23 articles from SUNDAY 3.11.2019

Starwatch: Mars draws close to Spica, Virgo's brightest star

Conjunction takes place low towards the dawn horizon, making Mars slightly difficult to pick outThere’s a pretty sight awaiting sky watchers in the morning skies towards the end of the week. Looking east, the planet Mars will be drawing close to Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, the virgin. The chart shows the view at 06:00 GMT on 9 November. Spica is one of the 20 brightest...

Time ticks away at wild bison genetic diversity

Evidence is mounting that wild North American bison are gradually shedding their genetic diversity across many of the isolated herds overseen by the U.S. government, weakening future resilience against disease and climate events in the shadow of human encroachment.

Naomi Oreskes: ‘Discrediting science is a political strategy’

The Harvard professor on science and scepticism – and why climate deniers have run out of excusesIn her new book Why Trust Science? Naomi Oreskes, professor of the history of science at Harvard University, argues that if more people heard scientists talk personally about their values, it would help turn back the creeping tide of anti-science sentiment. The former geologist recently gave evidence...

Breast cancer may be detected by blood test five years before clinical signs show

Study by Nottingham researchers shows immune response to tumour cells can reveal diseaseBreast cancer could be detected five years before clinical signs appear in patients thanks to a blood test that could identify the body’s immune responses to tumour cells. That is the claim that has been made about research to be presented at a national cancer conference in Glasgow on Sunday. However, other...

Indian capital Delhi gasps under choking smog

India's capital New Delhi was enveloped in heavy, toxic smog Sunday—the worst levels in recent years—with flights diverted or delayed as politicians blamed each other for failing to tackle the crisis.