#MARYSHELLEY #SAJIDJAVID

The New York Times claimed HG Wells invented science fiction, ignoring or forgetting Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, who was born five decades earlier.

@garethlpowell wrote: “Mary Shelley published Frankenstein, considered the first true science fiction novel, in 1818. HG Wells wasn't born until 1866.”

@cassthomps13 added: “Her name is Mary Shelley. We don’t let women get erased from history anymore, but thanks.”

@kynd77 added: “There was also Margaret Cavendish who published 'The Blazing World and Other Stories' in the 17th century (OK, maybe not a full novel, but certainly sci-fi genre, with travels to other worlds, and encountering aliens).”

@Fredkiesche wrote: “Hey, what about my buddy Lucian? He never gets any credit these days.”

@marklbrake replied: “You beat me to it! Lucian, an Assyrian satirist who wrote in Greek, wrote A True Story, the earliest known fiction about space travel and alien life, predating space opera by many centuries.”

@stevenhandel said: “Frankenstein definitely has early sci-fi elements (including the ‘mad scientist’ archetype), but it reads as more drama/horror than the sci-fi of Wells or Verne.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has commissioned a review after research showed that oximeters, which monitor oxygen levels in the blood and are used to assess whether Covid-19 patients need lifesaving treatment, are less accurate on people with darker skin.

@wisenfit tweeted: “Black/ Brown people have been saying this for a long time. Whenever a doctor tells me about a ‘study’ I always question who was studied.”

@catehil wrote: “Worrying number of pregnant women also passing with Covid. Is equipment design also mainly focusing on men and is there a ‘double whammy’ effect if the women is of ethnic minority?”

@nedflanders1946 said: “They don’t just rely on o2 sats. There would have been other signs that someone is unwell! Plus, oximeters have been used for many years, so is this the reason for previous deaths of ethnic minorities?”

@estee300 wrote: “Great step. Test all race before selling equipment.”

@Pocalawyer said: “Very sad for those who have lost loved ones.”