The return of pints, pounds and inches? Government considers using post-Brexit freedoms to allow greater use of traditional imperial measures Government has said it will consider reverting back to imperial system The UK reverted to the metric system in the 1960s before it was adopted by EU Changes will not mean complete scrapping of metric … Read more
Oxford University reportedly plans to teach that imperial measurements are ‘tied deeply to the idea of the Empire’ in a bid to make science courses less ‘Eurocentric’. The University has reportedly suggested imperial measurements, including the mile, inch, pound and ounce, should be ‘decolonised’ due to its links to the British Empire. Decolonising plans by … Read more
Kent variant Real name: B.1.1.7 When was it discovered? The variant was first found in the South East of England and can be traced back to September 2020. What mutations does it have? It has 23 mutations, some of which change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main mutation is known as N501Y. … Read more
The imperial family of Japan have started 2021 with a low-key reception in tune with the state of the country following the coronavirus pandemic. Emperor Naruhito, 60 and Empress Masako, 57, took part in the New Year’s Reception in Tokyo, along with 12 other members of the imperial royal family and 230 guests. Attendees included … Read more
University of Oxford Oxford University academics began developing the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in January. It is now named AZD1222, after the researchers signed a manufacturing partnership with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca. Human trials started on April 23 and they are now in the final phase, with trials being carried out in the UK, Brazil and South … Read more
Rival vaccines being developed by Oxford and Imperial may be combined to beat coronavirus, expert says Oxford University’s vaccine is already being tested on at least 1,000 people Professor Robin Shattock said they could well be used together because the way they work differs Scientists increasingly think booster jabs will be needed to maintain protection … Read more
More than £1.2billion was wiped off the value of Lambert & Butler cigarette maker Imperial Brands as a ban on flavoured vaping products by US regulators takes its toll. The FTSE 100 firm, which owns the Blu brand of vape products, said earnings this year will be slightly lower than last year while revenues are … Read more
Italy will be hit by a more deadly second coronavirus wave as it eases lockdown, according to a sobering report from Imperial College London. Researchers modelled how the virus would spread in three scenarios – if the nation stayed in quarantine or if Italians increased their movements by 20 per cent and 40 per cent. … Read more
Imperial College London have won the final of University Challenge against Corpus Christi of Cambridge, scoring 275 points while their opponents managed just 105. Both impressive teams had come to the show with no defeats, but fans were eager to see two of the contestants – Brandon Blackwell, of Imperial College , and Ian Wang, of Corpus Christi – battle … Read more
The coronavirus crisis is a ‘marathon not a sprint’ and could last for months, the Chief Medical Officer warned. It came as scientists advising the Government said more than a quarter of a million people would have died of the disease in Britain without the stricter measures announced yesterday. Boris Johnson raised the restrictions in response … Read more