruses recycled through a low-grade ventilation system likely created Germany’s first super-spreader event of the Covid-19 pandemic, a CSI-style analysis of a carnival celebration has found.The event at the town hall of Gangelt, a municipality on the border with the Netherlands, was labelled “Germany’s Wuhan” after it was found to be the driver of a major outbreak in the western state of North-Rhine Westphalia last year. Continue reading...

Javid also says decision imminent on jabs for 12- to 15-year-olds, and children would be allowed final say on whether to have it

A 49-year-old man died the day after taking his second shot of the vaccine, though authorities said a causal link has not been identified

The Sars-CoV-2 virus cannot keep going beyond about two metres from its host, writes Martin YuilleProf Paul Davies’s headline-grabbing proposal of an invasion by alien viruses (Viruses may exist ‘elsewhere in the universe’, warns scientist, 6 September) may well raise a scientific eyebrow or two.We can be confident that living cells emerged before viruses (on any planet) because viruses are, by definition, obligate parasites: they can only multiply inside a living cell. Even if you say that viruses were originally cells that then became stripped down, you are merely confirming that cells came first. And whereas the cells of some species of plant and animals have evolved to endure extreme conditions, viruses are, by contrast, rather delicate things. For example, the Sars-CoV-2 virus cannot keep going, after leaving its host, beyond about two metres. Even just two light years of intergalactic space is likely to be a bit of a stretch.

Warm-blooded animals are changing beaks, legs and ears to adapt to hotter climate and better regulate temperatureAnimals are increasingly “shapeshifting” because of the climate crisis, researchers have said.Warm-blooded animals are changing their physiology to adapt to a hotter climate, the scientists found. This includes getting larger beaks, legs and ears to better regulate their body temperature. Continue reading...

The rise to a 55-year limit has been welcomed, but some have concerns about the impact on childrenThe 10-year storage limit for freezing embryos, eggs and sperm will be replaced with a right for individuals or couples to keep them for up to a maximum of 55 years.While being a welcome change for many, there are concerns about whether the process is affordable for all and the impact on children of much older parents. Four women around the UK share their views on the announcement. Continue reading...

Judge cites lack of ‘convincing evidence’ that drug is effective, siding with hospital that refused to administer medicationAn Ohio judge has reversed a court order that forced a local hospital to treat a Covid-19 patient with the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin.Related: Military doctors shore up exhausted health teams in US south amid Covid surge Continue reading...

Government denies plan for October half-term lockdown but says option remains open if NHS overwhelmed

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical conceptsWhy do many of us have the tendency to want, or need, to pee when we hear running water? Is this equal between female and male, and does age affect the phenomenon? David Cockayne, CheshirePost your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published on Sunday. Continue reading...

Watchdog to look at potential takeover of Wales-based Perpetuus Group by Dr Zhongfu Zhou or Taurus InternationalBusiness secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has ordered a national security review of a takeover by a Chinese academic of a small Welsh manufacturer of graphene – the thinnest and lightest “supermaterial” known.In a rare move, Kwarteng instructed the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review the planned takeover of Perpetuus Group by Taurus International or any companies associated with Dr Zhongfu Zhou. Continue reading...

Recently a study from Aston University revealed that the F-word had overtaken bloody to become Britain’s most popular swear word for the first time. Shivani Dave speaks to emeritus professor of psychology Timothy Jay of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to find out why people swear and whether or not there are any benefits to using swear words – especially as we move back into public spaces such as the office Continue reading...

Five countries are assessing the BGI Group test amid regulatory concerns about genetic data being sent abroadHealth regulators in five countries are examining a prenatal test that collects the DNA of women and foetuses for research after it emerged the test’s manufacturer has links to China’s military.Some doctors and clinics that promoted and sold the test, marketed under the brand name Nifty, said they were unaware that Shenzhen-based BGI Group also conducts research with the Chinese military. Continue reading...

Footage of a meteoroid passing through the night sky has been captured on a webcam by Solent Ships. The footage was recorded at the port of Southampton on Sunday evening just before 11pm and posted on the Solent Ships YouTube channel Continue reading...

Prof Neil Ferguson says JCVI was conservative in rejecting use of vaccines already approved by MHRA

One-year-old twin girls have looked at each other for the first time after a complex surgery to separate them at Soroka medical centre in Beersheba, Israel. Dozens of experts from Israel and abroad were involved in the preparation and 12-hour procedure.The team used 3D- and virtual-reality models to map the complex operation. This enabled simulations and practice to be undertaken before the actual procedure.Soroka's chief paediatric neurosurgeon, Mickey Gideon, said: 'We have done the reconstruction of the brain membrane, a reconstruction of the skull and now the plastic surgeons continue the surgery for the sealing of the skin' Continue reading...

