Western Australia releases sites visited by Covid-positive NSW truck drivers. This blog is now closed

It has shipped more than a billion doses, saved countless lives – and faced controversy over its safety and supply. Here, some of those who created the vaccine tell the story of their epic race against the virusIn December 2019, hospitals in Wuhan, China, reported that they were dealing with dozens of cases of pneumonia of an unknown cause. They soon identified the disease as being caused by a novel coronavirus.Teresa Lambe, associate professor, Jenner Institute My brother lived in China, so whenever there was an emerging or break pathogen there, I used to follow it. I remember thinking very early on that this was probably another influenza strain. Continue reading...

Martin Foley announces 64 new cases and says Victoria should not follow NSW on restrictionsThe Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, has dismissed suggestions that Victoria should follow New South Wales in easing some restrictions before the Covid outbreak appears to be under control, saying that easing restrictions is not a sign of hope if daily case numbers keep climbing.He also dismissed a suggestion made by some federal politicians that Australia’s healthcare system was not under strain. Continue reading...

NSW Ambulance service says it has been unable to keep up with demand after trivial call-outs

All new cases are in Auckland, with 62 within the Pacific communityNew Zealand’s Covid-19 outbreak has worsened, with 82 new cases taking the total infected to 415.All of Saturday’s cases were in Auckland, with the Pacific community again over-represented with 62 cases. Continue reading...

Outbreak of Delta Covid cases likely to put strain on health services in areas with low vaccination rates, experts say

Annual coronavirus vaccines could be a reality – but Australia is at least 18 months away from manufacturing its ownFrom September – more than nine months after it was approved for emergency use in the United States – the first doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine will arrive on Australian shores. The second mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine against the coronavirus is a welcome boon amid a period of rolling lockdowns and record case numbers.But Australia’s notoriously sluggish vaccine rollout has been marred by the failure of a locally developed vaccine candidate, as well as changes to age-group recommendations for the AstraZeneca vaccine as a result of its link to rare but blood clots. Continue reading...

Research finds that when humans exercise, our bodies limit the energy used on basic metabolic functionsLosing weight through exercise appears to be more difficult for obese people, research suggests.Initially, researchers thought that the total energy we spend in a day is the sum of energy expended due to activity (ranging from light gardening to running a marathon) and energy used for basic functioning (what keeps us ticking even when we are doing nothing, such as immune function and wound healing). Continue reading...

Minimal immunity and dropping of preventive measures could lead to widespread school infections

Regardless of where the virus came from, there’s a growing risk of another Covid-like phenomenon occurringUS intelligence services have just briefed the president, Joe Biden, on the results of their 90-day investigation into the origins of Covid-19. They were asked to test two hypotheses: that it had a “natural” origin, or that it escaped from a lab. Preliminary reports suggest that their findings are inconclusive.Few scientists will be surprised by this, and yet the investigation has been the subject of intense – and intensely divisive – political and media interest over the past three months. The White House has promised more detail, which could be illuminating, especially if it reveals the genetic sequences of viruses related to the one that causes Covid-19, Sars-CoV-2, that were being studied in labs in Wuhan in 2019. But that won’t change the fact that two investigations down, we’re still in the dark as to how this pandemic started. Continue reading...

Napping is a symbol of laziness but it can improve our memory, creativity, empathy and problem-solvingNapping has long been a symbol of laziness, but actually it is an essential bodily function that improves our memory, creativity, empathy and problem-solving abilities.

Researchers measured pain responses in preterm babies during routine procedures in neonatal unitPremature babies appear to feel less pain during medical procedures when they are spoken to by their mothers, researchers have found.Babies that are born very early often have to spend time in neonatal intensive care units, and may need several painful clinical procedures. The situation can also mean lengthy separation from parents. Continue reading...

Exclusive: research finds small rise in exposure to air pollution leads to higher risk of needing treatmentExposure to air pollution is linked to an increased severity of mental illness, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind.The research, involving 13,000 people in London, found that a relatively small increase in exposure to nitrogen dioxide led to a 32% increase in the risk of needing community-based treatment and an 18% increase in the risk of being admitted to hospital. Continue reading...

