Behind the numbers: the short answer is yes, and scientists still have much to learn about itCovid-19 and influenza are both respiratory diseases, but there are important differences, which statistics can help us understand.First, Sars-CoV-2 is more infectious than seasonal flu. We’re used to hearing about the reproduction number R, the average number of people whom someone with the virus will infect. In a population without immunity and policies such as social distancing, R for Sars-CoV-2 is now estimated to be around 3. New mutations have raised R further. Continue reading...

Obesity could soon overtake smoking as the main preventable cancer riskTaking regular exercise is going to become increasingly important in helping to prevent cancers as the UK emerges from lockdown, say scientists.Since the pandemic began a year ago, growing numbers of people have reported gaining weight after cutting down on physical activity while others say they have been eating more junk food. Continue reading...

Naval hero praises Jenner’s cowpox jab in a newly found love letter to Emma Hamilton, written as he prepared for warHe is best remembered as the one-armed hero who defeated Napoleon, rewrote the rules of naval warfare and died at sea, in battle, onboard HMS Victory.Now, the “chance discovery” of a 220-year-old love letter from Admiral Horatio Nelson to Lady Emma Hamilton, his mistress, reveals how open-minded and ahead of his time the formidable captain was about a radical new scientific breakthrough: the smallpox vaccine. In the letter, dated July 1801, Nelson appears to advocate the use of the brand new vaccine on his own baby daughter. Continue reading...

Our scientists’ accomplishments on vaccines and genome sequencing are exemplary and must be shared with the rest of the worldA remarkable milestone will be passed today when government figures reveal that more than 15 million people in Britain have received at least one dose of a vaccine that will protect them from the severest impacts of Covid-19. It is a striking achievement. In just over two months, more than 20% of the population of the UK has been given protection against the worst ravages of a virus that has paralysed the nation and brought much of the rest of the planet to a standstill. For the first time since lockdown was imposed last March, the population can realistically conceive of enjoying some sort of a return to normality – not immediately, perhaps, but within some reasonable timeframe.And for that reassurance, we should acknowledge our debt to the scientists who have strived so hard to bring the Covid-19 pandemic under control. This, we should stress, has been a global effort by researchers working across the globe in myriad disciplines, from genetics to immunology and from disease modelling to vaccine design. Science is, above all, an international activity and the work of its practitioners in China, the US, Germany and a host of other countries has been crucial in limiting the worst impact of the pandemic. Continue reading...

Coronavirus R number falls below 1 in UK; Cuomo faces calls to resign amid allegations of hiding nursing home deaths; High-risk groups missed off UK’s vaccine priority list. Follow the new blog below

Falling head over heels in love is one thing, but if it becomes all-consuming you may be in ‘limerance’A few years ago I was at my university’s library, frantically refreshing a dating app. Under my crush’s photo there was a location setting that told me how far she was from me. “One mile away!” I felt a surge of adrenaline and my mind started racing.I was a promoter for a gay nightclub in London’s Soho, which was where I met Lucy. I’d drop my flyers on purpose and she’d help me pick them up. We had been on a few dates and were making plans to meet again. Then we came across each other on a dating app – “Fancy seeing you here!” – and matched as a joke. Even though dating apps were probably unreliable in their geolocation abilities, suddenly I could gauge her distance from me. Continue reading...

Local authorities say transmission risk from single case found in village of Bramley ‘very low’

The Descent of Man, 150 years old this month, is a work of humanist brilliance – yet its errors, particularly on gender, now make for uncomfortable reading“Light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history.” That sentence is the sole reference to human evolution in Charles Darwin’s masterwork On the Origin of Species, which in 1859 set down the theory that explains how life on Earth has evolved. Darwin had entirely excluded humans from his scheme. That tease comes in the final chapter, almost like a post-credit scene in a superhero movie, as if to simply say: “To be continued…”The sequel did come, in the form of The Descent of Man, published in February 1871. All of Darwin’s canon is worth reading (though the one about worms and vegetable mould is perhaps a bit niche), but The Descent of Man is my favourite, because it is the one where he holds humans up to the light. Darwin was a great writer, and the prose is typically grand: Continue reading...

