July 26, 2021

graduation ceremony at Portsmouth University on July 20, 2015 in Portsmouth, UK

Vaccinations and the young – what’s really going on?

Daily briefing: The government is considering making vaccination compulsory for university students to attend lectures and stay in halls. Why?

weaver ants teamwork biting a dung beetle on tree bark

How do Olympic athletes stack up against invertebrates? Not very well

Eliza Middleton & Caitlyn Forster | Science

Human athletic skills pale in comparison to those of insects and arachnids.

Back view of young woman sunbathe and relax on tropical beach with copy space.

Summer reading list: eight of the best long reads

Ian Stewart | Books

Mystery seed deliveries, the perilous state of Californian vineyards and the origins of McDonald’s: Ian Stewart picks out his favourite articles of the last few months.

England fans excited after a 2 - 1 win at the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Semi-final match between England and Denmark at Wembley Stadium.

Covid case surge: the Euros were the culprit – and now they’re over

George Yarrow | Covid

Modelling has tended to ignore social factors when predicting viral spread – no wonder the experts are stumped.

Britain is seeing a sustained fall in reported coronavirus cases outside of lockdown for the first time since the pandemic began.

UK Covid cases fall for fifth day in a row

Olivia Gavoyannis | Covid

Experts are divided over the science behind the encouraging news.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak arrives in 10 Downing Street.

Where is the strategic grip to get people back to work?

Bruce Anderson | UK Politics

Time to encourage Britain’s animal spirits otherwise we will be heading for higher interest rates and stagflation.