Analysis of 29m people finds danger of infection with Sars-Cov-2 far outweighs the risks of having jab

JCVI understood to have concerns about effect of jab on other childhood inoculations

Some females found to have evolved with bright plumage, which seems to protect against male aggressionThey may zip around looking cute and sociable, but the world of hummingbirds is rife with aggression. Now it looks like some female hummingbirds have evolved to avoid this – by adopting the bright plumage of their male counterparts.US researchers captured more than 400 white-necked Jacobin hummingbirds in Panama. Continue reading...

Many countries with already high vaccination rates are considering offering people an additional coronavirus vaccine dose. But are booster shots necessary? And what about the issue of vaccine equity? The Guardian's Natalie Grover examines the costs and benefits of possibly introducing a third jab

Climate engineering sounds scary. But is coming whether we like it or not, this scientist saysThe realities of climate change are front-page news every day. Temperature records are being smashed. Wildfires are raging. There is no sign of things going back to “normal”. If anything, they will only get worse.Last year, when the planet was convulsing with the arrival of a pandemic, we pinned our hopes on technology – in the form of an mRNA vaccine – getting us out of our crisis. The vaccine was a technological intervention, injected into the arms of billions of people. Could we (should we?) look to technological solutions to our climate crisis, too? Continue reading...

Agency is being urged to rescind an ‘unworkable’ change that bans preprint material citation, resulting in 32 applicants being deemed ineligible

As back to school looms and in-person teaching returns, there is an expectation that Covid-19 cases will rise, especially among children. In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for children aged 12 to 17, but they are still not available to most people in this demographic. Shivani Dave speaks to the Guardian’s science correspondent, Natalie Grover, about why that is the case

Cambridge astronomers identify new hycean class of habitable exoplanets, which could accelerate search for lifeSigns of life beyond our solar system may be detectable within two to three years, experts have said after rethinking the kinds of planets that may be habitable.Researchers have mostly looked for planets of a similar size, mass, temperature and atmospheric composition to Earth. But University of Cambridge astronomers believe there may be more promising possibilities after recent work suggested that a “mini-Neptune” more than twice the radius of Earth and more than eight times as massive may also be habitable. Continue reading...

Remarks follow reports US intelligence study unable to conclude if virus came from animals or a Wuhan lab

‘Eco-friendly’ lights found to be worse than sodium ones – but both contribute to insect decline, says study“Eco-friendly” LED streetlights produce even worse light pollution for insects than the traditional sodium bulbs they are replacing, a study has found.The abundance of moth caterpillars in hedgerows by rural roads in England was 52% lower under LED lights and 41% lower under sodium lights when compared with nearby unlit areas. Continue reading...

Skeleton of hunter-gatherer found in Leang Panninge cave sheds light on ancient human migrationArchaeologists have discovered ancient DNA in the remains of a woman who died 7,200 years ago in Indonesia, a find that challenges what was previously known about migration of early humans.The remains, belonging to a teenager nicknamed Bessé, were discovered in the Leang Panninge cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Initial excavations were undertaken in 2015. Continue reading...

Our world and the self are constructions of the brain, a pioneering neuroscientist arguesFor every stoner who has been overcome with profound insight and drawled, “Reality is a construct, maaan,” here is the astonishing affirmation. Reality – or, at least, our perception of it – is a “controlled hallucination”, according to the neuroscientist Anil Seth. Everything we see, hear and perceive around us, our whole beautiful world, is a big lie created by our deceptive brains, like a forever version of The Truman Show, to placate us into living our lives.Our minds invent for us a universe of colours, sounds, shapes and feelings through which we interact with our world and relate to each other, Seth argues. We even invent ourselves. Our reality, then, is an illusion, and understanding this involves tackling the thorny issue of consciousness: what it means to, well, be. Continue reading...

Hospitals received letters threatening large fines after they installed their own onsite O2 plants in response to shortagesIn March 2020, Benjamin Espinoza Zavala saw an entire floor of his small hospital in Guanajuato, central Mexico, converted into Covid-19 wards. The hospital’s need for oxygen soared.Deliveries from CryoInfra, part of the Grupo Infra group, occasionally slowed to once every couple of days, and he had to buy in extra to cover the sudden gaps in supply. Prices increased. Continue reading...

