Analysis of rate of transmission, NHS 111 calls and Google location data will inform next steps

Latest figures from public health authorities on the spread of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. Find out how many confirmed cases have been reported in each of England’s local authorities

All hospital patients with coronavirus in England to be eligible for convalescent plasma

World’s largest vaccine maker in talks with governments over manufacturing expansion

From social media addiction to the discovery of musical genius – is the alleviation of boredom what really drives the world?According to the great proto-existentialist philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, the life of a human or other beast “swings like a pendulum back and forth between pain and boredom”. Indeed, pain (or want) and boredom are the two main constituents of existence, and not only during the lockdown phase of a pandemic – a thought that might (or might not) afford some gloomy relief to many right now.Schopenhauer was arguably the first western philosopher to take boredom seriously as one of the primary miseries of humankind, defining it lucidly as “a tame longing without any particular object”. Boredom was, moreover, more likely to afflict the more intelligent person, unfortunately for geniuses such as himself. Continue reading...

A summary of the biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreak

Test and tracing is launching today but, as the lockdown eases, it will need to be massively stepped up to have a significant impact

Senior scientists say published data on testing doesn’t adhere to basic rules of statistics

New archaeological discoveries in the Bacho Kiro cave in Bulgaria have revealed that modern humans co-existed with Neanderthals for several thousand years. Nicola Davis speaks to Prof Jean-Jacques Hublin about the excavations, and what their findings tell us about when modern humans first arrived in Europe Continue reading...

Study finds 89% of people working from home want to stay there, at least part time, when workplaces reopen

Qatar Covid-19 app ‘exposed 1m people’s personal details’; WHO sounds alarm over surge of Covid-19 cases in Latin America. This blog is now closed

Thunder and lightning in the area may have contributed to the mission scrub which will have another opportunity on Saturday9.47pm BSTPS: the crew will now return to pre-flight quarantine for the safety of the International Space Station and its onboard crew.9.44pm BSTThank you very much for following along even if that was, possibly, a record short Guardian US live blog, in the circumstances. Tricky things, rocket launches.Do join us again on Saturday afternoon if, as expected, Nasa makes its second attempt at this mission then. Continue reading...

Government will enforce compliance if advice to stay at home for 14 days fails, says health secretary

Dinosaur-on-dinosaur dining habit revealed by scrutiny of fossil bones from Colorado siteAbout nine metres long, with grasping claws and a skull it used like a hatchet, Allosaurus was among the most fearsome dinosaurs of the Jurassic period. Now, it seems, the animal could also have been a cannibal.Fossil researchers have revealed that bite marks found in a cache of dinosaur bones from the Mygatt-Moore quarry, western Colorado, were made by dinosaur-on-dinosaur dining. And the marks on Allosaurus bones had potentially been made by dinosaurs of their own kind. Continue reading...

The first crewed flight from US soil since 2011 was called off 16 minutes before lift off; the next opportunity is on SaturdayThe United States’ long-anticipated return to human spaceflight will have to wait a few more days after poor weather forced mission managers to scrub Wednesday’s planned launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida.The first crewed flight from US soil since 2011 was called off 16min 53sec before the scheduled 4.33pm lift-off time, with SpaceX and Nasa officials blaming “strength of electric fields in the atmosphere”, translating to lightning near the launchpad. Continue reading...

John Magufuli has repeatedly played down the threat from the pandemicOpposition politicians in Tanzania have accused president John Magufuli of covering up a major outbreak of Covid-19 in the east African country.Magufuli has repeatedly played down the threat from the pandemic and refused to impose a strict lockdown as many other leaders on the continent have. Continue reading...

NHS system relies upon an increase in testing and for people to be required to self-isolate

UN research shows strong systems can reduce public fear and minimise workplace disruption

Hackers allowed access to names, national ID, health status and location data of users, says Amnesty

The Cummings saga has made it plain that scientific advisers are shielding the government’s collapsing reputation on coronavirus

Study raises hope of immunity even for those without severe symptoms

Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance have been regulars at Downing Street daily updates

Your questions answered based on current knowledge and the latest research from scientists

Pristine ‘archaeological treasure’ near Verona may date to 3rd century AD, say expertsA perfectly preserved ancient Roman mosaic floor has been discovered near the northern Italian city of Verona.Archaeologists were astonished by the find as it came almost a century after the remains of a villa, believed to date to the 3rd century AD, were unearthed in a hilly area above the town of Negrar di Valpolicella. Continue reading...