Prime minister says priority is to reopen schools on 8 March once 15m in priority groups vaccinated

Disease researchers argue vaccine stockpiling in wealthier countries will only prolong the crisis

Despite success of vaccine programme, scientists ‘genuinely worried’ about potential surge in cases

John Jobber’s flight home, after being stuck in Ireland, will not be accepted due to lockdown restrictions

WHO chief makes statement; Greece widens lockdown to more regions to halt Covid spread. This blog is now closed

Australian Antarctic Division will drill 3,000 metres deep in bid to improve ancient climate records and future modelsAntarctic scientists are close to finalising a drilling location deep in the frozen continent’s interior that could reveal a continuous record of the Earth’s climate going back 1.5 million years.After almost a decade of work, scientists at the Australian Antarctic Division are close to pinpointing a place to drill an ice core almost 3,000-metres deep. Continue reading...

Milestone means 65 to 69-year-olds will be invited for jab and those with underlying conditions are expected to follow

My friend and colleague John Bishop, who has died aged 85, was a pioneer of molecular cell biology whose career bridged a remarkable era in life sciences – from genes to genetic engineering.Born in Edinburgh, to Mary (nee Oliver) and Robert Bishop, John was raised in the nearby town of Bo’ness, where his father was a shopkeeper. He won a scholarship to attend George Heriot’s school in Edinburgh, and then studied genetics at Edinburgh University (BSc with first-class honours, 1957), and took a PhD in the same department. In 1959 he married Jill Spowart, a fellow student. Continue reading...

With new variants of coronavirus popping up around the world, what do the latest studies tell us?

Everyone in top four categories has been offered first vaccine dose, says first minister

Reproduction number estimated to be between 0.7 and 0.9, suggesting epidemic is shrinkingThe reproduction number, or R value, of coronavirus has fallen below one for the first time since July and is estimated to be between 0.7 and 0.9 across the UK.In a sign that lockdown restrictions may be having an impact and the epidemic is shrinking, scientists advising the government gave their most optimistic outlook for the R number since cases fell last summer. Continue reading...

The society has announced the winners of its 2021 science photographer of the year competition. An exhibition of the winning images is the headline attraction at the Manchester science festival, which is taking place digitally from 12 to 21 February. A climate change category was introduced to the competition to reflect the theme of this year’s festival Continue reading...

Find backs theory that bluestones first stood at Waun Mawn before being dragged 140 miles to WiltshireAn ancient myth about Stonehenge, first recorded 900 years ago, tells of the wizard Merlin leading men to Ireland to capture a magical stone circle called the Giants’ Dance and rebuilding it in England as a memorial to the dead.Geoffrey of Monmouth’s account had been dismissed, partly because he was wrong on other historical facts, although the bluestones of the monument came from a region of Wales that was considered Irish territory in his day. Continue reading...

Researchers say tocilizumab could also help patients on general wards and relieve pressure on NHS

Study finds patients have strong T-cell response after one jab, and second boosts antibody response

Prostagram found to be almost twice as effective at detection as standard blood test in trials, say scientistsScientists say they have developed a prostate cancer scan accurate enough to potentially replace current invasive examination techniques and save thousands of lives each year.Prostagram, developed by experts at Imperial College London, employs MRI scanning and is modelled on breast cancer screening, where women are routinely offered a mammogram scan every three years as part of a national programme. Continue reading...

Millions of pet cats are estimated to kill billions of animals a year but grain-free food can change cat behaviourFeeding pet cats meaty food and playing with them to simulate hunting stops them killing wildlife, according to a study.Eating grain-free food led to the cats depositing a third fewer mouse and bird corpses on doorsteps, while just five to 10 minutes of play with a toy mouse cut the killing by a quarter. Continue reading...