Covid response minister says it would be a waste to stop aiming for elimination after plan was questioned by foreign media

This blog is now closed. You can find all of our coverage of the pandemic here.4.22am BSTThis blog is closing now but thanks very much for reading. We’ll be back in a few hours with more rolling coverage of the pandemic from all around the world.

Scientists are comparing the profiles of those who are dying with previous waves – here’s what they know

Prof J Kiley Hamlin from the International Congress for Infant Studies calls into question a study showing impaired cognition in children, and says there is reason to be optimistic about their resilienceResults from a scientific paper have been racing around the internet like wildfire, perhaps because they confirm parents’ worst fears: infants born during the pandemic show a large and significant reduction in scores on a standard battery of cognitive development tests. Your report (Children born during pandemic have lower IQs, US study finds, 12 August) refers to these infants as having “shockingly low” scores, at levels not typically seen “outside of major cognitive disorders”. These are attributed to “lack of stimulation and interaction at home”, and it is suggested that children’s “ability to course-correct” may be limited.The executive board of the International Congress for Infant Studies (ICIS) believes that drawing these sorts of conclusions from this unpublished article is premature and ill-advised. Without denying that there may be negative effects of being born in a pandemic, what we know about infant development suggests that the observed reduction in scores on the cognitive tests is not only implausible, but is also likely to stem from causes that have nothing to do with the main claim. Instead, infants may have performed less well on the test because it was administered by a stranger, wearing a face covering, in an unfamiliar environment – all of which would differentially impact the performance of babies born during the pandemic. Continue reading...

Taiwanese company TiSPACE is planning three launches from South Australia in 2021, amid hopes the event will provide a boost to Australia’s space industry

In mid-June this year, some brands of cat food were recalled as a precaution after a sudden increase in cases of feline pancytopenia, a rare blood disease that can be fatal. Shivani Dave speaks to Daniella Dos Santos, a practicing small animal and exotic pet vet and the senior vice-president of the British Veterinary Association, to understand what the food recall means for cat owners, and to find out how best to feed our feline friends Continue reading...

Sortie will not take place until after SpaceX cargo run this weekend and Russian spacewalks in SeptemberNasa is delaying a spacewalk at the International Space Station because of a medical issue involving one of its astronauts.Officials announced the postponement on Monday, less than 24 hours before Mark Vande Hei was supposed to float outside. Continue reading...

Findings may help explain why incidence of bowel cancer is rising among younger adults in developed regionsChildren of women who were overweight or obese when pregnant have a higher risk of developing bowel cancer in later life, research suggests.Obesity in women has previously been linked to health problems in their offspring. Among them, studies have suggested women who are overweight when trying to conceive are more likely to have a baby with serious birth defects. Continue reading...

Study reinforces the hard evidence that carbon emissions are the main cause of worsening extreme weatherThe record-shattering rainfall that caused deadly flooding across Germany and Belgium in July was made up to nine times more likely by the climate crisis, according to research.The study also showed that human-caused global heating has made downpours in the region up to 20% heavier. The work reinforces the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s landmark report this month that there is “unequivocal” evidence that greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the main cause of worsening extreme weather. Continue reading...

Researchers are worried the ban on preprint materials in grant proposals will diminish the nation’s scientific potentialThe Australian Research Council says it is “looking into” a controversial rule change that affects academic grant applications, amid growing political pressure and criticism from the Australian research community.More than 600 “concerned members of the Australian research community” have called on the Australian Research Council (ARC) to reconsider a rule that bans applicants from citing preprint material in proposals for funding. Continue reading...

Food and Drug Administration is trying to finish its licensing process for the drugMonday update: FDA gives full approval to Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19Full federal approval of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine will empower businesses and universities to require vaccinations and tip hesitant Americans toward getting the jab, the surgeon general, Dr Vivek Murthy, said on Sunday.Related: Breakthrough infections and booster shots: what you need to know Continue reading...

The solutions to today’s puzzlesEarlier today I set you the following three puzzles.1. Late Wittgenstein Continue reading...

As the pace and ambition of space exploration accelerates, preventing Earth-born organisms from hitching a ride has become more urgent than ever. By Geoff Manaugh and Nicola Twilley Continue reading...

PM repeatedly cites the institute’s modelling of 70-80% Covid vaccination rates as Australia’s path to freedom. But what do those numbers really mean?