Doug Liman on board as director of film be shot aboard International Space Station, backed by Nasa and Elon MuskThe projected Tom Cruise space movie that became headline news after both Nasa and Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted about it in early May appears to be becoming closer to reality after film-maker Doug Liman was reported to be on board as director.Deadline reported that Liman, who has worked with Cruise on action thrillers Edge of Tomorrow and American Made, has written a script and is on the production team as well as directing. Continue reading...

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

If the public is no longer reassured by the government’s social distancing measures, I fear a second wave of coronavirus

Latest figures from public health authorities on the spread of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. Find out how many confirmed cases have been reported in each of England’s local authorities

This week, Musk’s SpaceX will launch the first US astronauts into space in nine years. We’re meant to be inspired, but back on the ground the workers are struggling

Pan American Health Organization warns of ‘very tough’ weeks ahead; US approaches 100,000 deaths; New Zealand has fifth day with no cases

Sarah Boseley talks to Prof Susan Lanham-New about vitamin D and whether it could play a role in protecting us against Covid-19 Continue reading...

WHO warns of second peak as global cases pass 5.5m; Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar denies picnic with friends was rule breach; world health leaders urge green recovery. This blog is closed

Government scientific adviser warns rejection of guidance raises risk of virus resurgence

Drug pioneered for Ebola to be used in UK under emergency medicines provision

NASUWT urges ministers to clarify they will fulfil their legal duties under the Equality Act

Medics including Royal College of Ophthalmologists say cases of impaired vision alongside coronavirus infection ‘rare’See all our coronavirus coverageSpeaking to the press on Monday, Dominic Cummings said he drove, with his wife and child, on a 30-mile trip to Barnard Castle during lockdown to see if he could drive safely, concerned that his eyesight might have been affected by coronavirus.In a press conference later the same day, Boris Johnson also claimed to have experienced problems with his eyesight following Covid-19, brandishing a pair of glasses and saying: “I’m finding that I have to wear spectacles for the first time in years … I think that’s very, very plausible that eyesight can be a problem associated with coronavirus.” Continue reading...

Millions of people with underlying health conditions have not left the house for more than two months

Boris Johnson’s adviser is a fan of game theory, so he should know how selfish decisions sabotage the common good

Fiona Harvey’s obituary of Sir John Houghton reminded me of the humility of this distinguished scientist. After meeting Sir John at a Welsh government event, I tentatively wrote to him asking if he would address a public meeting in my local town of Narberth in Pembrokeshire. To my surprise and delight he responded positively.A few weeks later, we greeted Sir John, who had travelled from his home in North Wales, and walked to the Queens Hall, where the Weight Watchers group was clearing up, having just finished their session. On seeing this, Sir John promptly grabbed hold of a broom to help and then happily joined us in setting out the seating for the meeting. Continue reading...

But Michael Gove says pubs, cafes and restaurants will not return to normal any time soon

Wednesday will see the launch of the first crewed space flight from the US into orbit in almost a decadeWednesday’s crewed SpaceX launch will be the first time since the final flight of the space shuttle Atlantis, on 8 July 2011, that astronauts have blasted off from US soil into orbit.Here are the key things you need to know: Continue reading...

Elon Musk’s SpaceX, in partnership with Nasa, to launch Falcon 9 rocket from Florida carrying two American astronautsIn a historic moment a decade in the making, the skies above Florida will light up on Wednesday when the launch of a rocket born from a groundbreaking public-private partnership returns the United States to the business of human spaceflight.Not since the retirement of Nasa’s space shuttle fleet in 2011 has the US possessed the capability to send its own astronauts into orbit, and the success of this week’s mission, formally known as SpaceX Demo-2, is likely to shape the direction of the space agency’s near-Earth ambitions for a generation. Continue reading...

Global competition for kits and national constraints cause concern as lockdowns ease

Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, many hospitals have suspended routine cancer surgeries and chemotherapies

Latest figures from public health authorities on the spread of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. Find out how many confirmed cases have been reported in each of England’s local authorities

Mission terminated early in flight over Pacific Ocean off coast of southern CaliforniaRichard Branson’s Virgin Orbit has failed in its first test launch of a new rocket carried by a Boeing 747 and released over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California.The inaugural launch had appeared to be going well until moments after the rocket was dropped from beneath the left wing of the jumbo jet dubbed “Cosmic Girl”. Continue reading...

Having two copies of e4 variant of ApoE gene linked to double risk of severe Covid-19, study suggests

Dominic Cummings will not resign; WHO drops hydroxychloroquine from global study into experimental coronavirus treatments. This blog is now closed

Malaria drug taken by Trump could raise risk of death and heart problems, study shows

People told to self-isolate will be less willing to comply with advice, scientists say