Ukraine invasion: Russian sanctions mean ESA’s Mars rover is unlikely to launch in 2022

The European Space Agency is due to launch its Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover on a Russian rocket this September, while satellites belonging to a company part-owned by the UK government are set to catch a Russian ride on 4 March Space 25 February 2022 By Jonathan O’Callaghan An artist’s impression of the Rosalind Franklin rover, … Read more

Australia floods: Record rainfall in Queensland driven by La Niña and climate change

A slow-moving low-pressure system has dropped 790 millimetres of rain on Brisbane in one week, causing floods that have claimed eight lives Environment 28 February 2022 By Alice Klein A flooded street in Milton, a suburb of Brisbane PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP/AFP via Getty Images Record-breaking rain on the east coast of Australia over the past week … Read more

Climate change report: Humans are causing widespread and irreversible impacts, says IPCC

By Adam Vaughan Pastoralists in Kenya among the bodies of sheep and goats that died after a dramatic change from drought to cold and wet weather TONY KARUMBA/AFP via Getty Images Climate change is already wreaking widespread, pervasive and sometimes irreversible impacts on people and ecosystems globally, according to a landmark report warning it has … Read more

Air pollution may make some bacteria in our nose and throat turn nasty

The superbug MRSA is potentially even more harmful if it is exposed to air pollution, some studies using mice and human cells suggest Health 28 February 2022 By Michael Le Page Air pollution from smoke stacks at an oil refinery Susan Santa Maria/Shutterstock Air pollution from fossil fuels and wood burning can directly affect the … Read more

Covid-19 news: Omicron immune response protects against BA.2 variant

By Michael Le Page, Clare Wilson, Jessica Hamzelou, Sam Wong, Graham Lawton, Adam Vaughan, Conrad Quilty-Harper, Jason Arunn Murugesu, Layal Liverpool, Carissa Wong and Alex Wilkins Covid-19 seen under the microscope Shutterstock / Naeblys Latest coronavirus news as of 12pm on 28 February Data suggests that people who’ve had the BA.1 omicron variant are protected … Read more

Nostalgia Evokes Many Things. Even Pain Relief, Scientists Show

The longing and wistfulness of nostalgia can make a person feel many different things. Amidst the memories, both happy and sad, you might even find a unique form of pain relief.   The observation is not new. Beyond boosting wellbeing and improving physical comfort, nostalgia has previously been shown to lessen perceptions of pain. Yet … Read more

Omega-3 supplements could reduce the number of premature births

South Australia has launched a world-first programme to reduce premature births by testing omega-3 levels during pregnancy and giving supplements when they are low Health 28 February 2022 By Alice Klein Omega-3 fish oil can be taken as daily supplements R_Szatkowski/Shutterstock Giving omega-3 supplements to pregnant women with low levels of this fatty acid could … Read more

Covid origins: A detailed look at the coronavirus’s first days at a Wuhan market

Three recent studies give a detailed picture of how the coronavirus pandemic began and strengthen the case that the virus came from animals at the Huanan seafood market Health | Analysis 28 February 2022 By Michael Le Page Members of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan seafood market in January 2020 … Read more

Nanotechnology: Particles can translate chemical signals from bacteria to yeast

Particles that facilitate communication from one type of cell to another could have applications in medicine and agriculture Life 28 February 2022 By Jason Arunn Murugesu Electron microscope image of an E. coli cell dividing CNRI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Specially designed nanoparticles have been used to let bacteria communicate with yeast cells by “translating” chemical messages … Read more

Ukraine invasion: Would Vladimir Putin really start a nuclear war?

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hasn’t gone to plan and has led to an economic backlash from the West. If Russian president Vladimir Putin feels backed into a corner, there is a real possibility he could use a nuclear weapon in an attempt to show strength, say analysts Humans | Analysis 28 February 2022 By Matthew … Read more