Jab not yet approved for children, who make up most cases, while officials warn millions more doses will be requiredThe first donation of mpox vaccines arrived in Democratic Republic of the Congo on Thursday, but officials say millions more doses will be needed.The announcement came amid warnings that the geographical spread of the virus, formerly known as monkeypox, was increasing, and swift action was needed across the continent to contain the outbreak. Continue reading...

Scientists who examined Eddie Hall say findings suggest set of muscles in the legs are ‘more important than we thought’Gym-goers who want to pump the heaviest weights might figure that bulging thighs and bulky buttocks are the path to greater power. But a study involving one of the world’s strongest men found that a set of slender, rope-like muscles that typically get far less attention could be more important than previously thought.Scientists at Loughborough University’s school of sport, exercise and health sciences examined the rippling sinews of Eddie Hall, a Staffordshire truck...

Early risers will get a prime opportunity to glimpse the planet as it moves to its furthest point west from the sunThis week, on 5 September, Mercury will reach the astronomical configuration known as greatest western elongation. This is the point at which Mercury will be at its furthest point west from the sun, as viewed from Earth. It offers a prime opportunity to catch a glimpse of the elusive planet.A greatest western elongation event means that the planet will be visible in the sky before sunrise. The chart shows the view looking east-north-east at 05.30 BST on the morning of 5 September...

With a biologically significant birthday looming, it’s time to take stock – and get ready to embrace whatever comes nextRecently I’ve been going through old photographs. My parents are clearing out their loft and I’ve been forced, finally, to confront the boxes of A-level sketchbooks and towers of 90s magazines, and let it all go. The photographs, though, are interesting. It’s a cliché, I know, to look back at images of youth and tut at how lovely you were, and how blind to that loveliness you were at the time. But it still shocks me to look at a photo from my teens, covered in black...

Efforts to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis will now focus on vaccinating badgers not killing them.

The photo is among several highly commended in this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest

Beth Bridge is working to create the conditions which will let these endangered mammals thrive again.

The whole of the cocoa fruit is used in production, rather than just the beans.

Scientists still trying to work out why some people live beyond 100, but agree it is best to avoid taking advice from centenarians themselvesThe death of the world’s oldest person, Maria Branyas Morera, at the age of 117 might cause many to ponder the secrets of an exceptionally long life, but scientists say it could be best to avoid taking advice on longevity from centenarians themselves.According to the Guinness World Records website, Branyas believed her longevity stemmed from “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no...

Think of Britain’s Covid debacle and the Post Office scandal. As a behavioural scientist, I have seen how ruinous blind belief can be Confidence is complicated. Ted talks try to teach you how to get it; parents want it for their children; for those who don’t have it, it seems almost impossible to acquire. Entrepreneurs, social-media influencers and job applicants will project certainty even when internally racked with self-doubt – which is perhaps no surprise, given that virtually every talk on confidence is about how to acquire more of it, not less.And yet too much confidence can have...

Experts think 10-year-old Tegan uncovered prints of a huge herbivore from the late triassic period.

British forces are about to get their first dedicated surveillance and reconnaissance satellite.

Rentokil to use the wasps as a sustainable alternative to sprays in museums and homesThe newest recruits for the battle against moths will be the smallest pest control team in town.Rentokil plans to release entosite parasitoid wasps into the nooks and crannies of museums, heritage sites and homes to stop moth infestations. Continue reading...

Four-year study of patients finds ‘markedly few’ differences between people who have long Covid and those who do notA new study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) highlights the difficulty of finding a lab test for long Covid – a novel condition that encompasses dozens of symptoms and is currently considered a “diagnosis of exclusion”.Long Covid’s most common symptoms include brain fog, fatigue and heart palpitations, which can change over time and be disabling when severe. Approximately one in 20 adults reported persistent symptoms of Covid, as of June 2024. Continue...

Five seconds said to be just as effective as 10 or 15 in managing lower-level conflicts and preventing escalationCouples having a row should take a five-second break to stop them reaching boiling point, according to a study.Taking a pause during an argument can act as a firebreak that prevents rows from escalating, defuses disagreements and could save the need for costly counselling. Continue reading...

Iceland Encourages Locals To Throw Baby Puffins Off Cliffs  Giant Freakin Robot

Quantum entanglement: A simple way to fully grasp this "impossible" concept  Earth.comResearcher explores how you can stretch your mind to grasp quantum entanglement  Phys.org

Asteroid Coming For Earth And It’s NASA’s Fault  Giant Freakin RobotNASA Asteroid Collision Debris May Be Headed Toward Earth  ScienceAlertNASA's DART impact permanently changed the shape and orbit of asteroid moon, new study shows  Phys.orgChunks of asteroid from NASA's deflection test could smash into Earth in the next 10 years  Daily MailNASA dramatically changed asteroid moon's shape, knocked it off its orbit  Hindustan Times

Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers  Sky NewsView Full coverage on Google News

The astronauts ‘stuck’ in space – podcast  The GuardianNasa astronauts latest: Update on Boeing Starliner crew stuck in space  BBC.comHere's what Boeing Starliner astronauts are doing on the ISS as NASA works on their ride home  Space.comStarliner stranding reminds Nasa of the ghosts of disasters past  The TimesNASA says it has still not decided how to bring two stuck astronauts back to Earth  Sky News

Massive Solar Flare Expected To Strike Earth Imminently  Giant Freakin RobotColossal X-class solar flare erupts from 'rule-breaking' sunspot and Earth is in the firing line (video)  Space.comHow to view the aurora borealis in the U.S. tonight  Mashable'Severe' G4 geomagnetic storm strikes Earth, making widespread auroras likely  Livescience.comThere was new powerful flash in Sun  AzerNews.Az

Photonic orbitals shape up  physicsworld.com

Two astronauts are stuck in space - how will they pass time (and survive) until 2025?  Sky NewsAfter two months, astronauts stranded at the ISS may have a way back home  NPRBoeing’s confidence in Starliner ‘speaks volumes,’ says former NASA astronaut  MarketWatchSunita Williams and fellow astronauts at risk from Chinese rocket explosion debris  The Times of IndiaNASA is about to make its most important safety decision in nearly a generation  Ars Technica

Earth may just have gone down from 7 continents to 6  indy100North America and Europe should be classed as ONE continent, scientists claim in controversial new study  Daily MailResearchers Discover New Microcontinent Between Greenland And Canada  Tomorrow's World TodayClaim: Earth only has six continents, not seven, as we've been taught  Earth.comThe Earth Hasn’t Lost a Continent, but Has Gained a Microcontinent  LBV Magazine

Perseid meteor shower: Where and how to watch up to 100 shooting stars an hour  Sky NewsWatch: Timelapse captures Perseid meteor shower  BBC.comUpdated Northern Lights Forecast: Where To See Aurora Borealis Tonight As Perseids Continue  ForbesNorthern lights and Perseid meteor shower: your pictures  BBCSpectacular night sky on the horizon amid Aurora and Perseids meteor shower  STV News