Five existentialists walk into a bar.Update: solutions can be found hereToday’s three puzzles are mini-dramas featuring well-known philosophers.1. Late Wittgenstein Continue reading...

This blog is now closed. You can find all of our coverage of the pandemic here.12.09am BSTThis blog is closing now but thanks very much for reading. We’ll be back in a few hours with more rolling coverage of the pandemic from all around the world.In the meantime you can catch up with all our coverage of the pandemic here.10.51pm BSTIt started out well enough, writes Rob LeDonne.In the heart of New York City, on Central Park’s Great Lawn, the weather was overcast leading up to We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert, a genre-spanning spectacle produced by the city itself.Related: The show did not go on: storm thwarts Central Park concert celebrating city’s Covid comeback Continue reading...

UK scheme could also illuminate reinfection rates and immunity across different variants, say experts

A simple breakfast with a friend presented a serious dilemma and pointed to both the need and precedent for actionOn Saturday morning I met a friend for breakfast at a local diner. We weren’t sure whether to sit outside because of the surging Delta variant of Covid, or inside because stinging smoke from wildfires consuming northern and western California had spread into the Bay Area.Related: Our Own Worst Enemy review: a caustic diagnosis of America after Trump Continue reading...

JCVI considers lower third jab dosage to release stocks for poorer nations

Whatever this week’s Biden review finds, the cause of the pandemic lies in the destruction of animal habitats

The professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience discusses his work to develop a scientific explanation for how the brain conjures consciousnessFor centuries, philosophers have theorised about the mind-body question, debating the relationship between the physical matter of the brain and the conscious mental activity it somehow creates. Even with advances in neuroscience and brain imaging techniques, large parts of that fundamental relationship remain stubbornly mysterious. It was with good reason that, in 1995, the cognitive scientist David Chalmers coined the term “the hard problem” to describe the question of exactly how our brains conjure subjective conscious experience. Some philosophers continue to insist that mind is inherently distinct from matter. Advances in understanding how the brain functions undermine those ideas of dualism, however.Anil Seth, professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience at the University of Sussex, is at the leading edge of that latter research. His Ted talk on consciousness has been viewed more than 11m times. His new book, Being You, proposes an idea of the human mind as a “highly evolved prediction machine”, rooted in the functions of the body and “constantly hallucinating the world and the self” to create reality. Continue reading...

Writing a diary is a great way to offload – and, if memory fails, it’s a wonderful window on the pastI still get funny looks from people when I mention that I keep a diary. Maybe the practice strikes them as shifty or weirdly old-fashioned. It’s true that I never feel more furtive than when my wife finds me writing it at our kitchen table – it’s like being spotted entering a confessional box in church. What exactly have I got to tell this black book about a life that we share all day, every day? What secrets can I possibly be keeping?The answer: nothing of any great note, and yet so much of my life is in it. I started writing a journal (as I used to call it) when I went on holiday. Twenty years ago I decided to go full-time and since then I’ve kept it more or less every day. Why? I suppose it began as an experiment – and became an obligation. You can’t hold back time, but you can try to save the past from being completely erased. It often feels trivial to record things as they happen (a stray remark, hearing a song, fleeting moments of doom or delight), but later they may prove useful, or instructive, or amusing. It also maintains the illusion of diligence – that you’re not just pissing away the days. A diary is good exercise for the writing muscle, the way a pianist practises scales or a footballer does keepy-uppies. During lockdown, like everyone else, I got into routines that felt numbing in their repetition and diary-wise left me short of material. I took recourse to discussing the books and box sets I was involved with – not exactly Pepysian, but it got me through. Continue reading...

The lessons top athletes are learning about stress and mental health can help us handle pressure in our own livesIt was going to be the Pandemic Olympics; the cheerless games that would inspire ambivalence at best. And then sport did its thing. Despite the lack of crowds and the looming threat of Covid, Tokyo was amazing. It also became something else: the mental health Olympics.When Simone Biles pulled out of the gymnastics events, she brought an unprecedented focus on the psychological challenges of elite sport. One of the greatest athletes of all time had decided to prioritise her mind over the will – and enormous pressure – to win. “There is more to life than just gymnastics,” she said. After taking stock in a Tokyo gym, she returned to the beam event, taking a bronze medal in what might have felt like one of her biggest victories. Continue reading...