Analysis of Tönnies meat plant system in Gütersloh shows it contributed to spread of aerosol droplets laden with coronavirus

Donald Trump told thousands of supporters at a rally in Oklahoma he wanted to slow down testing for Covid-19 – despite experts saying the opposite.From masks to 'miracle' treatments, the Guardian's Maanvi Singh looks back at how the US president has long been contradicting and defying science during the coronavirus outbreak and the impact that has had on the country's handling of the pandemic

From serology to T-cells, there’s still a lot we don’t know about how immunity to coronavirus works

I’ve never seen anything like coronavirus before. Recovering will be a Herculean task for patients, but we are here to helpAfter nearly a quarter of a century as a physiotherapist, I’ve found 2020 the most professionally thought-provoking year so far. Throughout my career, I have treated patients with everything from rare and fatal brain conditions to severe bends brought about by diving, but what I have seen with the coronavirus pandemic will haunt me for the rest of my life. While every case of Covid-19 is different, after a while you’ve seen most of the pieces of the jigsaw somewhere before. Instead, it is the level and scale of complex rehabilitation some survivors need to return them to their lives that truly scares me.In the past, I have worked in the community helping patients achieve their goals at home. I have worked in neonatal, neurosurgical, cardiac and general intensive care units (ICUs). I have treated patients with conditions I can’t always spell, worked for the Ministry of Defence, and done a very brief stint lecturing in Ethiopia. I am now part of a triumvirate leading 2,000 staff and 22 different professions in Portsmouth. Continue reading...

Archaeologists surveying the land around Stonehenge have made a discovery that could change the way we think about our neolithic ancestors: a circle of deep shafts spanning 1.2 miles in diameter around Durrington Walls. Hannah Devlin speaks to Prof Vincent Gaffney about how he and his team made this incredible discovery and why the latest find is so remarkable Continue reading...

Vaccine developed at Oxford University; deaths in Latin America pass 100,000; Brazil records 39,436 new cases. This blog is now closed

Boris Johnson sometimes uses experts to bolster his authority but his real guide is fear of being held responsible for bad governmentIt is clear from the volume and complexity of new hygiene guidelines that the grand reopening of England’s consumer economy, scheduled for 4 July, marks no return to normality. The long-deferred pleasure of the pub will be diluted by measures to enforce physical distance between punters. Fear will still keep many away.Britain’s struggle with coronavirus has certainly moved into a new phase, but the transition is more political than clinical. The shift is symbolised by the abandonment of routine Downing Street press conferences. It is hard to mourn the passing of an institution that was often characterised by obfuscation, but the decision to dispense with the exercise is revealing. The government no longer wants the burden of sharing information with citizens. Continue reading...

Compound issue | Quantum states | Brasserie | Latin etymology | Fascinating puzzleTo answer Karin Koller (Letters, 23 June), the French for bra, soutien-gorge, is masculine because compound words, consisting of a noun preceded by a verbal prefix, are nearly always masculine. The exceptions are when denoting women: for example, garde-malade, a home nurse. Nowadays, décolleté would be a more correct translation of cleavage.

Rich countries’ governments are putting all their trust in a marriage of markets and philanthropy called GaviVaccines for Covid-19 are coming. Billions of dollars are flowing in, over 100 efforts are under way, and at least 13 leading candidates are already being tested on humans. But how will these vaccines reach the poorest people on the planet? This question haunts the fate of more than half the world’s population. It is the central question of our time. The failure to address this question in the past has resulted in millions of unnecessary deaths – and yet, some believe there is a simple answer. Ask pharmaceutical corporations about how they will ensure access to Covid-19 vaccines, and they say “Gavi”. Ask the wealthiest governments in the world what they are doing to ensure global equity, and they too say “Gavi”.Gavi, the Vaccines Alliance, is a 20-year old public-private partnership that believes the marriage of markets and philanthropy will bring vaccines to everyone in the world. The numbers are impressive: every year, Gavi sends out 500 million vaccine doses against 17 different diseases. The sums of money pumped into Gavi are equally impressive. At the Global Vaccine Summit held earlier this month, Gavi raised a record-breaking $8.8bn. With £330m committed annually for the next five years, the British government is their single largest donor, alongside other wealthy countries and the Gates Foundation. At the summit, Gavi launched its newest initiative, a fund for future Covid-19 vaccines – the Covax Facility – which invites countries to invest in a wide portfolio of potential vaccines, pool their risk, and gain dedicated access to eventual products. Continue reading...