The epidemics of the 1800s left Britain with healthier, better-ventilated public spaces. After Covid, we’ll need more of themOver the last year, the pandemic has transformed how we think of the spaces around us. Common activities such as going to the supermarket or inviting friends into our homes pose new risks to our health. As we learn to live with the threat of Covid-19, we’ll also need to make changes to our spatial environments. But we can breathe a sigh of relief: it’s not the first time societies have had to transform their environments after a public health crisis.Related: Amid the gloom of lockdown, I have taken solace in nature | David Lindo Continue reading...

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and for many couples this year will feel very different. Lockdowns, social distancing, and self-isolation have forced those in relationships to choose whether to be together all the time, or stay apart for potentially months on end. Linda Geddes speaks to Dr Deborah Bailey-Rodriguez about how couples have navigated their relationships during the pandemic Continue reading...

Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical firm’s profits rise to $7.4bn as main business ‘remains strong’

Study found pigs were able to move a cursor to hit a wall on a screen and earn a treatThey’ve long been thought of as smarter than your average animal, but now researchers claim they have taught pigs to use a joystick, suggesting they are even cleverer than previously thought.Pigs have previously been found to be capable of a host of tasks, including solving multiple-choice puzzles, and learning commands such as “sit”. Continue reading...

WHO recommends AstraZeneca jab ‘even if variants present’; Israel to open hotels and gyms to those who have had vaccine or recovered from virus. This blow is now closed – follow our new one belowCoronavirus live updates

Researchers detected water emanating high up in thin atmosphere of red planet while Tianwen-1 probe entered orbit on WednesdayResearchers have observed water vapour escaping high up in the thin atmosphere of Mars, offering tantalising new clues as to whether the red planet could have once hosted life.The traces of ancient valleys and river channels suggest liquid water once flowed across the surface of Mars. Today, the water is mostly locked up in the planet’s ice caps or buried underground. Continue reading...

Inhaled budesonide could become first treatment in early stages of infection if study confirmed

Conch, unearthed in cave in Pyrenees in 1931, had been carefully drilled and shaped to make musicA 17,000-year-old conch shell that lay forgotten for more than 80 years in a museum collection has been discovered to be the oldest known wind instrument of its type, after researchers found it had been modified by its prehistoric owners to be played like a horn.First unearthed in a richly decorated cave in the Pyrenees in 1931, the large shell was initially overlooked by archaeologists, who assumed it was a communal “loving cup” used by the Palaeolithic people whose wall art adorns the space. Continue reading...

I still have the stamped and dated certificates for smallpox and yellow fever that were required for travel in the 1950s and 60s, writes Dr David BoswellJust before the inoculation programme was rolled out, I wrote to my GP pointing out that soon travel agents, airlines and other countries would require certificates of vaccination against Covid-19, and asking what was being done to provide these (Coronavirus vaccine strategy needs rethink after resistant variants emerge, say scientists, 8 February). I got no reply.Now this is a major issue. Yet one is only given a tiny card recording the date and type of vaccine. This is clearly inadequate, and why should GPs be expected to provide, on request, their own versions, which would probably not be recognised internationally, anyway? Continue reading...

President says he is aiming for ‘top league in space race’ as rival UAE basks in Mars successThe Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has unveiled an ambitious 10-year space programme, a first for the country that highlights Ankara’s plans to compete with other countries both on the world stage and beyond.Speaking on Tuesday evening during a live televised event laced with special effects, the president said the first goal of the comprehensive programme was to make contact with the moon in 2023, the centennial of the founding of the Turkish republic. Continue reading...

European commission leader says bloc late to authorise jabs and ‘not where it wants to be’

The vaccine is still a vital weapon against Covid-19, even if it doesn’t stop mild cases caused by the new variant

Bright speck in space near Alpha Centauri A may be evidence of asteroids or dust – or a technical glitchAstronomers have glimpsed what may be a previously unknown planet circling one of the closest stars to Earth.Researchers spotted the bright dot near Alpha Centauri A, one of a pair of stars that swing around each other so tightly they appear as one in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The stars form what is called a binary system 4.37 light years away, a mere stone’s throw in cosmic terms. Continue reading...

