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End-of-life medical decisions being rushed through due to coronavirus

The covid-19 pandemic has led to rushed guidelines for doctors making treatment decisions, and has encouraged more people to make advance decisions on CPR and ventilation




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UK’s coronavirus science advice won’t be published until pandemic ends

The UK government says its coronavirus strategies are based on science, but the scientific advice it has received won’t be made public until after the pandemic




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What would a game-changing treatment for coronavirus look like?

Even if we find drugs that are effective against the coronavirus, that doesn't necessarily mean they will change the wider situation and help end lockdowns




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Interstellar comet Borisov came from a cold and distant home star

The interstellar comet Borisov, which flew past Earth in December, is full of carbon monoxide ice that implies its home star is smaller and colder than our sun




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It's time to give the pedometer a break and embrace lifting weights

The incredible benefits of strength training are only just becoming apparent. That's good timing, when working out indoors is beneficial to everyone's health




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Earth Day: How a pillar of the green movement was born 50 years ago

Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, often spoken of as the birth of the green movement. Denis Hayes helped coordinate the first event, and speaks to New Scientist about its impact




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Can breathing exercises really help protect you from covid-19?

Taking deep breaths and forcing a cough can help clear mucus, but these techniques are unlikely to prevent or treat coronavirus infections – here’s why




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A giant raft of rock may once have floated across Mars’s ancient ocean

Mars could have had an ancient ocean in its northern hemisphere, and a large raft of volcanic rock may have floated across it to settle into mounds we can see today




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Toddlers born with Zika virus seem to be affected in multiple ways

Thousands of babies were born with severe brain damage after the 2015 Zika outbreak. New findings could tell us which therapies could help them most




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An unequal society means covid-19 is hitting ethnic minorities harder

People from an ethnic minority are disproportionately affected by covid-19. Researchers say the reasons are rooted in existing social and healthcare inequalities




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AI can distinguish between bots and humans based on Twitter activity

Artificial intelligence can tell whether a human or a bot is posting on Twitter based on how regularly they post and how much they reply to others, which could help identify fake accounts




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The US Navy patented a device to make laser ‘ghost planes’ in mid-air

The US Navy is researching how to use lasers to form plasma into 2D or 3D infrared images of aeroplanes that can distract heat-seeking missiles




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Some babies who were born prematurely have weaker hearts as adults

People born prematurely may have weaker hearts that recover less well after exercise, potentially explaining their increased risk of heart disease




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Our nearest star system may have a planet with a colossal set of rings

We know that there is at least one planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our solar system, and now astronomers may have taken the first picture of a second world




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Huge volcanic eruption in 2018 was triggered by torrential rains

The eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano in 2018 was caused by heavy rains – suggesting that extreme weather from climate change could lead to more eruptions




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Slower-moving hurricanes will cause more devastation as world warms

Climate models show that as the world warms, tropical cyclones will travel more slowly, dumping more rain in one place and making high-speed winds batter buildings for longer




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Plate tectonics may have started on Earth 3.2 billion years ago

Rocks from a 3.2-billion-year-old formation in Australia show changes in the direction of their magnetism over time that suggest plate tectonics started earlier than we thought




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Pocket-sized device tests DNA in blood samples for genetic conditions

A cheap, lightweight smartphone-heated device can test for DNA in blood, urine and other samples in a fraction of the time it takes to test in a lab




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Waste water tests could monitor 2 billion people for the coronavirus

We need to scale up testing efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, and looking for signs of virus RNA in our sewage could provide a shortcut




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BCG vaccine being trialled as potential protection against covid-19

A long-standing hypothesis suggests the BCG vaccine also serves to generally enhance the immune system, meaning it could protect against covid-19, and trials are under way to find out




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Astronomical time can help us put lockdown into perspective

The coronavirus pandemic is making life feel slower than ever, but observing timescales across the universe can bring us some comfort, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein




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Brain implant lets man with paralysis move and feel with his hand

A brain-computer interface has helped a man with a severe spinal cord injury move and feel using a hand again, letting him carefully lift light objects such as a paper cup




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We may have found 19 more interstellar asteroids in our solar system

A bunch of asteroids near Jupiter and Neptune with orbits perpendicular to the plane of the solar system may have come here from a different star system




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Reports of an insect apocalypse are overblown but still concerning

While an alarming 9 per cent of insects on land are being lost each decade, the state of the world’s insects is much more nuanced than warnings of an insect apocalypse




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Can virtual therapy help us cope with the coronavirus lockdown?