Researchers found that air pollution, smoking and a person’s built environment may play role in obesity in childrenAir pollutants and population density are increasing the chances of childhood obesity, and scientists are just starting to understand which chemicals and urban factors are the riskiest, according to a new US study.Researchers reviewed 77 factors during pregnancy and 96 during childhood and found that air pollution, smoking and a person’s built environment may play a role in obesity in children from birth to age 11. Continue reading...

The reduction of the 2-metre rule in England tells people we’re out of the woods, and they’ll behave accordingly

The words of warning from England’s chief medical officer during the coronavirus crisis

Your questions answered on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19

Sage advisers warn of risks of halving 2-metre rule while reopening venues in England

Defence force to assist as spike in Covid-19 cases puts pressure on testing facilities and sparks a rush on supermarkets

England relaxes social distancing rules; Dr Anthony Fauci testifies to US Congress; German district put in local lockdown. This blog is now closed

Covid-19 has slashed donations to medical research funding, charities warn Boris Johnson

Study is latest to find high degree of correlation between gut health and mental healthPeople living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have more than twice the risk of developing dementia, researchers have revealed in the latest study to link gut health to neurological diseases.A growing body of research suggests changes in the gastrointestinal tract may affect the brain through two-way communication known as the gut-brain axis. Continue reading...

Lockdown in England to be mostly lifted on 4 July but ‘rules must be rigorously kept to’

Boris Johnson’s determination to kickstart economic recovery is a gamble, when test-and-trace systems are a work in progress and the coronavirus threat is still substantial

Audit finds that of the 71 under-18s who have needed intensive care, most have survived

Those in England most at risk from Covid-19 prepare for 6 July when life will tiptoe back to normal

How PM’s latest announcement affects pubs and restaurants, hairdressers and galleries

Lords committee told children may have to be immunised to protect their grandparents

Members of two households will be able to dine together from 4 July in latest lockdown easing

Local health chiefs say real-time information is crucial to monitor spread of disease

Your questions answered on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19

The 55 Beidou project satellites will try to emulate American navigation tool known as GPSChina has launched the final satellite in its Beidou constellation that emulates the US Global Positioning System (GPS), marking a further step in the country’s advance as a major space power.The launch of the satellite onboard a Long March-3 rocket was broadcast live from the satellite launch base of Xichang on Tuesday, deep in the mountains of southwestern China, shortly before 10am. About half an hour later, the satellite was deployed in orbit and extended its solar panels to provide its energy. Continue reading...

With reports that there are lower rates of smokers being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 in France and trials to test whether nicotine patches can reduce the severity of infection, but also data showing that smokers are more likely to contract the disease and develop severe symptoms, what’s actually going on here? Sarah Boseley talks to Dr Nick Hopkinson to find out more Continue reading...

China halts imports from food plant where 481 tested positive; South Africa hits 100,000 cases; New York shops reopen; Lisbon brings back lockdown restrictions. This blog is closed

Men who have fought off virus have higher levels of antibodies in their blood than women

Research aims to shine a light on condition that is believed to affect 250,000 people in UK

The summer gives us a chance to eliminate the virus and reopen the economy without pointless debates about 1 or 2 metre distancing measures

Families of prisoners at notorious Tora complex concerned publicised efforts to contain virus are purely cosmetic

Exclusive: prehistoric structure spanning 1.2 miles in diameter is masterpiece of engineering, say archaeologistsA circle of deep shafts has been discovered near the world heritage site of Stonehenge, to the astonishment of archaeologists, who have described it as the largest prehistoric structure ever found in Britain.Four thousand five hundred years ago, the Neolithic peoples who constructed Stonehenge, a masterpiece of engineering, also dug a series of shafts aligned to form a circle spanning 1.2 miles (2km) in diameter. The structure appears to have been a boundary guiding people to a sacred area because Durrington Walls, one of Britain’s largest henge monuments, is located precisely at its centre. The site is 1.9 miles north-east of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, near Amesbury, Wiltshire. Continue reading...