Physical closeness isn’t necessary for us to have a profound effect on one another’s biology, for good or illLast week, my whole outlook on the world was transformed by a sheet of blank paper. Not just any paper, but beautifully embossed stationery, silky to the touch and decadent to write on. It was a gift from a dear friend and colleague. We collaborate over Zoom every week, so I could have thanked him on video, but instead I wrote a short note of gratitude and love, and posted it to him. His delight on receipt a few days later mirrored my own, and we shared a moment of emotional connection.Before that moment, I was immersed in yet another “Blursday” full of Covid-saturated, this-will-never-end moroseness, staring alone at a screen that makes my skin look pallid. Afterwards, to my surprise, I was alight in a sprawling web of human connections. But I shouldn’t have been surprised: I am a neuroscientist who studies how the brain creates your mood. In fact, if you understand a bit about your brain’s inner workings, it may help you to cultivate comfort from those around you, whether physically or in spirit, in difficult times. Continue reading...

Japan has secured 144m shots of the vaccine, but it does not have enough of the specialised syringes to be able to draw six shots from each vial

Huge animals abandoned on Colombian drug lord’s hacienda zoo are loved by locals but their sheer numbers threaten environmentHippos imported illegally into Colombia for Pablo Escobar’s private zoo have gone feral in the lush tropical countryside and must be culled before their invasive presence starts to wipe out indigenous flora and fauna, scientists have warned.One of the notorious drug lord’s great extravagances saw him amass a collection of hippos, kangaroos, giraffes, elephants and other exotic animals in his hacienda fortress from where he established the world’s biggest cocaine empire in the 1980s. Continue reading...

Public Health England expert says figure suggests B1351 has not taken hold in Britain

Initial study brings hope vaccine will reduce Covid transmission

Health secretary sets out new measures as Scottish government announces even stricter plans

A new course – the space engineering technician apprenticeship – offers the chance to join an expanding industryFor young people eager to launch into the world of work, career horizons are expanding to infinity and beyond. The next generation of space engineers began training last month through a new apprenticeship scheme.The space engineering technician apprenticeship is the first to be recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and is the result of a collaboration between the University of Leicester, the UK Space Agency and aerospace giant Airbus. The apprenticeship aims to provide young recruits with space-specific technical skills, including spacecraft manufacturing and design, testing and satellite integration. More than 50 apprentices will have started their training by the end of 2021, with plans to ramp up recruitment. Continue reading...

French nun Sister Andrée tested positive in her retirement home in Toulon but had no symptoms

Donations surge during Covid crisis for work by Prof Chris Exley, author of study linking vaccines and autism

From doubts about safety in older people to questions about variants, scientists have faced a battle to convince the public and regulators

Theories including virus jumping from animal to human or via frozen food being explored by team in China

Neuropsychiatrist who brought brain and mind together in studies of mental healthAlwyn Lishman liked to tell people that he wrote his classic textbook Organic Psychiatry (1978) only because the £500 advance would enable him to buy the Bechstein grand piano that he coveted. Yet he put his heart and soul into it, setting the subject of neuropsychiatry on a new footing, and trained generations of successors to approach mental illness with insights from both brain and mind.Trained in neurology and psychiatry, Lishman, who has died aged 89, was not the first to bridge the two subjects. There was a strong tradition among German neurologists of the late-19th century to look for underlying physical causes for conditions such as dementia and schizophrenia. But when he qualified in medicine in postwar Britain, Lishman found that neurology had little to say about the mind, while psychiatry was strongly influenced by psychoanalysis. He made it his mission to build a new discipline that combined the two. While using newly available techniques to explore abnormalities in the brain, he rooted his practice in psychiatry, listening to his patients and taking their circumstances into account. Continue reading...