Scientists who believe in ghosts, billionaires trying to figure out if the universe is a video game simulation, and sports stars searching for ways to harness cosmic energy. These are some of the stories featured in the book. The theory of everything else (Captain Swing). These are compiled by journalist and writer Dan Schreiber and, beyond being an entertaining journey through utterly delusional beliefs, they also serve to show how some of the people who have made groundbreaking discoveries in the scientific field simultaneously believe in surreal theories.

The explosion in infections detected in recent weeks has not only been noted in health centres and hospitals; private centres offering antigen and PCR tests have seen demand increase exponentially. "There has been a very significant increase, between 30% and 40% more", commercial director of Teletest, Francesc Mestres, states. Dr Àngels Fortuño, manager at Eldine laboratory, corroborates it: "Every day we have people at our door, in a hurry, asking us to do a test. Whereas before private individuals represented 20% of the tests we do, they are now between 40% and 45%"

Christopher and Noël live in France but spent this Sunday morning in a shopping centre in La Jonquera buying tobacco, alcoholic drinks and some food. Since March 30 it is mandatory to show a negative PCR to cross the border. Only cross-border workers, hauliers and residents of towns within 30 km of the border were exempt. However, in practice, the truth is that French and Spanish residents can cross over without being checked. "We have been coming here for two weeks. They told us that you can cross even if you don't have a PCR [test result], because nobody checks it", explain the two friends.

The Spanish government is relaxing health controls for entering Spain as of Monday. Coinciding with the start of the summer season and the progressive decline in the incidence of coronavirus, the rules have been eased to speed up the arrival of tourists. The main change is that vaccinated tourists will not need PCRs or any other similar tests to enter, while those who are not immunised will also be able to opt for a quicker and cheaper antigen test. Until now, PCRs were mandatory for any traveller entering the country. So, as of Monday travellers may enter Spain having taken a PCR test, an antigen test, with a vaccination certificate or with a certificate of recovery - the document that proves that they have had covid but are no longer infectious.

Spain is starting to roll out the red carpet for tourism, to which the Spanish government is pinning the start of recovery this summer. From Monday, British tourists will no longer have to take a PCR test to come to Spain. Nor will those from China, Singapore, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Thailand have to take it, according to the Official State Gazette (BOE) and as announced by the Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, from the Fitur tourism fair, where he also presented the European digital green certificate, approved on Thursday in Brussels. "From Monday, Spain will be delighted to welcome all British tourists who want to come without restrictions", he said.

The old border booths located between Portbou and Cervera had been useless for years, beyond bringing back memories of the past. However, with the arrival of covid-19 and the subsequent mobility restrictions, the old police buildings had to be dusted off in order to control everyone crossing the imaginary line. France established weeks ago that you had to show a negative PCR test result to enter the country and Spain announced a similar measure by surprise on Saturday which has come into force today. However, the new measure has not been noticeable in two of the main entry points by road: in La Jonquera, the National Police made some random checks during the morning, but in Portbou there was free way to go and return; neither on the Spanish nor on the French side were there any officers to control the passage of vehicles, motorcycles and people.

Catalonia begins ten decisive days for the evolution of the pandemic. The number of new infections continues to fall - in two weeks it has gone from more than 14,000 cases per week to 10,000 - but the R number is rising: from 0.88 to 1.03 in seven days, which means that every 100 new positives infect 103 people. Likewise, the percentage of positive tests has risen again: from 4.30% to 5.30%, when the WHO states that being above 5% means that not enough tests are being done. In fact, in 15 days the number of PCR and antigen tests carried out has been reduced by 30%: from 295,000 to 210,000, between 16 and 22 February.

Salvador Illa will only take a PCR or antigen test if he has symptoms of covid or is in close contact with a positive. It has become clear after his double refusal to be tested during the debates on TV3 and La Sexta. The socialist candidate argues that he strictly follows the protocol set by the Department of Health, and even went so far as to qualify as a "privilege" that the rest of the candidates were tested. However, beyond the generic protocol set by the Government, there are multiple cases in which, in the public and private sector, PCR and antigen tests are carried out without the need for symptoms or contact with positives. The most paradigmatic these days is that of the members of the polling stations of February 14. It is a voluntary test, like at TV3 and La Sexta, which so far has been done approximately 30% of the nearly 82,000 people picked by lot to man the polling stations, as reported on Friday by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Bernat Solé. The tests are carried out by the primary care centers.

A PCR or an antigen test detects the presence of covid-19 in the body. The former amplifies the genetic material of the virus and is so sensitive that it can detect it even in case of a very small viral load. The antigen test, on the other hand, only detects a part of the virus protein and, since the signal is not amplified in this case, it is only conclusive when the person has a large amount of the virus. What neither of the two diagnostic tests do is measure the level of antibodies and, therefore, neither a PCR nor an antigen test would be able to know, for example, if a candidate for the presidency of the Generalitat has been vaccinated.

From the pharmacy office, from the laboratories where covid test samples are analyzed or from hospital pharmacies, pharmacists have been - and continue to be - one of the mainstays of the fight against the pandemic of the coronavirus. This is stated by the president of the College of Pharmacists of Girona, who regrets the little recognition that the group has received. Long-time clinical analyst, Rosa Núria Aleixandre denounces that the market is full of antigen tests for covid that are a hoax and regrets the passivity of the health authorities regarding this.