The moon moves through Leo the lion every month, and this week is a good time to identify the constellation and the blue-white star RegulusEvery month the moon slips past the bright star of Regulus in Leo, the lion. It is a good opportunity to identify the constellation, which doesn’t need too much imagination to turn it into a lion. This month the pairing takes place on 25 June. The chart shows the view looking west from London at 23:00 BST. Leo will be heading down towards the horizon. An hour or so later it will have set, and the moon along with it. The moon itself will be a pleasing waxing crescent with about a quarter of its earthward face illuminated. From the southern hemisphere, Leo will appear upside down in the north-western portion of the night sky. Continue reading...

Adults, children and even pets marvelled at the momentary disappearance of the sun Continue reading...

Boris Johnson ‘appalled and sickened’ by stabbings; police say 41 witnesses have come forward after three killed and three seriously injured

Doug Loverro conducted unauthorized discussions with Boeing while it was bidding for Nasa contract, Washington Post says

I can’t help being sceptical about government rules, but I will cover up when I’m told to. Over to you, eyes

Our photojournalists explain how the pandemic has changed their practice – and why physical distancing is no barrier to producing intimate portraitsThroughout the pandemic it has been important to show our readers and viewers what’s happening in the world outside, to make a historical document and to chart the progress of those on the frontline. During the first weeks, it was difficult to gain access to hospitals to see how they were coping – until photojournalist Jonny Weeks was invited on to the Covid-19 wards at University hospital in Coventry. We made a full risk assessment, considering his safety and the risk to those around him, and with the guidance of the staff there he produced a brilliant photo essay. He was one of the very first photojournalists to have this kind of access in the UK and it was a key story for the Guardian. Continue reading...

What lessons can we learn from Laurie Santos, the Yale professor whose ‘happiness’ course became a global hit? And could the current health crisis lead to a wellbeing revolution?In January 2018, a Yale University professor named Laurie Santos launched a course, Psychology and the Good Life, which quickly became the most popular class in the institution’s 319-year-history. After 13 years at Yale, in 2016, the 44-year-old had taken charge of one of the university’s residential colleges and had become alarmed by widespread mental illness and stress. She wanted to explain the paradox of why so many students were still suffering, having achieved their dreams of being admitted to Yale and having met society’s definition of success. Santos created the lecture series in a bid to teach her students what really mattered – to help them carve out lives of meaning and contentment.Within a few days of the course’s launch, roughly a quarter of Yale’s entire undergraduate population had signed up. Administrators struggled to find space to accommodate everyone; having filled the university’s church, they set up an overflow room for students to watch Santos by screen, before moving her to a large concert hall. Standing behind a lectern on the auditorium’s stage, she questioned much of what the students had been taught to crave: good grades, prestigious jobs, high salaries. With her message that we should step back from ceaseless competition, question our priorities and savour our days, she had clearly tapped into a deep hunger for another way of viewing life. Continue reading...

The truth is out there. Only this probably isn’t itThe US presidential election night of 2000 is the only one I’ve ever properly watched on TV. I didn’t have much else to do that evening and my middle-aged intoxication with the prospect of an early night was years ahead of me. Also, thinking about it, the lovely general election of 1997 was still a recent memory; I probably fancied another fix of that feeling, basking as I was in the vague late-90s western sense that everything was going to be fine.Needless to say, I regret staying up. I was tired and hungover the next day and had suffered the worst blow to my sense that everything was going to be fine since discovering that the exhibition at the Millennium Dome was shit. Worse blows were still to come. Continue reading...