The solution to today’s puzzleEarlier today I set the following puzzle, inspired by the Borromean rings (left), which are three interlocking loops with the property that when you remove any one of them, the other two are no longer linked. In the puzzle everything falls apart when one element is removed. Continue reading...

Researchers solve mystery of why southern hemisphere whales switch suddenly but in north it is gradualFrom Abba’s Mamma Mia stealing the crown from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to Rihanna’s Diamonds knocking Psy’s Gangnam Style off the top of the charts – even the catchiest song eventually becomes superseded by a new number.But the phenomenon is not unique to humans: male humpback whales also sing – and change their tunes. Continue reading...

Prof Paul Davies suggests viruses may form vital part of ecosystems on other planetsThe Covid pandemic has already turned life as we know it upside down – and no doubt prompted some people to want to leave the planet.Now a leading scientist has warned that viruses may not only be found on Earth, but might occur – should life exist – elsewhere in the universe. Continue reading...

We would like to hear your reaction to the existing 10-year-limit being extended up to 55 yearsThe 10-year storage limit for freezing embryos, eggs and sperm will be replaced with a right for individuals or couples to keep them for up to a maximum of 55 years.We would like to know what you think about the extension, and what difference you think it will make. Continue reading...

You will nail this oneUPDATE: To read the solution click hereThe image above is the Borromean rings, three interlinked rings that have the curious property that when any one of the rings is removed, the other two are no longer linked.The rings are studied by mathematicians and have long been used as a metaphor for the interdependence of three parts, since either all three are linked, or none are. (The name comes from the Borromeo family of Renaissance Italy, which had the pattern on their coat of arms.) Continue reading...

Use the bright star of Altair in Aquila to orientate yourself to see Delphinus, one of the smallest constellationsThis week’s constellation is a pure delight. Delphinus, the dolphin, is one of the smallest, faintest constellations in the sky, but once seen it is impossible to get the image of a celestial dolphin jumping up from the Milky Way out of your mind. Continue reading...

How contagious is the Delta Covid variant? Take charge of this interactive and watch how small changes in isolation or reproduction rates of Covid-19 can affect our battle against it.One important characteristic of viruses and other pathogens is how contagious or infectious they are. One key measure of this is the R0, or basic reproduction number, which indicates how many new cases one infected person generates.

Ministers said the change from a 10-year limit was needed because of the trend towards later parenthoodPeople who want to start a family will be able to freeze their eggs, sperm and embryos for up to 55 years in an overhaul of fertility rules intended to help prospective parents.The existing 10-year limit on the length of time those planning to use in-vitro fertilisation can store the genetic materials needed is being scrapped, the government said on Monday. Continue reading...

Study at Birmingham lung disease service points to printer toner and cleaning products as potential triggersWorking in offices can give people asthma from exposure to substances such as printer toner and cleaning products, according to new research by an NHS doctor.The findings show that working in an office is not necessarily safe and that working from home may be better to protect people’s health, said Dr Christopher Huntley. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed – thanks for following along. We’ll launch a new blog in a few hours’ time. In the meantime, you can find all our coronavirus coverage here.11.44pm BSTThis blog is now closed – thanks for following along. We’ll launch a new blog in a few hours’ time. In the meantime, you can find all our coronavirus coverage here.10.59pm BSTTwo flights from London carrying 164,970 and 292,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine landed in Sydney on Sunday evening.The prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced the four million dose deal with the UK last week.Australia Covid updates: Pfizer vaccines arrive from UK as NSW expects cases to grow – follow live https://t.co/ywUEPZtYUI Continue reading...

The joy of physics | TV theme tunes | Weather forecasts | The cost of warYour correspondence on quantum mechanics (Editorial, 30 August; Letters, 3 September) reminded me of a conversation that I had 50 years ago with a German biologist. He told me that as a teenager he had wanted to be a theoretical physicist and went to a lecture by Wolfgang Pauli on the latter’s exclusion principle. Seeking out Pauli at the end, he said: “That was wonderful, I could see exactly what you meant.” Pauli’s reply: “If you could see it, you didn’t get it.” I gathered that was why he chose biology.

Charlotte Northedge wrote a new novel in lockdown. She considers others who have realised the dreams of their youthI wrote a novel in the last lockdown. To be clear, it wasn’t one of those creative outpourings some people had in between yoga with Adriene and baking banana bread. I had a deadline. Some days, I thought I’d never cut through the brain fog brought about by living through a pandemic. But gradually, as the initial panic subsided and the usual distractions of daily life fell away, I found the words did start to come, and the process of writing my second book was much more fluid and focused than my first.Which is hardly surprising. I started my debut while on maternity leave with my second baby. I had dreamed of writing a novel since I was a child. I was one of those bookish kids whose weekly highlight was a visit to the library and who spent the best part of my teens squirrelling away short stories and beginnings of novels that never seemed to go anywhere. When I moved to London after my English degree, I joined a writing group and started a thriller. Continue reading...