2shrip/Shutterstock Why is the reported number of COVID-19 cases rising across Europe now? Many countries ended their full lockdowns at the start of the summer, but it wasn’t until the autumn that most places began to see a significant increase in the spread of the virus again. The re-opening ofContinue Reading
Two _Cimoliopterus_ pterosaurs, with 5m wing spans. Mark Witton/University of Reading, Author provided With a wingspan of 12m–15m, Quetzalcoatlus was one of the largest flying animals that ever lived. Indeed, it seems astonishing that such monsters could fly at all. Yet over a period of more than 150 million years,Continue Reading
We’ve known for some time that people from ethnic minorities in the UK are several times more likely to be admitted to hospital or die from COVID-19. A new report authored by Baroness Doreen Laurence and commissioned by the Labour Party has found that the disease has thrived among minorityContinue Reading
NASA JSC The Moon was for a long time considered to be bone dry, with analyses of returned lunar samples from the Apollo missions showing only trace amounts of water. These traces were in fact believed to be due to contamination on Earth. But over the past two decades, re-analysesContinue Reading
As you drive down the road leading to Jodrell Bank Observatory, a sign asks visitors to turn off their mobile phones, stating that the Lovell telescope is so powerful it could detect a phone signal on Mars. Radio telescopes are designed to be incredibly sensitive. To quote the legendary astronomerContinue Reading
giuseppelombardo/Shutterstock After a fairly relaxed summer, more and more places are bringing back tighter restrictions in response to rising COVID-19 cases, with some even returning to full or near-full lockdowns. We all know that social distancing makes sense: the fewer people we meet (and the further away from them weContinue Reading
Artist's conception of the Milky Way galaxy, which should contain dark matter haloes. Nick Risinger/NASA The search for dark matter – an unknown and invisible substance thought to make up the vast majority of matter in the universe – is at a crossroads. Although it was proposed nearly 70 yearsContinue Reading
Hybrid parrots in Costa Rica. Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock How did some animals form wings to fly? – Year Five class, London, UK Perhaps the first thing you notice when you see a bird is its amazing ability to fly. Modern birds fly using their “arms”, which have feathers and very strongContinue Reading
Artist's concept of the OSIRIS REx spacecraft collecting material from Bennu. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Relief showed clearly on the faces of the team of NASA scientists and engineers as they were told: “Touchdown is complete”. Then applause a few seconds later for “back away burn complete”. The most hazardousContinue Reading
Artist's concept of the OSIRIS REx spacecraft collecting material from Bennu. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Relief showed clearly on the faces of the team of NASA scientists and engineers as they were told: “Touchdown is complete”. Then applause a few seconds later for “back away burn complete”. The most hazardousContinue Reading