In the battle against the virus, we have an unlikely ally. Already used to detect drugs and weapons, dogs are now being trained to sniff out when humans have the virus. Tim Lewis meets the trainers and their houndsAsher was a problem dog. A hyperactive and unruly chocolate-brown cocker spaniel with ears like pittas and a Rudi Völler frizzy shag, he was shunted from owner to owner, maybe as many as seven by the age of three. He was taken on by the charity Medical Detection Dogs, which was looking for working dogs to train up, but even after being placed with a seasoned “socialiser”, Asher still wouldn’t sleep and kept trying to escape. He was set to be returned to a rescue centre until Medical Detection Dogs’s co-founder Dr Claire Guest gave him a final chance.“We work a lot with spaniels and labradors that people have bought as pets, but they end up in rescue because they’re just bouncing off the walls,” explains Guest on a video call from her home near Milton Keynes, before breaking into a broad grin. “That’s just the sort of dog we love. The reason they’re bouncing off the walls is they just want to do and everything they do, they get in trouble for. We give them something to do!” Continue reading...

Your questions answered on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19

Thanks to the success of the Human Genome Project, 20 years ago this week, scientists can track biology and disease at a molecular levelTwenty years ago this week, an international group of scientists announced it had put together the first genetic blueprint of a human being. After 10 years of effort, the team – made up of thousands of scientists working on both sides of the Atlantic – revealed it had pinpointed all 3bn units of DNA that make up the human genome.The result was “the most wondrous map ever created by humankind”, US President Bill Clinton told a special White House ceremony to mark the event. A parallel event, hosted by Tony Blair in Downing Street, also featured glittering praise for the effort. Continue reading...

Research suggests joblessness will stay high for years after the pandemicWe are in a jobs crisis with 600,000 fewer employees on payroll and 2 million more of us on universal credit. Tackling this economic and human tragedy will become the central economic challenge of the early 2020s.The Bank of England expects almost one in 10 of the workforce to be unemployed, the highest for 25 years. But will unemployment fall as swiftly as it has surged? Continue reading...

Event will be visible across a narrow band from Congo-Brazzaville to southern ChinaSkywatchers along a narrow band from west Africa to the Arabian peninsula, India and southern China will witness the most dramatic “ring of fire” solar eclipse in years on Sunday.Annular eclipses occur when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, but not quite close enough to our planet to completely obscure the sun’s light. Continue reading...

Although early Covid-19 modelling was inaccurate, experts say it did make us see what could happen if we did nothingWhen Covid-19 shifted from a disease in returned travellers to a virus that was spreading throughout the Australian community, dire predictions of deaths proliferated on social media and in the news.In March, the deputy chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, said modelling revealed the federal government was preparing for 50,000 deaths in a best-case scenario and 150,000 deaths in the worst-case scenario. In the same month, Prof Raina MacIntyre, the head of the biosecurity program at the University of New South Wales’s Kirby Institute, warned of a “flu season but on steroids”, and said “hundreds of thousands” of Australians may die under a worst-case scenario. Health workers in NSW were told to prepare for 8,000 deaths over the duration of the epidemic, and that the “first wave” of the virus could last for up to 22 weeks. Continue reading...

From acoustic engineers in Britain to marine biologists in Canada, researchers made the most of the drastic drop in noise from human activityOne of the few upsides of lockdown was that, if a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square, you had a chance of hearing it. City dwellers across the globe delighted in the silence, the freedom from the incessant rumble of traffic, and the joy of birdsong. How cleaner the air seemed, and how splendid the blue skies without their usual grid of aeroplane contrails!Those memories might now be receding but for some scientists they were not just silver linings to a grim situation. The enforced experiment in which human activity was brought almost to a standstill created an opportunity to conduct studies that are normally impossible, in topics ranging from acoustics to atmospheric science to ecology. “We are being given an extraordinary experiment,” said climatologist Nicolas Bellouin of the University of Reading. Continue reading...