Many people are turning to virtual therapy and mental health apps to cope with the stress of the coronavirus pandemic, but they may not be as helpful as talking face to face




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What the first coronavirus antibody testing surveys can tell us

We need to be very cautious about preliminary studies estimating how many people have already been infected by the coronavirus




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Microwaved bamboo could be used to build super-strong skyscrapers

Bamboo is a renewable material that when microwaved becomes stronger by weight than steel or concrete – which could make it ideal for constructing buildings, cars and planes




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Infrared-reflecting paint can cool buildings even when it is black

Black paint usually absorbs heat, but a new two-layer polymer paint reflects infrared light and keeps objects 16°C cooler, which could help make buildings more energy efficient




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What is it like to be a covid-19 contact tracer and what do they do?

Covid-19 contact tracers are part healthcare worker, part detective and part call centre operative. But what is the job really like? New Scientist spoke to one in Ireland to find out




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Research volunteers won't be told of their coronavirus genetic risk

Half a million people taking part in the UK Biobank, which gathers genetic information for researchers to study, won't be told if they turn out to be genetically vulnerable to the coronavirus




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Smart windows can let visible light through while blocking out heat

A 3D printed grate can be used to make a smart window that blocks heat from sunlight out in the summer while letting it through in the winter, conserving energy




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Names of UK's coronavirus science advisers to be revealed

The membership of the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies has so far been kept secret, but a list of names will soon be published, the UK's chief scientific adviser has said




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Electrical devices implanted in the brain may help treat anorexia

In a small trial, implanting electrodes into the brain helped women with severe anorexia gain weight and feel less anxious and depressed




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Frozen bull semen may have unleashed bluetongue virus on farm animals

The ongoing spread of bluetongue virus among European farm animals may have started when a cow was inseminated with infected bull semen stored from an earlier outbreak




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Analysis of 85 animals reveals which are best at holding their alcohol

Humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and bats have evolved to be good at metabolising alcohol, according to a study that suggests many mammals can get drunk




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Why it’ll still be a long time before we get a coronavirus vaccine

Trials of experimental coronavirus vaccines are already under way, but it’s still likely to be years before one is ready and vaccination may not even be possible




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Massive Spinosaurus dinosaur swam through water propelled by its tail

A well-preserved fossilised tail from Spinosaurus suggests this massive dinosaur may have been able to propel itself and hunt for prey in the water




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How many people have really died from covid-19 so far?

Looking at how many more people are dying than usual gives an idea of the coronavirus pandemic’s true effect – and suggests a far higher death toll in many countries




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Robot with pincers can detect and remove weeds without harming crops

A robot that uses artificial intelligence to find and remove weeds could eventually be used as an alternative to chemical insecticides




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We must act quickly to avoid a pandemic-related mental health crisis

We are already seeing the pandemic's effects on mental health, and we need to act urgently to avoid a full-blown crisis, says Sam Howells  




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Tiger survival threatened by mass road-building in precious habitats

Over half the world’s wild tigers now live 5 kilometres from a road, and infrastructure projects planned in Asia could fragment their habitat further




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Coronavirus: What does evidence say about schools reopening?

Many studies suggest coronavirus has low transmission rates among children, but there are still risks to reopening schools that were closed due to social distancing policies




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Are you more likely to die of covid-19 if you live in a polluted area?

A number of studies have found a link between air pollution and increased covid-19 deaths, but it isn't clear why. Both attack the lungs, but it could just be that more people live in polluted areas